49. Experiencing Workplace Bullying
At nine o'clock on Sunday morning, Wen Xueyan was woken up by her phone ringing. Li, an engineer from the company, sounded hurried on the phone: "Engineer Wen, I'm sorry, the client wants to hold a meeting at the last minute. They are very difficult and insist that a technical staff member come to explain the parameters on the drawings."
Wen Xueyan initially wanted to decline, as she had planned to visit her mother, but considering that she was still in her probationary period, she agreed instead.
The fatigue from her pregnancy had not completely dissipated, and remembering that Cheng Boyan had left her with over 100,000 yuan, she didn't take the subway but instead took a taxi.
In the conference room of the client, Shite Technology, Wen Xueyan spread out the drawings on the conference table and patiently explained the meaning of each parameter.
The other party's engineers nodded frequently, but the bald manager, Zheng, kept a straight face.
“I understand all this data,” Manager Zheng interrupted her, “but I’m also concerned about the design of the adjacent pipeline.”
Wen Xueyan explained, "Manager Zheng, this is beyond the technical scope of our products. If you need analysis in this area, you should ask the design institute that handles the pipeline configuration."
Manager Zheng slammed his fist on the table: "What kind of attitude is this, you contractors! I'm the client, you have to answer whatever I ask!"
The meeting room fell silent.
In the instant she fell silent, Manager Zheng suddenly picked up a water glass from the table and splashed hot water onto her hand. A stinging sensation shot through her, and she looked down to see the back of her hand quickly turning red.
She quickly turned and headed towards the restroom.
At that moment, she received a message on her phone from her colleague Li Feng: "Manager Zheng is going through a divorce recently and has some misogyny. She's venting all her frustrations about her family life on the contractors and her subordinates. I've been getting yelled at for days now. Please bear with me, I'm sorry."
She rinsed the burned area with cold water; thankfully, it wasn't too serious.
Back in the meeting room, Manager Zheng was still cursing: "You women are all the same..."
In the past, Wen Xueyan would have silently endured it. But after meeting Cheng Boyan, she seemed to have a sense of confidence.
Wen Xueyan looked at her red hand, picked up the empty cup on the table, went to the water dispenser, filled a cup with hot water, and splashed it on Manager Zheng's hand without hesitation.
"This is back to you. Please don't insult women."
Manager Zheng's face turned ashen: "You're fired! I'm calling your boss right now!"
Manager Zheng raised his fist.
Just as he raised his hand to slap Wen Xueyan, another figure appeared in time and firmly grabbed his wrist.
"Old Zheng, what are you doing?"
Wen Xueyan looked up and saw a man in a gray suit.
Wen Xueyan felt as if she had seen this person before.
"President Xi..." Manager Zheng's momentum instantly deflated.
“I understand you’re upset about your divorce, but taking it out on a client’s employee is beneath your dignity.” Xi Mingyuan released his grip, his tone authoritative. “Suspend your job for three days and reflect on your actions.”
After saying that, he turned to Wen Xueyan, a playful smile on his face: "I think I've seen you before. Didn't you work at Norsai? Such a talented engineer, how did you end up at this small company?"
Wen Xueyan was speechless for a moment.
"My previous company was too far from home," she chose a common reason.
President Xi raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving. "Engineer Wen, please come to my office."
Xi Mingyuan placed his phone on the table: "Aren't you being treated too unfairly in this small company? I remember I wanted to poach you last time, but you refused."
“Actually, I did submit my resume to your company later,” Wen Xueyan replied, “but I never received a reply…”
Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Xi's phone rang. His entire demeanor softened: "Missing me? I'll come see you after I finish this project..."
After the call ended, President Xi's expression had returned to its previous seriousness: "You mentioned submitting your resume? How come I didn't know? Looks like you were missed during the initial screening by HR again. Shite Technology is a subsidiary of Shiming Group. I came here for an inspection today, and I didn't expect to run into you."
Then, his gaze lingered on Wen Xueyan's face for a moment, with an evaluative tone: "How about considering developing your career at our headquarters? We can arrange for HR to discuss the salary in detail. With your professional abilities, staying at your current small company would be a waste of your talents."
Wen Xueyan lowered her eyes in thought.
He leaned back slightly, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Some people say I'm a cynical rich kid, but I've always valued talent."
Please give me some time to consider.
Mr. Xi took a business card from his card holder and gently pushed it in front of her. "The efficiency of the company's HR is a headache; none of the resumes we've been screening lately have been satisfactory." His tone carried the languidness typical of someone from a prominent family. "Seeing you today has brightened my mood considerably. Our new HDPE project is currently facing a technical bottleneck; perhaps you can offer some new ideas. Come on, let's continue the meeting."
Back in the conference room, Wen Xueyan threw herself into the meeting. President Xi sat at the head of the table, listening intently with a serious expression. At noon, the cooperation was successfully finalized. Sitting next to her, Engineer Li couldn't hide his admiration: "Engineer Wen, thank you so much for today. Your thinking was clear, and your handling of the situation was excellent."
Mr. Xi stood up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it was our Manager Zheng who was rude today. He is a long-time employee of the company, and my father has always valued him highly, but he was indeed in the wrong today. I have prepared a small banquet at the hotel next door, and I hope you will do me the honor of attending.”
