Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: It Could Not Get Any Worse (1/2)
Initially, Xiao Yu had planned to go on leave for a week and use it to sort out the aftermath of the accident and adjust his frame of mind. However, the events that had happened in the past two days had made him both physically and mentally exhausted. In addition, his bank balance had dropped two-digit places yesterday, making it a good idea for him to return to work earlier than planned.
His mobile and computer had been destroyed in the accident along with his car. From a certain perspective, it was a miracle that he came out of it unscathed. Xiao Yu did not regard those mere worldly possessions very highly after he had experienced both life and death.
However, he really could not live without a mobile which was why he had bought a new mobile yesterday. He would have computer access at work, so he wasn’t in a rush to get a new one and planned to get one later.
After Xiao Yu switched to his new device, he started receiving a lot of well meaning messages from his colleagues. Among them was one expressing Lin Zhou’s concern. If it was the Xiao Yu from before, he would probably return a call immediately to his senior. However, at this point, he felt disgusted just by seeing that account name.
While Xiao Yu was still a hamster, he had thought that if he could ever turn back into a human, he would surely confront Lin Zhou in person. But, to his surprise, ever since he had woken up at the hospital, he had only thought of Yan Jin, Chu Ge, and even Nannan whom he had not even met before. Yet, he had never once thought of Lin Zhou.
That being said, Xiao Yu was not so magnanimous to the extent that he would treat the things that his senior had done to him as nonexistent. Since he had decided to return to the office, he would definitely ask for an answer from Lin Zhou.
……
On Monday, Xiao Yu almost overslept and had a fruit pancake for breakfast that he bought on his way to SI. When the automated door took its customary three seconds to open, he felt like it was something he had last seen a lifetime ago.
It was a lifetime ago, after all, for he had not experienced such a daily life in more than half a year.
Xiao Yu hid in the toilet in a familiar manner to finish his breakfast before he touched up on his hair and strode his way jauntily to the human resource department.
“Hey Old Wu.” On his way to the HR department, Xiao Yu’s mood was instantly boosted when he met Old Wu: “Thank you so much for your help two days ago. Let me treat you to dinner after work.”
“What are you doing here?” Old Wu frowned in response.
Xiao Yu did not understand what Old Wu was trying to say at first, thinking that he must be referring to his car accident, and that he should be resting at home.
“Nah, I’m really doing fine. Perfectly fine physically and mentally.” Xiao Yu jumped twice on the spot to prove his point. “I have nothing to do at home anyway, so I thought I should come back earlier to make my contributions to the company.”
“No, you- haven’t you heard about it?” Old Wu looked around and pulled Xiao Yu aside as he spoke in a softer voice: “You offended Chairman Yan. The days ahead are going to be tough for you.”
Xiao Yu nodded his head in understanding. He was fully aware of that after the past two days’ experience. In fact, he would probably get a summons to court within the next few days.
“I’m alright, Old Wu. I’m well aware of the situation.” Xiao Yu believed that he understood what Old Wu was trying to say.
Three days ago, Xiao Yu thought that having to pay compensation for a Rolls Royce Phantom was the most tragic thing that had ever happened in his life. Two days ago, he realized that being accused of attempted homicide was much more tragic. On the same day, Xiao Yu overdrafted his advance salary and was now unable to make ends meet.
So, today, he tidied himself up neatly, as he arrived for work. He felt that his life which had hit rock bottom was going to move towards a better direction from that point on.
It couldn’t possibly get more tragic than it already was.
Hence, the always optimistic Xiao Yu was on a different channel from Old Wu right from the beginning.
He did not understand what Old Wu was trying to say, so he could only assume what Old Wu meant and respond according to his assumption.
Thankfully, Old Wu was one of those dependable people. He looked at the overly-optimistic Xiao Yu and said word for word: “Then you know that Chairman Yan had announced at the funeral yesterday to our SI colleagues, that for as long as you stayed here, the Yan family would not let SI off easily?”
Xiao Yu: “……”
Old Wu observed his junior’s expression and understood that he was indeed unaware. He sighed and patted his shoulder before offering some advice. “Go speak with Chairman Zhou. You might still have a chance to save yourself.”
“T-That serious?” Xiao Yu was like a ball that had been punctured, losing all of his previous lively energy before speaking again. “But YL and SI were competitors to begin with. Even if, even if Yan Jin was to say that…”
“You’re still too young.”
Xiao Yu had never felt that being referred to as ‘young’ was a bad thing. However, at this moment, without a doubt, he could feel the malice behind this word.
Yes, he could not understand.
From the moment Lawyer Hu had told him to become a witness who would pretend to have seen the ‘Mastermind’, he could not understand anything anymore.
He could not understand why he could not simply tell the truth He did not understand why he had to sponsor his step brother when he may already had to pay a huge sum of compensation already. Lastly, he could not understand why so many people had been pointing fingers at him on his way here.
“Go look for Chairman Zhou and see how much damage you can reverse. I have to go.” Old Wu patted Xiao Yu’s shoulder before leaving.
The pleasant mood from before had all disappeared, as Xiao Yu dragged his heavy feet to his department.
For the past two years he had been working with SI, his performance had been outstanding. He had quickly become the design department’s leader and had been promoted to being the company’s chief designer last year.
Yet in the past year, not only did he not bring any profits for the company, SI even had to retreat in defeat little by little before YL during his time as the company’s Chief Designer.
Before the accident, Xiao Yu could sense that the company would be demoting him which was why Xiao Yu had treated the Stars Designer Cup competition as his life-saving straw.
He originally thought that so long as he could prove his capability, his days should not get any worse from then on.
However, with all these messy events happening, his future seemed unclear again.
In SI, the designation as Chief Designer was in fact just a title with no actual position. Xiao Yu’s annual salary had remained stagnant after he had been put in charge. If they were to really compare salaries and benefits, the Designer Director, Lin Zhou, would probably be earning more than him.
That’s it, Lin Zhou.
Xiao Yu’s confusing thoughts finally experienced a breakthrough.
Regardless of how, he must find Lin Zhou and get an answer from him.
When Xiao Yu entered the design department, it was five minutes before eight a.m. when the majority of the employees had already arrived. Normally, everyone would be on their own at this time switching on their computers, tidying their desks, or playing their mobiles. No one would usually be interacting. However, today, Xiao Yu could hear discussions coming from inside while standing at the door.
“Did you go yesterday?”
“I did, it was my first time getting so close to Chairman Yan. He’s more handsome in person than in photos!”
“I’d say that it was not like a funeral, and more like a wedding ceremony.”
“Hahaha, I thought so too! The world of the rich is so hard to understand.”
Xiao Yu listened to the conversation for a whole minute. It was not the first time he had heard how much his female colleagues liked Yan Jin, so he did not think it was strange. However, he could not help but to be curious hearing them talking about Yan Jin’s pet funeral.