Giving You Dawn And Dusk - Chapter 27.1
The sound of running water covered the voices.
The people from the office quickly left after washing their hands, ending their brief gossip session.
But Liang Shi did not go out.
She frowned and quickly browsed through all the information online related to Chen Liuying and Bai Weiwei.
There was very little official information, and the wording of netizens’ exposés was full of “possibly” and “probably.” There were very few accurate descriptions.
Online, the matter had already caused a huge uproar.
[I have a friend who saw Bai Weiwei at the entrance of Huayue International the day before yesterday. She was walking with a group of CEOs. Her expression was so flattering she was practically about to carry their shoes.]
[Going to Huayue International doesn’t necessarily mean she was drinking with clients, right? Huayue International is a legitimate place.]
[If she wasn’t drinking with clients, why would she jump off a building? She must have been assaulted.]
[Is there evidence? Don’t talk nonsense about things without proof.]
[We happened to pass by Huayue International after ten that night and saw a super beautiful Alpha carrying Bai Weiwei out. Bai Weiwei looked very much like something had already happened.]
[Then why couldn’t it be that beautiful Alpha who did it with her? Why insist that she was drinking with clients to get resources?]
[Exactly! What a joke! Does our Liuying even need her to do those things? Her acting offers are already lined up until the year after next, okay!]
[Ew! Who doesn’t know Chen Liuying is just a marketing product? The person upstairs, stop trying to muddy the waters.]
[With that cutout-level acting of hers, that face is truly wasted.]
[…]
The online war of words grew more and more intense, while Chen Liuying’s studio still had not responded.
Two hours had already passed since this matter broke out, and the best time for public relations had long been missed.
Bai Weiwei jumping off a building was probably outside their expectations, and the studio must have turned into a mess. No one could come out in time to handle PR.
At the same time, photos had also been exposed online.
The ones spreading the most widely and considered the most credible were the photo of Bai Weiwei entering Huayue International with a group of CEOs, and the photo of Zhao Xuning carrying her out of Huayue International.
They had just happened to be photographed.
The latter photo was very blurry.
But everyone online said it was a very beautiful Alpha, so people believed it.
After all, judging from the photo, that Alpha’s figure was especially good.
After Liang Shi exited Weibo, she called Zhao Xuning, but Zhao Xuning’s phone was turned off.
“……”
Helpless, she could only go to the hospital.
//
The hospital entrance was packed so tightly that not even water could get through.
Reporters from all major media outlets had already rushed over after hearing the news. Holding long-lensed cameras and microphones, they squatted inside the hospital, waiting. Security staff kept maintaining order, but they had no way to make all of them leave.
Everyone was working hard to obtain first-hand information.
Because Bai Weiwei alone had disrupted the hospital’s order, ten minutes later, the hospital administrator came out and said, “Bai Weiwei has already been transferred to a private hospital. Reporters, please leave.”
At first, people did not believe it. Many reporters raised their microphones and asked, “May I ask whether Bai Weiwei is still alive?”
“Are Bai Weiwei’s injuries serious? What are her chances of survival?”
“What is Chen Liuying’s attitude toward this? Is she staying at the hospital with Bai Weiwei?”
One sharp question after another made the hospital administrator lose patience. When microphones were directly shoved toward his mouth, he reached out and pushed them away, saying coldly, “I’m sorry. These are all the patient’s private matters. Reporters, please leave the hospital and do not disrupt the hospital’s normal order. If you have not withdrawn within five minutes, we will take compulsory measures to remove you.”
After saying that, he left.
A group of reporters looked at one another.
Although they were unwilling to believe it, Bai Weiwei really had been transferred to another hospital.
But they had no way to continue disturbing public order, so they could only run outside to stake out the place.
After Liang Shi entered, she wanted to look for Bai Weiwei, only to discover that no one paid attention to her at all.
The name Bai Weiwei had already become something unspeakable in the hospital.
She also could not contact Zhao Xuning. Otherwise, she could have had Zhao Xuning take her upstairs.
However, she tried saving the country by taking a roundabout route and asked at the nurses’ station, “Did Doctor Zhao Xuning come in today? I need to see her for something.”
“Sorry, Doctor Zhao doesn’t have a shift today,” the nurse said. “If you need medical treatment, please register at the payment counter. Thank you.”
Liang Shi: “……”
She hit a wall.
After that, she went upstairs to Zhao Xuning’s office, but Zhao Xuning’s office door was locked. A passing Beta nurse recognized her and greeted her, “Ms. Liang, are you here to find Doctor Zhao?”
Liang Shi nodded. “Do you know where she is?”
