Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
The New Year’s holiday ended, and Yu Qing had her secretary send out a notice: a mid-level meeting would be held at 10:30 a.m.
Before the meeting, she went to find Qin Moling to get a general understanding of the department heads.
Qin Moling was deeply engrossed in reviewing documents, occasionally pressing on his temples to relieve stress.
As he finished reading sections, he jotted down suggestions in red ink in the margins.
On the corner of his desk was a stack of printed reports from various regional offices. Over the past two days, staring at the computer screen had strained his eyes, so he asked his secretary to print them out for him to review.
Yu Qing knocked and entered, but couldn’t help frowning upon seeing Qin Moling wearing a bright pink shirt that screamed flamboyance.
Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Moling noticed her but chose to ignore her.
Her comparison of Lemong’s outdated display fridge to him the other day had wounded his pride.
Did he really look that sloppy?
Yu Qing closed the door and sat across from him. His face was stern, expressionless. “President Qin, Happy New Year. You’ve certainly refreshed your appearance.”
Still not looking up, Qin Moling gave a faint “Mm.” His tone was indifferent. “A new year, a new look. I bought a new shirt and even got a facelift.”
Yu Qing smirked. “That surgery didn’t turn out well. Your face still looks droopy.”
Qin Moling: “….”
His blood boiled with anger.
He lost track of which line he was reading.
He raised his head. “Don’t you think you owe me an apology?”
“I didn’t even ask you to write a self-criticism, and now you’re turning this around on me? Shouldn’t you reflect on why our competitor’s display fridges are already in use while Lemong is still stuck with last year’s product posters?”
Yu Qing grabbed the bottle of vitamin C from the corner of his desk, opened it, and popped two pills into her mouth.
She had spent the last two days running around the market, and she was exhausted and cold.
When she woke up this morning, her body felt weak.
She was starting to feel like she might catch a cold.
Qin Moling patted the stack of documents. “I haven’t slept in nearly three days.”
Of course, there was some exaggeration, but he had only managed a few hours of sleep each night.
Ever since receiving that photo from her—especially with Duo Xin’s display fridge in the frame—he couldn’t swallow his pride. He hadn’t left the house during the New Year’s holiday.
Yu Qing opened her notebook. “I came to get an overview of the department managers’ situations.”
Qin Moling logged into his email. “I’ll send it to you; check your inbox.”
He had anticipated she would come to him for information, so during his sleepless nights, he prepared a summary for her.
Yu Qing opened her phone’s email app. “Do you have any other meetings this morning?”
Qin Moling dodged the question. “I’m attending the mid-level meeting with you.”
At 10:20 a.m., Yu Qing and Qin Moling arrived at the meeting room ten minutes early.
The department heads were already there, whispering among themselves.
Their commander-in-chief had changed, and they knew nothing about this new leader—her temperament, work style, nothing at all.
When Yu Qing entered, they settled into their seats and turned their attention to their laptops. A beautiful woman was always pleasing to the eye, and regardless of gender, everyone stole glances in Yu Qing’s direction.
Their attention was completely drawn to her beauty and charisma; even Qin Moling’s flamboyant pink shirt went unnoticed.
Influenced by her previous work environment, where she collaborated closely with securities firms, Yu Qing was accustomed to frequent meetings. Once everyone was present, she began without unnecessary introductions, cutting straight to the chase.
“How many display fridges has Duo Xin deployed in the market? What’s the approximate cost per unit? How much monthly display allowance do they give to merchants? How long does it take their sales representatives, from negotiating with terminal merchants to completing the deployment of the display fridges?”
Four consecutive questions, all related to their competitor.
The marketing director froze.
He hadn’t prepared answers to any of these questions.
He had assumed Yu Qing would focus today on understanding the company’s sales performance from last year, this year’s targets, and the promotion plans for new products.
Before the meeting, he had spent two full hours preparing.
Who would have thought she’d deviate so far from convention?
The head of market supervision also remained silent, head bowed.
This information should have been within his grasp, but he had failed in his duty.
During the three-day holiday, he had gone on a short trip with his family.
The occasional clicking of mice in the meeting room fell silent.
Qin Moling, attending as an observer today, lounged lazily in his chair. The pink shirt was something he had purchased back in his carefree, youthful days.
