Chapter 381 - 380: Do You Have Something to Tell Me?

"How can that be? You’re not a rookie anymore," Xue Yue said.

Zhang Qian nodded. "I know, right? That’s what I think too, but that’s what my editor-in-chief told me. Meanwhile, the male colleague who started with me has been out reporting on stories for a while now."

"Is your editor-in-chief a man or a woman?"

"A woman. In her forties, hair combed back flawlessly, always dressed in a black business suit. She talks to you like she’s scolding you. We secretly call her the Black Widow. I wonder if she’s like that at home too. Tsk, how does her family put up with her?"

Xue Yue chuckled. "You guys should be careful not to let it slip and have her overhear you one day."

Speaking of which, Zhang Qian couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "One of our colleagues actually did let it slip last time. The Black Widow made her clean the toilets for a week."

"Huh? That serious?" Xue Yue said in surprise.

Zhang Qian pouted. "That woman is incredibly petty. I’ve been wondering if I said something to offend her, which is why she’s been ignoring me. It’s a shame. At my old job, I was the agency head’s favorite. Things really aren’t what they used to be."

Xue Yue couldn’t do much but comfort her. "Just hang in there. Maybe she’ll recognize your abilities eventually."

Zhang Qian shook her head. "That’ll probably be difficult. I’m already losing my will to fight."

Xue Xingzhou said, "Let me see if I can find an acquaintance at a newspaper office and get you a different editor-in-chief."

Zhang Qian waved her hand. "No, don’t. Our newspaper office only has two editors-in-chief. The other one has always been in charge of the foreign language section. As you know, my foreign language skills aren’t great. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be up to the task if I switched."

Xue Xingzhou said, "How about I tutor you in a foreign language? Or we could get Yue’er. She graduated from a foreign language institute and knows three foreign languages."

Zhang Qian gave a wry smile. "Where would I find the time?"

"You make time."

Zhang Qian held up her hands. "Stop, don’t say any more. I’ll keep holding on. The day I can’t hold on anymore, I’ll work hard on learning a foreign language."

Then, Zhang Qian grumbled, "Am I the only one who thinks foreign languages are hard? Back in school, foreign language was the only subject that dragged my score down. I just don’t get it. We’re perfectly fine people of Hua Country. Our own mother tongue is more than enough. Why go through all the trouble to learn another country’s language? Do people in other countries have to learn our Chinese language?"

Xue Xingzhou: "..."

Xue Yue: "..."

Some people really just don’t have a knack for foreign languages and find learning them to be excruciatingly painful. Zhang Qian was one of them.

But she really was down on her luck. While Xue Yue and Xue Xingzhou were both making some progress in their careers, she was just treading water. Of course she was anxious. After all, from an outsider’s perspective, getting a job at a newspaper office was a great career with good benefits.

In the evening, Xue Yue finally took the children home and immediately started making dinner.

When Mr. He and He Lang got back, Xue Yue’s congee was ready. Dinner was congee, steamed buns, and a couple of simple stir-fried dishes.

During dinner, He Lang asked Xue Yue, "You had the day off today. Did you go out? I thought you would bring the kids over."

Shiyi quickly said, "We went to Uncle’s house!"

He Lang looked at Xue Yue. "Did you have lunch there?"

Xue Yue hummed in agreement.

After dinner, He Lang went into the room with the children, while Xue Yue went to wash the dishes.

By the time He Lang had supervised the children’s homework, tucked them into bed, and returned to the bedroom, he found that Xue Yue was already asleep.

He glanced at her and took his clothes to the bathroom. After his shower, he got into bed, looked at Xue Yue’s back, and reached out to wrap his arms around her.

He nuzzled her neck. "Why are you asleep so early today?"

His hot breath tickled her neck. Xue Yue took He Lang’s hand, scooted over a little, and said in a low voice, "I’m tired. Let’s sleep."

He Lang paused for a moment, but didn’t think much of it and turned to switch off the light.

Soon, the sound of He Lang’s steady breathing came from behind her. Xue Yue slowly opened her eyes.

She stared at the dark wall, only falling asleep a long time later.

The next morning, Xue Yue kept getting distracted at work. The words Guan Wenwen had said kept replaying in her mind: "I’ll hand my resignation letter to He Lang in person tomorrow."

She kept glancing at her watch and even stood up. ’Should I go check?’ she thought, but after a moment, she sat back down.

It wasn’t until the end of the workday that Xue Yue slowly walked out of her office. She looked up at the colorful sunset clouds. They were beautiful, and it made her feel much better.

Then, she inadvertently spotted He Lang across the street. She didn’t know when he’d arrived. His motorcycle was parked by the roadside, and he was just standing there, looking at her.

Xue Yue bit her lip and walked over to him.

"How long have you been here?"

He Lang’s lips curved up. "Just got here."

Xue Yue nodded. "Let’s go."

He Lang looked at Xue Yue and said with a smile, "It’s still early. Let’s go see a movie."

Xue Yue paused, stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I can’t. The kids must be hungry by now. I have to go home and cook."

He Lang told her, "I already told Dad to take the kids out to eat. We can take it easy today. Let’s see a movie first, and afterward, we can eat out too, whatever you want."

Xue Yue hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Since someone was looking after the children, she was relieved.

The two of them went to the movie theater together. He Lang went to buy the tickets, while Xue Yue waited outside with nothing to do.

At this time of day, there were many couples coming to see movies. Xue Yue never expected to run into Guan Wenwen and her fiancé here.

The man was of average build. While not exceptionally handsome, he was decent-looking. He wore a pair of glasses and seemed to be about the same age as Guan Wenwen. They looked quite compatible standing together.

Xue Yue and Guan Wenwen saw each other, but neither said a word. Just then, He Lang came over with the tickets. Guan Wenwen glanced at He Lang before walking past them and heading inside.

Xue Yue suddenly remembered what had happened before. That feeling came back—the uncomfortable sensation of having something stuck in her throat that she could neither spit out nor swallow.

He Lang took Xue Yue’s hand and said, "I’ve got the tickets. Let’s go in."

Xue Yue didn’t move. He Lang looked at her, puzzled. "What’s wrong?"

Xue Yue looked up at He Lang, her voice calm. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

He Lang frowned. "What?"

Xue Yue asked again, "Is there anything you need to tell me?"

He Lang narrowed his eyes. "Yue’er, don’t make a scene... There are so many people here."

Xue Yue pulled her hand free and pointed inside. "That was Guan Wenwen who just went in. Did you see her?"

He Lang nodded. "Yeah. So what?"

Xue Yue said, "You’re still trying to hide it from me, even now."

He Lang’s eyelid twitched. ’She knows.’ He finally understood.

He hurriedly explained to Xue Yue, "Yue’er, listen to me. Guan Wenwen handed me her resignation letter today. She said she’s getting married, so she’s quitting. I already approved it. I’m having Yang Wenxiu take her position."

"And?"

He Lang looked at Xue Yue. "What else is there?"

Xue Yue’s tone was heavy. "She likes you. Did you know that?"

He Lang fell silent.

Xue Yue turned and walked away.