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After get off work that evening, Suning drove Lan Qianyi to a newly opened French restaurant in Lujiazui.

The restaurant has a great ambiance, and the window seats offer a view of the Bund at night.

But Lan Qianyi was clearly distracted, poking around in her plate with her knife and fork without eating a single bite.

"What are you thinking about?" Su Ning asked.

"What else can I be thinking about?" Lan Qianyi put down her fork. "About what happened today. President Ma was obviously deliberately picking a fight. It was wrong of President Wu to hit someone, but for someone like Xu Taiping, a beating would be too lenient."

"That's how the workplace is, there are all kinds of people there." Su Ning poured her some red wine. "Have something to eat, don't think about it."

“I can’t eat.” Lan Qianyi frowned. “I’m thinking about that supplementary agreement. President Wu said he personally handed it to Xu Taiping, and Xu Taiping signed for it at the time. That agreement is definitely still in the energy group, but they’ve hidden it.”

"possible."

“Then let’s go look for it!” Lan Qianyi’s eyes lit up. “You help me, let’s go to the energy group after get off work and look for it. If we find the agreement, it will prove that General Manager Wu didn’t lie, and that Xu Taiping lost the document himself and tried to shift the blame.”

Su Ning looked at her: "So what if we found it?"

“Prove Mr. Wu’s innocence!” Lan Qianyi said. “Today, Ma Jianguo was so arrogant because we had something to hold against him for hitting someone. If we can find the agreement, it will show that Xu Taiping was negligent in his duties first, and although Mr. Wu acted impulsively, there was a reason for it.”

Su Ning shook her head: "You're thinking too simply. Even if you find the agreement, President Ma will say that Wu Ke came to supplement it later. And do you really think that the problem between Wu Ke and Group Four is just a piece of paper?"

"what is that?"

“It’s President Qu’s suppression.” Su Ning said directly, “President Qu doesn’t like Wu Kezhi. He thinks he’s too troublesome and doesn’t obey orders. The fact that he transferred the project Wu Kezhi was working on to the energy group is a signal. Even if there’s no agreement, something else will have happened.”

Lan Qianyi fell silent.

She knew Su Ning was right, but she was still unwilling to give up: "Are we just going to let it go like this? Just stand by and watch Group Four get bullied?"

“This is workplace politics, it’s normal.” Su Ning cut a piece of steak. “We’re new here, don’t get too involved. Just do your own thing.”

“I can’t do it,” Lan Qianyi said. “The fourth team has been very good to me. Although General Manager Wu has a bad temper, he takes good care of me. Manager Lin and Sun Yiqiu are both good people. I can’t watch them be wronged.”

Su Ning glanced at her but didn't say anything.

Lan Qianyi suddenly remembered something: "That's right! Gao Sicong! He was interning in the energy group two weeks ago, which was right around the time of the agreement handover. He must know where the supplementary agreement is!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke: "I'll go ask Gao Sicong, he'll tell me the location, and then you can help me go into the energy group to look for it. There'll be no one in the office at night, we'll sneak in, find the agreement, and take a picture. That will prove that General Manager Wu wasn't lying!"

Suning put down his knife and fork: "I won't do that for you."

Lan Qianyi was taken aback: "Why?"

“First, entering a leader’s office and rummaging through things violates company rules. If caught, you’ll be fired,” Su Ning said calmly. “Second, I’m from the energy group. Helping you fight against your own group is called betraying your own people.”

"But your energy group clearly made a mistake!" Lan Qianyi exclaimed anxiously. "Xu Taiping threw away the documents and tried to shift the blame, while Ma Jianguo protected his subordinates. Is that right?"

“Right and wrong are another matter.” Su Ning looked at her. “The workplace is not a courtroom; there’s no absolute right or wrong. I’m part of the energy team, so I can’t help outsiders against my own team. That’s the bottom line.”

"Bottom line?" Lan Qianyi laughed in exasperation. "Your bottom line is being unable to distinguish right from wrong, and siding with your relatives instead of those who are reasonable?"

“My bottom line is knowing my place.” Su Ning’s tone remained calm. “Lan Qianyi, it’s good that we have a sense of justice when we first enter the workforce. But some things can’t be solved by a sense of justice alone.”

"Then what do you rely on? By swallowing your anger? By going along with the crowd?"

"You need to understand the situation and protect yourself," Su Ning said. "You interrupted at the meeting today and already offended Ma Jianguo. If you sneak off to the energy group to find documents and get caught, do you think you can stay at Jin Chen?"

