My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Those. “Why Must We Have Met to Understand?”

“The notice is down! Vacation starts tomorrow. The day after is New Year’s Eve. Our department needs to have a proper celebratory dinner after work today.”

The Chief Engineer stepped out of his cubicle, clapping his hands. The office erupted in cheers. Someone hollered, “Boss, is it your treat?”

“You rascals, when is it not me getting fleeced? It’s settled—no absences tonight. I’ve booked a place. All-you-can-eat BBQ until you burst! Now, back to work!”

I smiled while organizing my files. BBQ! Finally! I looked at my empty mug, pulled two packets of instant coffee from my drawer, and kindly asked the colleague opposite me, “I’m heading to the pantry. Want a cup?”

He handed me his mug with a grin. “A cup of life-support, please. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

As I approached the breakroom, I heard voices gossiping inside. I leaned against the doorframe, listening.

“Hey, that newcomer who parachuted into Engineering recently… she’s got a big background, right? I’ve seen CEO Guan’s secretary come by several times right at lunch.”

“Yeah, tell us more!”

“Oh, You Feifan? Tsk tsk. Let me tell you, she’s something else. You know CEO Guan’s preferences. And get this—CEO Lan likes that type, too. You Feifan used to be CEO Lan’s woman.”

“Gasp! So she specializes in seducing big bosses? Why is she squeezing in here with us instead of being a kept woman? Who leaked this?”

“Some people in Finance came over from Jieshi Excellence. They said it themselves: You Feifan is untouchable. Offend her, and she’ll run to the bosses and file a black report against you!”

“I heard she was with CEO Lan for ten years. Then Guan’s status took the lead, and she dumped Lan instantly for the new flame. You can’t judge a book by its cover; she looks so honest, but she really knows how to play the field.”

To hell with you! I was fuming, but I stayed put, wanting to hear the rest.

“There’s bigger dirt! She’s an ex-con! Guess what she did?”

“What?”

“Intentional homicide! She’s a murderer!”

“God! The company actually hired someone with a record? I guess having a ‘background’ is everything. Terrifying!”

I sighed into my empty mug. The pantry—the eternal sanctuary of gossip. I decided it wasn’t worth arguing with strangers and turned to leave.

Suddenly, a cold wind brushed past me. Accompanied by the sharp clack-clack of high heels, a figure swept into the pantry. I froze, recognizing Phoebe’s back, and hurriedly followed her in.

The four women inside looked like they’d seen a ghost. Then they saw me, and the air left the room.

“Go to Finance and settle your wages immediately,” Phoebe said, her voice like ice. “Tell them I fired you. You’ll be compensated according to your contracts, not a penny less. This company doesn’t keep idle gossips. You’re terminated.”

The four women were speechless, too stunned even to beg. I walked nonchalantly to the water dispenser, brewing my coffee while mumbling to myself:

“They aren’t wrong. I am an ex-con. I am involved with you and CEO Guan. Chatting during a break isn’t a crime. However…”

Phoebe turned to me. I looked at the women with a darkened expression. “They should be fired.”

Their faces, which had held a spark of hope that I might defend them, instantly fell. Phoebe barked, “What are you staring at? Get out!”

Once we were alone, Phoebe stepped toward me. Her hard exterior softened into a look of concern, likely worried the gossip had hurt me. “If you’re tired of playing this game, just come home, okay?”

The tenderness in her voice was almost enough to sway someone, but I wasn’t buying it. Clack! I slammed my mug on the table, coffee splashing out.

“How many times do I have to say it?” I hissed. “We are over. I’m not getting back with you. Stop using the word ‘home’ with me.”

“And I don’t need you to play the hero. Gossip spreads everywhere. You walk in and fire people instantly—who do you think the office is going to blame when the story gets out? Me. How am I supposed to work here now?”

“Do you know the biggest difference between you and Guan Shuyun? Ask yourself: what kind of person is You Feifan in your eyes?”

