T/N: This translation is posted on Foxaholic. Please click the link below to read it first in Foxaholic.
Chapter 01 - Dismissal
In Hengyuan Group office building, Gao Yu Lan just came back on a business trip.
As a Marketing Events Planning Specialist in the Marketing Department, she has been working with the company for more than a year. Her work is very busy, often had to work overtime, and frequently go on business trips. As the company is large, there is a lot of opportunities for her to learn about the business and the salary is good. As such, Gao Yu Lan is very satisfied with her job.
It is now five o'clock in the afternoon and almost time for getting off work. Gao Yu Lan who had just got off the plane could have gone home to rest but because she kept thinking of her business discussion on the recent trip and wanted to submit her report, so she went back to work.
She had just entered the office and had not even sat down when she heard someone call her.
"Yu Lan."
She turned her head around and saw the company's popular figure, Wen Sha.
Speaking of Wen Sha, her appearance ranked first in the company, her monthly earnings results in the company also ranked first and in addition to being capable and experienced, she is also skilled in trickery. Her communication skills are excellent, so she is the most popular figure in the company.
At this moment, Wen Sha is approaching her in quick steps.
Gao Yu Lan who did not know what was happening was about to open her mouth to speak when she accidentally glanced at her colleague sitting next to her who had a weird expression on her face. Gao Yu Lan did not have time to respond when Wen Sha suddenly hugged Gao Yu Lan in her arms.
"My dear, I'm sorry. I have said everything."
What was said? Gao Yu Lan was at a loss and felt puzzled. Suddenly a shadow fell across in front of her and she felt her lips tightened. The wisp of perfume and the touch of soft lips on her gave her a big fright.
Wen Sha kissed her gently and said softly. "My dear, don’t be mad at me."
As if tapped on her acupuncture points*, Gao Yu Lan was stood frozen on the spot.
(In ancient times this technique was used to immobilize their opponents who would freeze in their positions for a long time. If you read wuxia Chinese novels, you will find this technique frequently mentioned. Now in modern times, this technique is known as acupuncture, and needles are used to stimulate the pressure points for pain relief and regulate blood flow.)
What happened?
Just now, was she kissed by someone?
And it was a woman?
Gao Yu Lan stood there transfixed, her mind had gone blank, and she was in a state of disbelief.
She is a conservative, old-fashioned good woman, no……good girl. Other than the seven years of devoted puppy love she had for her boyfriend who, in the end heartlessly dumped her, she had not even held hands with any other man.
Why was she kissed?
This matter is simply too messy!
Wen Sha did not seem to care for her reaction. Wen Sha cupped Gao Yu Lan's face between her hands as if to comfort her and then she turned away and left.
Gao Yu Lan turned her head around slowly and looked blankly at the departing figure of Wen Sha.
Too late! She held up her shaking hands and pointed in Wen Sha's direction with her index finger. She was speechless.
This, this……criminal had casually absconded! What should she do?
Gao Yu Lan's mind slowly returned to the present. She did not know what had happened and was afraid to meet the gazes of her colleagues. She knew that at this moment, she was the focus of everyone's attention.
Oh, God, can the ground open up a hole for me?
God did not give her answer but a small voice said to her. "Yu Lan, the Manager said you’re to see him as soon as you come back."
Gao Yu Lan trembled, turned her head around and looked at the colleague who had given her the message. Gao Yu Lan could see the sympathy in her eyes.
A foreboding feeling rose in Gao Yu Lan's heart.
***#**#**#***
The Manager is a bald man about 50 years old.
He looked at Gao Yu Lan solemnly and seriously for ten minutes and finally spoke. "I say, Xiao Gao, ah……"
(Xiao Gao means Little Gao. Superiors usually call their subordinates ‘Little’ the same way the elders call the younger generation.)
Sitting upright and still, Gao Yu Lan felt ill at ease and did not understand what had happened while the Manager's long silence made her mind begin to wander.
Later she would seek out Wen Sha to settle this matter. Wen Sha had given her an inexplicable kiss……but why did she do that? Since both were women, it felt so disgusting. If this type of prank is not explained clearly and her revenge not taken on Wen Sha, how will she be able to carry on working in the company?
"You’ve worked in the company for more than a year and your performed is good."
"It’s my duty, I should do that."
Just now, Wen Sha had said she 'had said everything' but what did it mean?
"You already know that the company has all along disapproved of office romance."
"Manager, you can rest assure that I will not be involved in one."
Why did her colleagues have those weird expressions on their faces just now?
"A love affair can be overlooked but to get involved…….in this unusual…… badly affects the company.
"….."
Suddenly, Gao Yu Lan looked up blankly and met the eyes of the Manager. She saw his expression but she was too stupid to understand.
"Manager, who did you say was having a love affair?" Gao Yu Lan asked.
"You, ah!" The Manager touched his bald forehead and this time, Gao Yu Lan finally understood. The Manager's face clearly said:-- If you still continue to pretend, then there is nothing to talk about!
"But who is in love with me?" Perhaps some elite man in the company fancied her and she is unaware?
