Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 23

“Several executives at the company are dissatisfied with your sudden absence, especially Mr. Liu from the distribution department and Mr. Xu from the planning department. They’ve repeatedly suggested to Deputy General Manager Xu that the board be informed of your health condition, hoping you’ll step down temporarily to rest fully,” He Jiu said quietly.

Bai Shuixi glanced at Xia You, who was fiddling with the desk, and nodded. “Anything else?”

She doubted those two had been polite about it. After all, the original owner of this body had always been inconsistent, here today, gone tomorrow. Prolonged absence naturally eroded her influence.

Xu Chuan already controlled most of Tianyin’s projects, and with the distribution department handling post-production and the planning department overseeing script development, he effectively held sway over half the company.

The only silver lining was that the finance and legal departments remained loyal to the original owner’s mother. No matter what, those two departments wouldn’t easily betray her.

“And some of the mid-level team leaders are also unhappy.”

Ah, so morale was slipping too.

But it didn’t matter. With projects in hand, the situation could reverse. Besides, she never planned to stay at Tianyin long-term anyway, just coasting along would do.

Bai Shuixi responded calmly, “Hmm.”

“There’s also…” He Jiu hesitated, then added awkwardly, “Well, the chairman called to ask about you.”

“Hmm…” For a moment, Bai Shuixi didn’t even register who the chairman was. She stood there with her arms crossed before suddenly turning to He Jiu. “Wait, my mother called? What for?”

The original story hadn’t mentioned this.

If the Bai family’s leaders had intervened when the original owner harassed Xia You, Xia You wouldn’t have suffered so much, and Bai Shuixi wouldn’t have ended up dead.

“Uh…” He Jiu looked slightly uncomfortable. “The doctors probably reported your condition to the chairman. And, she also asked about Miss Xia.”

Bai Shuixi: “…”

So they actually intended to step in now?

He Jiu: “The chairman might return to the country within the month and will likely visit you then.”

Bai Shuixi fell silent, feeling at a loss for the first time.

She only knew how to deal with scheming family members never overindulgent ones. She wasn’t sure how to react. After a pause, she could only say, “Don’t mention this to Xia You for now.”

Since nothing had happened yet, there might still be room to maneuver.

Xia You wasn’t actually in that kind of relationship with her. It was best to keep her from interacting with the Bai family.

He Jiu: “Understood.”

As the two spoke quietly, staff from the office café appeared at the far end of the hallway leading to the CEO’s office, pushing a small cart laden with the porridge and dishes He Jiu had mentioned.

Bai Shuixi glanced at He Jiu, who nodded and signaled for the assistant to approach.

Xia You seemed to sense something and looked up. Bai Shuixi tilted her head and smiled. “Time to eat, jiejie.”

“…” Xia You’s expression turned slightly flustered. She hurried over and, after watching He Jiu walk away, whispered, “Why are you calling me that again?”

Bai Shuixi smiled playfully at Xia You, deliberately ignoring her words as she leaned in slightly and whispered at the same volume near Xia You’s ear, “Do you like your workstation? Should I add something for you like maybe a bouquet of flowers?”

Xia You immediately covered her ear, her first instinct being to glance back. Sure enough, the staff at the end of the hallway had tactfully lowered their heads, looking anywhere but at the CEO’s office.

Xia You: “……”

She glared at Bai Shuixi. “You’re so annoying.”

Bai Shuixi chuckled, arms crossed, and stepped aside to let Xia You enter the office first.

A faint scent of grapefruit candy drifted past as Bai Shuixi’s gaze briefly followed Xia You until she disappeared from view. Then, her attention turned to the catering staff.

Her expression cooled noticeably when facing the regular employees, her tone calm and detached. “What did you prepare?”

The catering staff still seemed a bit nervous around Bai Shuixi, offering a restrained smile. “Assistant He specifically mentioned your usual preferences. Since Miss Xia’s mother is from the south, the chef added two Huaiyang dishes as well.”

Xia You paused, her brow furrowing slightly, but she quickly composed herself with a soft “Hmm.” “Good job. Thank you for your hard work.”

With that, she turned thoughtfully and entered the office.

Once the catering staff had left, only Bai Shuixi and Xia You remained in the office. Xia You watched with concern as Bai Shuixi took a spoonful of salted pork bone congee. “Is it still good? If not, you can have something else.”

Bai Shuixi gave her an amused look. “I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Xia You: “Suit yourself.”

Bai Shuixi’s eyes curved into crescents. “I’ll have this. I like it.”

Xia You seemed exasperated but visibly relaxed, picking up a small bowl for herself and taking a spoonful.

To her, the congee was still delicious, though not as rich as when freshly made. Thankfully, Bai Shuixi, someone raised in luxury was willing to eat it.

Noticing Xia You savoring the congee, Bai Shuixi picked up her chopsticks and casually plucked a shrimp. “So, I heard your mother is from the south?”

“Mm,” Xia You looked up, surprised. “How did you know?”

Bai Shuixi lowered her gaze with a faint smile. “The catering staff mentioned Assistant He brought it up.”

