PSMD – Chapter 131

Wen Yuan’s “Jie” wasn’t loud, but Qiu Yang still heard it. Her eyelashes trembled, and she looked up at Wen Yuan again.

She thought she had misheard, or that Wen Yuan had said something else entirely.

“President Wen,” Qiu Yang blinked, deciding to ignore her auditory hallucination, “I think it would be better for the HR department to handle posting the dismissal notice.” This was her way of refusing Wen Yuan’s invitation.

Qiu Yang was right; it wasn’t something she should do.

As the General Manager, Wen Yuan could post it, Secretary Lin could, or someone from the HR department could, but she couldn’t. Appearing with Wen Yuan would almost certainly make her the subject of office gossip, leading to all sorts of speculation.

“Sorry.”

“I didn’t consider that.”

Wen Yuan knew what she was thinking. With her reminder, he realized he hadn’t been very thoughtful.

Qiu Yang nodded. “Then I’ll go out.”

“Go ahead.”

Wen Yuan watched Qiu Yang stand up and disappear through the doorway. Only when the door was completely closed, leaving no gap, did he sigh in relief, unable to resist covering his chest. He had said “Jie,” and he had expected Qiu Yang to pretend not to hear or think she misheard, but he still couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

Wen Yuan took two deep breaths before telling Secretary Lin to notify the HR department to come to his office and post the notice.

After returning to her office, Qiu Yang took a while for her heart rate to calm down. She drank the cup of water Qi Rong had poured for her and then received a message from Gu Lan.

Gu Lan: 【Holy crap holy crap holy crap holy crap!!!】

Gu Lan: 【Manager Qu was fired by the company!!!】

The company’s notice board was right next to the reception desk, designed to be eye-catching, visible as soon as you exited the elevator. It wasn’t surprising that Gu Lan saw it so quickly.

Qiu Yang looked at the string of shocked messages. Her finger was just on the phone screen, not even having typed an “Okay,” when she saw Secretary Lin come to the office again.

But this time, she was calling for Qu Yan.

Gu Lan’s message came again: 【Xiao Qiu Jie!!! Check the company’s official website!!!】

【Okay.】 Qiu Yang typed the company’s official website address into her computer, and the screen immediately jumped to the destination.

No wonder Gu Lan was so shocked.

Qu Yan’s dismissal notice was simultaneously posted on the company’s official website, right in the center. It was quite a prominent display.

Qi Rong just glanced at Qiu Yang’s computer, and that one glance made her mouth drop open. She then moved her chair over to Qiu Yang’s desk, her eyes wide. She looked at Qiu Yang in disbelief, her lips trembling. “Yangyang… Manager Qu…?”

She was also extremely shocked because there had been no news of this beforehand. She looked towards Qu Yan’s office; Qu Yan wasn’t inside now.

“It’s also posted on the notice board,” Qiu Yang said. Compared to Gu Lan and Qi Rong, she seemed very calm. “I believe everyone in the company knows by now.”

Other colleagues in the office who were looking at their phones or computers had mostly heard the news from others.

Qu Yan was a manager, overseeing several departments. Her position wasn’t low. Wanming had never fired someone in such a position before. This was the first time since Wen Yuan took office two years ago, and the first time in the company’s long history.

Everyone was already discussing it heatedly in private, but no one knew the specific reason. The notice only stated she violated company regulations, but what exactly did she violate? No one knew, and they couldn’t help but start speculating, just like they did about why Peng Kaimiao resigned, getting more and more ridiculous.

Some said it was because Qu Yan gave company business secrets to her boyfriend.

Gu Lan screenshotted the chat logs she found ridiculous and sent them to Qiu Yang, who frowned as she read them.

But frankly, in this matter, not disclosing the details was the right thing to do.

Because Qiu Yang still wanted to stay here, she didn’t want to be in the eye of the storm; she just wanted to be a stone on the ground.

An hour later, Qu Yan returned looking distraught, accompanied by the HR department head who was supervising her. Qiu Yang remained expressionless, watching her come in, watching her go into her office to pack her things. Her movements were slow, as if deliberately trying to delay, but there weren’t many personal items to take, so it didn’t take long before they were all in a small box.

Qu Yan had lost the spirit she had this morning. She came out holding the cardboard box.

Qiu Yang knew where she was going.

She had to go to the HR department to complete the dismissal procedures.

Qu Yan looked at Qiu Yang. Two seconds later, she smiled at Qiu Yang and then left with the HR department head.

Qi Rong sighed with some emotion. “It seems Manager Qu really did something, otherwise, given her personality, if it were a false accusation, she would definitely fight back.”

“Yes,” Qiu Yang lowered her gaze, looking at Qu Yan’s former office. It was empty now, looking much more deserted than this morning.

Qiu Yang also told Shen Ningruo about Qu Yan’s dismissal, but she couldn’t feel happy about it, and her mood became somewhat troubled again.

She wanted to know the answer, to know why. If she didn’t figure this out, she thought she would dwell on this matter afterward.

The image of Qu Yan taking care of her at the company seemed to be right before her eyes. Qiu Yang’s mind automatically played the scenes. After a long time, she let out a slight sigh.

The aftermath of Qu Yan being fired like this by the company was indeed that she became the subject of office gossip. Qiu Yang ate lunch with Gu Lan and another colleague, mostly silent, listening to Gu Lan and the colleague chat.

Towards the end, Gu Lan comforted Qiu Yang. “Xiao Qiu Jie, are you very sad? Ah, I remember Manager Qu took the best care of you.”

