Zhuang Ying noticed her flushed cheek and asked, "What happened to your face? Does that Huo Jin still hit people? She's supposed to be a socialite, a young lady from a prestigious family, and she has no manners!"
"It's fine. Chief Chang will explain everything to her," Gu Susu said, walking quickly to her desk and placing the contract in a drawer.
Fearing her red cheek would swell further, Zhuang Ying grabbed a spare towel from the office and went to the pantry to pack some ice. She brought it back for Gu Susu to apply.
"Here, this will help," she said.
Gu Susu took the ice-packed towel and applied it to her face. "Thank you," she murmured, her eyes occasionally darting towards Chief Chang's office.
She saw that the people who had been gathered at the office door had dispersed. Not long after, Chang Qingchuan left the company, holding Huo Jin tightly.
Gu Susu didn't get a clear look at their expressions before quickly hiding her face behind her computer screen.
Zhuang Ying watched them leave without reservation and breathed a sigh of relief. "Sister Susu, was that your first time meeting Chief Chang's girlfriend?"
Gu Susu hummed in response and continued her work.
Zhuang Ying said, "She used to visit our design department often, bringing small snacks and drinks for everyone. At first, we all thought she was a nice person, but later we realized she was there to keep an eye on Chief Chang. As soon as she saw Chief Chang getting close to another female colleague, she would find someone to remind or warn that colleague, creating a lot of anxiety and affecting everyone's work. It seems Chief Chang must have said something to her, because she stopped coming to the company for a while."
"So she really loves Chief Chang, doesn't she?"
"Love? That kind of love suffocates you," Zhuang Ying said, making a gesture of choking herself.
Gu Susu smiled slightly and asked, "You mentioned she's a socialite, so she must have a prominent background, right?"
"Yes, her father is the famous Huo Jinyuan, the current head of RA Group. It's said their family is also related to the Shu family, the department store giants." Zhuang Ying sighed, "Why was she born into such a good family? You see how powerful her background and upbringing are!"
"Very powerful." Gu Susu looked at the small bottle of balm on her desk, lost in thought. When she had chatted with Chang Qingchuan online before, he had mentioned he had a girlfriend.
She just hadn't expected his current girlfriend to be a wealthy heiress, which explained her possessiveness even before marriage.
RA Group was a world-class conglomerate specializing in cutting-edge new products, with brand stores all over the world catering to a clientele of the rich and powerful.
Once Chang Qingchuan married Huo Jin, he could easily take a position at RA Group, where the development opportunities were far greater. It felt like he was settling for less by being a chief at Mishang.
It seemed she should maintain some distance from Chang Qingchuan in the future and not readily accept his kindness, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
She casually tossed the balm into the trash can, unconcerned about the bruise on her wrist.
Chang Qingchuan didn't return to the company for the rest of the day. It wasn't until almost quitting time that Gu Susu received the contact number for the person in charge at Yimei Company from Chang Qingchuan.
She saved the number and soon saw a second message from Chang Qingchuan.
"I'm sorry, are you alright? She has a bad temper, I apologize on her behalf."
Gu Susu thought for a moment before replying, "I'm fine. It's enough if you explain things to her."
Chang Qingchuan sent another message, "With her causing this scene today, my biggest worry is that President Qin will misunderstand you."
Gu Susu hadn't considered that. Now that he mentioned it, she supposed the incident might have already reached Qin Tianyi's ears.
She couldn't control whether Qin Tianyi would misunderstand, but to put Chang Qingchuan's mind at ease, she replied, "He should understand that with your girlfriend being so excellent, why would she still have anything to do with me? You don't need to worry about that. We never had anything, so he won't misunderstand."
"I apologize to you again on her behalf. You should be getting off work soon, go home early."
Gu Susu sent him a "got it" emoji and put her phone aside. She took out a small mirror from her bag and looked at her face.
Although the bruised area had been iced, it was still a bit swollen. However, Qin Tianyi had visited last night and might not come today. In a few days, when her face fully recovered, he probably wouldn't pay much attention to it.
She harbored a sliver of hope, which lessened her worry. As she was packing up to leave, her phone rang. She saw it was an unfamiliar number, but there was no advertisement prompt.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Sususu, hello. I'm Ai Yifeng. Is it convenient for you now? I'd like to see you."
Gu Susu heard the somewhat familiar voice. It was indeed Ai Yifeng. Him initiating a meeting with her was as likely as the sun rising from the west.
"Now? I'm afraid not. I have to go home." She didn't want to see anyone from the Ai family again. Besides, Xiao Xingxing would be getting out of school soon, and she had promised to cook a delicious meal for him tonight.
Ai Yifeng's voice was urgent. "I'm downstairs at Mishang Company. I just want to say a few words to you, I won't take up too much of your time."
Gu Susu felt there was no way to avoid him and reluctantly agreed. "Okay, I'll be right down."
She hurried downstairs but didn't see Ai Yifeng. Just as she was about to look for him, she heard someone call her, "Sususu!"
She turned at the sound and saw Ai Yifeng emerge from behind a streetlamp in a corner by the entrance. She hadn't seen him in over two years, but he still looked as cold and aloof as ever, seemingly unchanged.
Ai Yifeng walked up to her. "Long time no see. There's a coffee shop nearby. Let me buy you a cup of coffee, and we can chat for a bit."
Gu Susu didn't want to have coffee with him; she just wanted to know what he had to say. However, she remembered that he had given her a heads-up over two years ago, preventing her from falling into Ai Yiwei's trap. Otherwise, she didn't know where Ai Yiwei would have sold her and her child.
"Okay."
They sat in a coffee shop. Gu Susu ordered a plain Americano. Although it was bitter, it could help her stay up working.
"Are you doing well? Are you still with Qin Tianyi?" Ai Yifeng asked, looking at her with a detached gaze.
Gu Susu took a sip of the bitter Americano. "Just say what you need to say. I need to rush back."
"Do you know Qin Tianyi is acquiring Ai's Group?"
Gu Susu responded with an "oh," indicating she was aware.
"Tell him to stop. Don't have any more designs on Ai's Group. Father said he won't let you do it for nothing. As long as you persuade Qin Tianyi, we can satisfy any requests you have." Ai Yifeng stated directly.
Gu Susu smiled and said, "I can't persuade him on this matter, nor can I convince him. I really don't have that kind of influence. You've come to the wrong person."
Ai Yifeng's expression turned grim. "He has everything now, he gets whatever he wants. Why does he have to acquire our Ai's Group? Isn't it because of you? You must have said something to him, and he wants to get revenge for you!"