Although it was winter, all the unmarried female colleagues in the conference room were dressed in spring-like attire, radiating youthful energy. The most outrageous was a certain newcomer sitting next to her; from her angle, it was almost impossible to tell whether she was wearing anything underneath her white blazer with a large lapel.
Qian Duoduo's eyes swept over the still empty first seat, and she suddenly realized what was going on. She then quickly pretended to rub her eyes while looking down to hide her helplessness.
Sisters, don't waste your energy. That man is the worst of beasts, definitely not a normal candidate for a good husband or wife. You need to open your eyes wide.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Xu Fei spoke concisely, and his opening remarks were very American-style humorous, which caused laughter to erupt several times in the conference room within just a few minutes.
UVL is a well-organized international company, and its work did not stop because of the departure of the former director. Xu Fei then briefly inquired about the progress of the work of several project managers.
At the Monday meeting, all the project managers in charge gathered together. Xu Fei had a smile on his face, but every question he asked hit the nail on the head, and the data he obtained was very accurate. Later, all the managers started to secretly wipe their sweat, fearing that they might say something wrong and ruin their first impression.
He didn't say much during the summary. The screen showed his requirements and deadlines for each project, as well as some comments he added immediately after listening to the report.
Finally, he stood up, looked around at everyone in the conference room, and smiled. “The company highly recognizes the work of the former director. The projects she completed during her tenure received excellent market feedback. Now, the projects under the two senior managers are nearing completion. The proposal for the next project will be submitted to the head office by the domestic marketing department based on these successful precedents. This will be one of the biggest moves in the Asia region recently. I hope everyone can work together to achieve a resounding success.”
"What's the biggest move in the Asia region recently? What project is the director referring to?" Ren Zhiqiang asked first.
Xu Fei smiled but did not answer. The director played a guessing game. Everyone lowered their heads and pondered. Qian Duoduo sat to the side and remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, a vague light flashed in her mind, and she couldn't help but look up and glare at him.
Xu Fei turned his head, and their eyes met. For a fleeting moment, both of them almost imperceptibly froze, but then he smiled and said, "There's no need for you to guess anymore. Over the past few years, our achievements in the Asian region have been outstanding, and our importance in the company's global strategic map is growing. Everyone has witnessed this, and any major move could happen at any time. Major multinational corporations are planning to develop the next global hotspot here. China will be the best battlefield for proving our strength. The hard work and effort you all put in today is the best opportunity to become legends in the future. Times create heroes, and the best time is now, here, in this prosperous era. I hope everyone can seize this best opportunity to prove themselves."
He spoke with a smile, and although he was facing Qian Duoduo, everyone in the conference room felt as if they were being swept by his gaze. His words were just polite formalities, but hearing them come out made people feel involuntarily excited.
Qian Duoduo secretly curled her lip. This man was too persuasive. What use was his talk? Humph, she scoffed.
"If there are no further questions, that's all for today. Meeting adjourned." Xu Fei spoke decisively, ending the meeting immediately after speaking, leaving everyone, who were used to lengthy routine meetings, dumbfounded once again.
After leaving the meeting room, although no one spoke, it felt like you could clearly hear the sound of swallowing saliva in the air. Speechless at the reactions of her other female colleagues, Qian Duoduo turned around and strode back to her seat.
Unable to bear the girls' unanimous adoration and excessive praise for the new director, Qian Duoduo made up an excuse at noon to refuse to go to the restaurant with everyone else and went to the rest area to binge-eat junk food to vent her frustration.
The UVL public lounge area is very large, with a row of various tea and coffee machines, unlimited ice cream, and Chinese and Western snacks filling a row of wooden shelves against the wall.
Comfortable sofas are scattered throughout the spacious hall, and various leisure games are set up in the corners. Sometimes, when they are tired from working overtime and discussing, Qian Duoduo will come over with his colleagues to play a game of table football.
At lunchtime, the rest area was empty. The heating was on full blast, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the spacious terrace. To add a touch of Chinese style, there was a small Chinese-style artificial garden with lush pines and bamboos, winding paths, and round tables and stools decorated with blue and white porcelain. Unfortunately, it was winter, and the north wind was howling, so naturally, there was no one there.
Qian Duoduo, clutching a large bag of potato chips, sank into the corner of the sofa, chewing her nails while admiring the garden view outside the window, preparing to begin strategically hypnotizing herself.
