Plunder-Chapter 226: You’re So Lucky
After the meal, Qiao En returned to the office.
The takeout was still on the desk, she took a sip of coffee, and buried herself in work.
Not long after, Gong Xuanzhi also came back.
"Assistant Xu, how come you didn’t eat? Are you on a diet?"
Qiao En smiled lightly, "I’ve eaten already."
Gong Xuanzhi gave a meaningful "oh" and sat down next to Qiao En, occasionally sneaking glances at her.
Knowing Gong Xuanzhi’s intentions, Qiao En didn’t expose her but chose to ignore it.
Unable to restrain her curiosity, Gong Xuanzhi asked, "Assistant Xu, may I gossip a bit? Are you really Nanchen’s President Zhou Jin’an’s wife?"
Qiao En didn’t make a sound, "What do you think?"
"I don’t think you look like it. Everyone says that the president’s wife should be pampered, but look at you, working so hard here as Director Zhou’s assistant."
The judgments of others, for Qiao En, she had learned to turn a deaf ear.
"This document, take it to Director Zhou for review before work starts in the afternoon."
Qiao En pulled out a document and handed it to Gong Xuanzhi.
She added, "It’s break time now, you can rest for a bit. Come back at 1:40."
It was a polite way of telling Gong Xuanzhi to leave.
"Alright, Assistant Xu, you take a break too."
Gong Xuanzhi stood up and quickly walked out of Qiao En’s office.
Now alone in the room, Qiao En stood up and stretched languorously.
Maybe because of the pregnancy, she really felt sleepy.
There was a sofa in the office, so she locked the door from the inside and lay down to take a quick nap.
But unexpectedly, she fell asleep.
At 1:40 in the afternoon, Gong Xuanzhi arrived on time to report, but was surprised to find that Qiao En had locked the door from the inside, and when she knocked, no one responded.
Unable to figure out the situation, she informed Zhou Chucheng.
"What? Her door is locked from the inside?"
Zhou Chucheng was shocked.
Qiao En was his assistant, as well as his sister-in-law. Zhou Jin’an was so protective, if anything happened under his watch, he believed Zhou Jin’an would flay him alive.
So, he rushed to the door of Qiao En’s office and knocked forcefully.
"Bang Bang Bang..."
However, Qiao En was sleeping so soundly she didn’t hear the noise outside.
Because at that moment, she was dreaming about a stonemason who was hammering away at a rock.
"Inform the administration department to get the spare key."
Zhou Chucheng immediately gave the order.
Gong Xuanzhi didn’t dare to delay, running in her high heels.
Shortly after, she rushed back with the administrative staff.
"What’s wrong? Director Zhou, what happened?"
The deputy director of administration asked loudly, yawning.
Sweat had formed on Zhou Chucheng’s forehead, "Open the door."
"Let me find the key."
The deputy director rummaged through a bunch of keys.
In her sleep, Qiao En faintly heard multiple voices talking.
She was half-asleep, half-awake, and when she opened her eyes, she was shocked to find that she was lying in her office.
And outside her door, she distinctly heard the sound of a key being inserted into the lock.
Without a moment to lose, she quickly went to open the door.
"Assistant Xu, are you alright?"
Gong Xuanzhi was the first to approach Qiao En, her face full of concern.
Zhou Chucheng also had a deep frown, "What happened to you?"
The deputy director of administration broke into a wide grin, "She must have overslept, haha!"
Qiao En was momentarily embarrassed, a flush spreading across her cheeks.
"Everyone disperse."
Zhou Chucheng gave the order, and everyone returned to their posts.
He looked deeply at Qiao En and said, "Come to my office."
Qiao En straightened her clothes and went.
Inside the room, Zhou Chucheng sat at the tea table, leisurely brewing tea.
"Have some tea, wake yourself up."
He said without looking up.
Qiao En sat down, feeling extremely awkward, "Director Zhou, I’m sorry, I..."
"It’s nothing, just be more careful next time."