The surroundings were noisy, and Qiu Yang was a bit distracted. Hearing Gu Lan’s words, she paused, then nodded gently. “A little.”

The other colleague also sighed. “Who says otherwise? Everyone knew Manager Qu and Qiu Jie had a good relationship before, but now this happens. Could there be some misunderstanding in between?”

“Probably not.”

“For something as serious as firing someone, the company would definitely investigate thoroughly before making a decision.” Gu Lan’s voice rang out.

“That’s true.”

“But Manager Qu always seemed like such a good person. If she really did something terrible, then you can only lament that old saying.”

“Knowing a person’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart.”

Qiu Yang didn’t have much appetite. Since Gu Lan and the others were almost finished eating, she suggested, “Let’s go back to the company.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

Both responded at the same time and stood up.

Qiu Yang’s expression was tense. On the way back to the company, she clutched her phone. Only after sitting down at her desk did she manage to type a line of text and send it to Qu Yan.

【Do you have time?】 The implied meaning of these four words was obvious: she was asking if Qu Yan was willing to talk.

Qu Yan replied half an hour later: 【Let’s meet at the restaurant we often go to tonight.】

【Okay.】

After replying to this message, Qiu Yang covered her eyes.

If only it were just a misunderstanding between her and Qu Yan.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be.

Shen Ningruo was very worried when she heard that Qiu Yang was going to meet Qu Yan after work. She wanted to go with Qiu Yang but was refused by Qiu Yang.

Qiu Yang’s reason was simple: Shen Ningruo finished work later than her, and she didn’t want Shen Ningruo to leave early.

Shen Ningruo: …

Shen Ningruo knew what she meant, so she reluctantly agreed, adding that she would pick her up at the restaurant entrance.

This time, Qiu Yang didn’t object.

As soon as five o’clock arrived, Qiu Yang left work without hesitation. The meeting with Qu Yan was scheduled for six o’clock. The restaurant wasn’t far, so she had enough time to go where she wanted to go.

That was a flower shop.

The flower shop Qu Yan liked the most.

Qiu Yang had contacted them in advance. The shop said they could deliver the flowers to the company, but she insisted on picking them up herself.

The bouquet of champagne roses was exquisitely wrapped and had a pleasant fragrance.

Qiu Yang got into a taxi with the bouquet. By the time she reached the restaurant entrance, it was almost exactly six o’clock.

Qu Yan messaged to say she had already gone in and sat down.

Qiu Yang took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and told the enthusiastic waiter her table number.

After turning a corner inside, she saw Qu Yan sitting there.

Qu Yan had her elbows on the table, covering her face. Even without seeing her face, it was clear she wasn’t in a good state.

Qiu Yang’s footsteps paused, then she walked over. She didn’t sit down immediately but first handed over the bouquet of champagne roses, saying, “Your favorite flowers.”

Qu Yan opened her eyes and lowered her hands. She looked at Qiu Yang, then at the beautiful bouquet. After a second of pause, she managed to utter two words with difficulty: “Thank you.”

Qiu Yang sat down opposite her. “You’re welcome.” She paused. “What should I call you now?”

“Don’t call me anything,” Qu Yan said with a smile. “You don’t deserve to, and I don’t deserve it either. Let’s order first.”

Qiu Yang’s hand under the table clenched tightly. She stared into Qu Yan’s eyes, then said “Okay” and added, “You order.”

“Okay.”

Qu Yan scanned the QR code on the table. She knew Qiu Yang’s taste, so she didn’t ask anything and quickly sent the order. Then she put her phone aside again.

This was a Chinese restaurant in a good location. Even though it was Monday, there weren’t many customers. It was already dinner time after work, and quite a few customers were coming in. Some had even chosen this place for company dinners.

Coincidentally, they even encountered a department from a certain company coming for a dinner today. They asked the waiter to combine two tables because they wouldn’t fit otherwise. The waiter was naturally cooperative, combining tables and moving chairs.

This scene brought back memories for both Qiu Yang and Qu Yan. Qu Yan withdrew her gaze and smiled. “I remember when you first joined the company and we had a dinner, it was like this, and it was this restaurant too.”

Qiu Yang also recalled these things, but she wasn’t in the mood to reminisce with Qu Yan now.

“I don’t want to hear you talk about that,” Qiu Yang blinked, trying to keep her tone steady.

Qu Yan smiled. Just then, a waiter brought a cold dish, said “Please enjoy,” and left. Qu Yan then spoke. “Then what do you want to hear? Qiu Yang.” It wasn’t “Yangyang,” but Qiu Yang.

Qiu Yang pursed her lips. “Do we have to beat around the bush? Qu Yan.”

“Then let’s not,” Qu Yan picked up her drink and took a sip, then frowned. “It’s been a long time since I heard you call me by my name. Just now, it felt a little strange.”

Qiu Yang didn’t respond. Qu Yan smiled again. “I used to think we were really fated. Our initials are the same, and our past experiences were similar. I worked part-time while studying, and you did too.”

“Back then, I really felt like you were my younger sister, so I wanted to take good care of you.”

Qiu Yang had no reaction to her saying this now. She knew all this.

But what was the point of reminiscing about it now?

“But…”

“It’s also because my initials are the same as yours that something happened that you don’t know about.” Qu Yan picked up a piece of food for her bowl. She looked up at Qiu Yang. “Do you remember? I changed my phone number before. I sent a message to my ex-boyfriend, playing a game with him, asking if he knew who I was.”

“Guess what?” Qu Yan smiled again. “He asked if it was QY.”

“I said yes, and his next message asked—”

“Yangyang, she’s going on a business trip this week. Are you free this weekend?”