Song Jianzhang perfectly embodied shamelessness and rascality. Wen Ran simply didn't want to look at him anymore. She now understood - you can reason with people, but with this creature before her, reason was impossible.
Turning to the police officer, Song Jianzhang said with feigned innocence: "Officer, I want to be a good person now. Why doesn't this beautiful lady believe me?" His mannerisms disgusted even the officer, who sternly ordered: "Sit properly when speaking!"
"Fine, fine." Song Jianzhang lowered his legs and adjusted his posture.
Ultimately, since Song Jianzhang hadn't committed any illegal acts against Wen Ran, the police could only issue verbal warnings about relevant laws and regulations.
After signing the documents, Wen Ran walked out of the police station intending to hail a ride. Song Jianzhang followed closely behind, twirling his car keys.
His lecherous eyes raked over Wen Ran's figure as he whistled provocatively: "Wen Ran, right? Such a pretty name."
Wen Ran glanced at him coldly and quickened her pace towards the main road to flag down a taxi.
"Just take my car, I'll drive you home as apology," Song Jianzhang persisted, keeping pace. "Don't you think our little conflict counts as fate bringing us together?"
When she continued ignoring him, Song Jianzhang suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Wen Ran glared icily.
Smirking at the pretty girl who resembled a minor celebrity, Song Jianzhang teased with hands on hips: "Such a beautiful girl with such a temper! Let me treat you to ice cream to cool down?"
"I'll report you for harassment if this continues," Wen Ran warned.
"What? Is pursuing a girl illegal now?" Song Jianzhang scoffed arrogantly. "Go ahead and report me then! Do you have evidence?"
As Wen Ran remained silent, his tone turned wheedling: "Little beauty, let's bury the hatchet?" His gaze dropped as he reached for her hand: "How about a peace handshake?"
Wen Ran retreated, looking at him like he was vermin: "Get lost!"
Unfazed, Song Jianzhang continued: "You're all alone in Shanghai, so pitiful. Why not lean on me?"
Disgust churned in Wen Ran's stomach. She met his gaze with frosty determination: "Final warning - if you appear before me again, intentionally or not, I'll make you regret it."
The conviction in her cold stare gave Song Jianzhang pause. Could she have powerful connections?
Wen Ran swiftly hailed a taxi and left. She understood Song Jianzhang's harassment stemmed from perceiving her as a vulnerable outsider. Against someone stronger or higher-status, he'd cower. He was the type to bully the weak to satisfy his warped psyche - a textbook coward.
By showing strength, she hoped to deter him.
In following days, Wen Ran remained vigilant when returning home from overtime work, but Song Jianzhang didn't reappear.
During Thursday lunch with Li Wan, who was anxious about her upcoming meeting with Mrs. Wang that could determine her job fate, Li Wan sighed: "If I leave, I'll miss you. You're my first friend in two years here."
Friend? Wen Ran had worked here less than a month. To her, friendship required deep understanding like with Zhai Xinyi.
Changing the subject, Wen Ran advised: "Don't despair before results."
"Right!" Li Wan nodded vigorously, forcing a smile. "I should imagine success - impressing Mrs. Wang today, then achieving results with Jessica to qualify for the company's Apollo Jewelry Design Competition. Maybe even win top three, have my work auctioned high, then rise in design circles..."
Li Wan's rambling fantasy continued until Wen Ran's sudden question: "What qualifications?"
"Ah?"
"You said competition entry requires prior achievements? Why wasn't this mentioned in competition materials?"
Li Wan's confirmation felt like cold water dousing Wen Ran's head. Her plan to win the filigree incense box through the competition collapsed.
"What achievements are needed?"
"At least participation in high-end custom jewelry design."
Wen Ran's heart sank further. High-end designs were exclusively handled by specialized departments. Li Wan's current opportunity with Mrs. Wang only came from outstanding past work.
With competition preliminaries in late August - barely two months left - Wen Ran knew achieving this as a new product design employee was impossible.
All her confidence and determination crumbled. Her efforts for the filigree box now seemed foolish and impulsive. She felt like an idiot wasting months on this folly.
Failing to nap during lunch break, Wen Ran sat dazed at her desk post-lunch. The modern office buzzed with clicking heels and muted conversations.
She remained motionless until colleague Ivy returned, joking: "Slacking so openly?"
Wen Ran mechanically checked the time - 4pm.
Ivy asked: "Not drawing today?" She usually saw Wen Ran diligently sketching like a model student.
Wen Ran shook her head. What was the point now?
Before Ivy could inquire further, rapid heels approached. Xiang Xiaoyue stormed over, glaring venomously at Wen Ran.
Without warning, Xiang launched into public beratement: "How does an intern mess up simple document delivery? Do you know your mistake caused colleagues huge trouble? If you can't handle basic work, quit instead of making others clean up your mess!"
Her loud accusations drew entire office attention.
Wen Ran stood, meeting Xiang's gaze squarely: "How exactly did I trouble colleagues?"
Xiang sneered: "Last week's document delivery to Fushan Villa - the ring wax mold inside is missing!"
"That's not my fault! I didn't lose it!"
"Who else? That wax mold was crucial! Because of you, carving team must redo work under tight deadlines. You wasted the director's time!"
Wen Ran retorted coldly: "The sealed envelope was intact when delivered. The loss isn't my responsibility."
"Shirking blame?" Xiang challenged.
"Are you scapegoating me?" Wen Ran's counter silenced the office.
Flushing crimson, Xiang pointed accusingly: "Who knew such an innocent face hid such dirty tricks!"
Wen Ran pressed: "So you've decided to pin this on me regardless of facts?"
"How shameless can you be?" Xiang shouted.
"Who's truly shameless?" Wen Ran's face reddened with anger, prepared to argue fully when supervisor Chen Xing arrived.
After hearing both accounts, Chen Xing asked Xiang: "Why blame Wen Ran?"
"I checked everything was there when giving it to her!" Xiang pointed at Wen Ran. "She must've lost it!"
Wen Ran stepped forward: "Did you really check beforehand?" Noting Xiang's fleeting panic and raised voice, Wen Ran realized the truth - Xiang never included the wax mold. She tried exploiting the newbie as easy target, never expecting resistance.
A senior colleague interjected: "Xiang's worked here years. She wouldn't make such mistakes."
Absurd! Wen Ran found this logic ridiculous. Perhaps knowing her filigree box dreams were shattered, or overwhelmed by unfair accusations, she forgot her mentor's teachings about calmness.
She retorted sharply: "So senior staff never make mistakes?"
The colleague sneered: "Who's this noble act for?"
Ivy defended: "Wen Ran was being kind to help Xiang! What's she acting?"
"Kind?" Xiang rolled her eyes. "White lotus - pure face masking black heart."