Exceptional promotion
Sitting across from Xu Wu's large desk, Lin Xiaoning stood with her back straight, her hands folded quietly in her lap. The rosewood tabletop, gleaming with reflection, reflected her pale, tense face. She didn't know what to say, not even sure why she'd been summoned. After everything she'd been through, any words seemed pale and unnecessary. She ultimately chose the safest option—silence, enveloping herself in a near-vacuum of calm.
Xu Wu was the first to break the suffocating silence. He leaned forward slightly, his hands folded on the table, a gesture that seemed open but actually controlled.
"The company's rapid growth places higher demands on management," he said, his voice steady and full of unquestionable authority. "After careful consideration, the board of directors has decided to appoint you as Public Relations Manager. At the same time, your current position as Assistant General Manager will remain unchanged."
He paused for a moment, his eyes falling on Lin Xiaoning's face, as if assessing her reaction. Lin Xiaoning's eyes remained calm, like a pool of deep water, without ripples.
"Mr. Wu," Xu Wu continued, his tone tinged with a subtle complexity. "He's a veteran of the company, highly respected, and single-mindedly dedicated to production and technology. No one can deny that, and I admire him greatly." He shifted the subject subtly. "However, in terms of modern corporate management, especially when it comes to overseeing certain departments that may be outsized and self-contained, his approach... may be a bit lax. This directly led to the many irregularities exposed in last year's audit. It's a profound lesson."
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I'm very optimistic about your abilities and potential, Xiaoning. You're sharp and tenacious, possessing both a technical background and the fortitude to handle complex issues. I hope you can fully utilize your position as Assistant General Manager and effectively perform supervisory functions, assisting President Wu and me in strengthening the company's management foundation."
"Of course," he said, his tone slowing down, as if offering a conciliatory bargaining chip. "You've only been with the company for three years, so you're still relatively inexperienced. If you were promoted to Vice President right away, I'm afraid it would be difficult to convince people. The PR department is a great training ground. Corporate image is crucial, and for a chemical company like ours, it's a sensitive area prone to public scrutiny. With the company's IPO imminent, there's no room for error in public opinion management and image building. It's a heavy burden, but I believe you can handle it."
Lin Xiaoning simply listened quietly, as if she were listening to a project report that had nothing to do with her. Sunlight streamed through the huge French windows, casting tiny specks of light in her eyes, but it couldn't illuminate her deeper thoughts.
Xu Wu leaned back in his chair, his posture more relaxed. "You can go ahead and build the team. Previously, Su Qing took care of this part of the work, but now it's entirely your responsibility. If you have any difficulties, whether it's work or..." He paused meaningfully, "Anything other than work, you can come directly to me."
He opened a drawer, took out an exquisite envelope, and pushed it in front of Lin Xiaoning. "As a token of our company's appreciation for our outstanding talent, and to facilitate your future work, we've arranged an apartment for you. Here's the key. You can ask Secretary Su for the specific formalities later."
Lin Xiaoning barely spoke during the entire conversation. She only curled her fingers slightly when the cold brass key touched her fingertips.
"Thank you for the chairman's trust," she finally said, her voice steady and without a trace of fluctuation. "I will do my best."
Leaving the chairman's office, the moment the heavy wooden door closed behind her, Lin Xiaoning felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she leaned gently against the cold wall. The corridor was empty and quiet, and she took a deep breath, trying to suppress the confusion and chill that surged in her heart.
Before she could gather her thoughts, an anxious figure came into view. Ye Yidong walked quickly from the other end of the corridor, his face revealing an unconcealed look of anxiety and fatigue. His eyes were dark, and there was even some stubble on his chin. He looked visibly more haggard.
"Xiao Ning!" The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up and he walked quickly towards her, his voice hoarse with relief, "Where have you been these days? I've been looking for you everywhere! Your phone is turned off, you don't reply to messages, I've asked everyone... Secretary Su said you took a leave..." His concern was so direct and hot that it almost burned her.
In that instant, all the grievances, fears, confusions, and the unspeakable shame threatened to burst forth. But as the words reached his lips, he abruptly took a wrong turn.
"I..." Lin Xiaoning lowered her eyelashes, avoiding his burning gaze. Her voice was as soft as a wisp of smoke. "Nothing, just a little tired. Insomnia and stomach issues... I'm not feeling well. My phone's broken, and I haven't had time to buy a new one. I went back to my hometown and wanted to spend a few days in peace." She herself was surprised. Why, the moment she saw him, she had woven such a complete lie without thinking. Was she afraid of seeing the slightest suspicion or disdain in his eyes? Was she afraid that his pure concern would be overshadowed by the truth? Or was she afraid that her own unbearable experience would tarnish the still-complete self he saw? Perhaps it was all of the above. The subtle twists and turns were so numerous that even she couldn't discern them all.
Ye Yidong seemed to completely believe it, or rather, he was willing to believe this explanation that made him feel at ease. He breathed a long sigh of relief and subconsciously reached out his hand, as if wanting to hug her, but restrained himself and stopped midway, only to speak in a softer tone: "You scared me to death... I'm glad you're okay, I'm glad you're okay. I almost bought a ticket to go to your hometown to find you..."
