Chapter 66: Second Update

Qin Yao's work in the publicity office was quite relaxed. The overall division of labor in their office was roughly like this: Director Huang, their boss, spent most of her day on the phone. Her office phone rang constantly as she either contacted someone or was contacted by someone. Director Huang was very skilled at speaking tactfully, and she could chat with any leader.

This made Director Huang seem rather "leisurely" as a leader, but this was actually her strength. She had a thorough understanding of all the rules and regulations.

The materials written by Qin Yao and Xiao Pan would ultimately go through Director Huang's "review." Under Director Huang's meticulous guidance, Qin Yao learned the necessary "balance" for writing publicity materials, which was very important.

Having gone through many years of experience, Director Huang was a shrewd person. With such a director around, Qin Yao dared to write freely. As long as her work passed Director Huang's review, she wouldn’t make significant errors. Director Huang would remind her what to write, what not to write, and what leaders liked to see.

Qin Yao learned a lot from Director Huang.

Occasionally, Qin Yao would intentionally make some mistakes for Director Huang to point out, which was harmless and beneficial to both.

Deputy Director Liu's work was the most "miscellaneous." She was responsible for organizing and archiving materials. Throughout the year, she was busy sorting various documents to prepare for leadership inspections and evaluations. Therefore, she was always buried in piles of materials, busy with one thing after another in the office.

The real work in the office fell to Qin Yao and Xiao Pan. According to the leadership's requirements, they contacted various people, wrote plans, materials, publicity pieces, and took photos. These were their responsibilities.

For example, when writing publicity banners, they didn’t write it themselves but contacted the "calligrapher."

When various units came to the hospital for exchanges and learning, they had to follow along to take photos and write publicity articles.

It was busy during events and quiet otherwise. Overall, it was a relatively light position, allowing for frequent breaks.

In March, during the Women’s Day event, Xiao Pan was in charge of taking photos while Qin Yao wrote the publicity article. During the Arbor Day event, Qin Yao was in charge of taking photos while Xiao Pan wrote the publicity article.

On the day of Women’s Day, Qin Yao arrived at the hospital early. Early in the morning, she and a group of people including Xiao Pan set up the activity venue, unloading prizes like soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and toothbrushes from the trucks. If they won a lot today, they wouldn’t need to buy these items for the whole year.

This was one of the perks of working for a unit in those times.

Many people in the hospital asked her, including Head Nurse Ge and Zhang Yufei:

"Is your Captain Gu coming?"

Qin Yao smiled slightly. "He’s coming. He said he would, and if he doesn’t, I’ll scold him."

Head Nurse Ge laughed heartily, thinking Qin Yao was joking.

The couples’ activities were simple, mostly relay races, three-legged races, and other competitive games. The top performers would receive soap and detergent as rewards. If they won more, there were also premium prizes like enamel basins and alarm clocks.

Soap and laundry detergent were small items worth only a few cents, while enamel basins and alarm clocks, costing several yuan, were considered the grand prizes and were very valuable.

Qin Yao's goal was to win some soap and toothbrushes to take home, especially toothbrushes. She aimed to replace them every two months, making it worth winning some toothbrushes and soap.

After lunch and a brief nap of half an hour, Qin Yao stood in the breeze downstairs, feeling anxious as she waited for Gu Cheng.

That damned man. Before they were married, he visited the hospital frequently. After they got married, he rarely showed up at the hospital.

In March, he was busy with various training sessions.

"Yaoyao..." a voice called from the corner.

Qin Yao turned around delightedly, and then an even greater surprise left her nearly speechless. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Gu Cheng was wearing the clothes from their first meeting! It had been a long time since she had seen Gu Cheng dressed like this!

After spending so much time with Captain Gu, the young Brother Gu from their first meeting had almost faded from her memory. She could hardly recall Gu Cheng’s face from their first meeting, only his usual cold expression as Captain Gu.

Today, Gu Cheng’s demeanor was very gentle, with a soft expression. Everything was like the warm, lazy afternoons of summer.

As Captain Gu, the tear mole on his face wasn't very prominent, but at this moment, he was walking towards her against the wind with a faint smile. The tear mole beneath his eye was mesmerizing, giving him a bewitching allure, like a charming sprite.

"Gu… Gu Cheng!" Qin Yao ran towards him with sparkling eyes. Gu Cheng with a cold face and Gu Cheng with a smiling face were entirely different personas; even their facial features seemed to change!

How could there be such a big difference!

Looking at this face, Qin Yao couldn't bring herself to call him "Captain Gu." She finally understood why she once thought of Gu Cheng as two different people.

Even so, her heart raced at the sight of his face. If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously.

Forget about Captain Gu, let’s move on. She had fallen for Little Comrade Gu from the Fishing Company.

