Chapter 6
[Project Coordination Working Group]
Marketing Manager - Adong: After internal discussion, we have decided not to change the event page. There are several reasons why the revenue did not meet expectations, including inadequate preliminary research and flawed decision-making in finalizing the plan. Considering costs and profits/losses, we have decided to end the event early. Next Monday, after the event concludes, we will hold a brief debriefing meeting where our department will report to our superiors and group leaders.
[@Chu Muchao, I'm sorry, but I don't want to take responsibility, so I'm using you as a scapegoat. I didn't think you were the type to stay up late, so I deliberately messaged you after 11 PM. You didn't reply, so I'll use that as an excuse for not handling work promptly. Even if you had replied, I would still make you look like you're uncooperative and lack communication skills.]
[@Director Zhou, I know you're afraid to confront me directly, that's why I tagged you and said your colleagues in your department had a problem with their attitude. I apologize for that.]
[This event was a result of my hasty and overconfident approach. I thought there would be no problems, but my research was inadequate, and I made unwarranted assurances to the leadership, which led to this mess. I have reflected on my mistakes, and next time I will do more thorough preliminary work before planning events, communicate effectively with all colleagues, and avoid wasting everyone's time and effort on repetitive tasks.]
Chu Muchao checked the group messages on his phone.
After sending those messages, the group returned to normal, going back to their original positions. The three chatted while the man in the suit ate breakfast.
However, after finishing their conversation about the previous topics, they both felt confused about the information each other had posted in the group chat.
"Why did you post these things in the group chat? If you admit it yourself, how are we supposed to shift the blame? Would you be happy if we had our entire department's performance bonus deducted?"
"What does this have to do with me? Didn't the manager send it first?"
The man in the suit stood up and said in a loud voice, "We're the marketing department. We're in charge of events. What's wrong with giving a report? Besides, the main problem this time is your preliminary work! Who guaranteed that this event would generate over a million in revenue? We haven't even broken 100,000 yet! You'd better think about how to write this event summary for me!"
The group started arguing as if no one else was around.
The voice grew louder and louder, and the tone became more and more intense.
No one noticed that Chu Muchao was still standing by the glass door.
Chu Muchao turned and walked out of the marketing department's office, considerately closing the glass door behind him.
Thinking to myself.
This "truth or dare" skill is quite useful; it gets them to admit things themselves much faster than her trying to come up with scripts or clichés.
[Miss Mu Mu, do you now understand the benefits of magic?]
Chu Muchao: It works quite well.
There's a section of the corridor with mirrored display windows on the right wall.
Chu Muchao turned his head and saw himself reflected in the mirror.
Her long black hair was styled into two pigtails, standing high on either side of her head, with two oversized pink bows tied at the top.
She was wearing a sailor uniform in the same color scheme, and her pink pleated skirt swayed rhythmically with her steps.
Chu Muchao: ...
Chu Muchao froze, his legs, clad in matching pink boots, also stopped.
[You can only see the magical girl outfit yourself, Miss Mumu, so you can rest assured.]
Chu Muchao: ...But I can't not look in the mirror.
[When not using magic, you can deactivate your magical girl form and revert to your own attire.]
This lousy system has such a twisted sense of humor.
If she hadn't noticed her current outfit, the nasty system wouldn't have bothered to remind her!
[Innocent, Miss Mu Mu, I'm a good system.]
[Besides, theoretically speaking, I can't see your outfit, so there's nothing perverse about it.]
Chu Muchao: You yourself said it's just theoretical.
Chu Muchao: You can read minds, so your "eyesight" must be beyond the realm of theory.
【Ahem, let's try the spell to dispel the magical girl's state next. Please open the panel and recite the spell following the subtitles.】
Chu Muchao was about to ask how to "open the panel".
Next, an almost transparent panel appeared before my eyes.
The words "Release the spell" appeared at the bottom.
Today is another day to make the world peaceful and beautiful (poses in a prescribed posture).
In the center of the panel, a figure appeared, with its left hand on its hip and its right fist raised high.
Chu Muchao sighed softly, turned around and walked into the emergency exit.
I mimicked the pose of the person on the center line of the panel, and silently recited it in my mind.
Today is also a day to make the world more peaceful and beautiful.
【Great job, Miss Mu Mu!】
Waaah.
Is this some shameful course on unleashing one's true nature?
-
When Chu Muchao joined the company, this event had already begun.
She didn't know the whole story, only that Director Zhou had asked them to work overtime to meet the deadline, and everyone had to fully cooperate with the marketing department.
This morning, the marketing manager's remarks in the project group chat sparked opinions from two departments.
This also attracted the attention of the senior management in the group.
Before the event could end early next Monday, just before lunch break, the branch manager, along with Director Zhou and A Dong, called a meeting with people from both departments.
Chu Muchao stared at the "11:49" displayed in the lower right corner of the computer screen and fell silent.
Although Chu Wen often travels for work and works day and night, it seems that none of his subordinates have ever mentioned that meetings must be held close to the end of the workday.
"Xiao Chu, let's go, we have to go to the meeting too."
While packing the three essential items for the meeting, Shen Jia reminded Chu Muchao.