Upon arriving at the restaurant, President Xi took off his suit jacket and became quite talkative, a stark contrast to the serious manager he was at the meeting.
"Do you know why the red wine here is so rich and full-bodied?" He raised his glass and swirled it slightly, a sly smile in his eyes. "Because these bottles have been here for thirty years, older than some of the people in this room."
President Xi picked up the wine bottle and poured the red wine into the crystal glass in front of Wen Xueyan.
Seeing that she didn't raise her glass, he raised an eyebrow: "Is Engineer Wen not giving me face?"
Wen Xueyan didn't plan to drink it, after all, she was worried about her baby.
Li quickly stood up to smooth things over: "President Xi, it seems that Engineer Wen doesn't drink. Can I drink for her?"
"Can't drink?" President Xi interjected. Just when everyone thought he was going to make things difficult for her, he called over a waiter, "Take away this lady's wine and replace it with a glass of warm water."
This gesture relieved Li Gong. He already felt somewhat apologetic for calling her in to work overtime on Sunday. Before Wen Xueyan joined the company, the technician who worked with Li Gong was much less familiar with the parameters than Wen Xueyan, but he had a bad temper and resigned at will, which gave Li Gong a lot of headaches. Therefore, he now cares a lot about Wen Xueyan's work mood.
Wen Xueyan took the glass from the waiter, the warmth passing through the glass to her palm.
She sipped the warm water.
Because of the previous leak, Wen Xueyan didn't have a good impression of Xi Mingyuan. But at today's meeting and in the restaurant, she found that he wasn't as bad as she had imagined.
After finishing her meal, Wen Xueyan got up and headed to the restroom. She glanced at herself in the mirror; her light apricot-colored sweater made her face appear somewhat pale. After leaving the restroom, in the hallway, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her, and she couldn't help but gag.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Mr. Xi's voice came from beside him, his hands casually in his suit pockets.
Wen Xueyan straightened up: "Maybe I ate too much."
President Xi stepped forward: "You don't look too good. How about I have the driver take you home? Where do you live?"
"No need for that. Thank you." Wen Xueyan then turned and left.
"Do you look pregnant? Weren't you single back in Norsai?" President Xi couldn't resist his gossipy nature.
Wen Xueyan shook her head, startled.
"Don't worry, our company won't fire outstanding pregnant employees. I still welcome you to join us." After saying that, Xi Mingyuan turned and left.
Around 2 PM, Wen Xueyan had just arrived home by taxi when Ning Zhiyi called.
"Xueyan, I came to see you, okay? Dr. Qi took Haohao to his math Olympiad class, and then he went to the hospital for his shift, so I had some free time to come and visit."
Less than half an hour later, Ning Zhiyi appeared at the door carrying a fruit basket.
"When do you plan to tell President Cheng?" she asked, sitting on the sofa.
"I haven't decided yet. His divorce case isn't resolved yet, and I don't want to distract him."
“But this child is also his responsibility. However, I understand you. I also saw the trending news about their divorce case, which is very tense. If the Xu family finds any leverage against him at this time, it will indeed be more disadvantageous for him.” Ning Zhiyi held her hand. “By the way, Rao Wanyi’s wedding is tomorrow night. Why don’t you come with us? Dr. Qi is driving, and we’ll pick you up on the way.”
Wen Xueyan nodded slightly. Rao Wanyi was their college roommate, but after graduation, due to different social circles, they didn't keep in touch much. During their sophomore year, Wen Xueyan's family faced their most difficult financial year, and her part-time job wages were delayed. It was Rao Wanyi who proactively lent her money to help her through the crisis. Rao Wanyi came from a wealthy family, owning shopping malls and factories, but her marriage was repeatedly delayed because her boyfriend came from a poor background. Now, they were getting married because she was pregnant.
"Xueyan, there's something I need to tell you. I asked Wanyi, and the guest list includes many business partners, including President Cheng of the Cheng Group."
Wen Xueyan's heart skipped a beat. Was she about to reunite with Cheng Boyan? It had been over a month since she had last seen him.
“However, the Xu Group is also among those invited. But don’t worry, Dr. Qi and I will be sitting together,” Ning Zhiyi continued.
After Ning Zhiyi left, it was only five in the afternoon, and the sky was already tinged with a faint bluish-green. At such times, longing always comes unbidden, gently enveloping her. She missed Cheng Boyan's broad embrace, and she missed the feeling of him tenderly kissing her shoulder blades at night.
"Baby, you might see your dad tomorrow," Wen Xueyan whispered to the setting sun outside the window.
Welcome all readers, teachers, and darlings to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.
Looking forward to updates
I'm really looking forward to the first meeting between the two of them, no, the family of three.
Thank you for your comments, readers!
Yes, it should be three people thanking the reader for their comments.
Hope for a sweet moment after we meet.
Is Cheng Zong's divorce far away?
Looking forward to the next chapter!
Thank you for the reader's comment, it's so heartwarming.
Thank you for your comments. There will be some time left due to some ongoing issues. If you're not interested in the controversies, you can wait until the story is finished before deciding whether to continue reading. If you enjoy it, you can continue reading. Wishing you a pleasant reading experience and a happy life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