Lan Qianyi stared at him: "So you're just afraid of getting into trouble and don't dare to help me."

“It’s not that I don’t dare, it’s that I can’t,” Su Ning said. “I have my principles.”

"Your principle is simply to protect yourself!" Lan Qianyi stood up, her voice a little loud, attracting the attention of several tables of guests nearby. "Su Ning, I've always thought you were different from others. You're capable, you have ideas, and you're not the kind of person who follows the crowd. But now I realize I was wrong. You're no different from Xu Taiping and Ma Jianguo—just people who only care about their own interests!"

"Calm down," Su Ning said.

"I can't calm down!" Lan Qianyi grabbed her bag. "Since you won't help me, I'll find a way myself. At least Gao Sicong has more humane qualities than you!"

After she finished speaking, she turned and left.

"Lan Qianyi!" Su Ning called out to her.

But she rushed out of the restaurant without looking back.

Su Ning sat there, looking at the empty seat opposite her and the almost untouched dishes, and sighed.

The waiter came over and asked cautiously, "Sir, would you like some food packed up for you?"

"No need." Su Ning took out her credit card. "Checkout."

As he left the restaurant, he sent Lan Qianyi a WeChat message: "Tell me when you get home."

The message was sent, but there has been no reply.

This was the first real conflict they had experienced since they met.

Suning stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette.

He knew why Lan Qianyi was angry.

In her view, this was a matter of right and wrong; if the energy group made a mistake, it should be corrected.

Suning's refusal to help is cowardly and a sign of collusion.

But she doesn't understand, or rather, she doesn't want to understand.

The workplace is not school, nor is it a place where things are black and white.

Often, you have to make choices in gray areas.

Where is justice in the workplace? It's all about being cautious and doing your job.

This is not because he agrees with the energy group's approach, but because that's the rule.

The story of a newcomer arguing with his boss in the original drama is a complete fairy tale; the real workplace is a hundred times more brutal than depicted in TV shows.

Therefore, you can break the rules, but you must bear the consequences.

Lan Qianyi doesn't understand this principle yet, but one day she will.

But by then, will she still have that same sparkle in her eyes and uphold that pure sense of justice?
Unaware of this, Su Ning stubbed out his cigarette and walked towards the parking lot.

The phone was still silent; it seemed she was truly angry tonight.

My goal is to continue observing, and then, relying on the Su family's connections, create my own business and provide a true utopia for those who uphold justice.

……

The next day at noon, Sun Yiqiu and Lan Qianyi ran into Hao Shuai in the cafeteria.

The three of them sat down at a table for a meal, and they were still talking about yesterday's events.

"Mr. Wu still looks terrible today," Sun Yiqiu said in a low voice. "Manager Lin told me not to ask too many questions, but I feel... this matter isn't over yet."

Although Hao Shuai was assigned to the consumer goods group, he had also heard about yesterday's big conflict: "I heard from people in our group that President Ma said that Wu Kezhi should apologize in public, otherwise this matter will not be over."

Lan Qianyi bit her chopsticks: "The key is still that supplementary agreement. If we can find it, it will prove that Xu Taiping lost it himself, and President Wu will at least be in the right."

“But where are we going to look?” Sun Yiqiu asked, troubled. “The energy group is so big, with so many documents, we can’t just go through them all.”

“Gao Sicong,” Lan Qianyi suddenly said, “He was interning in the energy group two weeks ago, which was right around the time of the agreement handover. He must have seen that agreement.”

Hao Shuai thought for a moment: "That's possible. Maybe... we should go ask him?"

After the three finished their meal, they went directly to the technology team.

Gao Sicong had just returned from a meeting and was stunned to see the three of them standing next to his workstation.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Sicong, would you mind coming out and saying a few words?" Lan Qianyi asked.

Gao Sicong looked around and nodded: "Let's go to the stairwell."

The four of them went to the stairwell, but no one was there.

Lan Qianyi cut to the chase: "Si Cong, when you were interning in the energy group, did you see a supplementary agreement for a new energy battery project? The one that Group Four transferred to the energy group."

Gao Sicong's expression clearly changed.

After a few seconds of silence, he said, "What supplementary agreement? I don't recall it."

“Think about it again,” Sun Yiqiu said anxiously. “This agreement is very important. If we can find it, it will prove that President Wu was not lying and that Xu Taiping lost the document himself.”

Gao Sicong looked at Sun Yiqiu, his tone a little cold: "Yiqiu, it's not that I don't want to help you. But each group has its own position, and some things are better left unattended."

