99% Match, But He Smells Like My Ex-Boss - Chapter 10
Chapter 10
After the re-investigation results of the Yunqi Project incident came out, Qingyao issued a public apology.
The announcement was very formal.
It acknowledged that Song Zhi had no violation of regulations in the Yunqi Incident.
It acknowledged the company’s internal management negligence in failing to protect employee pheromone data security.
It acknowledged that former executive Han Che was suspected of illegality and had been handed over to the police.
It didn’t mention Lu Zhiheng.
That was at my request.
I didn’t want my innocence to become a byproduct of his atonement again.
Online, some people scolded Qingyao on my behalf.
Others dug up screenshots of my notification from two years ago, asking me why I didn’t fight back then.
Looking at those comments, I had no energy to explain.
When a person is pressed underwater, just surviving is hard enough.
Not everyone has the strength to shout for justice while drowning.
Lu Zhiheng sent a message.
Lu Zhiheng: Did you see the announcement?
I replied: I did.
Lu Zhiheng: What else is missing? I’ll make up for it.
I stared at that sentence for a long time.
In the past, he always decided for me.
Now he finally learned to ask.
I replied: Money.
He responded instantly: Compensation is already in process.
Me: Projects.
Lu Zhiheng: You’ll lead the White Tower project, with a contract based on partnership standards.
Me: A meal.
This time, he paused for over ten seconds.
Lu Zhiheng: May I invite you?
I smiled.
Song Zhi: You may.
That meal was arranged at a very ordinary clay pot restaurant.
Lu Zhiheng sat across from me, looking utterly out of place amidst the down-to-earth atmosphere.
I handed him the menu.
“President Lu eats at roadside joints?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t I see you eat at them before?”
“Before, no one invited me.”
My hand flipping the menu paused.
He added: “Han Che invited me, but I didn’t want to go.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
When the pot arrived, the steam rushed up.
Lu Zhiheng nudged the chili dish a little toward me.
I looked at him.
“How did you know I can eat spicy food?”
“When you worked overtime and ordered takeout before, you always noted ‘extra spicy’.”
“Were you monitoring my takeout orders?”
“Reimbursement forms.”
After saying that, he seemed to think it didn’t sound right.
“I didn’t deliberately look.”
I laughed.
“President Lu’s explanations are very stiff.”
He said quietly, “I’m not practiced.”
I picked up a piece of tofu.
“Practice slowly.”
He looked up at me.
“Do I still have a chance?”
I didn’t answer.
The clay pot bubbled and gurgled.
The fir scent was very faint, very restrained.
I suddenly realized that after shedding the filter of “former boss”, Lu Zhiheng actually didn’t know how to chat.
He had turned all his gentleness into risk avoidance.
No closeness, no crossing boundaries, no explanation.
As a result, it hurt the most.
I said, “Lu Zhiheng, I still can’t do matching and soothing with you right now.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“And I can’t accept marking.”
“Mhm.”
“But I will take on the White Tower project.”
His eyes lit up very lightly.
I added one more sentence.
“Business.”
He said, “Okay.”
After a while, he asked quietly, “And personal matters?”
I looked at him.
“Probation period.”
Lu Zhiheng was taken aback.
“How long?”
“Depends on performance.”
