Chapter 24: Too Many Coincidences Means It's No Longer a Coincidence

"What? Brother Yunci, you're saying you want Meng Shutang to temporarily work in our Cultural Tourism Department, and even as deputy manager?"

Bai Cixian simply could not believe her ears.

"Yes," the man said concisely, offering nothing more.

"Meng Shutang is willing?"

But working under her — wasn't Meng Shutang supposed to be a self-proclaimed literatus, aloof and proud, full of backbone?

The man lowered his eyes and glanced at the drawer, which contained many cards inside.

Meng Shutang would refuse at first, but he would "up the ante" — raising the offer until she agreed.

"Have someone find her an office in a bit. She needs to work alongside you for a period of time."

Bai Cixian was somewhat reluctant. "There are no offices left, only workstations."

The man said nothing, and Bai Cixian left in displeasure.

Bai Cixian returned to the seventh floor, clapped her hands to get everyone's attention, and said, "I have good news for everyone — a member will be temporarily joining our team, and that's our dear Teacher Meng."

After Bai Cixian finished speaking, Meng Shutang stepped forward. "Hello, colleagues. My name is Meng Shutang, and I'll be handling assistant-related work. Please guide me going forward."

After speaking, she gave a slight, courteous bow.

Meng Shutang already had a very good reputation at Gu Clan.

Despite the hiccup during her explanation at the collection exhibition, everyone had seen today's moment of brilliance.

Everyone was genuinely convinced by Meng Shutang.

During work coordination, Bai Cixian deliberately made things difficult for Meng Shutang, even proactively insisting that she must not bypass her to report work to Gu Yunci.

Meng Shutang nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Deputy Manager Bai. I will report all work to you."

As the two were talking, Gu Yunci walked over.

Seeing him, Bai Cixian proactively took a proposal and went over. "President Gu, this is newly written. Please review it first."

Gu Yunci, with one hand in his pocket, did not take it. "Ask Deputy Manager Meng first — she has more experience."

After saying that, he strode away.

A moment later, he came over accompanying an elderly gardener, with Qin Zheng following behind.

An image of the withered begonia on Gu Yunci's desk flashed through Meng Shutang's mind, but she only gave it a fleeting thought and did not dwell on it.

Near the end of the workday, Chen Man called to ask whether her part-time job was off yet.

Meng Shutang briefly recounted the day's events to her.

"I just quit all my other part-time jobs. I'm working odd jobs at Gu Clan with peace of mind now."

"Your odd job is worth it — one proposal, one million."

"I'm not someone with much backbone. Bowing for five pecks of rice — I can do that."

"I always feel that's not it. Didn't you just say Gu Yunci caught you pouring tea and washing pots and dishes at the restaurant?

He may be cold-hearted, but he cherishes talent. He just felt it was a pity that your slender, clean hands, as beautiful as jade pieces, were washing plates.

Those hands of yours should be restoring antique beads.

He didn't want your hands to end up rough, and your artisan's spirit lost along with them."

Meng Shutang was taken aback. "Chen Man, you certainly think highly of him."

The two chatted a while longer. Qiao Mo called for her, so Meng Shutang hung up the phone.

Sitting in front of the computer, while typing, she glanced at her own hands.

She also recalled that in the office just now, Gu Yunci had indeed looked at her hands.

Over the next few days.

Meng Shutang never proactively coordinated with Gu Yunci. Even when Bai Cixian was not at the company, she only followed formal procedures, waiting for Bai Cixian to come and coordinate.

When working overtime, she also tried her best to avoid Gu Yunci.

Including at home — apart from unavoidable encounters at the dining table, she had virtually no contact with him.

Gu Yunci would wander over to the Cultural Tourism Department from time to time.

This gave the department's employees mixed feelings. The good part was that President Gu brought refreshments every time he came; the worry was that they dared not make mistakes at work, couldn't slack off on their phones, and the workload was far heavier than usual.

Almost everyone thought Gu Yunci wandered over to the Cultural Tourism Department to see Bai Cixian.

Only Bai Cixian herself knew clearly that his frequent visits here had only started since that wretch Meng Shutang arrived.

Meng Shutang, just like her mother, was loathsome.

So, during a work report, she forged work records, wanting to pin the mistake on Meng Shutang.

Gu Yunci was strict in his work and could not tolerate the slightest flaw.

