Chapter 164: The Man Who Came to Work Armed Returned
Chapter 164: The Man Who Came to Work Armed Returned
The following day, around eight in the morning, Lu Xin arrived at the company.
Not the Guard Bureau, but the Business Company where he had taken over a week off.
Although Chen Jing had given him three days off to rest properly, after careful consideration, Lu Xin felt he had nothing to rest from. Giving him three days actually left him unsure of where to go during that time…
…So he might as well return to the company. At least going in for a day meant a day’s pay, right?
The Director had originally approved a week’s leave, but already, Lu Xin had been absent for eight or nine days.
That wasn’t good.
Moreover, if he remembered correctly, the selection for the Model Employee was coming up soon.
……
Ascending the narrow staircase to reach the company’s oppressive and cramped partitioned office, Lu Xin could hear the sounds of raucous laughter drifting up the stairwell long before he arrived. Mixed in were comments about how someone got clawed in the face by his wife again, which colleague looked particularly attractive today and was definitely heading to the bar after work, or speculation about which bar one might go to in the evening to possibly run into her…
Lu Xin, having been in a good mood lately, felt a strange sense of familiarity. He sighed deeply and quickened his pace.
Then, the moment he appeared at the top of the stairs, the lively commotion in the hallway froze on the spot…
Several colleagues remained frozen in their roughhousing poses. One man had hooked an arm around another’s shoulder from behind. The other had crouched down low, his hand shaped like a “monkey stealing the peach,” aiming at the groin of the pinioned colleague with a leering grin.
The colleague whose shoulder was pinned, facing the imminent “peach theft,” was laughing with feigned protest.
The atmosphere was indescribably merry!
But that merry atmosphere instantly froze solid.
They stared wide-eyed at Lu Xin, their facial muscles visibly twitching.
“Brother Zhao, Brother Liu, Brother Meng, good morning…”
Lu Xin had intended to join them for a smoke, but seeing their nervousness, he simply offered a smile and a greeting.
“Go… good…” the colleagues mumbled, staring blankly at Lu Xin for a long moment before finally reacting, forcing stiff smiles onto their faces.
Lu Xin tightened the strap of his bag and turned to head into the office.
Like the stairwell, the office was noisy and lively before the start of the workday.
Colleagues were devouring savory pancakes; some leaned over partitions gossiping and laughing with married female colleagues who had two children; others whispered in the tea room about how their husbands refused to “make contributions”…
But then, as Lu Xin walked further into the office, the atmosphere began to chill an inch at a time.
Everyone stopped their actions. Eyes fixed on Lu Xin’s figure as he moved—a piece of egg even fell from someone’s pancake.
Lu Xin reached his partitioned cubicle, set down his bag, and looked up at his colleagues.
“Rustle…” The colleagues immediately busied themselves. Some grabbed files, some fired up their computers, some instantly forgave their husbands…
“Was someone badmouthing me…” Lu Xin thought, feeling strange. “Why are the colleagues acting so oddly…”
“Heh, working hard today, are we? That’s the attitude to encourage. Keep it up, push for record sales this month, and maybe I’ll have to fire fewer people… Hey, you there, Xiao Wang, bring me the list for the Model Employee…” The Director strode in cheerfully, briefcase tucked under his arm.
Finding the office atmosphere much more efficient and lively than usual, he assumed his usual strict commands were finally taking effect. Pleased, he congratulated them while heading towards his own office, not forgetting to remind staff about the documents he’d requested yesterday before leaving.
However, as he spoke, he suddenly noticed Xiao Wang’s pale face. Xiao Wang was stealing glances towards one corner.
The Director instinctively turned his head and looked in that direction.
Then the smile froze solid on his face.
Lu Xin raised his head from his cubicle and gave the Director a sunny smile.
The Director’s expression turned to horror, then he desperately struggled, forcing the horror into a strained smile. His voice trembled slightly, “You, uh…”
“You… Little Lu… y-you’re back?”
“Yes, Director.”
Lu Xin beamed gratefully at the Director. “Are you not happy to have me back?”
“No!” The Director practically shouted the word, then swiftly made his tone normal, chuckling awkwardly, “How could that be? The company needs you! We just… just didn’t expect you back so soon! Heh heh… uh… how’s your Little Sister doing?”
“Taking care of family is important. Would you like me to… approve a few more days?”
“No need at all,” Lu Xin quickly replied. “My Little Sister is fine. Actually, she’s been quite happy these past few days.”
Lu Xin smiled gratefully while casting a curious glance around. “Why do my colleagues… seem a bit strange?”
“Swish!”
The surrounding colleagues were also stunned, their hair practically standing on end a few centimeters.
“How could… how could…”
The Director was drenched in cold sweat. A forced smile plastered on his face, he suddenly started clapping with great effort. “Welcome, welcome, welcome back, Little Lu…”
“Clap clap”
“Clap clap clap”
“Clap clap clap clap clap clap”
“…”
Throughout the office, everyone started clapping along, the atmosphere gradually growing lively.
“Welcome back to work, Brother Lu…”
“Congratulations on your family member’s recovery, Little Lu…”
“…”
While clapping along with the Director, the colleagues directed warm smiles at Lu Xin.