Without a suitable pair of cufflinks to match, he simply rolled up the sleeves.
From time to time, he glanced at the marketing director.
The meeting room remained quiet.
Finally, the marketing director stammered, “Within half an hour after the meeting, I’ll provide you with the answers.”
“I assumed our sales department would have these figures,” Yu Qing said, looking at the marketing director. “Let me share the data I’ve gathered and filtered. We can compare it with what you obtain later.”
The marketing director: “….”
Each word cut deeper than the last.
It left him, the person in charge of sales, utterly humiliated.
Yu Qing proceeded to answer her own questions. “Duo Xin has deployed approximately 400,000 display fridges nationwide, with a roughly equal ratio of double-door and single-door models. The single-door fridges cost around 900 yuan each, while the double-door ones are about 600 yuan. The total investment in display fridges amounts to 300 million yuan. The monthly display allowances range from a high of 210 yuan for special channels during the second and third quarters to 60 or 70 yuan for regular convenience stores, offset against goods payments.”
She paused briefly.
“Their sales representatives, from negotiating with store owners to delivering the display fridges and completing product displays, take as little as four hours and no more than three days, based on what I know.”
After she finished speaking, the meeting room grew even quieter.
The only sound was the scratching of pens as everyone furiously took notes.
Whether it was finance, marketing, or market supervision, all the department heads were writing down everything they could.
Duo Xin’s moves were lightning-fast, and Zhao Shuqun was ruthless, timing the rollout just before the New Year’s holiday when competitors were relaxing, looking forward to the break and the celebrations.
By the time the holiday started, Duo Xin had already completed the deployment of their display fridges, catching their competitors off guard and leaving them no time to react.
And prior to this, there had been no leaks or hints of their plans.
“The second issue we need to discuss,” Yu Qing took a sip of her coffee.
Everyone’s hearts were now in their throats.
“Duo Xin’s sales representatives have demonstrated impressive control over key accounts and excellent relationships with merchants—something we’ve all witnessed.” Yu Qing asked, “I want to know how many of our Lemong sales reps and regional managers can achieve this level of control? I expect answers by next week’s meeting.”
Marketing Director: “...Alright.”
She had just tightened the screws on everyone.
Yu Qing continued, “I don’t understand the intricacies of sales. As for how your sales department manages the sales force or maintains relationships with distributors, I won’t meddle. As long as everything stays within the legal framework, it’s fine.”
The marketing director exhaled in relief, feeling the heavy burden lift off his shoulders. He had been dreading that Yu Qing, an outsider, might interfere in professional matters.
“Director Xue,” Yu Qing pressed on, “Given Duo Xin’s deployment of new display fridges, what’s your plan to respond?”
This was a question the marketing director had prepared for. “Although our Lemong display fridges are outdated, they’re still functional. I plan to use new product posters to create custom ‘covers’ for the fridges, giving them a complete makeover from top to bottom.”
“The material cost will be around 20 million yuan.”
Yu Qing nodded. “What main color tones are you considering for the posters?”
Marketing Director: “...”
He hadn’t done his homework.
These decisions were typically outsourced to a marketing firm.
But saying “I don’t know” in front of senior management was a cardinal sin.
“By the end of the day, at the latest, I’ll send several design options to your email.”
Yu Qing hummed in acknowledgment but then shifted gears. “Currently, the only display fridge causing significant visual impact in the market is Duo Xin’s.”
She sent Duo Xin’s poster to the group chat.
“The side posters of Duo Xin’s display fridges feature lemon yellow as the main color, complemented by icy blue. The combination is clear and refreshing. Only apple green and grape purple can rival the visual impact of lemon yellow.”
The marketing director understood. The dominant color should be apple green. “Grape purple feels too heavy and not refreshing enough.”
Yu Qing nodded, pausing for a few seconds. “Shouldn’t we consider replacing the marketing company we’ve been working with? Their product promotions lack innovation. I don’t care which company you switch to, as long as I see a satisfactory final proposal.”
The marketing director agreed. “Alright, we’ll hold a bidding process.”
Yu Qing said no more. She knew that Director Xue and the marketing company had private financial ties. She wouldn’t disrupt this balance and would leave the decision to them to find a new partner.
But since the promotional budget was being spent, she naturally expected the best possible design solution.
