Chapter 103: Courageously Expressing Words of Gratitude

  Early morning.

  The sunlight was dazzling, like scattered gold on the ground, shining brightly and making it hard to open one's eyes. Bai Xiaoyu walked with a carefree spirit, her sweet smile lingering on her lips, never fading away.

  She had just swiped her card and entered the office when she saw Luo Li panting heavily on a chair, and couldn't help but smile as she walked up to her and patted her shoulder, saying: "Wow? But Lili? You're actually not late today? How rare?"

  Luo Li listlessly glanced at her and lay on the table, weakly replied: "If I'm late again, I'll be criticized by the whole company, and my salary will also be deducted... Of course, I don't dare to..."

  After finishing speaking, he rested his chin on the table and rolled his eyes wearily.

  Bai Xueya opened her computer and pulled out the manuscript she needed to work on today.

  Five minutes passed, and the time pointed exactly at nine o'clock. Almost all employees in the office had arrived on time, but someone unfortunately was late by one minute and was wailing and crying at the punch clock for the perfect attendance award that they were about to lose.

  "It's really miserable to lose the perfect attendance award...” Luo Li raised her head from a thick stack of documents, looking at the bespectacled man crying loudly by the door, and shook her head sympathetically. "Sigh, it's not easy for anyone... No wonder Peter gave you that look last time. If I were in your shoes, if I encountered some bad luck and lost the perfect attendance award that was within my grasp, I'd probably explode with anger too?"

  Bai Xiaoyan pinched her nose, "Huh? You're sympathizing with him now? Back then weren't you always calling him 'sissy' and 'dead eunuch' behind his back? You hated him so much you wanted to flay his skin and pull out his tendons!"

  Luo Li's face turned black, and she awkwardly smiled: "Hehe... forget it, Xiao Ya, let's just pretend I didn't say that... Hehe..."

  Bai Xue Ya smiled slyly as she watched her eat, and suddenly felt a few points more pleased with herself. Her eyes inadvertently glanced at the clock on the wall, and the time was already 9:05.

  Strange?

  She looked to her left at the empty chair with a hint of surprise.

  Today——

  Lu Haocen, where is he? Why hasn't he come to work?

  He looked around and found that Lu Haochen was nowhere to be seen in the large office.

  Hahaha——

  Originally—

  Is this guy late?

  I didn't expect... this big fool would be late for once?

  Thinking of his proud appearance a few days ago, Bai Xiaya couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude at this moment. What? Lu Haochen that big idiot? Let you show off? Let you show off? You're late this time, huh? See how you'll have the face to laugh at me and Lili in the future? Hmph?

  She smiled with satisfaction, one hand flipping through the documents and the other tapping on the mouse, while humming a happy tune.

  "Look at you, all sweet and smiling... Did you eat honey or something? You're so happy you're about to burst..." Seeing Bai Xueya constantly giggling foolishly, Luo Li leaned over, asking with a curious expression.

  "Is there something more fun than eating honey?" Bai Xueya excitedly raised her eyebrows, suppressing the joy in her heart, and leaned into Luo Li's ear to whisper, "Look? Lu Haochen that big fool is late? And not just a minute or two late?"

  As she spoke, she excitedly pointed at the clock on the wall——

  "Nine points and a half? Haha? Wait for that big fool to come? I'm going to make fun of him thoroughly! This time, he won't get the perfect attendance award either? Let him mock us again? Serves him right?"

  I thought that after hearing this, Luo Li would be as happy as I was, with a smile all over her face. But after a pause, she still looked calm and collected, without any surprise on her face.

  Seeing this, Bai Xiaoya couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed and raised an eyebrow to ask: "Lili, why don't you look happy after hearing that?"

  Luoli shook her head helplessly. Alas, I really don't know if Xiaoya's brain is too simple or her reaction is too slow...

  She leaned back and rested against the chair, looking at Bai Xiaya with a slanted gaze: "Don't you know?"

