txolops Chapter 80 The Warmth in My Stomach
Chapter 80 The Warmth in My Stomach
2:30 p.m.
The top floor of Yintai Building.
With a soft "ding," the metal doors of the private elevator slowly slid open to both sides.
Su Qingxue stepped out of the elevator.
She had taken off her sun-protective clothing and casually draped it over her arm.
Completely different from her pale and exhausted state when she left the company more than an hour ago, Su Qingxue now walked steadily, her lips, which had been bloodless, had regained their rosy color, and the restlessness between her brows and eyes had disappeared without a trace.
She pushed open the glass door to the office area and went inside.
Outside, at the secretary's desk, Secretary Chen was sitting in front of the computer, rapidly typing on the keyboard.
Upon hearing the glass door open, Secretary Chen immediately stopped her work, stood up, and went to greet her.
"President Su, you're back."
Secretary Chen looked at Su Qingxue and keenly noticed the change in the boss's complexion, but there was still a trace of worry in his eyes.
Su Qingxue stopped and glanced at the document that was still open on Secretary Chen's computer screen, then frowned slightly.
"Secretary Chen, when I went out at noon, didn't I tell you to tidy up your work and leave work?"
It's the weekend, no need to stay here and work overtime.
Su Qingxue said.
Secretary Chen smiled somewhat embarrassedly and reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"There's one last detail in the itinerary that I haven't checked, so I'll just finish it before I leave."
Secretary Chen answered truthfully, "Moreover... President Su, you went out for a walk without even eating a bite of food at noon."
Your stomach can't stand being hungry, and I'm really worried about leaving you alone outside.
Listening to Secretary Chen's words, Su Qingxue knew that she was acting out of concern.
"I'm fine. A walk has made me feel much better."
Su Qingxue's tone softened a bit.
Secretary Chen carefully examined Su Qingxue's complexion and found that it was indeed much rosier than at noon, which relieved him slightly.
But when Secretary Chen thought about how her boss's stomach was still empty since morning, she couldn't help but speak up again.
"President Su, although taking a walk can distract you, the emptiness in your stomach is undeniable."
It's already 2:30. Even if you don't have much of an appetite, you should at least eat something to tide you over.
As Secretary Chen spoke, he picked up the internal landline phone on the table.
"Shall I have our company's star chef from the romantic country prepare a light French asparagus soup just for you?"
Secretary Chen inquired, attempting to stimulate Su Qingxue's appetite with these top-quality meals that met her usual dietary standards.
"No need to bother, just hang up."
Su Qingxue shook her head, interrupting Secretary Chen's actions.
Secretary Chen's hand holding the microphone froze in mid-air, her face showing some anxiety: "President Su, you can't keep pushing yourself like this. Last month, you were caught not eating on time..."
"I didn't tough it out."
Su Qingxue looked at Secretary Chen and said, "I've already eaten."
"have eaten?"
Secretary Chen paused for a moment, then put the phone back on the landline with a look of surprise. "Did you eat at a high-end restaurant outside?"
Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere, or feel nauseous?
As Su Qingxue's personal secretary, Secretary Chen knew all too well how severe her boss's "anorexia" was.
She usually finds the food prepared by the star chefs that the company spends a lot of money to cook unpalatable after just a couple of bites, let alone the food from outside that doesn't undergo strict quality control.
"I didn't go to a restaurant."
Su Qingxue answered casually as she walked towards her CEO office.
Secretary Chen quickly followed and opened the office door for Su Qingxue.
"You didn't go to a restaurant? Where did you eat then?"
Secretary Chen was even more puzzled.
Su Qingxue walked into the office, hung the beige sun-protective shirt draped over her arm on the coat rack by the door, then walked to the water dispenser next to the sofa, took a disposable paper cup, and filled herself a small half cup of warm water.
"In the park."
Su Qingxue, holding her water glass, turned to look at Secretary Chen and said, "While we were taking a walk, we ran into Mr. Lin, who was taking his daughter to the park."
"Boss Lin?"
Secretary Chen paused for two seconds before realizing what he meant. "You mean... Mr. Lin, the owner of the fried rice stall downstairs?"
