The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 24

“Huh? Ah Qi went abroad?”

Xiao San never expected that after sending Zheng Qi off for a date with Shen Lin in the morning, she would receive news in the afternoon that Zheng Qi was going abroad for further studies.

Xiao’s father sat at the edge of the dining table, eating while saying, “The master sent me to tell you. Now that she’s dating the young master and is set to become the future Mrs. Shen, she’s been sent abroad for training.”

Xiao San looked utterly unconvinced. “But there’s no need to be in such a hurry, is there?”

Xiao Gai was also filled with anger. “Exactly! She didn’t even pack her things. How could she just leave like that?”

Xiao’s mother, however, thought more deeply. “Did something happen? Otherwise, why would she leave so abruptly?”

“Ah,” Xiao’s father sighed softly. “It’s all because of Zheng Qi’s family. When they found out she was dating the young master, they went to the Shen family demanding compensation, accusing the young master of abducting an underage girl. Isn’t that just stirring up trouble? How old is she? Far from underage, they were clearly just looking for an excuse.”

Xiao’s mother said, “I know the Zheng family. That mistress and Ah Qi’s mother came that day. I had a feeling they were up to no good.”

“Up to no good? More like pushing Zheng Qi into a pit of fire,” Xiao’s father continued. “I heard they were planning to send Zheng Qi to the bed of some old man named Chen. That man is even older than me. Apparently, the Zheng family has a piece of land they want to develop, and this Chen guy can help them with something, so they were going to offer Zheng Qi to him.”

“What?” Xiao’s mother looked shocked. “Is that really what happened?”

“Who would’ve thought? And they’re her own parents! How could they do such a thing? The master and madam felt that if Zheng Qi stayed in the country, she might still be controlled by the Zheng family, so they sent her abroad immediately.”

Xiao Gai said, “But she lived with us for so long. At the very least, she could’ve said goodbye.”

Xiao’s father waved his hand dismissively. “Enough, enough. What do you, a child, know? This is for her own good. Our house is still part of the Shen family’s property. Besides, if Zheng Qi can break free from that parasitic family, it’s better for everyone.”

Xiao San didn’t even know how she made it back to her room.

Zheng Qi had left so suddenly.

Without any warning.

She picked up her phone, there wasn’t a single message.

Even if she had to leave, she could’ve at least sent a text.

Thud! The phone was thrown to the floor as the bald boss pointed angrily at Xiao San. “If you can do the job, do it. If not, get out.”

Xiao San hung her head, being scolded like a dog, not even daring to retort.

Wah, this is too pitiful. Who said you’d be free after starting work? It’s even worse than being in school.

“Do you think the company keeps you around to do nothing? You can’t even handle such simple tasks. What’s the big deal about having a meal with a client? All of you keep making excuses.” He cursed under his breath, “All day long, you dress up like peacocks, but when it comes to having a meal with a client, suddenly you’re all virtuous and chaste. Hah, what a fine bunch.”

The bald boss’s muttering wasn’t loud, but Xiao San, standing in the front row of those being scolded, heard it clearly.

She stared at him speechlessly.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

Xiao San quickly shook her head, lowering her gaze as she tightly clutched her employee badge.

“You all need to reflect on yourselves. The company isn’t keeping you here to freeload. By this afternoon, three of you must be chosen to accompany the clients for dinner, or you can pack your bags and get out,” the bald boss snapped, slamming the table once more before turning to leave.

A moment later, once the bald boss had truly left, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief and began murmuring complaints under their breaths.

Xiao San stared blankly at her shattered phone.

“Xiao San, did he break your phone?” someone exclaimed, and immediately, everyone rushed over, chattering all at once.

“Is that bald guy out of his mind? If he’s so tough, why doesn’t he smash his own phone? Why take it out on yours?”

“Xiao San, are you going to file for labor arbitration? If you do, count me in.”

“That bald guy has no shame. He doesn’t treat us like human beings at all.”

Amidst these grievances, other voices chimed in as well.

“Who’s going to accompany the clients for drinks this afternoon?”

“Don’t put it so crudely. It’s not ‘accompanying for drinks’, it’s dining with clients.”

“Isn’t it the same thing? Those people are just like the old baldy. They don’t just eat, they love forcing drinks on you and getting handsy. It’s no different from being an escort.”

Everyone sighed again in resignation.

Ever since their senior year of college, the school had completely washed its hands of them, yet it still required them to provide proof of employment otherwise, it would affect their graduation.

Xiao San had lost count of how many sleepless nights she’d spent worrying about getting that graduation stamp.

It was utterly ridiculous. This was already her third job, and she’d run into another boss like this.

“Xiao San, are you really not going to file for arbitration?”

Xiao San glanced at the person who’d spoken and silently pulled her phone out of her pocket. “This phone isn’t mine. Also…” She pulled a sheet of paper from the desk. “I’ve already prepared my resignation.”

“If it’s not yours, then whose is it?”

Seeing that no one seemed concerned about her resignation, she placed the resignation notice back on the desk.

