Chapter Fifteen: The Most Foolish Demand

With just a simple sentence, Secretary Qiu felt as though all the strength had been drained from her body. Her legs nearly gave way beneath her; she might not have gone mad, but she had certainly done something utterly insane. In terms of her rank, she was essentially on par with a senior manager—above her stood the senior managers, the director’s assistants, the deputy directors, and only then the director. She had no authority whatsoever to appoint a department director. Yet the words she had spoken, especially when uttered so publicly in the company, could not be taken as a joke nor retracted, for they represented the will of the president.

The consequences of falsely transmitting the president's orders were no laughing matter. She had been High Tianxiong’s secretary for over a year now, and back when she worked at Paradise Entertainment, she had witnessed firsthand his methods—punishments rained down on others had inspired in her a mixture of awe and fear; were they to fall on her own head, the thought alone was enough to make her shudder.

She knew full well the consequences, yet still chose to go against the grain—not because she had the courage to defy her superior’s orders, but rather because she understood that failing to carry out High Tianxiong’s instructions strictly might lead to even graver repercussions.

The task High Tianxiong had given her was to accompany Hong Chen on a tour of the company, with a special directive: “Fulfill all of Mr. Hong’s requests unconditionally.”

Did “all requests” include the abrupt appointment of a director?

She didn’t know, nor had Hong Chen given her any opportunity to consult with him. She had to make her own decision, and whether it was right or wrong, she was gambling with her career—perhaps even more.

The reception hall grew ever more silent, not even the sound of breathing was heard; the atmosphere was eerily tense.

“Deputy Director Wei, now you know who he is, don’t you?”

“Do you still think you have the right to call the Investment Department your own domain in his presence?”

“Do you still have the confidence?”

Hong Chen’s voice sounded, calm and indifferent, but in Wei Xie’s ears it dripped with endless mockery—each word landing like a resounding slap across his face.

“Impossible. He’s only graduated from a technical college less than three years ago, spent half his time unemployed—a societal failure. How could the company ever hire someone like him as a director? Secretary Qiu, there are countless people in this world who share the same name; there must be some mistake.”

Wei Xie had spent over a decade navigating the storms of the business world, but even so, this outcome shattered his composure. He had no time for Hong Chen now; his eyes were fixed on Secretary Qiu, his expression as dark as stagnant water. If one looked closely, they would see, beneath the gloom, an unmistakable trace of fear.

“Deputy Director Wei, are you questioning me, or are you questioning President High?” Secretary Qiu’s brows drew together, and her voice was icy cold. Having made her choice, she could only see it through to the end.

Wei Xie’s expression faltered; all those present felt a jolt in their hearts. By invoking the president directly, Secretary Qiu had unequivocally confirmed Xu Le’s appointment as director.

Their gazes toward Xu Le shifted. A few quick-witted employees quietly edged away from Wei Xie.

“Director Xu, my performance as a stand-in actor today wasn’t half bad, was it? Now it’s your turn to brandish the rod of authority, reward the good and punish the wicked. It’s your turf now—better to press your advantage than show mercy,” Hong Chen said, delivering a firm slap to Xu Le’s shoulder, snapping his wandering spirit back into his body. Casually, he snatched the cigarette from Xu Le’s hand—the one he’d earlier shoved into Xu Le’s mouth—clenched it between his own lips, and struck a match.

There was a no-smoking sign on the wall. Normally, some employee would have stopped such uncivil behavior, but now, no one paid him any mind.

Xu Le drew a deep, silent breath, casting a furtive glance at Hong Chen, who looked every bit the spectator. A flash of determination crossed his eyes. No matter what trick Hong Chen had played, the director’s title now rested on his head, and with it, the power to settle the score.

If not now, then when?

“Secretary Qiu, I have the authority to access the surveillance footage now, don’t I?”

Without unnecessary words, Secretary Qiu nodded lightly and turned to the head of security. Just as the latter was about to respond, Wei Xie interjected, “Everyone, return to work. Captain Ma, I’ll go with you to the surveillance room…”

He cast an unwilling glance at Xu Le, gritting his teeth, “Director Xu, if you’re uneasy, you may come as well.”

