The longest road in this world is Sheng Chenjin's scheme.
Before Shi Xinxin could angrily expose his true colors this time, Sheng Chenjin picked up the documents on the desk and stood up. "Alright, it's settled then. I'll see you at the banquet next week."
"Wait! I never said I was going," Shi Xinxin gritted her teeth as she watched his dashing figure leave.
Sheng Chenjin walked out of the office. Just before the office door automatically closed, he waved at the person behind him.
His hearty voice echoed, "I'm going to a meeting. Remember to wait for me to come back here."
Shi Xinxin watched him walk away, a lot of unspoken words building up inside her. After a while, she slowly withdrew her gaze.
She wouldn't be foolish enough to wait here obediently for him to return.
Shi Xinxin grabbed her bag and left the building. Standing at the main entrance, she seemed to recall something and turned back towards the direction of the executive office, glaring fiercely.
Then she turned and strode away.
When Shi Xinxin arrived at her company, the three little ones were no longer in the office.
Shi Xinxin asked Yang Yue and learned that the three children found the company boring and had gone to a nearby park to play.
The park there was newly developed this year, designed with young people in mind, boasting beautiful scenery and many facilities. Shi Xinxin naturally allowed the three little ones to play.
As she took off her bag, she glanced at the iPad to check their location, confirming that the three children were safe. She then shifted her gaze.
"Ms. Shi, these are the reference works for the Shiluo competition next week. They are the top ten selections from the company's design department, and you will make the final decision."
Shi Xinxin frowned slightly, but her mind was elsewhere.
The banquet Sheng Chenjin mentioned was also next week.
What kind of fate could cause these two events to collide so perfectly? Shi Xinxin rubbed her temples.
Yang Yue realized her boss was lost in thought. After calling out a few times, Shi Xinxin snapped out of her reverie and looked blankly at the small stack of papers in Yang Yue's hand.
"Oh, these are all draft designs for the competition?" Shi Xinxin looked at the drawings, and flashes of admiration crossed her eyes.
"Yes, these were designed by the veteran members of our company's design department. There are also a few from recent newcomers."
Shi Xinxin nodded, indicating she understood.
She flipped through the first few pages. Although the designs on the drawings were bright and vivid, they lacked innovation. It was clear they were imitations of previously popular styles.
So Shi Xinxin frowned and flipped through the pages below. Her fingertip suddenly stopped on a particular drawing, and a light began to flicker in her eyes.
"Who drew the design on this drawing?" she pointed at the drawing.
At the CL company's design department, the sounds of multiple designers conversing could be heard incessantly. Even in the pantry, many people were looking at the drafts in their hands.
Therefore, a loud sound of high heels echoed in the hallway, not out of place in the bustling environment.
Shi Xinxin strode into the design center, with Yang Yue following closely behind her, holding an iPad.
Those who had been in the company for a long time saw Shi Xinxin and quickly said, "Ms. Shi, you're here."
"Yes, I'm looking for a designer," Shi Xinxin's gaze casually swept over the designers in front of her.
She couldn't find the person based on intuition alone, so Shi Xinxin turned to the person with the longest tenure and asked, "Do you have a designer named Qiaoqiao here?"
The person's expression clearly faltered for a moment, then they nodded, only to shake their head immediately afterward.
Shi Xinxin was confused by their reaction. "So, do we have her or not? Have her come out to see me."
The person said helplessly, "Ms. Shi, that designer named Qiaoqiao stole the department manager's belongings. She's probably already gone home with them."
"What?" Shi Xinxin frowned and instinctively raised her voice.
Yang Yue's expression also turned serious. "Why wasn't the dismissal of a designer with a draft reported to Ms. Shi?"
The person scratched their head, seemingly hesitant to speak due to some unspoken concern.
Shi Xinxin glanced at them. "Speak quickly if you have something to say. If you waste my one minute, I'll deduct a month's salary."
Seeing her salary about to vanish, the person immediately said, "The department manager has always been... quite domineering. No one dares to contradict her, and she doesn't let us lower-level employees report to the higher-ups."
He whispered, "Moreover, we all saw it with our own eyes. The manager put that pen into Qiaoqiao's drawer herself, but then claimed Qiaoqiao stole her pen."
Shi Xinxin became even more agitated. Her enthusiasm to find this talented designer had completely vanished. "Who gave her the audacity to act so recklessly on my territory?"
The person who fired someone was also in charge of her people. This department manager was quite something. Shi Xinxin looked at Yang Yue.
Without a word, Yang Yue understood her boss's intention and quickly manipulated the iPad in her hand, retrieving the name of the design center's manager.
She then reported an unfamiliar name: "Ms. Shi, this department manager is named Li Shiyu."
Shi Xinxin didn't recognize the name.
She had been frequently paying attention to designers who came from abroad, neglecting those hired by the company's HR department.
"Mm, where is she now? Have her come out to see me."
Yang Yue immediately went to a nearby office to fetch her.
A moment later, she returned with a slightly plump woman. "Ms. Shi, this is Li Shiyu."
Li Shiyu showed no trace of her usual arrogance. Upon seeing Shi Xinxin, she was overwhelmed by the oppressive aura in her eyes, her legs weakening, and she almost collapsed.
"M-Ms. Shi, what do you need me for?" she stammered.
Shi Xinxin looked at her with a half-smile. "You're the one who deliberately slandered Qiaoqiao and made her resign, right?"
Li Shiyu didn't understand why someone as busy as Ms. Shi would pay attention to such trivial matters among the lower ranks. Her expression clearly showed panic, and she shook her head. "I don't know what Ms. Shi is talking about."
She feigned anger. "Qiaoqiao was jealous of the pen I bought at a high price from abroad, and I didn't bother with her about it."
Shi Xinxin chuckled. "You call this not bothering with her? It's clearly her who didn't bother with you."
She then looked at Yang Yue. "Go and call Qiaoqiao over. Tell her she doesn't have to resign anymore."
Li Shiyu was confused. "She's lost her position and can't stay in the company anymore!"
Shi Xinxin didn't even look at her and turned to sit on a swivel chair. "Don't worry about her affairs. From now on, Qiaoqiao will be the head of the design center."
"How can that be!" Li Shiyu blurted out instinctively.
She had painstakingly climbed to this position through backdoor dealings, and now she was being replaced by some novice who knew nothing!
Shi Xinxin then condescended to give her a glance. "Then how could you have personally put the pen into Qiaoqiao's drawer?"
With the truth revealed, a buzz of discussion instantly erupted around them. Li Shiyu's face flushed crimson. Unable to bear the stares, she gritted her teeth, pushed through the crowd, and ran out.