Assistant Chen ultimately didn’t take Gao Lang’s request seriously.
But after she went to work the next day and reported the day’s itinerary, Gao Lang suddenly asked her, “How is the issue that I asked you to investigate yesterday going?”
Assistant Chen was stunned and replied, “President Gao, forgive me. I can’t investigate something like this. There are so many people in the company—how could I possibly do it? If you really think that Miss Bai has been mistreated, it’s better to ask her directly.”
Gao Lang rubbed his brows; he was exhausted. “You don’t know what a kind girl Duoduo is. She wouldn’t say anything.”
Assistant Chen wanted to say, ‘if that’s the case, then what are you investigating for? Isn’t it good to continue to be tolerant?’
“But the more she acts like this, the more I cannot let her be wronged,” Gao Lang continued. “Start the investigation from the female employees on this level. I don’t think I need to tell you the details of how to conduct an investigation, do I?”
He frowned, feeling that Assistant Chen was rather inefficient.
Assistant Chen contemplated for a while, but she could not stop herself from saying, “President Gao, I may not be able to handle this issue. After Secretary Qi was transferred, I was doing several jobs by myself, which I was incapable of handling. Or, you could ask Director Luo to investigate. ”
Just as Gao Lang was about to get angry, Bai Duoduo came in with coffee. “What investigation?”
“Oh, nothing, just a little thing, don’t worry,” Gao Lang assured with a smile.
Bai Duoduo put the coffee in front of Gao Lang, hesitant to look at Assistant Chen. “Assistant Chen, is there any work I need to do? I feel bored just sitting there.”
Assistant Chen, who had finished speaking just now, felt nervous. Hearing Bai Duoduo’s words, she immediately looked at Gao Lang—waiting for his response.
Gao Lang nodded slightly.
Assistant Chen understood. She thought for a while and drew out a document. “This is President Gao’s speech draft for the afternoon meeting. You may sort it out and print a copy.” This was the simplest of tasks—she should be able to do it!
Bai Duoduo excitedly took it. “Okay! I’ll do it!”
Assistant Chen smiled. “Okay, start working. If you don’t understand, just ask… Linda.” Assistant Chen wanted to say “ask me directly”, but she had the thought that there were so many things she needed to do; estimating that there was no time for her to spare, Assistant Chen concluded that it was better for Bai Duoduo to find someone else!
Bai Duoduo nodded. “Okay, I understand.”
hen, without speaking another word to Gao Lang, she happily returned to her seat and went busy.
Gao Lang smiled helplessly when he saw that she was so happy. Forget it, as long as she was happy. As for Assistant Chen, when Huaiqing was still here, she had never complained.
Speaking of Li Huaiqing, Gao Lang suddenly remembered that he seemed to have not heard from her for a long time. Li Huaiqing’s various social accounts had blocked him. He knew that Huaiqing wouldn’t possibly do such a thing—it must have been Li Huairou’s doing.
Li Huairou, this girl, was very ghostly. His parents were partial to the two sisters and now they saw Gao Lang as an eyesore. He didn’t care—it was just that it implicated Duoduo. His parents still didn’t want to see her. Although he had recognized Duoduo as his girlfriend, and his parents would not be able to influence his decision, it would be even more perfect if he could get his parents’ blessings.
Gao Lang checked his phone and found that next week was his mother’s birthday. “Duoduo, next week is my mom’s birthday. When the time comes, let’s make a cake together and celebrate!”
Bai Duoduo was still sorting out the information. For the first time, she discovered that there really were barriers between different industries. The terms appearing in this document were too complicated for her. She was in the middle of sorting through Baidu, so when she heard Gao Lang’s words, she agreed without thinking.
[Baidu is search engine like Google]
“Okay!” Bai Duoduo said reflexively. She looked up at Gao Lang. “But… would Auntie be alright with seeing me?”
Gao Lang felt distressed when he saw the desolation and hurt on Bai Duoduo’s face. “Don’t worry, I’ll make arrangements.” He calculated that if he wanted his parents to accept Duoduo, he’d have to start from Huaiqing’s side. His parents raised her up and treated her so well; she should know how to repay good deeds and understand the principle of family harmony.
“Okay, then I’ll prepare the ingredients tomorrow,” Bai Duoduo enthused with a smile.
Only the best ingredients would do for a cake for Auntie.
“Alright, don’t worry. Just take your time,” Gao Lang confirmed, smiling.
When Li Huaiqing received Gao Lang’s call, she was busy in the flower shop. Seeing the caller ID on the phone, she frowned slightly.
Li Huairou was also in the flower shop when she saw this. “Jie, let me pick up!”
Li Huaiqing handed her phone directly—she wouldn’t know what to say, anyways.
“Hello, Gao Lang-ge. What’s the matter?” Li Huairou greeted.
Gao Lang frowned slightly. “Why is it you? Where’s your sister?”
“My sister’s busy, just tell me what’s the matter,” Li Huairou said.
Gao Lang frowned. “Li Huairou, Li Huaiqing is an adult. Please don’t meddle on her behalf.”
Li Huairou immediately hung up.
Gao Lang’s face turned white from anger when he heard the beep on the phone! He immediately dialed back and demanded, “Li Huairou, how dare you hang up on me!”
“Who do you think you are? Why can’t I dare to hang up your phone? Why? Are you angry? Come on. In any case, I’m disabled now. I sit in a wheelchair and can’t go anywhere!” Li Huairou was saying purposefully when she saw Li Huaiqing, who was always paying attention to her little sister’s movements, from her peripheral vision.
