Wang Qiqi looked at the stack of documents before her and sighed. Ugh. She had rushed to the office that day intending to discuss with John whether her promotion was excessive, but she hadn't expected to be talked into it by him in the end. Actually, it wasn't so much that she was persuaded by John, but rather that John presented her with a stark choice: either take the position of Deputy Manager of Human Resources or become his Chief Assistant. John even gave her a look that clearly suggested he wanted her as his assistant, which thoroughly unnerved Xiao Rourou. Faced with a binary choice, Wang Qiqi naturally opted for the Deputy Manager role in HR. While being John's assistant would have been quite nice—especially for easily arranging time off—Wang Qiqi felt that being Deputy HR Manager was more appropriate after careful thought. With a superior above her and an assistant below, she wouldn't have to worry about a mountain of paperwork piling up during absences. Conversely, as John’s assistant, business would undoubtedly increase as the company grew, and her frequent requests for leave would likely make her appear unmotivated in the eyes of many colleagues.

Wang Qiqi's decision brought John a wave of relief. He had genuinely worried that she might storm out and quit immediately. Hearing her choice, he felt a huge weight lift. What he didn't realize was that while Wang Qiqi wasn't exactly thrilled about staying employed, being at home was equally tedious. Furthermore, her salary wasn't insignificant, and once Shi Man’s plan kicked off at the end of the year or early next year, there would be many expenses requiring funds. This necessity was one of the reasons Wang Qiqi reluctantly chose to stay; otherwise, she would have certainly indulged her temper and resigned.

Kan watched his subordinate, Wang Qiqi, sigh again, realizing the pressure he himself was under was substantial. He never imagined that the person who recruited him would end up being his subordinate. He recalled that when she was introduced, her title was General Manager’s Assistant. He hadn't anticipated that after taking a few days off, she would suddenly become his direct subordinate, a situation that left Kan deeply uneasy. It wasn't the legitimacy of her position that bothered him, but rather that handling issues concerning her felt incredibly awkward. He tried to learn more about Wang Qiqi and discovered she had pursued her postgraduate studies in the UK, specializing in Economics under a renowned supervisor. Kan was truly perplexed as to why she would choose to work at the company; even if she were a shareholder, there was no obligation for her to be physically present. Well, Kan could choose to disregard these background matters, but seeing Wang Qiqi’s history of frequent absences made him seriously worry: what if she continued to take extensive leave? Would he approve her requests, or deny them?

After finishing the documents in her hand, Wang Qiqi handed them over to Kan. "I've completed these. Please review them." I am a subordinate now; I must handle things properly, Wang Qiqi thought with considerable resentment. Even though she was a Deputy Manager, the entire HR department only had three people, meaning she commanded only one subordinate—and that subordinate might not even heed her instructions.

Kan took the materials Wang Qiqi offered and glanced over them. It wasn't that he doubted the quality of her work, but she lacked previous experience in HR functions. If any mistakes arose, it would create trouble. After a quick scan, he found nothing amiss, which secretly eased a burden in his chest. Many administrative tasks would begin once the company relocated to the new premises, and if Wang Qiqi couldn't quickly grasp these matters during this transition, Kan would be deeply concerned. "Good. Next week, the company moves to the new office address. Is everything alright on your end?"

Wang Qiqi let out a breath of relief upon receiving Kan's approval. She had anticipated that anything she submitted initially would likely have minor flaws pointed out. Because of this, Wang Qiqi had spent considerable time studying on her own time. Kan’s positive response now confirmed that her prior investment of time and energy had paid off. "I have no issues here; everything that needed organizing has been sorted." Honestly, the HR department didn't have an overwhelming amount to reorganize, so Wang Qiqi wondered why Kan asked this way, but she felt awkward pressing him about the intent behind his question.

"You don't have any plans to take leave in the next few months, do you?" Seeing Wang Qiqi’s confusion, Kan sighed inwardly and asked directly, despite the question bordering on interfering with private matters. "If you do need time off, it would be best to request it well in advance; otherwise, many things can get delayed."

Wang Qiqi was momentarily stunned by Kan's inquiry. Foreigners, she knew, generally avoided meddling in private affairs. Why would this man ask something that hinted at intruding on her personal schedule? But reading the rest of his comment, Wang Qiqi understood: this superior was aware of her past absences and was preemptively issuing a warning. A faint blush touched Wang Qiqi's cheeks; being indirectly told by her boss that she took too much time off always carried an uncomfortable undertone. "I think I’ll need time off around July. I'll notify you in advance then." Wang Qiqi had initially planned to say she had no need for a long break, but then she remembered she needed to arrange her wedding ceremony with Han Tao, making leave unavoidable. "Perhaps four or five days."

