After waiting for quite some time in the office, Li Xiangdong and Li Qian finally couldn't hold back. "What's going on with Wang Qiqi? She agreed to a time but hasn't shown up."

Li Xiangdong wondered if Wang Qiqi was just toying with him.

Li Qian looked at the annoyed Li Xiangdong and felt puzzled herself. How could Wang Qiqi become so unreliable, agreeing to a time and then failing to appear? Even if she had an issue with Li Xiangdong, even if she planned to leave this circle entirely, she shouldn't treat people this way. Li Qian's expression wasn't exactly pleasant either. She had already been unhappy after seeing certain people and hearing certain things upon arriving at the company today, and now even Wang Qiqi was playing games.

Just as Li Qian was about to speak, her pager in her bag went off. Li Qian reached inside, retrieved the pager, and instantly felt speechless. The message read: Auntie Li, I am truly sorry. I didn't realize your company's entrance was so difficult to breach, or perhaps Director Li is too busy meeting clients and forgot about our scheduled discussion. Regardless, I arrived on time and waited at your company's reception desk for forty-five minutes. I have other matters to attend to now, so I won't wait any longer. I'm leaving.

If Wang Qiqi left this message for Li Qian to see and she still didn't understand, she'd be a fool. It turned out Wang Qiqi had been blocked by some arrogant, brainless woman. However, Li Qian was curious how Wang Qiqi, given her personality, managed to endure it. But that wasn't the point; the crucial issue was that someone else had caused this trouble. She handed the pager to Li Xiangdong. "Qiqi came, but she couldn't get in."

Couldn't get in? What did that mean? Li Xiangdong looked utterly confused. "Isn't she just making excuses for not showing up?" He hadn't grasped the core of the problem.

Li Qian didn't know if Li Xiangdong was feigning ignorance or what. "It means exactly what it says. If you want to verify if Qiqi was here, just ask the receptionist."

Li Qian turned and opened the office door, about to ask someone to call the receptionist over, when she overheard someone in the main office area mentioning Wang Qiqi. "Wang Qiqi was here?" "Yes. She just left." "The receptionist didn't let her in."

Li Qian stated this with absolute certainty. That woman had looked at her, the boss's wife, with undisguised disdain; it was no surprise she wouldn't treat Wang Qiqi any better.

The person she was speaking to didn't know how to respond to Li Qian's statement. While Li Qian was the boss's wife, the receptionist was practically a secondary boss's wife in status. Even if few people held favorable impressions of the receptionist, the woman was highly adept at manipulating situations, plus she was petty. If she ever managed to whisper sweet nothings in the right ear—

Li Qian saw the person freeze, not daring to answer, and she realized something: her authority as the boss's wife truly held less sway than a mere receptionist.

Suddenly, she felt like a complete tragedy. Her husband had already been snatched away; was she about to lose control of the company as well? At that moment, she recalled what a friend had told her, a concern she had initially dismissed as excessive worry. A man having affairs outside was normal, as long as he didn't cross a certain line. But looking at the staff now, the situation was obvious. "Someone wanted to see the General Manager. Doesn't the receptionist need to make a call to confirm? Just letting people wait outside like that? Li Xiangdong, your management skills truly aren't up to par. Starting today, I will resume work. You handle the business affairs; I will deal with internal matters."

Li Xiangdong, hearing the response from outside while still seated in his office, knew things were bad. He knew the receptionist was a bit spoiled. When pretty young women sought him out, she always seemed to make things difficult for them. Each time, Li Xiangdong would just smile and say a few gentle words, but he never expected that his repeated indulgence would lead her to become increasingly excessive. Yet, he couldn't prevent Li Qian from returning to work; her look just now explained everything. He knew that despite Li Qian's gentle appearance, she had the backbone of a man underneath. "She does need a proper dressing down. Why don't we call Qiqi back? I'll wait by the door."

Li Qian looked at the man, who seemed to think waiting at the door demonstrated sufficient humility. "We should call the receptionist in now to clarify the situation." She refused to believe Wang Qiqi would just leave like that. They had already been at odds over compensation, and now this whole farce—what would Wang Qiqi think? Would she assume it was a signal from upstairs? "Keeping Qiqi waiting outside for so long—what will she think? Will she assume you instructed this?"

Li Xiangdong had initially intended to merely give the receptionist a stern talking-to, but upon hearing Li Qian's words, he realized it was a distinct possibility. Especially after he summoned the receptionist to question her, Li Xiangdong became furious. Although the receptionist tried to deny it, several people had heard Wang Qiqi’s final words. They heard the receptionist so blatantly twisting the facts, and their sense of justice erupted, leading them to speak up (though half the reason was knowing the boss's wife was returning to work, and the boss looked quite displeased, otherwise they wouldn't have dared). When the receptionist heard someone had actually reported Wang Qiqi's words to Director Li, she lowered her head but etched the face of the informant into her memory. Hmph, do they think clinging to the boss's wife's leg will secure their future? Don't they know the boss's wife rarely comes to the office and won't help them? The receptionist wanted to burst out laughing, already imagining how miserable their future lives would be.

