Chapter 007: Rival in the Office

Chapter 007: Office Rivalry

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" Murong Wei blushed as Chu Fei gazed at her, biting her lip and letting out a huff.

"You're just too beautiful—honestly, I can't control where my eyes go," Chu Fei replied with utter seriousness.

"Smooth talker." Murong Wei pouted, but she wasn't angry. Instead, a delighted smile curled at her lips. There isn't a woman alive who doesn't like to be called beautiful, and Murong Wei was no exception—especially when the compliment came from someone she didn't dislike.

"By the way, do you know why the boss suddenly came back? Any idea what happened?" Chu Fei asked, curiosity piqued again.

"I'm not really sure, but I think it must have something to do with that young model," Murong Wei guessed uncertainly.

"That issue still isn't resolved?" Chu Fei frowned. He didn't know the details, only that the company was currently in a lawsuit with a young model's agency—something about the model wanting to break her contract.

"Why are people like this nowadays? They'll trade away their conscience for money?" Murong Wei suddenly said, her anger flaring.

"That's the reality. In this world, money is all that matters. You can't eat your conscience," Chu Fei replied with the tone of someone who's seen it all.

"Ugh, Chu Fei, your outlook is so dark." Murong Wei huffed again.

Chu Fei only smiled in response, noticing that Murong Wei had a tendency to punctuate her sentences with a huff, which he found rather endearing.

At that moment, a group of people began to file out of the meeting room—company leaders summoned by the boss.

Females dominated the ranks.

Maybe it was because the company’s boss was a woman, but Chu Fei noticed the gender ratio was heavily skewed. Not only among regular employees, but also at the leadership level. Of the ten or so people leaving the meeting room, only two were men; the rest were women. Fortunately, all of them were quite attractive.

Especially at this moment, when all the women were clad in business attire—skirt suits that made for a truly pleasing sight. Calling this place a beauty camp was no exaggeration.

"Good lord!"

Chu Fei's eyes widened as he admired the parade of slender, stocking-clad legs, his gaze finally landing on the last woman to step out.

She was none other than the BMW lady he'd encountered that morning, the one who’d been the victim of a staged accident.

But now, she was dressed differently: a chic, fitted skirt paired with a blazer, a crisp white shirt beneath. The simple black and white ensemble showcased a pair of exquisite, stocking-clad legs.

It was a simple outfit, yet she wore it with an air of alluring sophistication—part seduction, part haughty confidence.

As if sensing something, the woman paused before entering her office and turned her head, locking eyes with Chu Fei.

Her expression was momentarily startled, then a cold smile spread across her lips. She didn't approach, simply turned and entered the general manager’s office.

Chu Fei’s face immediately soured.

Was this woman really his boss?

He recalled the way she’d glared at him that morning, her words dripping with warning as she left. With a deep sigh, he thought, Is this what they call "enemies on a narrow path"?

"Chu Fei, why are you sighing? You look awful. Are you feeling unwell?" Murong Wei noticed the sudden change in his expression and asked with concern.

"It’s nothing—maybe I ate something bad this morning. My stomach’s acting up," Chu Fei replied, regaining his composure and making up an excuse.

"Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital?" Murong Wei’s worry only deepened.

Chu Fei felt a wave of guilt. Murong Wei was just too kind. He was about to change the subject when a cold voice sounded behind them: "Weiwei, don’t listen to his nonsense. He never feels well—there’s never a day he’s normal."

A tall, handsome young man appeared—about thirty, their team leader, Li Changying. He was one of the only two men among the departing managers, and his gaze toward Chu Fei was distinctly unfriendly.

"Team Leader Li, Chu Fei really isn’t feeling well. How can you say that?" Murong Wei spoke up before Chu Fei could, her stance protective as a mother hen.

"Weiwei, you—" Li Changying hadn’t expected Murong Wei to defend Chu Fei so fiercely. She was, after all, the girl he had been pursuing.

That damned bastard.

Li Changying seethed inwardly, but forced a smile. "Sorry, Chu Fei, I spoke out of turn. If you’re really unwell, hurry to the hospital. I’ll approve your leave."

"Thank you, Team Leader, but there’s no need. I’ll be fine after a trip to the restroom," Chu Fei replied, sincerely.

"Ahem—"

Li Changying’s face turned the color of pig’s liver.

Murong Wei nearly burst out laughing. Chu Fei was truly outrageous—he’d done it on purpose.

Li Changying managed to keep his composure, pretending not to hear. He turned to Murong Wei. "Weiwei, since the boss is back, there’ll be a company dinner tonight as usual. You may be an intern, but you’ve performed well, so why don’t you join us?" His tone was gentle, like a caring older brother.

"Really? I can join the company dinner?" Murong Wei’s eyes lit up, but she immediately asked, "What about Chu Fei? Can he come too?"

"Him?" Li Changying felt a pang in his liver. He wanted to say, "He’s just a temp; he doesn’t qualify." But if he said that, Murong Wei probably wouldn’t go either—and he’d already planned to use the dinner to get closer to her. So he forced a smile. "Of course. We’re a team; everyone must attend. Even if the boss objects, I’ll take responsibility."

"I—" Chu Fei was about to speak, but Murong Wei eagerly nodded. "Thank you, Team Leader Li. Don’t worry, Chu Fei and I will both be there." Her excitement was unmistakable.

Chu Fei sighed, swallowing his words.

"Well, get back to work. I have things to do as well." Li Changying forced a smile, then hurried back to his cubicle. He couldn’t stand seeing Murong Wei defend Chu Fei anymore—it was too painful, and he felt an urge to throttle Chu Fei on the spot.

"Weiwei, about that—"

Chu Fei started, but Murong Wei cut him off. "Chu Fei, you were disgusting just now. How could you say something like that?"

It took Chu Fei a moment to realize she meant his earlier bathroom comment. He grinned. "No matter how disgusting I am, I’m still less so than that fly, right? Or would you prefer him to keep buzzing around here?"

"Hmph, I’ll give you that one," Murong Wei replied, but a happy curve tugged at her lips. Her large eyes glimmered with amusement as she looked at Chu Fei. "Be honest—were you lying just now? You’re not really sick, are you?"

"Smart as ever!" Chu Fei gave her a thumbs-up.

"You’re so childish," Murong Wei huffed, but she realized just then that she wasn’t angry at all about being teased—if anyone else had tried that, she’d have stormed off and blocked them by now. What was happening? Could she really be falling for Chu Fei?

A flush crept over Murong Wei’s cheeks.

"Why’s your face red?" Chu Fei asked, puzzled.

"It’s nothing. I’m fine," Murong Wei stammered, suddenly flustered by her own thoughts, unable to meet Chu Fei’s eyes.

Chu Fei didn’t think much of it. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, "Weiwei, I have something on tonight. I might not make it to the dinner."

"What?" Murong Wei snapped back to attention. Seeing Chu Fei’s serious expression, she grew disappointed. "In that case, I won’t go either," she said, looking at him with such pitiful eyes that she couldn’t bear to speak further.

Now Chu Fei felt even more conflicted.

Wasn’t Murong Wei just forcing him to go?

—

Meanwhile, some twenty meters away in the general manager’s office, the proud and beautiful boss sat listening to a work report from her assistant, Xiao Ai.

But it was clear her mind was elsewhere.

In truth, she wasn’t listening at all. Her eyes were fixed on a dossier open on her computer.

Chu Fei’s personnel file.

"Chu Fei, Chu Fei, so it really is you…" she murmured, biting her lip as her gaze lingered on his name. In the depths of her eyes, beyond the excitement, there flickered a trace of unease and nervousness.