Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 32
by Little PandaHaving a Meal
Going to a Team Building Event
Though Shiyi couldn’t understand the meeting’s content, she could read the atmosphere. Having been a servant for many years, she was skilled at reading people’s expressions. Towards the end, she noticed Luo Zhouping’s face looked terrible, gloomy, with his eyes that were smiling this morning now downcast, his whole demeanor showing low spirits, thoroughly suppressed by Wei Hui.
Third Miss had the upper hand – this thought emerged, and Shiyi felt relieved.
“Is there anything else? If not, meeting adjourned,” Wei Hui spoke softly, her clear voice resonating through the conference room. Others looked around, ultimately shaking their heads before standing up to leave.
Seeing them leave, Shiyi hurriedly walked to Wei Hui’s side and heard Du Yuehan say: “Miss Wei seems not to need my help after all?”
Today’s board meeting battle was beautifully fought. This was his first time cooperating with Wei Hui, and though he had made various calculations beforehand, he found no opportunity to use them. This made him see Wei Hui in a new light.
Wei Hui smiled: “When I handle matters, I prefer to buy insurance first.”
Everyone knew Shen Hao might switch sides at any time. If Du Yuehan hadn’t come today, the meeting might have gone differently. In a sense, Du Yuehan wasn’t just insurance but existed as a deterrent to the Shen family. Understanding this meaning, Du Yuehan sighed: “Who says women are inferior to men? Miss Wei’s move was brilliant.”
Giving him profit without asking anything in return was deliberately meant to make him remember this favor – he had truly underestimated her before.
Du Yuehan looked at Shen Hao, who had already left first. If he wanted to compete with Wei Hui, he had truly chosen the wrong opponent. Hearing his words, Wei Hui just shook her head: “Mr. Du, you flatter me. I’ve had Pei Tian prepare lunch. Please, Mr. Du.”
The plan for the abandoned building project was now set in stone, with everyone having signed the contract at the board meeting. Wei Hui’s tension eased considerably. After maintaining such intense focus, she now felt relaxed, though she could still sense a headache and her face was slightly pale. Shiyi, standing beside her, was the first to notice her unusual state. She stepped forward, using her shoulder to support Wei Hui, letting her lean slightly against her.
Their positioning wasn’t particularly intimate – to onlookers, it merely appeared they were whispering to each other. Just as Du Yuehan was about to speak, Du Yueming pulled at him and said, “Can’t you read the atmosphere?”
“Some CEO you are, without even this basic observational skill.”
Du Yuehan wasn’t at all annoyed by his sister’s lecturing. This girl had been spoiled since childhood, always doing and saying whatever she pleased. This was the first time he’d heard her use the term ‘observational skill,’ so he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is this Shiyi your friend?”
At the mention of Shiyi, Du Yueming immediately nodded: “Of course!”
She couldn’t explain why, but despite having countless friends – some who flattered her, some who played around with her – Shiyi did neither, yet she particularly liked this friend. She felt Shiyi had a pure temperament, and her past experiences made Du Yueming feel sympathy for her. If Shiyi wasn’t following Wei Hui, she would have seriously considered taking Shiyi away and settling her down somewhere.
Of course, that was just a thought.
She could tell that Shiyi liked Wei Hui.
“Cough—” Hearing these words, Shiyi choked on her water. After arriving at the hotel, Wei Hui went to the restroom, Du Yuehan was on the phone, and as she sat with Du Yueming, she heard these shocking words, causing her to cough repeatedly.
“Why are you so agitated?” Du Yueming looked at her in confusion, leaning closer to ask: “Did I say something wrong?”
There was an intense investigative look in her eyes. Shiyi hadn’t forgotten their previous encounter when Du Yueming had approached her. If she denied it, Du Yueming would surely probe deeper, wouldn’t she? She shook her head: “No, you’re not wrong.”
Du Yueming looked at her with an amused expression: “Shiyi, why are you so honest? Hahaha!”
Shiyi frowned at her unrestrained laughter, but before she could speak, Du Yuehan asked: “What are you talking about?”
As his words fell, Wei Hui returned. Shiyi tugged at Du Yueming’s sleeve, but Du Yueming, not understanding, said: “Oh, nothing – just girl talk. Want to hear it?”
Du Yuehan shook his head with a smile. Wei Hui looked at Shiyi who was staying close to Du Yueming, her pretty face slightly flushed, hand pulling at Du Yueming’s sleeve as if pleading with her. A slight displeasure rose in her heart, but she remained silent.
The food arrived quickly. At the table, Du Yuehan and Wei Hui exchanged a few words about company matters. Wei Hui lowered her eyes, pretending to be casual as she asked: “I heard Assistant Qiao hasn’t been feeling well lately. Is he better now?”
Du Yuehan’s eating motion paused slightly as he looked up with a smile: “How did Miss Wei know about this?”
Wei Hui ate with elegant, measured movements. Putting down her chopsticks, she said: “Vice President Luo mentioned it. They had a meal together a few days ago.”
Du Yuehan nodded: “I haven’t seen Assistant Qiao for several days either. I’ll ask my brother about it.”
Assistant Qiao was his brother’s special assistant, who frequently visited the Du family residence. Through these visits, he had gotten to know him. In his impression, Assistant Qiao was an especially serious and upright person. Wei Hui wouldn’t mention this without reason, especially given Luo Zhouping’s involvement. Du Yuehan kept this matter in mind, planning to ask his brother about it.
As the casual conversation ended, the meal was almost over. Du Yueming said a lingering goodbye to Shiyi, then was whisked away to the car by Du Yuehan. The three remaining people stood in a row, and Shiyi heard Pei Tian ask softly: “Third Miss, will Mr. Du investigate?”
