Chapter 112: Chapter 112

Zhao Guodong and the others went for training, not taking a break even for a moment. After Ye Ling finished reading her book, she heard a junior staff member call her to the cafeteria for lunch and only then realized it was already noon. She thanked them, tidied up her desk, and headed alone towards the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was located at the northernmost part of the factory area, while Ye Ling lived on the eastern side. She could reach the cafeteria by passing by a row of workshops, but there was a long line of people waiting to enter. Walking into the cafeteria under so many people’s watch made Ye Ling uncomfortable, so she decided to circle around the back of the workshops, planning to walk to the westernmost edge and then turn south to reach the front of the workshops, which was also the entrance to the cafeteria.

But as luck would have it, just as Ye Ling reached the western edge of the workshop and was about to turn south, she heard Shen Bin’s voice, "This is my own business, I can decide for myself."

Ye Ling was puzzled for a moment.

Before Ye Ling could think any further, a middle-aged man’s voice came, "It’s your own business, but can you handle it? You always have this phrase on your lips. You’re a man; if you say something, you have to do it, take action, not just talk. Look at you, do you look like a man?"

This sounded like a senior reprimanding a junior.

Ye Ling knew that Shen Bin didn’t get along well with his family and had no elder relatives in the company, but from the tone, it sounded like a leader.

"I know." Shen Bin’s voice was very cold.

Ye Ling tensed up; this man was really rigid and unfriendly even when a leader showed concern. No wonder he wasn’t liked, but that’s not entirely correct. In his previous life, Shen Bin was highly skilled at the company and a model in every evaluation, and even the superiors liked him.

But with this temperament, not many people could tolerate him.

"It’s decided, the person will come tomorrow." The leader left, furious.

Afterwards, no footsteps were heard for a long while. Ye Ling waited, thinking Shen Bin would leave with the leader, and only then walked over, but as she turned the corner, she saw Shen Bin standing there with a cold face, his arms crossed in front of his chest, obviously waiting to catch eavesdroppers.

Ye Ling felt guilty but then immediately got defensive, "I was just passing by, not eavesdropping."

Besides, she hadn’t heard much, just a few sentences; who could know what it was about?

Shen Bin, being someone engaged in new product development and very astute, knew when someone was approaching and naturally knew Ye Ling wasn’t lying. However, seeing the person who had been cordial with him in the morning now suddenly become assertive, a flash of peculiar emotion passed through his eyes, but he couldn’t decipher the reason.

After Ye Ling loudly explained, she felt she was not wrong at all, not to mention having contemplated over these two lives, she bore no goodwill towards Shen Bin, "If there’s nothing else, please let me pass, Minister Shen."

Shen Bin cooperatively stepped aside, making way.

As Ye Ling walked past him and was about to exit the side wall of the workshop, she turned back, "Actually, what I said in the morning wasn’t entirely accurate. Although Manager Liu’s son gets along well with Ye Qian, Ye Qian always feels he’s somewhat childish."

It’s not entirely that she likes Liu Zhiyuan; you shouldn’t feel pressured and can go after her without hesitation.

After saying this, seeing no response from Shen Bin, Ye Ling didn’t linger and entered the cafeteria. Shen Bin, faced with what Ye Ling said, was utterly confused. He had merely asked one more question, why did this girl keep telling him these things?

And as Ye Ling reached the cafeteria entrance, she didn’t find peace either. She happened to bump into Zhao Guodong standing there with a cold face. Ye Ling nodded to greet him and was about to go inside, but when she moved to the right, Zhao Guodong blocked the right side, and when she moved left, so did Zhao Guodong. Ye Ling frowned and stopped to look at him; the cafeteria was now full of workers eating, and this person was making a scene at the door—is the young master’s temper flaring up?

"I saw you come from the back."

Ye Ling nodded, unsure why Zhao Guodong asked this.

"Shen Bin also just came out from the back." Zhao Guodong stared at Ye Ling.

Ye Ling still nodded, so what?

Zhao Guodong liked Ye Qian; now seeing her and Shen Bin both coming out from the back, Ye Ling didn’t think Zhao Guodong was jealous, so she couldn’t figure out why Zhao Guodong was angry again.

"You actually came out with him from the back?" Zhao Guodong was so angry he could strangle the woman in front of him, "Do you like him?"

Clearly, seeing Ye Ling with other men should make Zhao Guodong happy, yet he couldn’t feel delighted now, with a fire burning in his chest.

"Crazy." Ye Ling bypassed him intending to leave.

Zhao Guodong intercepted her again; he seemed to immediately understand his own feelings, calming down, "Ye Ling, we are good buddies, you shouldn’t make impulsive decisions you’ll regret. Although Shen Bin took your... first... kiss, it doesn’t mean you have to be with him, right? I know you’re feeling bad right now, but you shouldn’t degrade yourself ."

Zhao Guodong felt he must have stimulated Ye Ling, which is why she was with Shen Bin. Shen Bin was much older than them; Ye Ling shouldn’t do this.

At this moment, the anger in Zhao Guodong’s eyes subsided, and he looked at Ye Ling with pity and sympathy. Actually, Ye Ling was quite good, just that he had first liked Ye Qian.

Ye Ling was dizzy from Zhao Guodong’s words and didn’t want to argue with him. Seeing her father inside the cafeteria waiting for her, she loudly shouted, "Dad, I’m here."

With this call, Zhao Guodong couldn’t stop her anymore and had to let Ye Ling go inside.

During lunch, naturally, the fathers gathered with their children at a table, eating steamed buns and cabbage stew with tofu, and Ye Ling ate heartily.

This was the best and most peaceful day since she left her grandmother after rebirth, putting aside Zhao Guodong and Shen Bin. Ye Ling ate happily, whereas Zhao Guodong was silent throughout the meal. With the cafeteria rule of no talking while eating, except Zhang Linong, no one noticed his unusual demeanor.

The meal was followed by training, giving Zhao Guodong no chance to talk to Ye Ling. He decided to find an opportunity to speak later. After lunch, Ye Ling received news from her father that there was a small stream at the hillside behind the factory area, and no one would be there right now, so she could go wash herself.

Besides visiting the bathhouse a few times over the summer, now having found a clean place to bathe made Ye Ling quite happy. She returned to the dormitory to fetch a basin and towel, packing soap, and set off towards the back of the factory area. There was a small path leading to the stream, evidently where the people from the company went to bathe. When Ye Ling arrived, she saw the creek’s depth only reached her calves, and walking deeper, it would only reach the waist. The bottom was all pebbles, with a few large stones in between, so clear that she could see small fish swimming around inside the creek. (To be continued. If you work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)