Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Layla’s uproar gingered up the other employees. Why were they flabbergasted at this kind of news? It wasn’t like accidents didn’t happen in the city. But they had heard about how dangerous the entertainment industry was.

And they had only heard of such news of celebrities getting into trouble from other cities. Never did they think that the same thing would ever happen here. This city was popular for its safety and peace. Those kinds of occurrences rarely happened.

“Ms. Lee, here’s your device.” Annie gave the tablet back to Samantha. “This is the business hour, Everyone. You’re supposed to be working at the moment. You have a lot of time to marvel at such news when the work hours are over. Please let’s act professional.”

Her gentle words shut the employees’ noises. They were a bit displeased when they went back to their respective cubicles. If only they could gossip more about this rare issue. Wasn’t work the best place to gossip?

“This is so boring.” Layla was grumbling when she sat in her cubicle. There was pin-drop silence in the Arts Department. Only the sounds of papers and keyboards could be heard now and then.

She looked toward Annie who had started working on a new character, and she whispered, “How far about your new apartment, Annie? Did you later on acquire it?”

Even as she asked, Layla hoped her friend would say no. She had loved that apartment until she came to know who its landlord was.

Who would have thought it was that cunning Mr. Zhang who owned the apartment building? When Annie took the landlord’s contact from Mrs. Huang and dialed it, they were both surprised to hear Mr. Zhang’s voice from the other end.

“He’s just the landlord, Layla. Stop fretting.” Annie’s eyes were on her work as she replied distractedly.

But Layla didn’t like that Mr. Zhang or whatever he was called. The man was now number one on her enemies list.

She opened her mouth to speak again then decided against it. Annie was engrossed in working and she was the only one speaking in the department.

Urgh! So boring.

Layla began working on the project, suppressing a yawn every once in a while. When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, her eyes almost lit up until she saw who just came inside.

“Urgh! Are bad things bound to be happening today?” She muttered under her breath.

Mr. Zhang had a wide smile on his face as he stepped into the Arts Department. The employees’ eyes first widened in shock before they started murmuring to each other in secret.

“I almost believed I was seeing things. When has Mr. Zhang ever come to this department?”

“Have you forgotten? Even though it had been many months since he came here, I will never forget that incident.”

That was the day they knew Mr. Zhang was courting someone from their department. And that someone turned out to be Annie.

That day, Mr. Zhang had walked in with a large bouquet of flowers. With a small card, he dropped the flower in front of the impassive girl, flashing her a wide grin.

Today, he wasn’t holding any flowers. Yet, he had that same lovestruck smile on his face. Argh! Was Mr. Zhang really back in the game?

The employees had only speculated before, but now, they were seeing with their own eyes.

“Urgh! What is with that stupid smile? Annie, please tell me this man is not bothering you again,” Layla said in a displeased tone that only both of them could hear.

Although her friend was now single again, the last person Layla would like to see near her was someone as petty-minded as Mr. Zhang.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Annie replied.

Layla didn’t want to believe her friend’s words. If it wasn’t what she was thinking, why would Mr. Zhang be heading straight to their cubicles?

Well, to Annie, she had no business with Mr. Zhang. Even some months ago when he courted her endlessly, the girl acted as if he didn’t even exist.

In the end, Mr. Zhang grew tired. And he came to know that she was engaged to the Arts Department Manager.

Mr. Zhang stopped at Annie’s desk, his smile widening. He adjusted his jacket and cleared his throat as if to make his presence known.

“Mr. Zhang, it is a surprise to see you.” Annie looked up and gave him a small smile.

Mr. Zhang did not waste time and went to the point. “If Ms. Lin could permit me, I would like to have a word with you alone. Could you spare me some of your time, please?”

With Mr. Zhang’s polite request, Annie saw no reason why she should turn him down, going against Layla’s expectations. Besides, Mr. Zhang was a senior colleague, and turning him down was like disrespecting him.

Without stalling in her answer, Annie left her work and stood up. “Sure, I have time, Mr. Zhang.”

“Then I’ll lead the way, Ms. Lin.” Mr. Zhang only looked happier. He hurried to the elevator and pressed the buttons.

He didn’t look at the other employees, his eyes never left the girl and he walked behind her after the elevator door opened.

The employees gasped and the department exploded into murmurs and whispers the moment the pair left.

“What could Mr. Zhang be up to?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m now a hundred percent certain that Mr. Zhang is back in the game.”

“Ms. Lin hasn’t lost her spotlight after all. Why do I feel a bit jealous?”

“People like Ms. Lin never lack men chasing after them. Her beauty is such that even if she grows old, she can outshine many youths.”

The last person that spoke was a young guy and the other employees looked at him skeptically.

“Hey, I’m just stating the facts. Aren’t we gossiping about her beauty!” The guy quickly defended himself.

The others didn’t believe him though. And they went ahead, gossiping, totally forgetting their work.

In that instant, no one knew who did it, but a headline popped up in the company’s forum.

:::When A Beauty Gets Dumped, Is It That Her Era to Outshine Others Hasn’t Come To An End?

“Who is this? What are you talking about?”

“The HR Department might soon be in-laws with the Arts Department. The damsel that got betrayed at the altar seems to have a lot of knights in shining armor.”

The statement was kind of twisted but anyone who knew about the wedding incident was able to understand the context.

Immediately, Everyone began talking about it in the forum.