"That is why I believe that kind-hearted people deserve to be rewarded."

After finishing his meal and resting for a while, Fang Qingye arrived at the entrance of the residential complex at 7:15 PM, right on time, and spotted a white BMW 5 Series parked across the street.

Recognizing it as Xia He’s private car, he walked over, placed his badminton bag in the trunk, and took the passenger seat.

The drive from the residential complex to the Yikangyuan Sports and Leisure Center took only about fifteen minutes. Once they arrived, they booked a court at the reception hall and headed toward the badminton arena.

Upon reaching the arena, they went to their respective locker rooms to change into sportswear. Fang Qingye was naturally quick, changing into his athletic gear in a few swift motions. After waiting at the entrance for several minutes, he saw Xia He emerge from the women’s locker room, and his eyes lit up.

He had never seen Xia He dressed so scantily. Setting aside her naturally full bust, her long, fair legs alone were enough to stir one’s imagination. Fang Qingye let his gaze linger on her legs for only a second before quickly looking away.

Carrying their badminton bags, they found their court. To his surprise, Fang Qingye noticed an older man and a younger man playing on the court one over. The older man appeared to be in his fifties, someone Fang Qingye didn’t recognize, but the younger man was Liu Dong!

Fang Qingye immediately realized what was happening: the guy was playing with his superior!

As the two were deeply engrossed in their game, Liu Dong noticed Fang Qingye enter and gave a brief nod in his direction as a greeting. Fang Qingye understood perfectly—one shouldn't interrupt a superior’s game—and nodded back.

Xia He, however, recognized the older man. She walked over with a smile and greeted him: "Department Head Wang, playing badminton?"

Department Head Wang saw Xia He as well, stopped his game, and wore a smile as he took the initiative to extend his right hand: "Yes, Branch Manager Xia, you as well?"

"That’s right, just out for some exercise this evening," Xia He said, shaking his hand.

Seeing the two chatting, Fang Qingye leaned in and said to Liu Dong in a low voice: "Not bad, playing with the boss?"

"Aren't you doing the same? I heard Department Head Wang call her 'Branch Manager'," Liu Dong countered.

*We are not the same,* Fang Qingye thought. *You’re doing it proactively; I’m being dragged along!*

Of course, it seemed pointless to say such things in this setting, so he changed the subject: "How does it feel to play with your superior?"

"It’s alright. Good thing I practiced with you for so long, otherwise, I’d be no match for our boss," Liu Dong replied.

"Practice makes perfect. Keep at it, and your level will rise. I bet before long, even your boss won't be able to beat you," Fang Qingye said.

"Heh heh... I wouldn't dare."

Xia He and Department Head Wang chatted for a few moments before parting ways. Fang Qingye didn't linger with Liu Dong either; he returned to his court and started playing with Xia He.

To be fair, Xia He’s badminton skills weren't bad at all; her fundamentals were solid, though she was slightly inferior compared to Du Juan, the teacher from Chaoyang Middle School.

However, playing with her was a much more pleasant experience. She had a beautiful face, a shapely figure, and fair legs, and when she ran, her movements were "bountiful and surging," unlike Du Juan, who was dark-skinned and lacked curves.

By the time they reached nine o'clock, Liu Dong and his superior had left, but Fang Qingye and Xia He continued playing until around nine-thirty.

Both were drenched in sweat, so they went to their respective shower rooms to bathe, changed back into their street clothes, and left the arena.

Because she had just showered, Xia He’s face was flushed, making her look exceptionally radiant. She seemed quite excited.

"That was so refreshing. It’s been a long time since I’ve played so heartily... Fang, what would you like to drink? My treat."

Fang Qingye originally wanted a beer, but felt it wasn't quite appropriate, so he changed his mind: "How about milk tea?"

"Sure."

There was a shop right there, a fairly well-known CoCo. Fang Qingye ordered an Iron Buddha Pearl Milk Tea with no sugar, which suited his taste.

He noticed, however, that Xia He didn't order milk tea; she just asked for a lemon tea.

"You don't like milk tea?" Fang Qingye asked, surprised.

Milk tea was something girls found impossible to resist; even he drank it occasionally.