“We just want to find the truth,” Lan Qianyi said. “You know where that agreement is, right?”

Gao Sicong looked away: "I don't know."

But his reaction was so obvious; he must have known.

“Sicong,” Lan Qianyi softened her tone, “we’re not trying to go against the Energy Group. It’s just that this matter concerns President Wu’s reputation and the dignity of Group Four. Just do us a favor and tell us if you’ve seen that agreement and where you saw it.”

Gao Sicong sighed: "Lan Qianyi, we're new to the company, there are some things you don't understand. Sometimes the truth isn't that important, what's important is being in the right position."

"What do you mean?"

"So what if you find an agreement?" Gao Sicong said. "President Ma wants President Wu to apologize because President Wu hit President Xu. He'll find a way even if there's no agreement. What you're doing will only drag yourselves into this and might even implicate others."

He paused, then looked at Lan Qianyi: "Especially you, Lan Qianyi. I heard you argued with President Ma at the meeting yesterday? He's already remembered you. If you keep causing trouble, it won't do you any good."

“I’m not afraid,” Lan Qianyi said.

"Have you considered Suning?" Gao Sicong suddenly asked.

Lan Qianyi was taken aback.

“Suning is in the energy group now. Shouldn’t you ask him to help you find a supplementary agreement first?” Gao Sicong said bluntly. “If you ask him to help you deal with your own project team, how can he stand in the middle? Does he know what it means to be a traitor?”

Lan Qianyi didn't speak, but her expression said it all.

"See, I knew it." Gao Sicong shook his head. "Lan Qianyi, I advise you to stop looking for Su Ning. Doing so will only harm him. Those people in the energy group, especially Xu Taiping, are very petty. If they know Su Ning is helping you, how will he get along in the group in the future?"

That's a harsh thing to say, but it's the truth.

Sun Yiqiu whispered, "But...but President Wu is so good to us..."

“Then help him in your own way,” Gao Sicong said, “but don’t drag others down with you.”

After saying that, he glanced at his watch and said, "I should go back to work. I can't help you with this, and I won't. You'd better take care of yourselves."

He turned and left, leaving the three of them in the stairwell.

Hao Shuai spoke first: "Qianyi, Sicong is right. We shouldn't get too involved in this matter."

Lan Qianyi didn't speak. She leaned against the wall, her mind in turmoil.

Gao Sicong's reaction says it all; he must have seen the agreement, and may even know where it is.

But he refused to say because he didn't want to offend the energy group or cause trouble.

And Suning... said something similar yesterday.

Bottom line? Stance? Taking sides?

These words swirled in her mind, and she suddenly felt very tired.

It's not physical exhaustion, it's mental exhaustion.

"Qianyi, are you alright?" Sun Yiqiu asked worriedly.

"It's nothing." Lan Qianyi straightened up. "You guys go back first. I want to be alone for a while."

"OK then."

Hao Shuai and Sun Yiqiu left, leaving Lan Qianyi alone in the stairwell.

She took out her phone and looked at her chat with Su Ning.

She didn't reply to his messages last night, and Su Ning didn't send any more either.

Thinking about the argument at the restaurant last night, and his cold attitude, Lan Qianyi felt a tightness in her chest.

She thought their relationship was different now. Not just simple colleagues, nor casual casual sex partners.

At least, she was willing to show her most private side to Su Ning and to let down her guard in front of him.

But what about Suning? They won't even help with something this small.

……

That afternoon, in the fourth group's office.

Yu Wenli received a phone call, and her expression immediately changed.

She hung up the phone, paced around the office twice, and finally stopped in front of Wu Kezhi.

"Old Wu, can you do me a favor?" It was rare for her to use such a pleading tone.

Wu Kezhi looked up: "What is it?"

"I have to go to an urgent meeting, but Xiaoxiao's kindergarten is letting out early today, and I need to pick her up at 4:30." Yu Wenli glanced at her watch; it was almost 4:00. "I can't make it there in time. Could you pick her up for me?"

Wu Kezhi frowned: "Me, go pick her up? That's not appropriate! I don't even know your daughter."

"What should we do?" Yu Wenli asked anxiously. "My meeting was convened by President Qu on short notice, and I can't skip it. If no one picks Xiaoxiao up, she'll have to wait at the kindergarten until six o'clock, and she'll be scared by herself."

Wu Kezhi thought for a moment, then suddenly looked at Sun Yiqiu: "Yiqiu, you go."

Sun Yiqiu was organizing documents when he heard this and was startled: "Me? Mr. Wu, I can't do that... I don't know Mr. Yu's daughter, nor do I know the kindergarten teacher..."

