Holy shit.
The IT department manager's eyes went wide. 'This Yang Hui is a real piece of work.'
The company has over 100 stores, and my entire IT department is just me and one other person. You want me to fix them all in one day? How am I supposed to do that?
He knew there was no way all 100-plus stores were lagging. This was just Yang Hui deliberately trying to mess with him.
But since the request was made, he'd have to run to each and every store to perform inspections. 'Wouldn't that work me to the bone? I'd probably have to work overtime tonight, too.'
It would be one thing if they were all in Qingzhou, but there were stores in other cities, too. How could he possibly cover them all in a single day?
But that was his problem. Yang Hui's only job was to make the demand.
One was a core department that brought in sales and profits; the other was a support department that provided services. The difference was stark.
When a core department had a request, you had to cooperate with all your might. Otherwise, if sales at any store were affected by the issue, the relevant support department would be held accountable.
He glared at Yang Hui's retreating figure. 'Let's see how long you can keep up this arrogance.'
'Once Fang Zheng gets promoted, with how bad things are between you two, do you think he'll let you off the hook?'
'I'd like to see if you're really that tough, if you can actually resist going to Fang Zheng to grovel and apologize today.'
On his way back to his office, Qin Hong approached him. It was obvious she had been waiting for him.
"Yang Hui, take my advice. Go and eat some humble pie with Fang Zheng today. You still have to make a living here, after all."
Not understanding her point, he glanced at the patch of pale skin below Qin Hong's neckline. It was getting more and more revealing.
'Looks like she's certain Fang Zheng is taking over as the regional general manager. I guess this is a strange kind of accidental success for him.'
'My resignation is making his dream come true. Shouldn't he be the one coming to thank me?'
Of course, he knew that was impossible. Fang Zheng was an incredibly arrogant man who carried himself with an air of "who else but me?" every day.
Only when he encountered someone of higher status would he instantly turn into a coward, better at sucking up than anyone else.
"No need. If I can't eat rice, I can always drink milk."
With that, he withdrew his gaze from her chest, walked past her, and returned to his office.
Qin Hong watched him go, thinking, 'What a shame. Yang Hui is so handsome and bad, it's adorable.'
After the encounters with the IT manager and Qin Hong, Yang Hui felt a bit on edge. It seemed like everyone in the company was talking about him.
He even overheard people discussing it.
"Do you guys think he'll go and surrender?"
"He probably will. Otherwise, his career is over. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head."
Back in his office, he had just sat down when there was a knock on the door.
A listless-looking Yang Na came in.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Yang Na mumbled, "I have no idea how *you* could sleep well."
"I came because the others sent me. They said that at dinner last night, Fang Zheng told them to pass on a message: he wants you to go to his office and bow down."
"In his fucking dreams."
'No wonder a few people told me to go see him on my way here. So that's what this is all about.'
'The nerve of him, telling me to go and grovel before him?'
"Boss, what's your plan? If you don't give in, you might not be able to work here anymore. I heard Fang Zheng is already planning to replace you."
"A new broom sweeps clean, and it's normal for him to replace the core department heads with his own people."
He suddenly remembered Xiaohe Wanwan's words: "Leave Ruijing. It's a vast world out there, with so much you can achieve."
"When the time comes, take me with you."
"Take you? Where?"
'I've only just decided to resign and haven't even planned my next step. And you already want to follow me? Do you have that much confidence in me?'
"Anywhere is fine. I just want to work with you."
He organized the documents on his desk and placed them in a file rack, all while looking at the worried expression clouding Yang Na's face.
"Don't overthink it. If I find a good opportunity, I'll let you know. You can decide then, okay?"
Yang Na read two meanings into his words.
First, her boss was definitely leaving the company. It seemed the result of the promotion contest was indeed not in his favor, and the outside rumors of Fang Zheng's victory were now a foregone conclusion. She couldn't help but feel it was unfair to him. In her eyes, Yang Hui was an extremely capable leader who also treated his subordinates well.
Second, Yang Hui had essentially promised that once he was settled somewhere else, he would let her know, and if she was willing, he would take her with him.
This made her feel a little better.
"Boss, let's go to a KTV party again before you leave."
'What for?'
Yang Hui was highly suspicious. 'Could she be the one who pulled my pants down when I was drunk at the KTV last time?'
"We'll see. You all can pick the place. We definitely have to have a farewell dinner."
They had all worked together, so of course he wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye.
After finishing his call, President Zhao called his assistant in. "Go get Manager Yang. And by the way, bring him the work handover materials I had you prepare."
The assistant was startled. 'What does this mean?'
President Zhao looked warmly at the assistant who had been with him for several years and smiled. "I will suggest to Manager Yang that he keep you on when he takes over this office. After all, you're already very familiar with the work of the General Manager's Office."
The message couldn't be clearer. 'Does President Zhao mean that Manager Yang is about to take over as the new general manager?'
This was completely different from the rumors spreading all over the company this morning. Of course, she believed President Zhao. After all, his connections at headquarters were unparalleled. His information was bound to be more accurate.
'Besides, if it wasn't a hundred percent confirmed, why would he be starting the handover for the general manager's duties right now?'
"That was the CEO on the phone just now. It's confirmed."
Sensing her confusion, President Zhao gave her a hint, hoping she would start building a good relationship with Yang Hui from this moment on.
On her way from President Zhao's office to the operations department, she was already thinking about how to get along with Manager Yang—the future President Yang.
Along the way, she heard people gossiping everywhere.
"Yang Hui still hasn't given in. He's probably going to face some nasty consequences."
"Heh, he's had it too easy for too long. He's forgotten how to read the room."
"We should visit President Fang more often these days. It's a way of taking a side."
Hearing this, the assistant laughed inwardly. 'A bunch of morons. Nothing's even been decided, and they're already scrambling to pick a side. This is going to be fun. They've all sided against the future general manager.'
Fang Zheng stepped out of his office, his gaze sweeping across the entire open-plan workspace like a king surveying his domain. 'From now on, this will be my territory.'
"President Fang."
"President Fang."
"Hello, President."
The other department managers had already started addressing him as their leader, and he thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being on top.
Just then, he saw President Zhao's assistant walking over and nodded. "Ah, Xiaowang, what's up?"
'Xiaowang? He used to call me Wang Zhu.'
She had also heard about the dinner Fang Zheng hosted last night. As President Zhao's assistant, she hadn't been invited.
Unsure where Fang Zheng got his confidence from, she sneered. "I'm going to get President Yang."
'President Yang?'
Fang Zheng paused for a moment before it dawned on him. Then, he said meaningfully, "Xiaowang, don't pick the wrong side."