Belated Romance (Mu Tongrui)

Once they reached Fu Corporation, Mu Tongrui glanced at the time. She was still 10 minutes late even if she had hitched a ride
from Ye Zibo.
Ye Zibo was from 'royalty' and would not be fired, but Mu Tongrui was different. Xiang Nanqian had disliked her all along and now
she would be working in Xiang Nanqian's department. It was with a lot of difficulties that she found this job and she would
definitely not resign simply due to her relationships with Xiang Nanqian and Fu Lingye. She was no longer the young miss from
Mu family so could not afford to be that spoilt anymore.
Grabbing her bag, Mu Tongrui ran to the lift.
Ye Zibo had not even stepped out of the car when he found Mu Tongrui missing when he turned around. Alas, that girl runs fast
indeed.
Mu Tongrui was nervous when the lift stopped at 60th floor. She took two deep breaths before she stepped out of the car, and
walked briskly in her high heels to the Creative department.
Xiang Nanqian had reached long ago and was pacing up and down in her office with her hands behind her, as if she was waiting
for Mu Tongrui. The moment she saw Mu Tongrui, she chided coldly, “Mu Tong Rui, you are late for 11 minutes and 50 seconds
on your first day at work. Look like you do not really care about this job.”
Or does she think that she can arrive in office anytime now that she is Fu Lingye's 'wife'?
Xiang Nanqian was obviously finding fault in her. Thus, Mu Tongrui did not care to explain but admit her mistakes instead. “Sorry
Ms. Xiang. I would not be late next time.”
Xiang Nanqian stared at her coldly, and knitted her exquisite brows. She ordered, “Andy, bring Mu Tongrui to do the paperwork!”
Xiang Nanqian's voice was neither loud nor soft. It was at the precise volume which everyone in the office could hear.
Along the way when Xiang Nanqian's assistant, Andy was bringing her to the HR department, Mu Tongrui could vividly hear the
gossip about her from her new colleagues in the Creative department.
“What kind of situation is this? So, we have someone 'parachuting' into our department now? Is this a stunt by sales
department?”
“Yes, this society is indeed built on relationships. Even our department is not spared from this.”

“I find this Mu Tongrui familiar. I saw her just now at the building entrance, alighting from a Porsche 918.”
“No wonder she dares to be late on her first day at work. Look at her, she must not be afraid of getting fired!”
.....
Xiang Nanqian listened to this gossip quietly. Her lips curled into a smile and raising a brow, she clapped her hands and
announced, “Everyone can tell we have a new colleague, Mu Tongrui who is our new artist. She has quite a backing, so
everyone please take care of her.”
Xiang Nanqian's words were coated with sarcasm and everyone who were experienced enough, could tell that this department
head was not fond of Mu Tongrui who must have pulled strings to join this department.
After Xiang Nanqian returned to her office, the gossip among her colleagues started again.
The Creative department was different from other departments. It was a predominantly female environment, and with 30 female
employees in one department, there are bound to have lots of office politics among them.
....
Mu Tongrui returned to the Creative department with her new office pass, after she was done with the paperwork in HR
department.
She just sat down on her new seat when Andy came over to invite with stiff upper lip, “Tongrui, Boss asks you to go to her office.
She wants to brief you on your work.”
Nodding her head, Mu Tongrui entered Xiang Nanqian's office.
Xiang Nanqian was busy with her documents, and asked her offhandedly, “I heard that you had studied in Paris for 3 years. Can
you speak French?”
“Yes, C1 French level. May I know how I can help?”
Xiang Nanqian threw one of her documents over to her, “This is a contract which is in French. It is your first day at work, and do
not have many projects to follow up. Translate this contract before you leave work today.”
Mu Tongrui instinctively took the document with a perplexed expression on her face, “But shouldn't contracts be vetted by Legal
and Translation departments? What if I translate wrongly, the responsibility will... “

Before she could finish, Xiang Nanqian looked at her with displeasure on her face, “What, you are afraid of bearing responsibility
on your first day at work? I have asked Legal and Translation departments early this morning but they are up to their necks now.
The cooperation with the French company is very important to us and this contract is urgent. We would lose this opportunity if we
do not sign this contract as soon as possible. Mu Tongrui, I am now your boss. If you think that I am wrong in allocating certain
work to you, you can complain to President anytime.”
Mu Tongrui clenched her fists, and picked up the documents. “I understand now. I will pass you the translated version before end
of today. But Boss, if you think that I am complacent because I am recommended by President to work here, you are wrong.”
Xiang Nanqian folded her arms and laughed haughtily, “Is it not the case?”
Mu Tongrui smiled innocently, and replied in a forceful manner, “Of course not, I will prove that I have the ability to perform my
work well. Also, I will prove that Mr. Fu was not wrong in letting me 'parachuting' into this department.”
Xiang Nanqian's face turned gloomy.
“Ms. Xiang, if there is nothing else, I will go back to my work.” Mu Tongrui said politely and turned to leave the room.
When she was about to open the door, Xiang Nanqian sniggered, “Do you really think Lingye will stand by your side? Don't you
understand from the situation this morning?”
Mu Tongrui stopped in her tracks. Without looking back, she replied, “Of course I understand that I am not a match for Ms. Xiang
in terms of ruthlessness. You are willing to sacrifice even your own son. I admire that but I am afraid I cannot achieve it in my
lifetime.”
Xiang Nanqian clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles went white. Her eyes flashed with anger.
....
In the toilet at 60th floor.
“I wonder where does that Mu Tongrui come from? Could she be Mr. Fu's mistress?”
“How can it be, the Porsche 918 this morning was not Mr. Fu's car. Furthermore you had been in this company for so long, since
when did you see Mr. Fu behave intimately with any female employee?”

“That is true. I have a feeling that Mr. Fu is gay. He is so handsome yet he is single and does not even have any mistress. There
must be a problem.”
“Who says so. Did he not have a close relationship with that female celebrity, Yan Yi?”
“I am not sure about Mr. Fu but I recognized the car owner of that Porsche 918!”
“Who is that! Quickly spill the beans!”
“Our President's nephew, the heir to Ye Corporation, Ye Zibo!”
“Oh my! No wonder Mu Tongrui dares to be late on her first day! So, she has an affair with Mr. Ye!”
“I do not think she is much talented, most probably she has superb skills in bed. Ms. Xiang obviously do not like her. I bet that
she will kick Mu Tongrui out of the Creative department soon!”
“True, after all she is only Mr. Ye's plaything while Ms. Xiang is the Fu family's eldest daughter-in-law.”
Mu Tongrui was sitting on the toilet bow when she overheard all these gossips. Only when she heard the sound of their footsteps
getting softer and softer, then she opened her cubicle door.
She was not new to such office politics. After all, there are bound to be gossip and malicious rumors flying around in a company
as big as Fu Corporation.
With her handphone in her hand, she was torn. Should she send a message to Fu Lingye to explain to him about the incident
this morning?
She did not intend to scald Xiaohan with the boiling water, and she did not want to be the scapegoat.