Chapter 2

I stared at that line, my finger hovering over the screen, unable to bring myself to reply.

In the past, I’d have answered “Got it” the instant those messages arrived.

Then I’d have set an alarm for five in the morning, planned a route through more than a dozen breakfast places, and contacted them in advance to make sure no one’s order went wrong.

Even if one congee shop was completely out of the way, even if going there meant missing the subway before rush hour, I’d have found a way to get breakfast to the meeting room by seven-thirty.

Because Qin Yue was always telling me I was too withdrawn, that I only knew how to code and understood nothing about dealing with people.

“Xiyue, the workplace isn’t school. Technical skills alone are useless. You need to learn how to behave around people.”

“I’m asking you to bring everyone breakfast to help you fit into the team.”

“Stop thinking of these things as chores. People skills are skills too. Other people would love to learn from me, and I wouldn’t even bother teaching them.”

He’d said those things over and over, countless times.

And not just about work.

He was always correcting me in our everyday life too.

He said I had no taste in clothes and didn’t know how to make myself look good.

He said I was too quiet at dinners and didn’t make him look good.

He said I was boring and unromantic, that I knew nothing except studying and writing code.

After hearing it often enough, I’d gradually begun to doubt myself.

Was I really that awful?

In four years at university, I’d won two National Scholarships and ranked first in my major three years running.

The recommendation model I’d developed on my own had won gold in the national university software innovation competition.

Xinghan Technology’s technical interview process had four rounds.

My overall score had been the highest in my group of candidates.

Yet in Qin Yue’s eyes, I seemed to know nothing and do nothing right.

Because I wouldn’t liven up his dinner parties, didn’t want to make toasts to strangers, and disliked hovering around his coworkers pouring tea and fetching water, I’d become immature, unsociable, and unsuited to the workplace.

My phone vibrated again.

Another message from Qin Yue.

[Did you see that? Why aren’t you replying?]

[You’re always so slow about everything. That won’t do once you’re working here. Breakfast must be in the meeting room at seven-thirty tomorrow morning.]

[If you’re late, don’t expect special treatment. I’ll call you out in front of everyone.]

I looked up at the time.

Eleven-thirty at night.

Only thirty minutes remained before Xinghan Technology’s offer expired.

I opened my chat with Qin Yue.

My finger hovered over the screen for a moment. Then I typed a line.

[I’m not coming to work at your company tomorrow.]

Qin Yue called immediately.

I answered.

“Wen Xiyue, what is that supposed to mean?”

His voice was low, thick with impatience.

“Exactly what it says.”

My voice was calmer than I’d expected.

“I don’t want to work at your company anymore.”

“Why?”

He gave a cold laugh.

“Sulking again? Because I was busy with the project tonight and couldn’t go to the movies with you? How many times have I told you? I’m building a company. Building a company. I don’t have the energy for that little-girl nonsense.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“Then what the hell is wrong with you?”

Qin Yue suddenly raised his voice.

“We settled this ages ago. Everyone knows you’re starting tomorrow. How am I supposed to explain it to the team if you change your mind now?”

“And I’ve made you the general manager’s assistant! You’re fresh out of university, and you get to be involved in the company’s core operations right away. What more do you want?”

I glanced at the breakfast list.

“Does buying breakfast for seventeen people count as a core operation?”

There was a moment’s silence on the other end.

Then Qin Yue laughed coldly.

“Wen Xiyue, don’t be so childish.”

“I’m only asking you to buy breakfast, and you think you’re being mistreated? Everyone’s working so hard to get this company off the ground, putting in overtime. What’s wrong with asking you to do something you’re capable of?”

“You’re new. You don’t understand anything, and you can’t help the technical team. Isn’t it perfectly normal to start small?”