"Gu Cheng, are you tired from coming here? Have you eaten? Did you nap at noon? Do you want to rest for a while in the office?"

"Are you thirsty? Would you like some tea? Would you like some more food?"

Qin Yao attentively cared for the man beside her. Gu Cheng, with his hands in his pockets, could hardly handle his wife's overflowing enthusiasm at this moment.

Was she really putting on an act?

After not coming home for several days, he had never seen Qin Yao so enthusiastic towards him.

Gu Cheng felt a bit annoyed. "Do you treat every husband who comes here like this?"

"I only treat you like this." Qin Yao held onto Gu Cheng's arm, lowered her head, and happily laughed before saying with longing, "Holding onto you like this, it feels like I really married the young Gu Cheng I met at the port. My husband is an employee of the Fishing Company."

"I’m so excited, so happy, and so surprised."

"You’re the best gift I’ve received for Women’s Day."

Gu Cheng: "..."

"Am I that disliked as Captain Gu?"

Qin Yao stood on her tiptoes and patted his head. "You know it, so don't say it out loud."

With a doting smile, Gu Cheng rubbed Qin Yao's hair. "This gift will just have to do for today."

He leaned down and whispered into Qin Yao's ear, "Sister, I'm thirsty. Get me a cup of tea."

Qin Yao covered her ears with her hands, her beautiful big eyes wide like a cat's, trying hard to maintain her composure without speaking. The way he called her made her feel weak all over. She just wanted to take him home and pamper him.

Forget about the household chores.

"What tea would you like?" Qin Yao pulled open a row of cabinets, displaying several tea canisters.

Gu Cheng glanced at the water cup on the desk. "Which one is your cup?"

Qin Yao pointed. "That one."

Gu Cheng walked over, picked up the cup, which still had half a cup of water, unscrewed the lid, and drank it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Qin Yao went to boil water for tea. Before the water boiled, Deputy Director Liu and Xiao Pan came back. Seeing Gu Cheng in the office, they assumed he was a delivery person.

"Are you here to see the Director?"

"Hold on, the Director will be back shortly."

Gu Cheng blinked, giving Deputy Director Liu a puzzled look, thinking this woman was just like his wife Yaoyao, who couldn’t recognize him.

Director Huang entered the room and noticed Gu Cheng. Her face lit up instantly as she held her thermos cup, pursing her lips. "This young man is quite handsome. Is he twenty already?"

Gu Cheng: "...More or less."

"He’s around the same age as our Xiao Qin," said Director Huang as she walked to her desk.

Gu Cheng felt quite pleased. From a previous joint exercise, Director Huang had left him with the impression of being kind and easy to talk to, a sharp person who spoke with great skill. Meeting her again, he found her equally skilled in conversation.

Subtly, she praised his youthfulness, making him feel happy.

"Young man, what’s your last name?"

"My surname is Gu."

Director Huang waved at him, "Xiao Gu, come over and sign this form."

Gu Cheng: "Ah?"

He walked over, puzzled by the situation, wondering what game Director Huang was playing.

Qin Yao pushed open the office door, carrying hot water and tea. Noticing Director Huang and others in the office, she hurried over and placed the water and teapot on the desk.

Deputy Director Liu asked, "Do we still have hot water?"

"Yes."

Xiao Pan took the teapot and poured himself a cup. Seeing Qin Yao, he deliberately teased, "Xiao Qin, isn’t your husband coming? Or isn’t he coming?"

"Yeah, Xiao Qin, why aren’t you waiting outside?"

Qin Yao looked at Gu Cheng, puzzled, wondering what was going on. She had thought they had already met.

"Xiao Gu, please check this and sign," said Director Huang.

Gu Cheng: "I can’t sign."

"Why not? What’s the problem? Let me explain it to you..."

Qin Yao poured herself a cup of tea, feeling bewildered. She asked, "Deputy Director Liu, have you met before? Do I need to introduce you?"

Deputy Director Liu didn’t pay much attention and casually replied, "We’ve met."

"Xiao Qin, don’t change the subject. Isn’t your husband coming? You’re newlyweds. Shouldn’t he be here for this activity? Does he really care about you? Does he treat you like a wife and lover?"

The more Xiao Pan spoke, the more satisfied he appeared. "Don’t think that just because you married well, men will respect you. Even if the conditions are good, it doesn’t matter if the man doesn’t cherish you."

"Who said that?"

Xiao Pan raised his voice, "Our Xiao Qin married a husband who doesn’t care about her."

Gu Cheng raised his eyebrows.

"Today, there’s a couple’s activity, and he didn’t come. How long have you been newly married?"

Gu Cheng: "I’ve been here all along."