7.
This man had a certain presence, and probably some real power, too.
When he saw we weren't moving, he waved a hand and approved it on the spot.
The name looked familiar. Wasn't he the deputy general manager in charge of human resources at headquarters?
A little matter like this had actually gotten his attention. How interesting. Ms. Bạch must have quite a bit of pull.
“I agree. Go on, get out of here. You're resigning of your own free will, so the company won't pay you a cent in compensation. And until City No. 1 is finished, you won't get your commission either.”
He held his chin high, looking arrogant and haughty. It was infuriating.
Such a tiny little nobody, and he was talking down to us?
Sorry, but Diệp Mộng Hoan and I are both as hardheaded as rocks.
We just couldn't hold back.
We looked at each other. “Take him down?”
“You take him down, and I'll take him down too.”
All right.
We cleared our throats and unleashed a storm of scolding on him.
If hitting someone weren't illegal—and if we weren't determined to be law-abiding citizens—our fists would probably have landed on his face by then.
We left him completely dazed. By the time he came to, we'd already walked out of the conference room.
An angry roar came from behind us. “Lục Ôn Ninh! Diệp Mộng Hoan!”
We were blind and deaf. We saw nothing and heard nothing.
After blowing off steam, we felt much better. We returned to our desks and started packing our things.
The other colleagues saw us and kept asking what was going on.
“Oh, the company fired the two of us. See you around, everyone~”
Seeing how calm I was, our other colleagues looked like they wanted to say something but held back.
I knew they felt sorry for us.
After all, this interior design firm was considered one of the best in the city.
I had finished packing when Diệp Mộng Hoan came over holding a cardboard box. “Sweetie, let's go to HR and take care of the resignation paperwork.”
“Okay, let's go.”
We'd just signed the paperwork and received this month's pay. Before we could even get out the front door, a man came rushing in like the wind, sliding on his knees right up to Diệp Mộng Hoan.
He clung to Diệp Mộng Hoan's legs and wailed, “Miss, please don't joke around with me! If you quit, this company won't make it to tomorrow...”
The deputy general manager in charge of HR at headquarters was following us, along with Mr. Vương and Ms. Bạch, who were there to watch the show, and a few other colleagues with nothing better to do. They were all stunned, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit two eggs.
“G-General Manager?”
8.
I stood to one side holding my box, a little surprised myself.
I knew Diệp Mộng Hoan's family had money, but I hadn't realized they were this rich. Even the general manager was clinging to her legs, begging her not to leave?
But this moment felt so good—especially seeing the looks on the faces of the people behind us. It was absolutely exhilarating!
Diệp Mộng Hoan frowned and tilted her head, thinking for a full minute before tentatively asking, “Handsome, who are you?”
She didn't know him?
The people behind us heard her question too. The astonishment on their faces faded, and they swarmed over like a hive of bees. Mr. Vương and Ms. Bạch were the quickest to react. They flanked the man, trying to help him up.
“General Manager, you must have the wrong person. Get up—those tiles are cold.”
But the general manager didn't move. He even shrugged his shoulders to signal that they should let go.
“Get away. This is—”
“General Manager, these two are just interns at our company. Look, she doesn't even know who you are. You must have the wrong person.”
“Exactly, General Manager. She has a pretty ordinary face. It's only natural that you'd mistake her for someone else.”
“How could a crude little slut like her possibly be the young lady you were talking about...”
The two of them kept prattling on, completely oblivious to the fact that the so-called general manager's face had turned livid.
Diệp Mộng Hoan was getting impatient, too. She kicked her legs, but couldn't get free, so she looked over at me.
I immediately understood. I stepped forward, crouched down, and pried the so-called general manager's hands off her, freeing Diệp Mộng Hoan.
The general manager finally got to his feet with their help. The next second, he swung both arms and slapped each of them once. “You two idiots! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!”
It looked like we wouldn't be leaving just yet. Staying to watch the show for a while wasn't a bad idea.
Mr. Vương and Ms. Bạch covered their faces in disbelief. The deputy general manager from headquarters seemed to actually know Ms. Bạch, and hurried forward to defend the two of them:
“Phó Minh Châu, what on earth are you going crazy about?”
“You publicly slapped Mr. Vương and Ms. Bạch for the sake of two interns. Have you lost your mind?”
