PSMD – Chapter 124

Qiu Yang had previously thought that the reason Peng Kaimiao was assigned to work with her might be because Qu Yan saw that Peng Kaimiao liked her and wanted to subtly set them up, even though Qu Yan knew she didn’t like men, but women.

But she was wrong.

Peng Kaimiao’s true affection wasn’t for her, but for Qu Yan, and the truth behind their collaboration made her hair stand on end and sent chills down her spine.

She didn’t know why Qu Yan would treat her this way, especially considering she wanted Peng Kaimiao to “do something” with her.

The meaning of that sentence was obvious.

Qiu Yang’s brows furrowed deeply. She couldn’t imagine how much psychological trauma it would cause her if Peng Kaimiao had actually done something to her while she was unprepared.

Qiu Yang didn’t like men, which meant she disliked physical contact with them. She thought about what it would be like if Peng Kaimiao had forcibly kissed or touched her…

She didn’t dare to think about it.

However, Peng Kaimiao’s words also directly explained Qiu Yang’s confusion: after his offer of medicine was rejected, he didn’t seem particularly sad; instead, he looked relieved.

Because the person Peng Kaimiao liked wasn’t her at all, but Qu Yan.

Qiu Yang’s eyes were a bit vacant. She had sorted out many things, but ultimately, she didn’t know why.

Why would Qu Yan treat her like this?

They had known each other for so long, hadn’t they?

Qiu Yang’s eyelashes fluttered, and she pursed her lips, focusing her attention on Peng Kaimiao and Wen Yuan.

Peng Kaimiao wiped away his tears. He was still young, feeling extremely wronged and indignant after being deceived emotionally. He said to Wen Yuan again, “President Wen, I didn’t do anything to Department Head Qiu. She’s innocent, and I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“I know,” Wen Yuan said, the atmosphere around him dropping to freezing point. He gripped the pen in his hand tighter and tighter, his knuckles turning white. The next second, he asked coldly, “Anything else?”

Peng Kaimiao shook his head, “No, that’s all.”

He still had a slight nasal tone when he spoke.

The conference room was large, and with only the three of them there now, it felt somewhat empty.

After speaking, Peng Kaimiao looked at Qiu Yang with a face full of apology, and even changed his form of address back: “Qiu Jie, I’m sorry.”

Qiu Yang couldn’t bring herself to say “It’s okay.” She thought about it; Peng Kaimiao really hadn’t done anything to her, just occasionally been a bit annoying, liking to chatter around her.

It was a good thing he hadn’t done anything, otherwise, she might not be sitting here now.

“Thank you,” Qiu Yang took a breath. She saw Wen Yuan looking over and no longer felt anxious at all.

Being schemed against by Qu Yan like this, she only felt upset. She had thought Qu Yan’s only secret was her private contact with Tao Sixian.

But it turned out to be like pulling up a radish; what was hidden underground was the most terrifying.

Peng Kaimiao shook his head again, “Qiu Jie, please don’t thank me. I originally agreed to her plan, but my conscience wouldn’t let me go through with it.”

At this point, he had to say something to make himself look better.

Wen Yuan looked at Qiu Yang’s expression, his lips pressed into a thin line. He lowered his gaze and said, “Peng Kaimiao, you can go back now.”

“I also thank you.”

Qiu Yang was a bit confused, then heard Wen Yuan continue, “Maliciously targeting colleagues is something I’ve always detested. Your report is very useful to the company.”

When he put it that way, it made sense.

No matter the company, they wouldn’t tolerate a malignant presence like Qu Yan.

Qiu Yang’s confusion vanished instantly, replaced by a feeling of utter exhaustion. She had only been asked to stay by Wen Yuan, just wanting to be an observer, but in the end, everything Peng Kaimiao said was related to her.

It was like an extra suddenly becoming the protagonist, leaving her bewildered and overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.

Peng Kaimiao clutched the hem of his clothes, hummed in acknowledgment, and then turned around as if a great weight had been lifted.

He pulled open the conference room door and slowly closed it, but not before glancing at Qiu Yang one last time.

Qiu Yang didn’t look back at him. Instead, she lowered her head and looked at the notebook in front of her, which contained her notes from today’s meeting, but she couldn’t focus on anything.

After the door closed with a soft ‘thud’, it brought her back to her senses.

She looked up again, closed her notebook, picked up her pen, and looked at Wen Yuan: “President Wen, I’ll go back to work now.”

Wen Yuan was still standing there. Hearing Qiu Yang’s words, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he just hummed, “Okay.”

“Go back.”

Qiu Yang immediately got up and quickly left the conference room. But even back at her desk, her emotions still hadn’t settled.

