Sweet as Honey and Sugar - Chapter 6:

After unexpectedly landing two projects as if blessings had fallen from the sky, the following days became extremely busy.

Sometimes they didn’t even have time to eat. Every day was packed with over ten hours of work exhausting but fulfilling.

He Qingrou selected seven people from the design department to form a small team, divided the tasks among them,

and invited Jiang Fengyi to act as technical advisor so they could take over the design work as quickly as possible.

In fact, they had already been involved in this project from the start.

Much of the groundwork had been done before, but the final decision-maker was Yang Shuncheng.

The disastrous result had a lot to do with his poor judgment.

Now that they were redoing it, it was like having a second chance not too difficult to improve upon.

However, the car exhibition project was a real challenge for He Qingrou.

She had little experience with that kind of work, so she could only study past cases to learn from them.

During this time, Lin Nai helped her a lot. After more than ten rounds of revisions and adjustments over a week and a half,

they finally finalized the preliminary plan for the exhibition.

As for that promised meal together, there was simply no time it had to be postponed.

Lin Nai had also been incredibly busy lately. The mess left behind by the former director was enormous and

couldn’t be sorted out in a short time.

On Saturday, as the design for the X6 car’s speed reducer was nearing completion,

He Qingrou decided to keep everyone working overtime so they could finish earlier.

Ever since Yang Shuncheng had been reassigned to the sales department in the eastern district,

the atmosphere in the design department had become much livelier.

Around ten in the morning, Wan Keyin asked eagerly,

“Team leader, what’s for lunch today?”

The cafeteria, He Qingrou replied without looking up.

We’ve eaten cafeteria food for half a month already.

Why don’t we order takeout today?

The food there’s so bland, Wan complained.

Let’s just call it a little early celebration!

Everyone else perked up at the mention of takeout.

I was actually thinking about He’s Milk Tea, someone chimed in.

But He Qingrou remained unmoved. “The cafeteria delivers to our office. It’s faster and saves time.

The more time we waste, the more we’ll have to work tomorrow.”

We’ll definitely finish today! If we don’t, we won’t go home!

He Qingrou tossed a pile of documents at him. Then use that energy to write the summary report.

Wan groaned. I still have drawings to finish! If I write the report too, I won’t be sleeping tonight!

If you write it, I’ll order takeout,  she said.

Deal! Wan immediately agreed. I’ll get started right away!

What do you want to eat? He Qingrou asked with a smile. Takeout usually took about an hour to arrive,

so ordering now meant it would come around noon.

Dry pot shrimp, spicy boiled beef, and stir-fried pickled bamboo shoots, he said without hesitation.

What about everyone else?

The others called out their orders one by one, and He Qingrou jotted them down.

Anyone else?

One serving of pasta,” came a familiar, long-missed voice.

He Qingrou froze but didn’t look up. She simply searched for “pasta” in the app and opened the first restaurant.

What flavor?

Black pepper beef.

Because of Lin Nai’s sudden arrival, the previously cheerful room instantly fell silent.

Everyone quickly went back to pretending to work.

Have it sent to my office later, Lin Nai said.

Alright.

They had both been busy lately, barely seeing each other in days.

He Qingrou didn’t look up until after Lin Nai had left.

When the takeout arrived, Wan and another male colleague went downstairs to pick it up.

As soon as they came back, Wan exclaimed excitedly, I just ran into a pretty girl in the elevator!

The new intern from HR!

A female colleague teased, What, Wan, falling in love again?

I wouldn’t dare she’s out of my league. Wan shook his head quickly.

He unpacked the food and placed it on the table. Alright, everyone, time to eat!

Everyone was starving. Before he even finished speaking, they had already gathered around.

Wow, so much food! Thanks, team leader!

Sis He, you’re the best!

There’s even He’s Milk Tea!

This is heaven!

These days, takeout usually came with free drinks, so He Qingrou hadn’t actually ordered from He’s Milk Tea.

But she could already guess who had. She picked up a cup of original milk tea and the pasta box.

You guys go ahead and eat I’ll be right back.

The director’s office door was half open, and she could hear another woman’s voice from inside.

He Qingrou stopped, hesitating about whether to go in. But Lin Nai had already seen her.

Come in.

She had no choice but to push the door open.

