Chapter 16: Where

President's office.

Gu Yunci sat behind the desk, shuffling papers without looking up, "What's going on today?"

Meng Shutang stood in front of the desk, posture upright, "I was explaining carefully when Bai Cixian suddenly came over; I saw with my own eyes her fingertips lightly tap and unlock the ancient bead clasp."

She also deliberately lowered her hand tray, letting the bead string slip down.

The man sprang up, grabbed the documents in his hand and slammed them onto the desk with a thud.

"Meng Shutang, this is the explanation you gave me!"

When I heard Director Wang and the others were coming, I went crazy and thought of you first.

You didn't seize the opportunity properly; instead you made me lose face at such an important occasion, showed no reflection afterward, and even shifted the blame onto Cixian.

Meng Shutang: "I didn't. What I said was the truth."

Honestly, why would she come to my side instead of standing by you? She did it on purpose.

"What 'on purpose'? You were clearly jealous and framing me, thinking I was with her last night, and that the lipstick on the collar was also hers."

So when she passed by today, you got distracted and messed up the exhibition briefing.

Meng Shutang: "I know you don't believe me; whatever I say is of no use."

The exhibition has surveillance, right? Pull it up and you'll see whether I'm lying.

The man had no intention of checking, "From now on, you don't need to come for any exhibition briefings. Leave!"

Meng Shutang wanted to speak but held back, clenched her fist slightly, then turned and left.

Back in the studio, Ruan An had already heard about it.

Indeed, good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

"Sister Sweetie, you shouldn't blame yourself; you must be too exhausted to make a mistake at such an important occasion."

In fact, Meng Shutang felt very guilty inside.

This was her first mistake since she started working.

That feeling was truly unbearable.

Especially in the ancient bead restoration field, everything must be pursued to perfection, allowing no margin of error.

It has become a habit etched into the bone marrow.

She has always kept her mother and master's words in mind, never daring to be negligent.

Today's mistake, like vines, tightly wound around her limbs and torso, with guilt gnawing at her internal organs.

She, somewhat breathless, asked, "What did they say?"

I only heard a few passing staff say that President Gu is genuinely good to you, especially tolerant; if it were anyone else making a mistake at such an important occasion, they'd be wrapped up and told to scram.

Also, they said about the previous collapse of the exhibition stand in Wenlüxiaozhen; given President Gu's usual work style, after that incident he would never give you a major role again.

Saying that, Ruan An bent down, "Sister, don't be sad; he's your husband, and spoiling you is only natural."

Meng Shutang was both exasperated and amused.

She was set up and wronged, and Gu Yunci wouldn't even listen to her explanation.

But he didn't let her leave immediately; his revenge hasn't ended yet, right?

Meng Shutang composed herself, took a sip of water, opened the computer and wrote a debrief report, "An'an, when you leave, remember to lock the door."

Ruan An: "Where are you going?"

Meng Shutang: "Going to find Gu Yunci."

She cannot lose her job as an exhibition guide for collections; her mother is still lying in the special care ward, so she must work hard to earn money.

Gu Clan Building.

Qin Zheng saw Meng Shutang approaching, "Teacher Meng, is there something?"

Meng Shutang: "I came to see President Gu."

"President Gu…," he said, turning his gaze toward the office direction, his face showing difficulty, "

Ms. Bai is inside."

Meng Shutang's brows and eyes were calm; she sat in the nearby tea break area, "I'll wait for him here."

Qin Zheng: "Would you like something to drink? Coffee or juice?"

Meng Shutang shook her head, "No need, Assistant Qin, you go be busy!"

President's office.

Bai Cixian ground her coffee, "Brother Yunci, I heard you stopped Meng Shutang's exhibition guide work. Actually, today you can't blame her completely; I was right there and couldn't help, it's also my fault…"

Gu Yunci was reviewing documents, not looking up.