The little nurse shook her head. “Our hospital doesn’t allow us to say that. You should contact her yourself. Doctor Zhao won’t be coming to work today.”
“Then do you know Bai Weiwei…” Before she could finish speaking, the little nurse shook her head frantically. “I don’t know. Please don’t ask.”
After saying that, she ran off in a flash.
This matter had fermented quite badly online, after all. It involved a human life.
Especially since Chen Liuying carried the title of “the internet’s number one dominant Alpha,” and had become explosively popular overnight not long after entering the entertainment industry. Who knew how many people she had clashed with over resources?
Now that something had happened to her, quite a few people were waiting to watch the show. Some rival parties had even begun buying water armies to steer public opinion. Negative trending topics about Chen Liuying kept hanging on the hot search list, climbing higher and higher.
The trending topic #ChenLiuyingManager JumpedOffABuilding remained extremely hot, steadily sitting in first place, with a deep red “Explosive” label attached to it.
Liang Shi wanted to confirm Bai Weiwei’s condition, but because the situation was special, she could only return without accomplishing anything.
However, when she went downstairs, she received a call from an unfamiliar number.
She had originally wanted to hang up, afraid that it would be some improper person again.
But considering Bai Weiwei’s situation, she answered. “Hello?”
“I’m Zhao Xuning,” the other person said directly. “This is my private number.”
Hearing this, Liang Shi immediately asked, “How is Bai Weiwei? What happened that night? Why did she suddenly jump off a building?”
It had only been ten minutes. Nothing could have happened in that time.
Besides, judging by the Bai Weiwei she knew, she did not seem like someone fragile.
“She just got out of life-threatening danger,” Zhao Xuning’s voice was very tired. “She wasn’t violated that night.”
“Then…” Liang Shi paused. “Why did she jump off a building?”
“She argued with her girlfriend,” Zhao Xuning said helplessly. “Her emotions got intense, so she jumped.”
Liang Shi: “……”
Isn’t her girlfriend you?
Liang Shi’s words got stuck in her throat and did not come out.
So it had been a misunderstanding.
“The specific details are too complicated,” Zhao Xuning said. “It can’t be explained clearly in a few sentences over the phone. I just called Xu Qingzhu, but she didn’t answer. When she asks about it later, explain it to her.”
Liang Shi agreed at once. “Okay.”
“It’s best not to let her read the online comments,” Zhao Xuning reminded her. “She’s not suited to having intense emotional fluctuations right now.”
“Mm.” Liang Shi also reminded her in return, “By the way, Xu Qingzhu blacks out after getting drunk. She doesn’t remember anything from that day, so if it doesn’t need to be mentioned, don’t mention it. Let this matter pass.”
“Okay.”
Everything that needed to be said had been said, so they could have hung up.
But for a moment, neither of them hung up. Instead, they both sighed at almost the same time.
“I’m going to get busy,” Zhao Xuning said. “Take good care of Xu Qingzhu.”
“I know. If there’s any new news on your end, tell me too. If Xu Qingzhu finds out about this, she’ll definitely want to visit Bai Weiwei. When Bai Weiwei wakes up, or when visitors are allowed, remember to tell me. Thank you. Sorry for the trouble,” Liang Shi said politely.
“Okay.”
After Zhao Xuning answered, she suddenly said teasingly, “You sound much more pleasant when you speak now.”
Liang Shi: “……”
She had always sounded pleasant when she spoke.
It was the original owner who had not sounded pleasant!
But she did not chat much with Zhao Xuning. She still had to return to the company for work, and now that she knew Bai Weiwei was not in danger, she was relieved.
After hanging up, she drove back to the company.
//
The magazine department was still in chaos.
When Liang Shi had gone out, it was lunch break, but they had to clock in at 2:00 p.m. and resume work.
Clearly, she was late.
When she clocked in at the entrance, it showed that she was thirty-five minutes late.
The electronic voice announcing her lateness echoed through the office area, and everyone turned to look at her in unison.
It was somewhat awkward.
Liang Shi immediately returned to her workstation. The little girl from the morning was still sitting there reading a book.
After she had arrived in the morning, everyone in the magazine department had been very busy and had no time to pay attention to her.
Or perhaps they were simply unhappy with a parachuted employee from a third-rate school, so they treated her as invisible, wanting to show her who was boss.
Judging by what they had said in the bathroom, the latter possibility was greater.
Liang Shi did not care either. She had come here simply to find a job to do. It would be good if she could learn something, but if she could not, then she would do something else.
In any case, she would not waste time.
