Chapter 9

I rested in the hospital for a few days before checking out and heading back to my rented apartment to pack my things. Before heading home, I even ordered a cane online and hobbled my way into the office. Although it was just a small crack on my toe, when I stepped into the office, I acted out the difficulty and pain as if my leg were broken. When my colleagues saw me, they looked guilty and avoided eye contact. I didn’t have time to guess their thoughts. I quickly gathered my things and prepared to leave. Guan Yingying stopped me at the entrance. "Lì Xì, are you proud of yourself? Now everyone thinks it was me who pushed you." I corrected her, "That’s the truth. They all saw it. Even if you don’t admit it, there’s the company’s surveillance as evidence." Guan Yingying glared at me, speaking each word carefully, "You did this on purpose, using this method to leave the company and still get some compensation!" I raised an eyebrow. It seemed that, although Guan Yingying wasn’t very rational and her behavior was erratic, her intelligence was within a normal range. "Guan Yingying, what nonsense are you talking? I’ve worked diligently at this company for five years and have grown attached to it. This company is my home in this city. "You probably don’t know that I come from a remote rural area. At that time, the economy wasn’t good, and jobs were hard to find. But Gu Zong was willing to give me a chance and even provided free accommodation during my internship. "Even if I didn’t get along with some colleagues, I would never forget Gu Zong’s kindness. "Moreover, at my age, it’s impossible to find a job back in my hometown, and in this city, I’ll have a hard time competing with younger people in a new company. "Unless Gu Zong fires me, I will definitely be a permanent fixture here! "As for you, Guan Yingying, do you know that if I report this to the police, you could end up in jail? "I asked a friend about the injury assessment, and she said my fractured toe qualifies as a minor injury." I deliberately exaggerated the situation. Guan Yingying tried to say something, but suddenly a cough was heard from a distance. The boss appeared from around the corner, pretending to have just come out, and handed me an envelope. It’s funny—both Guan Yingying and the boss probably didn’t know that when I was touching up my makeup with a mirror, I had already seen their sneaky shadows. Trying to deceive me? That’s impossible! The boss politely said, "Uh, Lì Xì, this is for your travel expenses back home, just a small amount, don’t mind it." I smiled and replied, "Of course not. When my foot heals, I’ll bring you some local specialties. "By the way, while I’m away, please leave the work to Yingying. I trust her abilities." On my way home, I received a few unfamiliar text messages. "Heh, aren’t you afraid that when you come back, I’ll have taken your position? "Lì Xì, I really hate you. When I first joined, everyone greeted me, but you just buried your head in work, completely ignoring me. "When I was in a hurry to go to the restroom, you wouldn’t let me go first. You even lied and said your stomach hurt. And when we were getting food, you took the last serving of lamb... You’re so selfish and only care about yourself. You don’t belong in the workplace. Just go back to your hometown!" I glanced through the messages, and the more I read, the more confused I felt. "Crazy!"