Chapter Thirteen: I Am Not a Lady

After bidding farewell to Xi Mintang, Xiaoxiao strolled into the office. Her direct superior, Manager Huang, was already waiting impatiently inside. The moment he saw her, he snapped, “Go put on some makeup. Don’t go meet the client with a face fit for a funeral.”

“Client? I don’t have anything scheduled today.”

“PR is short-staffed. You’re filling in—don’t dawdle. Ten minutes.” Manager Huang had a cigarette dangling from his lips, ashes spilling all over the floor. He glanced at his watch with agitation, though it seemed he was more intent on flaunting its brand.

“Manager, I’m not that kind of girl.” Xiaoxiao stood rooted to the spot, her face etched with disgust, though her voice was barely a whisper.

Manager Huang slammed his fist on the desk and bellowed, “If you don’t want the job, just say so! We can hire someone younger and more obedient than you by tomorrow!” The cigarette wobbled dangerously between his fingers, as if threatening to fly from his hand and land squarely on her face at any moment.

Clearly, his words were more intimidating than the man himself. Xiaoxiao didn’t argue further, forcing a smile as she quietly backed out of the office. Once, she’d been like a sword drawn from its sheath; now, she was nothing more than a prop for a sideshow performer, flexible and pliant. She detested this part of her job, but she had no choice. In the past, she’d never understood what it meant to be at the mercy of circumstance, but ever since joining the workforce, she’d come to know it intimately.

A dab of powder made her look much more awake. She hesitated, wondering if she should fix her hair too, when Manager Huang approached. He paused for a few seconds at the sight of her, eyeing her askance before snorting, “If I’d known you had a bit of charm about you, I would’ve sent you to PR long ago. Maybe then we wouldn’t have made a laughingstock of ourselves over that Bai Yunchuan fiasco.”

After so long, Xiaoxiao had grown used to Manager Huang’s mockery. She learned to filter out the worst and listen only to what she could bear. Knowing when to yield, she nodded with feigned composure. “Manager, with your discerning eye, I’m flattered you think I’m presentable.”

“Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s go.” Nina, the reigning beauty of the PR department, sashayed over, her short skirt accentuating every curve. She was the company’s golden ticket; she hardly had to lift a finger—just sitting there was enough to turn heads. Whenever she spoke, no man was immune to her allure. Manager Huang’s irritation melted away as soon as he addressed her, his tone instantly warm and indulgent. The women trailing behind Nina received the same preferential treatment.

By the time they left the building, dusk had already fallen. Manager Huang sat up front in the passenger seat, Xiaoxiao took the back, and the group of women in between had been chattering non-stop since they got in—gossiping about the latest scandals among the company bigwigs or discussing new arrivals at luxury boutiques. None of it concerned Xiaoxiao. She didn’t know anyone of import, nor could she afford to be a devotee of high-end brands. All she hoped was that her debut in this role wouldn’t be too troublesome.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. The moment they stepped into the grand lobby of the Royal Dynasty International Club, Xiaoxiao realized tonight was a matter of life and death. Manager Huang was lavishing flattery on Mr. Wang from the other company, while Nina sashayed up, every step radiating allure, and clung to his arm with a natural coquettishness. Mr. Wang, eager to play the gallant, wrapped an arm around her serpentine waist, his burning gaze fixed on her chest. The other girls, quick to read the room, flocked to the underlings behind Mr. Wang. Manager Huang, evidently pleased, glanced at Xiaoxiao—who stood there in a daze—and, suppressing his irritation, quietly signaled to her. Jolted back to herself, she forced a smile and led the group into a luxurious private suite.

Do not speak of love in a lonely hour—Chapter Thirteen: I Am Not That Kind of Girl.