He rinsed the teacup with boiling water, then took out the tea leaves, poured them into the pot, and boiling water tumbled inside the pot, soon the fragrance of tea began to rise.
"It smells so good."
Zhou Jin’an also drank tea, and since Qiao En had become his assistant, she had also drank quite a lot of it.
But Zhou Chucheng’s tea seemed different from the ones they had.
Refreshing, sweet-smelling.
It was such a scent that calmed the mind and soul.
"This tea won’t affect your sleep at night, drink it without worry."
Qiao En picked up a cup and sipped it slowly.
Indeed, there was a slight sweetness in the tea.
"Who would have thought that Director Zhou, young as he is, would enjoy drinking tea."
Qiao En couldn’t help but express her wonder, but after she spoke, she felt it was inappropriate.
But what was said could not be unsaid, so she fell silent.
Zhou Chucheng seemed to sink into thought, and after a while, he began to speak.
"I like to drink tea because my older brother likes it. When he came of age, I was still young, and I would often see him sitting quietly by himself, drinking tea in total silence. Back then, I was quite curious and really wanted to know what was so good about tea."
"Later on, I started to imitate him and drink tea, but I could never appreciate those few kinds he often drank; they were too bitter. I’ve always liked sweet things since I was a child, and then I accidentally came across this tea, and since then, I’ve been inseparable from it."
Zhou Chucheng spoke freely of the past.
Qiao En listened quietly, without interruption.
"Your brother must have told you about our family, right?"
Qiao En nodded in response.
Zhou Chucheng heaved a long sigh, "Everyone envies us for being born with a silver spoon, but I don’t like that identity at all. From the moment I was born, I had to witness the competition among my relatives."
"So, you went abroad right after high school and chose arts as your life’s direction to escape from the family atmosphere?"
Qiao En asked curiously.
"Yes, partly to escape from that kind of environment at home, and partly because I truly love this field."
"You are very fortunate!"
He put down his teacup and looked seriously at Qiao En as he said this.
"Why do you say that?"
Qiao En asked, puzzled.
"Since the time I can remember, because of my parents, my brother has always been silent and reserved; I have never seen him laugh. He’s decisive and ruthless in the business world, no one has ever entered his heart, but you’re different, he cares a lot about you."
"When I was little, I always wondered why my family couldn’t just accept my brother. I tried desperately to please him, but he didn’t accept my kindness either. Of course, now we’re both grown up, and he still keeps me out of his world."
Zhou Chucheng said, revealing a smile of helplessness.
"Director Zhou."
Qiao En looked at Zhou Chucheng, her heart filled with many words she wanted to say on behalf of Zhou Jin’an, but she didn’t know how to begin.
"Give him a little time, the hurt has been deep, he needs to slowly unravel it."
Zhou Chucheng nodded.
"Thank you."
"It should be me thanking you, thank you for the afternoon tea."
Qiao En stood up and returned to her own office.
She had barely sat down when the receptionist brought in a big bag of snacks.
"Assistant Xu, your husband is really considerate, he had someone bring you afternoon tea."
In front of Gong Xuanzhi, Qiao En opened the bag.
Sister Rong had stewed a soup and also made some refreshments.
"Assistant Xu, you are truly fortunate!"
Gong Xuanzhi exclaimed in amazement.
"Have some with me."
Qiao En shared some of the refreshments with Gong Xuanzhi, who happily began eating, complimenting the food as she did so.
Qiao En of course knew that all these were prepared by Sister Rong as instructed by Zhou Jin’an. While she acknowledged her happiness, it also brought some concerns.
In just one afternoon, she had become the envy of all her female colleagues in the company.
When it was time to leave work, Qiao En deliberately delayed for a while before leaving.
However, when she reached the company lobby, the receptionist looked at her with a beaming smile.
"Assistant Xu, you can leave now, your husband has been waiting outside for a long time."
At this, Qiao En felt a headache coming on.
Zhou Jin’an had promised not to come into the company lobby, but he stood at the elevator entrance next to the company lobby, ready to serve Qiao En at any moment.