As soon as I tore open the packaging, a familiar face suddenly appeared outside the previously empty French windows. In the dead of winter, I didn't expect someone to walk by outside. He was wearing a black trench coat, the scenery behind him was bleak, he had a cigarette between his fingers, and he was walking slowly, deep in thought.
This scene was just like something out of a Hong Kong or Taiwanese movie. Qian Duoduo's mind was filled with images of heroes, and she wasn't prepared at all. Her finger was still on the opening of the packaging bag, and she was almost scared to death.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
This scene was just like something out of a Hong Kong or Taiwanese movie. Qian Duoduo's mind was filled with images of heroes, and she wasn't prepared at all. Her finger was still on the opening of the packaging bag, and she was almost scared to death.
She was sitting facing the glass, alone in the rest area. She stared wide-eyed at the man, who of course saw her too. Not only did he see her, but he also stopped and smiled at her, clearly inviting her to talk.
I saw it clearly: the person smoking and posing alone on the terrace in the dead of winter was actually Ren Zhiqiang. He was unusually friendly, so Qian Duoduo felt embarrassed to put on airs any longer. She put down her potato chips, pushed open the door, and went out.
The wind outside was biting cold. Qian Duoduo's coat was still in the office. As soon as she stepped out, goosebumps rose on her skin. She wasn't facing any close friends, and she couldn't look too awkward with her head down and neck hunched over. In the end, she could only choose to hug one elbow and keep the other hand as close to her body as possible to block some of the wind.
"How's it going?" Ren Zhiqiang stubbed out his cigarette and lit another. "What?" "What do you think the next project will be?"
Ren Zhiqiang was always lukewarm towards her, so it was rare for him to take the initiative to talk to her. Thinking about the impact of the new director that everyone felt, Qian Duoduo's mood improved slightly.
"There's still no progress. In previous years, the domestic industry was conservative, but recently they've been making big moves. It's hard to say which brand they might introduce." With the situation unclear, it's better to play it safe. Although she has already ascended to the throne of an older single woman in the marriage market, she has her own unique career secrets for getting to her current position in less than ten years.
Ren Zhiqiang laughed and called her by her English name, "Dora, the company has always been dominated by conservatives in China. In the past, any action would take a year or two to get approved. Now, the new director is making a big splash, but whether it's good or bad, we at the bottom have to take the blame first. If we do well, we get no credit; if we do poorly, we become cannon fodder. The previous director was really tight-lipped; he left without a word before he left, leaving us here to fumble around."
He said this with a smile, half of it true. You could tell he wanted to find out something. The former director hadn't left any clues, and even if he had, why would she bother to explain the whole story to him?
After a few seconds of sorting out her thoughts, Qian Duoduo laughed back naturally, "There's nothing I can do, I'm just destined to be a pawn. What else can I do? I'll just have to do my job well first. For now, I can only take it one step at a time."
Such a conversation could not possibly yield any results. In the end, before leaving, Ren Zhiqiang gentlemanly pushed open the door for her and held it open with his hand until she stepped inside.
It was a rare treat to receive such courtesy from him, and Qian Duoduo thanked him in a low voice.
"Of course, it's very cold outside, but much warmer inside, isn't it?" He spoke with little variation in his tone.
"It's alright," Qian Duoduo walked back to the sofa, grabbed the bag of potato chips, and then turned back with a smile. "It's a bit cold, but at least I can smoke freely, right?"
This woman was always formidable; her words were sharp and witty, leaving no room for error. Without saying another word, Ren Zhiqiang smiled and left first.
The conversation with this man was mentally taxing. After Ren Zhiqiang left, Qian Duoduo let out a long sigh and sank back into the sofa to continue her self-hypnosis.
She's not a fool, nor is she some junior employee who's only been with the company for a year or two and can just walk away if she's unhappy, and continue her carefree life elsewhere.
The sudden arrival of the new director has disrupted the long-standing balance here. Ren Zhiqiang's concerns are justified. Radicals and conservatives have always been irreconcilable. If things continue like this, these pawns will eventually become cannon fodder.
What can we do?
She's already reached this position, so her options are very limited. Besides, the industry is only so big, and there are competitors everywhere. Everyone has their own position. Qian Duoduo isn't some genius who was born out of nowhere. Even if she were a genius, international companies emphasize a rigorous system. People adapt to their positions. There's no joke about creating a new position for some genius.