“Oh, probably when we were discussing your food preferences,” Xia You replied without much thought, picking up a shrimp herself. “Mmm, this is really good.”

Bai Shuixi raised an eyebrow slightly. So, she does prefer southern flavors.

Quietly noting this, Bai Shuixi picked up her phone and checked her schedule app. “Have you thought about dealing with the matter involving Li Wei recently?”

Xia You’s chopsticks froze mid-air.

Bai Shuixi caught the subtle reaction, studying Xia You for a moment before setting her phone aside. “If you haven’t, forget it.”

“No,” Xia You put down her chopsticks. “Go ahead.”

Bai Shuixi watched her but didn’t elaborate, instead picking up another bite of food. “If this topic ruins your appetite, I’d feel terrible.”

“…” Xia You sighed helplessly, picking up her bowl of porridge as she delivered a pointed remark, “President Bai, you’re acting like such a green tea right now.”

Bai Shuixi paused for a moment before bursting into laughter: “A green tea Alpha?”

Xia You couldn’t help but chuckle too, nodding half-seriously: “Mhm.”

Bai Shuixi’s smile remained: “Fine.”

Green tea it is then. After all, she was essentially doing the same thing – meddling in other people’s relationships.

“Now can you tell me what this is about?” Xia You asked.

“In a few days, the G City Investors Association is hosting a banquet at the downtown hotel. Officially it’s for networking, but really it’s just an auction for certain projects,” Bai Shuixi explained calmly and methodically.

“I’ll be attending along with several major investors from G City, including some directors and producers. Rixin’s people probably won’t miss it either. Zhou Wanwan is currently their hottest artist, so she’ll definitely be there. And where she goes, Li Wei follows.”

“So I should also…”

“Accompany me,” Bai Shuixi said.

Xia You thought for a moment, sensing something off about the phrasing: “Accompany you?”

Bai Shuixi was straightforward: “I need a plus-one, and I don’t want to ask anyone else.”

“Oh…” Xia You was at a loss for words at this shamelessly direct answer, feeling an inexplicable sense of reassurance that was rather strange.

Unable to understand her own shifting emotions, Xia You stuffed a spoonful of salted pork bone porridge into her mouth and agreed: “Alright.”

Noticing her expression, Bai Shuixi smiled slightly before dropping the subject. They quickly finished their lunch, and when Xia You moved to leave, Bai Shuixi stopped her.

Xia You: “What is it?”

Bai Shuixi checked her phone: “Wait a bit longer.”

Puzzled, Xia You stood waiting until about five minutes later when Bai Shuixi finally released her hand: “Okay.”

Bewildered, Xia You opened the office door to be greeted by a huge bouquet of champagne roses – a complete surprise. Holding them was He Jiu, whose expression clearly said ‘I’m just the delivery person, please ignore me.’

Leaning against the doorframe with a smile, Bai Shuixi asked: “Do you like them?”

This had actually been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Earlier when teasing Xia You, she’d mentioned giving her flowers. Though Xia You hadn’t responded, Bai Shuixi – being the domineering CEO she was – felt she shouldn’t make empty promises.

After a moment of stunned silence, Xia You turned to Bai Shuixi in shock: “What are you doing?”

“Just don’t say I gave them to you,” Bai Shuixi shrugged nonchalantly, immediately understanding Xia You’s concern. “Only He Jiu saw me give them to you, right?”

Xia You studied Bai Shuixi for a moment, meeting her completely unapologetic gaze. Pressing her lips together, Xia You finally accepted the bouquet, muttering: “Your poor assistant must be running herself ragged for you.”

Without missing a beat, Bai Shuixi turned to He Jiu: “You’re getting a raise.”

He Jiu instantly brightened, her happiness visibly increasing by several degrees: “Thank you, President Bai!”

Xia You: “…”

After having the restaurant staff collect their dishes, Bai Shuixi had her secretary bring in the backlog of documents and began preparing for the meeting scheduled in an hour.

What she didn’t expect was having to deal with another subordinate before the meeting even started.

Bai Shuixi set aside the documents in her hand and looked up at the sharp, commanding woman standing before her desk. “Vice President Xu, what brings you here? Shouldn’t you be taking your lunch break?”

Xu Chuan remained silent for a moment, studying the suddenly composed young alpha whose striking appearance was impossible to ignore. Belatedly, she remembered this was her superior. A subtle emotion, like moss after rain, began creeping unnoticed in hidden corners of her heart.

“I’ve spoken with Assistant He,” Xu Chuan said, her tone unwaveringly calm despite whatever tempest might be raging inside.

“Hmm?” Bai Shuixi turned her gaze to Xu Chuan. What could a vice president possibly have to discuss with the CEO’s assistant? She doubted He Jiu would have disclosed anything to Xu Chuan.

“You… shouldn’t give Assistant Xia so much authority,” Xu Chuan said bluntly, meeting Bai Shuixi’s eyes directly. “I don’t think you should be so indulgent with your personal assistant.”

Bai Shuixi: “…Excuse me?”

The future ally of the female lead was telling her not to give the female lead too much power?

What kind of development was this?

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