Gu Zixuan kept thinking about this matter while playing golf. Not to mention, she never believed that Musa was simply organizing a team-building event for the company’s mid-to-high-level managers. Just based on today’s performance, and the fact she chose to play golf afterward, it was obvious that two close HR subordinates of Musa followed her. She didn’t think it was just about playing golf. Especially since when Zhou Huimei previously caused a scene at the company, it was Musa who brought her in... Although, she analyzed Zhou Huimei’s mindset afterward. Zhou Huimei initially wanted to use reputational issues to threaten her and wouldn’t have informed Musa of their relationship in advance. In the end, Zhou Huimei was further threatened by Feng Chengjin with stocks, so she certainly dared not speak up again. But thinking about the timing of Musa’s appearance, one must always be cautious... Gu Zixuan gathered her thoughts, facing the two female subordinates who eagerly came to help, saying they were picking up the balls but frequently talking to her, "Director Gu, you play golf so well. Where did you practice before?" She curved her lips into a polite smile, "Watched it on TV." The female subordinate wasn’t giving up, "Learned just by watching? Director Gu, you even know how to play golf. You must come from a good family?" "Shh, play the game, no talking." Gu Zixuan focused seriously on the hole, gesturing. The female subordinate immediately fell silent with an "uh." By the time they could speak again, Gu Zixuan was already chatting with a few male directors who had come along. The conversation was nothing more than about how to play the game, and a little deeper, about business. The men didn’t like gossip, especially seeing how well Gu Zixuan played golf. A few male directors, who initially thought she was just fooling around, all laughed, "Director Gu really doesn’t show her true capabilities." Gu Zixuan modestly smiled without responding. After all, it wasn’t that she was particularly good at it; it’s just that the sport hadn’t been popular in the country for long, and most people played poorly. Gu Zixuan spoke little, and the other directors were also older, so they didn’t talk much either. Eventually, the topic shifted from industry trends to the domestic stock market, and later developed into discussing which team, the Cavaliers or the Warriors, was stronger, how many points LeBron scored last season, and how big of an asset Durant was for the Warriors. Such topics were really too dull for the two female subordinates. But Gu Zixuan always managed to chime in a bit, knowing about all of these! So much so that the two female subordinates couldn’t get a word in! When Musa came to inspect, she found the two female subordinates bored, leaning against a sightseeing cart, one playing a game on her phone. Another had taken out a puff for touch-up makeup... One plan failed; during lunch, An Ran took it upon herself to use a second tactic. Facing the freely arranged seating for the team-building, An Ran surprisingly placed name cards on each table for a one-on-one arrangement. Gu Zixuan returned from the restroom to see that the table was already filled with women dressed fashionably and lavishly, with just one spot left for her. She gathered her thoughts, nonchalantly sitting down at the table with the male directors she played golf with in the morning. An Ran saw this and immediately gave a false smile, "Director Gu, your seat is over here." Gu Zixuan "stunned" for a moment, then as if she hadn’t noticed, she curved her lips, "Can’t I sit here? I just got to know Director Qi and the others." Director Qi, who was called out, looked up and smiled at Gu Zixuan. An Ran, however, felt a bit mocked, disguised her disdain, but appeared more charming, "Director Gu, what are you talking about? The seats have all been arranged. Where could you be if you don’t come over? Moreover, Director Gu, you being a woman, isn’t it inappropriate to sit at a table with male directors?" No sooner had she finished speaking than a female director, who also arrived late and was unaware of what happened, walked to this table and sat down. Possibly because she was particularly familiar with one of them, she said, "Hey, Old Chen, I’ve been looking for you for ages. You’ve been in meetings all the time, and I couldn’t find you at the company. Today’s a great chance to meet and talk. Can you spare us some resources for your project? You guys are too ruthless, all the good programs have been taken by you, I’m being rushed by President Yun for a project that’s about to fall through..." The female director was halfway through before she realized that everyone in the restaurant was silently watching her. She paused for a moment and then realized that names were arranged today, leading to her feeling oppressed, "What does this mean? We’re sitting according to names?" An Ran felt angry, but couldn’t say anything, smiling along, "Director Huang, today is a team-building event. So we arranged the names to