Chapter 35 Coercion
In the end, Cheng Jia didn't overcharge me. She only ordered two home-cooked dishes and an appetizer soup, and told the waiter. I said unhappily, "Why did you order this? It costs less than 30 yuan in total! Don't save money for me, I'm here to thank you sincerely!"
Cheng Jia smiled and said, "It's enough for the two of us. Besides, I only like these home-cooked dishes!" I didn't believe it, so I grabbed the menu and ordered two more expensive seafood dishes. Cheng Jia kept saying, "Okay, okay, don't waste it if you can't finish it!" I stopped and asked for two more hot drinks and asked the waiter to bring them down.
Cheng Jia saw the waiter had just left and immediately asked me, "You haven't come to work since that day, I thought something happened to you. Later, I heard from Manager Fan that you and Hua Jingjing were on a business trip. By the way, you didn't drink the medicinal wine, did you? What kind of medicine is that?"
I laughed and said, "It's a powerful laxative . If I had drunk it, I would have been in a terrible state. I might still be lying in the hospital now! So I really, really want to thank you. If you hadn't told me in time, I would have been tortured half to death by Hua Jingjing this time! I owe you a big favor. Just treating you to a meal is not enough to repay your kindness. So in the future, as long as you need me, just tell me. I, Tang Qian, will go through fire and water without frowning."
Cheng Jia laughed and said, "What great favor, what's the big deal? How can it be that serious? I just reminded you, I don't need you to repay me! Then why did Hua Jingjing drug you? Did you offend her?"
I sighed and said, "Oh, it's hard to put it into words!"
Hua Jingjing next door suddenly realized and was filled with hatred. She thought to herself, "I was wondering how Tang Qian could have known that there was medicine in the wine in advance. It turned out that this stinky girl leaked the information. You are so good, Cheng Jia! You made me look so stupid and embarrassed in front of Tang Qian. I will never let you go. I will take revenge on you severely! I will... Oh, I have a good idea. Ha! Let's see what you will do, Tang Qian?"
At this time, the waiter came over to greet her. Hua Jingjing didn't dare to speak, nor did she dare to eavesdrop any further, otherwise it would arouse the waiter's suspicion. She shook her head, stood up and left.
The waiter was very surprised and murmured, "Strange, she came and sat for a while and then left without asking for anything and saying a word. Is she a psycho? But she doesn't look like one judging by her attire."
I briefly told Cheng Jia the reason for my feud with Hua Jingjing. As for what happened after I drank the medicinal wine, since it involved a woman's privacy and face, I am not the kind of person who likes to expose people's scars behind their backs, so I just briefly mentioned it.
As I was talking, drinks and dishes came up one after another. I picked up the chopsticks and said, "Let's not talk about these boring things. Come on, let's eat!"
Not long after eating, Cheng Jia took a sip of hot drink and asked me: "According to what you said, as a secretary under Hua Jingjing, wouldn't you be persecuted by her every day? What's the point of such a job? Have you ever considered changing your position or just quitting?"
I lowered my head and ate my food in silence. Logically, I should have resigned, because my boss was my enemy, and working under an enemy, how could you expect to get anything good out of it?
But recently, when Hua Jingjing and I were together, the hostility between us seemed to have faded a lot, and Hua Jingjing's behavior was particularly obvious. Although she still quarreled with me from time to time to vent her anger, it felt to me that it was no longer a quarrel, but... it was just like being a spoiled child.
I suddenly remembered the panic and weakness Hua Jingjing showed, as well as her tears, when I was about to leave the ward in a rage yesterday morning. With Hua Jingjing's strong and competitive personality, how could she possibly show that in front of someone she thought was her enemy?
And the oath Hua Jingjing made herself! I could not see any hypocrisy or deception in her eyes. It could only be the voice from her heart. If this was false, then Hua Jingjing was too terrible. She could have won an Oscar.
When did it become like this? I asked myself. For a moment, I couldn't give a definite answer. I only knew that before I sent her to the hospital, Hua Jingjing still hated me to the core. Could it be? Was it because Hua Jingjing saw that I had been running around all night to save her that she was moved?
This is the only explanation that makes sense. Hua Jingjing actually knows what's good for her.
I was thinking about it when I suddenly heard Cheng Jia say, "What are you thinking about? You are distracted again!" I was startled, came back to my senses, smiled and said, "I am savoring the taste of this dish. Hmm, it's very good."
Cheng Jia laughed again and said, "Don't be funny. You are eating the leaves of the side dish. How can they taste good?" She kept giggling as she spoke.
I rolled my tongue and thought to myself, "Really? I was just daydreaming and didn't pay attention to what dish I picked up." Seeing that Cheng Jia couldn't help laughing, I had to smile along awkwardly.
Cheng Jia laughed for a while, and finally regained control. He ate a few bites of food and asked me again: "I asked you a question just now, why didn't you answer? Have you ever thought about it?"