He was clearly trying to take the matter out of the public eye, unconcerned by the crowd. “Director Xu” rolled off his tongue not only naturally, but with a hint of deference—quick to assess the situation, decisive in action; he was, after all, a figure of some substance.

Secretary Qiu hesitated slightly. Captain Ma was about to agree when Xu Le refused with unwavering firmness, “I’ll remain here. Deputy Director Wei, as well as her, and him, him, him, him—none of you may leave until the surveillance results are clear.”

He pointed in turn to Lin Meimei and the four security guards who had assaulted him, not sparing even the two guards previously disciplined by Hong Chen.

Wei Xie’s face darkened to the extreme. “Director Xu, you have no right to restrict my personal freedom.”

Xu Le met his shadowed gaze and gave a cold smile, “If you try to leave this reception hall before we have a result, don’t bother coming in tomorrow. If you think my words hold no weight, you’re welcome to try.”

Being publicly threatened by a subordinate ten years his junior, Wei Xie nearly stormed out in anger, but reason held him back. If he really did so, it would be open defiance of a superior—an almost zero-tolerance offense in the corporate world. His tenure as deputy director would be over.

“Secretary Qiu, I suggest you consult President High. This matter concerns the reputations of Director Xu, myself, and Miss Lin.” Forcing down his anger, Wei Xie pinned his hopes on Secretary Qiu.

“Ah, Deputy Director Wei, that’s the most foolish request you could have made. Secretary Qiu, you might as well grant his wish,” came a gentle sigh. Hong Chen shook his head, a faint sneer curling at his lips.

Secretary Qiu had long intended to ask for instructions. At Hong Chen’s words, she immediately agreed and turned to leave.

Wei Xie frowned, an ominous premonition rising in his heart as his eyes flickered over Hong Chen. Hong Chen met his gaze, exhaling a wisp of smoke, “In fact, your smartest move would be to admit fault before the truth comes out—present yourself to Director Xu with a plea for forgiveness. Who knows, if Director Xu’s heart softens, he might really let you off this time.”

Wei Xie remained silent, his brows furrowing deeper.

After a pause, Hong Chen continued, “If things proceed according to Xu Le’s plan, the truth will simply come to light, you lose face, then your job—nothing more. But you, unfortunately, have chosen to alert the president…”

Hong Chen said no more, but in his eyes, Wei Xie glimpsed a trace of pity, making his eyelids twitch and his sense of foreboding grow stronger.

Yet, in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to make the wisest choice Hong Chen had suggested.

Six or seven minutes later, Secretary Qiu returned, accompanied by two security guards. Unlike the others, these two had sharp eyes and radiated a sense of danger.

“Manager Luo,” she called coolly, casting a cold glance at Wei Xie. One of the crew-cutted guards strode to the wall-mounted television in the reception hall, inserted a USB drive, and operated it deftly.

Soon, everyone saw on the screen a man following a woman out of the Investment Department, all the way to the corridor. Suddenly, the woman shoved the man for no apparent reason, then began shouting dramatically. The man looked bewildered, stood frozen for a few seconds, and was about to leave when a group rushed up the stairs. The woman pointed at the man, and without a word, four of the group—excluding their leader—set upon the man, beating and kicking him.

The man on the screen was Xu Le, the woman Lin Meimei, the leader Wei Xie, and the four attackers the security guards Xu Le had previously singled out.

The truth was laid bare, clear even to a fool.

A wave of astonished murmurs swept through the crowd, followed by a collective shifting away from Wei Xie and Lin Meimei.

The crew-cut guard paused the video, looking to Secretary Qiu. Seeing her expressionless nod, he fell silent for a moment, then, moving as swiftly as a leopard, he crossed the space to Wei Xie in half a breath, and with a sharp kick to the back of Wei Xie’s knee—

A harsh crack of bone echoed through the hall. Wei Xie let out a pig-like scream and collapsed to his knees, his face contorted in agony.

Lin Meimei shrieked, terror-stricken. She staggered backward in panic, her high heel catching; there came a sharp click from her ankle, and she toppled in an utterly ungainly posture, landing sprawled on the floor, one leg sticking awkwardly in the air.