She had not watched the series of movies she had previously saved, and she had yet to understand the entertainment industry ecosystem in this world.
Since no one arranged anything for her to do, she was rather content entertaining herself.
At three o’clock, the magazine department held a new round of topic-selection meetings.
The editor-in-chief was still irritable, holding the new topics and scolding every department until they were drenched in blood.
“At five o’clock, we have a meeting with the general manager. We must produce a satisfactory topic. But now, look at what all of you handed in! Not a single one is usable! Has all of your thinking fossilized? Aside from those traffic celebrities on Weibo, can you not produce any new topics? Our luxury goods aren’t necessarily all for celebrities. Small celebrities can’t afford Dongheng’s luxury goods at all! Do you have brains?!” The editor-in-chief’s voice was extremely loud and sharp.
Liang Shi stood in the back row. She did not know at all what topics everyone had submitted. She was only blending in and pretending.
Unexpectedly, the editor-in-chief suddenly called on her. “Newcomer, tell us your opinion on this round of topics.”
Liang Shi: “……?”
She pointed at her own nose in disbelief. “Me?”
The editor-in-chief nodded. “Yes, you.”
Liang Shi was stunned for two seconds. Before she could speak, the editor-in-chief threw the stack of drafts onto the table. “You don’t know anything, so what are you here for? To collect a salary for nothing? I don’t care whose connections you relied on to get in here. Since you’re in the magazine department, you follow the magazine department’s rules. On your first day at work, you were more than half an hour late. What kind of work attitude is that?”
“Sorry.” Liang Shi truly had no way to argue this point. “Something urgent came up today…”
“Did you go out and ask for leave?” the editor-in-chief said. “Leaving without asking for leave is called absenteeism. Accumulate three instances, and you can be directly fired. Besides, you know nothing and can do nothing, so why did you come to the magazine department? Do you think our magazine department picks up trash?”
Liang Shi: “……”
“Editor-in-chief.” Liang Shi frowned and wanted to refute her, but someone beside her suddenly tugged at her sleeve, signaling for her to be quiet and not clash head-on with the editor-in-chief.
But just those two words made the editor-in-chief bristle. “What? You think there’s something wrong with what I said? If you don’t want to stay in the magazine department, then change departments. That way, you won’t have to hear these unpleasant words from me. Even if you’re the daughter of the group’s boss, once you’re in the magazine department, if you don’t work properly, you still have to get out!”
Liang Shi: “……”
Her patience had reached its critical point.
It was not as if she had never stayed in the workplace before. When she was young and had just entered society, there had been all kinds of terrible environments.
But back then, it had mostly been heavy workloads, or workplace seniors teaming up to make things difficult for her, plus ordering her to buy coffee, buy drinks, and do miscellaneous errands.
After becoming an adult, she changed positions, learned how to protect herself, and had never been called out and scolded like this until she was drenched in dog blood.
Clearly, this leader was using work as an excuse to vent her emotions.
Liang Shi had always hated people like this.
The colleague beside her was well-meaning, and since it was Liang Shi’s first day here, Liang Shi’s own behavior had indeed been slightly problematic.
She had been in a hurry and had not known whom to ask for leave, so she had simply slipped out, thinking she could return before working hours resumed.
So she took a deep breath and endured it.
Unexpectedly, the editor-in-chief said, “I asked you just now. What opinions do you have on this round of magazine topics? Are your ears deaf? Can you not hear my question? If this is your work attitude, get out as soon as possible. Our magazine department does not support useless people.”
Liang Shi: “……”
Her gaze fixed tightly on the editor-in-chief. This woman in her early forties had oily, slicked-back hair and very thin lips, but her words were vicious.
“What? Not convinced?” The editor-in-chief gave a light scoff. “I thought you had some great ability. You entered Dongheng with a diploma-mill education, and this is all you have? Someone who understands nothing—what’s wrong with me saying a few words to you? If you don’t understand, then learn properly instead of being absent from work on your first day.”
“First of all.” Liang Shi could not help speaking. She was taller than everyone present. Her gaze swept faintly over them, and her voice was also indifferent, yet it naturally carried the aura of someone in a higher position. “I apologize for leaving today without asking for leave. I just arrived and didn’t have that awareness. That was my problem.”
“Second, aside from that point, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me. Regardless of my education, as long as I’ve entered Dongheng and entered this department, it naturally means I have something outstanding about me. As a leader, shouldn’t you be excavating the qualities of new employees and using them for your department? I can communicate in foreign languages, use Photoshop, help with interviews, write interview drafts, and assist with photography. You asked nothing and directly used my education to negate me as a person. Isn’t that a bit short-sighted of you?”
