Whether it was Wang Qiqi’s words that startled Anne, or if she was harboring some other scheme, the fact was she had become remarkably quiet recently.

Wang Qiqi didn't pay much mind to someone’s change in demeanor, but she certainly heightened her guard against Anne. The quietest dogs are often the fiercest. Wang Qiqi kept a close watch on her, and just as she was turning the corner, intending to enter the office, she suddenly recalled something she needed to tell Anne. She spun around abruptly only to catch Anne staring at her with a look of pure malice, which sent a chill down Wang Qiqi’s spine, confirming her suspicion that Anne definitely had a backup plan.

Anne hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to turn around so suddenly, which scared her quite badly. She instantly plastered a professional smile on her face. “Angel, is something the matter?” she thought, cursing inwardly for not being told earlier. Didn't she know that kind of sudden move could give someone a heart attack?

Was there something else to tell? Wang Qiqi had startled her so much that she almost forgot what she intended to say. “I need to take a leave of absence starting today. When it comes to the reimbursement forms, you handle them. Once they’re done, remember to give them to Alice.”

A leave of absence? Anne hadn't anticipated Angel requesting time off. “How long will you be gone? I need to schedule the workload accordingly.” Good heavens, she’d only been working for a few days and already needed leave. Even a shareholder shouldn’t act like this, but then again, her absence presented an opportunity for herself, didn't it? Anne grew increasingly pleased as she pondered.

Wang Qiqi noticed the smile on her face, instantly knowing Anne wasn't plotting anything good. Because of this, Wang Qiqi decided she needed to have a serious talk with Fatty before she left, ensuring he kept a close watch on Han Tao, just in case Anne manufactured some incident while she was away. “At least half a month. Don’t worry, I know you can handle my duties.” Wang Qiqi certainly wasn't going to be polite to Anne; in her view, if someone couldn't manage these tasks, they should just resign.

Half a month... Oh my God, Anne was ready to shout Hallelujah! Heaven truly loved her. She had been searching for an opportunity for ages, never imagining one would arrive so swiftly. “I will complete them.” Regardless, she had to agree for now, otherwise, what if Anne convinced JOHN to hire another assistant?

Fatty was shoving food into his mouth while continuously inputting data into his computer. He was utterly stunned when a familiar figure appeared in his office doorway. “Whoa, what a rare visitor.” Qiqi usually ate with Han Tao, so her showing up here today struck him as very odd. “Does your Han Tao have an issue with this?” Didn’t Han Tao always say lunchtime was their office dating time? Why wasn't he on a date today? Or perhaps Han Tao had done something to anger Qiqi?

Wang Qiqi expected Fatty to tease her upon seeing her. “What, am I not allowed here? Should I leave then?” Though Wang Qiqi spoke of leaving, she still grabbed some food and sat down. “I’ll be gone in a couple of days; I’ve handed things over to Anne.”

Fatty knew about Wang Qiqi’s trip back home. Since she had already sorted out her affairs, he was curious why she needed to tell him specifically—shouldn't this be communicated to JOHN?

“I mean for you to keep an eye on Anne,” Wang Qiqi admitted she didn’t really need to tell Fatty this.

Keep an eye on her? “Hasn't she been behaving quite well lately?” Fatty had noticed Anne being exceedingly obedient and quiet recently, assuming the previous incident with Wang Qiqi had scared her straight. After all, Qiqi was a shareholder, and firing someone wasn't that difficult, especially with Han Tao making it clear he had no interest in her. Shouldn't she be on her best behavior?

“Behaving well my foot,” Wang Qiqi swore, recounting the morning’s events. “That woman is quite skilled at faking compliance; even you thought she had improved. If I hadn't suddenly turned back, I wouldn't have noticed a thing.” See, even Fatty, who kept a constant watch on her, thought she had reformed. It would be too easy for Anne to make her move without that warning. Wang Qiqi felt a wave of fear in retrospect.

Fatty hadn’t expected Anne to be feigning compliance. “Thank goodness you noticed; otherwise, I really wouldn't have paid attention. Don’t worry, I’ll stay by Han Tao’s side constantly. If she does make a move, it will only be when I’m not around.” Fatty knew Han Tao held no strong feelings for Anne, so he worried about her resorting to underhanded tactics. “The company’s progress has been excellent lately. The initial internal testing went quite well, and although the small-scale testing revealed minor issues, the overall results were very good. By September, we should see steady upward growth, and more people will be paying attention to the company then.” At that point, their net worth would increase slightly, and once the company secured new investment, staffing would need to expand. Anne would be completely relegated to a front desk position. Her current actions fit her personality perfectly; if Han Tao were to treat her in a certain way, who knew what demands she might make?

