Chapter 3: No, Begging, Dog

Xu Si’an curled his lips into a sneer. "The other employees don't have to, but you do."

Qiao Xu understood then. He was doing this on purpose. He was deliberately making things difficult for her.

"Mr. Xu, if the company maliciously seeks compensation from an employee, I can report this to the relevant authorities."

Xu Si’an crushed his cigarette into the crystal ashtray in front of him and stood up. "Go ahead."

Qiao Xu turned to leave, but before her hand could touch the doorknob, she heard him say, "The business circle is small, Secretary Qiao. You’d better prepare for a career change."

*Endure, endure, endure...*

*I’ve had enough!*

"Xu Si’an, are you threatening me?"

Xu Si’an stood up, walked around the desk, and approached her step by step. "And what if I am?"

"Beg me, and I might consider signing your resignation letter."

Qiao Xu met his gaze and squeezed three words through her teeth: "I. Won't. Beg. You."

She didn't even bother with her employee badge. She yanked the glass door open, slammed it shut, and walked to the assistant's office next door.

The moment the door closed, Qiao Xu’s eyes instantly turned red. Knowing the office door was opaque from the outside, she simply slumped onto the carpet and pulled her knees to her chest.

*Xu Si’an, I already let you go four years ago. What else do you want from me? How much more must I suffer?*

He was right next door; Qiao Xu didn't dare to let out a sob.

A week before graduation four years ago, a woman claiming to be Xu Si’an’s mother, along with his fiancée, had sought her out. They first belittled her, calling her worthless, and then insulted her parents. They called her shameless, ill-bred, a social climber, and a mistress.

Xu’s mother had offered Qiao Xu one million yuan to break up with her son. At the time, Qiao Xu’s father was suffering from liver cancer and truly needed the money for treatment. Qiao Xu did not take the money, but she did break up with Xu Si’an on the day of graduation. She hadn't wavered when his mother came to her, but she had crumbled when she saw Xu Si’an—who had told her he was going home for dinner—at the mall, helping the woman who claimed to be his fiancée try on wedding dresses. She wanted to believe he wasn't that kind of person, but she chose to let go regardless. His mother was right; who was she to be worthy of someone as excellent as Xu Si’an? And who was she to marry into a wealthy family?

After the breakup, to pay for her father’s treatment, she worked odd jobs while finishing school, borrowing money from every relative she could. Yet, her father still passed away. For a fleeting moment, she regretted not taking that million-yuan breakup fee; if she had, maybe her father wouldn't have died.

After venting her emotions, Qiao Xu wiped away her tears, stood up, sat at her desk, and opened her computer to draft her resignation letter. Less than a minute after she sent it to the Human Resources Director’s inbox, Xu Si’an knew.

He said coldly, "Denied."

The HR Director called Qiao Xu. "Xiao Qiao, you want to resign?"

"Yes."

"Are you unhappy with your new compensation package?" The Director continued, "Xiao Qiao, you’ve been with the company for four years and your performance is outstanding. I know 26,000 yuan is a bit low for a chief assistant, but the quarterly and year-end bonuses are quite generous."

Qiao Xu was confused. "Director Chen, what do you mean?"

Director Chen said, "Didn't you check your email? Mr. Xu gave everyone in the secretariat a raise. As chief assistant, you’ve been given an 8,000-yuan increase."

Qiao Xu hurriedly opened the unread email from five minutes ago. It stated that her salary adjustment would take effect this month. Xu Si’an hadn't lowered her salary?

"Xiao Qiao? Are you still there?"

"I’m listening, Director Chen. Was this Mr. Xu’s decision?"

"Yes. Two hours ago, when Mr. Xu announced your promotion to chief assistant, he mentioned the raise. I only sent the email after confirming with the Finance Director."

After hanging up, Qiao Xu still felt like she was in a dream. Two hours ago? That was before he had even come down to the secretariat. Then why did he give her such a hard time just now?