"Just go when I tell you to," Wu Kezhi said. "Mr. Yu will send you the address and the teacher's phone number. Take the person back to the company first, and we'll talk after Mr. Yu finishes his meeting."

"But……"

"No buts." Yu Wenli had already written a note and handed it to Sun Yiqiu. "This is the address and the teacher's phone number. Xiaoxiao's name is Yu Xiaoxiao, she's four years old, and she wears two little braids. Just tell the teacher she's my colleague."

Sun Yiqiu held the note, looking troubled.

But seeing Wu Kezhi's expression that left no room for refusal, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree: "Okay... alright."

"Thanks, Yiqiu. I'll treat you to dinner another day." Yu Wenli said and left in a hurry.

Sun Yiqiu looked at the note in his hand and sighed.

……

In the elevator, Sun Yiqiu ran into Hao Shuai.

"Yiqiu, where are you going? You're off work at this hour?" Hao Shuai asked.

Sun Yiqiu was a little embarrassed: "No... I'm going to the kindergarten to pick up Mr. Yu's child."

Hao Shuai paused for a moment, then laughed: "You? Pick up the kids? Can you?"

"I have to learn even if I don't know how!" Sun Yiqiu said with a wry smile. "It was arranged by President Wu."

"Alright! Good luck then." Hao Shuai patted him on the shoulder. "By the way, speak nicely to the kindergarten teacher, don't scare her."

"..."

The elevator reached the first floor, and Sun Yiqiu stepped out, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He had hardly ever interacted with children growing up, let alone picked them up from school.

I took a taxi to the kindergarten, and it was already 4:30.

All the other children had been picked up, leaving only a little girl sitting on a stool by the classroom door, swinging her legs.

Sun Yiqiu walked over and squatted down: "Are you Xiaoxiao?"

The little girl looked up at him warily: "Who are you?"

“I’m your mother’s colleague. She’s in a meeting today, so she asked me to pick you up.” Sun Yiqiu tried to make his voice sound gentle.

"I don't know you." Xiaoxiao shrank back. "Teacher Li said we can't go with strangers."

"I'm not a stranger, I am..."

"What's wrong? Who are you?" A gentle female voice came from behind.

Sun Yiqiu turned around and saw a young female teacher wearing a light blue tracksuit walking over.

She is quite pretty and has a very gentle temperament.

"Teacher Li!" Xiaoxiao ran over and hugged the teacher's leg. "This person said he would take me away, but I don't know him."

Li Shiyan looked at Sun Yiqiu: "Who are you?"

“I’m a colleague of Ms. Yu Wenli,” Sun Yiqiu quickly explained. “Ms. Yu had an unexpected meeting today and asked me to pick up Xiaoxiao.”

Li Shiyan sized him up a few times: "Do you have any identification? Or you could call President Yu to confirm?"

Sun Yiqiu quickly took out his phone and dialed Yu Wenli's number.

It rang for a long time but no one answered; they're probably in a meeting.

“Ms. Yu might not have answered…” Sun Yiqiu panicked a little, “Why don’t you call her?”

Li Shiyan took out her phone, dialed a number, and this time the call went through quickly.

"Ms. Yu, this is Shiyan. Um, there's a man who says he's your colleague, here to pick up Xiaoxiao... Oh, okay, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Li Shiyan smiled at Sun Yiqiu: "Sister Yu confirmed it. But Xiaoxiao isn't familiar with you, so she'll be scared if she goes with you directly like this. Why don't you play with her for a while and wait until she's more comfortable with you before you leave?"

"Play for a while?" Sun Yiqiu checked the time. "How long?"

"We'll see." Li Shiyan took Xiaoxiao's hand. "Xiaoxiao, how about we play house with your brother?"

Xiaoxiao tilted her head to look at Sun Yiqiu, thought for a moment, and said, "Then... Brother will be the mother, Teacher Li will be the father, and I will be the baby."

Sun Yiqiu's face turned green: "Me, a mother?"

“Yes!” Xiaoxiao had already run into the classroom, took out a small apron, “Mom wants to wear this.”

Li Shiyan suppressed a laugh: "Just cooperate, otherwise she won't go with you."

Sun Yiqiu had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the apron—pink with lace trim.

He tied it on clumsily, looking quite comical.

Xiaoxiao clapped her hands happily: "Mom, cook!"

As a result, Sun Yiqiu, the "mother," was forced to stand in front of the toy kitchen for an entire afternoon.

