(Special thanks to readers [You'an, Yu Shao] for advancing to Guardian, an additional chapter as gratitude!)

Huang Ying is still an office clerk. The care Wen Qianyi gives her is mainly by preventing others from pushing their work onto her and ensuring Ye Jiahong doesn't deliberately conduct strict inspections to make things difficult for her.

Currently, Li Yan is just the general manager of a new subsidiary. Regardless of his income or contribution to the head office, he may not necessarily be stronger than a proficient salesperson. The elites in the sales department generally don't regard managers of subsidiaries or branches highly, but they have a different attitude toward Li Yan.

When Li Yan's performance was lacking before, and Ye Jiahong didn't fire him, everyone knew he got in through connections. So, they only gossiped behind his back, and no one confronted him directly. In the past half year, there have been several changes: first, Wen Qianyi, who immediately became a supervisor, was willing to partner with him as an assistant; then, she doubled as the deputy security team captain, a stepping stone for administrative staff; later, she even got promoted to be the supervisor of the planning department; and now, she's the manager of a newly established subsidiary. These experienced individuals can guess that Li Yan's backers are stronger than they imagined.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Li Yan casually pulled up a chair and sat next to Huang Ying.

"You're back at work?" Huang Ying, a bit guilty, looked around before softly asking him.

"Yeah, how's work been lately?" Li Yan wasn't bothered by others' gazes. After all, when he was in the sales department, he was also an office clerk, and only Huang Ying didn't look down on him. Before Wen Qianyi came, she was his only friend there.

"Very well, Miss Wen takes good care of me." Huang Ying said simply in a lower voice: "They used to let me handle some reports before; now Director Wen lets them take care of their tasks themselves."

Li Yan understood this. Those salespeople who ventured out worked hard, brought profits to the company, got more rewards and commissions, and thus had a certain advantage. Office clerks are meant to handle all sorts of clerical work, including miscellaneous tasks. Assigning them to Huang Ying seemed normal. Back then, Li Yan's reputation for inefficiency deterred them from handing tasks to him, fearing mistakes.

Huang Ying is meticulous and patient but has a gentle personality that makes it hard for her to say no. While others discussed evening plans, dining options, fashion, and cosmetics before getting off work, she busied herself and even sometimes worked overtime. With Wen Qianyi able to shield her from unnecessary tasks, she was being well taken care of.

"No one seemed to replace me after I left. Did a lot of work get redistributed to you? If not, I can ask Wen Qianyi to hire another clerk. That way, you guys won't have to work so hard."

Huang Ying couldn't help but smile at this. The clerical positions were initially held by a few girls. Li Yan started as a salesperson but was too incompetent, and no salespeople wanted to team up with him after some time. Ye Jiahong then reassigned him to a clerk's position, fearing he'd mess things up. After Wen Qianyi came, things changed; those tasks were long redistributed, being originally her responsibility.

"Why are you laughing?" Li Yan realized after saying this himself and pretended to be angry: "Was my previous work not important?"

"It was important, it's just that you've been gone so long now..."

"Have you thought about becoming a salesperson? You could earn more. I can speak to Wen Qianyi, since I was her assistant before, maybe you can take over my role."

Huang Ying quickly shook her head, "Director Wen is already taking good care of me and giving me some growth opportunities. I know it's because of you. But my personality doesn't match a sales role; it would only cause trouble. Things are great as they are now."

Li Yan thought about it too, realizing such a gentle girl wasn't suitable for the field. The last thing needed was her being led astray; better she stays in a quiet role!

"Just focus on your accounting courses, and when you're ready, I can help you find a suitable job."

"Thank you..." Huang Ying said gratefully.

"By the way, how's your mom doing?"

Huang Ying said, feeling slightly disappointed yet excited: "My mom said international calls are too expensive, and she doesn't want me calling or calling back. But I received an email from the Mortal Fund saying they have successfully completed the first stage of surgery after analysis and observation. After resting for a while, they'll complete the second stage at an appropriate time. Post a short observation period, she can come back."