Sure enough, Li Huaiqing’s face changed drastically. She hurried over and took over the phone. “Gao Lang, we’ve all moved out already, what else do you want? Don’t call anymore!” After speaking, she hung up angrily and blocked Gao Lang’s number straight away!
Li Huairou tugged at the corner of Li Huaiqing’s clothes, trying to explain. “Jie, don’t be angry! Gao Lang-ge didn’t say anything, just…”
“You don’t need to explain for him. Don’t I know him? He’s always been like this since childhood—who does he think he is?!” Li Huaiqing said furiously, “No, I have to tell Auntie!”
She grabbed the phone and called Mama Gao to complain.
“Yeah, just because Huairou accidentally hung up, he called again and threatened her! Even if he doesn’t consider Huairou’s current situation, doesn’t he miss the affection that comes from growing up together?” Li Huaiqing said hotly.
“Don’t be angry, I’ll go teach him a lesson!” Mama Gao didn’t doubt Li Huaiqing’s words. Knowing her son, Gao Lang was entirely capable of something like this.
After Mama Gao finished talking on the phone, she asked the driver to take her to the company.
As a matter of fact, Gao Lang was not in the office. Instead, she was told that he was in the conference room for a meeting.
Mama Gao was about to enter the office and wait. But as soon as she went through the door and saw Bai Duoduo, she immediately turned back in anger.
“I’ll just be waiting here,” Mama Gao declared, sitting in a chair.
Bai Duoduo walked out of the office with a look of embarrassment on her face. “Auntie!”
Mama Gao glanced at her, then looked away.
The onlookers watching the scene unfold had an expression of eating melons on their faces. They retracted when the supervisor motioned for them to get back to work, but it did not prevent them from continuing to eat melons.
[Chinese slang word for hot news, gossip]
After waiting for half an hour, Gao Lang came out. “Mom, why are you here? Why are you sitting outside? Dad went fishing with Uncle Li and the others today, they’re not in the office right now!”
“I came here today to find you.” Mama Gao glared at him, then walked into the office. Gao Lang and Bai Duoduo also went in afterwards.
Mama Gao raged, “Gao Lang, you are a promising man! But you still have the guts to threaten people! Huairou provoked you? You threatened her! Who do you think made her the way she is right now? How old do you think she is? She’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, do you have no sympathy at all?”
Gao Lang tried to explain: “Mom, I didn’t, I just…”
“Enough! I don’t want to listen to your nonsense anymore. I came here to tell you that Huaiqing doesn’t want to bother about the previous matter and I also don’t want to bother about it. Just, please, act like a human being! Don’t pester the sisters anymore, okay?” she reproached.
Bai Duoduo’s face changed. She looked at Gao Lang with incredulity.
Gao Lang was anxious. “No—Mom, Duoduo, listen to my explanation. I didn’t bother them. I was looking for Huaiqing for your birthday next week. Duoduo and I want to celebrate. Duoduo also plans to make a birthday cake for you. I didn’t know what you liked, so I wanted to discuss it with Huaiqing. Who’d think that the one who answered the phone would be that brat, Huairou? Mom, you know, I haven’t gotten along with her since we were young. We fall out just by saying a few words; I didn’t pester them. Believe me, Duoduo.”
Bai Duoduo’s expression softened a little—she believed Gao Lang.
Mama Gao sneered. “My birthday? These past several years, when have I celebrated my birthday even once? Have you forgotten that besides being my birthday, that day is also the death anniversary of Huaiqing and Huairou’s parents! If you had a conscience, you wouldn’t have said this!” Back then, the Li couple had a car accident because they rushed back to celebrate Mama Gao’s birthday. For so many years, this incident had been an ache in her heart.
“Mom, I remember! It’s just that so many years have passed. We should look forward and not always indulge in the past… ” Gao Lang wheedled helplessly.
Bai Duoduo tugged on Gao Lang’s sleeve and motioned for him to stop talking. Maybe men were always careless, but unlike him, she could understand Auntie’s moods.
Mama Gao stared at Gao Lang blankly. “How did I raise such a ruthless, unjust son as you!” That year had been her thirtieth birthday. The Li couple had been out of town and couldn’t make it back. It was because of her repeated requests that they decided to drive back overnight and had a car accident. This incident would always be an unceasing anguish in her heart.
But now her son said, “let’s forget all this and look forward”! How could she forget? Those were two human beings, a happy and perfect family. How could she ever forget!
“Gao Lang, stop talking!” Bai Duoduo quickly admonished. Then she looked at Mama Gao. “Auntie, don’t be angry. Gao Lang doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s a big man, his thoughts are not so sensitive.”
Mama Gao took a deep breath. “Alright—I don’t want to talk nonsense with you. In short, don’t let my birthday bother you. In the future, live your life well and don’t bother Huaiqing and Huairou anymore!”
After that, she left.
Gao Lang’s good intentions ended up like this after all had been said and done; he was so angry.
Bai Duoduo ran out and wanted to send Mama Gao off, but upon seeing that Linda and the others had eagerly sent Mama Gao into the elevator, she decided to turn back.
Bai Duoduo poured a glass of water for Gao Lang and sighed, “A-Lang, why didn’t you tell me about this! If I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed to celebrate Auntie’s birthday.”
Gao Lang was furious. “Even you think I’m wrong? Didn’t I do it for your sake?” Growing insecure, his voice was a little louder.
Bai Duoduo glanced at him. She immediately put the cup down, sat back in her seat, and continued organizing information.
