Lin Xi blushed. "If I can’t beat you up, I’ll just bite you. My teeth are very sharp."
Xue Yang laughed. "Yes, I’ve experienced that. They really are sharp. I’ve already told my mom to bring more chicken legs over so you can take your ti biting."
"Ah, really?"
At the thought of chicken legs, Lin Xi’s eyes imdiately lit up and sparkled, the very picture of a foodie.
Seeing her like this, Xue Yang had for a mont been worried she might not get along with Mrs. Zhong. But then again, how could a person passionate about cooking not get along with soone who loves to eat?
"Xiao Xi, my mom said she wants to bring you ho during the sumr break."
Lin Xi’s face lit up with delight. "Really?"
"Really. My mom likes you a lot and can’t wait to et you."
Lin Xi’s eyes curved into a smile. "I like your mom, too."
"How can you be sure you like her if you’ve never even t her?"
Lin Xi squinted. "Your mom is getting chicken legs to eat, so of course I like her. It looks like the rain has stopped. I need to go to class, so I’ll ssage you when I’m done. Oh, and don’t let Si Wen know there are chicken legs, or she’ll try to steal them."
"Okay."
This little girl really knows how to hold a grudge.
After hanging up the video call, Xue Yang put his phone aside. The rain wasn’t as heavy as it had been. Although the sky was still dark, a patch of it had cleared, revealing twinkling stars. After the rain, even the stars seed to shine brighter.
Just then, his phone rang again. This ti it wasn’t a video call but a regular one. It was Si Wen.
Xue Yang picked up his phone and answered the call.
"You can still answer your phone. Looks like you’re not a lost cause yet."
Of course I’m not a lost cause. I’ve already taken the antidote.
"You found out?"
Since Si Wen was calling, Xue Yang guessed she must have found out what Wu iju did today. After all, Si Wen owned the company—how could she be completely unaware? He suspected Jennifer had been the one to tell her.
"Why are you being so polite to soone like her? Just fire her. You don’t need to spare her on my account."
Xue Yang’s eyes flickered. "Let’s not fire her yet. I already have a plan to deal with her."
Si Wen asked uncertainly, "You really thought of sothing?"
It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. It was just that the problem had been festering for the half a month she’d been away at school, and today’s incident was rely the tipping point.
"Of course. Trust ."
"Alright then. The next ti I’m back on break, if you haven’t handled it, I’ll fire her myself. When I fire soone, she won’t be able to get by in Yancheng anymore."
"Okay."
"As long as you’re okay, that’s what matters. I’m off to class now."
Although Si Wen didn’t know much about company operations, she had grown up around the business, so she’d picked up a few things. She hadn’t wanted to deal with Wu iju before, letting her jump around as she pleased, but now the woman had gone and bullied Xue Yang. How was that any different from bullying her? After all, Xue Yang was the executive director she had personally appointed. So people were like that. Give them an inch, and they forget their place. Gradually, they start to think they’re really sothing special, that the company can’t function without them. They never stop to think that if it weren’t for their position, how many people would actually give them the ti of day? Sticking a few feathers on yourself doesn’t make you a phoenix.
Xue Yang placed his hands on the steering wheel and looked ahead. The rain had stopped completely, leaving only streaks on the ground and vibrant green branches full of life. The rainwater was rapidly converging, flowing into the drains below, heading toward broader rivers and, eventually, the sea.
Xue Yang started the engine and headed ho. At this hour, both his studio and Chao Clothing were closed for the day. Perfect. He would go ho early, get a good night’s rest, and prepare for the tough battle ahead tomorrow.
「anwhile.」
Inside Chao Clothing, the lights of the sales departnt office were blazing. About twenty people were gathered inside, all from the sales departnt, including both online and offline staff.
"Today, I went to Yanbei. Xue Yang has decided to set up a street stall at the university there. The booth is already built, and he’s officially starting tomorrow."
At her words, a stir went through the crowd.
"Has he gone mad? Setting up a stall at a university? What does he think our clothes are, garbage?"
"Is no one going to stop him? If he keeps this up, he’ll eventually run the company into the ground."
"Exactly. The big boss is being too reckless."
Apart from a few senior executives, no one at the company knew that Si Wen was a high school student. They only knew that she was very busy and mysterious, never appearing in the company for matters big or small, and leaving everything for the executives to handle. These employees all listened to the executives. Xue Yang’s arrival had completely disrupted everyone’s plans. The one most severely affected was Wu iju, whose authority had been practically nullified. It was for this reason that she was trying every trick in the book to get Xue Yang kicked out. The fact that she had resorted to the most despicable thods showed just how desperate she had beco.
She was very satisfied with their reactions.
"I poured so much effort into elevating our company to the status of an affordable luxury brand. A single decision from Xue Yang has rendered all our past work aningless. It breaks my heart. But he’s the executive director appointed by the big boss, so I can’t say anything. I can only watch as he pushes the company toward ruin, step by step.
"Today, I really couldn’t hold back any longer, so I gathered everyone to resist together. Raise your hand if you’re willing to join in protesting to Xue Yang tomorrow."
Wu iju raised her hand and scanned the room.
Protest to the executive director? That required careful thought. After all, they weren’t managers whose dismissal would require the big boss’s approval and who would get a bigger severance package. They were just small fries. If they caused a public disturbance, they might not get any compensation at all. What if they suffered a double loss, losing their jobs and getting nothing in return? The risk was too great.
Just then, Ling Qiongqiong stood up. "Manager Wu, I’m with you. Xue Yang has gone too far. I believe the big boss wouldn’t want him to be so reckless either."
Wu iju nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent, Qiongqiong. You’re doing the right thing. We can’t let soone like Xue Yang ruin our company. The big boss will rember you for this."
With Ling Qiongqiong taking the lead, others began to raise their hands. Most of them were young and inexperienced, acting on sheer passion and getting carried away with the crowd.
Only five or six people remained on the fence, watching. They either ca from families that weren’t well-off and couldn’t afford to switch jobs, or they had elders and children at ho and couldn’t withstand the financial blow.
Only one person spoke up for Xue Yang. She was a young woman of about twenty-four with a delicate appearance, wearing a pair of scholarly glasses.
"I think if the big boss chose Xue Yang to be the executive director, there must be a good reason for it."
"Xiang Qing, I understand," Wu iju said dismissively. "You’re not really a mber of the sales departnt. You were only assigned here because you handle online custor service. Your salary is structured differently from ours, so it’s understandable that you would side with Xue Yang."
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