encourage people to get familiar with those they don’t usually know..." Before she could finish the word "familiar," Director Huang, with her fiery temper, interrupted, "What are you doing? I haven’t seen these familiar faces for months, and now I have to mingle with unfamiliar ones? It’s hard enough to meet Old Chen and talk things over, I’m sitting here." With that said, Director Huang sat down firmly and started talking nonstop about the project with the Chen director. This was typical in the company: life is work, and work is life. Some project departments recently not rushing for deadlines could take this as a gathering and a formal interaction, but those on tight deadlines were virtually anxious enough to get mouth sores. Therefore, no matter how quick-tempered Director Huang was, most people present could understand. But An Ran’s face turned livid, especially watching Gu Zixuan slide into a seat amidst the chaos. She wanted to go persuade Gu Zixuan to come over and sit. Gu Zixuan, however, started chatting with Director Qi first, "Director Qi, how many years has your project department been established?" Once you start talking about projects, it’s almost impossible to interrupt abruptly. Especially since Gu Zixuan just happened to sit at a table with some older directors who have been with the company for a long time, several of whom are from major project departments, so no one really pays much attention to HR’s arrangements. When others later saw their seats taken, they just sat wherever. This chain reaction rolled out, and in less than a minute, everything was in chaos. Trying to persuade everyone to sit according to their names was already impossible. Especially the seat originally arranged for Gu Zixuan now had a man sitting, chatting enthusiastically with a table full of beauties. "Hey, which department are you from?" "Administration department, Liu Da." "Wow, Manager Liu, seeing is believing!" "Yes, Manager Liu is so handsome, are you married?" Liu Da laughed charmingly, "Not yet, not yet. Ladies present, any of you not married, want to get to know me?" An Ran was grinding her teeth in anger. With no other options, the lunch ended lively yet peacefully. Musa and An Ran didn’t manage to join the conversation, so they took the chance to draw everyone’s attention to Gu Zixuan. However, considering the day’s itinerary, Musa still sneered, not worried about anything. Gu Zixuan understood after two incidents that Musa had clearly realized something, just seeking to expose it through others to make her the focus of everyone’s attention. While she, on the other hand, maintained her image in the company and avoided taking the blame from Feng Chengjin. Therefore, after the meal, she was taken along to organize a poker game. Gu Zixuan looked at the constantly bustling scene, trying her best to appear natural, hiding any clue. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novᴇlfire.net Seeing Gu Zixuan composed and seemingly unaware, An Ran and Musa both sneered without further trouble for Gu Zixuan. After all, as long as Gu Zixuan stayed in lively places, even if she said nothing, gradually everyone’s attention would focus on her. Sure enough, by about three-thirty in the afternoon. Everyone who needed to be met and understood was familiar to the more outgoing ones, with work, business, even interests, gossip, celebrities, nearly everything discussed. Gradually, everyone’s focus shifted to this woman who spoke little today, appeared gentle and quiet, but intrigued half of the company. After all... being parachuted in, knowing so many top executives, so lavish, identity too special! Gu Zixuan knew she was already under more scrutiny, as whispers and gaze towards her increased. She could only keep calm, maintaining a serene smile. Because... she wasn’t a common divorcée, she couldn’t afford to be reckless. If her character and conduct were denied before exposure, leaving her with a haughty and annoying image, then when the truth is eventually revealed... Gu Zixuan, keeping quiet, paused for a moment before someone couldn’t resist starting a conversation with her, "Director Gu, did you graduate from a prestigious university?" Gu Zixuan smiled slightly and nodded, "Sort of. Well, I raise." Adding her chips, Gu Zixuan attempted to redirect everyone’s attention to the intensity of the poker game. But for the women, it was still too dull, so naturally, their curiosity turned to gossip. "What do you mean by ’sort of’? Nankai? Fudan? Zhejiang University?" In the company, the recruits are basically top graduates from domestic elite universities, reaching director level... surely they’re postgraduates? Speculating about Gu Zixuan’s age, the other women were in thought. Gu Zixuan glanced at her cards, casually saying, "Columbia." "..." Instantly, half of the poker table was stunned, including those with ingrained notions that Gu Zixuan must be connected to some deputy president to get in, the men were also bewildered. As for An Ran, she completely twitched her lips.