Chapter 19: She Knows Part 2

“Team Leader Lin.” Shi Sui’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried through the conference room.

Lin Group Leader stood up stiffly and said, “President Shi, these proposals were all made after our on-site inspections.”

“Is that so?” Shi Sui smiled faintly, but no one in the conference room felt any joy from it. Instead, the atmosphere grew more oppressive and tense. The marketing department colleagues all sat up straight. The group leader braced her hands on the table edge and replied to Shi Sui, “Of course.”

Shi Sui nodded. “Then tell me, which floor is our store on in Global Trade Mall?”

Lin Group Leader froze.

Global Trade Mall?

That mall hadn’t been visited in ages.

Second floor or third?

She frowned, trying hard to recall.

Shi Sui asked, “How many styles of clothes are currently in the store? How many new items for early spring, summer end, and welcoming autumn have been stocked? What are the stocking ratios for Q1, Q2, and Q3?”

Cold sweat broke out on Lin Group Leader’s back.

Shi Sui’s fingertips tapped lightly on the desk, her expression skeptical. “No one knows?”

Even if someone knew, they didn’t dare speak. The team members held their breath, watching their leader. Shi Sui sighed and turned to Jiang Nuan. Jiang Nuan understood and immediately distributed the compiled data to everyone. Shi Sui’s tone remained steady, commanding without anger, “These are the detailed records for each store. Review them, then send me the revised proposals.”

She looked at the person still standing. “Not too much trouble, is it, Team Leader Lin?”

Lin Group Leader swallowed. “N-No, not at all.”

Shi Sui said, “Good, then I’ll leave it to you.”

She didn’t even touch the proposals. She stood and left the conference room. As the door closed, sweat beaded on Lin Group Leader’s forehead. She collapsed into her chair. Her team members looked even paler, exchanging uneasy glances. Lin Group Leader snapped irritably, “Didn’t you hear President Shi? New proposals in two days.”

The office buzzed to life.

By the afternoon, the marketing department incident was known throughout the company. Although Shi Sui hadn’t used any punitive measures or even raised her voice once, everyone from top to bottom felt on edge.

Colleagues from the secretary department lightened their footsteps when entering Shi Sui’s office.

Jiang Nuan said to Shi Sui, “That move of yours to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys was spot on.”

Shi Sui ignored the praise and told her, “Have the HR team leader come see me later.”

Jiang Nuan nodded. “Got it.”

She left the office, and the secretary department staff crowded around. “Assistant Jiang, Lin Group Leader won’t get fired, right?”

Jiang Nuan found it odd. She’d been in the secretary department for so long and had even yelled at them before, yet they weren’t afraid of her at all. But Shi Sui had just held a simple meeting, and they were trembling. Did she have such a kind face?

Jiang Nuan touched her face and stared into the mirror on her desk.

Too pretty, no authority.

But Shi Sui was pretty too.

Why did her beauty carry such intimidation?

Unable to figure it out, and with the secretaries looking at her pleadingly, Jiang Nuan softened and said, “President Shi didn’t say anything about firing anyone. Why are you all panicking?”

A secretary patted her chest. “I just heard from marketing that President Shi was furious and scared someone to tears?”

Jiang Nuan: …

Now she knew how rumors started.

She shook her head.

The girl beside her looked freshly out of university, her face youthful and innocent, with a low ponytail and bright eyes. “Is President Shi calling HR Leader Qi to overhaul the company?”

Originally, Shi Sui and Lin Wei’s arrival hadn’t felt real. Though the secretary department had been split into two parts, the group chat continued as usual without disruption. But now, with Shi Sui’s thunderous strike, everyone was on tenterhooks.

Jiang Nuan found their scared faces amusing. “Relax, President Shi isn’t that ruthless. She’s actually very gentle.”

Everyone: …

The little secretary beside her hesitated. “Should we cancel tonight’s dinner?”

Jiang Nuan said, “Then go tell her yourself.”

The little secretary shrank back to her seat.

Jiang Nuan laughed out loud.

The little secretary asked, “Assistant Jiang, aren’t you afraid of President Shi?”

Jiang Nuan said, “What’s to be afraid of?”

