Chapter 58 Teacher-Student Relationship

Xu Mo hadn't stepped into Manager Wu's office for a long time. The last time she came was probably before the Chinese New Year. Manager Wu called her to the office and praised her for the success of the Blue Sky project launch meeting. He also asked her to order Christmas milk tea for everyone.

But now, Xu Mo no longer reports directly to Manager Wu. Her direct supervisor has changed from Manager Wu to Han Yan. The communication between the two has become less and less, and with less communication, the distance has also grown. Unexpectedly, after stepping into Manager Wu's office again for nearly half a year, the relationship between the two has long since changed.

Manager Wu was still sitting in front of her desk, hunched over as usual, looking at the computer. A white light flashed in her lenses. She leaned forward slightly and looked up from the screen when she saw Xu Molai.

Xu Mo closed the door and walked up to her. Manager Wu pointed to the chair in front of the desk and said, "Come here? Sit down."

Xu Mo sat down as she was told.

Manager Wu rested his elbows on the table, fingers interlaced, and looked at her as she got straight to the point: "Han Yan said you want to resign?"

Xu Mo nodded.

Manager Wu paused. "What's wrong? Are you unhappy with your job, or do you have other plans?"

Xu Mo looked away: "Nothing, it's my personal fault."

Having mentored Xu Mo for nearly five years, Manager Wu knew her well. She noticed her awkwardness and knew she wasn't telling the truth. She added, "Because of the Lan University project, your direct report has become Han Yan. Plus, I've been busy on my own, so I haven't spoken to you in a while. But even though I'm not your direct supervisor anymore, I'm still your career mentor. This has been the case since you started."

Xu Mo's eyelashes fluttered, and Manager Wu continued, "The Lan University project has been successfully completed. Even though you're not the project manager, I know you've made a significant contribution. With this project, if you want to be promoted to manager this year, I will do my utmost to help you get it. Although I can't guarantee it, I can tell you sincerely that if I had to rank you, you would be my top choice."

Xu Mo's eyelashes drooped. Manager Wu was a very strict person. She criticized her a lot, but every year when she was promoted, she was promoted smoothly. She understood that this was all Manager Wu speaking for her. Manager Wu was not the kind of person who would make big promises to his subordinates, so Xu Mo did not doubt his words.

Xu Mo looked out the window. She was afraid that if she looked at Manager Wu again, she would burst into tears. Her lips moved: "Manager Wu, thank you."

She fell silent again. Manager Wu asked tentatively, "This is what I should do. This is also the bottom line I gave you. Even if you know this, are you unwilling to stay?"

Xu Mo raised her head and suddenly asked softly, "Manager Wu, I have a question that has been on my mind for a long time."

"Any questions?"

"At the project site, the project manager was replaced by Han Yan. I can understand that perhaps my ability at the time was not enough to support such a large project." Xu Mo's tears welled up in her eyes. She pursed her lips to prevent herself from losing control. "But why didn't you tell me about this?"

Manager Wu was stunned.

It was raining heavily outside the window and the sky darkened in an instant. Before she could turn on the light, the office was dim, but she could still see the sparkle in the eyes of the young girl opposite her.

At that moment, she seemed to suddenly understand her grievances. Xu Mo had been working on a project with her when she had just graduated. She had taken her on business trips over the years, and they had been promoted together. Perhaps Xu Mo had long regarded her as the only senior whom she could trust and rely on.

She trusted her, but she did nothing wrong at the project site, but suddenly someone came to replace her without explaining anything to her. Perhaps she would feel that her trust had collapsed.

Manager Wu sighed: "So that's how it is."

Xu Mo looked at her, and Manager Wu said gently, "Let me tell you a little secret. Han Yan was recommended by the higher-ups and assigned to our project. When she came, I was very angry. I really wanted to transfer her, but my ability was limited, so I let her stay on the project."

"I didn't tell you because I thought there was still room for maneuver, but then there were so many things going on that I forgot to tell you."

Xu Mo didn't expect things to turn out this way. She widened her eyes slightly: "But Han Yan told me at the time that it was you who asked her to go there."

Manager Wu shook his head: "It's not me. I don't even know her. How could I easily hand over such a big project to her?"

Xu Mo: "So, are you trying to persuade me to stay for me or for Han Yan?"

Manager Wu pondered, "To be honest, Han Yan told me about this. She wants you to stay and help her continue the project, so she asked me to come and persuade you. I can't say it's entirely for you, but it's not entirely for Han Yan either. After all, you've been my friend since you were a child, so naturally I hope you stay."

Xu Mo shook her head: "There's no way I can stay and help Han Yan with the project."

Manager Wu raised his eyebrows. "Why? Don't you two get along well?"

"That was all just superficial peace. When we were working on the project, I didn't feel comfortable with her. Maybe it was because we didn't mesh. She basically relied on the work of us subordinates and didn't contribute much herself." Xu Mo shook her head. "Actually, I resigned because I got an offer I really wanted, but she bad-mouthed me during the background check. I talked to her about it, and she did that just to get me to stay and help her with the project."

Manager Wu's eyes showed a look of shock: "She is such a person?"

"Well," Xu Mo said, "I won't tell you the details about her private life, but she used to be in Shanghai, and now she's in Guangzhou. There's a reason for that."

Manager Wu: "I know a little about her past. I have friends in Shanghai."

"So, it's impossible for me to continue working on the project with her."

Manager Wu sighed. "Is there any chance of redeeming this offer? If necessary, I can help you with background checks."

"I don't know. I've already submitted some information, but Han Yan has already said that. The situation is now quite passive."

Manager Wu asked, "What are you going to do if the offer falls through?"

"I don't know." Xu Mo shook her head. "Let's take it one step at a time."

Manager Wu said, "You don't want to stay, but is it just because you don't want to work on the project with Han Yan? If that's the case, if you're willing to stay, I can transfer you off her project, and you can still work on my project."

Xu Mo looked at her and said sincerely, "Thank you, really."

"But I've thought about it, and it's better for me to leave," Xu Mo said. "On the one hand, Han Yan and I have already fallen out. Although I won't cooperate with her for the time being, what about the future? We're in the same office, so we'll always run into each other. On the other hand..."

She paused and said coldly, "I feel sick working in the same space with someone like Han Yan."

Manager Wu sighed and said, "I understand."

The office fell into silence again. Xu Mo looked at the heavy rain outside the window and her throat felt sore.

After a while, Manager Wu didn't say anything. She knew it was time for her to leave, so she stood up.

She bowed deeply to Manager Wu and said, "Thank you for your guidance over the past five years. I wish you good health and success in your work."

Manager Wu's lips moved, and she didn't take off her glasses and rubbed her red eyes until the young girl resolutely left the office.