Qin Yuhe gazed at his wife’s face on the screen. Her listless features had become fresh and vivid because she needed his help, her bright eyes sparkling with anticipation.
In fact, he had already guessed what kind of favor she wanted to ask.
But he still asked, “What do you want me to help you with?”
Only by asking could he get her to say it aloud.
Song Xinya said, “Chen Siyan and I tied for first place. According to the rules we’ve always followed, the person with the highest overall score becomes a Gold Medal Lecturer. So why can’t Chen Siyan and I both be Gold Medal Lecturers?”
“Why must one person be chosen from two people who ranked first? That’s unfair to the other person who also came in first.”
“I know the world itself is unfair, but that shouldn’t be used as a fig leaf for every unjust thing. Someone has to stand up and fight against all the unfairness and wrongdoing.”
“If most people were willing to cheer for justice—and even stand up for it—then those shameless people who twist right and wrong couldn’t run rampant, and every unfair system would eventually become fair.”
“I know that’s too idealistic. But precisely because it’s idealistic, it’s all the more captivating.”
“Qin Yuhe, there are things other people don’t have the ability to accomplish, things as difficult as reaching the heavens, yet all you need to do is say one word to help someone achieve fairness and justice.”
“Qin Yuhe, are you willing to do me this favor?”
Qin Yuhe looked at the eager anticipation filling her eyes and replied, “I am.”
The next day, Yuan Jingcheng came into the office and asked his secretary brightly, “Has Chen Siyan come to see me?”
The secretary replied, “No.”
Yuan Jingcheng looked surprised. Chen Siyan still hadn’t come to submit his resignation?
He was a veteran employee and had ranked first in performance. Losing to Song Xinya, who had only joined the company a few months ago, had already cost him a great deal of face.
On top of that, when Chen Siyan had asked him yesterday why he had lost, Yuan Jingcheng had deliberately made his words harsh. He had wanted to force Chen Siyan to resign.
And yet Chen Siyan still wasn’t planning to leave?
Yuan Jingcheng was still pondering this when he looked up and saw Chen Siyan entering the company. He was full of energy and looked completely refreshed.
He didn’t look like someone who had just suffered a crushing blow.
The night before, he had been so downcast. How had he suddenly become so cheerful today?
Yuan Jingcheng said, “Manager Chen, you’re here early.”
Chen Siyan met his gaze and replied, “I just love coming to work. No other reason. I simply enjoy crossing swords with my superior.”
Yuan Jingcheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled. “What are you fighting with me for? As a leader, I’ve never liked fighting with my employees.”
Chen Siyan raised an eyebrow. “Really? Then your self-awareness is seriously lacking. You were clearly born to be a fighting rooster. Not only are you cross-eyed, you especially love picking fights.”
Snickers rose from the people nearby.
Yuan Jingcheng occasionally liked to make fun of others, but he had never liked being the butt of a joke. He saw it as a challenge to his authority.
He stared at Chen Siyan, his teeth clenched, and deliberately went for Chen Siyan’s sore spot. “Manager Chen, you didn’t get selected as a Gold Medal Lecturer. I thought you might take the day off and go somewhere to clear your head, so you wouldn’t be too heartbroken.”
Chen Siyan gave a lazy smile. “What’s the big deal? Do I really need to take time off and go somewhere to get over it? I’m perfectly healthy, with all four limbs intact. I’m neither sick nor injured. Is losing a competition really enough to make someone act like the world is ending? You make me sound far too fragile.”
“Or maybe,” Chen Siyan continued, the corner of his mouth curling with mockery, “that’s the kind of person you are, President Yuan—someone who can’t endure the slightest failure or setback, who spends every day worrying about his dignity and authority, and who threatens to kill himself whenever something doesn’t go his way?”
Chen Siyan let out a laugh. “Are you really that fragile, President Yuan? Is your heart made of potato chips? Give it the slightest touch and—crack—it shatters.”
Yuan Jingcheng’s face looked like a muddy field after a torrential downpour.
He could clearly feel that Chen Siyan was especially aggressive today.
And all that aggression was aimed directly at him.
“Off to work I go,” Chen Siyan said. After taking his shots at Yuan Jingcheng, he swung his backpack around and strode toward his workstation.
The flying backpack smacked into the documents in Yuan Jingcheng’s hands, sending white sheets fluttering chaotically through the air.
A glint of amusement flashed through Chen Siyan’s eyes. He turned back and said to Yuan Jingcheng, “Oh, whoops. Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to.”
Then he turned away and left without picking up a single sheet for Yuan Jingcheng.
Yuan Jingcheng gathered the papers from the floor and returned to his office.
With a loud slap, he slammed them onto his desk.
What was Chen Siyan acting so arrogant about?
He had been humiliated to this extent and still refused to resign. His skin was unbelievably thick.
Yuan Jingcheng was considering whether he should come up with another way to force Chen Siyan to submit his resignation when the phone rang.
It was an international call.
Yuan Jingcheng answered. “President Qin, you wanted to speak with me?”
Qin Yuhe said, “There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Trying to claim credit, Yuan Jingcheng said, “President Qin, don’t worry. Teacher Song has already been selected as a Gold Medal Lecturer. I’ve taken care of everything, so you can rest assured.”
Qin Yuhe replied, “You handled things so badly. What could I possibly feel reassured about?”
Yuan Jingcheng’s heart lurched. “President Qin, what do you mean?”
“Song Xinya and Chen Siyan tied for first place. Why was only one of them selected as a Gold Medal Lecturer?”
Yuan Jingcheng said, “Because there was only one Gold Medal Lecturer position. As their superior, I’ve always watched their efforts closely. From the bottom of my heart, I hope they’ll both do well and both be selected as Gold Medal Lecturers.”
Qin Yuhe’s voice was as calm as icy water in winter. “Yuan Jingcheng, I’ve never believed what someone says. I only believe what they do. Actions will always be more convincing than words.”
“Your actions prove that what you just said was a lie. I don’t believe a single word of it.”
Having been exposed without mercy, Yuan Jingcheng no longer dared to deceive him with empty flattery.
“President Qin, what would you like me to do?”
“Since Song Xinya and Chen Siyan tied for first place, let them both be selected as Gold Medal Lecturers.”
“President Qin, no two people have ever been selected as Gold Medal Lecturers at the same time. It wouldn’t follow the rules.”
“Rules are meant to be broken. Yuan Jingcheng, as my subordinate, you only need to obey my orders. You don’t get to tell me how to do my job.”
Yuan Jingcheng made one last attempt to resist and found an excuse. “The International Teacher Training Association may not agree.”
“As chairman of the International Teacher Training Association, if you can’t even handle the members of your own association, then you’re utterly useless. You’d better not continue working as general manager of my company. Resign.”
Yuan Jingcheng quickly changed his tune. “I’ve thought it over again. I can handle the association members. There won’t be any problem with both Song Xinya and Chen Siyan being selected as Gold Medal Lecturers.”
Soon, an email announcing Chen Siyan’s selection as a Gold Medal Lecturer was sent to every member of the company.
From that moment on, no one said that Song Xinya had been selected as a Gold Medal Lecturer because of her connection with President Qin.
Everyone was happy.
Song Xinya’s phone rang. When she answered, Qin Yuhe’s deep, low voice slipped into her ear.
“Mrs. Qin, are you happy now?”
