The next morning at 7:45 AM, Fu Group headquarters.
All the lights in the conference room were on.
When President Qian arrived, he found several people already seated at the conference table—the audit department, legal department, HR department, and Fu Sinian’s assistant, Xiao Zhao.
The atmosphere was off. Too formal.
“Where’s President Fu?” President Qian asked.
“He’ll be here shortly.” Xiao Zhao poured him a glass of water, smiling with professional detachment.
At 7:50, Fu Sinian pushed open the door and walked in. Today he wore a dark navy suit with his tie perfectly straight—a completely different person from the one who had stood outside the private room last night in his overcoat. Shen Che followed behind him.
He didn’t sit down. Standing at the head of the conference table, he held a thin file folder in his hand.
“President Qian, has Zhou Haidong arrived?”
“He should be—” Before President Qian could finish, Zhou Haidong burst through the door, panting heavily, his tie crooked and his face still puffy from just waking up.
Fu Sinian glanced at him, then opened the folder.
“The expenses from yesterday’s dinner at Penglai Pavilion have already been submitted for reimbursement.”
His voice was unhurried, as if he were reading out an ordinary expense report.
“Alcohol: three thousand two hundred. Food: five thousand six hundred. Private room service fee: eight hundred. Total: nine thousand six hundred.
Signed by President Qian, processed by Director Zhou.”
President Qian’s expression was already changing.
“President Fu, that dinner yesterday was to—”
The conference room fell so silent you could hear the hum of the central air conditioning.
“Article Fourteen is one you helped revise last year, President Qian.” Fu Sinian pushed the folder toward him. “Do you still remember it?”
Fine beads of sweat had formed on President Qian’s forehead. Of course he remembered.
Last year, when the group was promoting its compliance culture initiative, he—as Vice President of the East China region—had personally read that article aloud at the promotional meeting.
“Director Zhou,” Fu Sinian turned to Zhou Haidong, “what exactly did you say and do yesterday? Do I need to play the recording?”
Zhou Haidong’s face went pale.
“President Fu, I—I really was just—”
“Didn’t you know there are surveillance cameras in the private rooms at Penglai Pavilion?” Fu Sinian asked, his tone almost curious.
Shen Che, standing behind him, flipped the folder to the last page and read out three statements.
“Qian Weimin, Vice President of the East China region, is hereby suspended from duty effective immediately pending audit. All supplier engagement projects conducted during his tenure are subject to full review.”
“Zhou Haidong, Project Director, employment contract is hereby terminated effective immediately. His personal conduct record will be synced to the Harbor City HR Association shared platform.”
“The above decisions take effect as of this moment today.”
President Qian’s face went from white to red, his lips trembling violently as if he wanted to say something. But Fu Sinian had already turned to Shen Che.
“Where’s HR?”
“Waiting outside.”
“Take them to process the paperwork.”
Fu Sinian closed the folder and gave Qian Weimin one last look. “President Qian, your suspension notice has already been sent to your email. If you wish to appeal, use the compliance channel.”
He turned and walked out of the conference room.
The corridor was quiet. The crisp sound of leather shoes echoed off the marble floor.
Xiao Zhao jogged up to him and asked in a low voice, “President Fu, about that design company… should we continue the collaboration from yesterday?”
Fu Sinian’s steps paused briefly.
“That man surnamed Wang,” he said, “is he the person in charge of that company?”
Fu Sinian stopped and turned around.
“Compile the information on him,” he said, his voice low.
“Let everyone in the industry know how this person does business.”
Fu Sinian resumed walking. “Fu Group doesn’t work with people like that.”
Meanwhile, Xia Ran woke up to find it was already nearly 8:30. She rushed to the office.
She set down her bag and turned on her computer. Xiao Lin from the neighboring desk leaned over, keeping her voice low: “Sister Xia Ran, did you hear? General Manager Wang got fired.”
Xia Ran’s hand paused on the mouse. “…When did this happen?”
“This morning. HR notified him directly—they didn’t even let him into his office. Someone else packed up his things.” Xiao Lin glanced around and lowered her voice even further. “I heard he offended some big shot, but nobody knows who exactly. President Lin made the decision personally.”
Xia Ran said nothing. Facing the computer screen, her fingers resting on the mouse, she took a deep breath and opened the design software.
President Lin clapped his hands. “Everyone, attention please. This is our new Business Director, Director Fang Fang Yuanzhou. From now on, all business department work will be managed by Director Fang.”
Fang Yuanzhou gave a slight nod without much pleasantry. “Hello everyone. I’m Fang Yuanzhou. I previously worked in commercial real estate business development in Shenzhen. I just arrived in the capital, so I’m still unfamiliar with many things here. I look forward to your guidance.”