Sighing, Qian Duoduo finally summarized her predicament. She was already troubled enough trying to please her mother, and now the company was suddenly facing a crisis, making things even worse. Adding insult to injury was bad enough, but now there was the added burden of a drunken one-night stand. A drunken one-night stand wasn't so bad, but to have it happen with the new director was like adding insult to injury with a freezer-like atmosphere—a freezing winter where she had no strength left to struggle.
She sighed again, but judging from Xu Fei's behavior this morning, he seemed to have agreed to her suggestion and intended to treat this misunderstanding as if it had never happened and let it go with the wind.
That's true. People have pride, and trees have bark. For a newly appointed director to reveal a steamy secret with a senior manager right off the bat is bound to be a scandal, right? He might be even more afraid of the secret being leaked than she is now, and he might even be afraid that she will use it to threaten him.
That's the only way to comfort herself. Qian Duoduo cheered herself up a bit, tore the wrapper open a little wider, and planned to continue numbing herself with potato chips.
Alas, lust is the worst of all evils, and filial piety is the foremost of all virtues. These two sentences perfectly sum up her troubles. Our ancestors were truly concise and to the point.
Chapter Thirty
I had just taken out the first potato chip when I heard voices approaching from afar; the voices were half familiar and half unfamiliar.
"Have you heard? The new marketing director, Xu, is super handsome. Xiao Guan caught a glimpse of him this morning when he went to deliver some documents, and he was stunned when he got back."
I recognized them; they were two colleagues from the HR department.
Sisters, have you ever heard the saying "all that glitters is not gold"? You can't trust appearances alone, Qian Duoduo said with a sneer.
The sound of water being poured mingled with the aroma of coffee. "Marketing Director? I thought it would be Qian Duoduo's turn this time. She's always been in the limelight."
"Shh, don't speak so loudly, someone might hear." Having already heard, Qian Duoduo rolled her eyes, sinking into the sofa. "Don't worry, everyone's eating right now. Look, there's no one here." Am I a ghost? Qian Duoduo grumbled, almost crushing the potato chips in her hand. "Hey, where did that new director come from?"
"Oh, I asked the boss, and he was the only management trainee selected in China five years ago. I heard that he has lived in several countries since joining the company. He spent the first two years in Japan, and now he has become the marketing director in China."
"Really?" exclaimed in amazement. "The legendary management trainees! They must have been directly mentored by a top executive. And there's a Chinese guy who got promoted to director in just five years—lightning speed!"
"So, the new director has such a powerful backer, what's a lot of money compared to that?"
Amidst giggles, "Who doesn't know that Qian Duoduo and that former Australian director had a good relationship? You know, she's almost thirty and still not married, and she's never even met a boyfriend. The former director was also a single woman. Are they... you know, lesbians?"
These two women have gone too far! Qian Duoduo was furious. The potato chips in her hand finally couldn't withstand the force and with a "crack," they tragically and decisively shattered into pieces, sacrificing themselves heroically.
Upon hearing the sound, the two girls who had been gossiping excitedly immediately fell silent, no longer daring to say anything more, and their footsteps faded into the distance.
Feeling utterly miserable, Qian Duoduo threw down her potato chips and strode back to her office. Her assistant, Xiaolan, returned from lunch and saw her leaving with her bag. Surprised, she asked, "Boss, where are you going?"
"I'm going to the factory to see the samples. Please tell Director Xu for me."
She walked out aggressively, and Xiaolan involuntarily took a step back to let her pass, then stared blankly at Qian Duoduo's back.
Although senior managers have a lot of freedom in external affairs, today is the director's first day overseeing the marketing department. Boss, you're really something else!
Qian Duoduo is always a serious worker. After looking at the samples and discussing some details with the quality control supervisor, it was almost five o'clock when she left the factory.
Winter days are short and dark. On her way home, she received a call from her former director.
After hanging up the phone, she turned the car around and drove towards the city center. It was the same bar as last time. As Qian Duoduo walked in, she immediately spotted the antique globe and couldn't help but sigh.
The director sat alone at the bar waiting for her. They had worked together for two years, and although they had had disagreements, Qian Duoduo knew that she had benefited a lot from her. Especially in the later stages, they worked together perfectly, with a tacit understanding and harmony, and fought many tough battles together.
As she approached, Qian Duoduo smiled and asked, "Isn't your flight tomorrow morning? Do you want me to see you off?"