“Do you even know who Bạch Tuyết Anh is?”
9.
The deputy general manager didn't give them the slightest consideration. He looked at them coldly. “I don't know what kind of status she has, but whoever she is, in front of Miss Diệp, even a dragon has to keep its head down!”
The people across from us were so angry they were speechless. But with the deputy general manager bearing down on them, their faces flushed red, and they glanced our way, anxious and uncertain.
I whispered into Diệp Mộng Hoan's ear, “Hoan Hoan, is there some other status you have that I don't know about?”
She looked just as baffled:
“I don't know. This deputy general manager must have the wrong person. I remember my family doesn't own any businesses in this city...”
“Oh, maybe you just look so much like some rich young lady...”
If even the person in question had no idea what was going on, then I was even more lost. Maybe he really had mistaken her for someone else.
Realizing this, we exchanged a look and were about to slip away quietly.
Phó Minh Châu had sharp eyes. He quickly blocked our way, then bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle to Diệp Mộng Hoan. “Hello, Miss. I'm Phó Minh Châu, general manager of Huyễn Mộng Interior Design, part of Mộng Huyễn Group.”
We linked arms, leaned in, and exchanged a knowing look.
[Sweetie, doesn't look like he has the wrong person, does it?]
[I don't know either. I really don't know him.]
After silently exchanging our thoughts, we straightened up.
“Deputy General Manager, right? I really don't know you. And this ‘Miss’ you're talking about—I'm definitely not her.”
People can mistake someone for someone else, but we can't pretend to be someone we're not, right?
I hurried to back her up, too. “Right, right, right. He definitely has the wrong person.”
Phó Minh Châu looked up and smiled earnestly. “Miss, it's only natural that you don't know me, but I would remember you even if you were reduced to ashes!”
“Your father, Mr. Diệp Diệu Huy, invested in and founded Mộng Huyễn Group five years ago. Four years ago, on your coming-of-age day, he transferred it to you!”
10.
I froze, staring blankly at Diệp Mộng Hoan beside me.
Seriously, girl, you're amazing!
Mộng Huyễn Group was a publicly traded company worth billions!
And now someone was telling me that this company belonged to my beloved best friend?
Could it even be just one of her companies?
Oh my God, what kind of golden thigh had I managed to cling to!
Diệp Mộng Hoan looked confused for a moment. She tilted her head and thought for a while, then seemed to remember something:
“Huh? I think there really was a company like that. I just remember it had the word ‘Huyễn’ in the name or something. I don't remember exactly.”
“Sorry. My family and my dad's friends gave me so many things for my coming-of-age day—piles of paperwork. I was in a hurry that day, so I only skimmed through it and don't remember much.”
So much… and she was in a hurry?
Something suddenly clicked. I think I was with her on her coming-of-age day.
I'd planned to go at first, but my period came unexpectedly, and my cramps were so bad I couldn't make it.
She was worried about me and didn't want to go, but after I spent half the day persuading her, she reluctantly went.
I remembered she only stayed for an hour before coming back…
I held back from pressing my philtrum.
My beloved bestie, the surprises you spring on me really do come one after another, like a machine gun.
Phó Minh Châu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said awkwardly, “Oh… I see. Our Mộng Huyễn Group really is rather insignificant. It's only natural that you don't remember it, Miss.”
Me: …...
The people behind him: …...
I was fucking stunned.
Diệp Mộng Hoan seemed oblivious to how horrifying their conversation had been. Seeing that the misunderstanding was cleared up, she poked my stiff cheek:
“Sweetie, are we still going?”
Phó Minh Châu's gaze fell on me, along with the gazes of everyone behind him. They were all looking at me.
Um… This is terrifying. I feel like if I say “let's go” right now, they'll pounce on me, tear me apart, and eat me alive!
I could barely get the words out. “Should… should we go?”
Diệp Mộng Hoan blinked her big, Barbie-doll eyes, looking docile but indifferent:
“You decide. I'll go along with whatever you say.”
Everyone's gaze shifted back and forth between us.
Good grief, what rich young lady acts like you?
You listen to me this much? Does that even make sense?
Still, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. I cleared my throat, and Phó Minh Châu immediately bowed and handed me a bottle of water, already uncapped.
“Then… let's stay and look around some more.”
I could clearly see everyone let out a sigh of relief.