For a long time, Lin Xi had been trapped in deep self-doubt.
The culprit was Chen Liangyi, standing before her. They met in junior high, when they were still young and their values were still developing.
Lin Xi, naive, told her she was adopted. For two whole years, she was caught in Chen Liangyi's manipulative trap. At the time, she didn't even know it was called manipulative until her condition deteriorated and Duan Mingxuan discovered it.
Years later, upon meeting again, Lin Xi's instinctive reaction was still to run away. The manipulation, suppression, and isolation she had experienced had left her with countless goosebumps.
Lin Xi nudged her arm, unconsciously observing everything.
She smiled gently: "Are you here for a job interview?" Lin Xi couldn't answer.
"Manager Chen, do you know her?" the receptionist asked with a smile. Chen Jingyi tossed her long hair. "I know her. We're classmates. I was just asking if there's anything I can help you with?"
The receptionist said, "According to her, she's here to confirm the position of Secretary to President Duan."
"Secretary in the President's office?" Chen Jingyi's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
She looked at Lin Xi and asked, "Lin Xi, are you sure?"
Lin Xi's breathing quickened, and her body trembled slightly involuntarily, even with great effort. The receptionist noticed her reaction and, assuming she was afraid, asked Lin Xi, "Ms. Lin, you're not lying to me, are you?"
Lin Xi instinctively shook her head. "I'm not lying to you."
Her voice was dry and hoarse. Chen Jingyi stepped forward to comfort her, but before her hand could touch her, Lin Xi pushed her away violently. "Don't touch me!" Chen Jingyi staggered backward, almost losing her balance.
The receptionist gasped and quickly went around to help Chen Jingyi.
"Miss Lin, how could you lay a hand on her?" the receptionist demanded.
"I—" Lin Xi stammered, unable to defend herself.
Chen Jingyi waved her hand, indicating she was fine, though her brows furrowed. She cast a disapproving glance at Lin Xi, her voice earnest: "Lin Xi, is something wrong? Tell me, I'll definitely help if I can. But our General Manager Duan's office only has two assistants, one surnamed Qin and the other surnamed Tian; there's no secretary position."
Chen Jingyi's words were like a silent, deadly knife. She dared to say this only because she had confirmed Lin Xi's job application from the receptionist.
When she met Lin Xi in junior high, she was an adopted heiress. This fact fueled Chen Jingyi's inexplicable jealousy and anger. Now, coming for a job, she wondered if her adoptive family had fallen on hard times. And her words seemed to confirm Lin Xi's lie.
Lin Xi's lips moved, the words "I didn't lie" almost escaping her lips, falling into the trap of self-proof. She clenched her fist, her gaze turning cold, and said to the receptionist,
"I'll wait here. I'm not leaving. If you want to know if I'm lying, why don't you call upstairs again? You'll know then."
Chen Jingyi sighed softly, "Lin Xi, why make things difficult for a receptionist? Everyone knows that President Duan holds multiple positions at Yin Fan and is extremely busy. Even if he really wanted to create a secretary position in the office, it would still have to go through the HR department. You've gone over so many levels."
The receptionist suddenly realized, "Yes, even for the president's secretary, it still has to go through the HR department. If it's an internal recommendation or Duan Yiheng makes a direct decision, it's possible to skip the regular recruitment process.
But later, she'd still have to go through the HR department to complete the onboarding procedures and be included in the company's management system. Then Assistant Qin would definitely give the order."
He sometimes comes and goes five or six times a day; he wouldn't forget. Looking at Lin Xi again, the receptionist's eyes became less friendly.
If she really made that call, and President Duan got angry, she was afraid she'd lose her job. Jobs are so hard to find these days, even a small receptionist position is in high demand. The receptionist straightened her expression: "Ms. Lin, I won't argue with you, please leave now."
Lin Xi was speechless for a moment. She had Duan Yiheng's private number, but if she called, their relationship would be exposed, which would be detrimental to her future work.
Should she wait until Duan Yiheng got off work? That was also an option.
But leaving now meant giving Chen Jingyi another chance to succeed. It would also make them assume she was guilty and therefore lying.
There was a waiting area in the lobby on the first floor. Lin Xi glanced at it out of the corner of her eye and said, "I'll wait over there." The receptionist's expression changed abruptly. Lin Xi could naturally wait there, but after Chen Jingyi's implied words, she had no good impression of Lin Xi at all.
"Please leave," the receptionist said firmly. "The waiting area is for visiting guests and external staff only. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to linger." Chen Jingyi's lips curled into a smirk, her eyes filled with a familiar, malicious pleasure as she looked at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi clenched her fists, wanting to tear that hypocritical face apart.
But if she hit her, she feared she'd never be able to work at Yin Fan again. She took a deep breath, then smiled suddenly. "Your company is open and inclusive, upholding the principle of humanistic care. I'm not feeling well right now and need to rest. If you're a professional, could you please prepare a glass of warm water for me? Thank you." With that, she ignored everyone and headed towards the rest area.
The receptionist froze, nearly grinding her teeth in frustration. She turned to Chen Liangyi, "Manager Chen..." Chen Liangyi smiled gently at the receptionist, "Well... that's how it is in the company. Well... you'll have to figure it out yourself. But this classmate of mine used to lie. I remember her family was very wealthy; I don't know how she ended up as a secretary."
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly. "Judging by her clothes and appearance, she doesn't seem like that kind of person. Her entire outfit adds up to six figures."
Chen Liangyi chuckled. "You, after working as a receptionist for so long, you've wasted your time. Clothes make the man. When you're out in the world, you naturally need to prepare an appropriate appearance to avoid being looked down upon."
The receptionist nodded slightly, glancing back at the other, slightly older receptionist who hadn't returned from the restroom.
She was completely unaware that she had been used. Because of Chen Liangyi's preconceived notions about Lin Xi, by the time she realized what was happening, she had already called security.
Lin Xi hadn't even settled in her seat when she was surrounded by two security guards and asked to leave. Instantly, everyone in the waiting area turned to look.
As she brushed past the waistline of the security guard's uniform, she met Chen Jingyi's smile. How awful! Why are there such disgusting people in this world? And yet, she couldn't do anything about it. Her methods were too clever. Lin Xi stood up, pondering a countermeasure.
Just then, a noise came from the elevator behind the turnstile. Lin Xi looked in the direction of the sound and saw Duan Yiheng at the head, followed by three men in suits. She instinctively stepped forward, but a security guard stopped her to prevent her from bumping into Duan Yiheng.
At the far end of the turnstile was a VIP passage reserved for company executives and clients. The commotion wasn't small, and Duan Yiheng spotted them immediately. He was taken aback; he hadn't expected Lin Xi to arrive so quickly. He thought it would take at least two or three days to consider.
Duan Yiheng glanced at Qin Yang and exchanged a few words. Qin Yang then accompanied a client out of Yin Fan. Duan Yiheng then turned and walked directly towards Lin Xi.