Amidst the symphony of clinking cutlery and hushed conversations, the dining hall buzzed with activity. Its spacious expanse was dotted with tables for four, each adorned with neatly arranged settings. Georgia, a woman of poise and determination, had just settled into one such table when an unexpected presence shattered her momentary solitude.
A figure appeared, graceful in approach, and chose the seat directly opposite hers. As their eyes met, a wave of recognition washed over her, revealing Cheng Lu's sly smile—a smile that did little to conceal her intentions. Flanked by two female colleagues, Cheng Lu orchestrated her entrance with calculated precision, positioning herself and her companions so that they formed a human triangle around Georgia.
A furrow etched across Georgia's brow as she addressed the intrusion. "I still have a companion," she voiced her reservation, a hint of assertiveness underlying her words.
Almost as if on cue, Xiao Han materialized at her side, a protective aura enveloping him as he confronted the encroachers. His gaze held a certain intensity, a silent message that conveyed his readiness to defend his ally.
Cheng Lu's laughter, like the tinkling of wind chimes, danced through the air. Her gaze shifted to Xiao Han, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. With a nonchalant gesture, she indicated the adjacent table and the empty chairs that awaited occupancy. "Isn't there a vacancy? Go and make a table with Xiao Zhang!" Her tone carried an air of feigned innocence.
Her attention, however, swiveled back to Georgia, and her words acquired a veneer of camaraderie. "Assistant Georgia, how can we say that we are also colleagues? Is it not inappropriate to sit at a table?" Her voice dripped with saccharine sweetness, masking the bitterness that brewed beneath.
Georgia's discerning gaze peeled away the layers of pretense, exposing Cheng Lu's true motives. With a pragmatic pause, she turned to Xiao Han, her instructions curt yet resolute. "Xiao Han, go there and find a place first."
Amidst Xiao Han's hesitant compliance, Cheng Lu's grin took on a vindictive twist. The symphony of conversation that accompanied the dining hall's ambiance was punctuated by her voice, dripping with facetiousness. "I heard that you left Xiao Song in the finance department alone yesterday, Assistant Georgia. How do you manage to ensnare a man? Care to share your expertise with me?"
Chuckles echoed from Cheng Lu's companions, an orchestrated harmony that sought to undermine Georgia's composure. Georgia's grip on her chopsticks tightened, her eyes lowered as she grappled with her emotions.
Cheng Lu persisted, her words a dagger veiled in silk. "Is there a secret to winning Xiao Song's heart? We've heard rumors that some girls in the department have taken quite a liking to him."
"Indeed, Song is quite popular," one of Cheng Lu's companions chimed in, further stoking the flames of mockery. "But what chance do they have when Assistant Georgia is in the picture?"
Yet, amidst the chorus of disdain, an unexpected ally emerged. A colleague seated nearby spoke up, her voice tinged with empathy. "Alright, that's enough. Let's not take it too far."
Cheng Lu's eyes gleamed with defiance, her audacity unwavering. "Too far? How can I cross a line that's already been blurred?" She rolled her eyes, her gaze fixed on Georgia. "Leaving little Song on the sidelines while she devours half her meal, isn't that going too far?"
Suppressing her frustration, Georgia held her ground, refusing to dignify Cheng Lu's bait with a response. But Cheng Lu was undeterred, her next words a well-aimed arrow. "Don't you think you're the one going too far, Georgia? Juggling both Yu Zong and Xiao Song—quite the intricate dance you're orchestrating."
The mere mention of Jack's name sent tremors through Georgia's facade. A sudden pang of vulnerability gripped her, her hand faltering as it gripped the chopsticks. A morsel of chicken slipped from her grasp, landing unceremoniously on her pristine white shirt, a stark contrast against the dark liquid.
Eyes wide, Georgia rose hastily, her urgency palpable. She hastened to a nearby tap, her mind grappling with the sting of humiliation. The residue of Cheng Lu's words clung to her, staining her self-assurance.
In her absence, Cheng Lu's scheming gaze wandered from Georgia's abandoned dish to her juice cup. An idea took root, and a cruel smirk played on her lips. Leaning toward one of her companions, she murmured her plan, the conspiratorial whisper shrouded in secrecy.
With practiced precision, Cheng Lu poured a portion of her juice into Georgia's glass, her fingers curling around the straw as she stirred the concoction. Content with her malicious handiwork, she resumed her seat just as Georgia returned.
A momentary sigh of relief swept through Georgia as Cheng Lu and her companions departed for a new vantage point. The weight of their scrutiny lifted, leaving her to reclaim her dwindling composure.
Engrossed in thoughts of her impending meeting with Mr. Ma from Tianle company, Georgia resolved to expedite her meal. She consumed mouthfuls of rice with a newfound haste, quenching her thirst with swigs of juice. An urgency propelled her forward as she maneuvered her chopsticks, determined to conclude her meal before embarking on her professional rendezvous.
However, an unsettling sensation crept over her, subtle at first but rapidly intensifying. A prickling itch ignited across her skin, a heat that simmered beneath the surface. Inquisitive fingers brushed against her arm, discovering an unexpected landscape of tiny red bumps—a testament to her body's unwelcome response.
Panic gripped Georgia as realization dawned. Allergic reactions, dormant in memory, resurfaced with a vengeance. Mangoes, the innocent trigger of her previous episodes, hadn't graced her plate today.
The discomfort snowballed, an unrelenting tide of itchiness and heat. Instinctually, she reached out, fingers desperately seeking relief as they raked over her skin. Each touch deepened the redness, each scratch a paradoxical invitation to more torment.
A wave of dizziness swept over her, leaving her disoriented and off-balance. Steps faltered, and her trajectory skewed precariously towards the floor. An unexpected savior emerged, an outstretched hand arresting her fall.
"Georgia, are you alright?" The voice, both familiar and grounding, belonged to none other than Song Hang.