Li Xiangdong questioned her several times, realizing that the usually sharp and clever receptionist seemed to have offended someone today. If she had just offered a few apologies when he gently reprimanded her, the matter could have been smoothed over. But instead, she kept her head down without any explanation or apology, which enraged Li Xiangdong to the point of near vomiting. Just as he was about to wave his hand and dismiss her, he caught Li Qian's cold smile.

Li Xiangdong's movement froze. "Today, you take the lead. I have to go out later, and I have a date tonight. Regarding Qiqi, you figure it out yourself. This Miss Receptionist has gone too far this time. Considering it's a first offense, fine her five hundred."

With that, Li Qian stood up, grabbed her bag, and left. "Also, I don't like seeing a receptionist who acts on her own authority, especially when the company isn't her family's, and she isn't the boss's wife."

Li Xiangdong remained silent, knowing he couldn't overstep in this situation. "Aren't you coming with me?" Li Xiangdong hadn't expected Li Qian to simply wash her hands of it.

Li Qian turned halfway around, looking at Li Xiangdong with amusement. "I’ve already done enough for you. Do you think Wang Qiqi would come back just because of you? You can't seriously believe your paltry offer will tempt Qiqi. If you really want to find someone, you can bring along this Miss Receptionist, who clearly lacks any company ethic, and let her diligently fulfill the duties of a receptionist instead of wasting her time dreaming up nonsense all day. She’s young; she shouldn't always be focused on irrelevant things. And this matter cannot be delayed any longer. Of course, you can choose to prioritize the company's reputation and not pursue Qiqi—it’s your business either way. This receptionist's behavior reflects poorly on you as the manager; you bear the consequences."

Li Qian thought to herself: It’s a miracle I didn't get into a physical fight with her; and he wants me to speak up for her? Just you wait.

Wang Qiqi was just about to enter the subway station when she received a page message from Li Qian: Qiqi, let's have dinner tonight. Just you and me. No business talk today.

Seeing this message, Wang Qiqi found it truly strange. Were her words genuine or not? Wang Qiqi was genuinely confused. After some thought, she wondered if it was related to that so-called Miss Receptionist? Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi found a public phone, sent back a simple affirmative reply, and then found a place to sit down. She felt her mind was quite racing; she needed to think things through carefully.

While Wang Qiqi found a spot to sit and contemplate, Li Qian also settled down and ordered a cup of tea, staring out at the flowing crowds and traffic, lost in her own worries. Honestly, she hadn't expected that the man she thought she could rely on would engage in such behavior, and furthermore, turn the company into such a mess. Normally, when a receptionist committed such an offense, shouldn't she be severely reprimanded, or perhaps even fired? Yet, he had only offered a few light words. What infuriated her was that the other party hadn't even realized her mistake. How long had they been together for Li Xiangdong to act so thoughtlessly? Li Qian didn't know what kind of unforgivable acts Li Xiangdong might commit if they stayed together much longer. Thinking of this, Li Qian felt that the shop she co-founded with her friend could be set aside for now; the investment wasn't huge, and the financial dealings were transparent. The translation agency was the immediate critical issue.

Wang Qiqi watched as Li Qian, already slightly tipsy, kept pulling her sleeve and talking nonstop about Li Xiangdong's past and how things were now. Wang Qiqi understood that Li Qian likely knew everything. However, what she said was quite true. After enduring so much hardship with this man, now that they were living comfortably, she wouldn't resign herself to giving up easily. Moreover, they had a son, Li Zhe. "Qiqi, if Li Xiangdong and I divorce, what happens to Xiao Zhe? No matter what, I have to secure this position. Men are just like that. Don't look at how well Li Xiangdong treats that mistress now; I guarantee that woman will leave quietly within three years. I just need to secure the company and the family money..."

Although the words sounded somewhat tragic, Wang Qiqi knew that after an emotional breakdown, grasping material assets became even more crucial. If a person loses their feelings and then fails to hold onto their material security, that is the greatest tragedy. Li Qian was one of the few intelligent people. Wang Qiqi knew the best approach was to secure the person, because if you have the person, money isn't an issue. But Wang Qiqi believed that a man who cheats once will cheat a second and third time. Constantly trying to buy back the man through financial sacrifices might not be the optimal solution. Fine, Wang Qiqi admitted she was perhaps too fond of money.

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