Chapter Two: The Company's Predicament

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Duan Fei strode through the gates of North Group in her towering stilettos, clutching the proposal for the “Starlight” project tightly in her hand. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass curtain wall, casting a golden glow over her, making her look like a warrior on the verge of triumph.

Yet reality dealt her a harsh slap.

“Miss Duan, the president has instructed that these documents need to be sorted and archived,” Zhang Qi said with a forced smile, sliding a towering stack of papers onto the desk in front of her, nearly ruining her carefully applied makeup.

Duan Fei glanced at the piles of files towering higher than herself; the corner of her eye twitched slightly.

The Starlight project?

It seemed that as an “airborne soldier,” she had no chance of gaining respect anytime soon.

Whispers circled among the colleagues, some even covering their mouths to stifle laughter. Their eyes seemed to say, “So what if she’s a wealthy heiress? She still has to start from the bottom.”

Duan Fei took a deep breath, reminding herself that small endurance now preserves the greater plan.

She brushed back her hair and offered a seemingly indifferent smile. “Alright, I understand.”

For the next several hours, Duan Fei felt like she had returned to her student days, becoming a tireless and uncomplaining “tool.”

Copying, printing, organizing, filing...

The endless menial tasks left her overwhelmed.

To make matters worse, she accidentally spilled coffee, wetting an important document.

“Miss Duan, what are you doing?!” Zhang Qi’s voice pierced like a knife, causing the surrounding colleagues to stop their work and watch her as if she were a spectacle.

Duan Fei felt her eyes grow moist, but she bit her lip stubbornly, refusing to shed a tear.

“I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.”

“Not intentional? Do you know how important this document is?” Zhang Qi sneered mercilessly. “I think you should go home and do embroidery instead—stop making a mess here!”

Duan Fei clenched her fists so tightly her nails almost dug into her flesh.

The atmosphere around her seemed to freeze—cold, mocking, and filled with schadenfreude.

Negative emotions surged like a tidal wave, nearly drowning her.

At that moment, while organizing files, she accidentally uncovered a market analysis report buried at the bottom of the pile...

“Wait, this data...”

Duan Fei felt as if she had grasped a lifeline.

This dusty, overlooked market analysis report was detailed and logically sound, yet for some reason had been shelved and ignored.

She keenly sensed that within this report lay the key to turning the tide.

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After three consecutive nights of overtime, Duan Fei’s eyes were bloodshot, but she was unusually excited.

Based on the ignored report and her own understanding of the market, she had reorganized a new proposal.

This plan took an unconventional path, daring and innovative—some might say even rebellious—but she firmly believed it was North Group’s only chance to escape its predicament.

She carried the proposal and knocked on Bei Mo’s office door.

“Knock, knock, knock.” The sound struck Bei Mo’s heart as if shattering the whispers from outside by employees eager to see her fail.

“Come in,” Bei Mo’s deep voice replied.

Duan Fei entered the room. Bei Mo was buried in a pile of documents, his brow furrowed like an unmelting iceberg.

She approached his desk and placed the proposal down. “President Bei, this is my revised ‘Starlight’ project proposal. Please take a look.”

Bei Mo lifted his head, his profound gaze fixed on her. This woman had actually managed to accomplish it?

He picked up the proposal and flipped through it swiftly.

The air seemed to freeze; not a sound could be heard.

After reading, a faint, meaningful smile tugged at the corner of Bei Mo’s lips. “Interesting.”

Those four words finally eased the tension in Duan Fei’s chest and left the employees outside—waiting to see her fail—in disbelief.

Zhang Qi’s face went ashen, as if he had swallowed a live fly.

“Follow me,” Bei Mo said, picking up the proposal and heading to the conference room.

Duan Fei followed closely behind, head held high, like a general about to march onto the battlefield.

In the conference room, North Group’s executives gathered solemnly.

Duan Fei stood before the projector, calmly presenting her plan.

Yet the moment she finished, most of the executives opposed it.

“Miss Duan, you’ve only been here a few days; how dare you question our decisions?”

“This plan is too radical, too risky—we can’t accept it!”

“It’s good for young people to have ideas, but you must be realistic and not reach beyond your grasp!”

Facing their doubts, Duan Fei remained composed, calmly explaining her proposal and systematically refuting their objections with data and logic.

Her voice was gentle yet powerful, a stark contrast to the conservative, rigid executives.

The atmosphere became tense, as if a silent war was underway.

Bei Mo remained silent, listening intently, his eyes occasionally resting on Duan Fei, as if contemplating something.

“So, I think,” Bei Mo interrupted, his gaze sharp as a blade as he scanned the room, “this proposal is feasible.”

The conference room fell silent instantly. Those who had opposed Duan Fei looked like choked chickens, their faces flushed but unable to retort.

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Zhang Qi’s face turned deadly pale, as if he had swallowed a live fly, cursing inwardly, “That woman actually made the president change his mind!”

Bei Mo looked at Duan Fei, his tone still cold. “Refine the details. I want the final version on my desk by nine tomorrow morning.” Though his voice was cool, the admiration in his eyes was unmistakable.

Duan Fei nodded slightly, her calm expression betraying no emotion, but inside she was quietly celebrating: Yes!

I truly am a business genius!

After the meeting, Bei Mo stopped Duan Fei.

“Your proposal is full of insight,” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “keep up the good work.” He then turned and left without looking back.

Though brief, his words warmed Duan Fei’s heart.

This man really is all bark and no bite!

Back in her office, Duan Fei hummed a cheerful tune.

Her colleagues’ gazes toward her had subtly shifted—from disdain and ridicule to a mixture of awe and curiosity.

It seemed that her foothold in North Group was imminent!

But the good times were short-lived.

Early the next morning, as Duan Fei arrived at the office, she was met with a cacophony of gossip.

“Have you heard? The company’s stock just plummeted!”

“No way? That bad?”

“I heard it hit the limit down!”

Her heart sank as a bad premonition washed over her.

She immediately opened her computer to check the stock price. Sure enough, North Group’s shares were diving straight down.

Inside Bei Mo’s office, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could drip from it.

Phones rang incessantly; urgent meetings piled up. Bei Mo was busier than a spinning top, his face dark and grim.

Duan Fei stood hesitantly at the door, unsure whether to enter.

She knew Bei Mo must be under tremendous pressure. She wanted to help, but wasn’t sure what she could do.

Suddenly, Zhang Qi emerged from the office. Seeing Duan Fei, a cold sneer curled his lips.

“Miss Duan, scared now, aren’t you? Your so-called ‘innovative proposal’ might just be the last straw that breaks North Group’s back!”

Duan Fei took a deep breath, striving to remain calm.

“Manager Zhang, what good is it to make sarcastic remarks now? The urgent task is to find a solution!”

“Find a solution?” Zhang Qi laughed harshly, dripping with mockery. “You? What can you possibly do?” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “My advice? Pack your things and leave before they kick you out. That would be much less embarrassing.”