Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 27 This move is a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

Upon entering Bai Xiuyi's room, one could see several pieces of black underwear hanging outside the closet.

Bai Xiuyi blushed and hurriedly put it away.

Lin Chen didn't pay any attention to these things. He took out a piece of paper and a pen, drew a diagram, and then began to explain.

Bai Xiuyi rested her chin on her hand, listening attentively to Lin Chen's explanation, occasionally asking questions.

"Is the valve not lubricated?"

"No, the outlet is fine. The problem is with the rubber gasket at the inlet. It's the wrong size, so the seal isn't tight, which is why the pump is making noise." Lin Chen said, while drawing the location of the rubber gasket on a piece of paper.

"So, the rubber pad at the inlet is the real killer?" Bai Xiuyi straightened her back and subconsciously covered her slightly open mouth with her hand, a gesture that made her appear somewhat charming.

"Yes, that's right," Lin Chen nodded. "It's stuck in a very hidden place, you can't see it with your eyes, and it's hard to find unless you feel it carefully. You'd better reach for it with your hand."

"My God, who would have thought!" Bai Xiuyi murmured, her gaze involuntarily shifting from the blueprints to Lin Chen's face. As he focused on explaining, his brows furrowed slightly, his eyes bright and determined, and the clean, sharp lines of his profile made him strangely handsome.

"But you have to be careful when you're troubleshooting. Don't use too much force. It's very thin, and damaging it will affect the subsequent troubleshooting." Lin Chen continued to mark the key points on the drawing. His focused appearance had a unique attraction, which gently touched a chord in Bai Xiuyi's heart.

She's in her thirties and has worked diligently at the company for many years, but she's always been ostracized. Her boss always says she's "all looks and no brains" and treats her like a pretty face, even though she's clearly more hardworking than many of her male colleagues, she never gets any recognition.

"Thank you for telling me all this, Lin Chen." Her voice softened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible intimacy. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the confidence to go in and take the exam this afternoon."

"You're welcome. We're all one family in the water company," Lin Chen said with a smile, his tone sincere.

"By the way, do you have a partner for tomorrow's two-person practical exam?" Bai Xiuyi hesitated for a moment before asking. Tomorrow's exam is a free pairing process; if you can't find a partner, the examiners will randomly assign one.

"Not yet." Lin Chen shook his head.

Bai Xiuyi's eyes lit up, filled with anticipation: "Then...can you be in my group?" Having witnessed Lin Chen's abilities just now, she knew that partnering with him would greatly increase her chances of passing the exam. It was like clinging to a powerful patron, and she didn't want to miss this opportunity.

"Sure, no problem." Lin Chen agreed casually. He didn't have any requirements for his partner. He just wanted to do his best. Whether he passed or not wasn't that important to him.

Bai Xiuyi stared into Lin Chen's eyes, asking somewhat uncertainly, "Aren't you afraid I'll hold you back?" In this kind of situation, few people would choose a girl as their partner, since girls are generally not as capable as boys in practical matters. She was truly touched that Lin Chen was willing to trust her.

"How could that be? I'm afraid I'll be a burden to you." Lin Chen smiled, and when he looked up, he met her gaze. Her eyes were bright, as if they were shimmering with water, clearly reflecting his own image.

The two stared at each other for about two seconds, and a silent emotion spread in the room. Bai Xiuyi lowered her eyelashes first, a little embarrassed, and her ears turned slightly red, making her look particularly shy.

Only their breathing filled the room, and a certain inexplicable feeling quietly grew between them. Lin Chen felt a slight flutter in his heart, and quickly coughed lightly to change the subject: "How many times have you taken the advanced qualification exam?"

"This is the fifth time." Bai Xiuyi's voice carried a hint of sadness that echoed softly in the quiet room.

"If you fail the test again this time, will you take it again?" Lin Chen asked, trying to make conversation, feeling that the two of them sitting there was a little awkward.

Bai Xiuyi laughed self-deprecatingly: "If I fail the exam again, I might really go crazy."

Lin Chen was somewhat puzzled: "Is this certificate really that important?"

"I don't know about your company, but where I'm from, this certificate is a form of hard currency." Bai Xiuyi's voice carried a hint of weariness. "You need it to become a specialist, you need it for a raise, and you can't get promoted to an expert. Without this certificate, others can easily block you and make it impossible for you to move an inch. So everyone will go to great lengths to get this certificate; you probably really can't understand it."

Their company leaders, in order to demonstrate their management performance, made this certificate a rigid requirement. What was originally intended as a good thing to motivate everyone to improve ended up suffocating people. Reality is that cold; she was a woman with no background or connections, and could only rely on her own hard work. Fortunately, she was blessed with good looks, and many leaders coveted her figure, even hinting that they would help her pass the exam if she was willing to be their mistress.

But she never gave in. But if she fails this time, she really doesn't know if she can withstand the pressure and temptation.

"I understand." Lin Chen's tone became heavy. "This society is just that cruel, always pushing normal people to the brink. I can't guarantee we'll make it through as your partner, but I'll do my best to help you."

"Thank you, Lin Chen." Bai Xiuyi's eyes were a little hot.

"Then you get ready, I'm going back." Lin Chen stood up. He felt that the atmosphere in the enclosed room was a bit subtle. If he stayed any longer, something out of control might happen.

"I'll take you." Bai Xiuyi stood up as well, but as soon as she took a step, her trouser leg accidentally got caught on the chair leg. She gasped and fell forward.

"Be careful!"

Lin Chen reacted quickly, reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist. His arm passed right through her chest, and through the thin fabric, they both clearly felt the warmth of each other's bodies, their hearts racing simultaneously.

Bai Xiuyi did not immediately break free. She looked up and met Lin Chen's gaze, which was so close to hers, and her heart pounded like a deer.

Lin Chen didn't have the nauseating smell of cigarettes and alcohol that other leaders had. Instead, he had a clean and refreshing aura, like sun-dried hay, which made people feel at ease and comfortable.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Bai Xiuyi noticed that Lin Chen's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and there was a struggle in his eyes, as if he was trying his best to suppress something.

She gently bit her lower lip, her eyes becoming exceptionally hazy. Suddenly, she didn't know where the courage came from, but she stood on tiptoe and gently pressed her warm lips against hers.

Since breaking up with Chen Ya, Lin Chen has remained single and has no intention of dating again.

He felt that dating was a waste of money.

This situation was somewhat unexpected for him.

But they're all adults.

He did not resist.

He froze for two seconds, then closed his eyes.

If we don't include this, we won't be able to explain it to our readers.

Moreover, no matter how you look at it, this move is a win-win situation.