"No need, the company will arrange it." The director smiled as well. They were no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship, and she no longer hid her appreciation and affection for her capable and trusted subordinate. The two chatted about some interesting things that had happened in the past few years, clinking glasses and laughing, the atmosphere relaxed.
After finishing his drink, the director suddenly said something unrelated, "Duoduo, I'm sorry."
Completely understanding what she was saying, Qian Duoduo immediately replied, "Please don't say that, it's just that I'm not qualified enough."
"No, you are excellent. Actually, I was quite surprised myself. By the way, I spoke with my boss yesterday, and he mentioned Kerry Xu. He was previously trained in Europe as a special assistant to Kairos, and a couple of years ago he went to Japan to work as an independent project manager. I heard he is exceptionally capable and has done a fantastic job."
Kairos? The name sounded familiar. Qian Duoduo quickly searched her mind. "Ah, it's that Frenchman. He's the one who selects management trainees in China. I never expected that."
"You know about it too?" The director was slightly surprised before the management trainee part was mentioned, but then he thought that it wasn't a big secret, so he swirled his cup and continued.
Chapter Thirty-One
The director used hearsay, saying that the board of directors was reportedly considering replacing the president of the Asia region, and that Kairos had already convinced most of the board members and was poised to become the dark horse candidate for the position.
Seven or eight years ago, the Asian region was an insignificant corner of the company's map. Apart from Japan, most other countries only had one office. However, with the soaring consumption power in Asia, especially China, in recent years, it has become one of the biggest pillars of the company's profit. Judging from the current trend, whoever controls Asia will definitely win the world in the next ten years or so. Therefore, which of the powerful figures at the top is not eyeing the power here?
Everyone here has been in the workplace for years, so even if someone wanted to give a hint, they wouldn't say it outright. After hearing just a few words, Qian Duoduo roughly understood that Kairos was likely to be the next president of the Asia region, and the so-called management trainees were all confidants cultivated by the top management. It was only natural that they were sent over to take the lead.
Then he thought of the new project that Xu Fei had mentioned at the meeting, and opened his mouth to confirm his guess, but then changed his mind and gave up.
What else could she say? Before anything was settled, it was all just hearsay. The winner takes all, and the current president had held the Asian region's prize for so many years. Multinational corporations are so big that they've become like a powerful country with its own regional presidents, each a regional magistrate. They might not even give face to the emperor. That Frenchman was a notorious radical, and if his trusted confidant, parachuted in, didn't adapt well, the entire marketing department would suffer. Besides, she had just been promoted, and asking such a question was very sensitive. Even if she was talking to the former director, they were still part of the same company, and anything she said would be wrong. It was best to remain silent.
Her silence earned her admiring glances, and the director then changed the subject, talking about his travel experiences in various places.
Qian Duoduo naturally stopped asking about company matters. The two chatted casually until past midnight. When they said goodbye, the director gently hugged Qian Duoduo in front of the car, his voice clearly showing his emotions, "Duoduo, take care of yourself in the future, and keep in touch."
Knowing how kind she had been to her, and how she had reminded her of the dangers ahead before leaving, Qian Duoduo felt grateful, her nose tingling with emotion. She hugged her back, saying, "Thank you, take care of yourself, and please keep in touch."
Having learned a painful lesson from her previous drinking experience, Qian Duoduo switched to juice after finishing a beer this time. The winter night was bitterly cold, and she felt a shiver as she stepped out of the warm bar.
When she got into the driver's seat, she was perfectly lucid. It was close to midnight, and the roads were deserted. After driving two blocks, she found that the fuel level was close to the warning line. Thinking that she wouldn't have time to refuel before going to work the next morning, she turned the steering wheel and drove the car to a gas station she was familiar with.
The gas station in the city center was brightly lit 24 hours a day, and a long line of cars could be seen from afar. Qian Duoduo felt something was strange, so she slowly parked her car, rolled down her window, and asked the driver in the car next to her, "What happened?"
Next to him was an older Buick, and inside sat a middle-aged man with an irritable expression. "Isn't gas going to go up in price again? I heard this time it's a big deal, at least a dollar more. Damn it, when I bought this car, gas was less than three dollars. After driving it for a few years, the car itself is worthless, but gas prices have skyrocketed."
Qian Duoduo was speechless. He glanced at the huge line of cars waiting ahead and immediately turned the car around to continue driving home.