Miss Hu's powers of discernment seemed oddly absent as she surveyed the scene before her. Two figures occupied the room: a man, sprawled across the bed in a profound slumber akin to a felled tree, and another person, both fully attired. There lingered no trace of such an illicit affair; instead, they exuded an aura of leisurely repose rather than such an act.
Amidst the room's lively clamor, Lan Yan remained unperturbed, his snoring resonating with a serene cadence, undisturbed by the surroundings.
Miss Hu, incensed by the scene before her, strode resolutely towards the bedside, her intent clear: to deliver a stinging rebuke that would shake the very air.
Yet, Yin Xiaodao's reflexes were lightning-swift; she intercepted Miss Hu's hand with a deftness that belied her relaxed demeanor moments ago.
Miss Hu emitted a cry of startled indignation, her voice ringing with reproach, "You criminal! How dare you lay hands on me!"
Perhaps the piercing scream finally reached Lan Yan's ears, rousing him from his slumber. In a dazed state, he blinked to find a group of women standing at the doorway, prompting him to instinctively pull the blanket over himself for cover. Turning his head, he was met with the furious visage of Miss Hu.
Swiftly sitting up, his brow furrowed in confusion, he blurted out, "Who is this sexy lady?"
His query only exacerbated Miss Hu's already tumultuous emotions. "Curse you, Lan Yan! Just three days ago, you professed undying love for me."
"Have you lost your senses?" Lan Yan's countenance clouded with concern as he swiftly checked his attire, ensuring no indiscretion before readjusting the blanket.
Miss Hu's fury peaked. "I'm going to kill you!"
Yin Xiaodao intervened with icy resolve, firmly grasping Miss Hu's hand. "No one touches him."
Lan Yan arched an eyebrow, momentarily forgetting he now had a bodyguard. Feeling emboldened, he quipped, "Madam, with such a fiery temper, wrinkles will surely come knocking early."
Miss Hu's face contorted in fury. "Just you wait!" She struggled vehemently against Yin Xiaodao's restraint.
Eventually releasing her grip, Yin Xiaodao allowed Miss Hu to storm off in a fury, leaving the onlookers at the doorway to awkwardly disperse.
As Lan Yan lazily stretched upon leaving the bed, he remarked, "Are the security guards downstairs merely for show? Any aunty can barge into the assistant manager's office."
His tone dripped with arrogance.
Little did he know, the following day would reveal that this "aunty" was no ordinary woman.
She was the mistress of a prominent figure in Cang City.
Given the high stakes of Lan's company bidding on government projects, the senior management decided it imperative that Lan Yan issue an apology to Miss Hu.
Considering Miss Hu's fiery disposition, a mere apology wouldn't suffice.
Consequently, the next day while Lan Yan dozed, an official decree delivered a harsh blow: he was demoted several ranks down the hierarchy. To add to the indignity, he was assigned to spend the next three months at a factory.
Yin Xiaodao couldn't help but question whether Lan's family truly prioritized principles over personal interests. After all, Lan Yan was the second young master of his family, yet he was being tossed around like a pawn on a chessboard.
What astonished Yin Xiaodao even more was Lan Yan's serene acceptance of this drastic change.
The factory in question had been procured by Lan's company the preceding year—a floundering chimney manufacturing plant teetering on the edge of insolvency, nestled near Xin City. Post-acquisition, all chimney projects in Cang City were now supplied exclusively by this facility.
Three days later, Lan Yan and Yin Xiaodao embarked on their journey.
As they settled into the car, Lan Yan murmured under his breath that Yin Xiaodao appeared to be a harbinger of misfortune. Whenever she was present, adversity seemed to inevitably ensue.
Yin Xiaodao remained composed. She had gleaned from the driver that Lan Yan had been demoted more than once before.
Upon encountering Lán Yàn for the first time, the management team was captivated by his remarkable appearance, featuring chiseled features and piercing azure eyes. As the vice factory director collected himself, he extended the first greeting, "Hello, Director Lán."
Upon hearing the title, Lán Yàn's demeanor tensed imperceptibly.
"I am Lǐ Yǒnghuá, the vice factory director," he clarified evenly.
"Oh," Lán Yàn responded with a smirk that held no warmth.
Meanwhile, Yīn Xiǎodāo quietly maneuvered the luggage inside.
Several individuals harbored curiosity about her identity but chose to remain silent on the matter.
Observing the lingering gazes, Lán Yàn nonchalantly interjected, "This is..." He paused for dramatic effect, "...the newly appointed overseer of operations."
Yīn Xiǎodāo gently placed the luggage down and spoke firmly, "I am not the overseer."
"Silence," Lán Yàn retorted sharply, "Do you interrupt when the director is addressing?"
The atmosphere in the room grew uncomfortable, with eyes shifting uneasily between Lán Yàn and Yīn Xiǎodāo.
Lán Yàn waved dismissively, "You may all leave now. I need to speak privately with the overseer."
Obeying his directive, everyone departed, still exchanging perplexed glances directed at Yīn Xiǎodāo.
Once the door closed, Yīn Xiǎodāo reiterated firmly, "I am not the overseer of operations."