He would surely conclude that Meng Shutang's reputation exceeded her ability — that her two-minute critique of the proposal in the conference room was merely a moment of extraordinary performance, not her true level at all.

Gu Yunci was somewhat surprised to see errors in Meng Shutang's work. "Did she do this?"

Bai Cixian nodded smugly. "Mm."

The man was about to review it when his gaze fell on the signature at the end, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He cross-checked the earlier parts and found traces of data modification.

"The data doesn't match. Redo it."

The man pushed the document back to Bai Cixian.

Bai Cixian came out. Qiao Mo was not very surprised to hear that Gu Yunci had not punished Meng Shutang.

"Meng Shutang's handwriting is elegant and distinctive. No matter how well you forge it, it's still not her handwriting.

President Gu isn't easy to fool. Cixian, you need to think of another method."

Bai Cixian's hand gripping the document turned slightly white. She entered the elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor.

Qiao Mo said, "It's already been three hours since work ended. Why are you still going to the seventh floor?"

Bai Cixian, "I want to finish the plan this week, let everyone be a bit tired!"

Bai Cixian really doesn't want Meng Shutang loitering in front of her for a month; otherwise she'd be driven mad.

Qiao Mo, "But everyone has been working nonstop these past few days, we're all exhausted."

Besides, Meng Shutang is sick, and continuing like this is not okay.

What's being sick? It would be better if she became a vegetable or died!

After Bai Cixian left, Gu Yunci thought of something; he originally wanted to call, but then thought it better to go to the Culture and Tourism Department and tell her directly.

As a result, just as he stepped out of the seventh-floor elevator, he ran into Meng Shutang in the hallway.

Meng Shutang couldn't control her cough, "President Gu."

Gu Yunci looked at her, "You're busy with the plan and also tracing the provenance of the artifacts at the West City Cangpinge—can you handle it?"

Meng Shutang nodded, "I'm really grateful to President Gu for the opportunity; I can manage."

The man nodded, "Don't delay things."

He handed her a document, "Give it to Cixian."

Meng Shutang nodded.

Seeing Meng Shutang calm and expressionless, Gu Yunci frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

He turned and left, then called Qin Zheng, "Go to the pharmacy and buy a batch of cough medicine, give one to each employee working overtime today."

Qin Zheng nodded, "Okay."

He deliberately took a detour to the Culture and Tourism Department and found that only Meng Shutang was coughing.

"Is it because the young mistress is sick that you're buying this? No one else got this treatment when they were sick before!"

He muttered to himself.

Ten minutes later, he bought the medicine and distributed it to the employees, then reported back to Gu Yunci.

"President Gu, the medicine has been distributed, especially to the coughing employees—I personally handed it to her."

The man listened absentmindedly, scrolling through his social media feed.

Meng Shutang had set the permissions to visible for three days, but there was nothing.

Half an hour later, the man lowered his eyes to glance at his watch.

He also told Qin Zheng, "Order a late-night snack for each staff member working overtime at the Culture and Tourism Department—no spice, no peanuts."

Qin Zheng's eyelids twitched, "President Gu, isn't this the young mistress's preference?"

"Should we get the young mistress a cup of warm peach four-season spring tea? She likes it."

"Stop meddling, when did I say to get her something!" the man's face darkened, "Unified standard—overtime meals will follow this; also, everyone gets a cup of warm peach four-season spring tea."

Qin Zheng, "... Okay, unified standard."

Qin Zheng bought the overtime meals and delivered them to the Culture and Tourism Department.

The Culture and Tourism Department employees were so moved they were about to cry.

They all expressed gratitude to Bai Cixian.

"Section Chief Bai, you're allergic to peanuts, President Gu has always remembered."

"Love me, love my dog—so the late-night snack is also for us."

Bai Cixian spoke politely on the surface, but secretly harbored resentment.

She always felt this meal wasn't ordered by Gu Yunci for her—she likes spicy food, and he knows that.

On the contrary, it's Meng Shutang who doesn't eat spicy.

She glanced up at Meng Shutang, who was sitting at her workstation obediently eating.

At that moment, Meng Shutang's heart was also in turmoil.

Bai Cixian is allergic to peanuts.

Actually, everyone in the Meng family is allergic to peanuts.

Bai Cixian, she, and Meng Zhibang must have some connection.

Too many coincidences, and it's no longer a coincidence.