Chapter 2

  She was looking at the message on her phone, and a deep smile spread across her face. Her July salary had been paid, and it seemed that big companies really did treat their employees well. Hehe, she thought to herself as she walked out, feeling especially good.

  The scorching sun in August is like a fire, and the temperature in X city has been high for a week, with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

  It's rush hour after work, and the sun is still scorching hot.

  She had just left the building and walked for ten minutes, sweating all over, to buy two McFlurries. The weather was too hot and the cold drink melted too fast, she quickened her pace, but didn't notice at all that there was a car coming from behind on her right side.

  As the car whizzed past her, she stumbled and swung her arm, sending the cold drink flying in a parabolic arc onto the windshield of the car.

  Still reeling from shock, with some annoyance, but can only suppress it.

  The black sedan stopped, and a middle-aged man got out, looking back at Ning with a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

  She bit her lip and quickly used the paper towel she got with her cold drink to help wipe the car, "Sorry, sorry." Apart from this sentence, she didn't know what else to say.

  The man didn't understand her.

  Ning was dazed, and the remaining light scanned into the car to find two more people inside. After the glass was wiped clean, she quickly retreated back. The car slowly turned in, Ning stared at it steadily, shrugging her shoulders.

  The half-eaten cold drink had already melted and was sticky in my hand.

  He Baiyao sat in the car with a cold expression.

  "Mr He, the girl just now was introduced by Fei Chen," said Secretary Zhang in the passenger seat.

  He Baiyao's eyebrows moved slightly, "How is it?" he asked in a low voice.

  Secretary Zhang knew what he meant, "Work very seriously."

  He Baiyao's mouth twitched slightly. He Baichen suddenly refused to go abroad, and Third Aunt was so anxious that she got a fever, searching everywhere until the suspicion fell on her.

  It is.

  This doesn't sound like a girl's name.

  He Bai Chen looked at the glass still stained with cream and slightly furrowed his brow.

  Before going home, I went to the bank's ATM and withdrew 2,000 yuan. My nephew and niece are about to enter high school in September, and various fees need to be paid.

  Half an hour later, she arrived home smoothly.

  "Xiao is back!" The old lady shouted when she heard the noise.

  Ning responded with a "yes" and went to wash her hands, then drank a large glass of water before coming out. The old lady was stringing pearls. "Grandma, I've told you many times not to do this anymore, it's bad for your eyes. Now I can earn money, and the school also has scholarships."

  The old lady smiled and said, "You're idle anyway. There's mung bean soup in the pot, hurry up and drink it."

  She sat down on a small stool and strung together the beads.

  The old lady waved her hand and said, "Go take a rest, don't mess with these things, it'll make your eyes nearsighted and wearing glasses is ugly."

  Ning smiled slyly and said, "If Wenwen heard what you just said, she'd be furious."

  The old lady picked up all the beads, "No more, the two kids should be back too."

  He nodded slightly. "I'll go cook."

  "Your uncle will be back in three days." The old lady muttered.

  Ning's uncle ran a transportation business, which was quite hard work. Ning was ten years old when her parents divorced due to incompatibility, and her mother, Chen Jingyu, left. The elderly lady pitied her and feared that she would be bullied by her stepmother in the future, so she took Ning in despite her husband's opposition. At first, Ning's aunt complained a lot, and there were constant conflicts at home, resenting having to raise someone else's child. However, Ning was obedient and diligent, and over time, her aunt let go of her grievances, thinking that an extra pair of hands would be helpful. So, she continued to live with the Chen family.

  Ning is a junior this September, and Chen Jialong's high school entrance exam is coming up soon. With three kids in school, Uncle Chen has a lot of pressure on him. Fortunately, Ning will graduate in two years and things won't be so tough at home. When she was in college, she wanted to take out a loan herself, but her uncle wouldn't let her.

  I am very grateful to Uncle's family.

  It's already past six o'clock, and the dragon and phoenix twins are back home. The two dragon and phoenix twins of the Chen family being smart is a well-known fact in the neighborhood, and they are now studying at Municipal No. 1 Middle School. Eldest son Chen Wenwen is in the liberal arts class, while younger brother Chen Long is in the science class. As soon as the two get home, they start arguing, because Chen Long doesn't wait for Wenwen after school, causing Wenwen to have to walk back.

  "You're so fat, I'm exhausted from carrying you every day." Chen Long shouted angrily.

  Chen Wenwen naturally wouldn't let him off, "Whose fault is it that you're as thin as a stick? At home, we don't skimp on food and drink for you, yet every day you play basketball until you stink to death."

  Chen Long grew a lot this year and is now 1.8 meters tall, half a head taller than Wenwen, possibly because he was really skinny during his growth spurt.

  "Come out of the kitchen and wash your hands before eating."