He kept telling himself how he had been searching for her in the past few days, starting from the noisy cocktail party, how he had called her again and again, and how he had asked everyone who might know where she was. The anxiety and helplessness in his deep voice were clearly conveyed.
Lin Xiaoning listened, a mixture of bitterness and warmth mingling within her, along with a deeper, unspoken sense of guilt. She reached out and gently grasped his cool fingers. This subtle movement seemed like a signal, and Ye Yidong, unable to hold back any longer, gripped her tightly, his grip almost painful, yet strangely bringing a false sense of security.
On the third day, the company held a general staff meeting. From the podium, Xu Wu proudly announced the significant news of securing a 10 billion yuan strategic investment to relaunch and expand the company's "Green Energy" product line. The atmosphere was enthusiastic, with thunderous applause. Amidst this clamor, another personnel appointment was announced: Lin Xiaoning was appointed Public Relations Manager.
The news was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing completely different ripples among different groups of people.
The happiest person, of course, was Ye Yidong. His eyes practically overflowed with joy and pride, as if he had earned this honor himself. He meticulously planned the celebration, complete with dinner, gifts, and even a clumsy attempt at inspirational words. Lin Xiaoning cooperated, completing every aspect of the celebration. A smile played on her face, yet a heavy weight weighed heavily on her heart. This appointment felt like a fine garment purchased at an invisible cost; wearing it only made her feel a prickly pain all over.
When I went to Su Qing to handle the handover procedures for the apartment, the silent competition became more direct. Su Qing's office was as neat and exquisite as ever, and she herself was perfectly made up and impeccable.
"Manager Lin, congratulations on your promotion." Su Qing stood up, a professional smile on her face. Her tone was respectful, even with a hint of just the right amount of enthusiasm. "Here are all the documents for the apartment. I've already contacted the property management, and you can move in anytime. If there's anything I can do with the PR department in the future, just let me know."
Her performance was impeccable, every detail handled with efficiency and thoughtfulness. Yet, Lin Xiaoning could clearly sense the coldness behind that smile, the subtle wisps of jealousy and resentment that permeated beneath the compliments. The air was filled with an almost cloyingly sweet, false air, as if even with her eyes closed she could smell the carefully concealed sourness. Su Qing had to maintain this deferential posture, but this very gesture was a form of silent resistance.
The gift from Manager Liu from the sales department was unexpected and very important - the key to a brand new Mercedes-Benz car was placed directly on Lin Xiaoning's new desk.
Liu Feng, still as enthusiastic as ever, spoke in a resonant voice, "Manager Lin! This is a small gift from all of our sales colleagues! We all raised this voluntarily, so it's absolutely clean! The chairman is aware of this! Our sales team will depend entirely on you, the PR guru, to add luster and pave the way for us! Please don't refuse!"
The intention behind this "generous gift" was clear: it was intended to curry favor with a newly minted celebrity, a close associate of the chairman, and the general manager's favorite disciple, and it was also an advance investment in the "public relations support" the sales department might need in the future. Lin Xiaoning stared at the key, which gleamed with a cold metallic light, and felt it was incredibly hot.
The reactions of Wu Jiaming, Zhao Qing, and other senior executives were calm, even a bit too calm. After a production scheduling meeting, Wu Jiaming simply said to Lin Xiaoning, "Your new position carries great responsibilities. Do your best, and come to me anytime if you have any questions." Her tone was as calm as ever, as if the previous catalyst turmoil and audit storm had never happened, as if she had simply undergone a normal job transfer.
When Zhao Qingze passed her in the financial corridor, he nodded slightly, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses calm as usual, and he said in a flat tone: "I have read the annual budget draft of the Public Relations Department, and the staffing basically meets the requirements. For the specific details, let the people below contact my assistant." He handled the matter in a businesslike manner, without any unnecessary emotions. That kind of complete calmness made people more alert.
All the noise, congratulations, temptations, and undercurrents eventually settled into a deep confusion as Lin Xiaoning, alone, faced her apartment and car keys. She stood in her newly assigned, spacious yet somewhat empty office. Outside the window was the bustling city nightscape, its neon lights flickering, yet unable to illuminate a corner of her heart.
A deep confusion gripped her. Was all this "gain" merely a bargaining chip, bought at the unspeakable price paid that night? Could it be that, if the stakes were high enough, all principles, bottom lines, even dignity, could be clearly priced, ultimately persuaded and surrendered? The thought made her feel suffocatingly nauseous, her eyes warmed slightly, and an inexplicable urge to cry welled up.
She suddenly recalled the legal maxim Professor Zhao Xianqi had repeatedly emphasized in his criminal law class back in college: "No mens rea, no criminal." So, surrounding her appointment, Xu Wu's exceptional promotion, Ye Yidong's pure joy, Su Qing's jealousy, Liu Feng's utilitarian flattery, Wu Jiaming's calm support, Zhao Qing's calm response... What was the true "mens rea"—the true intention and mindset that guided their actions—in this matter?
She found herself trapped in a larger and more hidden web, and every step forward seemed to be walking in a fog of intertwined reality and illusion.
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