Su Jin Yue walked into the office with her usual confident composure.
She had just placed her handbag on the desk and had not even had the chance to sit down when Manager Lu Ming Shan walked in.
Su Jin Yue greeted him with a smile.
“Manager Lu, what brings you here today?” Lu Ming Shan did not answer immediately.
He stood in front of her desk, his expression so serious that the smile on Su Jin Yue’s lips gradually became awkward.
“Jinyue, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” “What is it?” Su Jin Yue asked curiously.
“Is there a problem with the book acquisition and collection project from last time?
If it’s about that, I’ve already taken care of it.” “It’s not about the book acquisition.” Lu Ming Shan pulled out the chair opposite her desk and sat down.
“I’m here to inform you of a decision made by the board.” At those words, Su Jin Yue frowned slightly.
“What decision?” Lu Ming Shan looked at her for a few seconds before slowly speaking.
“Starting today, you don’t need to continue working at the library.” The smile on Su Jin Yue’s face instantly froze.
For a moment, she thought she had heard him wrong.
“What did you say?” “The management has decided to terminate your employment contract.” Su Jin Yue shot to her feet.
“Manager Lu, what is going on?
I’ve been doing my job normally and haven’t violated any company regulations.
Why are you suddenly firing me?” “Jinyue, calm down.” “Calm down?” Su Jin Yue laughed out of sheer anger.
“How am I supposed to calm down?
I’ve worked here for three years, and my performance hasn’t been bad.
If the director wants to fire me, shouldn’t I at least be given a reason?” Lu Ming Shan sighed softly, his voice filled with helplessness.
“The City Library is currently downsizing due to an adjustment in its staffing structure.
After careful consideration, the management has decided to terminate your employment contract.” Su Jin Yue froze.
She looked up at Lu Ming Shan.
“So my position as a librarian has been cut, but I can still keep my work assisting patrons at the library, right?” Lu Ming Shan avoided her gaze, looking even more uncomfortable.
“That…
has to stop as well.” “Then when does this decision take effect?” Su Jin Yue asked.
Lu Ming Shan avoided her eyes, his hand tightening slightly against the edge of the desk.
“Today.” Su Jin Yue’s expression stiffened.
Her gaze remained fixed on Lu Ming Shan for several seconds, the initial shock quickly replaced by a cold, restrained look.
Her hands clenched unconsciously in her lap, but she still forced herself to remain composed, refusing to let too much emotion show.
“Why are both of my positions being eliminated at the same time?” Lu Ming Shan pressed his lips together and said nothing.
His silence only made Su Jin Yue more certain that this was not simply an ordinary round of staff cuts.
“If Manager Lu can’t give me a reasonable explanation, I’ll speak directly to the director and get to the bottom of this.” With that, Su Jin Yue stood up and moved toward the door.
But she had barely taken a few steps when Lu Ming Shan hurried after her and stepped in front of her.
“Jinyue, don’t make this harder for me, alright?” He lowered his voice, his expression caught between helplessness and concern.
“Talking to the director won’t help.
This isn’t technically a termination.
It’s an indefinite suspension.
If you file a complaint, they’ll just tell you that it’s under review, and then keep dragging it out…” Lu Ming Shan stopped there and let out a heavy sigh.
After a moment, he lowered his voice further, his eyes carrying a hint of meaning.
“I know you’re a good girl.
You’re passionate about your work, but sometimes things simply don’t go the way we want them to.
You’re a smart woman.
I hope you understand.
Sometimes, taking one step back is the best way to protect yourself.” Su Jin Yue said nothing.
She stood there in silence, thinking for a moment before raising her eyes to look directly at Lu Ming Shan.
“Someone is behind this, isn’t there?” Lu Ming Shan froze.
He looked at her, his lips parting as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only shook his head.
“I…
I don’t know.” Su Jin Yue stared at Lu Ming Shan for a long moment, but he avoided her gaze.
She understood that Lu Ming Shan was merely the person delivering the decision.
He himself had no real authority over what was happening.
Seeing how uncomfortable he was, she decided not to make things any harder for him.
She gave a small nod, her voice calm once again.
“Alright.
If you don’t know, then I won’t ask anymore.” With that, Su Jin Yue turned around, picked up her handbag from the desk, and quietly walked out of the office.
Lu Ming Shan stood behind her, watching her retreating figure.
He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.
The door closed behind her.
Su Jin Yue walked down the library corridor, her expression strangely calm.
But the hand gripping the strap of her handbag tightened unconsciously.
She didn’t believe this was simply a matter of staff reduction.
A short distance behind her, Shen Qing Yi followed for a while.
She hesitated for a few seconds before finally calling out.
“Jinyue…” Su Jin Yue stopped and turned around.
Shen Qing Yi hurried over, glanced around cautiously, then lowered her voice.
“I know you’re upset, but there’s more to this than meets the eye.” Su Jin Yue looked at Shen Qing Yi, her expression immediately turning serious.
“Did you hear something?” Shen Qing Yi glanced around once more before moving closer and speaking in a whisper.
“This morning, the library received a huge donation to renovate the deteriorating reading area.
The management held an emergency meeting and immediately sent the decision down to your department.
There wasn’t any staff-reduction policy at all.” As she spoke, Shen Qing Yi pointed toward the library entrance.
A luxury car was still parked there.
“Look.
The donor’s assistant is still there.” Su Jin Yue followed the direction of Shen Qing Yi’s finger.
Her expression darkened the moment she recognized the familiar car.
She gritted her teeth slightly, already having a pretty good idea of what was going on.
“I know who’s behind this…” Shen Qing Yi was startled and immediately asked, “What is going on?
Who did you offend?” Su Jin Yue didn’t answer right away.
She simply stared at the parked car, her gaze gradually turning cold.
“I’ll tell you after I take care of this.” She offered no further explanation.
Tightening her grip on the strap of her handbag, Su Jin Yue turned and walked straight toward the car.