Chapter 436: Chapter 245: Hidden Currents, Surging Waves

In the afternoon, back at the office, just as Deputy Manager Huang was about to inquire about something, He Kao was called into the small room by Manager Gao to report on work. As he entered, Gao Xue’e said with a stern face, “Close the door.”

Gao Xue’e didn’t have the best temper, especially when there were issues in the department’s work; her scolding could be fierce and imposing, appearing very domineering.

Actually, her temper wasn’t all that bad. She seldom purposely gave anyone a hard time in the department, but she liked to put on a face that suggested she was not to be trifled with, as if her demands were strict and her attitude serious.

When he first joined the company, He Kao also felt that this manager was great in other aspects, but she was just too fierce. Later, he gradually realized that this so-called severity was just a layer of protection.

Gao Xue’e used to be very stressed and anxious inside.

As a middle manager in a large corporation every day, she seemed to have good perks, but the visible and invisible pressures were immense. Sometimes, no matter how hard you worked, if the overall environment had a slight disturbance, the entire department could be laid off.

Gao Xue’e personally experienced the process of the “Metaverse” development department being scaled down from a large business unit to only two project teams, with many employees having to transfer or be let go.

Gao Xue’e’s family of origin was quite ordinary, without any background, and she was just a typical test-achiever from a small town.

Her family had a promising and beautiful daughter, and for the past few years, her parents and relatives had been trying to get her to return home, introducing her to well-off and influential suitors, hoping to achieve a social class leap through this method.

Gao Xue’e was quite repulsed by this, and later, she simply avoided going back as much as possible, feeling like she couldn’t go back anymore.

Gao Xue’e joined when the branch company was just established, considered a veteran of the business unit, and worked hard enough to still hold a department manager position. However, further promotion seemed unlikely, and it would be good enough not to be laid off in the future.

The uncertainty of the future, in fields of investment and psychology, is called risk expectation, which is also the source of anxiety.

Why is it that even as life improves and times progress faster, many people still feel more anxiety about this? Is it merely pretentiousness? Of course not!

People’s genuine anxiety is not about the speed of social development, but rather the uncertainty of personal destiny under this background and the helplessness in the torrent of the era.

Why do many young people nowadays call getting a government job “landing”? It’s because, from the standpoint of risk expectation, it eliminates much of the future uncertainty.

He Kao was becoming increasingly able to understand Gao Xue’e’s mindset back then, and over the past year or so, her temper underwent significant changes, becoming softer and softer.

Having experienced such life-threatening terror and encountered the mysteries of techniques, the daily workplace anxieties seemed trivial to her, even just a small adjustment in life. She felt like she transitioned from a superficial world into a deeper one.

In private moments together, her ice skin jade bone seemed like cheese ready to melt, enveloped in silk and honey.

However, during regular workdays, Gao Xue’e and He Kao still spoke with each other in a serious, business-like manner, unknowingly fooling all colleagues, including Huang Xiaopang, who didn’t catch a whiff of their relationship.

Perhaps only Qian Guran in the whole office noticed something amiss, but Old Qian’s greatest merit was keeping secrets tight, as if wearing the hidden title of “won’t speak even if beaten to death.”

Gao Xue’e was quite a good actress, but He Kao’s acting was even better. Their private relationship was just an insignificant little secret; they had even bigger secrets.

Their serious demeanor and even the imposing aura at work seemed to become a playful game between the two, filled with teasing, even stirring up He Kao’s desire for conquest.

Gao Xue’e opened up by asking, “The girl sitting across from you and President Qian in the restaurant earlier, Mei Guyu, the newcomer from the neighboring department, what kind of person is she?”

He Kao replied casually, “She is a relative of President Qian, just joined the company. The business she’s in charge of happens to coincide with my side. President Qian has asked me to look after her.”

Saying this, he made a hush gesture and pointed to the phone on the table.

Gao Xue’e, already very in sync with his act, nodded with an “oh” and said, “I see. Then you should take care of her more often,” naturally picking up the phone and opening the message He Kao just sent—

“Do not inquire about this person, whether publicly or privately, try not to mention her name. Do not interact with her beyond work-related matters, treat her as just an ordinary colleague, and especially, do not be curious! (Delete after reading)”

Gao Xue’e visibly paused, then calmly deleted the message, and started inquiring about He Kao’s recent work condition. He Kao seriously gave a brief report.

As he stepped out of President E’s office, Xiaopang pulled him aside. Huang Si lowered his voice, “The beautiful girl you had lunch with today is the newly arrived Xiaomei from next door. What’s her background?”

He Kao said, “President Qian’s official statement is that she’s his relative, but I feel she’s significant, even President Qian can’t mess with her. Don’t go snooping around; listen to me, and you won’t get into trouble!”

Huang Xiaopang grumbled, “When have I not listened to you? I even thought Old Qian was trying to set you up.”

Why did He Kao act this way? Because he felt Mei Guyu’s arrival was a big hassle, the precursor to a series of upheavals, and this person was like the eye of a storm.

The reason He Kao didn’t tell Gao Xue’e anything, and moreover didn’t let her snoop around, wasn’t due to distrust, but rather the wisest attitude stemming from real-world experience.

When Pugang Town was restructured to Jiangbei District, the first District Governor’s surname was Jiang. He was a distant relative of He Kao, whom He Kao had to greet with a nod and call him ’Third Uncle’ whenever they met.

Later, this District Governor Jiang somehow committed a crime and was taken away for investigation. His wife and adult daughter were also invited for questioning by the authorities.

