Volume One, Chapter 10: A Sudden Wave of Nausea

“Did you say Secretary Jiang’s intern hit someone?”

Huo Sili’s gaze settled on Liu Wenli’s face. His tone was as cool and calm as still water, yet beneath that icy calmness, Liu Wenli felt an overwhelming pressure.

Inside the CEO’s office, Jiang Qin’s fingers flew over the keyboard, replying to emails with increasing speed. Behind her, Lin Xiaoyu, hearing the rapid keystrokes, hastened to organize the files.

In the corridor outside, next to Huo Sili, He Xu’s lips twitched. He glanced at Liu Wenli, then swept his eyes over to the office area in the hall where some employees were peeking in, eager for gossip.

Those intending to continue watching immediately hushed and refocused on their computer screens.

Faced directly with the oppressive atmosphere, Liu Wenli turned back to glance at the office area. The few colleagues who had planned to stand up together now bowed their heads in silence.

She forced out her indignation, “Yes! President Huo! We all saw it! You must stand up for our department’s Xiao Li! Secretary Jiang’s intern is seriously bullying people!”

Huo Sili’s indifferent gaze drifted over the office area where Liu Wenli’s department worked.

Then his eyes returned to Liu Wenli’s face. “Fine. Bring the witnesses. We’ll talk in the conference room.”

He glanced at He Xu. “Call Secretary Jiang and her intern as well.”

With that, he took long strides toward the conference room.

By the time Liu Wenli realized and lifted her voice in agreement, Huo Sili had already passed the CEO’s office.

He Xu was about to knock and call Jiang Qin and Lin Xiaoyu to the meeting when the door opened from inside.

Huo Sili paused briefly, then continued walking forward.

Inside the CEO’s office, Jiang Qin emerged with Lin Xiaoyu, her fair hand holding a pristine white A4 sheet.

“Secretary Jiang.” He Xu stepped aside politely at the door, smiling courteously. “President Huo says you and Secretary Lin should go to the conference room together.”

“Alright.” Jiang Qin responded and led Lin Xiaoyu toward the conference room.

Moments later, in the conference room, after Liu Wenli’s impassioned explanation, she looked at Huo Sili and concluded, “President Huo, that’s exactly how it happened! We all saw Lin Xiaoyu push Nana, causing her nosebleed and bruising her shoulder!”

She unfolded a folded medical report. “This is the hospital’s diagnosis. Please take a look, President Huo!”

Huo Sili tapped the table lightly with his index finger, took the report, glanced at it, then fixed his gaze on Lin Xiaoyu, who stood beside Jiang Qin.

“Lin Xiaoyu, do you have anything to say?”

The secretaries from the Food Department immediately turned their attention to Lin Xiaoyu, seemingly thinking this would pressure her. Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaoyu replied calmly and confidently.

“If someone claims something, they must provide evidence. President Huo, since they say they saw me reach out and push Li Nana, then my fingerprints must be on Li Nana’s clothes. I want to report this to the police.”

At these words, Liu Wenli’s complexion shifted slightly, but she quickly responded, “Fingerprints? It’s not certain they’d be left.”

Jiang Qin, who had not spoken since entering, smiled softly and said, “They would, Secretary Liu.”

Liu Wenli’s eyelids twitched. “How could that be? Maybe she just happened to wash her hands clean?”

Jiang Qin’s tone was steady and unhurried, her face still wearing a gentle smile.

“Because Xiao Lin was assigned to organize the bookshelf files from early morning today. President Huo can vouch for this. She didn’t slack off. Her fingertips were stained black this morning.”

“Since we’re all secretaries, we should know that kind of ink is hard to wash off and requires detergent to remove properly.”

Liu Wenli and a few secretaries around her paled slightly. Jiang Qin smiled as she glanced around and continued.

“The liquid soap in the women’s restroom on our floor ran out yesterday. After the incident, I went to the restroom to find Xiao Lin and saw that the soap hadn’t been refilled yet. Also, Nana said Xiao Lin pushed her right after entering the restroom.”

“So I infer that Xiao Lin hadn’t washed her hands yet at that moment. Her hands would definitely still be black.”

