C13 Accompanying the Leader out

Upon waking the next morning, Huang Feng's first act wasn't to dress or freshen up, but to check the storage box. Yet again, there was no discovery; no treasures had materialized. Everything he had placed inside remained untouched, not a single item missing.

"Maybe I'm just too greedy," Huang Feng chuckled at himself, shaking off the disappointment. "It hasn't been that long, and last time there was a day's gap between finds." With a lighter heart, he let go of the matter.

Freshened up, Huang Feng stepped out and grabbed four buns for breakfast on his way to work. After yesterday's tardiness, he was determined not to be late again.

"Hey, you look like you've struck gold, the way you've been grinning non-stop since you got here," Brother Wang remarked as he approached Huang Feng in the security office. They weren't on duty until the afternoon, so they were both lounging in the office with little to do.

"Is it really that noticeable?" Huang Feng asked, touching his face unconsciously.

"You might as well have 'I'm thrilled' written across your forehead," Brother Wang teased.

"I found a hundred yuan on my way to work this morning," Huang Feng shared.

"Tsk, and here I thought it was something big. You're this happy over finding a hundred yuan?" Brother Wang couldn't hide his incredulity.

"Brother Wang, it doesn't take much to satisfy me. If I could find a hundred yuan every day, I'd always be this cheerful," Huang Feng replied with a grin.

"Dream on about finding a hundred yuan every day," Brother Wang scoffed. "You're lucky to stumble upon such luck even once, and you're here hoping for it daily? You've got quite the imagination."

Just then, the Security Department's manager entered, clapping his hands to gather attention. "Quiet down, everyone. I've got an announcement. The Ivy Cup soccer tournament is coming up, and Director Su wants our department to have a strong showing. I assume everyone, except for the newcomer Huang Feng, is already familiar with the event. Huang Feng, you can get the details from Old Wang. I won't go into it further. If anyone is interested in participating, let me know before the end of your shift today."

"A soccer tournament?" Huang Feng was curious. They were supposed to be working, so why were they talking about entering a soccer tournament?

"Look, Huang, since you're the new guy, you might not be aware, but the government is really pushing soccer these days. That's why they organize competitions like the Ivy Cup every year. They encourage all sorts of enterprises within the province to get involved. Teams come from private businesses, state-owned companies, and various government agencies—there's a pretty big turnout. Our company, being one of the major players in the province, sends a team annually. But let's be real, we're mostly there to make up the numbers. We've never even cracked the top 16," Brother Wang explained.

Huang Feng nodded, signaling his understanding. He couldn't help but be impressed by the company's commitment; despite his experience working at several companies, this was a new concept to him.

"You're familiar with our company's dynamics—there's an imbalance, with fewer men and most not as physically robust as us. That's why our Security Department ends up supplying most of the squad for these competitions," Brother Wang continued.

That didn't surprise Huang Feng. The security staff were often seen as just a façade, but they were generally in better shape than the desk-bound office workers, so their participation in the competition made sense.

"So, what do you say? Interested in joining the competition? If you make a good impression, you might catch the eye of some of the female staff from our company or even other companies. The company usually arranges for a group to attend the matches, both to support the event and to root for our team," Brother Wang offered enticingly.

"Me? I think I'll pass. I could manage basketball, but soccer? I've never played it before," Huang Feng declined, shaking his head. Back in college, he'd frequently hit the court with his dorm buddies. They weren't exactly pros, but at least he was familiar with the game. Soccer, on the other hand, was a complete mystery to him—he didn't even know the basic rules.

"Well, that's a shame. Even though I can't get involved with those women, catching their eye on the field isn't too bad," Brother Wang remarked. It was clear that despite his advice to Huang Feng to keep his thoughts about the company's female staff in check, any man would naturally find it hard not to fantasize with so many beauties passing by daily. The trick was simply not to let it show.

The football matter had sparked quite a buzz in the security office, with several regulars in the competition already planning a post-work training session.

Suddenly, a woman entered the office, and the room fell silent.

"Manager Zhang, what brings you here? If you need anything, just call us. We'd be happy to come to you," someone said, rushing forward to greet the woman with utmost courtesy. Manager Liu had stepped out after discussing the football issue, leaving no one officially in charge. The man who approached her was quick on his feet, seizing the opportunity to engage.

"No worries. The departments are close by, and it's a nice break for me," the woman replied. At that moment, Huang Feng and Old Wang turned their attention to the newcomer. Huang Feng recognized her immediately—it was Zhang Yun from Human Resources, the same person he'd spoken with the day before, and she was a supervisor.

After scanning the office, Zhang Yun's gaze landed on Huang Feng, and she nodded in acknowledgment. "Director Su has to step out and requires someone from here to assist with a few tasks," she announced.

The crowd's eyes lit up with anticipation as they looked at Zhang Yun. Everyone was keen on the opportunity—not only for some one-on-one time with the attractive manager but also to make an impression on their superior. No one was about to let this chance slip by.

As someone was about to volunteer, Zhang Yun addressed Huang Feng directly, "Huang Feng, you'll go. Can you drive?"

All eyes turned to Huang Feng, filled with envy and jealousy. They were itching to be in his shoes, but with Zhang Yun's direct nomination, no one dared to voice their desire to take his place.

Huang Feng was taken aback by Zhang Yun's direct mention of his name. Unsure why she had singled him out, he assumed Zhang Yun had chosen him at random and responded nonchalantly, "Sure, I can do that. I got my driver's license back when I was studying."