The following day, Eli, who was working diligently, heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," Eli's eyes remained on his computer.
The door to his office opened and in came Jinny, her head raised high with a resolute expression.
Eli blinked in surprise to her unexpected visit, "Jinny, you're back. Was everything—"
As Eli spoke, Jinny's figure suddenly bowed low to a ninety-degree angle, her head accidentally slamming against his desk.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Jinny clutched her now red forehead.
Startled and concerned, Eli shoots up from his seat and checks on the woman.
"Ms. Ming, are you alright?" About to touch the woman's red forehead he was once again startled by her abrupt actions as she flung her head up to look up at him.
"Mr. Sato, I'm incredibly sorry for skipping work and neglecting my job! I was selfish and caused disturbance to you and everyone. But I'm ready to get back and start again!"
Eli saw the woman's usual meek and shy eyes light up aggressively, the eagerness and determination in her eyes were clear. Faced with the woman's fierce expression and the red mark on her forehead, Eli was unsure of how to respond.
In the end, he laughed in amusement, "That's good to hear, I was worried you wouldn't come back. You'll have a bit to catch up on, but I'm sure you can do it."
Jinny nodded her head vigorously, "Yes, Mr. Sato, I'll get right to it!"
Eli chuckled and headed back to his desk. Having thought of something, Eli spoke up. "Don't forget to thank Ms. Mimi while you're at it. During your absence, she cleared a bit of your work for you."
Jinny's movements paused, and she stared dumbly at Eli. A sheepish and helpless smile stretched across her face.
"Mm, I will!" She smiled.
Watching her figure leave, Eli smiled. He had a feeling Jinny's sudden appearance at work and lively attitude all had to do with the aloof and expressionless, black-clothed gothic girl. Shaking his head, he continues reviewing his work.
After leaving Eli's office, Jinny headed to her desk. While walking over, she saw her two desk mates working away, not detecting her presence. She inwardly felt sour and apprehensive seeing their faces.
How had she been so blind not to see it? What was the point in trying to be liked if the people she deemed as friends only saw her as stepping stone or thought so lowly of her?
Knowing their true feelings, Jinny found herself getting nervous. Even faced with the truth, she was still the same meek, and shy person she had always been.
But remembering the strange, icy girl, Jinny felt her nervousness settle down, and she finally walked over to her desk. Finally sensing the presence of another, one of the women glances up, her eyes quickly flash with surprise.
"Hey, Jinny you're back. Where were you?" Nian Yanyi asked.
Jia Liqin poked her head from behind her computer, a look of surprise imprinted on her face. "Huh? Jinny's back?"
Jinny looked at the two and smiled faintly. "Mm, I'm sorry for being gone for so long."
"It's alright. But why the sudden leave? Was work finally starting to get to you?" Jia Liqin's brows arched teasingly.
Nian Yanyi groaned, "If only I was as carefree as you and not worried about my work piling up, I'd play hooky without a second thought."
"Mhm, I agree!" Jia Liqin giggled.
While the two conversed freely, they hadn't noticed the darkly dressed figure walking past them.
"If you think such careless thoughts then why bother working here?"
Both women were startled by the sudden snarky remark and lifted their heads to discover the young black-clothed girl standing beside their desks, her eyes cold as ice.
"I-I was just joking." Nian Yanyi laughed uneasily.
Mimi's eyes narrowed and flashed coldly. "Such jokes wouldn't be said by hardworking employees. Do you want to cause a misunderstanding about the company's treatment to their workers?"
Nian Yanyi's face paled and her teeth gritted hatefully. But not wanting to further upset Mimi she said, "No, I wouldn't. I apologize, and from now on I won't be making such jokes."
Mimi's eyebrows raised, and she strode off without another word. Watching her leaving figure, Nian Yanyi didn't try to hide her contempt.
"That little brat is such a hypocrite! Not too long ago she was being pestered by Senior Su for slacking off now she thinks she's all superior because Senior Su isn't around."
Jia Liqin didn't suppress her displeasure either, "Just because she has President Itou's back she thinks she's better than everyone else."
Jinny listened to the two with a frown on her face, her eyes looking in the direction Mimi left in.
At first, she too thought the same as them. She thought Mimi was arrogant, spoiled and simply irresponsible. Yet, behind all that was a surprisingly caring and wise young girl.
Clenching her fists by her side, Jinny smiles stiffly. "Her attitude may be a little off, but she's a pretty dedicated worker don't you think?"
The two turned to look at Jinny with doubting looks.
"Hmph! So what? That doesn't mean she's the boss. She knows she's a genius, yet she still stays here. If anything, I think she deliberately came to work here just to vex people!"
"Yeah, and her attitude's gotten worse! Honestly, Jinny had you not scared Senior Su away with your chattering this wouldn't have happened!" Nian Yanyi sourly pouted.
Jinny was speechless. The two were so quick to push the blame onto her and Mimi she couldn't respond properly.
Her frown deepened as she struggled to say, "I-I don't think you should make assumptions like that. Ms. Mimi is a very talented and hard worker."
Evidently surprised, the two flashed their eyes rapidly before glancing at one another and then Jinny.
"Why are you suddenly so defensive over her? She's just a little spoiled kid who happens to be skilled, all rich kids are like that. She's not that extraordinary."
"Did you hit your head or something on your way over here? Or maybe take the wrong medication?" Jia Liqin looked at Jinny with concerned, questioning eyes.
Jinny felt slightly squeamish under their accusing stares as if she had done something wrong. Memories she dared not wish to remember resurfacing.
Stay calm…this isn't like high school. Taking a deep breath, Jinny opened her eyes to reveal an intense, unwavering gaze.
"I'm just trying to say, even without President Itou, I-I think she'd be able to become very successful. She's a hardworking colleague of ours, meaning she's a part of the company, and we should respect her like anyone else."
Without allowing the two the chance to refute back, Jinny stands up from her seat and walks out. Out of sight of others, Jinny clasps her hand to her now pounding heart.
"I-I can't believe I said that."
This was going to be harder than she thought…
If only she was like Ms. Mimi. Confident, fearless, and not afraid to express what was on her mind regardless of what others thought.
Jinny sighed in shame when thinking of their contrasted age difference.
Almost a thirty-year-old woman and was acting like a shy high school girl, while Mimi, who was a high school girl, acted like a cold and confident CEO!
Jinny's thoughts suddenly wandered. This would make a great story for a BL novel...
Shame filled her body at her sudden thoughts and her hands covered her red face, her bodying sinking to the floor.
How could she think such a thing at a time like this? Ah, she should really consider getting therapy!