Jiang Qin’s gaze fell on Li Nana’s white blouse. She looked at Nana.

“Nana, did you change your blouse because it got stained with nose blood?”

The few Food Department employees present exchanged uncertain looks. At this moment, it was natural that their eyes flickered toward Li Nana’s blouse.

Yet, some of those present glanced toward Liu Wenli instead.

Huo Sili sneered, “Do you think this company is an imperial palace? Li Nana, tell me, what really happened?”

Li Nana’s face paled. She reflexively looked at Liu Wenli. “Sister Liu…”

Liu Wenli’s eyelids twitched again. She glanced at Jiang Qin, whose face still held a poised and gentle smile.

“Secretary Liu, are you trying to say something to me?”

“If not—” Jiang Qin turned to Lin Xiaoyu and handed her the pure white A4 sheet.

“Press your hand gently on it. Let’s see if there’s any mark.”

A grimy black print appeared clearly on the white paper. Those across the table were speechless.

Huo Sili stood up. His tall figure cast a shadow that chilled the room. His cold eyes swept over Liu Wenli and her group.

“Now, all of you, go out into the hall. Apologize properly to your colleague in front of everyone!”

“I…” Liu Wenli never expected things to turn out like this.

She racked her brain for a way to salvage the situation, but Huo Sili clearly had no intention of listening to her nonsense any longer.

He glanced at He Xu and strode away decisively.

After the storm subsided, back in the CEO’s office, Lin Xiaoyu repeatedly thanked Jiang Qin. With the matter resolved, Jiang Qin resumed her work, busy until six o’clock.

When the off-duty bell rang, she packed up to leave but suddenly remembered she hadn’t yet asked Huo Sili about the gift Xie You’an had given her.

She glanced toward the back just as Lin Xiaoyu walked over. “Qin, I’m leaving now. Bye.”

“Mm, bye.” Jiang Qin smiled.

After Lin Xiaoyu left, Jiang Qin’s smile faded as she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed inside.

At the door, the rapid tapping of keys caught her attention. Looking up, she saw Huo Sili, unlike his usual self.

The man wore a pair of pale gold, thin metal square glasses perched on his prominent nose. The light gold frame complemented his cold, pale skin, adding a scholarly air to his already distinguished face.

Elegant, aloof, refined, and restrained.

But unfortunately, she knew all too well now that this was just a façade.

This man was no different from many others—playboy, unfaithful, disloyal in marriage.

Still, Jiang Qin’s steps faltered. Those glasses were the ones she had picked out for him during their sweet times together a year ago. They were one of the gifts she had given him—blue-light blocking, non-prescription lenses.

But over the past year, their relationship should no longer have allowed him to continue using her gift. And what about that tie…

Realizing her thoughts were wandering, Jiang Qin frowned and pulled herself back to reality.

She looked at the man inside, hesitated, then raised her hand and knocked on the door.

“President Huo.”

But Huo Sili acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing to type.

After a while, he finally stopped but still didn’t look up immediately. He glanced at the bottom right corner of his screen, then gave a cold, indifferent look.

“What is it?”

Jiang Qin tightened her grip on her bag strap. Perhaps she hadn’t completely moved on yet, but Huo Sili’s indifferent gaze felt like a knife stabbing deep into her heart.

Still, she quickly regained her composure, stepped inside, and surveyed the surroundings. Seeing no sign of the gift box, she asked directly.

“Where did you put the gift Xie You’an gave me? Give it to me. I’m going home now.”

“Threw it away.” The moment the words left his mouth, Huo Sili’s expression turned icy.

Threw it away? Jiang Qin’s fingers clenched tighter on the strap. Her eyes grew cold as she looked at Huo Sili. “That was…”

That was a gift from someone else. What right did he have to dispose of it?

She opened her mouth to argue, but suddenly, a gust of wind blew by the window.

It was mealtime. The Huo Corporation headquarters took great care of its employees, offering free breakfast, lunch, and dinner with abundant dishes.

The wind carried a strong, greasy smell.

Suddenly feeling nauseous, Jiang Qin bent slightly, instinctively covering her mouth and nose.