  "What?" Bai Xueya's face was full of surprise.

  "Lu Haocen's perfect attendance award is long gone, he didn't come to work all afternoon yesterday."

  "What?!" Bai Xiaya was stunned. Was this really the case? Lü Hàochén didn't go to work for the whole afternoon yesterday? How could she not remember?!

  "Lu Haocen, that big idiot, was sitting right next to me on my left side. How could I not know if he didn't show up for work the entire afternoon?" Bai Xiaya's eyes widened, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't recall Lu Haocen playing hooky yesterday afternoon.

  Luo Li shook her head again in exasperation: "Alas, how could you possibly remember? Some people were heartbroken over the charity bento box yesterday afternoon, and after receiving an apology and a broken hair clip, they became abnormally excited. How could they have noticed whether the person next to them went to work or not?"

  Bai Xiaoyan pouted and knew that Luo Li was teasing her. After thinking for a moment, she shrugged indifferently and turned to busy herself with her own work.

  After lunch, the two of them strolled back to the company at a leisurely pace. Since Peter has been in a great mood lately, he naturally relaxed his supervision of the two of them at work.

  The company was dimly lit, and it was quiet without a sound. The employees were all resting their heads on the table, while Bai Xiaoya and Luo Li tiptoed to the front of the office desk. As soon as they approached, something suddenly flashed before Bai Xiaoya's eyes.

  She calmed herself down and quietly looked at the things on the table, shocked to the point of almost forgetting to breathe.

  Because on her desk was placed a blue hair clip of hers?

  She picked it up in surprise and examined it carefully. This hairpin, whether it was the color, style or texture, was exactly the same as her damaged one?

  With a mixture of surprise and curiosity, she took out the blue hair clip that was carefully wrapped in her pocket and compared it with the other one. It was obvious that except for the damage, the two hair clips were made from the same mold.

  Why is there an identical new hair clip on her desk? Who sent it?

  She lifted her head, looking around blankly, but the people beside her were all asleep, and no one noticed this side.

  She had wanted to ask Luo Li, but she was already asleep on the table. Bai Xueya let out a sigh and looked at the two identical hair clips in her hands, one good and one bad. In the end, she carefully put them together.

  In the afternoon's working hours, Bai Xueya was distracted.

  As for the hair clip, only Lili and Yan Xiong knew about it. Since Lili was always with her, even if she had bought an identical hair clip, there would be no need to go through so much trouble to secretly send it over. In that case, there was only one possibility——

  Is this new badge sent by Yan Feng Xue Lao?

  As she thought of this, Bai Xueya's heart beat accelerated. She bit her lip in shock, forcing herself to calm down, but her blood was like boiling water, burning her face red.

  "Xiao Ya, do you have a fever?" Luo Li asked with some concern, noticing Bai Xiao Ya's hot cheeks.

  "It's...it's nothing..." Bai Xueya responded softly, her head hung low. After a long while, she quickly picked up the two hairpins on the table and hastily ran out.

  Luoli was left standing there, staring blankly in the direction of Bai Xiaya's departure, with a confused expression.

  Xiao Ya... what's wrong with her?

  Restroom

  The light is very bright, it's a soft orange-yellow glow, with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

  In front of the huge dressing mirror, Bai Xueya stood upright. Her hands were clasped together at her chest, tightly grasping each other, and upon closer inspection, it was noticeable that her arms were trembling slightly.

  Her hands slowly opened, and two blue hairpins lay quietly in the palm of her hand. One was damaged, one was intact.

  Bai Xue carefully wrapped up the damaged object in her handkerchief and put it back into her pocket.

  And that intact hairpin——

  She lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror. Long hair, curly waves, fair skin, delicate and small features... Then, she excitedly stretched out her hand and put on the blue hair clip on her own head, looking good.

  The person in the mirror couldn't help but smile from the heart.

  Really good.

  She sweetly gazed at her refreshed self in the mirror, her smile as warm and dazzling as the sunlight outside the window.

