He had swallowed his pride and asked Director Qi for help.
But she only glanced at the resume, not even finishing it, and coldly concluded:
"Sorry, Engineer Wang, this person isn't suitable."
He rubbed his head anxiously and gave the final notice to the person on the phone:
"Sorry, Guan Guan, I really can't help you with this. Besides, you know I was just transferred, right? Director Qi disagrees, so even if I talk till the sky falls, it won't work."
"Let's drop it. You'd better find another job quickly."
Guan Guan hung up, and the only thing left in her mind was "Director Qi."
She sure is doing well, even becoming a director.
She thought sarcastically: Isn't it because of Director Xiang?
But then again, even if it was because of Director Xiang, what of it? They were already in different worlds.
And that Qian Jin—reportedly, he was also fired by the Planning Department last month. His affair during marriage was known to everyone in the company. Later, due to a major oversight in a project, customer complaints were 4.5 times those of previous orders. The company didn't hesitate and kicked him out.
Guan Guan stood at the company gate until her feet went numb, then silently left.
The relationship between Director Qi and Vice Chairman Xiang was quite subtle.
At least in the office, no matter when you saw them standing together, both had calm, composed expressions. Even their conversations were mostly about the progress of new projects.
As time passed, employees began to doubt:
Were they really a couple?
Whether they were a couple or not was all speculation. Some even made cynical remarks, saying that someone of Vice Chairman Xiang's background wouldn't look at an ordinary working woman.
But then someone would argue: Can an ordinary woman get promoted to director in half a year? Can an ordinary woman use a subsidiary as a stepping stone, jump to headquarters, and win the respect of hundreds of subordinates?
You think Qi Sui is ordinary? Then where does that leave us?
In terms of seniority, Vice Chairman Xiang, who had just returned from overseas and landed a top position, was actually much thinner.
Qi Sui had plenty of talking points.
To put it metaphorically, Vice Chairman Xiang was like a member of the imperial family, while Qi Sui was a down-to-earth female official of the current dynasty—two different things entirely.
"Speaking of which, Director Qi and Vice Chairman Xiang are quite a good match," someone remarked inexplicably.
During a department team-building event, Vice Chairman Xiang even came to the Product Planning Department to settle the bill, holding Director Qi's hand and not letting go. Colleagues watched them get into the car hand in hand, with Vice Chairman Xiang even adjusting the crooked bow tie on Director Qi's chest—very intimate.
So they're not hiding anymore?
Colleagues bit into their steaks, tears of a lonely single dog streaming in their hearts.
Although the company forbade office romances, what could anyone say when these two had already set their sights on each other?
Even the company's legal representative, Chen Jialin—Vice Chairman Xiang's cousin—was very polite to Director Qi, often giving her little trinkets, proving their relationship was above board.
Anyone unhappy? Who dared to be unhappy?
Not afraid of getting a "fire" warning?
Of course, Director Qi and Vice Chairman Xiang would never fire anyone over such a thing. They just became more open about their relationship once everyone knew.
Director Qi, who was usually so indifferent, would hold Vice Chairman Xiang's hand after work and swing it playfully. And Vice Chairman Xiang wasn't as unflappable as employees imagined. On the contrary, he seemed more accommodating and cherishing in the relationship, like a man behind a strong woman, taking care of every little detail of life.
Every noon break, the first call that rang in Director Qi's office was from Vice Chairman Xiang.
But during work, they were equally terrifying.
One would have a blank face, looking at you faintly without a hint of a smile, "Do you think this plan is feasible?"
The other wouldn't say a word, just frown—the gentle and easygoing demeanor he showed in front of Director Qi seemed to have been fed to the dogs.
Truly, like husband, like wife.
Recently, the office had been a bit lively.
Ms. Chen Jialin, after eight years of divorce, had found her second spring. Her new husband was a foreigner, her alumnus from graduate school. Hearing that Chen Jialin was divorced, he had pursued her fervently for five years. Sister S took pity on him and finally gave him a title.
The entire company was flooded with bright red wedding candies.
When handing out invitations, Chen Jialin deliberately asked Qi Sui with a smile when she and Xiao Yu planned to get married.
Qi Sui coughed and said awkwardly, "Uh... soon, probably..."
Dissatisfied, Chen Jialin pressed her on the "soon," "Tell me, is Xiao Yu unwilling to get married? If he's such a scoundrel, just tell me, and I'll deal with him."
"Ah, no!" Qi Sui quickly stopped her from jumping to conclusions, "Xiao Yu—I mean, Xiang Yu doesn't think that way."
It was more that she wasn't eager to enter another marriage so soon.
Qi Sui rubbed her nose, admitting weakly.
Vice Chairman Xiang in the relationship was all tenderness and thoughtfulness, good in the living room and kitchen, with a strong sense of service.
His big deer-like eyes at night were like two small dark bulbs. Qi Sui only needed to take one look, and she would agree to any unfair terms.
But on the matter of marriage, she had never been sure.
Xiang Yu didn't bring it up, so she assumed he wasn't in a hurry.