Just then, Chu Wen sent a message.
[Lunch is served upstairs, or I'll have Secretary Wu bring it down to you.]
Chu Wen's tone always seemed so assertive.
Their conversations rarely contained questions; they mostly gave her only two options and didn't allow her to refuse.
But she knew that Chu Wen only appeared strong and serious on the outside. In fact, he was very gentle and considerate. His strength and seriousness were just a disguise to protect himself.
Chu Muchao picked up his laptop with his left hand and typed a reply with his right: "Later, the general manager called a meeting. I'll come up to you quietly after it's over."
She thought it would be better to find an opportunity to go up quietly herself than to have Chu Wen's secretary personally escort her down.
-
Large conference room.
The general manager sat in the center of the stage, while his secretary adjusted the microphone and patted it to test it.
"Dear colleagues, since this event involves a significant investment and has been reported to the group headquarters, we will hold a brief meeting to discuss it. Now, let's invite General Manager Zhao to say a few words."
Mr. Zhao patted the microphone.
Suddenly, a series of "popping" noises came from the speakers.
General Manager Zhao cleared his throat tactically, speaking slowly: "This event..."
He had barely started the tune when Chu Muchao felt sleepy.
I vaguely caught the gist of what they said: they'd made a huge boast to headquarters, predicting a massive revenue increase and demanding increased investment. Now, not only have those expectations not been met, but the results have been terrible, and they need to find a way to give headquarters an explanation.
Since Chu Wen took over the group's work, Chu Muchao has never asked about anything related to the group.
Even when the topic occasionally comes up at the dinner table, Chu Muchao will intentionally avoid it.
Now that this topic is being discussed in the meeting, Chu Muchao has absolutely no interest in it and is feeling drowsy.
I vaguely heard a commotion.
When I looked up again, there were two more people on the platform.
General Manager Zhao, who was originally sitting in the main seat, has now been moved to the very edge.
The seat that was originally in the main position now belonged to the cold and serious Chu Wen.
Chu Muchao's drowsiness vanished instantly.
Looking at Chu Wen on the stage, she blinked in confusion.
Meanwhile, dozens of messages were updated every minute in their operations department's A group chat.
[Oh no, headquarters is coming to confront us!]
[Haven't you seen President Chu? That's the group's young master coming to question us!]
Holy crap! How much did they invest this time? Why is it such a huge undertaking?
[Yes, not every event has guaranteed profits, and we haven't seen anyone from headquarters come to hold us accountable!]
[It's over. Knowing Lao Zhou's habits, he'll definitely use us planners as a scapegoat.]
[It's one thing for Director Zhou to be idle, but now General Manager Zhao also wants to hold a meeting during lunchtime, and General Manager Chu wants to join in! Am I even going to get to eat lunch today?]
[Seriously, is it really not illegal to hold a meeting at a different work time?!]
It's hard not to agree with this last piece of information.
Chu Muchao touched his stomach.
Although she didn't like Chu Wen's nutritious meals, she was a little hungry right now...
"President Chu, the main reason for this event is..."
Director Zhou had just stood up to say a few words when Chu Wen on the podium interrupted him by tapping the table twice with his fingers.
Director Zhou quickly shut his mouth, waiting to be scolded like a greenhorn.
Chu Wen pinched the microphone between two fingers and said in a cold voice.
"Meetings must be held during working hours, and there are strict regulations regarding meeting duration and schedule. I don't want to see meetings held close to lunch break or the end of the workday, nor do I want to see meetings exceeding one hour. Do you understand?"
After saying that, Chu Wen stood up.
He gave his secretary a few instructions, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, meeting adjourned."
Wow! Yay!
"I thought President Chu came to hold us accountable! I misunderstood President Chu! President Chu came to save our poor stomachs!"
"Wait, didn't you guys catch the key point? There won't be any more meetings longer than an hour from now on! Oh my god, I'm so touched I could cry! President Chu must know about the weird thing about us having meetings right after work, and not leaving until two hours later! That's great!"
"I really don't want to spend ten minutes in a meeting and half an hour listening to the boss bragging. I'm leaving, I'm starving."
Chu Muchao followed behind the crowd and walked out slowly.
Behind me, I could vaguely hear Secretary Wu talking to Manager Zhao about the length of the meeting.
"Meetings require the application for a meeting room, specifying the time of use and the end time. The procedures must be standardized and strictly followed."
"In addition, headquarters requires that each meeting should not exceed forty minutes, that the matter be discussed directly, that the wording be precise and the topic be clear, and that meetings not be held for the sake of holding meetings..."
Chu Muchao nodded repeatedly in agreement, finding it hard to disagree.
Such constraints from the group level are very necessary.
My brother did a great job.
While the crowd was heading towards the front of the building, Chu Muchao quietly slipped around to the president's private elevator at the back.
As soon as I stepped into the elevator lobby, I saw a tall man standing in the wide-open elevator doors.
He was standing with his arms crossed, looking at himself with a mixture of anger and helplessness.
Chu Muchao smiled and walked over quickly.
"Brother, I'm so hungry! What's good for lunch today?"
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