Time off in July, only four or five days. Kan noted that many people took vacations in July, and the duration wasn't extensive. "Good, then I can rest easy about that." The several days of the company move had left Wang Qiqi feeling genuinely exhausted. During the previous cross-state relocation, she had flown back to the capital to handle affairs, thus avoiding that ordeal. This time, however, she couldn't dodge the move. She was thankful she wasn't responsible for the General Manager's office logistics, or she might have genuinely cried. Fatty saw Wang Qiqi slumped on the sofa in Han Tao's office. "I say, your stamina is lacking. Moving the company this time was relatively easy; the last move was a real hassle." That previous relocation happened right after a holiday, giving everyone the feeling of starting vacation with manual labor. This time, less crucial items had been transported out gradually before the official move, making things significantly smoother.

Wang Qiqi remained silent, worried that if she elaborated on how hard she had worked, someone nearby would immediately start talking about how comfortable they had it. "Enough said. Coming over to my place for dinner tonight?" Ever since Luo Hongjuan and the others visited last time, Wang Qiqi and Han Tao had moved into their own house. It offered more space, and they could have privacy without worrying about inconveniencing others, as Fatty and the others felt uncomfortable imposing.

Having dinner at Wang Qiqi’s place sounded great to Fatty, but the thought of her previous apartment brought back painful memories. "Such a wonderful place, and you never thought of me, despite how good our relationship is," he grumbled. "And it's such a waste for your sister to buy it and leave it empty. You know, those houses sit vacant for too long, major problems are bound to develop..." Fatty incessantly lectured Wang Qiqi, lamenting the lost opportunity of that excellent property.

Leaving a house empty was indeed not ideal. So, Wang Qiqi sometimes went over to open the windows. However, she occasionally found it bothersome. Although community security was good, Wang Qiqi didn't dare leave the windows open constantly. "What if my sister decides to rent that house out? Would you be interested in renting it?" Even if it were only for a few months, Wang Qiqi suspected Fatty would agree. "The rent probably wouldn't be more than what you’re paying now." In any case, Song Yao wasn't counting on the rental income; the main objective was having someone occupy the property to maintain it better.

Fatty froze. He had only complained lightly to Wang Qiqi, hoping she would remember him if a similarly great property became available in the future. He never expected Wang Qiqi to spring such a massive surprise on him. A house that large, with rent cheaper than his current place? Of course, Fatty agreed. But despite his excitement, he cautiously asked, "Will your sister agree?" After all, it was Song Yao’s property. Even if Song Yao wasn't coming back to the States, it might cause awkwardness if she found out.

"I'll ask my sister and give you a reply. I needed to confirm your interest first. If my sister’s child comes over in September, you might have to move out." Wang Qiqi knew that if Song Yao truly emigrated, she would likely need to stay in the US for a period, or perhaps commute between China and the US, in which case Fatty would have to vacate.

"No problem at all," Fatty readily agreed. "By then, I might have already bought a place. If not, I can stay at your place."

After securing Fatty’s consent, Wang Qiqi immediately sent Song Yao an email online, asking if she approved of the arrangement. Song Yao replied quickly: she had no objections, only asking that Fatty take good care of the house. As for the rent and related matters, she granted Wang Qiqi full authority to manage everything. In Song Yao’s view, hiring someone to even view the property cost money, let alone receiving actual payment now; it would be surprising if Song Yao disagreed.

When Fatty saw Song Yao's email reply, he was genuinely furious, complaining loudly that he had been cheated, certain that Wang Qiqi was too shrewd. Despite his verbal protests, he promptly paid three months' rent and, with Lu Qiaowei, happily moved into Song Yao’s house. Though it wasn't his own property, such a large house was far better than their apartment, and it was conveniently close to Qiqi's place.

Even though the house wasn't theirs, Fatty and Lu Qiaowei were ecstatic. It had multiple floors, a garden outside, and a garage. Fatty's plan was to visit relatives and boast about living in a house like this, expecting to stun many of them. He and Lu Qiaowei took many photos. Watching his smug expression, Wang Qiqi knew he was sending them back home to astonish his relatives. Wang Qiqi offered no judgment on their actions; wanting face was natural, and Fatty wasn't incapable of affording such a house—he just hadn't managed to buy one yet. (To be continued)

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