The Days Living with My Sister-in-Law

The torrential rain in Orchid State has been pouring down continuously for three days and three nights, casting a gloomy shadow over people’s hearts. Raindrops are dripping everywhere, and puddles and water rats are visible on the roads. Stepping out for even a short while is likely to leave one completely soaked.

“Damn it! My shoes are wet again!”

Kenley rushed into the entrance of Novada Building, his body enveloped in dampness. He folded his umbrella at the door and casually shook it twice before hurrying towards the elevator. Glancing at the digital watch on his wrist, it was 8:27 am. He had only three minutes left before being late for work.

“If the elevator works efficiently, I should still make it,” Kenley thought as he reached the elevator. There were already quite a few people waiting. Most of them were in a hurry, their bodies more or less drenched. Many were impatiently fidgeting, for one elevator was on the 24th floor, descending, and the other had just reached the 6th floor, ascending.

“It’s too late!”

Kenley’s office was on the 28th floor. It was clearly impossible to wait for the elevator and sign in on time within three minutes. The only option left was to take the stairs.

In fact, there was another elevator right next to them, parked on the first floor. However, no one dared to use it, as it was the exclusive elevator reserved for managers and above in Novada Group.

Without hesitation, Kenley dashed up the stairs through the fire escape.

He wasn’t the only one running up the stairs at this time. The entire corridor was filled with the rhythmic thud of footsteps. Running up 28 floors in three minutes was no easy feat; one would have to sprint at Olympic track-and-field speed to have any chance of making it.

One floor, two floors...

He passed several acquaintances on the way, but none of them were going as high as he was. Virtually no one was still running up the stairs above the 10th floor. In fact, the working hours of the R&D department of Novada Group where Kenley worked were flexible. Arriving a bit late wasn’t a major issue; one could simply leave work a bit later. However, the department had recently changed managers, and this new manager paid particular attention to punctuality. Being caught late would surely result in a severe scolding. On the first day the new manager took office, Kenley had been made an example of, having been a full hour and a half late. Now, he was under close scrutiny.

“Hey, buddy! Your speed is good enough to join a parkour competition!”

A male colleague, also huffing and puffing as he ran up the stairs, exclaimed when he saw Kenley dash past him.

Kenley glanced back. The face seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall the name. With no time to spare for conversation, he flashed a brief smile and continued his mad dash.

Upon reaching the 28th floor, he looked down at his watch. It was already one and a half minutes past 8:30. Looking up at the glass door of the R&D department, he saw an exquisitely beautiful white-collar lady glaring at him through the glass with a frosty expression.

“For god’s sake! Is this ever going to end? The same thing every day!” Kenley muttered to himself. He then placed his hand on the fingerprint scanner of the access control. With a soft beep, the glass door opened. Kenley braced himself and greeted,“Good morning, Manager Yilia!”

The woman standing at the door was Yilia, the newly appointed manager of the R&D department who had been transferred here just a week ago. This woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin was as delicate as silk, her eyebrows were like willow leaves, and her features were exquisitely charming. In particular, her voluptuous breasts, which appeared to be at least a 34D, her pert and shapely buttocks, and her long, elegant legs had captivated countless admirers both inside and outside the company.

However, at this moment, in Kenley’s eyes, this enchanting Manager Yilia was no less than a terrifying monster. There was not a trace of beauty to be seen, for he was all too aware of the situation that awaited him.

Sure enough, Yilia said expressionlessly,“Kenley, how many times have you been late? Since I arrived here, have you ever come to work on time even once?”

“Er...”

Kenley hung his head, rendered speechless. He had recently taken on an external order with a tight deadline. Almost every day, he was busy until two or three in the morning, making getting up in the morning an excruciating ordeal. The fact that he managed to come to work every day was already a great effort on his part.

Noticing that many of the R&D department colleagues were looking their way, Yilia let out a cold snort and said,“Come to my office!”

Kenley pursed his lips, feeling a sense of utter helplessness.

“It’s just a one - minute delay. I worked overtime last night. Is it really necessary to be so nitpicky?” he murmured softly.

Although he spoke in a low voice, Yilia clearly heard him. Her face darkened immediately as she said,“How many times do I have to tell you? Regardless of how things were before, now that I’m in charge of the R&D department, I don’t advocate overtime. As long as you complete your work during working hours, you can do as you please once the workday is over. Do you think I’m eager for you to work overtime? Those who can’t finish their tasks within the stipulated time are all...”

