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“What do you mean?”
The gazes of Gao Yuan and the others first fell on Xu Xiaoyue before shifting to Zheng Jiaojiao.
Xu Xiaoyue’s words were undeniably thought-provoking. Liu Honghong and the others had gradually formed a suspicion in their minds but didn’t dare to acknowledge it.
Xu Xiaoyue’s expression remained indifferent as she calmly packed her things. “Exactly what I said.”
Her words instantly caused an uproar.
Some believed her, while others refused to, convinced that Xu Xiaoyue must have uncovered some dirt on Zheng Jiaojiao and forced her to hand over the proposal.
Among them, Gao Yuan and Liu Honghong were the most incredulous.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight? If it was really yours, why wait until Jiaojiao submitted it before suddenly jumping out to claim it?”
“Then you should ask her why she was in such a hurry to submit it before I could even finish organizing it properly.”
Gao Yuan turned to Zheng Jiaojiao. “Is what she said true? That garbage proposal couldn’t actually have been plagiarized by you, could it?”
Zheng Jiaojiao bit her lip and remained silent.
Liu Honghong also stepped closer, nudging her with an elbow. “Say something! Did you copy hers, or did she copy yours?”
The two of them surrounded Zheng Jiaojiao, determined to get an answer.
“Stop asking! Just stop!”
Pressed too far, Zheng Jiaojiao covered her ears and shouted at them.
Gao Yuan and Liu Honghong were startled. “We were just asking—no need to lose your temper.”
Xu Xiaoyue smirked, too disgusted to watch the trio’s performance any longer. She packed her things and left work early. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back from vomiting.
It was still early, and Xu Xiaoyue didn’t want to return to the Yan household just yet. She wandered aimlessly down the street, her mind in turmoil.
She had more or less anticipated Zheng Jiaojiao stealing her proposal.
The only thing she hadn’t expected was Manager Yan’s attitude.
Back then, when Sun Ningning tried to snatch the finished dress from her, Manager Yan had stood firmly by her side and even secured her a job at the state-owned supermarket.
Xu Xiaoyue had genuinely admired her for that. But as the saying goes:
“To err is human.”
Manager Yan had broken the rules to hire both her and Zheng Jiaojiao as part of the staff reform, but she had also tried to cover up Zheng Jiaojiao’s mistake to avoid exposing her own misjudgment to higher-ups.
Xu Xiaoyue could understand it, but she would never agree with it.
Today’s incident made her realize just how naive her previous mindset had been.
Whether in the world of the novel or in real life, without power or capability, you were nothing.
If that Director Gu hadn’t coincidentally witnessed the scene and stepped in to speak up for her, she wouldn’t have known how to clear her name.
As she walked, Xu Xiaoyue unconsciously found herself outside the state-owned restaurant.
She touched her stomach—it was dinnertime, and she was genuinely a little hungry.
“Comrade, come in and take a look! Today, our chef’s specialty is braised pork—one bite, and the juices burst in your mouth…”
The waiter recognized Xu Xiaoyue. He glanced behind her. “Are you alone today? Where’s the male comrade who came with you last time?”
Mentioning Yan Ye, Xu Xiaoyue’s eyes dimmed. Perhaps she had offended him too badly last time—it had been ages since she’d seen him.
“Just me. I’ll have one order of braised pork, one stir-fried greens, and a bowl of rice.”
She ordered without hesitation. When in a bad mood, she treated herself to something good.
The waiter quickly jotted it down and led her to a nearby table.
“Got it! You can sit here. Your food will be ready soon.”
No sooner had the woman sat down than she noticed a pair of burning eyes fixed on her from the next table.
“Well, well, little girl, why are you eating alone?”
Xu Xiaoyue frowned slightly and turned her head to see a man with a greasy, pockmarked face leering at her from the neighboring table.
His gaze made her skin crawl, so she averted her eyes, ignoring him.
“Hey, little girl, don’t be so cold. Eating alone is boring—why not join big brother for a meal?”
Seeing that she was ignoring him, the man persisted, even reaching out to grab Xu Xiaoyue.
She had encountered men like this before. Without hesitation, she stood up to leave.
But the man, as if blind to her rejection, stuck out his leg to block her path.
“Please show some respect,” Xu Xiaoyue said coldly, glaring at him.
The man didn’t back down. Instead, he burst into laughter. “Little girl, you clearly don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
“Me inviting you to eat with me is an honor. Be smart and behave, or you’ll regret it.”
The commotion drew the attention of the waiter who had seated Xu Xiaoyue earlier. When he saw the man, his steps faltered.
Damn it, I must be blind—why did I seat such a pretty girl near him?
“Scarface, my bad. I know you like peace and quiet—I’ll move her to another table right away.”
This “Scarface” wasn’t anyone particularly powerful—just a local thug who loafed around all day, mooching meals whenever he was hungry.
If the restaurant refused to feed him, he’d gather his lackeys and blockade the entrance.
For scum like him, even calling the police was useless.
The best they could do was endure and avoid provoking him.
Scarface grinned, his greasy eyes raking over Xu Xiaoyue’s body as he let out a whistle.
“No need. I like this little girl right where she is.”
The waiter’s face paled as he wiped sweat from his brow. “She’s our customer—let’s not disturb your meal.”
At this, Scarface’s expression darkened. He spat on the floor.
“Who the hell do you think you are, meddling in my business?”
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Dreamy Land[Translator]
Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying what I'm translating. As an unemployed adult with way too much time on my hands and a borderline unhealthy obsession with novels, I’m here to share one of my all-time favorites. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into this story together—because I’ve got nothing better to do!