Because this conversation ntioned his father, Zhou Du, He Kao thus learned of another explanation concerning his father’s death. Although its authenticity couldn’t be confird, his intuition told him—the words those two said were very likely true.
Otherwise, who would specifically bring up the past of a common person who passed away years ago, was long forgotten by the world, and was a complete stranger? People making things up usually just invent soone randomly, they wouldn’t speak so accurately and specifically.
He Kao always thought his father had died of illness. He was only five years old then, so many mories were blurry.
No relatives or neighbors ever told He Kao that his father was involved in a case. If Zhou Du died in custody, it indeed was due to illness, and he was never convicted.
Analyzing the conversation in the recording, Zhou Du inexplicably appeared in a bank vault. He didn’t steal anything, perhaps he didn’t even have ti to act before being taken away by the police.
How Zhou Du got in there and what his motive was, the police never clarified. Soon after, he died in custody without going to trial for conviction, so this case was left unresolved, which surely troubled the police.
Zhou Du’s surna is Zhou, why is He Kao’s surna He? That’s another story...
"You look so pale, are you sick?" Soone tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking up, it was colleague Huang Xiaopang.
He Kao: "It’s nothing, just zoned out."
Huang Xiaopang: "Your voice is really weak, are you tired, or did you overdo it last night?" Then he lowered his voice, "I’m telling you, be careful these days, stay away from President E.
She’s in a bad mood, maybe her nopause is acting up again, don’t get in her way. She doesn’t dare to ss with , but you’re easy to bully, she might dump so dirty or tireso tasks on you again."
Gao Xue’e is only thirty-two, hardly at nopause. But "President E’s nopause" is a running joke in the office, started before He Kao joined, and the instigator was none other than Huang Xiaopang.
Once during a routine eting, Gao Xue’e nitpicked and her emotions spiraled a bit out of control, prompting Huang Xiaopang to retort right there: "President E, your temper is totally unreasonable!"
Gao Xue’e responded: "That’s just my temperant, I’ve been like this since I was a child!"
Huang Xiaopang asked: "Were you in nopause since you were a child?"
That one comnt almost drove Gao Xue’e mad. She stord off, went to HR, then demanded from the leadership to fire Huang Xiaopang, but of course, she didn’t succeed and reportedly even got reprimanded by the leadership.
The division head said sothing infuriating as well: "Huang Si is an indispensable key player; how you harness his role and communicate effectively reflects your leadership capability."
Gao Xue’e didn’t overturn the table with the big bosses; she swallowed her anger. Huang Xiaopang seemingly relished the feeling of "you resent but can’t get rid of ," continuing to speak his mind when necessary.
He Kao and Huang Xiaopang had known each other for a long ti; they were neighbors, classmates from primary to high school, and later went to different universities. They are both locals of Qi Yuan, having lived in Puhu Village in Jiangbei when they were children.
Puhu Village was later renad Pugang Town, and today’s Pugang Town has been incorporated into Jiangbei District of Qi Yuan City.
The old city area of Qi Yuan City has always been on the South Bank of the River. Over the past few decades, as city construction has expanded northward across the Great River, He Kao and Huang Xiaopang were transford from villagers to city dwellers.
After graduating from university, Huang Xiaopang didn’t pursue further studies, started working directly, joined the Tengxin Group’s gaming departnt, and returned to Qi Yuan City a year ago, joining the Cloud Living project team.
Xiaopang’s real na is Huang Si; his family has always taken good care of He Kao since childhood. At the workplace, Xiaopang consciously looked after He Kao, even jokingly calling himself He Kao’s "adopted father."
In the company, project group leader Gao Xue’e generally found Huang Xiaopang most botherso, yet she never dared to provoke him willingly. Instead, it was often Huang Xiaopang who provoked her.
Oddly enough, Gao Xue’e found He Kao to be the most pleasing subordinate, at least in everyone’s eyes. President E valued He Kao the most. But in Xiaopang’s view, He Kao suffered because of him, with President E shoving all kinds of dirty and tedious work on He Kao.
Gao Xue’e, however, believed she was training and ntoring He Kao, even privately advising him not to associate with soone like Huang Si, lest it impacts his growth and future.
It’s rely a simple triangular interpersonal relationship, yet it’s that complicated and subtle, making He Kao only able to smile wryly about it.
Looking up around the office, He Kao puzzledly muttered, "Where did everyone go? It’s strange, they all left so early today?"
It was just past five-thirty, yet colleagues already packed up and left. Normally, even without overti, many team mbers would stay in the office, most even grabbing a al in the cafeteria.
The office had free computers, internet, air conditioning, and utilities. The cafeteria downstairs offered free als for overti; even without staying late, the self-pay als were cleaner and more affordable than outside.
Rather than rushing back amid traffic jams, it was better to linger in the office, catching up on work or handling personal stuff. Most single employees, unless busy with dates, weren’t in a rush to leave, and even so married ones would intentionally stay late, claiming overti.
This kind of neat early departure was truly uncommon.
Xiaopang frowned: "I think you have sothing going on!"
He Kao: "What could I have going on?"
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