In Lin Nai’s chair sat a young woman with permed hair, stylishly dressed, lounging lazily with her legs two pale,

bare legs propped up on the desk. When He Qingrou entered, she only lifted her eyelids lazily.

There was no need to ask she must be the “pretty intern from HR Wan mentioned.

Lin Nai’s face was dark. She said coldly, Put your legs down.

The girl frowned but didn’t move. She looked somewhat aggrieved,

gripping the armrest tightly and glaring resentfully at Lin Nai.

Yang Xingyi, this is not a place for you to act out, Lin Nai said through clenched teeth, clearly holding back her anger.

Got it. Yang Xingyi reluctantly lowered her legs and walked over to Lin Nai. She reached out to grab her arm.

Why are you so fierce, Anai? It’s just the two of us here. What’s the big deal?

Lin Nai avoided her touch instinctively, her eyes flicking toward He Qingrou.

He Qingrou’s expression didn’t change. She simply set the milk tea and pasta on the desk.

Director Lin, here’s your lunch.” Then she turned to leave.

What kind of attitude is that? Yang Xingyi huffed, clearly upset at being ignored. She picked up the milk tea,

took a small sip, then frowned and set it back down.

Ugh, this tastes awful.

Not authentic at all.

No one asked you to drink it… Lin Nai’s voice was low and sharp, tinged with anger.

Book a flight back to Beijing for tomorrow morning or I’ll call your father myself.

Anai! Yang Xingyi’s voice trembled in frustration.

That night, for once, He Qingrou managed to get home before nine. The sky was clear, the moon bright, stars faint.

Downstairs, groups of people were chatting in the warm evening air.

She sat before her computer, typing her report — but after half an hour, she had written barely a hundred words.

With the reducer project wrapping up, her workload had lightened, but days of high-intensity work had drained her.

Chi Jiayi called to invite her out to relax the next day.

I still have my report to finish. Let’s go next week, she said tiredly, rubbing her brow.

Write it in the morning. I’ll pick you up in the evening.

He Qingrou paused, as if remembering something. Is Chen Mingxing leaving?

There was silence on the other end for a long time before Chi finally murmured,

Her flight’s the day after tomorrow. The company’s sending her to the UK for training she’ll be gone for about six months.

He Qingrou didn’t speak.

I confessed to her last night, Chi continued gloomily. She didn’t say yes… but she didn’t say no either.

He Qingrou didn’t know what to say. Chi was stubborn advice wouldn’t help. Not agreeing was the same as rejecting.

She had hinted so many times before; Chen Mingxing couldn’t have missed it.

If she truly cared, she wouldn’t have kept pretending not to notice.

When she leaves, who knows when we’ll meet again. Anyway, I’m counting on you to help me.

Just as He Qingrou was about to answer, another call came in it was Lin Nai. She hesitated, then rejected it.

Alright, she told Chi. Tomorrow, 8:30, at the gate of my complex. I have something to take care of talk later.

Moments later, a WeChat message popped up from Lin Nai:

What are you doing?

Just finished a call with a friend, He Qingrou replied.

Then go ahead and finish up, came the response.

I’m done.

What’s up?

After a long pause, Lin Nai replied: The head office for the Southwest Auto Show is sending people over.

I’ve sent the list and details to your email. Check it when you can.

Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.

There was no further reply she must have been busy again.

He Qingrou opened her email and skimmed through the attachments.

Three people would be coming one deputy director and two managers, all fairly high-ranking.

The information Lin Nai sent was detailed. The deputy director was someone she had met before;

the middle-aged male manager looked unfamiliar, probably newly promoted from another branch.

The last person was Yun Xining she hadn’t met her, but had heard plenty.

A graduate from MIT, known for her skill and shrewdness, only two years younger than He Qingrou.

Rumor had it she was strict and difficult to deal with. He Qingrou studied her profile carefully.

Halfway through reading, a new message flashed across her screen.

Come downstairs.

He Qingrou frowned in confusion. Before she could reply, another message came: I’m waiting for you downstairs.

She typed back:

What for?

Dinner.

Then came another quick message: Café in the city center.

It was already close to ten o’clock. He Qingrou looked down, her lips pressed into a thin line. It’s late.

Maybe another day.

After a long pause, a new message appeared: They close at one. It’s not late. I’ll wait for you.

The tone was firm.

After a moment’s thought, He Qingrou replied: Let me change clothes first.