Chapter 4: Minor Workplace Troubles

Zhao Chen’s meticulous "feeding" and "chauffeur service" were like warm honey, silently melting the icy wall of "agreement" in the depths of Yu Ling’s heart into a pool of gentle water.

She had grown accustomed to the aroma drifting from the kitchen in the morning, the Debussy flowing from the passenger seat, the warm porridge delivered punctually during late-night overtime, and even his side profile, so focused it was almost cold, as he deftly chopped vegetables while wearing his little whale apron. That initial wariness had long been replaced by the soothing routine, transforming into a hidden sense of reliance.

Yet, occasionally, when Zhao Chen’s expensive "friend’s car" glided around a street corner, or when a glimpse of a document marked with complex English abbreviations peeked through the crack of his study door, that small kernel of doubt would stir restlessly, only to be pressed back down by the gentleness of her daily life.

This false tranquility was shattered on that Monday morning.

Genesis Building, 17th Floor, Marketing Department of Morning Star Technology.

Yu Ling held her hot water mug, her steps light. She had watched a good movie with Zhao Chen over the weekend and enjoyed an incredible private kitchen meal "recommended by a friend," so her mood was bright. She was even planning to clumsily cook dinner that night to repay Chef Zhao. The intern sitting next to her, Xiao Mei, greeted her enthusiastically: "Morning, Sister Ling!"

"Morning, Xiao Mei," Yu Ling replied with a smile, setting down her cup and tapping the power button with her fingertip.

The screen lit up, and an email marked in bold red popped up like a venomous snake: [Important Notice: Regarding the Final Confirmation and Task Allocation for the ‘Star Sea Project’].

Yu Ling’s heart sank sharply. This was her brainchild, the project she had spearheaded and spent countless nights perfecting! How could there be results so quickly?

She clicked on the email. Ignoring Director Chen’s bureaucratic jargon, her gaze locked onto the clear task allocation list at the bottom of the attachment:

Project Lead: Zhang Wei (Senior Marketing Manager)
Project Planner & Core Framework Design: Zhang Wei
Data Analysis Support: Li Ming
...
Basic Data Collection and Organization: Yu Ling

Her name was pinned, all alone, to "Basic Data Collection and Organization"! And the proposal she had poured her blood and sweat into had brazenly become Zhang Wei’s "Project Planning" achievement!

A cold chill instantly froze her blood. She jerked her head up, her gaze like a poisonous ice pick, shooting toward the glass partition diagonally across from her.

Zhang Wei was holding an exquisite coffee cup, leaning sideways to chat and laugh with Director Chen. In her brand-new beige suit, her chestnut-colored curls immaculate, her red lips curved into a triumphant arc. She seemed to sense Yu Ling’s gaze and turned slightly, meeting the burning rage. Far from being afraid, she provocatively raised her eyebrows, a look of undisguised contempt and smugness curling her lips. Her eyes said: Yours? It’s mine now. What are you going to do about it?

Plagiarism! Blatant! Swift as lightning!

Immense humiliation and rage gripped Yu Ling’s throat. She stood up abruptly, her chair legs scraping against the floor with a harsh, screeching sound! Nearby colleagues turned to look.

"Sister Ling?" Xiao Mei asked in a worried whisper.

Yu Ling took a deep breath, digging her nails into her palms, using the pain to suppress the urge to rush over and tear into her. Zhang Wei was Director Chen’s trusted confidante, with deep roots. Without evidence, tearing off the mask would only lead to her own destruction! She sat down stiffly and closed the glaring email. Her desktop wallpaper was a city night view she had snapped over the weekend, brilliant with lights, but now it felt like a silent mockery. After the anger came a cold, icy despair. It was over. Months of hard work, the right of authorship, her future—all ruined by that bitch! What should she do?!

All morning, Yu Ling felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Inside the glass partition, Zhang Wei and Director Chen were holding forth on how exquisite "her" proposal was. Her ideas, her creativity, spilled from Zhang Wei’s expensive-lipstick-coated mouth, turning into "foresight" and "strategic vision."

The looks from her colleagues were filled with admiration for Zhang Wei, while the glances cast toward Yu Ling carried a trace of imperceptible pity and schadenfreude. There are no tears in the workplace, only victors and losers.

Yu Ling bit her lower lip hard, forcing her fingers to tap meaningless characters on the keyboard, her vision blurred. Grievance, anger, unwillingness, and despair twisted her heart like poisonous vines.

During the lunch break, the voices faded away. Xiao Mei asked hesitantly: "Sister Ling, are you going to eat?"

"I’m not hungry, you guys go ahead," Yu Ling squeezed out a shattered smile.

The vast office area fell into sudden silence. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, landing on her, yet she felt no warmth. She finally collapsed, burying her face deep in her arms. The tears she had repressed all morning surged out, soaking her sleeves. It’s over. Everything is over. Who can help me?

The phone in her pocket vibrated. Yu Ling pulled it out as if grabbing a piece of driftwood. Zhao Chen’s profile picture danced on the screen—him wearing the little whale apron, holding a steaming plate, his smile gentle and harmless.

[Zhao Chen]: Have you had lunch? There’s a new Cantonese restaurant downstairs, the roasted goose leg looks good? [Picture: A glistening, enticing roasted goose leg]

That familiar, grounded concern, that picture which seemed to still be steaming, instantly shattered Yu Ling’s last line of defense. With trembling fingers, she pressed the voice call button without a second thought.

The call connected instantly.

"Hello? Lingling?" Zhao Chen’s gentle voice came through, with a hint of imperceptible tension. "What’s wrong? Your voice... it doesn't sound right."

"Zhao Chen..." As soon as Yu Ling spoke, the heavy sobbing and despair broke through the dam. "My proposal... it was stolen by that bitch Zhang Wei! She plagiarized! She erased my name! And she’s still showing off there..." She recounted the day’s events incoherently, sobbing uncontrollably.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line. Yu Ling could imagine his slightly furrowed brows, and deep within those gentle amber eyes, perhaps a flash of cold, sharp light.

"Don’t cry, Lingling." His voice remained steady, like a warm hand stroking her back, carrying a strange, calming power. "Are you at the company?"

"Yes..." Yu Ling nodded, sniffling.

"Are there forwarding records for the email? Are all the drafts, revision logs, and communication records with the Director still there?" Zhao Chen’s questions were clear, calm, and aimed straight at the core, instantly pulling Yu Ling out of the quagmire of her emotions.

"Yes! I have everything!" Yu Ling’s spirits lifted. "There are records in the sent folder! I have every version on my local drive and the cloud! And I have the WeChat logs with Director Chen regarding submission and discussions!"

"Good." Zhao Chen’s voice carried a note of approval. "Now, stay calm. Tears and anger are the enemy’s weapons."

"But she..."

"Lingling," Zhao Chen interrupted, his voice low but carrying an unquestionable sense of command, "rushing up to tear her apart now is the stupidest choice. It will only make the situation worse and make it impossible for anyone who wants to help you to intervene."

Yu Ling was stunned: "Then... what should I do?"

"Having evidence in hand is your trump card. But how to play it requires strategy." Zhao Chen’s voice sounded as if he were analyzing a precise military campaign. "Reporting directly to the Director or senior management with the evidence? The risk is too high. Zhang Wei is Director Chen’s person; he will most likely protect her and even turn around and accuse you of slander. Even if senior management intervenes and punishes Zhang Wei, you will be labeled a 'troublemaker' in the department, and your future will be ruined."

Yu Ling’s heart sank to the bottom. He was right; the workplace is not a courtroom.

"Are you saying... I should just endure it?" she asked hoarsely, unwilling to accept it.