Everyone privately exchanged glances and trembled.
Their eyes all revealed the same meaning—This newcomer just went up against the editor-in-chief?
Actually, everyone also felt that the editor-in-chief was a little hot-headed.
For such a newcomer, if she had been parachuted in, she was definitely connected. Just arrange a workstation for her and give her some easy work. Casually keeping her around was not a big deal. But the editor-in-chief insisted on making a serious issue out of it and scolding her. She even deliberately targeted her. It was very low.
Who knew when she might kick an iron plate?
However, people who knew the inside story could understand. The editor-in-chief’s previous magazine publisher had brought in a new editor-in-chief by parachute, directly pushing her down into the deputy editor-in-chief position. So after jumping ship to Dongheng, she especially hated connected hires and parachuted employees.
In addition, at this urgent moment, she had already been irritable for several days and was only missing an outlet.
The newcomer had directly walked into the line of fire.
Now they could only wait and see who would win.
When the editor-in-chief heard this, her eyes immediately widened. “I’m short-sighted? I’ve worked in magazines for so many years. My eye for people has always been accurate. How I do things—is that something a newcomer like you gets to teach me?”
“Then why haven’t you been able to decide on a topic?” Liang Shi lightly asked in return.
Her expression remained very calm from beginning to end. Her gaze toward the editor-in-chief carried a bit of coldness, but not a strong sense of aggression. Even so, it was enough for others to feel her aura. “As the editor-in-chief, shouldn’t your responsibility be overall coordination? As far as I know, the planning department provided you with five topics, and each one was rejected by you. But the reasons you gave were all ‘not fresh,’ ‘already done,’ and ‘bad.’ Yet you never said exactly where they were bad. You only asked everyone to keep changing them and replacing them. You can’t even give a direction for adjustment. Are you sure you thought about them seriously? Did you respect the creativity of the colleagues in the planning department? With demands like yours, perhaps even when the magazine is about to go to print, you still won’t have a topic finalized, and the magazine will definitely miss its deadline.”
Everyone present gasped.
They all looked at Liang Shi with admiration in their eyes, which contained only two words—warrior.
She had finally said the things they had not dared to say these past few days!
“What kind of bullshit are you saying?!” The editor-in-chief became emotional. “If you’re so capable, then you decide on the topic! The topics they produced were already terrible. I couldn’t see their professionalism at all. If this continues, the magazine missing its deadline is only a matter of time, but what does that have to do with me? You people have no ability. The planning department can’t produce topics, the editorial department’s articles are a complete mess, and the advertising department can’t attract ads that match our magazine’s philosophy even with Dongheng behind us. A magazine like this will have problems sooner or later because the staff’s abilities are lacking!”
The colleagues’ expressions all changed.
This was practically pointing at everyone’s noses and scolding them.
But because of Dongheng’s golden signboard, and because of the high salary here, no one dared to speak.
Whoever spoke at this time would truly be the bird that stuck its head out and got shot. They would definitely be fired.
So everyone could only turn their eyes toward Liang Shi, waiting to see whether this newcomer would dare continue arguing.
When Liang Shi heard her words, she smiled.
The editor-in-chief snapped, “What the hell are you laughing at?”
Liang Shi was calm. “I’m laughing at you.”
Editor-in-chief: “……”
In such a tense atmosphere, someone accidentally laughed.
After that, several more people got Liang Shi’s dry humor and covered their mouths as they laughed softly.
The editor-in-chief’s sharp gaze swept over them, and they all fell silent again.
Liang Shi said, “Do you know what your current behavior looks like?”
She enunciated each word. “Incompetent rage.”
“You’ve pushed all responsibility onto your subordinates and think you’re the most innocent one. But the person who rejected every proposal was you. You’re not even the consumer group for this magazine, yet you’re arbitrarily evaluating everything through your own perspective. How could you possibly choose a suitable topic like that? In fact, you probably can’t make this magazine well at all. I think the person who should leave the magazine department the most is you.” Liang Shi curved her lips in a smile, carrying a few hints of charm.
“You!” The editor-in-chief was furious. “You’re just a newcomer…”
Before she could finish speaking, Liang Shi interrupted her. “Yes, I’m a newcomer. But I know that people in higher positions should listen broadly, see more, hear more, and respect other people’s work. If you really were a capable leader, then even if what your subordinates handed in was a pile of trash, you would be able to make that trash shine again, instead of suppressing your subordinates here and elevating yourself by attacking others. Are you worthy of being a leader? What exactly is your ability? Scolding people? Or taking out your anger on newcomers?”