The Manager threw her a glance.
Gao Yu Lan was baffled. If it was not someone who fancied her then someone must have spread rumors that she fancied someone else which caused distress to that someone?
"Manager, I am not in love with anyone." Gao Yu Lan explained seriously to defend herself.
In order to start life anew, she wanted to fall in love as well and free herself from the loveless pit that she had fallen into but that did not happen.
The Manager let out two coughs and watched Gao Yu Lan intently whilst his fingers tapped on the desktop. It seemed as though he was deciding on how to break the news to her.
The foreboding feeling in Gao Yu Lan's heart became worse. The strange things that had happened just now, flashed through her mind scene by scene. Then she heard the Manager said. "The whole company already knows about the matter between you and Wen Sha."
"Wen Sha?!" Gao Yu Lan shouted. Suddenly she understood.
This is really messy!
"Manager, I am absolutely not in love with Wen Sha. I love men!"
The Manager glanced at her without speaking.
"Manager, I'm not in that kind of relationship with Wen Sha at all! Did she tell you she is in love with me? Even if so, it has nothing to do with me. I'm not familiar with her. There must be some misunderstanding, really……or else you can get her to come over so that we can discuss this face to face……"
The Manager coughed and interrupted her. "Xiao Gao, ah…..I understand your feelings."
Understand? Don’t believe it?
What is the damn use?!
"Manager, you must believe me!"
The Manager did not speak and quietly started to tap on his laptop.
"Manager, I swear, I love men! Men! It is men, ah……." Gao Yu Lan's last two words 'men, ah' died in her throat when the Manager turned his laptop to face her and she stared at the laptop screen as if she was looking at a ghost.
The screen showed a picture of Wen Sha and a woman kissing. It looks like they were in a bar or someplace similar to that. The two women were dressed sexily and were engaged in a passionate kiss.
Half of Wen Sha's face was clearly visible but only the back of the head and figure of the other woman could be seen. At first glance, the other woman really looked like Gao Yu Lan.
But the Manager was no longer interested to argue with Gao Yu Lan over whether the woman shown in the picture was actually her. His expression returned to normal and he said earnestly. "Xiao Gao, being in love is your freedom. Whether it is loving a woman or a man, it is also your private matter but the company has rules. I don’t want to do this but I still have to inform you with regret that the company had approved your resignation."
"But I didn’t hand in any resignation, ah!" Gao Yu Lan jumped up from her chair.
"If you didn’t hand in your resignation then the company will have to give you a notice of dismissal which is more to your disadvantage. It would be better for you to resign."
Gao Yu Lan was dumbfounded. This bullying had gone overboard!
She clenched her hands hard into fists and told herself to be calm. However, the feeling of being wronged and embarrassment filled her heart.
Why is she the one who always encounter such trouble? Why is she the one who is always the unlucky one?
"Manager, I cannot accept this, I didn’t make any mistakes."
"Xiao Gao, all the colleagues in the company had received this photo, this morning. You have just returned from your business trip and may not have the time to look at your mailbox. This matter had badly affected the company and had also violated company management rules. Wen Sha had already confessed everything. That is a fact and even if you don’t admit, what can you do? To straighten the company's morale, stabilize the mood, the company had decided on the reason for your decision to leave which is reasonable. You are no longer suitable to continue working with the company and so you should cooperate well with us."
Suddenly Gao Yu Lan realized why those colleagues had such strange expressions on their faces but she was wronged!
"I’ve been framed, that person is not me!"
The Manager sighed. "Xiao Gao, Wen Sha had already admitted. Whatever you say now is useless and the company had decided that you are to hand over your work by today. The Personnel Department will contact you to finalize all the necessary formalities."
Gao Yu Lan clenched her teeth and tried to restrain her burning anger. "I will look for Wen Sha and ask why she did this to me!"
Gao Yu Lan fiercely stomped her way to Wen Sha's office but she was not in her office. Wen Sha's assistant said in a small voice. "Sha Sha was criticized and the company had forced her to take a week's long leave to reflect on her misdeeds."
Long leave? Why is the initiator given long leave while her victim is forced to resign? On what basis?....... On what basis?
Because she is insignificant? Because she is not important? So she is an easy person to harm and bully?
"What's her phone number?!" Gao Yu Lan ferociously asked and the scared assistant quickly handed her Wen Sha's business card. Gao Yu Lan fiercely snatched the card from her and dialed the phone number but the phone was turned off!
By the side, a male colleague looked at Gao Yu Lan dialing Wen Sha's number with an ambiguous look as if laughing at her pretense. Gao Yu Lan furiously shouted at him. "I am unfamiliar with her!"
She turned her head around and asked the little assistant. "Where does she live?"
The little assistant kept shaking her head and said she did not know. A few colleagues by the side looked over again with their expressive eyes which made Gao Yu Lan so angry that she rushed over and pounded her fists on their table. "I am unfamiliar with her!"
Suddenly everyone bowed their head and pretended to be busy.
