A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

Ye Wenxi tugged at Lu Weihua's arm: "I'm asking you a question, why aren't you saying anything?"

Lu Weihua remained silent, gave Ye Wenxi a wink, and glanced at Lu Zhenghua and the others, indicating that it was inconvenient to talk about it.

"Dinner's ready! Bring it to the table quickly." Liu Xiuyun brought out the last two plates of cooked dumplings from the kitchen.

The family gathered around the table to eat this hot meal of sauerkraut dumplings.

But Ye Wenxi kept an eye on Lu Weihua.

She looked unwell, wasn't in a good mood, and didn't eat many dumplings.

After finishing their meal, Ye Wenxi and Lu Weidong prepared to leave.

Lu Weidong still had to go to work in the afternoon.

"Wei Dong, you should go straight to work," Ye Wenxi said. "Wei Hua can come back with me."

"Weihua, I have a piece of clothing for you. Come back with me to get it," Ye Wenxi said to Lu Weihua.

Lu Weidong: "Okay, I'm going to work. Weihua, see your second sister-in-law off."

Lu Weihua: "Oh, okay."

Liu Xiuyun: "You took your second sister-in-law's clothes again? How many pieces have you taken already? There are piles and piles of new clothes."

"It's alright, we don't have much else, but we have plenty of clothes." Ye Wenxi pulled Lu Weihua out the door.

As soon as they left Liu Xiuyun's house, Ye Wenxi, arm in arm with Lu Weihua, hurried home.

As she rummaged for her key, she said, "Tell me quickly, what happened?"

Lu Weihua sighed, "I don't even want to work here anymore."

Ye Wenxi: "Huh? Is it that serious? I haven't seen you working as much overtime lately as before. Aren't we manpower sufficient now?"

Ye Wenxi pushed open the door and went in, Lu Weihua followed, saying as he changed his slippers:

"It's because there are so many people that they've started gossiping."

"Who is it? What's going on?" Ye Wenxi paused in the act of taking off her clothes.

Lu Weihua plopped down on the sofa, fuming, and said:

"My parents are spending the Lunar New Year here this year. A lot of people came to our house during the holiday, and I don't know who started spreading rumors."

"They said I was selected for Director Zhou's project because our dad is here, to give him face."

Ye Wenxi: "Huh? Your colleague spread the rumor? Don't they know what you're capable of?"

Lu Weihua sighed, "That's why I'm so upset. I'm getting along really well with the other lab members and classmates right now."

"Because we get along too well, what if someone among us betrays me..."

Lu Weihua bit her lip, clenched her fists, and her eyes were a little red.

It turns out that gossip about people you get along with is more painful than slander from strangers.

This is what truly makes her uncomfortable.

"What about Director Zhou? What did he say?" Ye Wenxi asked.

"He didn't say anything! I don't even know if he knows anything," Lu Weihua said angrily.

Ye Wenxi was silent for a while:

"Wei Hua, tell me the truth, do you want to quit because someone is spreading rumors, because someone you're close to stabbed you in the back, or because Director Zhou hasn't given his opinion?"

Lu Weihua paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes: "They all..."

"In short, it's not that you have negative feelings about the position or the job itself, right?" Ye Wenxi seized on the crux of the matter.

"Mm." Lu Weihua nodded.

Ye Wenxi knew Lu Weihua quite well.

They complain about being tired and overworked every day, cursing the overtime and high-intensity work, but their actions speak louder than their words.

Zhou Xuchen praised Lu Weihua's professionalism, dedication, and hard work to Lu Weidong more than once.

This shows that she genuinely likes and loves this job.

"Then there's no need to give up your own development opportunities because of other people's gossip. It's not worth it." Ye Wenxi stared into her eyes.

"I just... I just can't believe anyone here... how they treat me..."

Lu Weihua may seem carefree, but he is sincere and warm-hearted, without any ulterior motives, and wholeheartedly treats others well.

But the more this happens, the easier it is to get hurt when interacting with others.

Du Yi was like that before, and so are my current colleagues.

Perhaps it was because she didn't want to face the two-faced falsehood behind the seemingly trusting friendship that she broke down to the point of wanting to escape.

Ye Wenxi felt a pang of heartache seeing Lu Weihua trying so hard to stay upright.

"Weihua, discard unnecessary worries and focus 90% of your energy on your work."

Let strength speak for itself.

"Listen to your second sister-in-law, nothing is more important than your own abilities and opportunities. Don't give up what you deserve because of these trivial matters," Ye Wenxi earnestly advised Lu Weihua.

"Okay." Lu Weihua nodded, glanced at his watch, and stood up. "Second Sister-in-law, it's time for me to go."

"Wait—" Ye Wenxi called out to her, "The clothes."

Lu Weihua stood at the door and chuckled, "You actually have clothes?"

"Yes, this one suits you, try it on." Ye Wenxi handed over a fitted dress.

Lu Weihua took the dress and held it up against herself: "Hmm, I like it. Thank you, Second Sister-in-law."

"Go."

Lu Weihua turned and walked out.

"Wei Hua—" Ye Wenxi called out to her again.

Lu Weihua turned around.

"If things start to look promising, don't put yourself through that. Your family will all support you."

"Hmm!" Lu Weihua picked up the dress, grinned, and turned to leave.

"Knock knock knock—"

There was a knock on Zhou Xuchen's office door.

"Please come in."

Lu Weidong pushed open the door and entered: "Director Zhou, I'm here."

Zhou Xuchen put down his pen and stood up: "Chief of Staff Lu, please sit down."

"My mom cooked dumplings and asked me to get you a box." Lu Weidong put the lunchbox on the table. "I know you didn't go home for the New Year, and the dumplings in the cafeteria never taste quite the same as the ones at home."

"It's sauerkraut filling. My mom makes sauerkraut filling, it's delicious. You should try it." Lu Weidong handed the aluminum lunchbox to Zhou Xuchen.

Zhou Xuchen took the lunchbox, a little embarrassed: "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I've already eaten. I've put it on the radiator to keep warm so I can eat it when I'm busy tonight. Please thank Auntie for me."

"It's alright, as long as you're happy to eat. Next time you can come to my house for a freshly made, hot meal." Lu Weidong waved his hand and sat down in the chair opposite Zhou Xuchen. "Director Zhou, are you busy right now?"

Zhou Xuchen also sat down: "No rush, no rush."

Lu Weidong lightly patted his thigh and looked up at Zhou Xuchen.

"How's Weihua doing here lately?"

Zhou Xuchen paused for a moment, then nodded: "Very good, highly professional, and reliable in his work."

"Hmm." Lu Weidong smiled, but there was something else in his smile. "I had lunch with her today, and I felt that she... was acting a little strange."

"My younger sister is usually very outgoing and can't keep things to herself. I noticed she seemed troubled, and it looks like it's related to work."

"Director Zhou, you are her direct supervisor. You should know her situation better than I do."

"If she really encounters any problems that you can't handle, just tell me and I'll take care of it."

Zhou Xuchen suddenly realized and let out a soft sigh: "Chief of Staff Lu, I roughly know what's troubling Wei Hua."

Lu Weidong: "Oh? So there really is something going on?"