Bai Cixian, busy with her work, said, "Brother Yunci, there's a problem with the collection exhibition; the previous stand collapse in Wenlüxiaozhen also had errors. Miss Meng… doesn't seem as steady and reliable as people say."

The man's hand paused slightly, and he said nothing.

Bai Cixian placed the brewed coffee in front of him; the man didn't look at her, "Put it here, go out!"

Bai Cixian's smile stiffened, but she quickly smiled again, "I also remembered I still have some work, I'll head out first."

Qin Zheng saw her leave, went in and said to Gu Yunci, "President Gu, the young madam has arrived."

The man didn't look up, after a moment, "Tell her to wait."

Meng Shutang saw Bai Cixian come out, got up and went to the doorway.

Waiting, it was Qin Zheng who arrived, "Teacher Meng, President Gu is busy; please wait a bit before going in."

Meng Shutang nodded.

But after half an hour, she saw with her own eyes the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Planning go in one after another.

She let out a slight sigh, sat back on the sofa, and continued waiting.

This waiting lasted another two hours.

Qin Zheng could no longer bear to watch, "Young Madam, President Gu is busy. Please don't wait any longer..."

Meng Shutang shook her head, "No, I'll wait until President Gu is done."

After Qin Zheng left, Bai Cixian walked over carrying her bag, "Miss Meng, you still haven't gone in! It seems this time, you've really caused a major disaster and angered our CEO.

Brother Yunci is meticulous and has high standards for his work. You've been by his side for three years—how could you not even know that?"

Meng Shutang sat quietly, not looking at her at all.

"Just now in the office, we were discussing the follow-up to the exhibition. Brother Yunci said he could only trust me, and asked me to keep a closer eye on the collection matters going forward.

Are you here to apologize now?"

Saying that, she glanced at the exhibition review report on the desk, "Don't worry too much. Brother Yunci is still angry right now. Once he cools down, I'll talk to him."

After speaking, she gave Meng Shutang's shoulder a perfunctory pat.

Meng Shutang raised her eyes, her gaze cold, "Take your hand off."

Bai Cixian's smile stiffened slightly. She pursed her lips and walked away, swaying her slender waist.

Meng Shutang lowered her eyes and glanced at her wristwatch. It was now five in the afternoon; she had already been waiting for two and a half hours.

Feeling a bit tired from sitting, she stood up and went to the window, watching the twilight envelop the earth as birds returned to their nests.

Raising her eyes, she saw Gu Yunci on the elevated split-level platform.

The 28th floor was a duplex office area.

The lower level was the secretary and lounge area, while the elevated platform was the executive office area.

Normally, secretaries and assistants would go up via the central staircase to report their work.

Meng Shutang saw the man standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking in her direction.

She also suddenly realized that from her position, Gu Yunci could see her when he looked down.

He had known all along that she was outside, yet he still made her wait bitterly.

She obediently sat back down.

She thought that since Gu Yunci had seen her looking at him,

he would soon call her in.

He did not. Qin Zheng instead led three partners in one after another. Only after the last guest left did he walk over and say to her, "President Gu is calling you."

Meng Shutang pushed the door open and went in, closing it behind her.

Despite having waited for several hours, not a trace of exhaustion showed on her face—only composure and poise.

She came before the desk and stood facing the man, "President Gu, I'm here to apologize for the oversight in today's exhibition work.

This is the review report I've prepared. Please take a look."

"Now you know to apologize? Where's that stubbornness from our argument earlier? After waiting outside for hours, you've learned to bow your head?"

The man didn't look at her. He merely flipped forcefully through the documents in his hand, as if in an irritable mood.

Meng Shutang said, "I was indeed impulsive just now. I'm truly sorry."

The man stood up, picked up his teacup, and faced the floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket, "Leave the review report here and go out!"

The man didn't hear footsteps. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't turn around.

He merely lifted the teacup and took a sip, his peripheral vision sweeping over the slender silhouette reflected on the floor-to-ceiling window, "What is it now?"