Turns out his family, truly knowing nothing, wasn’t trying to cover anything up! Over the years, they genuinely thought District Governor Jiang was a standard exemplary public servant.

Aunt Third was complaining to Uncle Hat, saying that this man is no good, secretly flirting with those vixens, never giving her a single hint.

He Kao initially empathized, but gradually realized the truth: sometimes, saying nothing is best, for dangerous secrets also impose risks on those who know them.

Take Mrs. Chen for example, has she known all these years that her husband and son were once Hidden Moths?

According to information He Kao gathered, Mei Guyu encountered the same cultivation bottleneck as Old Man Jiang did. She went into seclusion in the Immortal Pot Grotto Heaven for over two years without any breakthrough, thus leaving the Grotto Heaven to seek new opportunities.

Why did she come to Qi Yuan? She had already explained clearly at noon.

She must be undergoing spiritual trials now, with her cultivation realm intact, for instance, she sent a divine thought to He Kao at noon, yet lost all her divine power, unable to wield many magical techniques.

He Kao does not grasp the specifics of this mystery, but judging by the literature he has read, let’s assume her power is temporarily lost.

If such news were revealed under these circumstances, it would surely attract numerous ill-intentioned individuals, given her status and position, those coming would likely harbor various motives.

According to Murphy’s Law, the news is almost certain to leak!

He Kao thought of this, but could the Magic Sect higher-ups not think of it too, could not Mei Guyu herself think of it? Hence, this very likely is a setup, with Mei Guyu as the bait.

No matter if Mei Guyu entered the setup willingly, or if the Magic Sect took advantage of the situation, this bait must be heavy, aiming to catch big fish, including not only Fabre types but also problematic higher-ups in the Magic Sect.

In He Kao’s view, among the higher-ups of the Seven Great Magic Sects, Alchemy Sect is most likely problematic. In the Zeng Hongye case, the mastermind behind the scenes was the former steward of the Alchemy Sect, Yu Pingzhou, involving the former Sect Leader, now Supreme Elder, Qi Nansheng.

Wan Zhongle, another current steward of Alchemy Sect with real power, is also not a good thing in He Kao’s eyes. Last year’s turmoil in Qi Yuan, the culprit of the abandoned amusement park case, was Wan Zhongle’s direct disciple Zhao Hai Zhen.

Coincidentally, Mei Guyu is the Sect Leader of the Alchemy Sect, shouldering the main leadership responsibility.

She is young and has not been in position for long, yet to truly control the sect. In recent years she has been in seclusion for cultivation, sect affairs have been managed by several stewards, votes in the Ancestral Hall handled by the Second Elder.

Now wanting to rectify the sect, yet she’s come to Qi Yuan… In fact, He Kao has some rejection in his heart towards what Mei Guyu is doing, even having complaints.

Why does she think his appearance is where her opportunity lies? Even if it is, can she forcefully stay, treating him like a wishing well, coming to leech off him at will. Did she ask him whether he agrees or not?

Mei Guyu seems ignorant of worldly affairs with low emotional intelligence, but in fact, she’s very perceptive. She knew exactly how He Kao would think, and she was straightforward as soon as they met.

This left He Kao unable to voice complaints, for Mei Guyu simply wishes to live a normal life as a normal person, she hasn’t done anything wrong, who has the right to stop her?

He Kao cannot decide what she does, only what he does.

At five thirty in the afternoon, the manager and deputy manager were still at work, other colleagues felt embarrassed leaving early, but He Kao greeted them and left work on time, feeling a bit regretful as he saw Mei Guyu’s back.

Newcomers working so unenthusiastically, leaving on time on the first day? Mei Guyu was walking along the sidewalk towards Sesame Apartment, he heard she rented an apartment there too.

Since she lives in Sesame Apartment, He Kao didn’t plan to stay there. The reason he too headed that way was to retrieve his car, which he parked under the apartment today.

This period he’ll endure commuting from his old home in Jiangbei, driving daily isn’t impossible, just longer time spent. Although he owns a place in Guanliu District too, He Kao wants to distance himself further.

Just then, three men suddenly walked towards him, and He Kao immediately sensed something was off.

Even though they were still far, He Kao’s sharp instincts detected the strong smell of alcohol from them, and their steps were wobbly, appearing drunk.

It wasn’t even six in the afternoon yet, who drinks that much at this time, could it be they’ve been drinking since noon? Plus, their waists and legs were steady, their staggering steps clearly feigned.

He Kao had to internally sigh, is the Magic Sect’s secrecy work this poor? On Mei Guyu’s first day at work, she encountered a situation! How long has it been since seeing the classic and cliché scene of “rogue harassing girl” on the street?

Those three guys must be probing, acting under someone’s orders.

Mei Guyu might be in a state of lost divine power, this is just a guess, no one dares to conclude, hence using three street thugs as cannon fodder?

He Kao is curious how Mei Guyu will handle it, considering whether he should intervene – of all unlucky situations, why did he have to run into this!

Mei Guyu clearly noticed the situation, but didn’t halt her steps, instead reached into the greenery beside and plucked a branch. Doing so damages plants, if caught, she’d be fined.

In January, some plants have already shed their leaves, but her actions were so natural, merely stretching out to grab, and a walnut-thick branch was taken, as if the branch broke itself.

Then cracking sounds followed as she snapped off smaller twigs and the tip, leaving only a stick less than a meter long in her hand.

At that moment, the three men arrived close and suddenly split positions, two blocked left and right, the middle one reached out to touch Mei Guyu’s face, speaking in a foreign accent jokingly, “Hey, sis, you look pretty…”

**

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep