Chu Zhishui spent a long time gently coaxing Jin Yu, finally finding out the reason for her heartbreak.
Jin Yu sobbed, "Director Hong just repeatedly warned us not to let the cat out of the bag, not to let you know about the monsters, but I was the first to mess up. I'm definitely going to get a scolding!"
Chu Zhishui looked puzzled, "Monsters?"
Jin Yu sniffled, "Yes, she said we can't let you know we're all monsters."
"You all?" Chu Zhishui froze, hesitating, "Is Director Hong also a monster?"
Jin Yu timidly lowered her head, "Currently, you're the only human in the bureau."
"..."
So Director Hong isn't human either!
So the Huaijiang Observation Bureau only has her as a human!
Chu Zhishui's mind was in a turmoil, and she asked, "Why can't I know?"
"They said you'd quit and leave," Jin Yu looked up, like a forsaken puppy, pleading earnestly, "Please don't quit, I'll get scolded."
Chu Zhishui met her pitiful gaze, her thoughts still in chaos, but she joked to lighten the mood, "Do you monsters use puppy eyes to keep people?"
Chu Zhishui was afraid of ghosts, which were hard to imagine, representing uncontrollable danger. But Jin Yu was a monster, crying like a child, not aggressive at all, not something to be feared.
Chu Zhishui wasn't afraid of concrete dangers; perhaps what she rejected was the intangible, the unknown, and the uncontrollable.
"Do you like dogs?" Jin Yu peeked at her, whispering, "Sorry, I'm a fish, otherwise should I ask Director Hong to recruit a dog?"
"Thanks for the thought, but that's not necessary."
Jin Yu's eyes started to well up again, her voice trembling, "Are you still going to quit?"
"Alright, wipe your tears, and stop bubbling, my coat is already damp," Chu Zhishui didn't directly answer, calmly saying, "Let's just forget this, I won't tell Director Hong about it, let's keep it our secret."
She hadn't decided about quitting, but there was a crying colleague to comfort.
Chu Zhishui felt picking on Jin Yu would be bullying, as the latter really had no complicated bad intentions.
Jin Yu was moved to tears, "You're so nice to me!"
"What's so nice about that?" Chu Zhishui raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You'll easily become fish on the chopping board in society like this."
"But I'm an inedible fish."
"..."
After resolving the crisis, Jin Yu was overjoyed. Before Niu Shi returned, she used some unknown method to clean up the room full of bubbles and even hung Chu Zhishui's damp coat in the sun. Fortunately, Chu Zhishui had arrived early and worn an extra layer in the morning, otherwise, it would have been troublesome.
Chu Zhishui asked curiously, "Do you always bubble?"
"Only when I can't control my emotions," Jin Yu uneasily lowered her eyes, fearing to be disliked, "Usually, I don't bubble."
Jin Yu had also revealed herself while struggling with the work spreadsheet.
Chu Zhishui nodded thoughtfully, also seeing Jin Yu, after a big cry, thirsty and going to the water dispenser for a drink.
However, Jin Yu didn't use a cup to get water; she didn't use the water dispenser at all. Instead, she opened a huge barrel of water in the corner, directly lifting the heavy barrel and "ton ton ton" drinking from it, her slender body bursting with unimaginable strength, the scene highly contrasting.
Chu Zhishui had just thought Jin Yu was harmless, but now she suspected that if Jin Yu twisted her, she could do it with one hand.
Soon, Niu Shi returned with a desktop computer, and Jin Yu's eyes flickered with guilt, but Chu Zhishui didn't mention anything.
Chu Zhishui thanked Niu Shi and didn't let him help, quickly assembling the computer herself, even crouching under the desk to tidy up the various cables. In no time, the new computer was connected to the printer, and the office software was ready.
Niu Shi marveled, "You're faster than me at assembling."
"Amazing!" Jin Yu admired, "I still don't understand it."
Chu Zhishui felt her face heat up, mainly because she thought these things were really nothing, but the new colleagues were greatly impressed, and she didn't know how to respond.