“That’s why you need to stay vigilant,” Wang Qiqi took a sharp breath after hearing Fatty’s analysis. “You realize the task is heavy now, right?” Despite her lingering unease about Anne, Wang Qiqi’s return home was set in stone. “I really should have found some excuse to get rid of her earlier.”

Although Wang Qiqi had previously suggested getting JOHN to fire Anne, she worried that doing so might cause trouble for the company, and besides, Anne’s subsequent behavior had been relatively good. “If she screws up this time, we’ll see how she manages to stick around here.” If Anne truly dared to act, Wang Qiqi wouldn't hesitate to confront her directly in the office. If Anne played dirty, Wang Qiqi would retaliate twice as hard; she wouldn't give Anne a comfortable position to hold in the company.

Seeing Wang Qiqi’s fiercely determined expression, Fatty inwardly prayed for Anne, hoping the girl wouldn't cause any trouble, or the ensuing storm might ruin her career for good.

“Remember that,” Wang Qiqi stared fiercely at Fatty.

Seeing her stern gaze, Fatty nodded hurriedly. “I’ll watch Anne. Once it’s time to clock out, I’ll take the work home; you know Han Tao—once he’s home, he hates going out.” Fatty recalled that the old Han Tao wasn't like this; he used to be somewhat outgoing. How had spending so much time in the States made him so withdrawn? Still, this suited him well, making it easier for Fatty to keep an eye on Han Tao.

“Isn’t that good? Why would he need to go out?” Wang Qiqi was quite satisfied with Han Tao’s homebody tendencies. Compared to others, Wang Qiqi herself was a homebody too. Although, according to Shi Man, their life together was far too quiet, like an old married couple. “It’s better at home; you never know what might happen outside.” It was only because Han Tao was busy with work right now, and few people he knew enjoyed nightlife—even Feng Xuanxiang only went to clubs for celebrations—that Wang Qiqi felt somewhat reassured about Han Tao spending time with him. Otherwise, she wouldn't trust Han Tao near him.

“Alright, alright,” Fatty conceded, deciding not to push the point. Han Tao was utterly spoiled by Wang Qiqi. What they saw as undesirable traits, Qiqi insisted were perfectly fine. “Remember to bring back some good food for me.” Even though they cooked Chinese food at home often, Fatty felt some dishes just didn't taste as good as they did back in China.

Fatty’s desires were genuinely modest. “You know some things just can’t be brought to the States. I really miss the Da Chang Mian (large intestine noodles).” Braised pig intestines were one of Qiqi’s absolute favorites, but such a thing would never be sold overseas. Wang Qiqi vowed to feast on it the moment she returned home.

“You’re lucky; you’ll get to eat it soon,” Fatty said with envy. Although he also wanted to go back, he used to think plane tickets were expensive and a trip home cost a fortune. Now money wasn't the issue, but time had become the constraint.

“You can too,” Wang Qiqi pointed out, thinking it was summer vacation. What was stopping Fatty from going home? “It’s just that you probably won’t be able to stay long; you might have to rush back right after arriving in China.”

Fatty knew going back wasn't an issue, but the duration would be limited. “Forget it. A trip back still costs a lot of money—gifts for this person, gifts for that person. If the gifts aren't substantial enough, everyone will be dissatisfied, assuming I’ve struck it rich in the US.” The thought alone depressed Fatty. His father had been so generous to his relatives, yet how did they treat his family? Fatty shuddered at the memory. He was thankful he had listened to Qiqi and bought commercial property in Beijing; otherwise, things might have turned out worse. “People are already gossiping about me starting a business in the US, but the moment I go back, they’ll swarm my parents demanding gifts. I’ll pass.” Even if money were looser, Fatty wouldn't waste it like that, especially since money was currently tight. “I’ll wait until next year, next summer vacation, when I graduate. I’ll have my parents come for my ceremony, and then I’ll show them around. Of course, I need to buy a house before then.”

Wang Qiqi knew a little about Fatty’s family situation; their dynamics weren't much better than Han Tao’s troublesome relatives. “Since you’re staying in the US long-term anyway, just have your parents come to visit you here.” Whatever those relatives said back home would be their problem. “Alright, I’m done eating; I’m going to go nap over at Han Tao’s place.” That was the perk of working in an IT company—the working hours were genuinely flexible. Right now, the pay wasn't high and the workload heavy with few holidays, but in a few years, once everything was established, the work would be lighter, the pay better, and the vacations longer. Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi suddenly wondered if she should just stay working at the company long-term, even if the salary was modest; wasn't she considered a founding member, after all?

With that thought, Wang Qiqi decided to discuss her long-term employment status with JOHN after she returned from China. Previously, she worried she wouldn't be able to tolerate the structure of corporate employment, but these past few days, she found she was adapting quite well. Besides, being cooped up at home all the time could make a person soft, couldn't it? Of course, she would need to discuss it with Han Tao first. RS