She asked calmly, but the editor-in-chief’s expression changed because of these words. She looked at Liang Shi through gritted teeth.
“I’ve worked in this industry for nearly twenty years. Do I need a fledgling outsider like you to point fingers at me? Do you understand magazines? Do you understand how to make a magazine?”
“In 1867, the United States compiled the first fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar. It was the world’s earliest women’s fashion magazine. At first, it mainly focused on clothing, then gradually expanded to include beauty, leisure, jewelry, and many other fields. In mainland China, the first fashion magazine, Fashion, was published in 1980. By the twenty-first century, print media had entered its golden age. But with technological progress, print media went from rising to declining in less than thirty years. Now, many print publications have shut down. This has become the era of new media, and the circulation of electronic publications is far higher than that of print media. So what outdated rules are you still clinging to? Do you think making a magazine only requires ideals?” Liang Shi finished without any emotion, then threw the question back at her.
In the past, her understanding of magazines had not been very deep. It was only because she had been in that circle that she had come into contact with some of it.
Before coming to work at Dongheng, she had deliberately looked up information. She had gone through the predecessor of magazines and the current difficulties they faced, and she had also thought about them herself.
Now, she simply took this chance to say what she had been thinking.
“Haiwei Jewelry was able to launch its own publication within a short period of time and make it into a first-rate magazine in the industry. Do you think their editor-in-chief reached the top of the industry by constantly suppressing subordinates and making them stay up every night working overtime to change topics?” Liang Shi continued asking.
“Yes, perhaps you used to be an excellent magazine professional. But the times are changing now. You want traffic, readership, sales, and also the ideals of a magazine professional. Shouldn’t you be the one balancing these things? If you can’t balance them, and everything has to be done by your subordinates, then what is the point of having you as editor-in-chief? Is it so Dongheng can pay you to scold people? Is this the kind of work environment Dongheng has?”
Her string of rhetorical questions stunned the editor-in-chief.
This entire floor was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.
The editor-in-chief was furious. She threw a stack of A4 papers directly at her, and Liang Shi dodged them without changing her expression.
The A4 papers scattered like falling snow, fluttering down to the floor.
Liang Shi looked at her and continued explaining, “Also, if I had magazine work experience, then I would have directly replaced you. I would have been parachuted in as the department head of the magazine department instead of choosing to come here as a junior employee.”
“Hah.” The editor-in-chief was so angry that she started cursing. “Then you’re fucking just a connected hire. What is there for you to be proud of? If you have the ability, then fucking push me out directly. What bullshit are you spouting here? If you don’t have the ability, go back and work. Did you come here to throw your weight around in front of me? Does that make you seem impressive? If you’re the daughter of the company president, why didn’t you just parachute directly into the president’s office?”
“I came to the magazine department voluntarily,” Liang Shi said. “But I came here to work, not to accept personal attacks. I believe every colleague present is the same. Everyone has self-respect, and everyone can accept criticism. But I hope you understand that criticism and verbal abuse are not the same thing. As a leader, you do not have the right to attack your subordinates. You are stripping every person present of their personal dignity.”
After Liang Shi finished speaking, she suddenly paused. Without waiting for the editor-in-chief to refute, she laughed softly. “Forget it. Someone like you probably doesn’t understand what dignity is.”
Editor-in-chief: “……Fuck! What kind of bullshit are you saying?!”
“Only the truth,” Liang Shi said. “The truth is always unpleasant to hear.”
The editor-in-chief exploded with anger. “Get out! Get out of the magazine department!”
“No. Get out of Dongheng!” the editor-in-chief roared. “Trash like you doesn’t deserve to stay in Dongheng.”
“I won’t leave.” As Liang Shi spoke, she took out her phone. “I recorded the entire meeting today. Every word and action of yours has been recorded. I will hand this recording over to the president’s office and let them decide. I believe Dongheng won’t keep someone like you in the company. As for the topic-selection meeting with the general manager today, I think we can bring out the marriage topic proposed by the planning department. Must one own a piece of BARE when getting married? And we can define Dongheng’s consumer group. The subtitle can be—Everyone can own one piece of BARE in their lifetime.”
BARE was the luxury brand under Dongheng, internationally renowned. In Chinese, it was rendered as Bali.
People also jokingly called it “Paris.”
“Who are you?” the editor-in-chief sneered. “Do you really think you’re someone important? On what basis are you deciding the topic? Did I nod and agree? Do you know who BARE’s consumer group is? Rich people! The cheapest scarf from BARE costs ninety thousand yuan. Do you think ordinary people can afford that? This topic was already used five years ago at COCI’s new product launch. What is Dongheng doing? Chewing gum someone else already chewed? Are we specializing in picking up trash? If you can’t propose anything new, then shut up! Get out!”
