Yearning For Warmth, Day and Night - Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Eating
Eleven didn’t understand the content of the meeting, but she could understand the atmosphere. Having been a maid for so many years, she was very good at reading people. Towards the end, she saw that Luo Zhouping’s face was very ugly, sullen, his eyes that had been smiling that morning were now downcast, and his whole demeanor was one of low pressure, completely suppressed by Wei Hui.
The Third Miss was gaining the upper hand. This thought popped up, and Eleven felt relieved.
“Is there anything else? If not, the meeting is adjourned.” Wei Hui spoke blandly, her clear voice resonating throughout the conference room. The others looked around, finally shaking their heads, and rose to leave the conference room.
Eleven saw them leaving and quickly went to Wei Hui’s side, hearing Du Yuehan say, “CEO Wei doesn’t seem to need my help?”
The battle at this board meeting was fought beautifully. This was his first time collaborating with Wei Hui, and he had made all sorts of calculations before coming, only to find that he had no use for them at all. This also made him see Wei Hui in a new light.
Wei Hui, however, smiled: “When I do things, I prefer to buy insurance first.”
Who knew when Shen Hao would switch sides? If Du Yuehan hadn’t come today, perhaps the meeting would have had a different outcome. In a sense, Du Yuehan was not just insurance, but more like a deterrent to the Shen family. Du Yuehan understood the meaning behind her words and immediately sighed: “Who says women are inferior to men? CEO Wei’s move is brilliant.”
Giving him profit but asking him to do nothing; this was deliberately to make him remember a favor. He had truly underestimated her before.
Du Yuehan looked at Shen Hao, who had already left. He wanted to fight Wei Hui, but he had truly picked the wrong person. Wei Hui just shook her head at his words: “CEO Du, you flatter me. I’ve had Pei Tian prepare lunch. Please, CEO Du.”
The plan for the unfinished building was already set in stone. The contract had just been signed by everyone at the board meeting, so Wei Hui felt much more relaxed. She had been highly concentrated just now, and now that she was relaxed, she could still feel a headache, and her face was subtly pale. Eleven, standing beside her, was the first to notice her unusual state. She took two steps forward, leaning her shoulder against Wei Hui, allowing Wei Hui to lean partly on her.
The two weren’t in an overtly intimate position; to onlookers, they simply appeared to be whispering. Du Yuehan was about to speak when Du Yue Ming tugged him, saying, “Can’t you read the room?”
“And you’re still a CEO, with no perceptiveness at all.”
Du Yuehan, being lectured by his sister, showed no annoyance. This girl had been spoiled since childhood, always acting and speaking as she pleased. This was the first time he heard her mention “perceptiveness.” He couldn’t help but be curious: “This Eleven, is she your friend?”
Upon mentioning Eleven, Du Yue Ming immediately nodded: “Of course!”
She couldn’t explain why. Even though she had countless friends, some flattering, some causing trouble with her, Eleven neither flattered nor caused trouble with her, yet she particularly liked this friend. She felt Eleven had a pure demeanor, and her past experiences made Du Yue Ming feel for her. If Eleven weren’t with Wei Hui, she genuinely considered “kidnapping” Eleven and settling her down.
Of course, that was just a thought.
She could tell that Eleven liked Wei Hui.
“Cough—” Eleven, hearing this, choked on her water. After arriving at the hotel, Wei Hui went to the restroom, Du Yuehan was on the phone, and she was sitting with Du Yue Ming when she heard this startling remark, causing her to cough repeatedly.
“Why so excited?” Du Yue Ming looked at her in confusion, leaning in to ask, “Did I say something wrong?”
Her eyes held a strong sense of inquiry. Eleven hadn’t forgotten her previous experience of being hit on by her. If she said no, Du Yue Ming would definitely press for details, right? She shook her head: “You said nothing wrong.”
Du Yue Ming’s gaze at her brightened with a smile: “Eleven, why are you so honest, hahahaha!”
Eleven frowned at her unrestrained laughter. Before she could speak, she heard Du Yuehan ask, “What are you talking about?”
As his voice fell, Wei Hui also returned. Eleven tugged at Du Yue Ming’s sleeve. Du Yue Ming, not understanding, said, “Nothing, just girl talk. Do you want to listen?”
Du Yuehan shook his head and chuckled. Wei Hui looked at Eleven, who was with Du Yue Ming, her pretty face slightly flushed, tugging at Du Yue Ming’s sleeve, seemingly pleading with her. A faint displeasure arose in Wei Hui’s heart, but she said nothing.
Soon the dishes were served. At the dinner table, Du Yuehan and Wei Hui discussed company matters for a few moments. Wei Hui lowered her eyes and feigned nonchalance, saying, “I heard Assistant Qiao hasn’t been feeling well recently. Is he better now?”
Du Yuehan’s eating slowed slightly. He looked up and smiled: “How did CEO Wei know?”
Wei Hui ate gracefully, unhurriedly. She put down her chopsticks and said, “I heard from Vice President Luo. They met for a meal a couple of days ago.”
Du Yuehan nodded: “I haven’t seen Assistant Qiao in a few days either. I’ll ask my brother later.”
Assistant Qiao was his brother’s special assistant, and he often visited the Du family, so Du Yuehan also knew him. In his impression, Assistant Qiao was a particularly serious and upright person. But Wei Hui wouldn’t mention him for no reason, especially in connection with Luo Zhouping. Du Yuehan kept this in mind, thinking he would ask his brother about it later.
The small talk ended, and the meal was almost over. Du Yue Ming reluctantly bid Eleven farewell. After waving, she was pulled into the car by Du Yuehan. Behind them, the three stood side by side. Eleven heard Pei Tian softly say, “Third Miss, will CEO Du investigate?”
