That morning, just as Feng Yujie reached the office door, she heard Zhao Li say to Xue Yue, "Have you heard? Vice Minister Zheng brought his grandson to work today. Tsk, tsk, that’s huge news. But since he’s an elder of yours, you must have already known, right?"

"Known what?"

"That he has a grandson, of course! Don’t let Vice Minister Zheng’s age fool you. He might be a little older, but he doesn’t look it at all. From his face to his build, he looks like he’s only in his forties. He has a high position, he’s rich, and most importantly, he’s single. He’s the goal for so many middle-aged women. No, he’s a dreamboat for all women. There were rumors before that Vice Minister Zheng personally told someone he had a son. Well, now he’s brought his grandson here. A lot of dreams have been shattered!"

The corner of Xue Yue’s mouth twitched, her expression hard to put into words.

Just then, Feng Yujie walked in. Zhao Li fell silent instantly and went to her workstation to sit down.

Feng Yujie shot Zhao Li a look before going into her private office and closing the door.

Zhao Li glanced around the office and let out a long sigh of relief.

Feng Yujie put her bag on her desk, sat down, and stared at a spot on the table, lost in thought.

Zhao Li’s words echoed in her mind. She still found it hard to believe.

After she had been sitting for a while, the phone suddenly rang.

"Meeting in the conference room."

Feng Yujie composed herself, grabbed the materials for the meeting, and walked out.

"Xue Yue, come with me to the meeting."

"Okay, Sister Feng."

Xue Yue stood up, grabbed a pen and notebook, and quickly followed her.

When they arrived at the conference room, some people were already there, but the leaders hadn’t arrived yet.

Xue Yue sat down next to Sister Feng in the back.

When Zheng Guofeng came in holding Tun Tun, everyone stared, watching curiously as Vice Minister Zheng sat down at the front and placed the child on the chair next to him. His movements were practiced and natural.

Feng Yujie’s gaze remained fixed on Zheng Guofeng and the child beside him. Under the table, her nails dug tightly into her palm. Her heart ached, but none of it showed on her face.

After Minister Jin Shaoming came in, he also saw the child next to Zheng Guofeng and teased, "I thought I’d misheard. You really brought your grandson."

Zheng Guofeng smiled at him and took the opportunity to explain to everyone.

"My apologies, it’s a special situation. Please don’t mind, and don’t follow my example."

Everyone else replied, "It’s no problem."

Jin Shaoming patted Tun Tun’s little cheek, smiled, and sat down.

Xue Yue sat near the back. She watched Tun Tun at the front, playing quietly with his toys and not making a fuss, which made her feel a lot more at ease.

"Half the year has already passed. Today, we’ll summarize the results of the first half and discuss some future plans." Minister Jin began the meeting.

The various department heads began to speak one by one.

Xue Yue just quickly took notes.

Just as the discussion turned to collaboration goals for the second half of the year...

"Auntie!"

Tun Tun suddenly spoke out, his eyes fixed in Xue Yue’s direction.

Everyone froze for a moment, and they all turned to look at the child.

Zheng Guofeng turned to look at Tun Tun. "What is it?"

Tun Tun pointed in Xue Yue’s direction. "Auntie."

Zheng Guofeng knew he meant Xue Yue and said to him softly, "How about we go find Auntie later?"

Tun Tun hesitated for a moment before nodding, though his eyes remained fixed on Xue Yue.

At first, everyone just glanced in the direction he was looking. There were several women sitting there, so no one was sure who he was referring to, but they had all heard him say "Auntie."

The meeting ended when the leader said, "That’s all for today."

Zheng Guofeng stood up and lifted him down, and Tun Tun immediately ran toward Xue Yue.

Xue Yue was gathering her meeting notes when Tun Tun ran over and grabbed her hand. "Auntie."

Everyone in the conference room saw this, and a buzz of discussion immediately filled the room.

Zheng Guofeng walked over, lowered his head, and asked Tun Tun, "Do you want to go with Grandpa, or go with your Auntie to her office?"

Tun Tun looked at Xue Yue, who said to him, "Why don’t you go with Grandpa for now, okay? Auntie still has work to do."

’I’m not a boss,’ Xue Yue thought. ’I can’t get away with slacking off.’

Tun Tun nodded.

Zheng Guofeng took Tun Tun’s hand and then said to Xue Yue, "Let’s have lunch together."

Xue Yue nodded. "Okay."

Zheng Guofeng left with the child. Everyone else in the conference room looked Xue Yue up and down before leaving as well.

Feng Yujie stared at Xue Yue, her eyes filled with shock. For a moment, she stood frozen to the spot.

"Sister Feng."

"Huh?" Feng Yujie looked at her.

Xue Yue pointed to the door. "Should we head back?"

Feng Yujie glanced around the conference room; it was empty now.

"Let’s go." Then she strode out.

Xue Yue hurried to keep up.

Zhao Li watched Feng Yujie walk in looking preoccupied. She didn’t even respond when Zhao Li called out "Sister Feng," and went straight into her office.

Xue Yue walked in after her. Zhao Li leaned in curiously and asked, "What’s with Sister Feng? Did she get chewed out by a boss?"

Xue Yue shook her head.

Zhao Li glanced at the office door and said to Xue Yue, "That’s not normal."

Of course, Xue Yue knew. ’Sister Feng must have gotten the wrong idea.’

In fact, it wasn’t just Feng Yujie who had misunderstood; everyone had gotten the wrong idea.

Soon, the rumor that Xue Yue and Vice Minister Zheng were father and daughter spread throughout the entire department.

How did Xue Yue find out?

Because Meng Ye came to see her.

"Everyone’s saying you and Vice Minister Zheng are father and daughter. You really kept that hidden well. Vice Minister Zheng is actually your dad? How come you never said anything?"

Xue Yue shook her head helplessly. "Say what? This is the first I’m hearing of it, too."

Seeing her expression, Meng Ye asked, puzzled, "So, what everyone’s saying is wrong?"

"What do you think? Do we look alike?"

Meng Ye stared at Xue Yue for a few moments, then nodded. "You kind of do."

Xue Yue sighed, speechless. "No. I’m just his grandson’s auntie. We’re not father and daughter."

Meng Ye was completely baffled. "Are you even listening to yourself? Or is my brain just fried?"

Xue Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

"I can’t explain it all right now, but Vice Minister Zheng and I are not father and daughter."

Meng Ye nodded, but she still looked confused.

Zhao Li went out for a bit, and when she came back, she was looking at Xue Yue with a probing gaze.

Xue Yue didn’t have to ask to know why.

Zhao Li was just about to open her mouth to ask when Xue Yue cut her off. "I’m telling you, it’s not true."

The words caught in Zhao Li’s throat.

"Then why is everyone saying that?"

Xue Yue spread her hands. "That’s their own idea."

Zhao Li lowered her voice and said to Xue Yue, "There are also people saying you only got this job because of your connection to Vice Minister Zheng."

Xue Yue paused and looked at her.

Zhao Li blinked. "Hey, don’t look at me. I’m just telling you what other people are saying."

"My academic credentials are a matter of record. The bosses know how I got here. I don’t feel the need to explain myself. After all, you can’t stop people from talking."

It wasn’t surprising that people were saying such things, but Xue Yue had a clear conscience. She had always been careful to avoid suspicion at work, precisely because she feared this kind of misunderstanding. But now that the damage was done, she decided she might as well be open about it. She would greet Uncle Zheng when she felt like it and have a meal with him when she felt like it.