Addicted after marriage - CHAPTER 6:
The next morning, the design department was unusually lively.
When Luo Shu walked in, every pair of eyes turned toward her.
Whispers trailed behind her like smoke.
Her almond-shaped eyes flicked across the room,
and she instantly understood that the commotion probably had something to do with her.
Shu’er, someone whispered beside her—it was Ye Li.
The department got robbed last night.
The competition drafts that were supposed to be locked up
in the director’s office somehow ended up on your desk.
Luo Shu froze for a moment, then it all clicked.
At the end of every year, the design department held a major competition.
Once everyone finalized their drafts, they were handed to Director Nan Huai for safekeeping.
If a design went missing or got leaked, all that effort would be wasted.
The designers would have to start over, giving competitors more time to come up with ideas.
She didn’t say a word. Her gaze swept across the room like a quiet blade.
The chatter died instantly. No one had expected her to look so calm, so utterly composed.
She gave a faint smile, still holding her bag and tablet,
and then noticed a small stack of papers on her desk.
She pinched the top sheet between her fingers, lifted it slightly, and
let her eyes drift once more across the crowd.
Looks like someone’s drafts have somehow wandered onto my desk, she said coolly,
letting the papers drop.
Everyone already knew the drafts were there. No one dared to touch them,
waiting for her to arrive so they could confront her face-to-face.
Luo Shu, there’s no need to pull tricks just to win first place!
I was wondering why you were working late last night
turns out you were borrowing our ideas!
These designs are supposed to be confidential. You’ve already seen ours, how is that fair?
Accusations erupted all at once.
Luo Shu remained unruffled.
If I wanted to steal your ideas, she said evenly,
I’d just take photos and study them at home.
Why would I leave the evidence sitting on my desk?
I could have just thrown it in the trash and let you search in vain.
And if I were really guilty, why would I post on social media about working late?
Wouldn’t I be hiding as far away as possible?
Who’s foolish enough to make such an obvious mistake?
Her words left the room speechless.
Still, some people refused to believe her especially the senior designers,
who glared at her with thinly veiled hatred.
Luo Shu had no patience for this. She tossed the drafts onto the printer beside her desk.
Normally, she wasn’t one to start fights, especially not in a new company
where she hadn’t yet found her footing.
But lately, her tolerance for injustice had worn thin.
What’s all this noise about so early in the morning?
Nan Huai entered the room, followed by Yu Zhan and Shen Yan.
The entire department went silent at once.
Luo Shu looked up. Her gaze briefly met Yu Zhan’s over Nan Huai’s shoulder,
then quickly dropped.
Nothing serious, someone said hastily. Just that Luo Shu might have
borrowed a few drafts for the year-end competition.
I didn’t, Luo Shu said firmly.
Yu Zhan’s cold gaze pinned her in place. It made her uneasy,
her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
Everything requires proof, she said. I did leave late last night,
but that doesn’t mean I took anything.
And to be honest, none of your designs are worth referencing.
I don’t think any of them could affect my chance at first place.
The room buzzed again shock, anger, disbelief.
Arrogant. Conceited. Outrageous.
Yu Zhan lowered his head slightly, a faint smile curving his lips.
Check the security cameras, Nan Huai said.
Ye Li spoke up timidly. Security said the cameras were under maintenance last night.
They only caught Luo Shu working late in her office, nothing else.
Ye Li had already checked the footage the moment she heard about the incident,
hoping to clear her friend’s name.
With no solid evidence, the argument circled endlessly.
Luo Shu fell silent, her thoughts spinning.
Why had those drafts ended up on her desk?
Luo Shu.
The voice cut through the noise steady and deep. Everyone fell quiet.
Yu Zhan again. Come with me.
His tone was cool, unreadable.
He turned and walked toward the elevator.
As soon as he left, the room erupted in whispers again.
She’s doomed, someone muttered.
Luo Shu straightened her shoulders and followed. She had nothing to hide.
Inside the elevator, his faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, calming her nerves despite herself.
When they reached his office, Shen Yan slipped out and quietly closed the door.
Sit down. Have breakfast with me.
What? She blinked, confused.
Her stomach growled at the worst possible moment.
He sat, unwrapped a pair of disposable chopsticks, and handed them to her.
Still puzzled but unable to resist the smell of food, she took them and sat across from him.
She was wearing loose trousers, a half-turtleneck
T-shirt, and her hair was tied up in a casual bun that somehow looked effortlessly alluring.
Every now and then, Yu Zhan’s eyes flicked toward her, though his expression never changed.
She ate slowly, so he matched her pace, unhurried, almost gentle.
Are you full now? he asked.
Mm-hmm.
She dabbed at her lips with a napkin. It had been weeks since she’d eaten breakfast properly,
always rushing to meet deadlines for the National Day project.
Good. Get back to work, he said, clearing the table.
She moved to help him, her hand brushing against his warm palm.
Startled, she drew back quickly.
I’ll go then.
He didn’t look up. Mm.
She paused at the door. Yu Zong.
He lifted his eyes, tossing the takeout box into the bin.
Don’t tell anyone about us.
Which part?
All of it.
Alright.
He turned away, and that was that.
Luo Shu let out a slow breath, completely bewildered by the man’s unpredictable nature.
When she returned to her desk, the office was thick with tension.
Want the rest of my soup dumplings? Ye Li nudged a small box toward her.
No thanks, I’m full.
Figures—you’re full of rage already.
A few minutes later, Shen Yan came down and called Nan Huai upstairs.
The gossiping grew louder, bolder.
So, did the ascetic boss scold you? Ye Li whispered.
No.
Then what were you two doing up there for ten minutes?
Just talking about what happened this morning, she said quickly,
cutting off the topic before it could go further.
Then she lowered her head and began to work.