I said, "I have thought about it, but I was able to work in the company's planning department because my former manager, Manager Gu from the marketing department, spent a lot of effort to transfer me here. I owe her a lot and promised her that I would work hard in the planning department and make achievements. But I am about to be transferred or quit after only two days of work. I feel that I will be very sorry for Manager Gu's good intentions and it will also embarrass her, so I haven't decided whether to stay or go yet."
Cheng Jia said "Oh" and said, "That's right, I've heard of Gu Ruoyan. It's said that she's a tigress and is very cruel to her subordinates. It seems that she's okay with you!"
I said seriously, "Nonsense! Manager Gu is a really good person. People say that about her because they don't understand her. Although she looks cold, she is very kind in her heart. She treats me, oh! There's nothing to say."
Seeing that I was serious, Cheng Jia stopped talking and just lowered her head to drink the hot drink. I saw that she was a little bothered and felt bad, so I smiled and said, "Of course, you didn't say anything to me. There are very few people in the company who are really nice to me, and you are one of them. Cheng Jia, I think you are very cute, very kind, and a good girl!"
Cheng Jia's face turned red when he heard this, and he said in a very low voice: "Why are you talking about me? Who... is nice to you?"
Seeing that she was shy, I hurriedly said, "Eat some food, it's almost cold!"
After that, we no longer talked about company-related topics, but only talked about our own interests and hobbies. Before we knew it, dinner was almost over.
Cheng Jia said: "I'm full, so that's it. I promised my mother that I would go home early to watch TV with her."
I said, "Okay, I'll take you home. Miss, you pay the bill!" and waved to the waiter.
Cheng Jia said: "No need, I can do it by myself."
I was stunned for a moment, then said, "Then I'll go get you a taxi."
After paying for the meal, I walked out of the restaurant with her. A taxi happened to pass by, so I stopped it. Cheng Jia opened the door, got in, and said to me, "Thank you for dinner tonight. Goodbye!"
I waved and said, "I should thank you. Call me if you need anything in the future. Goodbye!" The taxi drove away quickly. I took out my cigarette case, took out a cigarette and put it in my mouth. I turned around to block the wind while lighting the cigarette with a lighter. As soon as the fire was lit, I suddenly saw a woman standing three steps away from me, looking complacent, playing with a small mobile phone in her hand.
This... isn't this Hua Jingjing? Why is she here?
My mouth opened so wide in surprise that the unlit cigarette fell from my lips without me noticing it.
Hua Jingjing sneered, "You're still reluctant to part, why don't you just send your lover home?"
I finally regained my composure and said, "What little lover? Don't talk nonsense. She and I are just ordinary colleagues! By the way, what are you doing here?"
"Wait for you?"
"Wait for me? Why wait for me? How did you know I was here?"
"Hmph! I'll give you another word. If you don't want others to know, then don't do it. I've always wondered how you could have discovered my drugging, which was so secretive. It turns out someone tipped off that a female spy actually appeared in my company! That's great! It's time to clean up the planning department!"
I said angrily, "You eavesdropped on our conversation? How could you do this? What do you want to do to Cheng Jia?"
Hua Jingjing said, "The performance of the planning department this year was terrible , and according to President Qi, someone leaked some of the company's planning content to other competing companies, causing us to be in a very passive position in the market. We have been looking for this traitor, and now it seems that we have found him."
I scolded, "Nonsense! These are two completely different things. You are retaliating! I warn you not to act recklessly. Speak with facts!"
"Huh! You're so anxious about your lover that you're threatening me. I'm telling you, I'm going to retaliate. What can you do to me? I'm the boss of the company. I have the final say in everything. Tomorrow, I'm going to make that stinky girl pack up and get out!"
She turned and left. I was really anxious now, so I quickly caught up with her and shouted, "Hua Jingjing, don't go too far! Cheng Jia did nothing wrong, the fault is all mine, if you want to fire her, just fire me, please don't wrongly accuse a good person!"
Hua Jingjing glanced at me and said, "Oh! You are so selfless . Do you really like that little girl so much? No! I won't let you have your way. I am going to fire her. I am going to make you feel uncomfortable and guilty!" Then she continued to move forward.
I stood there, shaking with anger, and shouted, "Hua Jingjing! You are despicable! You are shameless! You persecute innocent people just to vent your anger."
Hua Jingjing ignored me and kept walking away. I thought that if Cheng Jia was fired from the company because of helping me, I would feel so guilty that I would die. How could this be possible? I would rather suffer myself than let my benefactor suffer the slightest harm!
I was helpless as I watched Hua Jingjing walk away. In despair, I shouted, "What do you want? You're not going to cause trouble for Cheng Jia?"
But Hua Jingjing stopped immediately after hearing that and turned around. I saw that she couldn't stop smiling smugly. She smiled and said from more than ten steps away, "It's very simple. Just agree to be my fake boyfriend!"