Qi Rong, who was nearby, saw her pale face and slid over to ask with concern, “Yangyang, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Qiu Yang said, though her nose felt a bit sore.

When she learned that Qu Yan and Tao Sixian were in contact privately, Qiu Yang had only felt disappointed. The fundamental reason she wasn’t ready to confront Qu Yan was that she thought Qu Yan was actually still good to her, as she hadn’t caused her any substantial harm.

One could say she was making excuses for Qu Yan because Qu Yan was the person who had looked after her since she first joined the company, and they had worked together for four years.

In those four years, Qu Yan had shown her concern many times, making her feel a lot of warmth from the workplace.

She didn’t think any of that was fake.

But Peng Kaimiao’s words couldn’t be fake either.

Qi Rong wasn’t someone who couldn’t read faces. Hearing Qiu Yang say that, she knew Qiu Yang needed some time alone and quietly returned to her own desk.

Qiu Yang lowered her eyelids, pulled open her drawer, and took out the chocolate ball Qu Yan had given her earlier.

She tore open the golden wrapper and put the chocolate, which she had never particularly liked, into her mouth.

Her mouth was filled with bitterness, not a hint of sweetness. Qiu Yang knew this was because her current mood and state of mind prevented her from tasting the chocolate properly.

As Qiu Yang ate, she covered her eyes. She couldn’t cry.

At least not in the office.

Shen Ningruo was currently at Wanming and hadn’t left yet, but due to work, she couldn’t contact Shen Ningruo right now. She sniffled, forcing back the urge to cry, then picked up her water cup and drank a large glass of water.

However, Shen Ningruo was a bit surprised that Qu Yan returned so quickly. She had expected Qu Yan to be gone for a long time.

Ke Yezi was even more surprised: “Manager Qu, weren’t you going into the conference room?”

“No,” Qu Yan said with a slight smile, “I didn’t go in.”

Shen Ningruo tapped her knee with her fingers. She looked at Qu Yan and mentioned casually, “I noticed something quite coincidental.”

Qu Yan sat down on the sofa: “The initial Pinyin letters for Manager Qu and Department Head Qiu are exactly the same.”

Qin Yu let out a sound of surprise, “Mine are the same too.”

“Yes,” Qu Yan said, smiling as she picked up her coffee cup, though her hand trembled slightly uncontrollably. She maintained a bright smile outwardly and continued, “It’s precisely because of that point that I particularly like Yangyang.”

Shen Ningruo drew out the end of her sound, “Oh~”

“Is that so?”

Ke Yezi was sitting beside Shen Ningruo. Hearing this, her heart began to tremble. She wasn’t just anyone; she knew the relationship between Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo, and precisely because of this, she felt the current atmosphere was particularly strange and off.

Based on her understanding of Shen Ningruo, Shen Ningruo would never bring up the initial letters for no reason.

But she wasn’t a newcomer to the workplace either; she wouldn’t show her confusion directly. She glanced at Qu Yan and silently lit a candle in her heart.

She didn’t know what had happened, but lighting a candle first was definitely the right move.

She even recalled the time when the two companies had dinner together and she had stood between Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo.

Ke Yezi: !!!

Thankfully, the Director had forgotten, otherwise, she felt she could light a candle for herself too.

“That’s right,” Qu Yan said, then took a sip of coffee before putting the cup down.

The atmosphere became somewhat silent and awkward. Qin Yu raised his wrist to check the time. Just as he slightly furrowed his brow, the door opened.

Wen Yuan pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind him. A smile hung on his face, as if nothing had happened. He said somewhat sheepishly, “Sorry, Brother Qin, Director Shen, I’ve kept you waiting.”

“I just booked a private room at a restaurant. We can head over now.”

“President Wen.”

“You can leave the private room booking to me.”

Qu Yan stood up and said with a smile.

“Don’t I have a secretary?” Wen Yuan replied, frowning. “Does Manager Qu think she has too little work?”

Qu Yan was taken aback, her expression a little awkward: “No.”

Wen Yuan ignored her, simply saying to Qin Yu, “Brother Qin, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Qin Yu and his group stood up.

Wen Yuan, however, looked as if he had just remembered something and turned to Qu Yan: “Manager Qu, you won’t be attending this meal.”

Shen Ningruo raised an eyebrow slightly from the side. She really wanted to know what Peng Kaimiao had told Wen Yuan to make his attitude like this.

“There’s still half an hour until closing time. You can go back to work,” Wen Yuan added.

Qu Yan pursed her lips, hiding her displeasure: “Okay.”

At this moment, Wen Yuan walked towards his desk and made an internal call to his secretary: “Secretary Lin.”

“Please inform Department Head Qiu to attend the lunch meeting.”