Xu Chaomu was still zoning out when she heard Shen Chiâs voice. She looked up and saw Shen Groupâs building not far away.
âOh.â She gathered her belongings and opened the passenger door.
âDonât get overly familiar with other men.â
As she was stepping out of the car, Shen Chiâs icy, deep voice rang out from behind her.
A chill ran down her spine, and she clenched her teeth in irritation.
She hadnât even gotten to the company yet, the petty tyrant!
Just as she was putting down her second foot, she turned and snapped at him, âDonât pull any sneaky moves with the female staff!â
Shen Chi rubbed his chin with his fingers, looking at her with deep meaning, and the corners of his lips curled slightly.
With a âbang,â Xu Chaomu shut the Maybachâs door!
She carried her bag towards Shen Groupâs building. She followed the process, first reported to HR, got her work card, signed the probation period contract, and then went to the design department.
When she first entered the design department, she thought she was seeing things and rubbed her eyes. No, they werenât deceiving her.
But, could someone tell her why the design department was all women?
Driven by curiosity, she quietly asked a female colleague next to her, âWhy is everyone in the office female?â
âThe men are in the office next door.â
âHmm?â Xu Chaomu suddenly had an epiphany.
She remembered the special instruction âDonât get overly familiar with other menâ when she got out of the car.
Dammit, he had planned it all along, having transferred all the male colleagues to another office.
Life without handsome guys, how dull that would be.
Soon, someone came to assign her work.
Since she was a newcomer, the workload wasnât much, nor was it difficult. Xu Chaomu suspected that this was also Shen Chiâs doing.
While she was working, she chatted with the other girls around her.
âYouâre Xu Chaomu, right?â
âYes, I am Xu Chaomu.â
âAmazing, I heard you knocked off the Business Bureau Directorâs daughter.â
The Business Bureau Director? Was that the very imposing woman from the interview?
What she remembered most was her small camisole, quite stretchy.
âJust lucky, just lucky,â Xu Chaomu said with an awkward smile.
After all, it was all about the powerful backing⦠Xu Chaomu felt ashamed.
âDoes your family really have no background?â A few girls gathered around Xu Chaomu.
Xu Chaomu shook her head: âReally, none at allâ¦â
âAre you married?â
âMarried, the kidâs almost four months now.â Xu Chaomu pointed at her belly.
âWow, pregnant and still got into the company? Let me tell you, normally companies donât hire pregnant employees⦠did you hide the fact that youâre pregnant?â a younger girl said with concern.
âYeah, let alone pregnant employees, they donât really want unmarried and childless women either. Youâre really very lucky.â
Xu Chaomu felt embarrassed: âItâs the advantage of our group, I suppose, valuing capability more, capability.â
At this moment, Xu Chaomu truly felt nervous; her backing was indeed strong.
Whatever she wanted, Shen Chi would giveâ¦
Sometimes, she probably wasnât even as good to herself as he was.
âDid you get married just this year?â another girl inquired.
Sweating, Xu Chaomu recalled how at eighteen, she had been tricked into marriage, could she admit that?
She smiled: âYeah, this spring.â
âWhat does your husband do?â Several older ladies asked with a keen curiosity.
âYeah, youâre pregnant, does your husband let you work?â
âMy husband works as a secretary at a small company, just helping his boss with odds and ends, hehe,â Xu Chaomu fabricated easily.
âIs being a secretary well paid?â
Before Xu Chaomu could answer, a somewhat harsh-looking woman spoke first, âI guess not much, otherwise he wouldnât let his wife come out to earn milk money.â
A straightforward senior lady hastily added, âYoung people just out of university certainly start with low incomes. Take it slow, take it slow. Chaomu, getting into Shenâs shows youâre very capable, even more so than your husband.â
âIâm indeed better than he is,â Xu Chaomu sniffed.
âThen work extra overtime, the overtime pay at Shenâs is quite decent,â one woman said with a tinge of acidity.
âDonât listen to her, youâre pregnant and itâs better to rest more. Your husband too, letting you look for a job at this critical moment,â said another.
Xu Chaomu glanced at the dense crowd, smiled and said, âItâs stressful, we need to rent a place, eat, and the baby is due soon. My husband only makes three or four thousand a month, definitely not enough.â
âThree or four thousand? Thatâs certainly not enough. Once the baby is born, youâll need three or four thousand just for milk formula every month.â
Xu Chaomu sighed, âIf it werenât for the pregnancy, I wouldâve thought of divorcing him. No ambition⦠Heâs also very prideful, petty, temperamental, scheming, and gets jealous easilyâ¦â
After venting, Xu Chaomu suddenly felt quite relieved!
Badmouthing him in his own company, that thrilling sensation⦠just unstoppable!
âYouâre keeping that kind of man for New Yearâs?â an already-married woman exclaimed, âIf it were me, I wouldâve divorced him long ago. My husband is not only good at his job, but heâs also very caring, gentle and generous, and treats me so well.â
âThat sounds wonderful.â Xu Chaomu smiled at her.
The departmentâs people were quite enthusiastic. As it was probably quiet that morning, everyone, seeing a new colleague, was quite caring.
âDo you know if itâs a boy or a girl in your belly?â someone asked.
Xu Chaomu shook her head, âI donât know yet.â
âYou could sneak a peek; if itâs a boy, the pressure on you and your husband will be even greater.â
Xu Chaomu was noncommittal, âMy husband actually wants to have a few more.â
âCan you afford to have that many?â the married woman said while munching on plum candies.
Xu Chaomu shook her head, âI wonât give him any more; childbirth is too painful.â
Despite saying this, she was genuinely looking forward to the child in her belly; she wondered if the baby would look more like her or Shen Chi.
âSo who does the household chores in your family?â
âI do,â Xu Chaomu said shamelessly.
Household chores in their home? No need, there were plenty of servants. And even if there was not a single servant, she wouldnât be the one doing them.
âYou really have it tough. But if you do well at Shenâs, a monthly salary of over ten thousand is no problem. Then you can ditch your husband,â a woman advised.
âYour husband sounds like a complete loser. What exactly did you see in him?â another woman wondered.
Xu Chaomu chuckled, âHandsome.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âYoung girls these days really care about looks, but you canât eat handsomeness,â a married woman remarked.
Several unmarried girls excitedly crowded around, âChaomu, do you have a photo? Do you have a photo? Show us, please.â
Xu Chaomu shook her head, âHe doesnât like taking photos.â
âBesides being handsome, does he have a house or car?â
âRelying on renting for a house, relying on legs for travel,â Xu Chaomu said.
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