She also took a glance at the work spreadsheet that troubled Jin Yu. Initially, using Excel formulas to create a template and just filling in the numbers would do. In the future, even the formulas wouldn't be needed, just using the template would suffice.
Well, monsters didn't have university computer classes, so it was normal for them not to be proficient in office software.
Apart from colleagues being monsters, Chu Zhishui's first day at the Huaijiang Observation Bureau was quite leisurely. She set up her computer, helped Jin Yu with the spreadsheet, and even had time to write something outside. Although she had left Yinhai City, her resources and connections were still there, allowing her to do side jobs for extra income.
During lunch break, Chu Zhishui followed Jin Yu to the staff canteen and objectively evaluated the morning's work: "This place is great for slacking off."
It seemed she had never had such a laid-back job.
Jin Yu was taken aback, shyly lowering her head, her eyes flickering, "Do you want to touch me?"
Chu Zhishui was at a loss for words, about to explain that slacking off didn't mean that, but facing her colleague's hopeful gaze, she finally awkwardly patted the latter's head.
Oh dear, it felt like trafficking a minor monster.
"Is Jin Yu new too?" Chu Zhishui remembered Director Hong's introduction, recalling that Jin Yu wasn't senior in the bureau.
Jin Yu nodded, "Yes, if not counting you, I've been here the shortest."
"This year? Or last year?"
Jin Yu shook her head, "I came twenty years ago."
"..." Chu Zhishui paused, seeming to understand, "Alright, this job is really iron-clad."
After hearing this, Chu Zhishui wouldn't treat Jin Yu as a minor monster anymore, nor did she dare to ask how old the latter was, not wanting to embarrass herself with age.
The staff meals at the Huaijiang Observation Bureau were terrible, white rice with greens and shredded potatoes, plus a pot of milky rice soup, making one seriously doubt the ingredients were picked from the field outside. Although there were strict standards for canteen meals now, such food seemed overly frugal.
Chu Zhishui had little appetite, forcing herself to drink some hot rice soup to avoid an upset stomach in the afternoon.
Jin Yu ate with relish, perhaps fish found white rice delicious.
A day's work could be slacked off quickly, and it was soon five in the afternoon.
Chu Zhishui hadn't seen Section Chief Wu, only interacting with Jin Yu and Niu Shi. She noticed Jin Yu would bubble when bored, while Niu Shi browsed stock market information privately, likely trading stocks himself, evident from his name.
When leaving work, Jin Yu took out a long paper form, explaining the daily punch-in process to Chu Zhishui: "Write down today's work content before leaving, then sign and put it in front. Usually, the section chief checks, but he often forgets."
Chu Zhishui nodded understandingly, seeing two lines on the form, puzzled, "Is this for another person too?"
"We usually work in pairs, Section Chief Wu doesn't join us, so in theory, you should pair with someone, but he rarely appears, so if you can't find anyone, just fill in yourself," Jin Yu tilted her head, "I used to pair with Brother Niu, should I switch?"
"No need to trouble, filling this is quick," Chu Zhishui roughly understood that pairing was for mutual supervision, but honestly, there wasn't much work, so the supervision wasn't very necessary.
At the door, Wu Changgong suddenly peeked in, waving to Jin Yu, "Jin Yu, come here."
"He's nagging again before leaving work," Jin Yu grumbled, not daring to voice her complaints to the boss, then looked at Chu Zhishui, "You fill out and leave first, don't wait for me."
After Jin Yu left, Chu Zhishui quickly filled out the form, ready to pack up and go home.
Just then, a familiar figure suddenly walked into the logistics department.
The tall, slender black-haired youth walked in, seeing Chu Zhishui by the window, he paused. Today, he was still in black, one hand in his pocket, sleeves casually rolled up, revealing smooth arms and slightly protruding bones at the wrist, looking free and easy.
Chu Zhishui looked up and saw Xin Yunmao equally bewildered.
Xin Yunmao didn't seem inclined to greet, slowly lifting his leg, passing Chu Zhishui's spot, sitting at the third table by the window. That table had no computer, only scattered candies and candy wrappers.