Gao Yu Lan stood and looked around the huge office filled with workstations and people. In everyone's computer, there was the so-called same-sex passionate picture. Someone passed by her and took the opportunity to secretly sneak a look at her. Someone sat at his desk and when she looked over, he lowered his head even more.
Gao Yu Lan's heart began to feel cold and finally realized that the atmosphere here no longer suited her.
She inhaled a deep breath and fought back her tears. Then she went back to her desk to hand over her work and packed up her things. A few colleagues who were usually good to her came over to help her pack and offer a few words of comfort but Gao Yu Lan still felt ill at ease. She quickly finished her packing and went home.
That night, Gao Yu Lan went to a bar to get drunk. Normally she is a good child who does not touch alcohol and cigarettes, goes to bed early, treats her work seriously, and is honest. Getting drunk was one thing that she would only do if she was too upset. Today's matters were really sad for her and she decided to indulge for a while.
After three rounds of alcoholic drinks, her worries became worse.
How is she going to deal with this matter? Gao Yu Lan does not know.
In fact, this is not the first time she had encountered this kind of matter. Her sweet first love that lasted seven years also ended tragically when someone framed her for being unfaithful. At her last job, her boss framed her because he wanted to protect himself. Her boss put the blame and responsibility of signing the wrong contract onto her and she was fired. This time, it is even more outrageous because she is dismissed for having homosexual love with a colleague!
Gao Yu Lan wiped her tears while she drank. After drinking, she still felt unhappy and she knew that drinking could not actually solve any problem. But what can she do? There is nothing wrong with loving a woman but she loves men and she is being wronged. Why is she the one always wronged? Why is she the one always bullied?
The singer in the bar was noisily singing. "Do not be afraid, go forward, everything that is not good will pass. Angels will love you……."
Where is the angel? Where is the angel? Gao Yu Lan sobbed and continued to wipe her tears. She did not need any illusory angels and felt a man would be more reliable. If she has a boyfriend then she can prove that she does not love women but love men.
Gao Yu Lan was depressed and felt dizzy after drinking too much alcohol. Suddenly her phone rang and she picked up the call giving a gruff answer. "Who is it?"
"I'm Wen Sha."
As soon as she heard the name, every cell in Gao Yu Lan's whole body burned and she banged her hand on the table. "You bastard! Why did you frame me?"
"I'm sorry to have framed you. I was forced into this as I am also helplessly being framed by someone else. It was a coincidence that you look so much like the woman in the picture. Besides, you don’t have a boyfriend and the conditions were just right, so I had to drag you into this. I’m sorry and I’ll compensate you. When there is a right job opportunity, I will recommend you for the job."
"*Pei, pei*……Recommend your head! Quickly take your girlfriend to the company and explain to them clearly that I’m innocent!" Gao Yu Lan's voice became louder and louder. "Tell them that I love men! Love men........do you understand?!" Every time she uttered the word 'men' she became more aggressive and as a result, she scared away the two men sitting next to her who had wanted to approach her.
"If you want to prove that there is nothing between the both of us, then it’s simple. Just look for a boyfriend and that will be good enough." Wen Sha did not intend to listen to her at all since the damage was already done. Of course, she would not expose her own lies. She was completely unaffected by Gao Yu Lan's loud voice and casually voiced out her thoughts. "When you bring your man to the company then you can expose my lies."
This is insinuating Gao Yu Lan is incapable of getting a man, right?
She, Gao Yu Lan, is not someone so easily bullied!
Gao Yu Lan quickly stood up and loudly said. "I'll find a man and let you see. Once I get the man, I will drag him to the company, just wait for me!"
What she said, she will do…….dizzily she settled her bill and then with unsteady footsteps, she weaved her way to the door. In her mind, she was thinking about what type of man she should look for when there was a loud sound 'dong'……she had hit the door frame.
The people around all looked over. She did not feel any pain.
The door attendant hurriedly came over to help her and asked. "Miss, are you alright? Do you want me to get you a taxi?"
"No." Gao Yu Lan felt extremely bold, waved her hand, and said. "I don’t need a taxi. My house is nearby. I'm not going home, I want to look for a man first! I want a man!"
Crazy, drunk woman! ! !
All the men around looked over and quickly scattered for fear of catching this crazy woman's attention.
"Don’t be afraid, go forward, everything that is not good will pass. An angel will love you……." The singer was still singing as Gao Yu Lan walked out of the bar.
By this time she was so already drunk that her eyes were dazed as she took every unsteady step forward. This night, there were a lot of men on the street, ah! But which one is good?
Gao Yu Lan rubbed her eyes......why is her vision so blur? If she cannot see clearly, how is she going to choose?
She stopped in her tracks and squinted her eyes to look in front. There is a saying, it is better to be on the day of encounter than to especially choose a day, then it will be better to knock into a man than to choose a man.
There……that is the one! The one in front!
Gao Yu Lan bowed her head and barged forward. She did not know exactly what she was doing and in her drowsy state, she heard a man's voice shouting. "What are you doing? Hey, hey, don’t be unruly! !"
