chapter 42

It occurred to Bai Weijin that she intended to talk with him about her plan yesterday, though interrupted by his tease.

Compared with this case, their private affairs were of little importance. Bai Weijin decided to leave aside those illusory feelings and throw herself into the work.

After a light breakfast, they went out together.

Bai Weijin wasn’t the kind to get into a blind alley. She came around last night, and Gu Yeze seemed to forget it as if it hadn’t happened.

Therefore, she needn’t have any misgivings. There was something more important at present.

The driver parked the car at the parking lot of Gu’s Group.

Bai Weijin had an appointment with Chenfeng’s people at two o’clock in the afternoon, so she went to her office first when she and Gu Yeze parted.

It was quite early, and there were only several people in the office. They looked at her in surprise and recalled in a while that the hand-over procedure had been followed yesterday.

They got up, and there was an awkward moment when they didn’t know how to address her.

Mrs. Gu or Director Bai?

At this time, a college student-like girl dashed to Bai Weijin, “Good morning, Director Bai.”

Bai Weijin sized the girl up. Plainly dressed, she wore her hair in braids and had two dimples in her cheeks when she smiled. Her appearance left a good impression on Bai Weijin.

“Hello.” Bai Weijin replied with a smile.

“I’m Zhang Lanxin, the former assistant of Director Wang and your assistant from now on. Don’t hesitant to tell me if you need a hand.” She had a broad smile on her lips.

The rest of them rushed to say hello, “Director Bai.”

Having greeted everyone present, Bai Weijin entered the Director’s Office, which Gu Yeze asked people to fix up yesterday.

In order to facilitate work, Director Wang once moved the bureau to the outer room. Yesterday Gu Yeze let someone refurnish the inner room where Bai Weijin could handle official business.

The office was of medium size, and a specifically designed glazed door separated the inner room from the outer one. People inside could see clearly what was happening outside through the door, while things that happened in the inner room were totally invisible.

Bai Weijin poured a cup of coffee for herself and powered the computer up to examine the relevant files.

There were sounds coming from outside. Her colleagues arrived one after another and exchanged greetings.

“I wonder when Mrs. Gu is coming to work. What lousy luck! She would become our fellow worker.” A girl spoke in whispers. Bai Weijin raised her brows when she heard this.

Another colleague echoed the girl’s view, “You bet! I hate it when she acts in a holier-than-thou manner.”

As soon as their voices trailed off, those that arrived earlier took a deep breath and tried to shut them up.

“What’s the deal? Why need we stop? We are telling the truth.” The girl who spoke first heaped scorn on the reminder.

“Look at her face, and everything is clear. She must have used every trick in the book to seduce our president.”

“You’re right. How come their wedding news was spread overnight? God knows what happened that night.”

“A real bitch!”

The two continued to utter curses at Bai Weijin.

“Keep your mouth shut, please…” Bai Weijin saw the sight clearly through the glass.

Among the people present some uttered the dissuasion sincerely, such as Zhang Lanxin, some chuckled about their stupidity, ready to see some fun, and a few just looked on in silence. Also, there were some colleagues who arrived just now and had no idea what happened.

Bai Weijin sneered. Yesterday in the presence of Gu Yeze, these people behaved themselves, while today they seemed not to know their place.

But she was no pushover, either.

Bai Weijin pushed the door open, looking askance at those two girls.

The two spoke enthusiastically, to find that all eyes were fixed on their direction. Some were shocked, and others gave a knowing look. They turned around to see what happened.

Their faces turned pale instantly, and even thick foundation couldn’t hide their complexion.

Bai Weijin opened her mouth, “Go on. Don’t stop.”

Two girls uttered no words. There was a look of sheer terror on their faces.

Bai Weijin approached them step by step, “What are you talking about? I am a bitch? Keep your eyes wide open and see clearly what I am like.”

They still kept silent, totally different from what they did just now—fiercely speaking ill of her behind her back.

Seeing they were scared stiff, Bai Weijin stopped rebuking them.

She turned away to look at the rest of her colleges, “I’ll take over the department in place of Director Wang for a year, or maybe longer.” Bai Weijin looked around and found everyone wore a meaningful look.

She added, “You work hard and cause no trouble, and I guess we can live in peace. Maybe I can make friends with some of you.” Bai Weijin paused.

“If you don’t like me, please restrain yourself a little. After all, I’m your immediate superior as well as the wife of your president. Besides, I’m not the tolerant kind and may abuse my position in the future or exercise some exclusive rights of your master’s wife.

An eerie silence fell upon the scene.

Her words threw everyone into contemplation. Obviously, the new director was not a soft touch.

The two girls were extremely regretful. If only they could bite off their tongues.

Bai Weijin turned her head to look at them, “If I remember rightly, the first rule in Gu’s code of conduct is that colleagues shall live in peace and shall not be stirring.”

One of the girls mumbled, “Sorry, Director Bai… We didn’t mean it.”

“A loose tongue is the source of evil. I’ll give you no chance. Think about your next step, transferring to another department or handing in your resignation. Whatever you choose, I will give my approval, or you are bound to fail the year-end performance measurement.” Bai Weijin never pacified one after giving him/her a thrashing.

The two girls went deathly pale.

Other colleagues whispered to one another. Bai Weijin could guess what they said without careful listening.

Instead of fighting like cat and dog every day, it’s better to make an example of them. In this way, they would treat her with discretion before they picked a quarrel.

Bai Weijin finished off and entered her office.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. One of the gossiping girls crouched down and burst into tears.

No one gave comfort to her, letting her stew in her own juice and keeping themselves from incurring trouble. Faced with Bai Weijin’s warning, no one wanted to take a knock.

Someone gently knocked at the door. It was Zhang Lanxin.

Bai Weijin noticed through the glazed door that she tried to dissuade them from gossiping but was completely ignored.

Zhang Lanxin came in and handed her a document, “Director Bai, here’s a document you need to sign.”

Bai Weijin nodded and took it. Zhang Lanxin winked mischievously at her and said, “Director Bai, you looked impressive just now and took us aback.”

Her exaggerated gestures evoked laughter from Bai Weijin. Suddenly something flashed through her mind, and she asked, “Who are those two people?”