“Just because it was used before, does that mean it can’t be used again? We can surpass it. We can approach it from another direction. Why must we be limited by the fact that someone else used it, so I can’t? BARE’s pricing is very high, but does that mean ordinary people cannot use expensive things? Every person is our potential consumer. The fact that she has no money today does not mean she will have no money for the rest of her life. Besides, give everyone the dream of luxury goods and support everyone’s right to own luxury goods. As a company, one should have broad vision instead of drawing a boundary and trapping oneself inside it.”
The editor-in-chief still wanted to scold her for talking nonsense when applause suddenly sounded from the back row.
The clear applause rang out abruptly in the office area. It was not particularly enthusiastic, and there was only one person clapping.
The rhythm of the applause was slow and unhurried, but carried a hint of appreciation.
“Who is it? Are you sick…” The editor-in-chief was about to curse, but when she looked up and saw General Manager Liang, she promptly swallowed the rest of her words. Her face filled with embarrassment.
Liang Shi turned around. Not only did she see Liang Xinhe, but she also saw Xu Qingzhu.
Two of Liang Xinhe’s assistants had also come with them.
“Were you about to scold me too?” Liang Xinhe walked closer with a smile that did not reach his eyes and looked at the editor-in-chief. “I never knew before that Editor-in-chief Sun put on such airs.”
“No, General Manager, please let me explain. It’s because this newcomer doesn’t understand the rules. Also, the magazine topic hasn’t been finalized, and without a good topic, I was anxious…”
“All right. No need to explain to me.” Liang Xinhe said, “I only look at results. Has the magazine topic been finalized?”
Editor-in-chief Sun’s expression turned awkward. “Not yet.”
“So what were you doing just now? Holding an internal topic-selection meeting?” Liang Xinhe asked.
“Yes.” Editor-in-chief Sun’s previous arrogance immediately vanished, and she became deferential. Calling her humble and submissive would not be too much. “Choosing a topic is already a relatively difficult matter, and the deadline is approaching. Our discussion was just a little intense.”
“Is that so?” Liang Xinhe was still smiling, but no one would think his smile was friendly. “I’ve been here for a while. I heard you seemed to be scolding the newcomer the entire time.”
“No.” Editor-in-chief Sun smiled awkwardly. “It was because the newcomer’s opinions were too foolish. I was teaching her.”
“Oh? Really?” Liang Xinhe reached out and patted Editor-in-chief Sun’s shoulder. “I couldn’t tell. Editor-in-chief Sun is so helpful and cares so much for her subordinates?”
Editor-in-chief Sun nodded and bowed. “It’s what I should do.”
“But why did I hear you tell her to get out?” Liang Xinhe’s gaze instantly sharpened.
Editor-in-chief Sun: “……Those were angry words.”
“What’s the newcomer’s name? Did she introduce herself?” Liang Xinhe turned to look at Liang Shi. “Have you chatted with everyone?”
Liang Shi coughed lightly. “Not yet.”
This whole morning, who had the time to care about her?
“Did you do any work?” Liang Xinhe asked.
Liang Shi shook her head. “No.”
“Were you assigned any tasks?” Liang Xinhe asked again.
Liang Shi still shook her head. “……Still no.”
Liang Xinhe was much taller than Editor-in-chief Sun. The male Alpha was nearly 1.85 meters tall. At this moment, he looked down at Editor-in-chief Sun from above. “Didn’t you say the magazine department lacked people? I specially transferred someone here for you, and this is how you use people? Back then, I heard you were good at employing people and had strong work ability, so I offered you an annual salary of four hundred thousand. My requirements weren’t even that high. I didn’t ask you to push out the magazine under Haiwei Jewelry and become first-rate. I only asked you to make an electronic publication. And you can’t even do that? Did I overestimate your work ability?”
“No… not…” Editor-in-chief Sun immediately stammered, not knowing how to explain. She had the feeling that no matter what she said, she could not defend herself.
“The magazine department was too busy. I hadn’t had time to arrange anything for her yet,” Editor-in-chief Sun said fearfully.
She did not want to lose this job.
An annual salary of four hundred thousand was already considered the ceiling in this industry. Her salary was one level higher than her former colleagues’.
Everyone knew she had entered Dongheng and was terribly envious.
At this moment, she was so anxious that she added, “President Liang, I really didn’t do it on purpose. Today was too busy.”