It was only her third day at this job, but in these three days, she felt she had witnessed every facet of human nature.

Just like how the bald boss loved smashing phones to vent his anger, anyone’s phone was fair game. Xiao San had seen it on her very first day.

And the person urging her to file for arbitration? The moment she agreed, he’d surely run straight to the bald boss to tattle. She’d witnessed that on her second day.

Just as everyone was puzzling over whose phone it was, the bald boss stormed back in. “Where’s my phone?”

Everyone’s eyes drifted toward the utterly demolished phone, and suddenly, they all understood.

The bald boss fumed, “What’s wrong with all of you? Cat got your tongues? Haven’t you seen my phone?”

Xiao San produced her resignation letter once more. “Um, even though I’m just an intern, I’d like to inform you that I’m resigning.”

With that, she waved the resignation notice at the boss and quickly took two steps back.

Sure enough, the bald boss lunged in anger, but Xiao San was too quick, leaving him no chance to grab her.

Xiao San grabbed her bag. “Don’t forget to transfer my three days’ wages to my account. Goodbye.”

With that, she turned and sprinted away.

It was already the end of the workday. If she didn’t run now, she might not get another chance.

“Beep! Clocking out.”

No one dared to leave right at 5:30.

But Xiao San did not only did she do it, but she ran like the wind.

Xiao San didn’t dare to relax until she had run all the way onto the bus.

This household was absolutely the nightmare of her life. The next time she looked for a job, if she felt something was off, Xiao San would definitely run away on the very first day.

It had been over a year since Zheng Qi left.

Zheng Qi’s departure hadn’t brought any major changes to Xiao San’s life. If there was one thing that could be considered a change, it was that Xiao San’s surroundings had gradually returned to a state similar to that of the real world.

The exchange students at the school quickly returned to where they belonged, and even Shen Lin had left.

This year, Xiao San’s father resigned from his job as the Shen family’s driver and started his own small business. Though not exactly wealthy, he had managed to accumulate some assets.

Xiao San, however, was just a bit unlucky.

She had taken on three jobs, and combined, they hadn’t lasted more than ten days.

She even encountered a problematic boss like the bald-headed one.

Was this the real world?

Or was it the disparity stemming from the world of a novel?

Dejected, Xiao San walked into KFC, ordered some fast food, and sat by the glass window near the entrance. She picked at her fries one by one, popping them into her mouth.

But more than these troubles, what worried Xiao San even more was that this was the true beginning of the novel The CEO’s Wife, Don’t Run Away: A Love That Erodes the Bones.

One month after the female lead returned from her two-year stay abroad, the male lead’s fiancée and girlfriend were gang-raped. The male lead, believing the female lead was responsible, relentlessly tormented her, ignoring her explanations and sending her to prison.

There were only four months left until Zheng Qi’s two-year stay abroad would be complete.

As the days passed one by one, Xiao San couldn’t help but feel increasingly anxious.

She had originally hoped that Zheng Qi and Shen Lin could develop mutual feelings. If even a little affection had been nurtured, Shen Lin might not have treated Zheng Qi so harshly.

But just as she had started, Zheng Qi was sent abroad.

Suddenly, Xiao San felt a gaze fixed on her from outside the window.

Puzzled, she looked over and saw a familiar face, Lin Nuanyan.

Lin Nuanyan looked even more sophisticated than she had four years ago. She wore a pair of sparkling high-heeled sandals and a white short-sleeved dress, carrying a tiny bag that could probably only fit a lipstick. A platinum necklace adorned her clean neck, with matching earrings. Her makeup was fresh and gentle. At that moment, she was holding a pair of purple-red sunglasses with one hand, her big, sparkling eyes curiously fixed on Xiao San.

As soon as Xiao San looked over, Lin Nuanyan immediately brightened up, waved at her, and hurried into the KFC.

Xiao San thought Lin Nuanyan’s outfit was entirely unsuitable for a fast-food restaurant like this. She seemed more like someone who should be sitting on a sofa in a high-end luxury boutique nearby, waiting to be served.

“Ah, I didn’t expect it to really be you! I was watching from outside for a long time, and I thought I might have mistaken you for someone else,” Lin Nuanyan said cheerfully as she sat down opposite Xiao San. She raised her hand and called out, “Waiter, two glasses of water here, please!”

Xiao San quickly covered her face.

She felt a bit embarrassed.

“What would you like to drink? I’ll go order for you.”

“Plain water is fine, hot,” Lin Nuanyan replied without hesitation.

Xiao San gave an awkward smile, walked over to the counter to get a cup of hot water for Lin Nuanyan. While waiting, she noticed Lin Nuanyan curiously looking around. When Xiao San turned her head, their eyes met again.

Xiao San wanted to run away.

She didn’t want to have any further connection with anyone in the storyline. The best approach was to act like an ordinary NPC, unnoticed by any characters related to the protagonist.

Unfortunately, Lin Nuanyan seemed to be deliberately opposing her. Not only did she show no intention of leaving, but she also kept taking selfies with her phone and even waved Xiao San over to join her for a photo.

This is really something else.

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