“Little Manager Lu, you’re finally back! Without you keeping an eye on that project, I simply couldn’t have managed…”
Even Brother Zhang, who had been handling the legwork for Lu Xin’s procurement project, ran over excitedly. He deposited a thick stack of documents onto the desk in front of Lu Xin. Lu Xin, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed a thick envelope seemingly tucked within the pile of papers.
Quite thick.
“Thank you, thank you all…”
Lu Xin was also quite pleased, returning warm smiles to everyone. This is the atmosphere that should be here.
“Alright, alright, everyone, back to work…”
The Director clapped until his hands turned red before finally lowering them, gesturing for everyone to settle down. He intended to turn back to his own office but seeing Lu Xin still smiling at him, felt a pang of guilt. He smoothly continued, “Little Lu is a key player in our company. His return is a good thing. And since today is Friday,” he proposed, “let’s all finish our work a bit early. After work, my treat! Sounds good?”
“Yes!”
A chorus of excited colleagues cheered; it was genuine joy.
“Good, good, first handle your work. Little Lu, if you need more leave, just come find me…”
Only then did the Director feel the atmosphere was reassuring. Still smiling, he retreated to his office.
Young Wang, one of his subordinates, brought over the list of Model Employees for the month. Sweat pouring down his forehead, the Director swiftly crossed out all the names on the list. Then, he neatly wrote in a new name at the top – a surname with two characters, the surname Lu, belonging to someone with the shortest attendance record.
“What on earth…”
The Director peered through the transparent glass partition towards Lu Xin’s desk, wiping sweat from his forehead while sighing heavily.
“I’ve heard that this person, who seems so ordinary on the surface, is actually a ruthless character. Someone who dares commit crimes like breaking people’s legs with a club during the city’s chaos! Word throughout the whole company is that he’s the illegitimate child of some big shot…”
“Kills without blinking, breaks legs and steals money…”
“Finished, finished… What to do…”
“That gun-toting man is back at work…”
“…”
Lu Xin quickly settled back into work, meticulously comparing the work details Brother Zhang submitted with the bills.
Seeing him scrutinize everything so carefully made both Brother Zhang and Sister Sun uneasy. After a quick discussion, they hastily put together another envelope and brought it over to him.
“Handled very well.”
Lu Xin gave their work high praise.
He felt a bit puzzled inside though. During my absence, they managed to complete this procurement project rather decently.
What exactly was I, as the project lead, responsible for, then?
While mulling this over, his gaze drifted towards the two envelopes that looked rather thick…
Was it just this?
…
…
The Director was exceedingly generous with his treat, undoubtedly because it would be company-reimbursed.
The colleagues always loved it when the Director hosted dinner, as it meant they could eat and drink heartily.
This particular gathering, coinciding with Lu Xin’s return, prompted especial generosity from the Director. He ordered two extra dishes, and the drinks flowed freely.
The colleagues were full of enthusiasm, especially after a few glasses of alcohol. They loosened up completely, lining up with their glasses to talk to Lu Xin. Some said the Model Employee slot was undoubtedly his, others said the company would literally fall apart without him. Strangely, their attitude towards Lu Xin had pivoted sharply from the fearful awe of the daytime to the exuberant warmth of intoxication, displaying two starkly opposing extremes…
Even the Director, after several drinks, slammed his fist on the table, pointing at Lu Xin. “Little Lu, I have to criticize you!”
“Hmm?”
Lu Xin, surprised, looked up at the Director.
A momentary hush fell over the crowd; all conversation ceased as colleagues subtly turned their heads to watch.
The fat on the Director’s face quivered, but he mustered his most authoritative leadership stance. “You! Clearly you pour your heart and soul into your work! Clearly your performance is outstanding! So why haven’t I seen you apply for the Supervisor position?”
“What is our company all about? It’s about initiative! About daring to strive for the top!”
“You don’t actively apply for this Supervisor spot, so what am I supposed to do?”
He glared pointedly. “Apply for you, of course!”
“Relax, I’m putting it right here: The Supervisor position is yours! Whoever dares disagree— just see if I don’t curse eighteen generations of his ancestors behind his back!”
“…”
Lu Xin felt a sudden surge of reverence. He hurriedly raised his glass to toast the Director.
This was truly unexpected. The Director not only cares for his subordinates, he… is quite humorous?
The atmosphere around the table grew even more harmonious. Everyone were good friends, exemplary colleagues.
Toasts continued, heartfelt confessions were exchanged, and within a short time, Lu Xin had gained several brand new life-and-death friends…
…
…
To be honest, Lu Xin didn’t particularly enjoy these kinds of occasions, but he felt he couldn’t refuse people’s kindness, so he made an effort to blend in.
He waited patiently until his colleagues, thoroughly intoxicated, had mostly drifted away. After the Director had repeatedly clutched his hand, swearing vehemently that the Model Employee honor and next month’s Supervisor position would still be his even if he didn’t bring a gun to work, Lu Xin finally left the hotel among the last of the group.
Strolling slowly, he arrived at the Orphanage building near the Guard Bureau.
He stood downstairs looking up at the lit window. He thought about going up but felt it was too late and that he smelled of alcohol.
So he just stood there a while longer. Then, he peeled the utility bill notice off the entranceway and silently walked away.