Chapter 148: So, You Were Just a Freeloader All Along

Lin Xi found it impossible to understand.

She had been perfectly clear from the very beginning about why Su Ran had traveled all the way from Huaicheng. Though the woman acted as if she were there to see her, her true target had always been Qin Yu. If there was any talk of affection, it should have been directed at him. What did this have to do with her? Why had it suddenly shifted to an interest in her? They were peers, yet Lin Xi found she could no longer keep up with Su Ran’s train of thought.

"I have things to attend to." Lin Xi’s patience was wearing thin.

Su Ran enthusiastically linked her arm through Lin Xi’s. "Where are you going? I’ll tag along, and we can hang out once you’re done."

Lin Xi: "..."

Lin Xi was by no means soft-tempered; that she hadn't started hurling insults yet was purely a testament to her good upbringing. She peeled Su Ran’s hand off her arm and spoke in a colder tone: "Do not follow me again. This is the last time I will warn you."

Su Ran paid her warning no heed. Seeing this, Lin Xi looked toward the security guards, who had been observing the scene for some time and were practically itching to intervene. She gestured for them to come over. "Security."

Su Ran froze for a moment. She had expected Lin Xi to say something else, and she had been waiting to hear it. Why had she called for security instead?

"Wait, hey, hey!"

Feiyun’s security team was comprised of military veterans, all of them burly men. They quickly formed a human wall, separating Lin Xi from Su Ran. Su Ran had to jump up just to catch a glimpse of Lin Xi’s back. The other woman walked out of the company with her bag, never once looking back or acknowledging her calls.

Once Lin Xi had completely vanished from sight, Su Ran’s expression shifted. She planted her hands on her hips and stared at the security guards with a look of utter disbelief. "She’s gone now. Can you move aside?"

The guard replied expressionlessly, "Apologies, not yet."

"...I want to leave, move out of my way!"

"Please wait ten minutes." The guard gestured toward the lobby. "There is a lounge area over here; you may sit and rest."

"On what grounds? This is illegal detention!"

The guard remained unfazed. "If you have any questions, you can call our complaint hotline. If you feel this is inappropriate, you are also welcome to contact the police."

"You think I’m afraid to? If I call the police, let’s see how you handle the fallout!" She had been able to maintain a modicum of civility with Lin Xi, but she saw no reason to offer these people any kindness.

A waste of time.

The guard raised a hand and repeated, "You are free to contact the police."

Seeing that this tactic didn't work, Su Ran changed her tune. "I am an important client of your Feiyun! Move!"

"Apologies, that applies to everyone. We are acting under the instructions of our superiors. Anyone who harasses Engineer Lin—no matter who they are—if they make Engineer Lin feel troubled, even if it were President Cheng himself, we would still block them."

"..."

"This way, please. Just wait ten minutes."

***

Ten minutes later, Su Ran finally left Feiyun. The guards were as rigid as wood; they said ten minutes, and they wouldn't compromise by even a second. She had wanted to continue pursuing Lin Xi, but by the time she got out, there was no sign of her. Before she left, the head of security had taken the initiative to confiscate her visitor's pass. Now, she wouldn't even be able to get back into Feiyun tomorrow.

Looking around, Su Ran decided she would come back to the entrance the next morning to intercept Lin Xi again. She knew Lin Xi’s schedule, so she arrived at the foot of the Feiyun building right on time the next morning. She was dressed less ostentatiously today and had applied a simple disguise, making her look quite like an ordinary passerby.

However, she had only been pacing in front of the building for about ten minutes when the guard on duty picked up his walkie-talkie. Su Ran saw it but didn't think much of it. She didn't realize she had been spotted until she saw the same head of security from the previous night come out with a few men, walk straight toward her, and surround her.

It was a repeat of yesterday’s classic scene.

"Miss, loitering is not allowed here. Please leave."

"Can't I just be passing by? Do you own the road?"

The head of security pointed out the perimeter for her. "From here to there, including the spot where you are currently standing—it all belongs to Feiyun."

"Fine, I'll go." Su Ran checked the time and asked with a frown, "Tell me first, what time does Lin Xi start work? It's almost ten o'clock; is she late every day?"

Su Ran muttered under her breath, "No wonder she works at Cheng Si’s company; she’s just a slacker."

The head of security hadn't intended to say much, but hearing that, he couldn't help himself. "Excuse me, but Engineer Lin went upstairs three hours ago."

"..." If he hadn't said that, would she have just been standing here like a fool?

Su Ran asked, "Then what about her off-clock time? Is it the same as yesterday?"

"Apologies, we aren't aware of that."

"Big brother, I’m begging you, okay? Just tell me quietly. I’m not a bad person; I just want to be friends with Lin Xi and get to know her." Su Ran had learned to be smarter this time; she wasn't going to try to force it.

"We really don't know. Engineer Lin has never left early, but she rarely leaves on time, either. There is no fixed schedule."

Su Ran gasped, confused. "Then what’s the latest she’s stayed? Roughly what time?"

"After midnight."

Su Ran: "..."

***

After the meeting, Lin Xi went to the cafeteria for breakfast with Engineer Chen and his assistant. As the elevator doors opened, the three of them heard the Vice President’s voice before they could even step inside.

"Oh, I was just looking for you all." Old Gao stood in the elevator. "Where are you heading? The cafeteria?"

Lin Xi nodded. "Yes."

"Hurry up, come in." Old Gao waved them over.

The elevator continued its descent. The assistant didn't follow them in, finding a tactful excuse to slip away. With only the three of them in the elevator, Old Gao didn't beat around the bush. "I was planning to talk to you all this afternoon, but this works out perfectly."

"I’ve had HR issue the notice; he should be seeing it any minute now."

"Mm," Lin Xi said, adjusting her coat.

Engineer Chen asked, "Now that he’s been fired, will it be hard for him to find work in the industry?"

"That’s a given," Old Gao explained. "Let alone the industry, no decent company of any size would hire someone like that. Who would dare employ someone capable of leaking company secrets?"

"Later, I’ll have someone go upstairs to pack his things and send them down, so he won't run into you when he comes up. With someone like him, it’s better to avoid any extreme behavior."

"As for his contact information, you should handle that quickly, too. Don't go looking for trouble for yourselves," Old Gao reminded them.

"Isn't he still on leave? Will he come back to get his things today?"

"I don't know, but he should rush over once he sees the notice."

"Oh, by the way, Engineer Lin, I heard HR received a few resumes. Shall I screen them for you first?"

Only she could receive such treatment. It was primarily because Cheng Si had given strict, repeated instructions.

Lin Xi replied, "No need. Just have HR bring them to me."