The Tragic Heroine Fell in Love with Me - Chapter 32

Bad news: Xiao San had taken quite a fall. Even though she hadn’t felt much on the day it happened, the next day, the pain was so intense she couldn’t even get out of bed.

Good news: Xiao San had found a job she was excited about. Heber IT just happened to have an opening for an intern.

It was a mid-sized company with around three hundred employees, more than half of whom were IT staff.

Xiao San couldn’t remember when she had submitted her resume to Heber IT, but she usually applied everywhere without much thought, so she didn’t pay it much attention.

After communicating with the HR department at Heber IT, they agreed she could start in half a month. They were very accommodating, and the terms were quite favorable.

Maybe it was because she had been so unlucky before that her luck was finally turning around.

This must be what they meant by “fortune favors the bold” or “after a storm comes a calm.”

Xiao San was so excited she couldn’t sleep for several nights.

On the morning of her first day, she woke up at three in the morning and sat stiffly in the living room.

For some reason, even though she had worked many part-time jobs before, this one felt different, it stirred a deeper excitement in her.

“Why are you up so early?” Xiao Gai, who had gotten up to use the bathroom, saw someone sitting in the living room and thought he’d seen a ghost.

Rubbing his eyes, he realized it was Xiao San sitting there.

“I’m just a little excited,” Xiao San said, sitting bolt upright.

“Is that all you’ve got? Once you start working, there’ll be plenty of late nights. No need to start pulling all-nighters now.”

“Get lost!” Xiao San shot him a glare.

Xiao Gai had no idea.

In her previous life, just as she was about to start working, she had suddenly been sent back to her senior year of high school. Now that she had a second chance, she was almost afraid time would rewind to high school again.

She had no desire to go through the college entrance exams again. Twice had already drained her brain cells dry, a third time, and she’d surely raise both hands in surrender.

The sun rose as usual.

Xiao San’s fears did not come true.

Carrying her laptop bag, she hurried to the company.

By the time she arrived, it wasn’t even 7:30 yet.

IT companies usually had flexible working hours, and at 7:30, even the cleaning staff hadn’t arrived.

Xiao San had no choice but to wait outside the door for a long time until the property management finally came to open up.

The property management staff probably hadn’t expected anyone to arrive earlier than them and exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao San.

After entering the company, Xiao San waited for another hour or so. It was almost 9:30 when employees started trickling in.

“Are you, Xiao San?” the HR representative asked uncertainly when she noticed the unfamiliar girl waiting on the sofa by the entrance.

Xiao San quickly nodded. “Yes, Xiao San.”

She awkwardly scratched the back of her head. Even she found her behavior a bit ridiculous, but she couldn’t help the overwhelming excitement.

“Alright, come with me,” the HR representative said. She was a gentle young woman, just over five feet tall, with a cute baby face and a doll-like voice.

Xiao San had zero resistance to girls like this and followed without hesitation. Thankfully, this was the real HR and not some scammer.

The HR representative’s surname was Guo, and her name was Guo Pianpian.

Hearing the name, Xiao San couldn’t help but think, “What a fitting name.”

“Your workstation is over there,” Guo Pianpian pointed to a desk not far away. “Next to you is Zhang Peng, our lead developer. You’ll report to him, and if you have any questions, you can ask him.”

Xiao San nodded. “Got it.”

“Today, you’ll go through the onboarding process. Since an investor is coming to inspect our office area, things might not go as smoothly as usual. Your main tasks for today are to pick up your computer and get the necessary software installed.”

Xiao San touched her own laptop, feeling a bit embarrassed to admit she hadn’t realized the company provided computers.

She nodded in response.

Guo Pianpian added, “Oh, and one more thing since there’s an investor visiting today, make sure you don’t use your phone. If you get caught playing on it.”

Though she didn’t finish her sentence, the implication was clear.

As if worried she’d scared Xiao San, Guo Pianpian softened her tone. “But normally, we’re pretty relaxed here. As long as you finish your work, it’s fine to use your phone, just don’t play any sound out loud. Also, try not to take out your phone when the boss is around.”

Even without deliberately softening her voice, Guo Pianpian’s tone was naturally gentle.

Xiao San wasn’t frightened at all; she just found the HR person adorable and kind. She nodded and said, “I understand. I won’t even glance at my phone today.”

“Haha, you don’t have to go that far.”

Guo Pianpian led Xiao San to her workstation, where Zhang Peng had just arrived. When he saw Guo Pianpian with a young woman, his face instantly turned red.

“Hey, don’t act like you’re on a blind date. This is our new colleague. You guys are always saying we need more female developers well, here she is. Make sure to take good care of her,” Guo Pianpian said playfully.

Xiao San raised her hand in greeting. “Hello, I’m Xiao San. Looking forward to working with you.”

Zhang Peng’s face flushed even deeper.

“Don’t mind him. Everyone in our company is like this. You’ll see once you get to know them each one, ah!” Guo Pianpian sighed heavily, her tone full of unspoken exasperation.

Xiao San sat down at her desk and took out her laptop.