Chu Zhishui felt her scalp tingle hearing the noise behind her, not knowing why every meeting with this monster was awkward, and since he hadn't participated in the morning self-introduction, they were currently in an unacquainted state.
In the office, there were no other colleagues present, only an unfamiliar figure and a nameless creature, with not even a single monster to mediate the situation.
Chu Zhishui wanted to leave work and go home, but seeing the form in her hand, she hesitated, feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. Jin Yu had suggested filling it out herself if no one was around, but what should she do now that she encountered a mysterious colleague?
After a moment, she took a deep breath, mustered her work social energy, and decided to resolve the matter quickly and leave the place.
Chu Zhishui slowly stood up, turned around, and placed the form on his desk, giving a polite and appropriate smile as she said amicably, "Would you like to fill this out?"
What happened yesterday was entirely a misunderstanding. Since they would be working together in the future, at least they should maintain a decent facade.
Xin Yunmao followed her actions and saw the department form. His eyes flickered with a hint of confusion, and he scrutinized her with his deep, dark gaze.
Chu Zhishui smiled back at him.
Xin Yunmao didn't say much; he instinctively looked around, but all he found on his desk were loose candies.
Chu Zhishui noticed what he was looking for and directly handed him the black pen she was holding.
He hesitated for a moment before taking it, his pale fingers long and slender. With a bold stroke, he signed his name, the handwriting flowing and powerful.
Xin Yunmao.
Chu Zhishui memorized his name and politely introduced herself, "Hello, I'm the new arrival, Chu Zhishui. I'll also be working in the logistics department. We met yesterday, at that time..."
"I know," Xin Yunmao looked at her and said calmly, "You're a good person."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Chu Zhishui responded in confusion, "Ah, yes, I am indeed human, quite different from you all."
Facing her bewildered expression, Xin Yunmao gently clasped his hands together and said indifferently, "I'm sorry, although you're a good person, I can't reciprocate that kind of human emotion."
Chu Zhishui was baffled, "That kind of human emotion?"
"Of course, rejecting you isn't due to your human identity; your conditions are very excellent," Xin Yunmao leisurely scanned her, expressing his approval in a gentlemanly manner and frankly admitted, "It's just that I won't fall in love with anyone, human or monster, so don't waste your time on me."
"???"
Chu Zhishui's mind buzzed loudly; she quickly raised her hand to stop him, "Excuse me for interrupting, but how did the conversation fast-forward to this point? I don't think I've expressed anything to you, have I?"
How did he suddenly give her a 'good person' card!?
"If I wait until you confess to clarify, won't you waste even more time and effort?" Xin Yunmao raised his eyebrows seriously, "Yesterday, you suddenly talked to me and even chased after me; today, you deliberately found a topic to communicate with me. I understand you haven't seen someone like me before, but it's better to clarify things in advance."
Xin Yunmao objectively analyzed Chu Zhishui's actions, concluding that she was deliberately trying to get closer to him.
"..."
Chu Zhishui suddenly realized why every encounter with him was so awkward; it was mainly because Xin Yunmao seemed to always think she had ulterior motives towards him!
Why was this male monster so confident!
Chu Zhishui was amused by him, "Actually, the conditions at Huaijiang City Hospital are quite good; they're very convenient for brain examinations, and if necessary, you can even transfer to another hospital."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid you don't pay attention to it, maybe you have some discomfort in your head that you don't even know about."
Like some kind of delusion.
Chu Zhishui never resorted to foul language; she felt her words were quite aggressive enough.
Xin Yunmao was silent for a few seconds; he lightly propped one hand on the desk, leaned back slightly in his chair, and said in surprise, "You're really quite persistent, but even if you show concern for me, we won't end up together."
"..."
Did he call that showing concern?
She was clearly being sarcastic! This monster who slipped through the cracks of the nine-year compulsory education!
Chu Zhishui didn't know if Xin Yunmao's head was really unwell, but she was about to get embarrassed on behalf of other monsters.
