Huo Rou returned to the company again. People on the street whispered when they saw her.
"Director Huo, you're finally back!" Brother Yang rushed into Huo Rou's office.
"I heard you were sick?" Luo Chen also ambled slowly to the door of Huo Rou's office and asked her in a stiff tone.
"I'm better now." Huo Rou felt their concern and gave a faint smile.
Brother Wang stammered for a long time, but finally couldn't help but blurt out, "Director Huo, something big has happened!"
Huo Rou listened to Brother Wang's indignant speech for a long time and finally understood the meaning behind the looks and discussions she had encountered all the way.
Because Brother Wang and the others had been unconvinced of her before, no one had added her to the company group. So, without Huo Rou's knowledge, the rumors about her and Xiao Yuda had become more and more outrageous.
"We wanted to tell you, but we didn't have your contact information..." Brother Yang said this with great shame and annoyance. At the time, they were too focused on their dissatisfaction and hadn't gotten Huo Rou's phone number or WeChat.
"We explained to them that things weren't like that, but these people, they were so obsessed with gossip that they even said we had... an improper relationship with you." Brother Wang was so angry that he couldn't help but curse.
They were speechless those days; whatever they said was wrong.
"Why is this worth being angry about?" Huo Rou said indifferently.
"Isn't this slander and defamation!" Brother Wang, with his hot temper, couldn't help but shout.
"Alright, thank you for your kindness. Go back to work now." Huo Rou didn't take these discussions too seriously, as they were all from unimportant people anyway.
The few big men were reluctant. Isn't a woman's reputation the most important thing?
Seeing their hesitation, Huo Rou could only find an excuse to comfort them: "A clean conscience fears no slander. Everyone will understand eventually."
"Why are you all gathered here?" Before they could disperse, Duan Rui walked over with a document.
"We're just chatting with Director Huo." Brother Yang knew that Duan Rui resented Huo Rou because his director position had fallen through, and he had been holding a grudge.
Duan Rui's expression soured. "If you have nothing important to do, get back to work! Have you finished your tasks?!"
He couldn't believe that in the short two days Huo Rou had been at the company, these unruly people had already become close to her. It had taken him several years to mingle with them and gain their recognition.
The few people walked slowly towards their workstations, their ears paying attention to the conversation between Duan Rui and Huo Rou.
"Director Huo, this is the information on Xinye Company." He respectfully handed the document to Huo Rou.
Huo Rou raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding this person's demeanor today.
Luo Chen, who was walking last outside the door, frowned. Xinye Company had approached them for business recently, wanting to purchase the company's security products.
However, it was just a small company. Even if they liked to make things difficult, it wouldn't require a director to come in person.
Luo Chen stopped and listened to their subsequent conversation.
"It's like this, I have too many projects to manage recently, and I really don't have time to discuss this business. Their company also requires someone with technical expertise to visit, so, Director Huo, please go with the product department."
Duan Rui's words were reasonable and well-founded, but Luo Chen outside the door knew that he was deliberately humiliating Director Huo. He himself wouldn't even handle such business.
Huo Rou glanced at the information of the company. It was an insignificant small company. But since she had nothing else to do, she might as well go and have some fun.
"Okay." Huo Rou's lips curved as she agreed.
The mockery on Duan Rui's face couldn't be contained and appeared on his lips.
"Director Huo, I'll accompany you," Luo Chen suddenly appeared at the office door. "Anyway, I'm almost done with my work."
"Old Luo, you!" Duan Rui's eyes widened, and he pointed his index finger at Luo Chen's nose.
Luo Chen said expressionlessly, "Director Huo is going out to discuss business, and it wouldn't be right for us not to accompany her, would it?"
This struck a sore spot for Duan Rui. His arrangement was untenable. Huo Rou was a director; how could a director accompany a nobody from the sales department to discuss business?
Duan Rui hadn't expected that Luo Chen, who had always disliked women programmers, would also "defect."
He said through gritted teeth, "Fine, I'll fulfill your wish!"
"Director Huo, we'll leave in fifteen minutes. Please get ready. The product department will be waiting for you downstairs." Duan Rui said with a forced smile, feeling much better at the thought of Huo Rou having to deal with that troublesome small company.
As Duan Rui walked out, he deliberately bumped into Luo Chen's shoulder.
Luo Chen glanced at his retreating back. In the technical department, strength was the key. If Duan Rui hadn't had some strength, the deputy director might have been someone else based on character.
Luo Chen turned back and looked at Huo Rou with sympathy. She was a director, yet she had been marginalized to this extent.
Huo Rou, however, didn't pay much attention to these matters. She smiled at Luo Chen, "Thanks."
"You know it's a small company?" Luo Chen instantly understood when he heard her thank him.
"I'm not stupid. Can't I see that?" Huo Rou waved the document in her hand.
"Then why did you agree?" Luo Chen was confused. People with technical skills were usually arrogant and eccentric, but Huo Rou was very accommodating.
"I'm just bored," Huo Rou tossed the document aside. "Let's go, it's about time."
The two walked to the lobby, where someone was already waiting.
"Sister Huo!" Shen Sitong exclaimed in surprise, seeing Huo Rou and Luo Chen walking over together.
"Just you?" Luo Chen looked around and asked, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yes." Shen Sitong didn't understand. Was Xinye Company worth sending a few people?
"Let's go." Huo Rou saw that the sun was getting stronger. She had dressed warmly today as instructed by An'an, and it would be hotter if they were late.
"You're coming with me?" Shen Sitong remembered Huo Rou's situation, so asking her to go seemed expected, but what about Luo Chen? Didn't he dislike female programmers?
Luo Chen certainly saw Shen Sitong's doubtful look and impatiently urged, "Let's go!"
"Oh. Why are you so fierce? Old Luo, you'll never find a girlfriend like this." Shen Sitong quickly accepted the situation and happily linked her arm with Huo Rou's.
This was her first time cooperating with a beauty.
The company car took the three of them to the entrance of Xinye Company. Along the way, Huo Rou had already learned from Shen Sitong and Luo Chen about this small, troublesome, and picky company.
When they got out of the car, it was different from what they had been told.
The entrance of the company was crowded with people, bustling with activity, completely unlike the situation they described where "there wasn't even a welcoming person at the door."
The boss of Xinye Company was a fat man. He was standing at the entrance, already sweating profusely, looking displeased at another person.
"Where are the maintenance personnel you contacted?!" He poked the person in front of him in the chest with his fat finger. "Isn't my money money? Do you know how much money I'll lose if it's delayed?"