C27 You Can Pay in Installments!

Lin Lele was just an ordinary employee, but her role as the director of Human Resources had gone to her head, giving her a false sense of authority. Moreover, she was constantly trying to get Gu Tingshen's attention.

Having just humiliated Huo Niannian, Lin Lele likely thought that if Director Gu heard about it, he would take an instant dislike to her. And with Huo Niannian made to look foolish, it was like killing two birds with one stone.

Ding Xuelan covered her mouth with a finger, her smile barely there. "Lele, let this go."

Huo Niannian's annoyance bubbled up. What right did they have to mock her?

Did they feel superior just because they were on the same floor as the President's office?

"Cut the sarcasm. If you have something to say, say it outright."

"You don't understand, so let me spell it out for you. This dress is for one-time use only. It can't be cleaned; washing would destroy it."

Huo Niannian remembered reading about how designer clothes weren't designed for everyday people. Celebrities and high-society women would wear them once and then throw them away. Lin Lele's dress didn't seem that expensive, but she was obviously using it to pick on Huo Niannian. Seeing through the ploy, Huo Niannian didn't want to waste any more time arguing. She just wanted to resolve the issue and be done with it.

"Alright! Does fifteen thousand yuan make us even?"

As Huo Niannian turned to seek out Gu Tingshen, Lin Lele clutched her wrist. "That won't do!"

"Are we not done here?"

Huo Niannian asked coldly, fixing Lin Lele with a fierce look.

"As I've said, this is a bespoke, high-end dress. Even a hundred thousand yuan wouldn't buy you another like it!"

"What do you want, then?"

Lin Lele's lips curled into a smug smile. "You need to bow to me at a ninety-degree angle and apologize."

Huo Niannian scoffed. "Are you dead? I only bow ninety degrees to the deceased."

"You—!" Lin Lele's anger flared, and she lashed out at Huo Niannian, unable to contain her wrath.

"You!" Lin Lele's eyes blazed with fury as she raised her hand to strike Huo Niannian.

But Huo Niannian was quick to react, grabbing Lin Lele's wrist and pushing her back with considerable force.

Lin Lele stumbled backward, and upon seeing Gu Tingshen approaching from afar, she dramatically fell to the ground.

Huo Niannian was speechless. Lin Lele's performance was so over-the-top, she could have made it as an actress.

As Huo Niannian was reflecting on this, footsteps approached from behind. Ding Xuelan bowed respectfully and asked, "Director Gu, have we disturbed your rest?"

"Niannian, what happened here?"

Gu Tingshen completely ignored Ding Xuelan, not even acknowledging her presence.

Ding Xuelan swallowed her words, feeling snubbed, and observed Gu Tingshen's expression intently. She was certain that after witnessing the scene, Huo Niannian's reputation with the President would be in tatters.

A self-satisfied smirk played on her lips until she saw Gu Tingshen's worried look directed at Huo Niannian. "Why is your clothing dirty? Did you get burned?"

"No, I just bumped into her," Huo Niannian replied, pushing away Gu Tingshen's hand, her mood sour.

She was far from clueless; she clearly understood how Secretary Ding and Lin Lele had colluded against her.

They were both Gu Tingshen's subordinates, which only compounded Huo Niannian's frustration with him.

Noticing his wife's distress and aloof demeanor, Gu Tingshen realized she must have been wronged.