Chapter 271: Probing

As the Spring Festival approaches, the weather in Hangzhou is getting colder and colder. Visibly, the once bustling streets have become quiet; those who came from out of town to work, or students who came to study, have one after another set off on their journey home.

A faint sense of melancholy at parting permeates the streets and alleys, yet it is also filled with beautiful aspirations for the New Year.

It is one o'clock in the afternoon, and the sky seems to be hanging low. The grey clouds are like a thick quilt, deeply burying the sunlight, and the cold air is filled with a damp scent.

After seeing Hao Anqi off, Shen Yan drove straight to Yancheng Clothing Factory.

While passing by a grain and oil wholesale market, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Shen Yan's mind. The workers came out to work to earn money, and at the same time, they have put a lot of heart and sweat into the factory. As the boss, he shouldn't be too stingy; he should appropriately buy some things for the workers as a year-end bonus.

But then he thought it was too much trouble; the workers might not necessarily like what he bought, and it wouldn't be convenient to carry so many things on the journey home. It would be more practical to just give them money.

Let them buy whatever they want to buy themselves.

And then appropriately issue some year-end bonuses.

Of course, he is no sucker. Counting it all up, he has only taken over the clothing factory for three months. Naturally, the year-end bonus cannot be calculated based on a full year. As for the previous accounts, they can find whoever they want.

It is reported that other clothing factories rarely have such benefits. After all, the turnover rate of workers in the clothing industry is too high; once the factory cannot receive orders and the workers cannot make money, they will immediately move to another place.

Everyone comes out to work to earn money; no one is willing to play the emotional card with you.

However, this situation does not exist at Yancheng Clothing Factory. The factory is not short of orders, and with the sales channel of the online store, the workers don't have to worry about not being able to make money.

Over the past few months, very few people have resigned.

Those who are still in the factory at this point in time are all old employees. Issuing some appropriate benefits will allow every worker to feel this warmth and care.

Let everyone know that the factory is a place with human touch, so they can continue to return to work next year.

It saves the trouble of recruiting and training new people back and forth.

Arriving at the factory office, Shen Yan first found the finance person and instructed: "The factory's efficiency has been quite good recently. I plan to issue a year-end bonus to the workers. You make a table; those who have been employed for three months or more get one thousand, those for two months get two-thirds, and those for one month get one-third."

"Okay, boss!"

Upon hearing this, the finance person was overjoyed and nodded in agreement without delay.

As an old employee of the factory, over these years, the previous boss hadn't even given a fart during holidays. She didn't expect that after changing bosses, there would be such good benefits.

After the finance person left, Shen Yan opened an Excel spreadsheet to browse the factory's recent business situation.

"Beep, beep, beep!"

Just at this moment, the QQ icon on the bottom right of the computer screen began to flash.

It was a video call from Yu Youwei.

He clicked to answer.

Immediately, a pure and pretty face appeared on the screen. Her long, wavy hair was tied into a small ponytail, her forehead had air bangs, and her upper body was wrapped in a black down jacket.

Those sparkling almond eyes revealed a trace of fatigue and sorrow.

The background was a flawless white wall and a Large Bed, with a large teddy bear lying quietly on the bed.

It was clearly Yu Youwei's boudoir.

Shen Yan asked indifferently: "What's the matter?"

Looking at the unfamiliar background on the screen, Yu Youwei asked suspiciously: "Where are you? This environment feels so strange."

"I'm working. If you have something to say, just say it."

Only then did Yu Youwei get straight to the point: "Ask you something, will a boy like two girls at the same time?"

Ever since the frank conversation with Wu Yue'er last time, Yu Youwei had gone back and thought a lot, especially in the middle of the night, when she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

Her mind was full of every little detail of the time Wu Yue'er and Shen Yan spent together.

The two of them having a wild time together at the sea, dancing hotly on stage, their behavior being intimate, plus whispering, flirting, and joking without any scruples...

And that day they were square dancing on the playground, in front of Hao Anqi, Shen Yan jokingly called for Wu Yue'er to be his No. 2 girlfriend, and later there would be No. 3 and No. 4 girlfriends.

Without a doubt, Shen Yan's favoritism toward Wu Yue'er was exaggerated, already transcending the boundaries between friends of the opposite sex.

That feeling was definitely liking.

There was even a moment when Yu Youwei suspected that it wasn't as simple as just liking each other; perhaps they had already been having an affair and committed such immoral acts.

But she also felt it was unlikely. Wu Yue'er was a proper student at a prestigious university, born as beautiful as a flower, known as the "Most Beautiful School Beauty" of Hangzhou University, and usually worked as a part-time model outside with a considerable income.

How could such a person be willing to be a mistress for someone?

And Shen Yan, who had been a well-behaved person and done things properly since he was a child—even if Wu Yue'er's charm was heaven-defying, he shouldn't betray his girlfriend.

It seems that Wu Yue'er did not lie; the two just had a good impression of each other. Shen Yan didn't realize his liking for Wu Yue'er at all. Of course, it could also be that he deliberately ignored this point so he could continue to flirt with Wu Yue'er with a clear conscience.

The various thoughts swirling in her mind made Yu Youwei feel restless. After careful consideration, she decided to verify this answer with Shen Yan in person.

Just at this time, QQ sent a notification that Shen Yan had come online on the computer, so she decisively initiated a video call.

"Ask you something, will a boy like two girls at the same time?"

Shen Yan thought for a moment and guessed her intention, answering: "Probably. Otherwise, how could there be so many broken families in real society? But why are you asking me this question? Does such a boy like you?"

Hearing this, Yu Youwei's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately said: "No, I just feel that you seem to like Yue'er. You are especially close to her—dancing hotly, whispering, and acting intimately. It's a completely different attitude compared to other girls."

While speaking, her eyes stared fixedly at the screen, wanting to observe some clues from Shen Yan's expression.

However, Shen Yan's eyes remained as deep as the sea, and a trace of displeasure appeared at the corners of his mouth: "Are you talking nonsense? I already have a girlfriend; how could I like someone else?"

"Didn't you just say that a boy might like two girls at the same time?" Yu Youwei continued to question.

"Hehe! I still have a pile of work to deal with. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up." Shen Yan shook his head helplessly.

Then, without another word, he hung up the video directly.

Loose lips sink ships; leaving enough room for Yu Youwei's imagination is enough.

Sure enough, Yu Youwei, who was at home, felt even more suspicious, completely unable to guess Shen Yan's thoughts.

Was he pretending to be ignorant, or did he really not notice Wu Yue'er's feelings?

This feeling of being left hanging, neither up nor down, was simply killing her.