Chapter Seventeen: Confessions

Aside from the other guy following along—Mu Chuan.

“I told you my roommate was waiting for me, but you didn’t believe me. Are you jealous that I have such an incredibly awesome roommate?”

Yu Youchu beamed with pride, her face glowing with satisfaction.

“Alright then, I’m off. Take care on the road.”

“Bye!”

Mu Chuan caught a glimpse of the man inside the car; sure enough, it was the same person he saw last time. The hostility in his eyes was even stronger than before.

He shook his head and glanced back at the oblivious Yu Youchu.

Not sure if being this clueless was a blessing or a curse.

Yu Youchu ran up to knock on Pei Jiayin’s car window. When he rolled it down, she said, “Look at the new work uniform they gave us today! Even interns got some! Isn’t it nice?”

She moved to the front of the car so Pei Jiayin could see more clearly.

Returning to the passenger seat, she unbuckled her seatbelt.

“This company really got it right! It was freezing the other day, and now they’ve issued thick clothes.”

Yu Youchu pinched the uniform here and there, like a child delighted by a gift.

Pei Jiayin turned on the car heater and suddenly thought the uniform arrangement was quite well done. He could compliment his subordinates' efficiency next week.

“Looks good.”

After a pause, he added, “As long as you like it.”

“Oh, Pei Jiayin, there’s some bad news.”

Yu Youchu pulled off her mask.

“There’s an urgent project at the company, so I have to work overtime this weekend. We’ll have to postpone our meal until next week. Sorry…”

Pei Jiayin frowned.

“The perfume project? So that’s why you posted on social media about going to the design department just now?”

He remembered such projects weren’t usually handed to interns. He had even asked a few days ago if the project could proceed despite a shortage of staff, but was told there were enough people. Turns out they brought in an intern to cover.

“Yes! You actually know about this project. You really are upper management, totally different.”

“No worries. I’m free next Sunday.”

“Great, then next Sunday it is.”

Yu Youchu clenched her fist, ready to prove herself.

“If I land this project, then I’ll definitely be on your team.”

Pei Jiayin gave Yu Youchu a dark, unreadable glance. Seeing she was completely unaware, he turned away.

She probably meant she’d become an official employee of Huasheng and saw him as a senior executive, which explained her obliviousness.

He didn’t oppose her perspective but explained calmly:

“If we hadn’t signed this project, it would’ve gone to our competitor. We don’t want them to gain an advantage. Fortunately, this perfume company preferred Huasheng, so we barely secured the contract.”

“I see.”

“You interns are the ones really working hard.”

Yu Youchu was now completely won over by Huasheng, embodying the spirit of living and dying for the company.

“I heard that overtime for urgent projects pays triple the normal salary for regular employees!”

Pei Jiayin nodded, though such cases were rare.

Yu Youchu was delighted; earning next Sunday’s meal money so easily was a bonus.

She opened her phone, searched for her supervisor in the work group, and, by coincidence, it was Cui Jing—the same person who had led them to their workstations earlier.

She sent a friend request, which was quickly accepted, presumably because Cui Jing was still at her desk.

Cui Jing’s no-nonsense style shone through as she immediately sent over Yu Youchu’s task list.

[If you don’t understand something, ask me. Don’t just mess around on your own.]

Remembering Cui Jing’s two large dark circles under her eyes, Yu Youchu knew she couldn’t add to her troubles.

[Got it.]

Those two words gave Yu Youchu a real sense of being at work.

She was already eagerly looking forward to the day she’d become permanent.

But after several days of intense work, Yu Youchu finally understood the evils of capitalism.

The new uniform and triple pay were mere trifles.

[This isn’t a life for humans!]

Her fingers flew across the phone screen, sending several messages to Pei Jiayin in quick succession. She could only slack off a bit in the bathroom.

[Ahhh!]

[I used to underestimate the value of the term “corporate slave.”]

[If I could do it all over, I’d rather passively get promoted to a full employee at Huasheng.]

[I regret it.]

Pei Jiayin hesitated, unsure how to console her. Watching the flood of messages coming in, he hadn’t replied yet.

Just as he finished typing what he thought was the perfect response, Yu Youchu sent another message.

[But I won’t give up!]

Pei Jiayin was silent for a moment, then deleted his draft reply.

Finally, he sent two words:

[Keep going.]

[I’m just stuck on the last bit of copywriting. No inspiration at all. I messed up a part of today’s work. Looks like I’ll be burning the midnight oil again tonight.]

Pei Jiayin finished his own work and replied, [The newly formed team lacks experience and coordination. It’s going to be tough.]

[Will you leave work on time tonight?]

“Yu Youchu! Stop slacking off in the bathroom! You’ve been in there fifteen minutes!”

Her most dreaded voice was Cui Jing’s, sounding like a tormenting chant in her ears.

[The team leader’s urging me. I’ll tell her I’ll work overtime at home tonight.]

Yu Youchu quickly sent the last message and stepped out of the bathroom.

Confiding in Pei Jiayin had eased much of her pressure.

“Take this document and proofread it again. Make copies. We’ll have a short meeting later.”

Cui Jing handed Yu Youchu the papers.

Yu Youchu threw herself into work once more. Even Mu Chuan hadn’t come to talk to her much lately; they were like oxen plowing separate fields.

Without Wang Ning and that pesky fly buzzing around, Yu Youchu actually enjoyed herself.

When she got home that night, she was still busy with piles of work waiting for her attention. Fortunately, Pei Jiayin had called a housekeeper to cook, or else they’d both go hungry.

For the first time, Yu Youchu found Pei Jiayin’s refusal to eat takeout a bit troublesome.

But she quickly discarded that thought.

With a monthly rent of three thousand, how could she dare complain about her roommate’s fussiness? She was clearly losing perspective.

In the blink of an eye, Yu Youchu worked late into the night.

When Pei Jiayin got up to drink water, he glanced toward the end of the hallway and saw the light still on in Yu Youchu’s room.

He checked his watch — it was already one o’clock in the morning.

Frowning, Pei Jiayin thought that although work was important, no one should push themselves to the brink like a workaholic.

After hesitating, he knocked on her door.

For some reason, his heart was pounding fast. In the pitch darkness, he could even hear the strong, steady beat of his own heart.