“You were so busy that you didn’t have time to arrange work for her, but you had time to scold her until she was drenched in blood during the topic-selection meeting. Is this how you treat the person I transferred here for you? Are you dissatisfied with her, or dissatisfied with me?” Liang Xinhe’s tone was calm, but it scared Editor-in-chief Sun so badly that her legs nearly went weak.
Everyone understood now. This parachuted newcomer had General Manager Liang behind her.
General Manager Liang had come here to support her.
No wonder after the newcomer arrived, she had been so fearless and had dared to confront Editor-in-chief Sun directly. So she had a big tree to lean against.
Everyone cast sympathetic looks toward Editor-in-chief Sun.
But a moment later, those looks turned into taking pleasure in her misfortune.
Serves her right. Who told her to be so arrogant all the time? Now she had kicked an iron plate.
“President Liang, I really didn’t mean that. It was just too busy today…” Editor-in-chief Sun was still desperately explaining, trying to defend herself.
Liang Shi had already stepped forward. “President Liang, I have a recording of today’s meeting. You can listen to it, or I can send it to your email.”
Editor-in-chief Sun glared at her resentfully. “Is this a place where you get to speak?!”
Liang Shi: “……I should…”
She paused and looked at Liang Xinhe.
Liang Xinhe gave her an affirmative look. With a little bit of pride, she said, “I should, right? President Liang, what do you think?”
Liang Xinhe nodded. “You do.”
Liang Shi became happy. With someone supporting her, what could she not say?
“I think Editor-in-chief Sun is not suited to working at Dongheng,” Liang Shi said. “Her magazine philosophy does not match Dongheng, and under her leadership, the magazine department has not developed well. If you cherish a talent like Editor-in-chief Sun, you can try transferring her to another department. But after thinking about it, I don’t think any department needs someone whose specialty is scolding people.”
Hearing this, the corners of Liang Xinhe’s mouth rose.
Liang Shi said, “So I’ll leave the decision to you.”
Liang Xinhe looked at Liang Shi with some appreciation, as well as gratification.
It was exactly the feeling of an old father watching his daughter finally grow up.
Liang Xinhe did not waste words and announced directly, “Editor-in-chief Sun, you’re dismissed. Go to the human resources department to collect this month’s salary and your dismissal compensation.”
“President Liang, I really didn’t do that kind of thing…” Editor-in-chief Sun said. “Are you really going to fire me for a newcomer? I can lead Dongheng’s magazine department to a better place.”
Liang Xinhe looked at her. “If I replace you, I can still make Dongheng’s magazine department better. In this world, having ability does not mean you can do whatever you want. Besides, during the month you worked here, I did not see your ability.”
Editor-in-chief Sun: “……”
She glared resentfully at Liang Shi. “You just wait!”
Liang Shi shrugged and helplessly shook her head.
Nothing but the incompetent rage of a clown.
This farce quickly ended. Liang Xinhe told everyone in the magazine department to return to their respective workstations. He instructed the planning team leader to bring out all topic proposals during the meeting at five that afternoon so they could discuss them together. He also encouraged them not to be afraid and to bravely express their thoughts.
Liang Xinhe’s way of handling matters was completely different from Editor-in-chief Sun’s, making the people in the planning team feel happy.
Heaven knew how miserably they had been scolded by Editor-in-chief Sun these past few days.
One girl had not slept for three days. Every day when she came to work, her eyes were red and swollen, because when she went home to sleep, she always felt as if someone were scolding her beside her. She was so scared she could not sleep and could only cry.
Editor-in-chief Sun returned to her office to pack her things.
While packing, she saw the resume on the table. It was the one Liang Shi had handed over in the morning. At the time, she had not even looked at it before throwing it onto the table.
Now, furious, she picked up Liang Shi’s resume and planned to tear it apart to vent her anger.
But when she saw the name, her hand stopped.
The name field read—Liang Shi.
Liang Shi, Liang Xinhe, Liang Xinzhou.
They were all surnamed Liang.
A guess formed in her mind.
She suddenly panicked, but she still crumpled Liang Shi’s resume into a ball and threw it into the trash can like garbage.
//
Liang Shi had not expected Liang Xinhe and Xu Qingzhu to suddenly come.
But she was also grateful that Liang Xinhe had arrived in time.
Otherwise, she would have had to argue with that Editor-in-chief Sun for a long time.
Liang Xinhe had his assistant order afternoon tea for everyone, then walked out of the magazine department.
Leaving with him were Liang Shi and Xu Qingzhu.