He used a plastic spatula to stir-fry "vegetables," used a toy bowl to serve "rice," and even had to coax the "baby" to laugh while eating.

Li Shiyan, who plays the "dad," sat on a small chair next to him, watching and laughing, occasionally giving instructions: "Mommy, baby wants to eat fish."

"Mom, the soup has spilled."

Sun Yiqiu was sweating profusely; he had never been so disheveled in his life.

After playing for more than an hour, Xiaoxiao finally got tired.

She yawned, walked over to Sun Yiqiu, and leaned against his leg: "Mom, I'm sleepy."

Sun Yiqiu's body stiffened, and he didn't know what to do.

Li Shiyan walked over and said softly, "Give her a hug and pat her back."

Sun Yiqiu carefully picked up Xiaoxiao. The little girl was very light, soft, and cuddly.

He patted her back gently, just like he had seen on TV.

A few minutes later, Xiaoxiao fell asleep in his arms.

"She's asleep," Sun Yiqiu whispered, not daring to move.

"Put it here," Li Shiyan said, pointing to the soft cushion in the classroom. "Let her sleep for a while."

Sun Yiqiu carefully placed Xiaoxiao on the mat. Xiaoxiao was fast asleep, her little face rosy.

"I didn't realize you were so good at comforting children," Li Shiyan said with a smile.

"I was forced into this," Sun Yiqiu said, wiping his sweat. "Teacher Li, your move was too ruthless."

“There’s nothing we can do, Xiaoxiao is shy around strangers.” Li Shiyan sat down on the chair next to her. “Her parents are both busy with work and often come to pick her up very late. Sometimes she sleeps in the classroom and I stay with her.”

She showed Sun Yiqiu some photos from her phone.

In the photo, Xiaoxiao is lying on a suit jacket, sleeping soundly.

“This is Mr. Yu’s coat,” Li Shiyan said. “Xiaoxiao is used to sleeping on her mother’s clothes, saying that it feels like sleeping in her mother’s arms.”

Sun Yiqiu looked at the photo and felt a little touched.

He recalled that when he was a child, his parents were also very busy and often came home very late.

He stayed home alone to do his homework, waiting for them to come back.

"Mr. Yu...it's been quite tough for you," he said.

“Yes! Working moms have it tough.” Li Shiyan put away her phone. “By the way, what do you do for a living?”

"I work at Golden Capital, where I do investment."

"Jin Chen?" Li Shiyan's eyes lit up. "I have a friend at Jin Chen named Su Ning. Do you know her?"

Sun Yiqiu was taken aback: "Su Ning? I know him! He was one of our new recruits, and he's now in the energy group. Professor Li, you know him?"

"Well, we're...family friends, I guess," Li Shiyan said somewhat vaguely. "How's he been lately?"

“He’s great, capable, and popular,” Sun Yiqiu said honestly. “It’s just that there’s been some conflict between his group and our group recently, and he’s probably caught in the middle.”

Li Shiyan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She took out her phone: "Let's add each other on WeChat, so it'll be easier to contact Xiaoxiao if she needs anything. I'm her homeroom teacher, Li Shiyan."

“Okay.” Sun Yiqiu also took out his phone, and the two added each other on WeChat.

After adding her, Li Shiyan suddenly said, "Come on, take a selfie. Send it to President Yu so she can rest assured."

She leaned closer and held up her phone.

Before Sun Yiqiu could react, the photo was already taken...

He was wearing a pink apron and looked completely bewildered. Li Shiyan was smiling brightly beside him, and Xiaoxiao was asleep behind them.

"I've sent it to you," Li Shiyan said. "This one is quite cute, keep it."

Sun Yiqiu looked at the photos on his phone, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Around six o'clock, Yu Wenli rushed over.

Seeing that Xiaoxiao was sleeping soundly, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Shiyan, Yiqiu, thank you both," Yu Wenli said softly. "Especially Yiqiu, thank you for everything."

"It's alright, Mr. Yu," Sun Yiqiu said. "Xiaoxiao is very well-behaved."

"What's there to be obedient about? I know her too well." Yu Wenli laughed. "She must have given you a hard time. Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

"No need, no need, I have some things to do at the company," Sun Yiqiu quickly replied.

He took off his apron, said goodbye to Li Shiyan, and left the kindergarten.

On his way back to the company, Sun Yiqiu looked at the selfie on his phone...

I am wearing an apron, Teacher Li is smiling gently, and Xiaoxiao is sleeping.

He suddenly realized that although this afternoon was a mess, it wasn't all bad.

...(End of chapter)