Returning - Chapter 74
Chapter 74: Behind the Scenes
Xue Zi'ang hadn't expected Zhao Yu to show up at the company on the first day after the break... Though he had hoped for it and even came to the office early, he was still shocked when he actually saw her walk in.
When Zhao Yu saw Xue Zi'ang sitting at her desk, she wasn't surprised at all. She simply walked over calmly and greeted him nonchalantly, "President Xue."
The look of pleasant surprise on Xue Zi'ang's face gradually faded. He stared at her silently for a moment, then spoke. "Let's talk."
"Sure, President Xue. Please go inside and wait for me."
Xue Zi'ang returned to his own office. Zhao Yu came in not a few minutes later, placing the documents in her hand in front of him.
He glanced at them, and his expression changed. "You still want to resign?"
"Since President Xue feels that the resignation request in the system isn't sincere enough, please sign this written resignation letter so I can forward it to the HR department."
The fury he'd suppressed all through the Spring Festival holiday nearly erupted all at once, but Xue Zi'ang took a couple of deep breaths and managed to hold it back.
"Zhao Yu." He spoke with forced patience. "What exactly do I need to do for you to forgive me?"
Zhao Yu gave him a faint smile. "How can President Xue use the word 'forgive'? I'm nothing but a little assistant, a substitute for Xu Miao, your tool for venting your desires. Am I worthy of that word?"
Xue Zi'ang shot to his feet. "Must you speak to me in such a sarcastic tone?"
Zhao Yu smiled self-deprecatingly, picked up the resignation letter and pen from the desk, and handed them to him. "Please sign, President Xue."
Xue Zi'ang clenched his fists, glaring at her intently without a word.
Zhao Yu thrust the items closer to him. "Please sign, President Xue."
Xue Zi'ang stared at her for another long moment, then took the resignation letter and tore it in half down the middle.
Zhao Yu didn't lose her temper. She simply smiled again, turned on her heel, and started walking out. "Wait a moment, President Xue, I'll print out another copy."
"What exactly do you want me to do?" Xue Zi'ang strode around the desk and grabbed her by the wrist. "What will it take for you to give up on resigning?"
Zhao Yu tilted her head, her smile turning provocative. "I want to be Vice Chairman Xue's assistant. Can President Xue arrange that?"
Xue Zi'ang was clearly taken aback by her words, but seeing the mockery written across her face, he knew she was still deliberately provoking him, deliberately using Xue Zhan to rile him up.
Zhao Yu let out a disdainful snort, broke free of his grip, walked out, returned to her workstation, and began printing a second resignation letter.
An A4 sheet of paper slowly slid out of the printer. She reached for it, but before she could touch the paper, someone grabbed her wrist again.
Without a word, Xue Zi'ang dragged her aggressively toward the elevator, startling Xia Nan, who had just clocked in.
"Xue Zi'ang, what are you doing? Let go of me!" Zhao Yu struggled indignantly several times but couldn't break free. She could only follow him into the elevator and watch as he pressed the number for the top floor.
There were still a few minutes before work hours began. Xue Zhan's assistants and secretaries had just arrived and were gathered, chatting and laughing.
Upon seeing Xue Zi'ang enter, they quickly straightened up and greeted him. But he pushed Zhao Yu toward Wang Qi and said grimly, "Find her a position."
Wang Qi froze, not quite understanding. But seeing how grim their faces were, she could roughly guess their conflict had escalated. For a moment, she didn't know whether to try and mediate.
The office door had been left wide open. Hearing the commotion, Xue Zhan walked out. Seeing the odd atmosphere between the two, he furrowed his brow and looked at Xue Zi'ang. "What are you doing?"
Xue Zi'ang spread his hands. "I'm slotting someone into your office. She wants to be your assistant."
Xue Zhan shifted his gaze to Zhao Yu, only to find her still staring fiercely at Xue Zi'ang, biting her lip hard, her eyes reddened, tears nearly spilling over.
It seemed that not only was Zhao Yu's method of wanting to get rid of Xue Zi'ang wrong, but his own nephew's way of handling the conflict was equally exasperating.
Xue Zhan was helpless. He signaled for his secretaries to carry on, then said to Xue Zi'ang irritably, "If you need to handle personal matters, do it in your office. Don't make a scene here."
Xue Zi'ang gritted his teeth and let out a scornful laugh. "It's not me who wants to make a scene. She specifically said she wants to be your assistant. What can I do? You're so charming, she's taken a fancy to you."
Driven to the edge by Zhao Yu, he'd already made a huge effort to control himself from blowing up. But when it came to sarcastic digs, he was more than a match for her.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu also laughed softly, tears rolling down her face as she smiled. "If President Xue wants to get angry, go ahead. No need to hold it in. After all, you've used me to vent more than just once."
This sentence instantly hit him where it hurt, filling him with remorse. He immediately softened his tone. "Zhao Yu..."
"Director Xue." Zhao Yu gave him no chance to speak, turning to face Xue Zhan. "President Xue is right, it was I who wanted to be your assistant. Not only do I want to be your assistant, but I also want to shamelessly seduce you and find a way to marry into the Xue family. Can Director Xue grant me this opportunity?"
Upon hearing this, the nearby secretaries were all stunned. But they quickly realized it was clearly just a lovers' quarrel, with Zhao Yu speaking in anger.
Yet seeing Zhao Yu's wronged and heartbroken expression, contrasted with Xue Zi'ang's earlier behavior, it was truly too embarrassing for words. As expected, men who've never seriously been in love have abysmal emotional intelligence when it comes to dating.
Xue Zhan felt a headache coming on.
If it were anyone else daring to make a scene here, he'd have them thrown out. But one was his nephew, and the other was a person whose tears left him unable to speak harshly.
So he could only shoot a stern glance at Xue Zi'ang, meaning his mess was his to clean up.
Xue Zi'ang had long been feeling a sharp pang in his heart from Zhao Yu's tears. He realized he hadn't controlled his temper and shouldn't have acted so childishly by throwing a tantrum. But with so many people watching, he found it difficult to swallow his pride and apologize.
Gritting his teeth, he simply grabbed Zhao Yu's wrist again, intending to lead her back. But Zhao Yu no longer listened to him. Not only did she refuse to budge a single step, but amidst her tears she smiled at Wang Qi and said, "Then, Secretary Wang, please arrange a workstation for me."
Xue Zi'ang knew she was digging in her heels against him. He felt angry, anxious, and regretful all at once, but didn't dare take it out on her. He could only suppress all his emotions and say in a low voice, "Zhao Yu, let's go back... and talk properly."
Zhao Yu shook off his hand and continued smiling at Wang Qi. "Is this place fully staffed? If you don't need an assistant, I can take care of serving tea and fetching water, or even cleaning and mopping the floor."
Wang Qi had never imagined Zhao Yu could be so terrifyingly stubborn once she got going. She wanted to try persuading her, but feared fanning the flames. She could only give Xue Zi'ang an awkward look, then silently seek Xue Zhan's instructions with her eyes.
Xue Zhan once again directed his gaze at Xue Zi'ang. "Since President Xue said to arrange it, then arrange it. With an extra assistant, your workload will lighten considerably, and her treatment will remain the same."
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