Li Yan wasn't clear about the surgery details, but it seemed the second stage was crucial. Wanting to reassure Huang Ying, he smiled and reinterpreted it: "So at least half the battle is won! You should feel relieved and ensure your mom doesn't worry, by taking good care of yourself."

"Mm!" Huang Ying could intuit the critical nature of the second stage, but with this hope, she'd naturally think positively. Hearing Li Yan's words further reassured her.

To drop any more words of gratitude from her, Li Yan shifted her focus: "Also, keep an eye on and reassure your brother, telling him not to worry about money, and to avoid taking any illegal risks for cash."

"Yeah... I know, you... deposited some money in my account." Huang Ying blushed slightly, speaking softly: "But..."

"But what?" Li Yan, sitting beside her, saw her blush growing and felt a bit awkward.

That money came from a plan orchestrated with Duan Haibo against former planning department director Chen Aiyuan, with the majority in Li Yan's account and a few thousand transferred to Huang Ying's account. He couldn't give more but believed it was a windfall for Huang Ying, sparking feelings of insecurity or debt in her.

"But he's not assured, a bit suspicious I'm doing something wrong... Could you... come by for a meal when you're free, I can ask my brother over..."

Hearing her stuttering request, Li Yan felt amused but helpless. This girl is so shy—it's just meeting your brother to assure him you have a real boyfriend—what's so hard to say?

"Sure, your mom and brother met me in the hospital. No problem, I'm just busy with the new company, but once I have time to visit you, just invite your brother over."

"Mm..." Huang Ying agreed, looking down.

Back then, Huang Ying once said, "I'm not asking you to marry me, everything remains the same, yet you hesitate. Is it my insecurity, or your insecurity? Or maybe it's you feeling insecure unconsciously?" That was after she had carbon monoxide poisoning; her body was weak. Li Yan later calmed down and got her a water heater replacement and some furniture and appliances.

Her brother suspected her, too, because upon returning, he noticed the furniture and appliances were new. The frugal sister wouldn't frivolously waste money on replacements, surely gifts from another man—and one she accepted must be an intimate man. So, she mentioned Li Yan, though her brother still held doubts since Li Yan didn't seem wealthy.

"How about... next weekend's midday?" Huang Ying finally extended an invitation.

"Sure." Li Yan agreed, not thinking too much, not recalling that prior conversation, knowing midday was more convenient while evenings were spent with Zhang Yurong. "You carry on, I'll check on Wen Qianyi!"

"Okay." She didn't want Li Yan around for too long, fearing others' curiosity.

Watching him rise and walk towards the director's office, Huang Ying felt slightly regretful but also knew he'd fit better with Wen Qianyi. Receiving a portion of his affection and care was already better than nothing.

After a knock, without waiting for a response, Li Yan waltzed in, seeing Wen Qianyi seated at the desk that once belonged to Ye Jiahong. He smilingly approached her: "Indeed, Director Wen suits this office better; you were really underutilized before!"

Seeing Li Yan, Wen Qianyi teasingly responded with a smile: "Oh, it's Chief Li. What brings you here? Inspecting work or visiting your little lover?"

Li Yan was a bit taken aback, quickly understanding the situation with a dry laugh: "I'm here to see you, of course. Why? Little Qianyi, do you want to be my little lover? I won't hold back!"

"Hmph! It's useless to make excuses; everyone in the sales department knows you fancy Huang Ying. Even if I didn't guess, I know you've chatted with her for ages before coming here, only trying to cover up by pretending to talk business with me." Wen Qianyi saw through and teased him knowingly.

(Third update, the wife is back, little Lai has someone to care for him, and in the coming week, old Lai will endeavor for daily triple updates! I hope fans of Mixed enjoy and subscribe for official support, give old Lai more confidence and passion, thank you!)(To be continued. For more chapters, please log on to www.qidian.com, support the author, support genuine reading!)

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