“If there’s nothing else, let’s adjourn.” Yu Qing closed her notebook.
Qin Moling and Yu Qing left the meeting room one after the other.
As their footsteps faded, the others slumped back into their chairs, utterly drained.
In just ten-odd minutes, the meeting had been more exhausting than an entire day’s worth.
Inside the elevator, Qin Moling finally spoke. “Today’s meeting was the shortest in history, yet they all felt like they were walking on thin ice.”
Yu Qing: “It’s not me being tough—it’s their lack of confidence.”
“How are they usually during your meetings?” she asked.
Qin Moling: “I hadn’t paid attention before. But today, out of boredom, I observed. Do you really plan to replace the marketing company?”
He turned to look at her.
Yu Qing: “Yes. Their designs are outdated. They probably think that since we’ve worked together for so long and maintained good relations, we wouldn’t replace them. They’ve become complacent.”
The elevator arrived at their floor.
Qin Moling held the button and reminded her, “The boss of Wenceng Planning Company is named Leng Wenning.”
Yu Qing didn’t recognize the name. “So? Your ex-girlfriend?”
Qin Moling: “Ji Qingyuan’s ex.”
Yu Qing: “...”
The secretary’s office wasn’t the right place to discuss this.
Yu Qing gestured for Qin Moling to follow her into her office. After closing the door, she frowned. “What exactly is going on?”
“Nothing much. I thought you already knew.” Qin Moling explained, “Leng Wenning has been working with Lemong for six or seven years. Back then, your family hadn’t invested in Lemong yet, and Ji Qingyuan and your sister didn’t even know each other.”
“That’s good then.” Yu Qing spread out her documents and got to work.
“I’m not targeting anyone specifically. Their designs aren’t worth the price, and their promotional strategies are outdated. Am I so flush with cash that I need to hand it over to her?”
Qin Moling studied her. “Fine. You call the shots. Given our shared bottle of vitamin C, I’ll support you.”
“...”
________________________________________
Around noon, Duo Xin’s regular meeting ended.
Zhao Shuqun was the first to leave the conference room, heading toward the elevator.
“Director Zhao.”
Zhao Shuqun turned around to see Qiao Yang catching up from behind.
“What is it?”
Qiao Yang handed him a report. “Lemong’s net profit last year was 1.96 billion yuan. Trying to take a piece of the market from Qin Moling is like snatching food from a tiger’s mouth—it requires a fierce fight. Now that their team has added Yu Qing, this year’s market will be even tougher than last year.”
Zhao Shuqun nodded slightly, reviewing the report as he walked.
Qiao Yang reminded him, “We can’t afford any vulnerabilities in Beijing falling into Yu Qing’s hands. A single negative rumor could destroy our reputation.”
Zhao Shuqun understood what Qiao Yang was hinting at. No one had anticipated that Yu Qing would return to Lemong and stand against Duo Xin, disregarding even Fu Jichen’s face.
The critical point was that Boss Qian and Yu Qing were acquainted.
When Zhao Shuqun returned to the sales department, Xiao Yilin was in her office. He knocked on her door. “Come here for a moment.”
Xiao Yilin slammed the sales report she was holding onto the desk, upside down. His attitude made it seem as if she owed him a hundred million yuan.
Back then, their relationship had been consensual. Now that his backyard was on fire, he was dumping all the blame on her.
“What is it?” Xiao Yilin’s tone was sharp as she leaned against his desk, arms crossed, looking down at him.
Zhao Shuqun: “How far along are things with Boss Qian and Zhuo Hua Trading?”
Xiao Yilin remained silent. Boss Qian was difficult to deal with and refused to give up his position as a Duo Xin distributor. His contract wasn’t set to expire until October.
Annoying.
Zhuo Hua Trading’s boss was too powerful, making them harder to manage.
Zhao Shuqun hadn’t rested well these past two days. Issues at work and at home were all stressing him out.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “After the incident with Yu Qing last time, I thought you’d learned your lesson after writing your self-criticism and receiving your punishment.”
The result? She had repeatedly failed to learn her lesson.
He hadn’t scrutinized the contract with Zhuo Hua Trading.
She had claimed that the boss of Zhuo Hua Trading had agreed to start as a distributor and would take over Boss Qian’s market in October.
Even as a distributor, they were set to make a substantial profit this year.
