Chapter 319 : Are These People All Masochists
“This is Sister Qin Qing’s company?” Ling Ning looked up at the impressive office building, unable to hide her amazement.
She was following Qin Qing to her newly established company. Just a few days after Ling Ning agreed to join, Qin Qing had invited her over to discuss the details. The speed at which everything was moving left Ling Ning at a loss for words.
“Yes, it’s on the fourteenth floor,” Qin Qing replied with a smile.
“In such a prime area, renting an office must cost a fortune.”
Qin Qing chuckled. “It was pricey, but I got a great deal through a friend who offered me the space at a fraction of the usual rate. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it here.”
They entered the elevator, but because it was a busy time, they had to wait a while. The building was clearly bustling with professionals coming and going.
As they rode up to the fourteenth floor, the elevator doors opened to reveal Qin Qing’s company name and logo. Ling Ning glanced at it and felt an urge to laugh; every time she saw the name, she couldn’t help thinking that something like “Mary Sue” would’ve been a better choice than “Apple.”
Stepping into the workspace, Ling Ning immediately felt the intensity of everyone’s attention on her. The way the employees’ gazes all turned to her reminded her of the feeling of being on stage during a fashion show.
“Good morning, Ms. Qin!”
“Ms. Qin, you look stunning as always!”
“Have you had breakfast, Ms. Qin? If not, I’ll run downstairs to get something for you!”
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“Alright, get back to work. If I come back later and find anyone without a task, I might just find them a ‘special project,’ understood?” Qin Qing said, not even blinking at the greetings she received.
Her employees quickly turned back to their work, clearly accustomed to her no-nonsense attitude. Qin Qing led Ling Ning into her office, where she took the opportunity to look around. The decor was all brand new, though the space felt slightly empty. Most of the employees were young, though each seemed to be older than Ling Ning herself.
“Sister Qin Qing, it seems like you’re on very good terms with your employees,” Ling Ning remarked.
She’d noticed how, even after Qin Qing’s scolding, some of the employees looked oddly pleased. Were they all masochists?
“Oh, them?” Qin Qing replied nonchalantly. “Most of them are my old team from my previous job.”
“Huh?” Ling Ning’s eyes widened. Wasn’t Qin Qing’s former job at Miracle Nikki? Had she really just poached all her former colleagues to join her new company?
“Yep, no problem at all. The workspace still looks a bit empty, right? Some of them have already joined, and more will follow soon.”
“Anyway, let’s not talk about that. I brought you here today to finalize your position. I’m going to ask you one last time: are you really sure you want to join? It’s tough work, with little to no money in it,” Qin Qing said, her expression serious.
“No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change,” Ling Ning replied with a smile.
Qin Qing chuckled, then pulled a contract from her drawer and handed it to Ling Ning. “Here’s the agreement. Take a look, and read it carefully!”
“Alright!” Ling Ning said eagerly, taking the contract and skimming through it.
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“So, who was that girl with Ms. Qin just now?” someone asked as soon as Qin Qing and Ling Ning disappeared into the office, sparking a lively discussion.
“Haven’t you been following Ms. Qin’s news? That’s her exclusive model! Didn’t you notice her in all of Ms. Qin’s recent releases? Plus, she’s been everywhere in the industry lately, showing up in all sorts of magazines,” explained a guy with a handsome, mischievous grin.
“Ah, so it’s her! I thought she looked familiar. And hey, cut it out with the ‘fatso’ nickname—I’ve lost weight. Call me that again, and I’ll tell your mom you’re into guys. Let’s see if she doesn’t break your legs!” snapped the man who had been called “fatso.”
“Fine by me. I’ll just tell her you seduced me,” the guy replied with a smirk.
“You…”
“Fatso, Pretty Boy, you both seem to have some free time, huh?”
The two men froze. Turning slowly, they found Qin Qing standing behind them, her expression unreadable.
“Ms. Qin, I can explain—this is all his fault!” they chorused, pointing fingers at each other.
“I’ve heard enough. Since you two seem so relaxed, why don’t you take that idea from last week and develop it into a full collection? I want to see the finished product by the end of the month. Any issues with that?”
“No… no problem!” they stammered.
Everyone in the office chuckled at their misfortune. Watching “Fatso” and “Pretty Boy” squabble, only to be caught by Ms. Qin, was one of the small joys of daily life.
Qin Qing shook her head, exasperated. Those two were some of her most talented designers in women’s fashion. Sometimes she wondered how these two grown men had developed such a keen sense of women’s clothing, but perhaps their perspective as men gave them a unique advantage.
“Oh, Ms. Qin, may I ask you a question?” asked the guy who’d been called “fatso,” his expression turning fawning.
“Go ahead.”
“That girl who came in with you—is she single? You know, maybe I could…”
Before he could finish, he felt a sudden, icy glare. Looking up, he saw Qin Qing’s frosty expression.
“Oh? What were you asking? I didn’t quite catch that.”
“N-nothing! I was just rambling nonsense. Please, don’t mind me, Ms. Qin!”
“Alright then, you should get some rest. And if it doesn’t help, maybe see a doctor—I’ll even cover the medical costs,” Qin Qing said icily.
“Th-thank you, Ms. Qin!”
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Author's Note:
Still stuck at sixty tasks in the event… and I still need to get some writing done. I think I’m officially out of steam.