Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 19

When Jing Shen returned to the main building, she happened to see Xiao He changing into formal business attire—a rare sight. It appeared she was preparing to go out.

Xiao He glanced at Jing Shen. “You’re back just in time. Put your things down and go change. I’m taking you to the office.”

Without asking why, Jing Shen complied and immediately ran upstairs to change. Since they were going to the company, she felt her outfit should be more formal. Fortunately, Xiao He had bought her many clothes previously. She chose a sky-blue maxi dress; it was professional without being too stiff, fitting for someone her age.

She got ready quickly. When she came downstairs, Xiao He was waiting. Jing Shen nervously adjusted her dress. “Does this work?”

Xiao He nodded and stood up. “Very well. Let’s go.”

As they sat in the car on the way to the office, Xiao He noticed Jing Shen sitting perfectly upright out of the corner of her eye. She patted the girl’s shoulder. “Don’t be so nervous. Relax a bit.”

Jing Shen wanted to ask why Xiao He was suddenly bringing her to the company, but then she remembered her new “job” was to be by Xiao He’s side twenty-four hours a day, so she swallowed her question.

The car pulled up in front of the Xiao Tower. The driver opened the door, and a group of people in suits and leather shoes came forward to greet them. Jing Shen didn’t recognize a single one of them, and her palms broke out in a thin sweat from the nerves.

Xiao He stepped out of the car. Her gaze slowly swept over the crowd. She didn’t say a word, yet the people felt as if they had no secrets left before her; their posture immediately stiffened.

The oppressive atmosphere eased slightly once Jing Shen stepped out as well. Surrounded by the group, Xiao He led Jing Shen into the building.

The elevator numbers skipped upward rapidly until stopping at the floor of Xiao He’s office. As they exited, several people were waiting at the door, though their expressions were notably different from the group downstairs.

“President Xiao.”

Peng En stood at the front and greeted Xiao He. His gaze briefly swept over Jing Shen, his mind already racing with questions.

“Mhm. It seems everyone has been quite idle lately. I merely visit the office, and yet there’s such a grand welcoming party.”

Xiao He walked out of the elevator, speaking casually.

Peng En glanced at the awkward-looking people still in the elevator and followed Xiao He. “Several projects have encountered consecutive problems and reached a standstill. It has indeed left a large portion of the company with nothing to do.”

Xiao He stopped walking. Everyone else immediately halted, looking at her with trepidation.

“Is it a matter of incompetence, or do we have some ‘inside ghosts’ helping outsiders?”

If Peng En hadn’t informed her that several major projects had been blocked recently, Xiao He wouldn’t have returned to the company so soon. It seemed her absence had truly emboldened many people.

This statement was an overt warning, signaling that Xiao He no longer intended to turn a blind eye to their behavior.

No one dared to respond; heads bowed lower and lower. Standing beside Xiao He, Jing Shen felt her heart pounding. The current Xiao He was completely different from the gentle and easygoing woman at home—she was a stranger, yet Jing Shen admired her even more. The “President Xiao” she had heard about was exactly like this.

Once they reached the office, Xiao He led Jing Shen inside. Only Peng En dared to follow; the others stood at the door looking at each other, each with their own hidden thoughts.

Inside the office, a mountain of documents was piled on Xiao He’s desk. She dropped the stern facade she had used outside and sat down casually, flipping through a couple of files. “Director Peng, are you trying to bury me under paperwork?”

“Please don’t say such unlucky things, President Xiao.” Peng En was Xiao He’s confidant; his ability and loyalty were beyond doubt. He had a clear conscience and felt less fear toward her. He stepped forward and picked a few critical files from the pile, placing them before her. “I really can’t handle these; I need you to step in.”

“A failed bid, a finished project where someone else reaped the rewards, a small research project tied up with $3.5 billion…” Xiao He looked through them one by one, a playful glint appearing in her eyes. “Do they think these petty little tricks can make me lose my footing and leave me overwhelmed?”

“According to reliable sources, someone is planning a massive marketing campaign to badmouth the Xiao Group. If several ‘bombs’ go off in succession, even if these petty tricks can’t shake the foundation of the Group, the wave of public opinion will have a massive impact.”

Peng En reminded Xiao He not to be careless. They were in the light while the enemy was in the dark, and many “fence-sitters” were waiting to see which way the wind blew. The negative impact on the Group would be difficult to erase.

“Is that so? I thought they were going to release my obituary directly, just like last time.”

Xiao He closed the file. She remembered the incident two years ago when the original owner was critically ill. Someone couldn’t wait and released her obituary prematurely. In a single day, the Xiao Group’s stocks hit their limit down. If the original owner hadn’t ignored her own health to return and take charge, the Xiao Group wouldn’t have its current glory.

And the ones capable of doing such a thing were none other than the family members the original owner valued most. That incident had made her determined to clear out a large wave of people, but out of consideration for blood ties, she had let several “fish” slip through the net. If it weren’t for them, the original owner wouldn’t have had to worry so much about the company, which indirectly led to her early death.

With the past as a lesson, Xiao He wouldn’t let herself become the second version of the original owner. Weeds must be pulled out by the roots.

Those people were arrogant only because they relied on the original owner’s soft heart and knew her days were numbered. Even though the original owner was heartbroken, she had only added the unrelated Chu Yuelan as an heir candidate. This move had made them restrain themselves slightly, but it wasn’t enough.

“It’s almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, isn’t it?”

Xiao He asked seemingly out of nowhere. Peng En paused and then nodded. “Two days from now.”

“A fine day for a family reunion.”

Xiao He rested her chin in her hand. “Let’s start by holding a few people accountable to liven things up; no need to save face. Also, send a ‘gift bag’ to the media. Bring up old news—the obituary incident that was suppressed back then. Have some ‘insiders’ leak the details. Let them connect the dots however they like.”

Peng En wasn’t surprised by the accountability; someone had to answer for the failed projects. But bringing up the past… he couldn’t quite grasp the logic. “President Xiao, isn’t that putting our internal strife on display? Wouldn’t that be bad-mouthing ourselves in advance?”

“If we just keep covering it up and painting over the cracks, we’ll only be led by the nose. Isn’t it just ‘burning one’s boats’? I want to see who gets scared first.”

If one acts timidly, the opponent thinks they have a grip on your lifeblood. By taking control of the narrative the enemy intended to use as their trump card, she could dictate the subsequent development.

Peng En looked at Xiao He with surprise. “President Xiao, you seem very different from before.”

“Perhaps,” Xiao He smiled. She stood up and beckoned to Jing Shen. Once the girl reached her side, she introduced her to Peng En. “This is Jing Shen. I’m going to handle these matters. Peng En, if you have nothing else to do, take Jing Shen around the company and familiarize her with the environment.”

Peng En smiled and nodded. “Of course. Miss Jing Shen, please follow me.”

Jing Shen truly hadn’t expected Xiao He to speak about such important matters in front of her. She understood Xiao He’s mind less and less, but she would still follow her instructions.

Even though she was incredibly nervous, Jing Shen made sure to act poised and graceful; she couldn’t embarrass Xiao He.

After Jing Shen and Peng En left, Xiao He’s face darkened as she looked at the documents. Unlike the original owner’s cautiousness, Xiao He had always excelled at aggressive and risky methods—it was the same in business as it was in choosing an heir.

By bringing Jing Shen to the office, Xiao He knew full well she was pushing the girl into the center of the storm. This was forcing Jing Shen to undergo a cruel test without any preparation. If she could endure it, the heir’s seat was hers; if not, she would be completely out of the game.

Let’s see how this game plays out with a different strategy, and who the final winner will be.