After they left the magazine department and reached a place with no one around, Liang Shi smiled and asked, “Second Brother, why did you suddenly come over?”
“Of course it was because your wife came looking for you.” Liang Xinhe glanced at her. “Did you really think I came here specially to see you?”
“I’m not that narcissistic.” Liang Shi awkwardly touched the tip of her nose, though she could not hide her smile. “But thank you anyway.”
“What are you thanking me for?” Liang Xinhe said. “I was only removing a parasite from the company.”
Liang Shi nodded. “Yes, yes, yes.”
She had figured it out. Liang Xinhe was a tsundere.
He clearly cared about this younger sister, yet insisted on pretending to be indifferent.
“Enough. Stop being sarcastic with me.” Liang Xinhe said, “Your wife has something to talk to you about. You two talk. I’m going upstairs.”
“Okay. Thank you, Second Brother,” Liang Shi said happily.
Liang Xinhe walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at her. “Liang Shi.”
Liang Shi was just about to speak to Xu Qingzhu. Hearing him, she lifted her head. “Ah?”
“You did well today,” Liang Xinhe said. “Work hard.”
Liang Shi: “……”
Liang Xinhe acknowledged her?
She immediately smiled and replied, “Got it!”
Liang Xinhe took the elevator and left. Only Liang Shi and Xu Qingzhu remained in the corridor.
“Why did you suddenly come?” Liang Shi asked. “Did something happen at the company?”
“No.” Xu Qingzhu let out a light breath. “Wait. Let me sort this out.”
Liang Shi: “……Okay.”
But during this gap, Liang Shi’s phone vibrated slightly.
She glanced at it. It was a transfer notification from Liang Xinhe. He had directly transferred her one hundred thousand yuan, with the message: [Take your wife to eat something good. Look how thin she’s gotten.]
Liang Shi: “……”
Are rich people all like this? Giving money at the drop of a hat?
Liang Xinhe really was a sister-obsessed maniac.
She had clearly only changed for the better a little, yet he was already so happy that his tail was practically about to point to the sky?
Liang Shi replied to him: [Got it. Thank you, Second Brother.]
A few seconds later, another one-hundred-thousand-yuan transfer arrived.
Liang Xinhe: [Buy your wife some pretty clothes, and yourself too. What are you wearing? You’re embarrassing the Liang family.]
Liang Shi: “……”
Her clothes had all been carefully matched. They were very suitable for work.
Besides, she had deliberately not worn luxury brands.
If she wore a whole outfit of famous brands to work, everyone would know her family background was not simple.
But after today, everyone probably knew anyway.
Liang Shi chose to lie flat.
In any case, making her stand there and let herself be scolded was impossible. The fact that she had not gone up and punched Editor-in-chief Sun twice already counted as having grace.
Liang Shi replied: [Okay. Thank you, Second Brother.]
A few seconds later, Liang Xinhe transferred another three hundred thousand.
Liang Shi: “?”
Liang Xinhe: [Don’t be so stingy. People who don’t know might think the Liang family has gone bankrupt.]
Liang Shi: “……”
Liang Shi: [Okay.]
Looking at the five hundred thousand yuan transferred over, Liang Shi did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Although Qiu Zimin, that mother, was a little twisted, Liang Xinhe, this second brother, was indeed pretty good.
Liang Shi put away her phone and then looked at Xu Qingzhu.
Xu Qingzhu had quickly sorted out her thoughts. She had simply been waiting for Liang Shi to finish.
Naturally, there was a reason why she had left work halfway through.
On her first day at Minghui Jewelry’s design department, she had taken the role of deputy head of the design department.
After arriving, there were many things to handle, but unlike Liang Shi, she had not run into anyone deliberately making trouble for her.
Everyone knew she was the eldest daughter of the Xu family, so no one dared offend her. Even the design department head gave her some face.
She had been busy the entire day. Only after lunch had she taken a brief rest, then she threw herself back into work.
In the afternoon, she had come out to get some tea and heard her colleagues discussing today’s news. At first, she had not paid attention, but then she heard a familiar name—Chen Liuying.
After that, she heard Bai Weiwei’s name.
She immediately pricked up her ears, and everything that had happened to Bai Weiwei also reached her ears.
She did not even have time to return to her office. She took out her phone and searched Bai Weiwei’s name, and the related news entered her sight.
When she saw the words “Bai Weiwei jumped off a building,” her heart seemed to stop for several seconds.
She nervously called Bai Weiwei, but the phone was still off.
Then she called Zhao Xuning. She could not get through at all. No one answered the private number either.
She also called Liang Shi, but no one answered.
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