"I do, but milk tea has too many calories. I’m afraid of getting fat," Xia He said, looking at the cups of milk tea with longing.

*Fat?*

Fang Qingye glanced at her again. Aside from her bust, she didn't seem fat anywhere else, did she?

"Senior, you aren't fat at all," Fang Qingye said with a smile. "Besides, it doesn't matter if you have one occasionally. People shouldn't deprive themselves."

"Alright... then I’ll take your advice." Xia He immediately turned to the busy clerk: "Beautiful, could you change the lemon tea to an ice cream black tea with two scoops?"

"Sure, please wait a moment."

After a while, the two drinks were ready, and Fang Qingye and Xia He sat at a small table in the shop, sipping them slowly.

"Fang, that young man playing with Department Head Wang earlier—I noticed you two were quite familiar. Is he a friend?" Xia He asked casually.

"Yes, he’s the one who called me that day to play badminton. A high school classmate of mine. He graduated from Jinling Normal University and passed the civil service exam last year to join the Committee on Aging, though he’s currently seconded to the Propaganda Department."

"The Propaganda Department is naturally much better than the Committee on Aging." Xia He took a sip of her tea and added, "Your classmate is quite smart; he knows how to cater to his superior’s interests."

"It’s all out of necessity. No choice," Fang Qingye sighed and lifted his cup.

He didn't reveal the details of Liu Dong’s situation. No one likes to have their plight laid bare to others.

Xia He looked at Fang Qingye and suddenly smiled: "Fang, you don't have to use these tactics to please me."

Fang Qingye glanced at her, said nothing, and thought to himself: *Please you? Is that even necessary?*

Seeing that he remained silent, Xia He took another sip of her tea and changed the subject: "Fang, your probationary period is about to end, and you’ll be assigned your permanent post next week. Are you sure you want to go to the General Office?"

"Yes, I’m sure."

"Sigh, I had always wanted you to go to the Credit Department... Well, fine, I respect your decision. I’ll let Zhang Rong go instead."

"What about Chen Meimei? Which department are you planning to put her in?" Fang Qingye asked, thinking of the lovely girl.

"I’m thinking of putting her in the audit group at the branch’s business office downstairs as an auditor."

Fang Qingye hadn't expected this arrangement from Xia He.

The branch’s business hall was on the first floor of the office building. The nature of the work was similar to the three savings offices under the branch, but because it handled corporate business, it was much busier.

He couldn't help but ask: "Senior, Chen Meimei works very hard and has been diligent in the investigation team. Why not assign her elsewhere instead of making her a teller at the business hall?"

Although an auditor had it slightly better than those at the service windows, the job was exhausting, and more importantly, working in the business hall meant having to meet deposit quotas!

"There are no other positions," Xia He said, spreading her hands. "The General Office and the Credit Department are the only ones short-handed; the other departments are full."

Fang Qingye was speechless. Suddenly, he remembered something and countered: "Senior, you told me back then that I could choose between the Credit Department and the Finance Department, so how come there are no positions now?"

"That’s because of you!" Xia He gave him a look, then added, "Sister Liu from the Finance Department isn't retiring until this time next year. I can arrange for you to get in early, but that doesn't apply to others."

After saying this, Xia He slowly continued drinking her milk tea.

"Then why is it Zhang Rong getting the Credit Department spot instead of Chen Meimei?" Fang Qingye asked again.

"Because Zhang Rong has shown more initiative and effort. You could say he is the most diligent of the three of you. I hear he frequently works overtime at night."

*Working overtime?*

*Slacking off during the day and leaving work for the evening to put on a show.*

Fang Qingye knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't want to bring it up; it was pointless.

He thought for a moment and said: "Zhang Rong is indeed active, but Chen Meimei has her own merits. If nothing else, she is very kind. Take the Tenglong Industrial deposit theft case, for example. I told Chen Meimei my theory at the time and specifically asked her not to tell you it came from me, yet she still told the truth."

"If she hadn't told the truth and claimed it was her own idea, would you have been grateful to her?"

Xia He nodded after hearing this.

"That is true."

"So, I believe that kind people should be rewarded," Fang Qingye concluded.