The work hours for the president's secretary and assistant were tied to the boss; the boss leaves, and the worker bees leave.

The pinned WeChat group lit up.

Ye Yurou: *Oh my god, Mr. Xu is my god! Finally, no more overtime!*

Fang Kexin: *Compared to Mr. Xu, that stingy old skinflint is not even human.* (Coincidentally, the previous president’s surname was Zhou.)

Fang Kexin: *Xu Xu, why aren't you popping up? Is being a chief assistant that busy?*

Qiao Xu looked at the new work group in her WeChat list, which only contained the three of them and Xu Si’an. A while ago, he had sent a message stating that, barring special circumstances, they didn't need to work overtime. Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin had already replied, but she hadn't.

Qiao Xu: *Not busy. I didn't check my phone just now.*

But she didn't want to reply to his group message. She had just told him she was resigning. She didn't believe he didn't know she had emailed HR. *Whatever.* She would play the role of the worker bee, and he would play the boss.

After packing her bag, Qiao Xu took the fire escape down from the secretariat. As she walked past, Xu Si’an stood up and grabbed his phone and car keys.

When the elevator doors opened, the three women saw Xu Si’an inside and weren't sure whether to enter or not.

"Are you not taking the elevator?"

Ye Yurou snapped to attention and pulled the others into the elevator. Fang Kexin noticed Qiao Xu’s reddened eyes. "Xu Xu, why are your eyes so red? Were you crying?"

The man standing behind them darkened his gaze.

Qiao Xu shook her head. "No, my eyes are just a bit allergic."

*Eye allergies?* He didn't know she had that problem.

Fang Kexin pulled a bottle of eye drops from her bag and handed it to her. "I bought these rose eye drops after seeing a post about them a few days ago. They’re great for sensitive eyes and bloodshot veins. Give them a try."

Qiao Xu accepted them. "Thank you."

Ye Yurou whispered, "Darling Xu Xu, are you unhappy?"

"It's nothing."

Qiao Xu shook her phone, and the others understood immediately. *Got it, we'll chat on the phone.* They had almost forgotten the boss was standing right behind them.

After exiting the elevator, Ye Yurou and Fang Kexin each took one of Qiao Xu’s arms. "Secretary Qiao, with your annual salary and bonuses, you're making three or four hundred thousand. Why haven't you sold that beat-up Wuling and bought something new?"

Ye Yurou rattled her car keys. "There are huge subsidies for new cars now, and the company covers another 20 percent. You’d save a lot."

"Get a new one."

Qiao Xu laughed and pulled out her car keys to unlock her vehicle. "The car works fine, why replace it? My money has other uses."

Fang Kexin grabbed Qiao Xu, who was about to leave. "It's rare we get off work early. Let’s grab a bite—barbecue, hot pot, Japanese food? Xiao Rou and I will split the bill; it's our treat."

Qiao Xu refused. "No need. I just moved into a new place, and I’m... well, I’m not quite used to it yet. I need to head back early." She didn't dare mention the dog at home, fearing someone might overhear. "Another day, when I've settled in, you guys can come over for hot pot."

Xu Si’an had been standing behind them the whole time. Once they left, his driver pulled the white Phantom up to him. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "Find out where Qiao Xu’s new rental is."

He Yanxun chuckled on the other end. "I thought you didn't care?"

Xu Si’an loosened his tie. "Racetrack."

"Alright, Mr. Xu, hang tight."

"Ten minutes."

Ignoring He Yanxun’s groaning, Xu Si’an hung up. Traffic was heavy during rush hour, and that light green Wuling electric car remained in front of them the whole time.

The driver couldn't help but grumble, "Female drivers love these little electric cars. They look cute, but once they catch fire, there’s nothing left but the frame."

For once, Xu Si’an joined the conversation. "Are these cars not safe?"

"With all due respect, sir, how safe can a car that costs a few thousand be? You only get airbags in the high-end models."

"Ram into it."

The driver almost slammed on the gas. "Mr. Xu, what did you say?"