The Favored Heiress
Chapter 725: Send Flame Alliance H to British Imperial

Chapter 725: Chapter 725: Send Flame Alliance H to British Imperial

Li Qiao returned to the company and heard a commotion as soon as she entered the lobby; it seemed like an argument was taking place.

She ignored it as disputes were commonplace in the workplace, and besides, the company’s policies would restrain them.

However, just as she walked past the back wall of the reception, a sharp note of sarcasm broke through the noise, "Zong Yue, don’t think you’re something special just because you have connections. I’m your leader, and you have to do the work I assign to you."

Li Qiao glanced over subtly, seeing through the glass lattice screens a crowd gathered in the office area, with some trying to mediate and others craning their necks from their desks to enjoy the drama.

Zong Yue stood with her back to Li Qiao, her hands tense at her sides, and even though she was angry, her voice was as gentle as a breezy spring rain, "Director Liu, I’m a human resources associate; accompanying clients to dinner is not part of my job."

Director Liu, in her late twenties, held her chin up high, exuding an arrogant pride, "Zong Yue, can’t you have a sense of team honor? You’re the only one in our department who keeps finding excuses not to go. What’s so special about you?"

Before Zong Yue could retort, Director Liu continued with her biting sarcasm, "Don’t think that no one knows you got your job through backdoor connections. You have no work experience. Not to speak of a human resources associate, I’d think you too old even for the front desk on a normal day."

This comment seemed to carry a personal attack.

Expressionless, Li Qiao walked over. Although she couldn’t see Zong Yue’s face, her shoulders were heaving violently, probably both angry and aggrieved.

Just then, a person from the investment department stepped out, a tall and burly figure.

Li Qiao recognized him and raised her eyebrows slightly, slowing her pace.

The man was dressed in a white shirt and blue trousers, which seemed a bit short due to his long legs, swaying back and forth above the ankles as he walked.

"Director Liu, your argument is disrupting our budget work."

The person in human resources, Director Liu, chuckled awkwardly, "Manager Guan, sorry about that, I was a bit loud while giving an employee a piece of my mind."

Manager Guan, none other than Guan Mingchen, had won over his colleagues with his strong mental arithmetic skills.

He glanced at Zong Yue, who looked indignant, and then back at Director Liu before saying somewhat obtusely, "As a leader, you should be setting an example. If she doesn’t want to go, then you should go."

The onlooking employees: "..."

How could Manager Guan say such a thing without changing his expression?

No wonder everyone in the company said Guan Mingchen was the king of mental arithmetic but a jerk in the office.

It was no exaggeration.

Director Liu’s face grew uglier, and her tone became somewhat harsh, "Manager Guan, I don’t need you to worry about my department’s affairs."

Guan Mingchen looked at Zong Yue sympathetically, pondered for three seconds, and then made another surprising remark, "Then don’t bully her, or Miss Li will get angry."

"What does it have to do with her when I discipline my own employee?" Director Liu gave Guan Mingchen a disdainful look, turned on her high heels, and then glared fiercely at Zong Yue, "Think it over. If you’re not going to the dinner tonight, then you might as well pack up and leave."

Zong Yue wanted to respond with a retort, but she swallowed her words.

She was able to work here because of Qiaoqiao’s help; she couldn’t afford to cause her trouble.

Zong Yue bowed her head, taking deep breaths to calm her emotions.

Guan Mingchen wanted to comfort her, but as he was not good with words, it took him a while to come up with, "You’ll get used to it. Back when I was bricklaying, the foreman would always yell at me too."

Zong Yue, who was trying to manage her emotions, burst into laughter, "Thank you, Manager Guan."

In the end, Li Qiao turned and walked towards the conference room.

The workplace was always fraught with overt and covert struggles. If she stepped in rashly to support, it would only make her sister-in-law’s position at the company even more difficult.

As for that human resources Director Liu...

Li Qiao walked into Xi Luo’s office, slid onto a chair with wheels, and asked indifferently, "Could I have a copy of the employee records?"

Xi Luo tilted her head to glance at the office area and laughed, "What were they arguing about just now?"

"Does the company have a tradition of dining with clients?" Li Qiao asked Xi Luo with a sidelong look.

Xi Luo pursed her lips, leaning against the boss chair, her ten fingers intertwined behind her head, "It’s not exactly a tradition, but when you’re in this line of work, dining and drinking with clients is the norm. Usually, it’s a strategy for salespeople to compete for performance; it’s nothing out of the ordinary."

Li Qiao nodded in understanding, stood up, and pushed back her chair, "Get me the files as soon as possible."

"You’re not serious, are you?" Xi Luo teased with a smile from behind her, "It’s normal to face a little grievance at work. Liu Min didn’t say anything wrong, it’s just a meal with a client, is there a need to make such a fuss?"

Standing by the door, Li Qiao looked back, "My sister-in-law is a personal affairs officer, not a dining companion officer."

Xi Luo: "..."

You’d be more believable just saying you’re protective of your own.

Xi Luo couldn’t help but laugh and wave her hands dismissively. Despite what she said, she still arranged for her assistant to retrieve the employee files for Li Qiao.

After all, Li Qiao was a major shareholder.

...

Time flew by, and dusk fell.

Li Qiao was explaining something to Bai Yan when she suddenly heard another phone call coming through the headset.

She hurriedly said a few words, not giving Bai Yan a chance to respond, and hung up.

Bai Yan, who was in the middle of showering, cursed under the foam as he turned on the shower.

This kid has some nerve, planning to sneak into the Ducal Residence at night.

While showering, Bai Yan pondered and eventually came up with a perfect solution; he would send Flame Alliance H to British Imperial for secret support.

Since he had never revealed himself in British Imperial, sending him there was most apt. With Gu Chenn included, that should suffice.

On the other side, Li Qiao redialed the number, and Shang Yu answered instantly, "Still busy?"

Li Qiao turned her head and noticed the sunset over the Western Hills through the window. She pinched the bridge of her nose, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes, "No, how about you?"

The man seemed to be smoking, his voice slightly hoarse with a raspy undertone from the smoke, "I have a meeting later, shall I arrange for Luoyu to take you home first?"

Li Qiao smiled, "No need, I have some matters to attend to as well, I’ll go home by myself once I’m done."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you at home."

Shang Yu’s deep and steady voice reminded her, and Li Qiao agreed with a smile.

After hanging up the phone, she gazed at the sunset that dyed half the sky red, her eyes and brows curved, her gaze warm.

They were now increasingly resembling an old married couple.

And as time went by, his possessiveness and irritability seemed to have vanished, showing signs of improvement.

Li Qiao lifted the corners of her mouth and continued working at her desk for a while until it was seven o’clock; she checked the time and closed her laptop to leave.

Passing by the pantry, a few employees who were working overtime were eating takeout and talking animatedly.

"Did Zong Yue really go?"

"Of course she went. Gao Wen from the sales department just said so in the group chat. I thought Zong Yue had higher standards."

"Zong Yue had no choice, did she? Liu Min’s intentions were pretty clear today; if she didn’t go to the dinner, she’d lose her job! Liu Min is a company veteran, and I heard her uncle holds a position at the South Sea Secretariat. How could President Xi offend her for the sake of a related party?"