Just as Kenley was wallowing in depression, resigned to yet another daily lecture, a sweet voice called out from the side,“Kenley, the product department manager is on the phone. He wants to talk to you!”

Kenley turned to look at his close friend Sheila, who was sitting at her desk. A beautiful girl with big, mischievous eyes, she was waving the phone at him vigorously. When Yilia wasn’t looking, she even winked secretly.

Kenley understood. A faint smile flickered in his heart. He said to Yilia with a sincere expression,“Manager Yilia, look, this...”

Yilia stared at him for a moment and finally said,“Go ahead. Don’t let me catch you again. Otherwise, you know the consequences!”

“Yes, yes, yes. I’ll be more careful next time. Then I’ll go answer the phone!”

Kenley said and rushed over to answer the phone in a hurry.

“Hi, manager. Yes, yes... Mmm, I know, I know. Regarding this issue...”

Just as Kenley was talking animatedly on the phone, Sheila, who was sitting behind him, nudged him with her elbow and whispered,“She’s gone. Stop pretending. You’re so convincing. You really deserve an Oscar for your acting!”

Kenley looked up and saw that Yilia had indeed returned to her private office. He chuckled and immediately put down the phone, raising his hand to give Sheila a high - five.

It turned out that the so - called call from the product department manager was completely fabricated by Sheila. Her purpose was to rescue Kenley from Yilia’s sharp tongue.

Speaking of Sheila, she and Kenley had been classmates throughout their four - year college days. During their college years, they were inseparable confidants. After graduation, they both joined Novada Group. Thus, the tacit understanding between them was beyond doubt.

“How was it? Did you stay up late again last night?”

As Sheila spoke, she took out a yellow paper bag from her drawer. Inside was the breakfast she had prepared for Kenley.

“Yeah, this project is extremely urgent. There have been so many tasks in the company recently. I had no choice but to work late,” Kenley said as he opened the paper bag and took a glance. “Oh, an egg pancake! Sheila, you’re so good to me!”

This guy had been fond of egg pancakes since childhood. As a confidant who had known him for five years, Sheila was, of course, well aware of this preference. Watching him look so content while eating, a subtle tenderness flickered in her eyes.

“Although working on the project is important, you should also take care of your health,” Sheila said softly, looking at him.

“I’m fine. I’m in great shape. It’s just these few days. I’ll finish it in another couple of days,” Kenley replied.

Sheila let out a faint sigh and said, “I’m really not sure if introducing projects to you is helping or harming you!”

“What nonsense! Of course you’re helping me. Otherwise, I don’t know how I could have got through that period last spring. Well, since you care so much about me, how about treating me to a big meal after the project is delivered?” Kenley mumbled, his mouth full of scallion pancake.

Sheila nodded non - committally. “That’s nothing. It’s your money anyway. It’s a deal then.”

Sheila worked as a requirements analyst in the R&D department of Novada Group. She often interacted with some end - customers. Therefore, sometimes when she came across small projects from clients that the company didn’t consider worthwhile, she would introduce them to Kenley, which was what they called taking private orders.

Since these projects were usually completed by one or two people, the remuneration was quite substantial. If they were lucky enough to get a good project, it could be equivalent to half a year’s salary.

Originally, Sheila intended to introduce business to Kenley without taking a single cent. However, Kenley had his own principles and ideas. He insisted on giving her 50% of the profit. Since Sheila couldn’t persuade him otherwise, she reluctantly accepted 30%.

Over the course of a year, the two of them had taken on five or six such private commissions. When they added it all up, the earnings amounted to nearly a hundred thousand, with Tang Bin pocketing around seventy thousand. Naturally, this was the sort of thing that had to be kept hidden from the company—any discovery could very well lead to immediate dismissal.

Before they knew it, it was four o’clock in the afternoon. Kenley was programming a security trigger module when the mobile phone on the table rang. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Sister - in - law Maria. His brows furrowed immediately because she rarely called him during normal working hours. In the past year, she had only made a few calls, all of which were in case of emergencies.

So Kenley was taken aback for a moment before quickly answering the phone. “Sister - in - law, what’s the matter?”