Chapter 368 - 367: Newcomers Arrive

Feng Yujie left abruptly. She didn’t come to work the next day. She didn’t say goodbye to anyone, but she left a letter for Zheng Guofeng, asking Xue Yue to pass it on.

There was a meeting that morning where Feng Yujie’s departure was discussed. Jin Shaoming told Xue Yue, "The Supervision Team is yours now. If you run into any trouble, report it to the leadership. We will do our best to help you succeed."

Xue Yue nodded. "Director, with Mr. Feng gone, our department is short-staffed."

Only then did Jin Shaoming remember his niece was still there. ’That girl never has any staying power,’ he’d thought. ’She’ll probably get restless after two or three days.’ He never expected her to last this long.

"We’re already recruiting. We should have results soon."

After leaving the conference room, Xue Yue gave the letter Feng Yujie had left to Zheng Guofeng.

"Sister Feng asked me to give this to you."

Zheng Guofeng looked at the letter, and after a few seconds, he took it.

"This is your first time in charge of a team. Tell me if you have any difficulties."

Xue Yue nodded.

Zheng Guofeng took the letter back to his office. After sitting down, he stared at the envelope for a few moments, his eyes dark.

Then, he took a match and lit the still-sealed envelope on fire.

The flames from the envelope didn’t leave a single ripple in Zheng Guofeng’s eyes.

With Feng Yujie gone, Xue Yue naturally moved her desk into the inner office Feng Yujie had previously occupied.

She tidied up a bit and sat down in Feng Yujie’s old chair. The feeling was hard to describe; suffice it to say, she didn’t feel at ease.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Come in."

Ding Ruzhi poked her head in first, grinning. "Sister Xue."

Xue Yue scoffed, "Come in and talk."

Ding Ruzhi came in, closed the door, and sat down. "Xue Yue, congratulations! You’re the top dog in our department now."

Xue Yue smiled. "Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just the vice."

Ding Ruzhi pouted. "But since there’s no actual leader, don’t you call all the shots?"

Xue Yue looked at Ding Ruzhi. "Are you just planning to coast through life like this?"

Ding Ruzhi bit her lip. "I don’t know how."

"If you don’t know how, then learn. You may not have gone to college, but you have a high school diploma, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. Even if you find it hard to learn, you can at least look things up, right? You can’t come to work every day and do nothing but sleep and preen. If that’s all you’re going to do, why not just stay home? It’s far more comfortable there."

Ding Ruzhi mumbled, "I want to, but my parents won’t let me. I’m just useless. I can’t do anything right."

Xue Yue shook her head helplessly. "No one is bad at something forever, unless they just don’t put their heart into it. Starting today, the department’s research tasks are yours. No more slacking off, and no more personal business during work hours. Especially no sleeping. Watch out, or I’ll dock your pay."

Ding Ruzhi wailed, "Don’t, Sister Xue! Every new boss has to make their mark, but don’t make an example out of me!"

Xue Yue looked at her. "So, are you going to do it or not?"

Ding Ruzhi gritted her teeth. "I’ll do it. I’ll do it, alright?"

Xue Yue nodded. "Good. Little Ding, your age is the best time for learning. Don’t waste it. If you really don’t like this job, then find one you do like, instead of just counting the minutes and toughing it out every day. You’re not at retirement age yet."

Ding Ruzhi was silent for a moment. "I’ll think about it."

Xue Yue had no choice but to pressure Ding Ruzhi. Ding Ruzhi was just an ornament; she didn’t know how to do anything and wouldn’t do anything. That left only her and Zhao Li in the department. She had asked the Director for more staff in the meeting today because it was an urgent matter, but who knew when new people would arrive. So for now, Ding Ruzhi had to step up.

A while later, Zhao Li also knocked and came in, also to congratulate Xue Yue.

Although Zhao Li was smiling, Xue Yue could see the stiffness in her expression. ’She’s been backed into a corner,’ Xue Yue thought. ’She knows she can’t afford to offend her boss if she wants to keep her job.’ Feeling uneasy, Zhao Li had hesitated but decided to come see Xue Yue anyway.

"Xue Yue, what happened before was my fault for being petty. You’re the bigger person, so please forgive me."

Xue Yue didn’t make things difficult for her. The tables had turned, and Xue Yue had no desire or reason to lord it over her.

"Zhao Li, I don’t want to bring up the past. I just hope you’ll be cooperative going forward."

Zhao Li nodded. "Of course."

"Alright, you can go."

"Yes."

Zhao Li’s expression changed the moment she left the office, but she also breathed a sigh of relief. She returned to her desk with a heavy heart.

Ding Ruzhi sidled up to Zhao Li. "Hey, Sister Zhao, are you totally regretting it now?"

Zhao Li shot her a glance but ignored her.

’I really misjudged Ding Ruzhi,’ Zhao Li thought. ’She’s the smart one. She started sucking up to Xue Yue early on, and now they seem to be on good terms. Since Xue Yue is our department’s only boss now, she’s sure to favor Ding Ruzhi.’

In reality, given Ding Ruzhi’s incompetence, what difference would favoritism even make? Xue Yue was simply anxious because Ding Ruzhi was filling a headcount without doing any actual work.

"So you’re the top dog in your department now?" He Lang teased.

Xue Yue was sprawled lazily on the bed. "What top dog? It just means more work and more responsibility. Before, with Sister Feng around, she shouldered everything. Now that she’s gone, it’s all on my shoulders. I’m still not quite used to it."

He Lang laughed. "That’s what being the boss is about. What’s there not to get used to? If there’s too much work, delegate it."

Xue Yue sighed. "I know, but I don’t have anyone right now. Zhao Li and I don’t get along, and Ding Ruzhi is just an ornament. I’ve already asked the Director for more people, but I have no idea when they’ll hire someone."

He Lang comforted her. "These difficulties are just temporary. If you’re having trouble, go to the leadership. That’s what they’re there for."

"Yeah, that’s my plan."

Xue Yue was still worried about being short-staffed when, a week later, HR brought over a man and a woman.

"Vice Group Leader Xue, these are the new members for your team, Guo Zhaoyang and Deng Weiwei."

Xue Yue looked at the two of them. They were both young, probably in their early twenties.

"Hello, Vice Group Leader Xue. I’m Guo Zhaoyang."

"Hello, Vice Group Leader Xue. I’m Deng Weiwei."

Xue Yue nodded. "Hello."

"Vice Group Leader Xue, I’ll leave them with you, then. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll be going."

"Okay."

After the person from HR left, Xue Yue said to them, "Guo Zhaoyang and Deng Weiwei, right?"

"Yes."

"There’s only one empty desk right now. One of you will have to wait for a moment. I’ll call Logistics and see if they have time to send over a desk and chair."

Guo Zhaoyang said, "I can wait. Mr. Deng, you go first."

Xue Yue went into her office to call Logistics.

"We’re busy. Come move it yourself."

It was the same response as last time, which instantly reminded Xue Yue of what had happened before, and she flared up in anger.

She put down the phone and called Uncle Zheng.

Zheng Guofeng said over the phone, "I know. Just wait, I’ll have someone look into it."