It had been a long time since she returned to the Su family after that incident.
She didn't have the face to go back.
If it weren't for her, Su Yan Ge wouldn't have...
Su Qi knocked on the office door.
Huang Ying spun her office chair, cast a deep glance at Su Qi, and then spoke.
"Accompany me to an investor's dinner tonight."
"What?" Accompanying Huang Ying to dinners had always been An Xin's job. How had it switched to her so quickly?
Huang Ying simply said, "Go out and close the door."
Su Qi slowly walked out of the office. As she closed the door, she happened to meet An Xin, who was walking towards her with a stack of documents.
Seeing Su Qi, An Xin could no longer maintain her composure. "What exactly is your background, Su Qi?"
Su Qi paused. "If you have any objections, you can report them to Sister Ying."
An Xin stomped her foot, gritting her teeth as she watched Su Qi's retreating back, filled with hatred.
She had joined the company half a year earlier than Su Qi and had worked hard for a long time to become Sister Ying's secretary, always accompanying her to dinners.
Su Qi, who had been here for less than a month, had taken her place.
An Xin could not swallow this insult.
Su Qi was dressed in designer brands, clearly from a prominent background.
But if her background was so significant, why was she starting from the bottom?
Thinking of the colleagues who had gone out with Su Qi that day, An Xin's eyes darted, and an idea formed in her mind.
At six o'clock, Su Qi got directly into Huang Ying's car. The driver drove them to a five-star hotel.
"This is the most high-end hotel in Shencheng, an establishment owned by the Huo family," Huang Ying said as she got out of the car, her tone carrying an unspoken meaning.
Su Qi simply lowered her gaze and replied, "So impressive. As expected of Shencheng's Huo family, they are indeed wealthy and powerful."
Huang Ying glanced at Su Qi, then said nothing more, simply walking forward.
Su Qi obediently followed behind Huang Ying, step by step, until they reached a VIP private room.
As the door was pushed open, Su Qi subtly raised her eyelids, quickly scanning the room.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been overthinking it.
Huang Ying led Su Qi into the private room. Su Qi's arrival immediately drew the attention of many men.
"Sister Ying, who is this? Your new secretary?"
A man stared intently at Su Qi and, before Huang Ying could even sit down, impatiently spoke up.
"Mr. Li, this is Su Qi, a new intern at our company. She works very hard, and I specifically brought her to broaden her horizons."
Su Qi pulled out a chair for Huang Ying, and after Huang Ying sat down, she took the seat next to her.
"Your little assistant is quite good," someone nearby commented.
"Of course. I'll need everyone's care and attention in the future."
Huang Ying raised her glass. "My apologies for being late. I'll toast everyone first."
Huang Ying finished her drink in one gulp. The Mr. Li beside her had not taken his eyes off Su Qi. "Little Su, another drink?"
He said this as he raised his wine glass towards Su Qi.
Su Qi had anticipated drinking on the way and had already prepared her response. She poured herself a cup of tea. "I'm allergic to alcohol, Mr. Li. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine."
Mr. Li's face immediately fell, his neck turning red. "You look down on me? Sister Ying, what's the point of bringing an assistant who can't even drink?"
Huang Ying could only offer an embarrassed smile. "Mr. Li, how about I toast you instead?"
Just as Mr. Li was about to erupt, footsteps sounded from outside the door, stopping outside the private room.
As if sensing who had arrived, everyone in the room stood up.
The waiter pushed open the door, and a man with a stern face appeared at the entrance, his build robust and his demeanor noble.
He seemed like someone living in a glass case.
"Master Huo, you're here! Please, have a seat!"
Everyone in the private room eagerly stepped forward to welcome him.
Mr. Li, seeing this, immediately tucked his tail between his legs and stopped bothering Huang Ying.
When Su Qi entered, she had noticed the seat at the head of the table was empty, assuming an important person had not yet arrived.
But she hadn't expected it to be Huo Tingyun.
Wasn't he on a business trip in Hong Kong?
Wasn't he so busy that he didn't even have time for divorce?
Su Qi's heart churned with a complex mixture of emotions.
Huo Tingyun swept a cold glance around. The moment he saw Su Qi, his thin lips tightened into a straight line.
He walked directly towards Su Qi as if no one else were present, pulled out the chair next to her, and sat down.
The others exchanged glances, bewildered, but someone discreetly offered him a light.
The cigarette was lit and the man placed it in his mouth.
Su Qi lowered her gaze but soon smelled the faint scent of smoke.
She frowned, stood up, and said, "Sister Ying, I'm going to the restroom."
Su Qi had only taken two steps when her wrist was grabbed.
Mr. Li, having had a couple of drinks, was emboldened by the alcohol and had grown a bit daring. "Don't go, Little Su. Drink a cross-cupped wine with me, and I'll let you go!"
Su Qi struggled. "Mr. Li, you're drunk. Have some tea to sober up!"
Mr. Li was insistent. "Nonsense! I'm not drunk! Come on, have a cross-cupped wine with me!"
Seeing that the situation was not good, Huang Ying also quickly stood up and blocked Su Qi. "Mr. Li, how about I drink it for her?"
Before Mr. Li could reply, she quickly picked up the wine glass and drank a cross-cupped wine with him.
However, Mr. Li still refused to let Su Qi go, not loosening his grip. "Sister Ying, have Little Su come to my place tonight. I have some experience to impart to her so she can develop better in your company in the future."
Although Mr. Li was not of high status, he was an important client of the company. Huang Ying could only smile apologetically. "Little Su has work tomorrow morning. Please let her go to the restroom first; she really needs to..."
Since Huang Ying had spoken, Mr. Li had to give her some face and released his grip.
Su Qi quickly slipped away.
After coming out of the restroom, Su Qi hesitated whether to go back when her phone vibrated. Huang Ying sent a text message.
"You go home first. I'll handle things here."
Sister Ying must be afraid that she would be put in a difficult position by Mr. Li...
Su Qi walked out of the hotel but was still a bit worried about Huang Ying, so she stood outside waiting.
In about ten minutes, she saw an ambulance approaching from a distance.
The siren sound grew louder as it drew nearer.
Su Qi was startled and astonished, moving aside to make way.
Why would the hotel call an ambulance so late at night?
A few minutes later, someone was carried out on a stretcher.
It seemed to be a man, somewhat familiar. Lying on the stretcher, he was groaning in pain, his teeth seemingly gone, his mouth filled with what looked like blood and water. His screams were tragic and indistinct.
Su Qi watched in shock as the ambulance doors closed and it drove away. It took her a while to recover.
It looked like someone had been beaten up, and badly.
"Little Su, why haven't you gone home yet?" Huang Ying walked out, her expression flustered.
"Sister Ying, I was worried about you." Su Qi was concerned about Huang Ying. Mr. Li was too difficult, and she feared Huang Ying would go to Mr. Li's home to protect her.
"Silly girl, wait for me here. I'll go get the car to take you back." Huang Ying said, walking towards the parking lot, her mind clearly unsettled.
Su Qi waited for a while and then heard familiar footsteps approaching from behind. She froze, intending to leave, but then changed her mind, stopped, and waited for the footsteps to halt beside her.
Su Qi took a deep breath and spoke, "Mr. Huo, please make time tomorrow morning to process the divorce papers."
As she spoke, Su Qi glanced sideways.