Return to Eighteen, the Spoiled Young Lady Acts Fierce with Her Beauty - Chapter 31: Donated Supplies

Chapter 31: Donated Supplies

The team leader clapped his hands: “Everyone, pause your work for a moment. We have a new intern joining our team.”

People in the office looked up and glanced over upon hearing this, then indifferently lowered their heads to continue with their tasks.

“Hello everyone, I’m Zhou Zhu, the new intern.” Through her mask, Mingzhu’s deliberately lowered voice sounded somewhat muffled.

Fewer than twenty people were seated in the office, and the scattered applause lacked enthusiasm.

Mingzhu had casually tied her hair into a low ponytail, and large black-framed glasses almost completely concealed her distinctive beautiful eyes. Though the simple white shirt and jeans couldn’t entirely hide her excellent figure proportions, overall she appeared to be just an ordinary intern.

“You can sit over there,” the team leader pointed casually toward a corner, his businesslike tone carrying obvious detachment.

He couldn’t figure out the background of this parachuted intern, only knowing she had been assigned to their team by HR. The supervisor had specifically requested that she participate in the supply verification work as well. By convention, such important tasks wouldn’t normally be assigned to an intern.

He had even approached the supervisor to sound out the situation. “The company just established a new policy to provide more training opportunities for newcomers. Our department needs to lead by example,” the supervisor had said before returning to his documents, clearly unwilling to discuss further. The team leader didn’t press the matter.

After all, even if she did have connections, it didn’t matter – he had plenty of ways to handle it. Just a fresh-out-of-school intern. If she talked too much, he’d warn her; if that didn’t work, he could simply have her removed.

He never would have dreamed that the esteemed young lady of the Ming Group would condescend to visit incognito.

To Mingzhu’s left sat a man around thirty years old, wearing a wedding ring on his ring finger with a family photo on his desk. In the picture, the man held an adorable baby while a gentle-looking woman stood beside him.

Noticing Mingzhu’s gaze, Wang Hao followed it to the photo frame and introduced himself kindly. “Hello, I’m Wang Hao. This is my wife and child.”

“How old is the baby?” Mingzhu asked casually.

“Just turned two,” Wang Hao replied, fine wrinkles appearing at the corners of his smiling eyes as he gently rubbed the glass surface of the frame.

Mingzhu nodded: “Very cute.”

“Thank you,” Wang Hao responded politely before quickly burying himself in paperwork again.

Soon, only the sound of keyboard tapping remained in the office.

Mingzhu scanned the room and noticed photo frames on many desks.

Before long, the team leader returned with a list. “Those assigned to verify the mountain area donated supplies at the warehouse are: Wang Hao, Lin Xia, Dong Ting, Zhou Zhu…”

Many in the office looked up at Mingzhu’s unfamiliar face after hearing the list. The atmosphere grew somewhat silent momentarily, but no one commented.

As Mingzhu followed several people out, she specifically noted that among the five named individuals, three had family photos with children on their desks. More interestingly, most people in the office were middle-aged men and women in their thirties and forties – precisely the age group with elderly parents above and young children below, most in need of stable income.

If this were coincidence, it would seem rather forced.

The team leader arranged a minibus to take everyone to the warehouse. Mingzhu remained completely unaware that as an intern, she should have been the last to board the vehicle.

The moment the car door opened, she walked straight in and took a window seat.

This was her first time riding this type of passenger vehicle, and everything felt refreshingly novel.

Mingzhu curiously examined the interior layout plastic seats, simple handrails, and small overhead fans.

The cabin carried a stuffy, turbid smell of gasoline.

Fortunately, wearing a mask made the odor less overwhelming.

Mingzhu was somewhat surprised to find her adaptability had improved significantly.

In the past, she wouldn’t have lasted a minute in such an environment.

Team Leader Li’s smile froze briefly before quickly returning to normal.

He boarded casually and took the seat next to Mingzhu.

Mingzhu frowned slightly, discreetly shifting closer to the window.

She didn’t like people getting too close.

Soon after everyone was seated and the vehicle started moving,

Team Leader Li suddenly called out warmly, “Xiao Zhou.”

Mingzhu withdrew her gaze from the window and turned to look at him.

“You just graduated, right?” Team Leader Li smiled kindly.

Mingzhu nodded, unsure of his intention.

Team Leader Li lowered his voice, “Here’s the thing when we get to the warehouse, just treat it like a casual visit. No matter what you see, keep quiet. Later, I’ll give you an excellent rating on your internship certificate.”

He added with a meaningful wink.

For an ordinary intern, such an offer was indeed tempting.

An outstanding internship certificate from the Ming Corporation would be a golden credential for future job applications.

Mingzhu didn’t answer immediately, her eyes first sweeping over the other five people in the vehicle.

Each of them looked perfectly calm, clearly accustomed to such arrangements.

“Really? Thank you, Team Leader.” Mingzhu smiled.

Team Leader Li smiled back, satisfied.

The warehouse was located in the suburbs, not too far about a twenty-minute drive.

Upon arrival, seven or eight heavy-duty trucks were neatly parked in the open area outside the warehouse.

Each truck bore a striking red banner: “Ming Corporation Donates 100 Million Yuan in Supplies.”

The supplies were still stored inside, awaiting their final inspection and verification.

Once the check was complete, all materials would be loaded and transported to their destination.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, the person in charge came out to greet them, familiar with Team Leader Li. “Team Leader Li, long time no see.”

Team Leader Li replied with a smile, “Yes, yes, it’s been a while.”

The person in charge’s gaze lingered briefly on Mingzhu, a stranger, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He pulled Team Leader Li aside, and the two conversed in hushed tones.

Though their words were inaudible, the frequent glances directed at Mingzhu made it clear she was the topic.

Soon, the two returned arm-in-arm, wearing insincere smiles.

“Come on in, the supplies are all inside,” the person in charge said warmly, though his eyes kept drifting toward Mingzhu.

Even after Team Leader Li’s explanation, he still seemed uneasy.

Mingzhu followed Team Leader Li and the others into the warehouse.

A mixed scent of cardboard and plastic wafted over her.

The spacious warehouse was filled with various supplies, all neatly sorted and arranged on the floor.

“These are donations for schools in the mountainous regions,”

the person in charge explained enthusiastically, pointing to rows of boxes stamped with the Ming Corporation logo.

Mingzhu curiously approached the boxes and reached out to open one, but Team Leader Li quickly stepped forward to stop her.

“Hey, Xiao Zhou,” the team leader said with a beaming smile, though his voice was hushed, “these have already been checked and counted, so let’s not disturb them.”

Mingzhu blinked and withdrew her hand.

She noticed the team leader and the person in charge exchanging a glance.

The other colleagues had scattered.

Some went to inspect supplies elsewhere, while others began taking photos for documentation.

Mingzhu nodded compliantly and walked toward another area.