Chapter 1

Staring at the 0.10 yuan that inexplicably appeared on the account again, I slammed my mouse in frustration and turned to shout at my coworkers. "Who’s the one depositing 0.10 yuan into the company account every day? "Prices these days are sky-high. Wouldn’t it be better to save that penny for your own coffin fund?" Everyone gaped at me in shock. It seemed the sudden outburst from someone usually quiet had rendered them speechless. After a moment of awkward silence, Xiao He burst out laughing. "Xia Jie, did you eat gunpowder for breakfast? "Don’t tell me you got rejected on another blind date. But hey, don’t take it out on us!" Xiao He, a coworker of three years, prided himself on his sense of humor and often teased me about my failed blind dates. Keeping a stern expression, I asked him directly, "He Liangwen, was it you who deposited that penny? "Don’t underestimate a single penny. It impacts the accuracy of financial data, causes discrepancies between accounts, affects audit results—and none of us will have a peaceful New Year if this continues!" I admit I might have exaggerated a bit. But as soon as I mentioned responsibility, Xiao He’s smirk vanished. "It wasn’t me, Xia Jie. I swear!" Ignoring him, I locked eyes with everyone else. "Whoever did it knows they did. Don’t make me go through the records one by one. "I’ll give you three seconds to own up. If you don’t and this creates serious consequences, you’ll be the company’s scapegoat!" Before I even finished the countdown, the new secretary, Yingying Guan, burst into the office in a flurry. "Li Jie, I—I’m sorry! It was me who deposited the money." She apologized profusely while handing out cups of Luckin Coffee she had brought with her. "I’ve had too much of the free coffee from the office pantry, so I figured I’d treat everyone to something nicer. Please, enjoy!" There’s an old saying: you can’t argue with someone who’s feeding you. With coffee in hand, everyone smiled at Yingying. "How much? I’ll pay you back." "You’re so thoughtful! Always bringing us treats—I feel bad accepting them." "Yingying, your family must be loaded. You’re only earning 3,000 yuan as an intern, yet you’re still treating us all!" Yingying waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "It’s no fun drinking alone. Sharing makes me happy. "Don’t worry about my wallet—it can handle it." In less than a month since joining, Yingying had won everyone over with her little acts of kindness. Holding his coffee, Xiao He made a snide remark. "Yingying, if everyone were as easygoing as you, this place would be perfect. Some people, though—they’ve been here five years and still haven’t fit in." Yingying blinked innocently and asked with surprising bluntness, "Who? Is it someone I know?" The others stifled their laughter behind cupped hands. This scene had played out countless times in my previous life.