Just as she set it down, Guo Pianpian brought over the company-issued computer and placed it on the desk. She then turned to Zhang Peng and said, “The boss is bringing an investor for an inspection today, so don’t you dare play on your phone. Last time the boss caught you, I got an earful because of it.”

Zhang Peng glanced at Xiao San and grumbled, “I just checked the time on my phone. So ridiculous.”

“Can’t you check the time on your computer?” Guo Pianpian retorted before adding, “Don’t be a bad influence on the newbie.”

Zhang Peng waved his hand impatiently. “So annoying, just go already.”

He then turned to Xiao San. “You got your computer already? Wow, you’re lucky, it’s a brand new Mac. I’ve requested a new one several times, but they never give me one.”

Xiao San looked awkwardly at the new computer. It was her first time in such a situation, and she wasn’t sure how to respond.

Zhang Peng continued, “Well, hurry up and install whatever you need. Since the boss is inspecting today, we’ll just have to tough it out. No phone usage, okay?”

Xiao San wanted to say she wasn’t that attached to her phone anyway.

But once she actually started working on the computer, she realized how agonizing it was to completely avoid her phone.

Suddenly, she began to miss the days she spent at home.

Zhang Peng leaned in, tilting his head as he said, “I know you want to play on your phone, and so do I, but we can’t.”

Xiao San looked at Zhang Peng, who had been blushing just moments before, and suddenly understood Guo Piaopiao’s frustration.

He seemed quite introverted, so why did he now come across as annoyingly cheeky?

She nodded and continued installing the computer software, fully immersed in the task, when Zhang Peng suddenly nudged her. “Focus, the boss is coming.”

As he spoke, a group of people strode over from the other end of the hallway.

The partition between the office area and the corridor was a transparent wall adorned with the Hebo IT logo. From the outside, the inside was clearly visible, and vice versa.

Xiao San didn’t recognize any of the Hebo IT executives, so all she could see were a few middle-aged and younger individuals, both men and women, walking over.

The second person in line, dressed in a sharp women’s suit, was likely the investor they’d mentioned, given how enthusiastically the others were guiding her.

Just as Xiao San squinted to get a clearer look at the person’s face, Zhang Peng quickly nudged her arm again.

Zhang Peng stared rigidly at his computer screen, not giving any indication that he was the one who had just nudged her.

His lips didn’t move, but Xiao San could clearly hear him say, “Don’t look over there, it’s easy to make eye contact.”

As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes toward the mirror beside his computer.

Well, Xiao San could clearly see the figures in the hallway reflected in the mirror.

The corner of Xiao San’s mouth twitched.

It was hard to describe.

She felt as though her impression of Zhang Peng was somewhat shattered.

Xiao San glanced into the mirror.

But then she froze.

The person in the mirror was looking back.

Their eyes didn’t meet directly in the reflection, but Xiao San could distinctly feel that the person was looking at her.

Xiao San abruptly turned to look into the hallway.

Zheng Qi stood there, her stern expression instantly softening.

That warmth transformed the winter flowers into vibrant blooms, the cold moonlight suddenly turning into sunlight, and the biting wind into a gentle spring breeze.

Xiao San was almost captivated by Zheng Qi’s smile.

She suppressed the urge to raise her hand, pursed her lips, and let her smile turn bitter.

She turned back, sat at her workstation, and stared at the computer, her heart pounding rapidly.

She scoffed inwardly she should stay away from everyone related to the plot, including the female lead.

She wasn’t sure if she was mocking herself or giving herself a reminder.

“Hey, do you know that person?” Zhang Peng leaned over again.

Xiao San shook her head.

Several times before, even when Zheng Qi had clearly seen her, she had pretended not to notice.

This time, she would surely pretend not to see her as well.

Xiao San let out a bitter laugh. “No, I don’t.”

Zhang Peng curled his lip, as if he’d lost out on some juicy gossip.

Suddenly, Zhang Peng let out a sharp breath. Trembling, he tugged at Xiao San’s arm and made an incredulous sound from his throat.

Xiao San looked at him in confusion and noticed that his entire body had stiffened. He quickly covered the mirror, his eyes darting around as if asking what was happening.

In Xiao San’s line of sight, she saw Zheng Qi leading the group, step by step, toward her.

Zheng Qi smiled, her expression still as warm as ever. “San’er, long time no see.”

The moment she laid eyes on Xiao San, she took out a silver necklace from her bosom and, without giving Xiao San a chance to react, decisively fastened it around her neck.

Before Xiao San could voice her refusal, Zheng Qi said, “Two years ago, I fell in love with this necklace and have always wanted to give it to you, but never had the chance. I kept thinking that if I ever saw you again, I would put it on you right away.”

Xiao San froze, her hand hovering near her neck where she had intended to remove the necklace. Strangely, she found herself unable to take it off.

She wanted to say, “You were the one who left without a word back then. Why are you acting like the victim now, as if it were all my fault?”

Zhang Peng immediately stood up and hurried away, clutching his chest, his face flushed bright red.

Xiao San glanced at Zhang Peng, wishing with all her heart that she could escape along with him.

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