“Subconsciously, you see me as an impulsive, incapable partner only fit for staying home, raising a child, and cooking—someone who needs your blind protection. You never consider what I want. You force your idea of ‘good’ on me and call it love. You neglect my feelings.”

“But Guan Shuyun is different. Even if my talent is mediocre, she finds value in me. She set aside our grudges to take me in and teach me. She gave me a professional framework and let me run with it. She knows how to respect me. You never gave me that.”

“A lover of ten years versus an enemy of less than one. In the end, it’s the latter who understands me. That is the difference.”

Phoebe’s eyes welled up. “Enough!” she choked out. “You don’t know… you don’t know how much I love you. I know I loved you the wrong way, and I want to fix it, to change my mistakes, but you won’t give me a chance!”

I shook my head. This conversation had reached its limit. I gave a heartless smile. “Blaming me again? In the end, you still don’t see what you did wrong. Just blame yourself. I’m doing fine. CEO Lan, please stop bothering me. Let me go.”

“My, my! I didn’t realize Xiao You had such a high opinion of me!”

Guan Shuyun was leaning against the doorframe, ending the tension. Phoebe immediately masked her emotions and swept past her out of the room without a word.

Guan Shuyun walked up to me, her smile fading. “You look quite cool when you’re being heartless. It seems you really are done with CEO Lan.”

I sighed and smiled at her. “The coffee’s cold.”

“I heard about the scene in here the moment I arrived.”

I shook my head helplessly. “I just wanted a cup of coffee and somehow caused a disaster.”

Guan Shuyun looked at me seriously. “They had to be fired. I won’t tolerate that talk either. If I were you, I would have walked in and started the fight myself. You have a lot of patience.”

She reached out and nudged the corners of my mouth upward. “Cheer up. Give me a smile. I’ll take you out for a good meal tonight.”

I smiled back. “Can’t. My department has a dinner tonight. I have to go.”

She pouted. “Boring. If you drink too much, I’ll send a driver.”

“No need, I’ll call a designated driver. I’m heading back to the office.”

“You Feifan.”

“Yeah?”

Guan Shuyun looked away, her tone casual. “That time in the kitchen… what I said… don’t take it to heart.”

I thought for a second. The kitchen… oh. “The bit about the ‘murderous ex-con’?”

“Yeah.”

I gave a lopsided smile. “It’s the truth. A stain that won’t go away. I never hide it. Wait… are you actually apologizing to me?”

“Don’t give me that ‘sunny’ look. Get out.”

“What a tsundere!”

Leaving the pantry, I took a sip of the cold coffee. My smile vanished. I stared down the long hallway and let out a silent sigh. Finally… you trust me completely. Acting is exhausting.

…

The department dinner was a blast. After saying goodbye to my colleagues, I was standing on the curb, slightly buzzed, debating between a designated driver or a taxi back to the Guan estate. Suddenly, a familiar Jaguar pulled up.

The window rolled down to reveal Qiao Xin’s face. She looked smug. “You Feifan, since you’re full, get in. You’ve played with Guan Shuyun long enough. Now it’s my turn.”

A bodyguard stepped out from the passenger side and shoved me into the back seat. I was dizzy. Qiao Xin frowned. “Open the window! The car reeks of alcohol!”

Since she thought I smelled, I leaned my head right onto her shoulder, mimicking Guan Shuyun’s “drunken fool” act. “My head hurts… lend me a shoulder!”

Qiao Xin pushed me away like I was a cockroach. “You Feifan! Get off me!”

“Ugh, even CEO Guan is more human than you. Whatever it is, tell me later. Let me sleep!”

I was bold, I’ll give myself that. Qiao Xin eventually gave up and squeezed into the corner. “You’re a total rogue!”

“Hey… you witch… where are you taking me…”

I mumbled as I sprawled across the seat. Qiao Xin ignored me. Between the swaying of the car and the alcohol hitting my brain, I drifted off to sleep.