Volume 1 Chapter 20: Making Things Difficult

"I am Assistant Fang's cousin!" the woman declared, frowning again.

By now, many had cast gossiping glances, eager to see how the newcomer would apologize. Just as the tension reached a breaking point, Lin Zhiyu stood up from her chair, unhurried. She smiled, hands tucked into her pockets, and spoke in a tone that was relaxed yet firm.

"You are Assistant Fang's cousin? How is it that I have never heard of Assistant Fang having a cousin?"

The woman's expression shifted; she clearly had not expected Lin Zhiyu to openly contradict her. After all, if one dared to claim such a connection in the company, people usually only whispered about it in private—for fear of offending the wrong person.

"You... how dare you say that! I am Fang Li's family!"

Lin Zhiyu’s mocking smile deepened, and she did not back down. "Have you ever heard of a fox masquerading with a tiger's authority? If you have the nerve, have Assistant Fang come here himself to confirm your identity. If he does, I will certainly apologize in person."

The woman was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a retort. Seeing her silence, the surrounding colleagues were stunned. The office fell so quiet that only the humming of the air conditioner remained.

Just then, Fang Li arrived at the entrance to deliver some documents. "What is going on here?" He sensed something was amiss, having inadvertently overheard their final exchange, and asked with feigned seriousness.

Upon seeing Fang Li, the woman’s face changed, and she attempted to brush it off with a coquettish tone. "This isn't—"

"Excuse me, let me interrupt," Fang Li said, his tone polite but firm. "I have never heard of myself having any cousin. May I ask who you are?"

A single sentence completely invalidated the woman’s claims. Her face cycled between pale and flushed; she had not expected to be humiliated so swiftly. As the atmosphere grew rigid, Fang Li looked toward Lin Zhiyu.

"Ms. Lin, you haven't been with the company long; these documents are to help you adapt as quickly as possible. As for everyone else, President Shen has strictly forbidden nepotism within the company. Even the families of executives are treated as regular employees here. I hope you will all take this as a warning."

Realizing the remark was aimed at her, the woman stomped her foot, turned, and ran out in tears.

Lin Zhiyu exchanged a glance with Fang Li before sitting back down. She continued browsing the employee handbook, a faint smile playing on her lips. Time drifted by, and the office gradually quieted. After reading for some time, Lin Zhiyu felt a wave of fatigue and stood up to head to the restroom.

In this new environment, her nerves had been tightly coiled, and she had been handling every detail with extreme caution. The corridor outside the office was quieter than she had expected, with only the echo of her own footsteps. The lighting in the restroom was soft, and the wall-mounted mirror reflected her weary face. However, she soon realized that the door to her stall would not budge.

She frowned, a vague sense of unease settling in. "Who is out there? Could someone help me open the door? It’s stuck!" She raised her voice, hoping to be heard.

Instead of a response, a bucket of cold water was poured directly over the top of the stall. Caught off guard, Lin Zhiyu was soaked to the bone. She stood stiffly in the cold, shivering as a chill breeze blew through the open window.

"Hmph, enjoy your break," the woman’s mocking voice drifted in, followed by footsteps fading into the distance.

Lin Zhiyu pounded on the door, but no one responded. She regretted having been in such a hurry that she left her phone behind; otherwise, she could have called for help. Now, it seemed she had no choice but to wait.

About half an hour passed before she heard the sound of high heels on the floor again. "Is someone out there? I’m sorry, I’ve been locked in. Could you help me open the door?" Lin Zhiyu’s voice trembled, though she tried to remain calm.

"You’re locked inside? Wait a moment, I’ll go get someone." After the anxious voice faded, the person hurried away.

Lin Zhiyu felt her consciousness beginning to blur. Her health was already fragile, and after being chilled for so long, she could no longer hold on. Soon after, the company’s maintenance staff arrived and quickly unlocked the door with a spare key.

Lin Zhiyu looked up at the unfamiliar faces, struggling to stand. Not wanting many people to see her in such a disheveled state, she slowly stepped out of the stall. "Thank you," she whispered, hoping to find a place to change. The only person she could think of turning to was Fang Li.

"You’re soaked. Why don’t you go to the lounge? I’ll find you some clothes," a woman nearby said with a hint of concern, reaching out to support Lin Zhiyu’s arm. Finding the support helpful, Lin Zhiyu felt a bit of relief. She curled her lips into a weak smile and followed the woman out.

Once outside the restroom, the air felt much warmer. She intended to change clothes before dealing with the earlier incident, but suddenly, a colleague rushing toward her slammed into her shoulder. Lin Zhiyu was caught off guard and nearly collapsed.

"Careful!" Fang Li appeared out of nowhere and caught her, but the boiling hot water the colleague was carrying splashed onto the back of Lin Zhiyu’s hand.

The cup shattered on the floor, and the female colleague apologized profusely: "I’m so sorry, I didn't mean it! I was just in such a rush, I..."

Upon hearing the woman’s voice, Lin Zhiyu realized with a jolt that it was identical to the voice of the person who had locked her in the stall. She bit her lip hard, reached out, and grabbed the woman’s collar. "You dare do it but won't admit it? You were the one who locked me in that stall just now!"

"I didn't! Don't frame me. I just bumped into you by accident. I have no reason to intentionally harm you."

The dispute made Fang Li frown, his heart turning cold. He had intended to keep a close eye on things since it was Ms. Lin’s first day, but he hadn't expected her to be picked on so severely. If the boss found out, his job would surely be at risk.

Thinking of this, Assistant Fang reached out to steady the swaying Lin Zhiyu. "Ms. Lin, let’s go change your clothes first. We can discuss this later."

Lin Zhiyu nodded, intending to say something, but her vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness.

As fate would have it, the sight of Lin Zhiyu collapsing was caught by Shen Du from around the corner.