As long as she completed Shi Sui’s assignments, the bonuses were generous, and vacation time was never stingy. Jiang Nuan thought Shi Sui was practically a dream boss.

The secretary across from her gave a thumbs up. “Assistant Jiang, have you known President Shi for a long time?”

Jiang Nuan said, “We met while studying abroad.”

The secretary asked, “Do you know about her time at Jiaoda?”

The other people in the office perked up their ears. Jiang Nuan glanced at them. Even faced with gossip, she wasn’t scared, but she really didn’t know. She shook her head. “Something about falling out with her family.”

She had been particularly curious once. During a meal with Shi Sui, after drinking too much, she had bluntly asked about it. Shi Sui had gone silent for a long time, never answering why, just clinking her glass against Jiang Nuan’s.

It hit her later.

Shi Sui had cried that day.

She had never seen Shi Sui cry before.

To this day, she wondered if she had been too drunk and misremembered, or if Shi Sui had really cried.

But regardless, her relationship with her family was bad—that much was true.

Which family on good terms would plant a potential rival in their daughter’s company?

That was just asking for trouble.

The secretary across from her whispered, “I heard—” She lowered her voice. “Just a rumor, but it was about a relationship issue.”

She spoke mysteriously, piquing Jiang Nuan’s interest. “Family breaking up the lovers?”

So Shi Sui had gone abroad with even her living expenses cut off.

The secretary shook her head. “No idea beyond that.”

Everyone tsked.

All talk, no substance.

Jiang Nuan figured she was close to the truth. After work, the secretary department colleagues headed to the restaurant first. Shi Sui got into Jiang Nuan’s car. Jiang Nuan turned on the AC, the music, and cracked the window, but closed it after Shi Sui glanced at her.

Cool wind blew from the vents. Jiang Nuan asked curiously, “Mind if I ask you something?”

Shi Sui turned her head.

Jiang Nuan said, “Asking as a friend.”

Shi Sui spoke. “What?”

Jiang Nuan asked, “Did you go abroad back then because of a relationship problem?”

Shi Sui hadn’t expected the question and paused, then lowered her eyes impassively. “Mm.”

Her straightforwardness threw Jiang Nuan off.

Normally, this woman wouldn’t fart after a beating, but today she was so honest that Jiang Nuan suspected she was being tricked. She asked doubtfully, “Really?”

Shi Sui said helplessly, “I told you, and now you don’t believe me. Why ask then?”

“It’s not—” Jiang Nuan gathered her words, but Shi Sui’s single syllable disrupted her rhythm. Jiang Nuan hummed. “Family broke you up?”

Shi Sui was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

Jiang Nuan said, “So you broke up?”

Shi Sui asked her, “What else?”

Jiang Nuan was stumped.

True, with her mom’s controlling personality, how could she approve of Shi Sui dating someone unvetted? But a dramatic breakup like that—she’d only seen it in TV dramas.

No wonder Shi Sui hadn’t dated in years. She had been heartbroken.

Jiang Nuan grumbled, “You’re not straightforward with me.”

Shi Sui looked at her aggrieved expression and frowned.

Jiang Nuan said, “You should have told me.”

Shi Sui asked, puzzled, “Told you what?”

Jiang Nuan: “Of course, that you’d been in a relationship. I thought you were like me, single since birth.”

Shi Sui: “Is that something to be proud of?”

Jiang Nuan’s mouth twitched.

Her tongue was sharp.

Though they’d worked together for so long, they rarely discussed personal relationships. She remembered when she first joined the company, one night after a dinner banquet, she saw Shi Sui emerging from the hotel with her right cheek swollen, a clear handprint. Xu Qingqing had been behind her.

Later she learned Shi Sui had gone on a blind date—and botched it.

After that, Xu Qingqing never arranged another one. Jiang Nuan had wanted to ask, but seeing that swollen cheek and handprint, she couldn’t bring herself to. It felt like rubbing salt in the wound.

So that was it.

Jiang Nuan asked, “Do you two still keep in touch?”

Probably not—Xu Qingqing wouldn’t allow it.

But surprisingly, Shi Sui said, “We just got back in touch recently.”