Xiao Lin leaned over again: “What do you think this Director Fang’s background is? President Lin poached him from Shenzhen, right?”
Xia Ran hummed in acknowledgment without looking up.
She was sketching a new draft, lines extending from under her mouse, stroke by stroke, fully focused. But she heard the sound of the office door closing, followed by the rustle of blinds being drawn.
At ten o’clock, Fang Yuanzhou’s office door opened. He walked out, holding a file folder, scanned the office area, and walked straight to Xia Ran’s workstation.
“Xia Ran?” He glanced at the nameplate on the desk.
Xia Ran took off her headphones and looked up.
“You were the one in charge of the Jinglan project before?” Fang Yuanzhou’s tone was flat, like he was confirming an ordinary daily task.
“Yes.”
“There’s a project meeting with the Fu Corporation this afternoon. You’re coming with me.”
“Director Fang,” she said, “could we assign a different designer to this project?”
Fang Yuanzhou’s hand, flipping through the folder, paused.
“It was mine before, but I hope the company can arrange for another designer to take over.”
Xia Ran’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.
“I can hand over all the proposal materials, design concepts, and project background. It won’t affect the project timeline.”
Fang Yuanzhou looked at her, silent for a few seconds. “Why?”
“I have too many projects on my plate right now. I’d like to give it to another designer,” Xia Ran said.
Fang Yuanzhou closed the folder without pressing further, then nodded.
“Fine, I’ll have Zhao Min take it.” He turned and walked away.
Xia Ran let out a sigh of relief and said a quiet thank you.
At two in the afternoon, Conference Room One of the Fu Corporation.
Fang Yuanzhou and Zhao Min sat down.
Zhao Min laid the proposal documents neatly on the table, opened her notebook, and placed her pen beside it. She was a little nervous, but in good shape.
The conference room door opened.
Fu Sinian walked in, followed by Shen Che and the design department staff.
He walked to the head seat and sat down without any pleasantries, his gaze sweeping across the people opposite.
Fang Yuanzhou, Zhao Min. Fang Yuanzhou, Zhao Min. His eyes paused on Zhao Min for a brief moment, then withdrew.
“President Fu, regarding the Jinglan project—” Fang Yuanzhou began.
“Where’s Xia Ran?” Fu Sinian interrupted him.
Fang Yuanzhou paused.
“Designer Xia Ran is currently following up on other projects. The design work for the Jinglan project has been taken over by Designer Zhao Min. Zhao Min is a senior lead designer at our company and has worked on—”
“Director Fang,” he finally looked up, his gaze calmly landing on Fang Yuanzhou’s face.
“I’ve said it before—when it comes to design proposals, I only look at Xia Ran’s.”
Fang Yuanzhou took a deep breath.
“President Fu, Designer Xia Ran currently has other projects on her hands. Her workload is already at full capacity. Designer Zhao Min’s abilities are more than sufficient—”
“That’s an internal matter for your company.”
Fu Sinian cut him off, his tone not heavy, but leaving no room for negotiation. “The Jinglan project has been handled by Xia Ran from the very start. The proposal was made by her, the design concept was proposed by her, and all the communication was done by her. Now you’re telling me you’re switching to someone else?”
“Director Fang, for the Jinglan project’s lead designer, I only want Xia Ran. When she’s willing to come, that’s when we’ll have the meeting.”
He turned and walked toward the door, pulled it open, and paused for a step. “Until then, no need to schedule anything.”
Back in his office, Fu Sinian sneered inwardly: Let’s see how long you can hide from me.
When she returned to the company, Xia Ran was hunched over her workstation looking at the library construction drawings.
She looked up, saw Fang Yuanzhou’s expression, asked nothing, and moved her gaze back to the screen.
Fang Yuanzhou stood by her workstation for a while, and finally said only one thing: “Xia Ran, this project might still have to be yours.”
Xia Ran’s hand on the mouse paused. “…President Fu won’t agree to a change?”
“He won’t.”
Xia Ran was silent for a long time. So long that Fang Yuanzhou thought she wouldn’t answer, until she finally spoke. “Director Fang, I still have the library project on my hands. The drawings are due next week.”
“I’ll have someone help share the load.”
Fang Yuanzhou said, “For the library project, I’ll have Zhao Min assist you. She went to the Fu Corporation today too and knows the situation. She’s willing to help.”
“This Fu Corporation project really is important to us. I can have someone else take over your other work.”
“Tomorrow at ten. Don’t be late.”
As he said this, the corner of his mouth twitched—not a smile, but something more complicated than a smile.