Wei Hui’s expression was indifferent, her gaze cool, her voice carried by the wind to Shiyi’s ears: “He doesn’t need to investigate. He just needs to relay this message to Old Master Du.”
Although Luo Zhouping hadn’t shown his hand [meaning: revealed his true intentions] at the company yet, given his usual style, he wouldn’t take legitimate channels. If he were really following proper procedures, there would have been no need to meet with Assistant Qiao. However, she didn’t have the energy to investigate these matters, so she simply handed it over to Du Yuehan.
The cold wind came in gusts. Looking at the departing black sedan, Wei Hui said: “The insurance I bought at a high price – how could I use it just once?”
Shiyi couldn’t understand these twists and turns, but Pei Tian smiled: “Third Miss, I understand.”
After their conversation, Wei Hui turned her head to look at Shiyi and asked: “Shall I have Pei Tian take you home?”
It wasn’t a direct order. Shiyi looked up, and under the bright sun, her pretty face was like a flower, her delicate skin glowing, her bright eyes sparkling. She said: “Can I go to the company with you?”
“I have nothing to do at home, and in case you need anything…”
Wei Hui was silent for a few seconds: “Let’s go.”
Instead of sending her home, she tacitly allowed Shiyi to stay by her side. Pei Tian glanced at Shiyi several times, then finally lowered his head and followed Wei Hui into the company.
Back in the office, Wei Hui became busy with official business. The entire office was quiet. Shiyi sat on the edge of the sofa, hand propping up her chin, her gaze wandering around Wei Hui’s office, finally settling on the bookshelf at the back. Shiyi couldn’t distinguish the types of books, she could only confirm how many kinds there were by their cover colors. Finally, she smiled, unable to count them properly despite trying several times.
Wei Hui heard her soft laughter and looked up, seeing her gaze directed nearby. Following Shiyi’s line of sight, she tilted her head and saw the full bookshelf.
This bookshelf belonged to her father, filled with highly technical and abstruse content that she rarely read. Seeing Shiyi looking at it now, she asked: “Would you like to read something?”
Shiyi snapped back to attention, apologetically saying: “I’m sorry, Third Miss, am I disturbing you?”
Her tone was humble and respectfully polite. Seeing her like this, Wei Hui inexplicably thought of how she had acted with Du Yueming at the dining table – tugging at Du Yueming’s sleeve, with shyness and a hint of pleading in her eyes. It was like two different people compared to her current proper demeanor. Wei Hui pressed her lips together: “No, these are all professional books. If you want to read something, I can have Pei Tian find some books for you.”
Shiyi hurriedly said: “No need, I—”
“You don’t need to be so formal. You can tell me if you need anything.” Seeing Shiyi’s stunned expression after saying this, Wei Hui also froze for a few seconds, wondering when her character setting had become so understanding.
Fortunately, Shiyi wasn’t stunned for long, only pausing for a few seconds before saying: “Thank you, Third Miss.”
Wei Hui made a neutral sound of acknowledgment, but just as she lowered her head to look at documents, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Pei Tian entered carrying a stack of documents, walking to Wei Hui’s desk and saying: “Third Miss, these are the second half year’s reports. All amounts have been verified.”
Wei Hui raised her chin: “Put them there.”
Pei Tian placed the documents on the desk and lowered his head: “There’s one more thing.”
“I just heard that Vice President Luo is planning to organize a department team building next week.”
Wei Hui’s hand holding the pen paused, and she looked up: “Team building?”
Pei Tian nodded: “He said it’s because the abandoned building project plan has been finalized, and since it’s the end of the year, 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.”
The purpose was to test whether Wei Hui’s illness was real. Since Luo Zhouping’s return, Wei Hui had been receiving reports that he was investigating her, but without evidence. Every time they met at the company, his sharp gaze seemed to want to see through her. He had even contacted Su Ziyan privately, which made Su Ziyan mock where Luo Zhouping got the courage to think he would betray himself and ally with him.
Wei Hui knew Luo Zhouping’s personality – he wouldn’t give up so easily.
“Should I arrange other activities for you?” Pei Tian asked. With her current health condition, attending wouldn’t be good, but Wei Hui shook her head: “No need.”
She had ways to avoid it, but if she avoided it once, Luo Zhouping would find a second opportunity. Rather than letting him probe repeatedly, it would be better to dispel his doubts directly, while her condition hadn’t reached its worst point yet.
Although Pei Tian thought her decision was too bold, he didn’t argue, only saying: “Then I’ll make the arrangements for you.”
Wei Hui nodded slightly and told him: “Have Ziyan come by tonight.”
Pei Tian: “Alright.”
After the office door closed, Shiyi looked at Wei Hui. Their earlier conversation hadn’t been loud, and she couldn’t hear clearly, only catching mentions of activities and Dr. Su. After Pei Tian left, Shiyi asked anxiously: “Third Miss, are you feeling unwell?”
Wei Hui lifted her eyelids to look at her, her gaze deep and mysterious. She replied: “No, just some minor troubles.”
Wei Hui lowered her eyes, somewhat frustrated at herself for unconsciously explaining things again, and finally said: “Rest well these few days, and come with me to the team building next week.”
She didn’t say anything more. Shiyi wanted to ask what team building was, but saw her lower her head to open files, apparently busy. The floor-to-ceiling window beside her cast scattered sunlight, making her whole being appear to glow.
Shiyi’s eyes stung. She squinted, lowered her head, and after thinking for a while, picked up her phone. Since Third Miss was busy, she might as well ask Du Yueming.
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