Because this conversation mentioned his father, Zhou Du, He Kao thus learned of another explanation concerning his father's death. Although its authenticity couldn't be confirmed, his intuition told him—the words those two said were very likely true.
Otherwise, who would specifically bring up the past of a common person who passed away years ago, was long forgotten by the world, and was a complete stranger? People making things up usually just invent someone randomly, they wouldn't speak so accurately and specifically.
He Kao always thought his father had died of illness. He was only five years old then, so many memories were blurry.
No relatives or neighbors ever told He Kao that his father was involved in a case. If Zhou Du died in custody, it indeed was due to illness, and he was never convicted.
Analyzing the conversation in the recording, Zhou Du inexplicably appeared in a bank vault. He didn't steal anything, perhaps he didn't even have time to act before being taken away by the police.
How Zhou Du got in there and what his motive was, the police never clarified. Soon after, he died in custody without going to trial for conviction, so this case was left unresolved, which surely troubled the police.
Zhou Du's surname is Zhou, why is He Kao's surname He? That's another story...
"You look so pale, are you sick?" Someone tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking up, it was colleague Huang Xiaopang.
He Kao: "It's nothing, just zoned out."
Huang Xiaopang: "Your voice is really weak, are you tired, or did you overdo it last night?" Then he lowered his voice, "I'm telling you, be careful these days, stay away from President E.
She's in a bad mood, maybe her menopause is acting up again, don't get in her way. She doesn't dare to mess with me, but you're easy to bully, she might dump some dirty or tiresome tasks on you again."
Gao Xue'e is only thirty-two, hardly at menopause. But "President E's menopause" is a running joke in the office, started before He Kao joined, and the instigator was none other than Huang Xiaopang.
Once during a routine meeting, Gao Xue'e nitpicked and her emotions spiraled a bit out of control, prompting Huang Xiaopang to retort right there: "President E, your temper is totally unreasonable!"
Gao Xue'e responded: "That's just my temperament, I've been like this since I was a child!"
Huang Xiaopang asked: "Were you in menopause since you were a child?"
That one comment almost drove Gao Xue'e mad. She stormed off, went to HR, then demanded from the leadership to fire Huang Xiaopang, but of course, she didn't succeed and reportedly even got reprimanded by the leadership.
The division head said something infuriating as well: "Huang Si is an indispensable key player; how you harness his role and communicate effectively reflects your leadership capability."
Gao Xue'e didn't overturn the table with the big bosses; she swallowed her anger. Huang Xiaopang seemingly relished the feeling of "you resent me but can't get rid of me," continuing to speak his mind when necessary.
He Kao and Huang Xiaopang had known each other for a long time; they were neighbors, classmates from primary to high school, and later went to different universities. They are both locals of Qi Yuan, having lived in Puhu Village in Jiangbei when they were children.
Puhu Village was later renamed Pugang Town, and today's Pugang Town has been incorporated into Jiangbei District of Qi Yuan City.
The old city area of Qi Yuan City has always been on the South Bank of the River. Over the past few decades, as city construction has expanded northward across the Great River, He Kao and Huang Xiaopang were transformed from villagers to city dwellers.
After graduating from university, Huang Xiaopang didn't pursue further studies, started working directly, joined the Tengxin Group's gaming department, and returned to Qi Yuan City a year ago, joining the Cloud Living project team.
Xiaopang's real name is Huang Si; his family has always taken good care of He Kao since childhood. At the workplace, Xiaopang consciously looked after He Kao, even jokingly calling himself He Kao's "adopted father."
In the company, project group leader Gao Xue'e generally found Huang Xiaopang most bothersome, yet she never dared to provoke him willingly. Instead, it was often Huang Xiaopang who provoked her.
Oddly enough, Gao Xue'e found He Kao to be the most pleasing subordinate, at least in everyone's eyes. President E valued He Kao the most. But in Xiaopang's view, He Kao suffered because of him, with President E shoving all kinds of dirty and tedious work on He Kao.
Gao Xue'e, however, believed she was training and mentoring He Kao, even privately advising him not to associate with someone like Huang Si, lest it impacts his growth and future.
It's merely a simple triangular interpersonal relationship, yet it's that complicated and subtle, making He Kao only able to smile wryly about it.
Looking up around the office, He Kao puzzledly muttered, "Where did everyone go? It's strange, they all left so early today?"
It was just past five-thirty, yet colleagues already packed up and left. Normally, even without overtime, many team members would stay in the office, most even grabbing a meal in the cafeteria.
The office had free computers, internet, air conditioning, and utilities. The cafeteria downstairs offered free meals for overtime; even without staying late, the self-pay meals were cleaner and more affordable than outside.
Rather than rushing back amid traffic jams, it was better to linger in the office, catching up on work or handling personal stuff. Most single employees, unless busy with dates, weren't in a rush to leave, and even some married ones would intentionally stay late, claiming overtime.
This kind of neat early departure was truly uncommon.
Xiaopang frowned: "I think you have something going on!"
He Kao: "What could I have going on?"