Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: The Ninth Day of Being a Stingy (Frugal) CEO

When the big boss personally brings someone in for onboarding, the new and old employees of the branch company naturally show respect to Wen Qingyun and treat Chu Qi with friendliness.

Furthermore, a capable person thrives anywhere. In just one day, Chu Qi successfully won the recognition of the R&D department. Some of the newer recruits even started calling her “Sister Chu Qi.”

“Sister Chu Qi, to celebrate you joining R&D, Director Zhao had me book a private room at a nearby restaurant. Let’s go for a team dinner after work,” said a colleague named Xiao Liu. “Director Zhao is footing the bill; it’s coming out of the department budget.”

Chu Qi paused. “I have a prior commitment with a friend. I need to ask for her opinion first.”

“No problem at all! There are only nine of us in the department. If your friend is willing, she can join us,” Xiao Liu said cheerfully.

Chu Qi’s smile turned subtle. She sent a message to Wen Qingyun, explaining the situation. To be honest, she had her own little calculation: if Wen Qingyun agreed to join as her “friend,” she could start planning the transition from “mistress” to “partner” or even “lover.”

[Wen Qingyun: Not interested. It’s your department dinner; just go. I’ll take a taxi back.]

[Chu Qi: Why don’t you just take my car? There might be drinking at the dinner, so I’ll just take a taxi home later.]

Three minutes later:

[Wen Qingyun: Fine. I’ll come get the keys five minutes before off-work.]

It was the expected answer. Chu Qi wasn’t exactly heartbroken, but a sense of defeat was unavoidable. I’m not working hard enough, she thought. Maybe when I become the Branch General Manager, she’ll give me an official title.

…

Domesticity and Department Dinners

At 4:55 PM, Chu Qi met Wen Qingyun at the elevator to hand over the keys.

“I washed some vegetables in the fridge earlier. On your way home, you could buy some hand-pulled noodles at the market. Just fry an egg, boil the noodles, and toss the greens in,” Chu Qi instructed. “If you need me to bring anything back, just message me. I’ll buy it directly from a shop; it’s cleaner than takeout.”

Wen Qingyun took the keys. “Got it.”

“Yuanbao can only have 50g of kibble tonight, and no more than 10 freeze-dried treats,” Chu Qi added. “Try to get him to move; ten minutes on the cat wheel would be best.”

Wen Qingyun nodded, accustomed to this. She didn’t even realize that she lacked her usual impatience for such trivial details. Usually, if someone reported such “trifle matters” to her, she’d have cut them off with a dark face by the third sentence.

…

The dinner was held at a private kitchen. Director Zhao, a man in his forties, was impressed by Chu Qi’s expertise. They discussed Tread Snow’s first batch of products—air purifiers and humidifiers. Chu Qi’s logic was flawless; she had clearly done her homework.

As the atmosphere warmed up, fruit wine and sparkling cider were served. Around 8:00 PM, the bill was settled.

“Even if it’s just fruit wine, if you drove, call a designated driver,” Director Zhao reminded his subordinates.

Chu Qi stood by the roadside, checking her phone. It had been seven minutes since she sent her location to Wen Qingyun. Just as she was wondering if she should suggest a walk to the food street, a very familiar car pulled up.

License plate: QY411.

“President Wen!” Director Zhao waved, a bright smile on his face.

Wen Qingyun nodded in acknowledgment and unlocked the doors. Director Zhao was confused—did he do something wrong? Was the dinner too expensive? (It was only 120 yuan per person, well below the 200 yuan limit).

“Director Zhao, I’ll be heading off now,” Chu Qi said, her voice light and airy.

“Oh, okay, watch out on your way ho—” Before he could finish, he watched Chu Qi naturally open the passenger door and slide right in next to the CEO.

Wen Qingyun didn’t say a word, signaled, and merged into traffic.

Director Zhao stood frozen. Wait… Chu Qi is the CEO’s friend? A ‘pay rent’ kind of friend? He began to reflect on every word he’d said to her that day, breathing a sigh of relief that he hadn’t overstepped.

…

The “Spouse” Clause

Inside the car, Chu Qi held Wen Qingyun’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Wen Qingyun allowed it.

“Did you eat?” Chu Qi asked. “Want to hit the food street?”

“Are you still hungry?”

“Maybe a little.” Chu Qi knew Wen Qingyun must have arrived early to time the pickup so perfectly. She cares about me, she thought.

…

Two weeks later, Chu Qi was a star in the R&D department. Director Zhao decided to confirm her permanent status ten days early, complete with a hefty bonus.

While looking at the paperwork, Chu Qi saw the “Rental Subsidy” form and messaged Wen Qingyun.

[Chu Qi: Do I qualify for the rental subsidy?]

[Wen Qingyun: You want to apply?]

[Chu Qi: I was thinking maybe not.]

Wen Qingyun turned to her assistant. “What’s the subsidy for a Deputy Director?”

“About 2,000 to 3,000 yuan,” the assistant replied.

Wen Qingyun looked back at the chat. Chu Qi had been paying her 5,000 yuan a month. Technically, she was a tenant. But then…

[Chu Qi: Qingyun, I looked at Clause 5. It says: ‘Employees whose spouse owns a home in the city may not apply.’]

Wen Qingyun smirked. So that’s where she’s going with this.

[Wen Qingyun: Is that so? We aren’t married. Strictly speaking, you don’t have a ‘spouse.’]

[Chu Qi: My boss hates it when employees fabricate things to trick the company. I think ‘spouse’ is a limited term. If an employee has a same-sex partner not recognized by the Civil Affairs Bureau, ‘spouse’ doesn’t quite fit.]

[Chu Qi: To be the kind of employee my boss likes, I’ve decided I don’t qualify. Don’t you agree?]

Wen Qingyun actually laughed out loud in her office.

[Wen Qingyun: What do I gain whether you’re right or wrong?]

[Chu Qi: If I’m right, as a qualified partner, I will hand over 60% of my salary and bonuses, and provide even more ‘unpaid services’ in our private life.]

Wen Qingyun paused. 5,000 yuan in rent, or 60% of a 30k+ salary? The choice was easy.

[Wen Qingyun: 60% it is. Including all bonuses.]

[Chu Qi: YES! I’M WILLING!]

…

In the R&D office, Xiao Liu poked his head in. “Sister Chu, HR is asking for your subsidy form.”

“Tell them I don’t qualify,” Chu Qi said with a radiant smile. “I live with my partner now. I don’t pay rent.”

Xiao Liu’s eyes widened with gossip. He reported back to Director Zhao.

Director Zhao, knowing Chu Qi lived with the CEO and was driven to work by the CEO, did the math.

Chu Qi said she moved in with her ‘partner’ and stopped paying ‘rent’ (to the company).

The probability of her finding a new partner and moving out of the CEO’s house in one morning without taking leave is… zero.

Director Zhao swallowed hard. He had just discovered a massive secret.