  All the way back to the office, Bai Xueya had a feeling of being haloed.

  Never had there been such an exciting moment, as if she had put on the most precious ornament under heaven. The people passing by around her also seemed to be paying attention to the fresh blue color of her sleeves.

  Sitting back in her seat, Bai Xueya looked like a satisfied child, with a pleased smile lingering at the corner of her mouth, and even when she worked, she seemed to have gained some spirit.

  Until——

  "What? Xiaoya?" Suddenly, Luo Li on the right side let out a surprised howl, and Bai Xiaoya knew that this slow-witted guy had finally noticed her difference.

  She smiled and turned her head, winking at Lori's astonished face.

  "How did you stick the hair clips together? Can't even see the seams! 502?" Lori stared at Bai Xiaoya's hair clip on her head in surprise.

  "It's not 502, is it?" Bai Xueya smiled complacently, stroking the hairpin on her head, "It was given by someone else..."

  "Is it sent?" Luo Li was somewhat unable to react. Who is so formidable? Actually able to find an identical one?

  But looking at Xiaoya's radiant appearance, it can be guessed with one's toes that this hair clip was given by whom...

  She disinterestedly curled her lips, rolled her eyes and turned back to continue working.

  "How dare you roll your eyes at me?" Bai Xiaoya pretended to be angry, staring at her, "Lili, you stinky girl! Don't you know how to say something nice? Are you mute?"

  Luo Li turned her head, just wanting to say something to Bai Xueya, when a tall and majestic figure walked over, casting a shadow over the two of them.

  The two of them suddenly lifted their heads and saw Lu Haochen walking over with a expressionless face.

  Is he coming to work?

  Bai Xueya looked at him with an unpleasant expression, her eyes slightly mocking his "tardiness". But Lu Haocen seemed to have not noticed this, his gaze carelessly swept over her, finally landing on the hair clip on top of her head, and he showed a slight change in expression.

  Realizing his gaze, Bai Xueya reached out and touched her hair clip. Looking at that big fool with an unkind expression, don't dare to damage this precious hair clip? It's better for her to hide a bit?

  She carefully withdrew her gaze and silently began typing on the computer.

  Noticing the person on her left had sat down, Bai Xiaya's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Sitting next to this big idiot, who knows when she'll be in trouble, is it really going to be a thrilling experience?

  She took a deep breath, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of water. At this time, an unfriendly voice suddenly came from beside her ear -

  "Are you dead yet?"

  She maintained the posture of drinking water, looking at Lu Haochen with a sideways glance. The guy had just turned on his computer and was checking today's work schedule, as if the words he had just spoken were not from him.

  Auntie, how can I tolerate this?

  Bai Xianya swallowed a big mouthful of water and continued drinking with a gurgling sound. Just then, another sentence came from beside her ear...

  "Alas, are all the ugly and weird people water buckets this year?"

  What's wrong with you?

  Her hand holding the tea cup handle tightened slowly, Bai Xue's eyes were angrily sideways at him, only to see him whistling comfortably, looking so carefree and self-satisfied.

  Want to use provocative words to make her angry?

  She just doesn't?

  Bai Xueya took a deep breath and swallowed her anger, the good-looking face was still calm. She had just received Yan Feng's gift and was in a good mood, so she didn't bother to argue with this low-intelligence inferior creature.

  She smiled slightly and gently placed her teacup on the table before effortlessly tapping away at the keyboard.

  "Rustling and crackling"

  The people around her couldn't help but stare at her for a moment, then with a face full of gloom and defeat, they turned their heads and quietly went back to work.

  Victory?

  In the following days, the blue hair clip almost became Bai Xueya's personal item.

  She carries it with her everywhere she goes, whether in the company, on the road, at home, or even when taking a bath, never leaving it for a moment.

  Moreover, carefully wiping N times a day, never allowing anyone to touch or feel.