"Then what are you?" Lán Yàn sneered. "Consider this—a woman constantly at my side day in and day out. If rumors circulate, it could cast doubt on my integrity as the factory director."
"A clear conscience requires no defense."
"What do you understand!" Lán Yàn vented his frustration. "If matters escalate, I could be demoted to a mere frontline worker. Our public image is crucial in this role."
Upon reflection, the proximity between a factory director and an overseer seemed rather unremarkable.
Undeterred by titles due to past demotions, Yīn Xiǎodāo maintained her stance. "At night, I will share the same room as you, My dear director."
Lán Yàn fixed her with a piercing stare. "Choose your words carefully! You're fortunate to be dealing with a man of integrity like myself. Another might not ensure your safety."
He paused, his tone lowering with a hint of threat. "Do you truly believe I wouldn't stoop to poisoning you?"
Yīn Xiǎodāo remained composed as she shook her head. "No, My dearest director, I do not."
Lán Yàn sneered. The word "Wouldn't" had lost its sting to him. He consoled himself: A gentleman avoids quarrels with women.
---
After exchanging pleasantries with the various factory managements, Lǐ Yǒnghuá guided Lán Yàn on a comprehensive tour of the factory.
While the smokestack itself may not necessitate cutting-edge technology, the factory boasted a state-of-the-art simulated smoke exhaust laboratory. They had even enlisted several graduate students from prestigious universities for their research endeavors.
Glancing around casually, Lán Yàn struggled to grasp the technical intricacies. Upon completing the tour, he came to an inevitable conclusion, "I must be the most attractive person in this entire factory."
Although undeniable, Lǐ Yǒnghuá's facial expression twitched involuntarily.
Lán Yàn raised his eyes to the blazing sun, stifling a yawn. "All this walking has left me quite fatigued, Director Lǐ Yǒnghuá. I will proceed to lunch first."
Lǐ Yǒnghuá agreed without hesitation.
The factory canteen offered a straightforward menu: three daily dishes—two meat options and one vegetable—shared among all employees.
Lán Yàn noted with a furrowed brow that every dish was liberally spiced with chili peppers. "Overseer Yīn, do you enjoy spicy foods?"
"I can manage it."
"You certainly have a strong tolerance." He cast another glance at the crimson hued dishes. "Personally, I prefer something more subtle. Please step out and procure a lighter meal for me."
"If I leave, my dearest director, your safety might be compromised."
Lán Yàn scoffed dismissively, "Who would bother making the journey to this remote place just to target me?"
"I must stay," she asserted firmly. Her commitment to duty overshadowed all else.
His gaze hardened. "Overseer Yīn, I am ordering you as the factory director."
Yīn Xiǎodāo responded calmly, "Just yesterday, my dearest director narrowly avoided a potentially fatal blow to the head. If not for my presence, the outcome could have been dire."
Lán Yàn paused, occasionally tempted to throttle her. However, he recognized her resolve. Reluctantly abandoning the argument, he sighed, "Forget it, I'll take a nap. We'll have afternoon tea when I awaken."
Yīn Xiǎodāo nodded silently, swiftly packing her own lunch before trailing him back to the factory director's office.
Upon their return, Lán Yàn found himself no longer inclined to rest.
He had an urgent matter to attend to.
Fetching his laptop, he connected it to the Ethernet cable and donned headphones to indulge in his eccentricities.
Yīn Xiǎodāo sat quietly in her chair, savoring her packed lunch. Over these days, she had grown accustomed to his quirks and frequent outbursts.
Sure enough, after a while, Lán Yàn erupted again, "Damn it! Such a terrible connection. It's been ten minutes already, and it still hasn't loaded properly. I could undress and it would still be quicker." He vigorously scrolled the progress bar, but the screen remained frozen.
Growing increasingly irritable, he snapped, "Overseer Yīn, did you manage to retrieve that person's business card from earlier?"
Yīn Xiǎodāo retrieved the business card from her pocket and handed it over to him.
Taking it, he immediately dialed the number. "Director Lǐ, what's the condition of our network?"
From the other end, a response caused Lán Yàn's expression to darken. After hanging up, he slammed his palm on the table. "Damn it! I just renewed the annual subscription for 3,600, and now they're telling me I can't even do as I like?"
No matter how loudly he vented his frustration, there seemed to be no immediate solution.
All that was left was to wait for the buffering.
"Director Yīn, wake me in half an hour," Lán Yàn instructed before dozing off on the table.
Yīn Xiǎodāo disposed of her empty lunch box in the trash and settled back in her chair, closing her eyes to rest.
After five days with Lán Yàn, she had observed that he was endlessly talkative; when he ceased, he promptly dozed off.
Indeed, he possessed an impressive ability to sleep. Whenever idle, he could shut his eyes and fall asleep in under two minutes.
Her own sleep had suffered recently. His snoring and teeth-grinding disturbed her at night, though she didn't nap during the day as readily as he did.
Approximately ten minutes later, Yīn Xiǎodāo was jolted awake by Lán Yàn's outburst —
"Is there any integrity left in this world? I paid 3,600 expecting quality, and this is what I get? What happened to their assurances?" He cursed vehemently.