Wei Hui’s expression was indifferent, her gaze cold. Her voice, carried by the wind, entered Eleven’s ears: “He doesn’t need to investigate. He just needs to convey this to Mr. Du.”
Although Luo Zhouping hadn’t revealed any significant flaws in the company yet, according to his usual conduct, he wouldn’t follow proper procedures. If he were truly taking the straight path, there would be no need to arrange a meeting with Assistant Qiao. However, Wei Hui lacked the mental energy to investigate these matters herself, so she simply handed it over to Du Yuehan.
The cold wind blew in gusts. Wei Hui looked at the departing black car and said, “The insurance I bought at a high price, how can I only use it once?”
Eleven truly didn’t understand these convoluted matters, but Pei Tian smiled: “Third Miss, I understand.”
After their conversation, Wei Hui turned to Eleven and asked, “Shall I have Pei Tian send you back?”
It wasn’t a direct command. Eleven looked up. In the bright sunlight, her beautiful face was like a flower, her skin delicate and glowing, her bright eyes sparkling. She said, “Can I come to the company with you?”
“I have nothing to do at home, and what if you need something…”
Wei Hui was silent for a few seconds: “Let’s go.”
She didn’t directly tell her to go back; instead, she tacitly allowed Eleven to stay by her side. Pei Tian glanced at Eleven several times, then lowered his head and followed Wei Hui into the company.
Upon returning to the office, Wei Hui immediately busied herself with work. The entire office was quiet. Eleven sat on the edge of the sofa, chin in hand, her gaze scanning Wei Hui’s office, finally landing on a bookshelf at the back. Eleven couldn’t distinguish the types of books; she could only determine how many different kinds there were by the color of their covers. Finally, she smiled, counting over and over again but never quite figuring it out.
Wei Hui heard her low chuckle and looked up, seeing Eleven’s gaze directed towards her side. She tilted her head, following Eleven’s gaze, and saw the fully stocked bookshelf.
This bookshelf belonged to her father, filled with highly specialized and obscure content that she rarely read herself. Seeing Eleven looking at it now, she asked, “Do you want to read a book?”
Eleven snapped back to attention, apologizing, “I’m sorry, Third Miss, did I disturb you?”
Her tone was humble, respectful, and polite. Wei Hui, seeing her like this, inexplicably thought of the scene at the dinner table where she interacted with Du Yue Ming. She was tugging on Du Yue Ming’s sleeve, her eyes holding shyness and a hint of pleading, completely different from her current proper demeanor. Wei Hui pursed her lips: “No, these are all professional books. If you want to read, I’ll have Pei Tian find some books for you.”
Eleven quickly said, “No need, I—”
“You don’t need to be so restrained. If you need anything, you can tell me.” After saying that, seeing Eleven’s stunned expression, Wei Hui also froze for a few seconds. When did her persona gain the trait of being understanding?
Fortunately, Eleven didn’t remain stunned for too long. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “Thank you, Third Miss.”
Wei Hui responded with a light hum. Just as she lowered her head to look at the documents, she heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Pei Tian entered carrying a stack of documents. He walked to Wei Hui’s desk and said, “Third Miss, these are the reports for the second half of the year; the figures have all been verified.”
Wei Hui lifted her chin: “Put them there.”
Pei Tian placed the documents on the desk and bowed: “One more thing.”
“Just heard the news, Vice President Luo is planning a departmental team-building event next week.”
Wei Hui’s hand, holding the pen, paused. She looked up: “Team building?”
Pei Tian nodded: “He said it’s because the unfinished building plan has been finalized, and it’s almost the end of the year, so he wants to take everyone out for two days.”
“Third Miss, I checked, you don’t have any special activities next week. He deliberately chose this date.”
His purpose was to test if Wei Hui’s illness was real. Ever since Luo Zhouping returned, Wei Hui had been receiving messages that he was investigating her, but she had no evidence. Every time they met at the company, his gaze was so sharp it seemed to pierce through her. He had also contacted Su Ziyan privately, for which Su Ziyan had mocked Luo Zhouping for having the nerve to think he would betray her and ally with him.
Wei Hui knew Luo Zhouping’s character; he wouldn’t give up easily.
“Should I arrange other activities for you?” Pei Tian asked. Given her current health, attending wouldn’t be good. Wei Hui, however, shook her head: “No need.”
She certainly had ways to avoid it, but if she avoided it once, Luo Zhouping would find a second opportunity. Rather than letting him keep testing her, it was better to directly dispel his doubts while her health hadn’t reached its worst point.
Although Pei Tian thought her decision was too bold, he didn’t refute it. He simply said, “Then I’ll make the arrangements for you.”
Wei Hui nodded slightly and said to him, “Have Ziyan come over tonight.”
Pei Tian: “Okay.”
Waiting for the office door to close, Eleven finally looked at Wei Hui. Her conversation with Pei Tian just now hadn’t been loud, so she hadn’t heard clearly, only vaguely hearing about an event and finally mentioning Dr. Su. Now that Pei Tian had left, Eleven nervously said, “Third Miss, are you not feeling well?”
Wei Hui lifted her eyelids to look at her, her gaze deep. She replied, “No, just a little trouble.”
Wei Hui, who had unconsciously given another explanation, lowered her eyes, a bit annoyed at her instinctive actions. Finally, she said, “Rest well these next few days. Come with me to the team-building event next week.”
She didn’t say anything further. Eleven wanted to ask what a team-building event was, but then she saw Wei Hui lower her head and open a document, seemingly busy. The fragmented sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling window behind her fell upon her, making her glow.
Eleven’s eyes stung. She squinted, then lowered her head, pondering for a moment before picking up her phone. Since the Third Miss was busy, she might as well ask Du Yue Ming.