bioinnovel Chapter 89 The Gift of the Bento Box
Chapter 89 The Gift of the Bento Box
5:15 PM.
The CEO's office is located on the top floor of the Yintai Building.
Su Qingxue sat behind her desk, signing her name on the last approval document with the pen in her hand.
She capped the pen with a soft click, then tidied the documents on the left side of the desk.
This afternoon's work went very smoothly. The schedule that was originally expected to last until after 6 p.m. has now been completed ahead of schedule.
Su Qingxue leaned back in her chair and let out a soft sigh of relief.
She reached out and pressed the intercom button on the table.
"Secretary Chen, come in for a moment."
"Okay, Mr. Su."
A few seconds later, the glass door to the office was pushed open, and Secretary Chen walked in carrying a tablet.
"Mr. Su, what are your orders?"
Secretary Chen walked to the desk and asked.
Su Qingxue pointed to the documents on the left side of the table: "The approvals for this afternoon have all been signed. Take them to file and distribute them."
Also, is there anything else scheduled for today?
Secretary Chen glanced at the tablet and nodded: "No, President Su is gone."
It's already past five o'clock. Mr. Lin, the owner of the shop in the square downstairs, just sent a notice in the group chat saying that he will be setting up his stall on time today.
"Shall I grab the insulated container now and go downstairs to queue up for your fried rice?"
Whenever Lin Chen sets up his stall, Secretary Chen would go down to queue up early at this time, pack up the fried rice intact, and bring it up so that Su Qingxue could eat in the quiet office.
"No need to pack anything today."
Su Qingxue gently shook her head, stopping Secretary Chen.
"Don't you need to go?"
Secretary Chen paused for a moment, looking at Su Qingxue with some surprise. "President Su, you didn't eat much at noon today. How can your stomach handle it if you don't have Boss Lin's fried rice for dinner?"
"It's not that I don't want to eat."
Seeing Secretary Chen's nervous expression, Su Qingxue smiled and said, "Since the work is finished ahead of schedule, I won't eat in the office."
I'll go downstairs myself later and eat it at his stall.
Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.
"That's true. It's very humid outside today. If you bring the fried rice up in a thermal container, the moisture will definitely affect the taste. It's best if you go downstairs and cook it fresh yourself."
Secretary Chen smiled and echoed.
Su Qingxue nodded slightly, then remembered something and asked, "Did you buy the set of things I asked you to buy this morning?"
Bring it in so I can see it.
"I've bought it. It's right here at my workstation outside. I'll go get it now."
Secretary Chen turned and quickly walked out of the office.
Less than half a minute later, she returned, carrying a high-quality, unbleached kraft paper bag.
"Mr. Su, everything you requested is here."
Secretary Chen gently placed the brown paper bag on the desk.
Su Qingxue stood up and walked out from behind her desk.
"Take it out so I can check it."
Su Qingxue said.
"OK."
Secretary Chen reached out and took the contents out of the brown paper bag, arranging them neatly on the table.
The first thing presented was a set of beautifully bound children's picture books, tightly wrapped in transparent plastic film.
"Mr. Su, this is what I picked out at the largest children's bookstore in the city."
Currently, it's the best-rated hardcover picture book set on the market.
Secretary Chen pointed to the picture book and introduced it, "The content is about natural science enlightenment and character development."
The printing uses environmentally friendly soybean ink, and the paper is eye-friendly matte paper that is non-toxic and harmless, making it very safe for little girls to view.
Su Qingxue reached out and gently stroked the thick, exquisite cover of the picture book with her fingertips, nodding in satisfaction.
Then, Secretary Chen took out a rectangular, exquisite wooden box from the paper bag and placed it next to the picture book.
"These are drawing tools specifically for children."
Secretary Chen opened the box, inside which were thirty-six brightly colored markers neatly arranged. "Imported brand, emphasizing food-grade safety standards."
The brush tip is soft, and the formula is washable, so if children get drawing on their hands or clothes, it can be easily rinsed off with water.
Even if you accidentally bite the pen tip, it won't cause any harm.
Su Qingxue picked up one of the paintbrushes, carefully examined the safety label on the brush, and then put the brush back in the box.
"Thank you for your hard work, you were very careful in your selection."
Su Qingxue closed the paintbrush box again and placed it next to the picture book.
Secretary Chen looked at the two items on the table, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "President Su, you specifically asked me to buy this set of picture books and drawing supplies today, are they for Mr. Lin's little girl named Tangtang?"
"Um."
Su Qingxue put the picture book back into the kraft paper bag.
"President Su..."
Secretary Chen looked at the plain brown paper bag and truthfully voiced his doubts, "When I went to the mall this morning, I was actually thinking, is it a bit too simple for us to send this?"
Should we go to a luxury children's clothing counter and pick out a couple of high-end princess dresses?
Or buy a limited edition large toy set costing several thousand yuan?
It looks more formal to present it that way.
Su Qingxue paused for a moment after hearing this.
The image of the little girl with pigtails handing her a "bear-shaped rice ball" under the willow tree in the park on Saturday involuntarily flashed into her mind.
That was a little girl's unreserved sharing and kindness.
"Secretary Chen, giving gifts to children isn't about competing on price."
Su Qingxue looked at the brown paper bag on the table. "Clothes and toys are too personal items. Buying them at too high an price or the wrong ones will only cause trouble for the parents."
Su Qingxue raised her head, her gaze calm.
"Moreover, Boss Lin is a very principled person."
On Saturday, he wouldn't even accept payment for the lunchbox.
If I bring him expensive children's clothes worth tens of thousands of yuan today, it might make him feel guilty.
The gift loses its meaning once pressure is applied.
After listening, Secretary Chen nodded thoughtfully.
"Books and art supplies are educational items, which are both practical and thoughtful."
Su Qingxue also put the paintbrush box into the paper bag. "No father who cares about his child would refuse someone's kindness in helping his child grow up."
This is just the right balance.
"Mr. Su, you've thought this through very well."
Secretary Chen finally understood and said with a smile, "When I was packaging it, I deliberately didn't use those fancy gift boxes. I just used this kind of ordinary kraft paper bag. This way, it looks more natural to Boss Lin."
"Yes, the more ordinary, the better."
Su Qingxue glanced at the paper bag and picked it up.
"Mr. Su, since you're going to eat by yourself, I'll file the remaining documents and get ready to leave work."
"Go ahead, you've had a hard day," Secretary Chen said.
Su Qingxue casually gave a brief explanation.
She picked up the thin sun-protective jacket draped over the back of the chair, put it on, picked up the brown paper bag containing picture books and drawing tools, and strode out of the CEO's office.
After passing through the outside office area, Su Qingxue arrived at the elevator lobby and pressed the down button for her private elevator.
"bite."
The elevator doors slowly opened, and Su Qingxue stepped inside.
As the elevator floor numbers descended, her fingers gently caressed the handle of the brown paper bag.
She finished work early today because she didn't want to stay in the office eating fried rice in a plastic takeout container anymore.
She wanted to go to the stall herself, sit down, and eat the food freshly cooked.
Then, he personally handed this carefully chosen gift to the sweet-smiling little girl.