  It can be said that Bai Xueya has reached a state of madness.

  In the conference room, Peter sat in a swivel chair with his legs crossed, rubbing his slightly sore temples. The overtime of the past few days had taken a toll on his body, and even the area around his eyes had started to show faint dark circles. Alas, if he hadn't applied a thick layer of BB cream, he really wouldn't have been presentable.

  After a long time, he let out a deep sigh, picked up his pen and scratched out one of the plans with two swift strokes.

  "Are you kidding me?" He slammed his fist on the table, rubbing his sunken eye sockets. "How can this be? We clearly agreed on five days, but now it's limited to one day? So much work? How can they possibly finish it all at once?"

  Across from them, Bai Xueya, Luo Li and a group of people were at a loss for words, staring at each other in silence.

  The conference room fell into a long silence.

  After a long time, Peter finally gathered his bad mood and picked up the script again, pinching his thumb at one of the girls.

  "Who?"

  The girl raised her head in fright and took a small step forward with trepidation.

  "Will you go and coordinate with Little Zhang? Make sure he finishes the remaining work in one day?"

  "Yes?" The girl nodded.

  "You?" The orchid pointed again at another boy.

  "Are you going to help Little Xu finish up that 50,000-word manuscript?"

  "Five... five hundred thousand words..." The boy hesitated and scratched his head.

  "Can't be short of a single character in 50,000 words? Don't even think about leaving work if it's not done today?" Peter declared with an unusual air of authority.

  "Is it? Is it?" The boy was frightened and hastily nodded in response.

  On the other side, Bai Xueya and Luo Lixin exchanged a knowing glance, seemingly surprised by Peter's temper today.

  "Who?"

  Bai Xueya was shocked and looked at Peter, almost blinded by the huge gemstone ring on his finger.

  "Yes?" Bai Xiangya took a step forward and hastily replied.

  "Would you go and contact the finance office? Ask them to make sure they summarize today's accounts?"

  Finance? Finance Department?

  Bai Xueya's eyes widened slightly. Isn't that Yan Feng's office? Could it be that she would be working with Yan Feng next?

  She was overjoyed and even forgot to respond to Peter's words until Peter slammed his fist on the conference table, at which point Bai Xiaya suddenly came back to her senses and nodded vigorously.

  "Are you sure to complete the task?"

  The moment she knocked open the door of the financial room, Bai Xiaoya was a little excited.

  It's been a while since the self-service card was sent, and this is the first time I've seen Yan Feng. I don't know how busy he has been with work these past two days. If he's extremely busy, would she rather offend Peter than burden Yan Feng with the financial summary task? Would she be willing to stay up all night to finish it herself?

  Bai Xueya steeled herself, and as she pushed open the door, suddenly remembered that Yan Feng was seeing her wear the hair clip he gave her for the first time, hurriedly lifted her hand to adjust her hair.

  At last, the door was pushed open——

  Bai Xueya walked in with a tense pace.

  The room was quiet, with only the sound of "clickety-clack" typing and "rustle rustle" page-turning. Upon hearing footsteps entering, everyone remained head-down, busily engaged in their work without exception.

  Bai Xueya looked around and finally saw the figure she had been thinking about day and night in a corner workstation.

  He sat near the window. At this time, the sunlight outside was thick and the golden light shone obliquely through the clean glass window, gently sprinkling on his body, as if it had been covered with a layer of hazy halo. His face was calm, only seriously looking at the book in his hand, even when reading, the expression in his eyes was like a gentle spring water.

  Bai Xueya took a deep breath and walked quietly forward.

  He didn't want to disturb him, but when she approached, he suddenly raised his head as if waking up from a dream.

  "Xiao Ya?" Seeing Bai Xiao Ya, Yan Feng's expression was somewhat stunned. However, after a moment, his signature smile once again radiated on his handsome face, "Looking for me? Come, sit down first."

  As he spoke, he pushed a chair behind Bai Xueya.

