After returning to Coronet, under Silas Cheney's repeated urging, Thea Lynch hurriedly joined Stratus Technologies. Her main job was to participate in chip research and design.
On her first day, she gloriously arrived late. Probably because her jet lag hadn't adjusted, she could only fall asleep late at night, and the alarm clock was too quiet, she didn't hear it at all.
In the research center, as she stepped out of the elevator, she suddenly heard her name. Looking up, not far ahead at a workstation, several people were sitting together, including her assistant.
"Late on the first day, truly living up to the reputation of an overseas PhD; she really has the confidence."
"What's a PhD? Nowadays, anyone with some money can go abroad, get a degree with ease. Just throwing money at it, full of water, I could do that too!"
"What do you think her relationship with Chief Silas is? I heard from the receptionist that she got out of Chief Silas's car yesterday, and he personally brought her up. The receptionist also said Silas was particularly considerate to her. Their relationship doesn't seem ordinary."
"Really? I wondered why there was no movement from HR before, suddenly parachuted. Turns out there's a shady deal here."
"I secretly took a look yesterday, she indeed looks pretty, both sweet and pure. No wonder Chief Silas is moved."
"Good grief, no wonder she could replace Foreman Chandler. Foreman Chandler graduated from a domestic university, isn't he better than her? I heard Foreman Chandler was so angry yesterday, he looked pale and didn't even eat."
"That's it! I also heard a big company wants to cooperate with us recently, can she handle big things with those skills?"
Thea Lynch stepped forward slowly, asking: "Is the big company you mentioned Valiant?"
The assistant responded, "Yeah, that's..." before finishing, a colleague suddenly stood up.
She looked back puzzled, meeting Thea Lynch's eyes filled with a smile.
"!" The assistant's breathing stagnated, quickly standing up too, "Lynch, Foreman Lynch, good morning..."
"It's not morning anymore, good afternoon. Sorry, my jet lag hasn't adjusted yet, I was a bit late today. Did I delay everyone's work?"
The assistant snapped out of it, "No, no, no! Do you need coffee to wake up? I'll prepare it for you!"
"Thank you." Thea Lynch's expression was cool and serious when not smiling.
The few people found her tone normal, unsure of her intentions. They could only cling to the hope that she hadn't heard the previous comments.
Unfortunately, they were disappointed.
Thea Lynch's gaze slowly swept across them, her tone calm and composed: "Yesterday was a bit rushed, I haven't had a chance to introduce myself properly."
"My name is Thea Lynch, twenty-four years old, graduated from MIT with a major in Electronic Engineering. During school, I had a full scholarship and led teams in many competitions, with some noteworthy awards. If you're interested, you can check online."
"Also, I do indeed know Silas Cheney privately. As for the relationship, I don't wish to discuss personal matters at work. If you're curious, you could directly ask him, certainly faster than speculating here."
Everyone: "..."
"Oh, and, Foreman Chandler and I are colleagues, in an equal collaboration, there's no talk of replacement. I wasn't aware of Foreman Chandler being angry, but..."
With those words, she took out her phone, finding Foreman Chandler in the WeChat group. The latter came out of the office after a long time, smiling warmly: "Foreman Lynch, you were looking for me?"
Foreman Chandler, in his thirties, has been at Stratus for a long time. Because he's always smiling warmly, many people have a good impression of him.
Thea Lynch nodded to him, "I heard you didn't eat at all yesterday, why so?"
She never beat around the bush in social interactions, always direct.
"Oh." Foreman Chandler waved his hand, took a strip of medicine from his pocket, wrapped in a billing slip: "Yesterday my stomach felt unwell, didn't dare eat, went to the hospital for medicine right after work, the medicine prices are too high now."
"Do you want to rest another day today? I can watch over things here."
"No need, no need, it feels much better after taking the medicine."
"That's good." She glanced at those who were looking at each other, intimidated under her gaze, already prepared for public embarrassment.
This time, Thea Lynch used a joking tone with Foreman Chandler: "I thought it was because I didn't treat everyone to a meal after joining, and Foreman Chandler was unhappy."
"No way! I'm not that kind of person hahaha." Foreman Chandler was truly sincere, "But if Foreman Lynch wants to treat us, it's not impossible. Can you apply for my stomach and postpone it a couple of days?"
"Then let's wait a few days until your stomach feels better."
"Great! It's decided then! Come, let me show you the Valiant project."
Thea Lynch agreed, before leaving, she glanced at the assistant again, amidst the anxious looks from the crowd, her red lips slightly parted: "Please deliver the coffee to the office later, thank you."
"Sure, Foreman Lynch!"
Only after she left did they all breathe a sigh of relief.
"She heard everything..."
"Is she angry or not?"
"Will she tell Chief Silas?"
"Leo, why don't you probe a little when sending the coffee..."
——
Since she arrived late in the morning, Thea Lynch stayed a while to work overtime in the evening.
When she left the company, it was already past nine.
She had eaten dinner early and felt a bit hungry now.
Having not returned to Coronet for a long time, she wasn't familiar with the nearby food options.
Torn between hotpot and barbecue, she couldn't eat much on her own, neither of these seemed feasible.
She urgently needed someone to eat with.
But at this hour, who should she look for?
After Silas Cheney dropped her off yesterday, he went on a business trip, and she had not contacted her old friends in Coronet for many years.
As for colleagues... there weren't any she was close to.
Walking from the entrance to the street corner, a distance of three hundred meters, she walked slowly for about seven or eight minutes.
Standing by the street, she sighed, "Perhaps I shouldn't eat, it's a good chance to diet."
"What are you not eating?"
"..." Thea Lynch looked incredulously to the side.
Right in front of her was that familiar Ferrari Purosangue, it had been following her for who knows how long.
With the passenger window rolled down, she peered inside, and sure enough, in the driver's seat sat Ian Preston, whom she hadn't seen for nearly a week.
"Why are you here?"
Compared to when she first met him after returning to the country, Thea Lynch now seemed immune. She had forgotten to call him "Third Brother."
"Passing by."
"?"
Ian Preston tapped lightly with his long fingers on the steering wheel, "Get in. You can't stay parked here for long."
Thea Lynch: "..." If you can't stay parked, then leave. Why call me?
"Hurry, I have something to discuss with you." Under his urging, Thea Lynch once again boarded the pirate ship.
"Still in contact with that Rhodes fellow?"
"?" Thea Lynch paused, she hadn't really been chatting with Norbert Rhodes these past few days. Also, how did Ian Preston know?
The man turned his head, his gaze deep: "That Rhodes fellow told the family he's very pleased with you. Are you two dating now?"