{Where did this little brat come from? So damn annoying! 2}

In response, Qian Xu felt no need to explain anything.

Several nearby female employees couldn’t listen any longer. Lin Mei, returning to her seat, had an expression that suggested she wanted to confront those men directly. It was broad daylight, and yet they were discussing a beautiful woman; she wondered where they got the audacity.

Qian Xu stopped her with just a gentle smile, and Lin Mei immediately followed the beautiful woman’s cue, picking up her chopsticks while cursing under her breath, “These guys can’t get promoted or make money themselves, yet they think they’re in a position to criticize others. They’re the ones who are always jealous of others!”

In her view, if it weren’t for Qian Xu’s youth and competence, she would never have attained her current position; everything was earned through her own efforts.

It was truly immoral to criticize someone without reason in front of others.

If a man were in that position, he would at least be expected to treat a few drinks.

But the female employees gathered around Qian Xu also reached a consensus on another matter: the relationship between Qian Xu and Zhao Buhui, Zhao’s son, was doomed to be poor. Both had returned from studying abroad, yet Zhao preferred to rely on a stranger rather than value his own son.

With Zhao Buhui’s arrogance, how could he possibly accept that?

Perhaps, compared to this group’s random chatter, Zhao Buhui’s private assessment of Qian Xu was even harsher.

Finally, someone expressed concern for Qian Xu, who was smiling calmly despite the gossip around her: “Boss Qian, Zhao’s son hasn’t given you a hard time, has he?”

Having heard of Zhao Buhui’s previous feats of ousting others, these employees were cautious, doubting Qian Xu could thrive in the company, especially with the son of the big boss often proving hard to handle.

Qian Xu didn’t know how to respond.

If she said he was giving her a hard time, he had absolutely no impact on her projects at the company; but if she said he wasn’t a nuisance, she was currently embarrassed because her employee card had been swiped, forcing her to come to the canteen.

“It’s hard to assess,” Qian Xu replied cautiously, “but I don’t think Zhao Buhui is an irredeemable person.”

Perhaps sensing Qian Xu’s hesitation, they were willing to spare Zhao Buhui’s face, suggesting he was not “irredeemable,” and it seemed likely he was “mostly redeemable.” While Qian Xu spoke lightly, it was clear she was giving the boss’s son some leeway.

“It’s okay, Boss Qian, we all understand.”

Qian Xu felt they might have some understanding, but it seemed their understanding was somewhat off track.

However, before she could correct them, she was taken by surprise when Zhao Buhui returned to the company to clock in. For several consecutive days, he had appeared in the canteen, which the employees were buzzing about. It was hard not to associate his recent obsession with the canteen with the fact that, if she wasn’t mistaken, he was holding her card, not someone else’s, as he browsed through various windows.

Sharp-eyed Qian Xu didn’t lose her temper or try to reclaim her card in front of everyone.

Even if that man who “also ate protein powder” had a large appetite, it wouldn’t result in three-digit meals per sitting.

She repeated to herself many times.

Just a small matter.

But the one revealing all the secrets was none other than Zhao Buhui himself, casually holding her meal card between his fingers, as if he was afraid others wouldn’t see the signature on it.

Of course, Qian Xu didn’t think that such an unremarkable meal card would raise any suspicions.

What she didn’t expect was that everyone working at Zhao Tian Group was quite perceptive. For instance, the owner of the sour fish restaurant noticed, purely by chance, that the balance on today’s card was not the same as the one used earlier.

He casually asked, “Zhao, did you get a new card? Don’t you use the previous one from your dad?”

“It’s not the same card, but it’s not a new one,” he said, looking toward Qian Xu’s current position, his gaze lingering a bit, twirling the card in his hand and making a self-satisfied gesture, “A friend gave it to me.”

How could that be considered a gift?

It was clear he had shamelessly asked for it.

As of now, there was still no explosive news that would provoke unnecessary gossip. However, the sour fish owner noticed the signature on the back of the card, but he wasn’t entirely sure and murmured, “Could it be Boss Qian’s?”

Zhao Buhui’s subsequent reaction stunned everyone present.

Not only did he not dismiss this irrelevant question, but it seemed he was eager for everyone to know. He loudly proclaimed, “It’s definitely Boss Qian’s.”

This surprised Qian Xu. A normal person would understand to avoid suspicion, but Zhao Buhui could not make it any clearer—

Meanwhile, the group that had been curious about her relationship with Zhao Buhui, thinking they were bound to clash, was genuinely shocked. Lin Mei quickly reacted, completely forgetting the previous misunderstanding, and immediately started ridiculing the table next door: “Aren’t you always spreading rumors about Boss Qian and Zhao’s son having a bad relationship?”

“Isn’t it your job to form cliques whenever you have free time, ensuring there’s chaos everywhere?”

Faced with the intense, focused gazes from the table, Qian Xu concentrated on her bowl of large wontons.

Over here, Lin Mei, full of fighting spirit, finished her tirade and leaned over to gossip, “Boss, are you on good terms with Zhao Buhui?”

“How should I put it…”