Yang Fan's fake smile was really annoying. He placed the coffee beside my desk and casually swept the broken cup that Sister Fang had knocked over into the trash can.
"Classic Blue Mountain Coffee. Miss Du, care to have a try?"
Yang Fan pushed the cup towards me.
He stared at me with an air that seemed to say if I didn't drink it, I'd be giving him no face.
"… Sorry."
Facing his aggressive demeanor, I shrugged somewhat sheepishly. "I'm allergic to coffee."
"Pfft."
Li Xinrui, who was standing nearby, didn't expect me to say such a thing. She instantly spat out the coffee in her mouth.
"Country bumpkin. You're just a country bumpkin. A wild boar can't handle fine grains…" While wiping her mouth, she looked at me with even more contempt.
"Oh, so you're the one who can handle fine grains!"
Looking at the coffee in her hand, I couldn't help but curl my lips.
"You…"
Li Xinrui was so angry that she slapped the table and stood up.
"Come on, come on." Yang Fan quickly stopped her and played the peacemaker. "I didn't know Miss Du can't drink coffee. I'll go and get a cup of tea instead."
"I'm not thirsty. Thanks."
Yang Fan had been acting a bit strange ever since he came back from the finance department.
I had no idea what he was up to, but I wasn't going to accept his overtures.
Seeing my decisive rejection, Yang Fan returned to his office somewhat awkwardly.
Sister Fang was sitting in front of the computer opposite me. With her drenched face, she watched Yang Fan's show of attentiveness towards me, lost in thought.
"… Sister Fang, if you stay in this world like this, you'll eventually lose your sanity. By then, you won't even be able to reincarnate!"
I advised her in a soft voice.
"I… I can't be a muddle - headed ghost. How could I have drowned in the changing room?!"
Sister Fang shook her head resolutely. "Please help me. You're the only one who can see me. Find out how I died. Otherwise… otherwise I'll follow you every day!!"
As she said this, she suddenly thrust her pale face in front of mine.
"…"
I stared back at her expressionlessly.
I'd seen so many ghosts that Sister Fang's kind wasn't really the scariest. What I was afraid of were those bloody and mangled ones. Just the sight of them would put me off my food for ten days or half a month.
Seeing that I wasn't the least bit scared, Sister Fang suddenly shrank her shoulders and curled up into a ball on the desk, sobbing.
I hardened my heart and ignored her, busily organizing my materials.
It was already past seven o'clock in the evening. Most companies that adhered to the nine - to - five schedule had already closed for the day.
On the 29th floor, only the executive department of Hanyu was still lit up.
After I finished organizing all the materials at hand, I stretched.
Only then did I realize that I was the only one left in the office… and there was also a ghost trapped here.
Sister Fang was still crying miserably, and I was too lazy to console her.
I got up and wanted to go to the tea - room to take a break.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I reached the corridor, I faintly heard Li Xinrui's low - pitched plea: "Yang Fan, can I go home first… I'm so scared!"
"What's there to be scared of!"
Yang Fan's voice came over nonchalantly. "You actually believe that woman's nonsense?"
"But she said Wang Fang herself told her how to organize the documents… I've checked. That filing habit is exactly what Wang Fang used to do."
Li Xinrui said timidly. "Will… will there really be ghosts?"
"Nonsense. There are no ghosts!"
Yang Fan lowered his voice and laughed. "I've inquired from the finance department. Du Xinghe was personally arranged by the boss. I guess she's somehow related to Wang Fang, which is why she's been placed here… What she said was just the boss's way of trying to get information from us. In the future, don't talk nonsense. If I hadn't been quick to reinstall the computer, our little secret would have really been exposed."
"I'm still so scared… How about I quit my job!"
There was still a tremor in Li Xinrui's voice. "The money is enough for me to live on."
"How can that be? Didn't we agree that we'll get married and buy a big house in Beijing in the future?"
Yang Fan's voice dropped a few more decibels. "This music festival will add almost seven figures to our accounts. Are you really willing to back out like this?"
"But Wang Fang really died in the building. Aren't you scared?"
Li Xinrui said. "I've been feeling a chill down my back lately."
"It's just psychological. Xinrui, don't think too much. After we finish this big deal, we'll stop."
Yang Fan cooed softly. He made a few "tsk tsk" sounds, as if he was doing something that only lovers would do with Li Xinrui.
"Di lu di lu…"
My phone suddenly vibrated, sending out a WeChat message alert.
Not only did it startle me, but it also made the couple in the tea - room poke their heads out.
"Who's there?!"
Yang Fan demanded sternly. He straightened his tie and stepped out.
I had no choice but to pretend to be looking at my phone while walking towards him with a cup in my hand.
The WeChat message on my phone was actually from Si Jiangchen. His profile picture was a blood - red crescent moon in the chaotic darkness, looking extremely cold.
[Xiao He, haven't you gotten off work yet?]
[Shall I come and pick you up?]
I looked up at Yang Fan, whose face didn't look very good, then lowered my head to type:
[No need]
Unexpectedly, he replied instantly.
[Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?]
[No. I'll order takeout.]
After replying to the message, I put away my phone. I glanced at Yang Fan, who was blocking my way, and asked, "Manager Yang, you're here! I thought you'd all finished work and gone home."
"What are you doing here?" Yang Fan probed.
"Getting some water. What? Am I not allowed to drink the company's water while working overtime?"
I looked at Yang Fan as if he was crazy, then squeezed past him.
Sure enough, in the tea - room, Li Xinrui was leaning against the wall of cyan tiles. Her face looked a bit ugly. When she saw me come in, she immediately crossed her arms in front of her chest and assumed an aggressive stance.
Li Xinrui wasn't bad - looking, but her face was thin and pointed. Even though her eyebrows had been carefully groomed, one could still see a mess of unruly hairs between her eyebrows, giving her an air of meanness and greed.
"Du Xinghe."
Seeing that I ignored her, Li Xinrui finally couldn't help but ask, "I don't care who you are or whose acquaintance you are. If you try to mess with us, you'll regret it!"
"Why would I mess with you guys?"
Please… I just wanted to be a honest little employee, and stroll around the building after work. I didn't want to know anything about the dirty things in this company.
My phone beeped again.
Si Jiangchen had sent another WeChat message, but I was too lazy to look. I turned to Yang Fan and asked, "I'm almost done with my verification work. Can I leave now?"
I couldn't stand this job for another day! I wanted to find my grandpa's soul as soon as possible.
I didn't want to play these office power games with these people!!
This was the perfect time. Most of the people in the building had left, and I could take the opportunity to wander around.
If I took out my compass to locate something in the office area full of elites during the day, I'd probably be kicked out immediately as a crazy person.
"Clearly, you've never had a proper job. How can an employee leave before the manager?"
Yang Fan, who had followed me into the tea - room, reminded me with a kind smile.