49: The Follower

In the CEO's office, Liu Xiaoxiao was reporting on what had just happened. Of course, Liu Xiaoxiao was still in the dark about how Shen Yifei had managed to collect the debt.

Su Muqing smiled. "Xiaoxiao, you've found a good employee. It's thanks to that public relations manager that we got the debt back. Oh, I never asked what his name was."

"His name is Shen..." Liu Xiaoxiao was about to answer when there was a knock at the CEO's office door.

"Come in."

"CEO, the design proposal for the company's autumn fashion line has been finalized. Please have a look," a female employee said, walking in with a file.

Su Muqing took the file and began to read it carefully.

"Xiaoxiao, I have to deal with this design proposal. You can go back to your work. Remember to have that public relations manager come see me this afternoon."

"Alright." Liu Xiaoxiao nodded slightly.

Shen Yifei returned to his public relations manager's office. It was almost time to leave for the day. He sat comfortably in his manager's chair, humming a tune.

Lin Cai'er walked up to him and asked with concern, "Brother Lang, was the debt collection difficult for you?"

"It's already been resolved, don't worry. It's almost time to leave. Let's go grab a bite to eat," Shen Yifei said with a smile.

"Okay." Lin Cai'er's face flushed slightly. She was, of course, happy to be with Shen Yifei.

The two of them walked out of the office together.

The group of female employees in the public relations department saw Shen Yifei and Lin Cai'er walking and chatting happily, and they began to whisper among themselves.

"Ahem... Ladies, have you noticed? It looks like there's something going on between Manager Shen and Assistant Lin!"

"Right? It's only been a few days, and before we even had a chance to make a move on Manager Shen, Assistant Lin beat us to it. She's so fast!"

"I never thought Assistant Lin, being so pure and reserved, would be so forward."

"Sigh, women are all the same. When they meet a man they like, they can't wait to grab him. It's so hard to find a charming and capable man like Manager Shen."

"Assistant Lin has so many people chasing her, but she's still competing with us for Manager Shen. How are we supposed to live?"

A few female employees gathered together, complaining and teasing. To the girls, Shen Yifei's popularity seemed quite high.

The company's cafeteria was on the fourth floor. Aya International's cafeteria was small yet exquisite, following a high-end route with a luxurious decor. Permanent employees could enjoy a free lunch with their employee badges.

Aya International didn't have many employees, only around two hundred. The benefits were excellent, which was why so many people were desperate to get a job at the company.

The cafeteria offered a variety of Chinese and Western dishes. Now that it was after work, many employees were coming and going. Shen Yifei found it all very new. He had to admit that the cafeteria at Aya International was truly nice, with a classy feel. Many handsome men and beautiful women in uniform were walking around the cafeteria. They were all young professionals with good etiquette and manners, and there was no loud noise in the cafeteria. The atmosphere in the cafeteria was pleasant. Even Su Muqing would come to the company cafeteria for lunch. There was a luxurious private room in the corner on the west side of the cafeteria, which was reserved for Su Muqing's exclusive use.

In the cafeteria, the company's employees were eating the meals they had ordered, sitting in groups of two or three and chatting. The girls from the public relations department gathered together, occupying the seats in the front. Shen Yifei chose to sit next to Lin Cai'er. Lin Cai'er was a little shy, eating her meal with her head down, completely focused. The girls from the public relations department would occasionally tease Shen Yifei, but he was open to it and always responded with a cheerful smile.

Just then, a man walked into the cafeteria. He looked to be in his thirties, wearing an expensive suit and a tie. His handsome hairstyle was immaculate, making one wonder if he had used an entire bottle of hair gel. The man was holding a large bouquet of "blue enchantress" roses and walked in like he was on a fashion runway. A warm smile remained on his face, and his entire demeanor was filled with an aristocratic aura. Suddenly, the entire cafeteria became lively.

"Hey, isn't that Manager Gao from the marketing department?"

"Manager Gao is so handsome!"

The women around all stared at the man walking over, their eyes sparkling. It was hard to find a man who was both handsome and wealthy. Most rich men were older, while the young ones were poor. As for the rich second-generation kids, they weren't interested in ordinary-looking women. In this day and age, both men and women had become very pragmatic.

Shen Yifei couldn't help but feel curious as he saw the man walking towards their table. "Cai'er, these flowers are for you. Do you like them?" Gao Jun said with a smile, offering the bouquet of blue enchantress roses.

Lin Cai'er, who was eating with her head down, had no choice but to look up. A shiver ran through her body. The person she disliked the most had arrived. This tall man in front of her was Gao Jun, the marketing manager, who had been relentlessly pursuing her lately. Of course, being pursued wasn't wrong and actually took courage, but what bothered Lin Cai'er was that she had rejected Gao Jun many times, yet he still wouldn't give up, which gave her a major headache. As expected, the entire cafeteria became lively in the next moment. "Wow, Manager Gao is young, rich, and handsome. If I were Assistant Lin, I'd throw myself into his arms right away."

"Assistant Lin, this is like the nth time Manager Gao has sent you flowers. Shouldn't you give him an answer?"

A few of the girls from the public relations department teased her. Lin Cai'er's expression was awkward and unpleasant, especially with Shen Yifei sitting right next to her. She took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Gao Jun, please don't call me Cai'er from now on, to avoid any misunderstandings."

"This..." Seeing Lin Cai'er's incredibly resistant expression, Gao Jun's face fell. Gao Jun was very good at picking up women, but he just couldn't get through to Lin Cai'er. Lin Cai'er was as gentle as an orchid, pure and serene, which was exactly the type of girl Gao Jun liked. The more Lin Cai'er rejected him, the more it fueled Gao Jun's desire to conquer her. Just imagine the thrill of conquering such a pure and refined beauty.

In such a public place, Gao Jun couldn't continue to pester her. He then said, "Miss Lin, I know you don't like me, but I have the right to pursue you. These flowers are for you. Please accept them."

"Uh..." Lin Cai'er was in a tough spot.

Shen Yifei felt a sense of displeasure. Although nothing had happened between him and Lin Cai'er, he had to admit that he did have some affection for her. In Shen Yifei's mind, Gao Jun hadn't reached the level of a rival yet, but Shen Yifei already found him very annoying. Lin Cai'er also noticed Shen Yifei's slightly gloomy expression, and a flicker of secret delight appeared in her heart. This meant that Shen Yifei cared about her. Lin Cai'er naturally followed Shen Yifei's lead. She held out her hands, pushed the blue enchantress roses away, and said seriously, "Manager Gao, I appreciate your kindness, but I already have someone I like. I can't accept flowers from anyone else."

"Someone you like? Who?" Gao Jun was stunned. He never expected that the Lin Cai'er he had been pursuing would actually have a crush on someone else. It made him feel a sudden sense of imbalance.