  The two children listened to her. After dinner, Wenwen went to do her homework, and Xiaolong was watching a basketball game. Wenwen shouted a few times, asking him to turn it off, saying the TV noise was disturbing her.

  Either cut the watermelon or "let her have it."

  "No way! She's annoying, just like a sparrow. " Chen Long took the watermelon, "Thanks, sis." He took a bite. Chen Long sighed and said, "This contrast is too strong, you're really my sister."

  Either smiling and kicking him, "Deliver it to your sister."

  Chen Long frowned reluctantly and still took two slices of watermelon to send to Wenwen.

  At night, everything was busy. Ning gave He Bai Chen a call, but the phone didn't connect. Ning sent him a message instead.

  "I've received my salary, as a thank you, let me treat you to dinner." The job was introduced by He Bochen, so it's only natural to thank him.

  "Big sister, I'm so sleepy."

  "Sleep tight," Ning said.

  Chen Wenwen lay down on the bed and fell asleep in no time.

  The Chen family lived on the first floor, and the noise outside could be heard very clearly at night. Dongfu Alley was in an old urban area, with old houses and backward public facilities. In daily life, various stalls came and went, noisy and dirty.

  The next day, Ning received a call from He Bai Chen while he was at work.

  "A few days ago, I went out of town with friends and just got back last night. I didn't notice my phone. How have you been lately? Is work going smoothly?"

  "It's alright, still need to thank you."

  "Hehe, let's just owe it for now," said He Bai Chen with a smile. "My birthday is this Saturday, are you free?"

  Ning was taken aback, actually she didn't interact with her classmates much, thinking for a moment, "Some."

  "That's all for now, I'll invite you again next time. I brought you a gift." He Beichen said softly, his voice gentle and pleasant to listen to. Ning thought that since he was the first place in the school singer competition, his vocal line was indeed very good to hear.

  "Hung up the phone, a colleague at the opposite table joked and said, 'Ning is, you're talking to your boyfriend, right?'"

  "No, no. My classmate."

  It's been a month since she arrived, diligent and gentle, everyone in the office quite likes her. And then it quietly spread that she was personally arranged by the boss's assistant, so everyone looked at her with even more admiration.

  "It's not embarrassing for someone of your age to be in a romantic relationship."

  "Hello, classmate."

  It's precisely during one's youth that talking about love is most enjoyable.

  "When the time comes, one hand holds a graduation certificate, and the other hand holds a marriage certificate, both are good."

  He stuck out his tongue and said, "I'm going to make some copies." He repeatedly dodged away.

  On Friday after work, Ning still had some materials that hadn't been processed, so she dragged it out for a while. After she finished her busy work, it was already more than 8 o'clock, and her stomach was growling with hunger. The floor was quiet, she rushed to the elevator entrance at high speed, waited for a while, as soon as the elevator door opened, she slipped in.

  In the enclosed space, there were only two people. Ning quietly leaned against the edge, casting a sideways glance at the man in the middle.

  Tall and straight, wearing a crisp white shirt with no wrinkles, looking very serious.

  She couldn't help but cover her stomach with her hands, afraid that it would suddenly sing a song and be embarrassing.

  Suddenly, the lights in the elevator went out, and it shook violently before coming to a stop.

  Either he was stuck to the wall, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his face deathly pale, all his strength seemed to have been sucked out of him. Or he slowly slid down to the ground.

  He Baiyao hastily dialed the emergency phone, "I'm He Baiyao, the elevator in Building A has broken down, send someone over." The security department immediately became tense upon hearing the big boss's voice and quickly dispatched someone.

  He Baiyao turned his head, borrowing the faint light of his mobile phone to size her up, and found that she had shrunk to the ground. He secretly furrowed his brow, "The elevator will be restored soon." His words were concise and calm.

  It's pitch black in the elevator.

  She stared at the man's phone emitting a faint light, her fists clenched tightly, her chest felt like it was being pressed down on, and she found it hard to breathe.

  Three minutes later, the lights in the elevator lit up. Ning was still sitting there motionless.

  He Baiyao finally got a clear look at her face and suddenly drew out a faint smile of relief.

  He Baiyao was taken aback.

  The elevator finally arrived safely at the ground floor, and the doors slowly opened.

  "Hello, President He, is everything all right?"

  He Baiyao's face sank, "Have you figured out what's going on?"

  "Right, I've had someone re-examine it thoroughly."

  He Baiyao nodded solemnly with a straight face.

  She was supported by someone as she walked out of the elevator, her face pale and bloodless, her legs trembling with each step. Keeping her head down, when she reached He Baiyao's side, she heard him say in a low voice, "Have someone send her back."

  It slowly passed, "Thank you, no need, I'm fine." She was just interning here and couldn't bother others too much. Besides, this was also her own problem.

  He Baiyao glanced at her and left without saying a word.