"Um."
Su Qingxue nodded.
"What a coincidence..."
Secretary Chen was somewhat surprised, then immediately asked, "So what did you eat...?"
"They ate the lunchboxes they brought themselves."
Su Qingxue walked to the single sofa and sat down, took a sip of warm water, and ate half a rice ball made of soft rice, a thick omelet, and some boiled broccoli.
Secretary Chen was stunned and stood there.
She found it hard to imagine that President Su, who was always picky about the dining environment and ingredients and could not even swallow the finest cuisine from the Romantic Country or the top-notch Cherry Blossom Country, would actually eat a simple bento box brought by a roadside stall owner in a busy park.
"Then...your stomach..."
Secretary Chen looked at Su Qingxue.
"My stomach is fine; I don't feel nauseous or have any rejection symptoms."
Holding the warm paper cup, Su Qingxue recalled the half-cup of rice porridge she had drunk on the picnic mat earlier. "Boss Lin brought his own homemade red date and millet porridge."
After drinking a little to line my stomach, I didn't experience any stomach cramps and felt very comfortable.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Chen, who had been on edge for so long, finally felt completely relieved.
A smile appeared on her face.
"That's great. As long as you can eat and your stomach doesn't feel uncomfortable, that's fine."
Secretary Chen was genuinely pleased. "No wonder you looked so much better when you came in than you did at noon."
Su Qingxue nodded slightly and placed the paper cup in her hand on the coffee table.
Now that the emptiness and cramping in her stomach had been resolved, her thoughts returned to work.
Su Qingxue stood up, walked behind the large desk and sat down, her expression returning to its usual capable and focused demeanor.
"Okay, my personal problems are solved."
Since you haven't left work yet and your schedule is almost ready, please go over the afternoon's work arrangements with me.
Su Qingxue looked at Secretary Chen.
Seeing that her boss had gotten back into work mode, Secretary Chen immediately put aside her personal emotions and resumed her professionalism as a secretary.
She walked quickly back to the secretary's desk outside, picked up the already checked itinerary folder, returned to the office, and stood in front of Su Qingxue's desk.
Secretary Chen opened the folder and began his report.
"President Su, because it's the weekend, all non-urgent internal meetings have been postponed to next Monday."
The afternoon's schedule mainly consists of two items.
Secretary Chen glanced at the time on the schedule: "There is a multinational video conference with the overseas branch at 3:15 pm."
Due to the time difference, it can only be scheduled for our weekend afternoon.
The main purpose is to hear their progress report on the projects from the previous quarter, which is expected to last one and a half hours.
"Hmm, are the materials for the video conference ready?"
Su Qingxue asked, "Everything has been sent to your work email. The equipment in the conference room has also been tested by the on-duty technicians beforehand, and there are no problems."
Secretary Chen replied.
"continue."
Su Qingxue nodded.
"The video conference ended around 5 p.m.
You need to review the final versions of the financial statements for next Monday's executive morning meeting.
Secretary Chen turned to the next page. "The finance department sent this report over at noon. I've placed the paper copy in the file box on the left side of your desktop."
Once you sign to confirm there are no issues, today's work is complete.
Su Qingxue glanced at the folder on the left side of the desktop and nodded slightly.
"Okay, I understand the itinerary."
Su Qingxue waved her hand, "I don't have any business engagements this weekend. I'll read these documents myself."
Send me your schedule for next week now, then go home and rest after get off work.
"Okay, Mr. Su. After you finish reviewing the reports, please leave work early and get some rest."
Secretary Chen closed the folder and said with concern.
"Go."
Su Qingxue replied.
Secretary Chen bowed slightly, turned and walked out of the president's office, gently closing the door behind her.
The office fell silent again.
Su Qingxue reached for the mouse on the table and opened her work email.
She looked at the international conference materials on the screen and took a deep breath.
When she usually works overtime on weekends, her empty stomach always torments her nerves, making it difficult for her to concentrate.
But at this moment, the warmth of the red date and millet porridge in her stomach was still there, giving her a sense of solid support.
Su Qingxue opened the all-English report and continued her afternoon work.