Jiang Nuan’s words caught in her throat. She suddenly remembered that day when Shi Sui’s phone rang, and the way she looked at the screen—gentle enough to drown someone.

Oh!!!

So it was the old flame!

No wonder Shi Sui moved so fast—it was rekindling!

Jiang Nuan asked, “Does your mom know?”

Shi Sui shook her head.

Jiang Nuan mimed zipping her lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.”

Shi Sui asked, “Say what?”

Jiang Nuan opened her mouth, met Shi Sui’s eyes, and suddenly understood why the marketing department had gone silent that afternoon.

She said to Shi Sui, “Tone it down. You’re scaring me to tears.”

Shi Sui: …

After arriving at the restaurant, Jiang Nuan bolted from the car as if truly spooked. Shi Sui stood at the entrance, looking up at the sign. The first time was with Zhou Yueqing. Later, Jiang Ruoning fell in love with the flavors and got a membership card. They came every half month or so, mostly just the two of them, occasionally with Qin Zheng and Yun An.

The last time they ate here was a rainy day. She and Jiang Ruoning sat by the window. Qin Zheng and Yun An couldn’t make it. They ordered, but since they arrived late, the sweet-and-sour fish was gone. After eating, Jiang Ruoning leaned close and said, “Next time, we come early. I want sweet-and-sour fish.”

She said, “Have Qu Lele save you a portion.”

Qu Lele was the little boss of this private kitchen and Yun An’s classmate, often giving them discounts.

But they felt awkward, so they came when Qu Lele wasn’t around.

Sure enough, Jiang Ruoning said, “No, don’t interfere with her business.”

She took Jiang Ruoning’s hand. “Okay.”

She promised, “Next time, we’ll come early.”

“President Shi.” A menu was handed to her. The secretary department leader said, “You order first.”

Shi Sui looked down at the updated menu, which had many more dishes now. She flipped through a few pages, saw the sweet-and-sour fish promo, checked it, ordered a few more staples, then passed it to the leader to order freely.

Jiang Nuan stepped out to take a noisy call. Shi Sui surveyed the private room.

The first time they ate here, they had used a private room too—not this one, but the innermost. Shi Sui said something to the leader on her other side and left the room.

The layout hadn’t changed, but later she and Jiang Ruoning always ate downstairs when it was just them—no need for a private room. But for friend gatherings, it was always the second-floor private room, the innermost one.

Qu Lele had joked that it would be their exclusive group spot.

She wondered how many times they’d come in the past few years.

Shi Sui stood at the door. The lights inside were on, and as the door closed, faint voices drifted out. Her hand unconsciously rested on the doorknob. What if she opened it and saw those old friends holding their cups, turning to look at her and saying, “Shi Sui, you’re late! Drink three cups as penalty!”

Jiang Ruoning, her face flushed, poked her back from behind. “I told you not to dawdle in bed. Now we’re late.”

Her eyes felt dry. She lowered her gaze and took half a step back, curling her fingers.

Suddenly, there was movement at the door. It swung open with a clatter!

Shi Sui froze for a moment.

The person inside froze too.

Their eyes met, as if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers. Disbelief filled Qu Lele’s gaze, laced with coldness and anger. She spoke first. “Shi Sui?”

Shi Sui’s expression remained calm. “Long time no see.”

Qu Lele sneered. “Yeah, it’s been a while. Couldn’t make it abroad, huh? So you came crawling back.”

Just then, guests arrived behind her. Qu Lele’s face instantly switched to fawning hospitality as she greeted them.

Shi Sui lowered her head, preparing to slip past. Qu Lele suddenly asked, “You’re back—do Yun An and the others know?”

Yun An. Qin Zheng.

Shi Sui shook her head.

Qu Lele said, “That’s for the best. Don’t let them know you’re back, and don’t show up in front of Ruoning either.” She bit out the words. “If Qin Zheng finds out, she’ll tear you apart!”

Shi Sui said nothing. As Qu Lele brushed past, she deliberately rammed her shoulder into Shi Sui’s. Shi Sui staggered sideways, her waist slamming into the private room’s armrest. The pain turned her face deathly pale in an instant.