  "Thank you." Bai Xueya smiled shyly and sat down gently. Seeing Yan Feng looking at her, she somewhat unnaturally touched her hair, and the blue hair clip shone even more dazzlingly like a halo of an angel.

  "It's very pretty." He smiled politely.

  Her face flushed, Bai Xueya felt a little shy and lowered her head. After a pause, she finally remembered the main purpose of her visit this time, and hastily handed over the documents in her hand to Yan Feng.

  "Senior, I don't know if you're busy now, but there's an urgent task that needs your help..."

  All day long, Yan Feng was in a state of high busyness. Bai Xiao Ya, although only an assistant, couldn't escape the fact that the task volume was indeed too large.

  So, until the moment when the work was completed, everyone suddenly lifted their heads and Bai Xueya stretched her waist heavily.

  Have you ever felt so tired?

  She yawned, looking at the clock on the wall, it was already 10 o'clock in the evening. Outside the window, it had long been a dark and gloomy night, with occasional gusts of wind blowing in, swaying the curtains.

  Turning his head, Yan Feng was arranging the completed manuscripts, carefully binding them one by one. His slender white fingers gently stroked the pages of paper, and the tenderness of his fingertips flowed with it.

  Yan Feng Xue Chang is really very gentle.

  Bai Xueya looked a bit dazed, and the soreness all over her body had long been forgotten.

  "Alright then." "Xiao Ya, take these and put them away?" Yan Feng smiled as he handed over the neatly bound documents.

  "...... Alright? Alright?" Bai Xueya suddenly came back to herself, her face flushing red with embarrassment for her previous daze. She nervously took it, and in the instant when their hands unintentionally touched, it seemed like a current of electricity flashed through, making her tremble slightly.

  "I'm really getting tired." Yan Feng gently rubbed his arm, looking out the window, "It's not early anymore, Xiao Ya, you should also hurry up and pack your things to go back."

  "Okay, okay..." Bai Xueya responded softly. Suddenly felt that today's time passed too fast, even though she was so tired, she still cherished such a precious day.

  The employees gradually dispersed, but Bai Xiaoya still didn't want to leave. It wasn't until Yan Feng urged her repeatedly that she finally reluctantly took a step forward.

  Just then, as she was walking to the door, she suddenly stopped.

  "Senior."

  She turned around, looked at him, and breathed rapidly as if she was about to suffocate.

  Yan Feng looked at her gently and patiently waited for her question.

  Take a deep breath and calm down.

  "This... this new hairpin, really... thank you so much?" She said quickly and hurriedly lowered her head, but her face had already turned bright red.

  "What's a hair clip? What hair clip?" Yan Feng looked bewildered, as if he really didn't know, and gazed at her in puzzlement.

  Bai Xueya was shocked and stuttered, "How could Yan Fengxue not know?" She hastily explained, "It's that blue hairpin I placed on my desk at noon today..."

  "Little Maple——"

  A shout at the door interrupted Bai Xiaoya's words.

  Bai Xueya turned around and saw Jin Zaihan standing at the door with his bag slung over his shoulder, looking like he wanted to hurry home.

  "Ah, Xiaoya is also here?" Seeing Bai Xiaoya in the finance room, Jin Zaihan hurriedly smiled and walked in, saying softly, "That's great! Why don't you come home with us together?"

  "Really... together?" Baek Ah-young looked at Kim Jae-hwan in surprise, then turned to Yan Feng, suddenly understanding something.

  Together...

  That's right.

  It's "together" after all...

  It turns out they've always been leaving work together...

  She hesitated, biting her lip, and forced out a stiff smile: "No... no need to...". She shook her head slightly, "Lili is still waiting for me... you two go together... I'll go find Lili first..."

  Having said that, he didn't even have time to say goodbye and fled away quickly.

  On the spot, Jin Han was stunned and looked at Bai Xueya's departing back, in his heart, it seemed that something was slowly becoming clear...

  Has she done something wrong again?