Back Then, I Adored You

Xiaowang was unaware that Liang Doukou and Qin Zhi’ai had already met each other. Upon hearing her mention Qin Zhi’ai’s name, he was visibly surprised and asked with disbelief, “Secretary Qin?”

“Yes,” Liang Doukou said with a smile resting on her lightly powdered face, making her radiant and captivating. In a leathery voice, she continued. “Not long ago, I met Secretary Qin at the spring resort, and we hit it off pretty well.”

After explaining, Liang Doukou cocked her head and asked again, “Any problems with this?”

He wouldn’t dare to offend Old Master Gu and Miss Liang when he is only a salaried employee. Because Liang Doukou had asked him in an amicable tone for the second time, Xiaowang immediately nodded his head and said, “No problem.”

Afterward, he turned and instructed Qin Zhi’ai, who was seated at her desk, “Secretary Qin, please entertain Old Master Gu and Miss Liang.”

Other than Qin Zhi’ai and Liang Doukou, nobody else in the secretaries’ office knew about the past grudge between them.

On team-building day, Liang Doukou had made her drag luggage and wait outside Old Master Gu’s room. Qin Zhi’ai is not a fool and could tell that she was intentionally making things difficult for her.

Now that she’s specifically asked for my company, nothing good will come out of this.

I should have expected this of Liang Doukou. She’ll never let matters rest now that she knows I’m Gu Yusheng’s secretary.

Her true purpose of visiting today is probably to come check up on me, not the company.

If I’d known back then that I’d become Gu Yusheng’s secretary, I would never have joined Hui Shi, but I had already signed the contract and couldn’t afford to pay the exorbitant fee for a breach.

All I can do now is take things one step at a time.

Qin Zhi’ai quickly rose from her seat and replied to Xiaowang, “Okay.”

Qin Zhi’ai led Old Master Gu and Liang Doukou into Gu Yusheng’s office and invited them to take a seat before politely standing at one side and asking respectfully, “Old Master Gu and Miss Liang, what would you like to drink?”

“Grandpa drinks tea,” said Liang Doukou as she casually picked up a magazine from the table and began to browse through it. “I drink coffee.”

“Alright. Please wait for a moment.”

As Qin Zhi’ai backed out from Gu Yusheng’s office and quietly shut the door behind her, she could hear whispers coming from the secretaries’ office.

“Oh my god. Was that the Liang Doukou?”

“How’s she related to our boss?”

“The ‘royal family’ is so friendly toward her, and she even came with Old Master Gu. Could she be the future Mrs. Gu?”

“No wonder the boss doesn’t have many scandals. It seems that he’s already silently conquered the national idol.”

Qin Zhi’ai lowered her gaze and, pretending not to have heard them, she walked into the pantry.

…

After Qin Zhi’ai had led Old Master Gu and Liang Doukou into Gu Yusheng’s office, Xiaowang had planned to eat his meal in the pantry but, after walking a few steps, he instead headed off to an out-of-the-way safety hall to make a call to Gu Yusheng.

It was rather noisy on Gu Yusheng’s end, with quite a few people hollering in the background. Because of Gu Yusheng’s soft voice, Xiaowang couldn’t catch what he was saying; given Gu Yusheng’s generally foul mood recently, he dared not ask him to repeat himself and merely proceeded to tell him what he wanted to say. “Secretary Qin is entertaining Old Master Gu and Miss Liang…” Gu Yusheng abruptly roared, “SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!”