Yuan Wenwen had drafted the contract, reviewed it, and approved it.
He hadn’t suspected anything.
With so many contracts passing through daily, both he and the vice president essentially signed them with their eyes half-closed, not bothering to check the specifics.
After all, there were subordinates assigned to review them.
Who would have thought Xiao Yilin colluded with Yuan Wenwen to secretly alter the contract terms?
By the time he found out, Zhuo Hua Trading had already made the payment and was preparing to ship the goods.
He had been negligent in his work by not carefully reviewing the contract and poorly managing his subordinates.
“For now, delegate some of your tasks to me. I’ll handle them while you focus on personally resolving the issue with Boss Qian.”
Xiao Yilin: “You should come with me.”
“Xiao Yilin, don’t push your luck!”
This situation was now quite thorny for Xiao Yilin—more trouble than it was worth. “Don’t be angry. It’s my fault. Forgive me this once.”
Zhao Shuqun waved his hand dismissively. “Close the door on your way out.”
After Xiao Yilin left, the office fell silent.
Whenever Zhao Shuqun had a moment of downtime, his mind wandered.
In recent days, Chen Yan had grown increasingly cold toward him. Apart from occasionally responding to him in front of their child, she remained silent no matter what he said.
He had asked her what he needed to do for her to reconsider the divorce.
He had never considered divorce, nor did he stop loving her.
At that moment, Chen Yan still didn’t speak but extended her hand toward him.
It took him a while to realize she was asking for his salary card.
Previously, every month at the beginning, he would transfer 100,000 yuan to her on time. During holidays, he’d even add an extra 20,000 yuan so she could buy clothes or bags she liked.
Last night, he had handed over his salary card to her.
________________________________________
On the first day of the holiday, dusk arrived amidst the busyness.
Fu Jichen finished an overseas video conference at 6 p.m.
On his phone, apart from messages in the work group, there was no communication from Yu Qing.
[Still at the company?] Fu Jichen sent a voice message.
Yu Qing replied: [Mm. Just thinking about you when your voice message came.]
Fu Jichen: [If I hadn’t reached out, were you planning to stay silent and keep thinking about me until when?]
Yu Qing: [I planned to think about you until you sent me a voice message, then I’d tell you: Fu Jichen, I miss you.]
Fu Jichen stared at the latter part of the message.
They hadn’t seen each other yesterday.
In the same city, not far apart, going two days without meeting felt unreasonable.
[Later, say it to my face.]
Fu Jichen grabbed two bottles of perfume from the fridge and headed to pick up Yu Qing from work.
He still had plenty of work to handle, so he didn’t waste a single minute on the way to fetch her.
Occasionally, he glanced at road signs.
He wasn’t there yet.
On the building’s advertisement screen, their new Duo Xin products for the year had already started looping.
Arriving at Lemong’s building, Fu Jichen waited over ten minutes before Yu Qing finally emerged. She had originally planned to work overtime until after 9 p.m., but since he had come to pick her up, she decided to take her work home.
Rushing to finish up her tasks.
“Long time no see,” Yu Qing said as she closed the car door.
“Mm. Afraid you’d miss me, so I brought something for you to look at.” Fu Jichen reminded her, “Don’t forget what you were supposed to say to me in person.”
Considering he had come to pick her up, Yu Qing leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I miss you.”
Fu Jichen pulled a bottle of perfume from the car’s fridge. “For all your hard work.”
Yu Qing snatched it immediately. She had never seen this particular bottle before—it must be an antique. The bottle design was unique.
She asked him, “If I say it again—I miss you—will you give me another one?”
Fu Jichen pushed her face away. “Come back when your face gets bigger.”
Yu Qing laughed and hugged him. “My face isn’t small today.”
Fu Jichen: “Have some ambition and backbone.”
“In front of you and perfume, those things can be cast aside.” Yu Qing placed the perfume on his left shoulder and rested her head on his left shoulder.
Then she placed the perfume on his right shoulder, sat up, and rested her chin on his right shoulder.
“I’m like grass swaying in the wind—wherever there’s perfume, I lean.”
Fu Jichen: “...”
He lowered his gaze to her. “Are you really this happy over a bottle of perfume?”
Yu Qing: “Because this bottle of perfume is from you.”
Google Sites
Report abuse