Way back to Our Past

22. The One Behind the Scene

Translator: Snowball

Confused, the marketing manager walked out of Ling Mubai’s office with the list in his hand. “What’s wrong with Mr. Ling? He signed the contract for the project in person, but how come he changed his mind so quickly? I really don’t know how to explain this to the project manager of the TV station!”

“Never try to reason with your boss. Just do what he said!” someone from the administration department patted him on the shoulder.

Those secretaries knew better than anyone the consequences of saying NO to their boss.

After getting back to his own office, the marketing manager called one of his classmates who worked for the TV station and told him about Ling Mubai’s decision.

This person had been chasing Lin Yiyi, but the latter not only disliked him but also embarrassed him in front of people. Therefore, as soon as hanging up, he reported it to the director at once and took this opportunity to speak ill of Lin Yiyi behind her.

The next morning, the moment Lin Yiyi had just stepped into the office, she was told that the director wanted her.

The director spoke highly of her capability and her contribution to the company before he suddenly shifted the topic, saying that the management had decided to send her to work in the primary level unit for a few years so that she could do a better job after accumulating enough experience.

He had made it clear enough that even an idiot could tell what he meant.

The short-tempered Lin Yiyi immediately bounced off the chair. “Sir, is anyone finding fault with me on purpose?”

The director put on a smile but didn’t say a word. After all, as long as she had known what he was talking about, his part was done.

Lin Yiyi had been in charge of the program from the very beginning and she had put her heart and soul into it. Needless to say, she had a hard time accepting the decision to remove her from her current post.

“Sir, if it’s because some sponsor has a problem with me, please give me a few days to find a new one. If I can’t solve the funding problem, I won’t complain if you send me to the grassroots unit. What do you say?”

“Yiyi, you must have already figured out who you offended. If he gets in the way, who dares to invest in this project?” The director seemed in a dilemma.

Qu Wan knew nothing about this and it was not until she went to the recording of the first episode of the show that she found out Lin Yiyi wasn’t there.

When she knew what had happened to her friend, the first thing that came to Qu Wan’s mind was that Ling Mubai must be the one behind all this. “Ling Mubai, I can stand you bullying me, but I can’t watch you get back at Yiyi like this!” she thought resentfully.

After getting out of the studio, she dialed Ling Mubai’s number. “What did you do to Yiyi?”

“Miss Qu, I’m at work and can’t talk too much on the phone. Is this something urgent?” Ling Mubai said calmly.

“Ling Mubai, this is between you and me. How could you vent your anger on Yiyi?”

“Miss Qu, I’m busy with my work and I don’t have time to have a natter with you!” With that, he rang off.

Sitting in the chair, Ling Mubai stared at the cell phone in a daze.

He had been waiting for Qu Wan to call him every single day for the past three years and the day came in the end!

“As long as there’s something you care about, things will be easy!” Ling Mubai was certain that Qu Wan would lay aside her pride for the sake of her best friend.

At the thought that Lin Yiyi was demoted because of her, Qu Wan couldn’t help but feel guilty, so she was in no mood to record the dating show anymore.

After pondering for a while, she decided to ask Ling Mubai to explain it to her face to face.

“Miss Qu, Mr. Ling is busy now. Do you have an appointment with him?” When Qu Wan arrived at the lobby of Ling Mubai’s company, she was stopped by a woman.

Qu Wan recognized her as the lobby manager who had been working for Ling Mubai three years ago. It was clear that she was highly regarded by her boss, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been here for so long.

Three years ago, whenever she had come to Ling Mubai’s office, this woman would show her the way and watch her get in the elevator respectfully, but now her attitude had totally changed.

Things were different! She was no longer Mrs. Ling, so those people didn’t have to curry favor with her anymore.

Managing to calm herself down, Qu Wan answered, “I came for Ling Mubai!”

“Sorry, Mr. Ling can’t see you if you haven’t made an appointment.”

To prevent people from entering the building at random, several security guards were on duty in the hall.

As she couldn’t meet Ling Mubai in his office, Qu Wan walked over to the sofa in the lobby and sat down. “Whether he wants to see me or not, he’s bound to pass by the lobby after work. Anyway, I must see him today.”

Two hours later, most of the employees had left. The lobby manager couldn’t bear to keep Qu Wan waiting, so she walked over to her. “Miss Qu, Mr. Ling had taken the elevator to the underground garage and left.”

Qu Wan was so furious that she could hardly restrain herself from cursing. Out of pity, the lobby manager added, “Mr. Ling will meet his friends in the KTV tonight.”

Qu Wan was a little surprised that she had passed the information on to her.

As she was eager to see Ling Mubai, she didn’t think twice about why a lobby manager would have known the whereabouts of her boss after work. “Thank you!” With that, she rushed out of the building and hailed a taxi.

“Sister Li, didn’t you get transferred to the office? But why are you on duty in the lobby today?” A staff walked over from behind and asked curiously.

“Mind your own business!” The manager reprimanded before shifting her gaze to the door.

She had been wondering why Mr. Ling suddenly put her on temporary duty in the lobby until she saw Qu Wan.

However, there was still one thing she found confusing. “Since Mr. Ling was unwilling to see Qu Wan, why did he make me reveal his whereabouts to her?”

As soon as she arrived at the KTV, Qu Wan went straight to Ling Mubai’s box on the second floor and pushed open the door without hesitation.

In the box, a bunch of men and women were hugging with each other. Ling Mubai sat in the middle of those people, next to a woman who was rubbing her chest against his arm.

Wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist, Ling Mubai lowered his head and whispered in her ear, which made the woman blush in an instant.

Watching what they were doing, Qu Wan felt a sting in her eyes.

Three years ago, Ling Mubai had always attended such parties, but as he assured her that he was just acting and had never hooked up with those women, she had never been worried about it.

“How silly I was! I even believed what he said and thought I was the only one he loved. If I was a little bit smarter, I wouldn’t have been down-and-out to this point!”

With a sneer on her lips, Qu Wan raised her voice, “Ling Mubai!”

The sudden voice instantly aroused the attention of everyone, who shifted their gaze to the door synchronously.

With a frown, Ling Mubai seemed a little impatient, but he didn’t move, showing no intent to let go of the woman in his arms.

“Mr. Ling, how come you’re so lucky?” This is the third girl who hit on you tonight! Gosh! She’s drop-dead gorgeous!” Someone said half in jest.

Casting a glance at Qu Wan, Ling Mubai said with a mocking look, “What makes you think I have such a poor taste?”

“You’re not into her? Mr. Ling, you’re too picky! Then leave her to us!” The man next to him laughed loudly.

“Wanna join me?” Rising to his feet, Ling Mubai walked to Qu Wan and raised her chin frivolously.

Qu Wan had never expected that he would have humiliated her in this way. Bushing with anger in an instant, she lifted her hand.

To her surprise, as Ling Mubai had learned the lesson from the last time, before her palm landed on his face, he had seized her by the hand.