Chapter Six: Resignation

The group, after discussing and packing up their belongings, one after another headed to Liang Wenru’s office to apply for resignation. Liang Wenru looked at the fifteen people standing in a neat line, his fury barely contained. “You want to leave halfway through the sanitation project? Who’s going to take over the unfinished work? Don’t you know you need to submit a resignation at least half a month in advance?”

The group stood their ground resolutely. “Rest assured, Mr. Liang, once you approve our resignations, we will ensure a thorough handover to our juniors, and will in no way violate the company’s confidentiality agreements.”

In his rage, Liang Wenru shattered the glass ashtray at hand. “Fine. I’ll approve the applications for ten of you, but the other five must stay. The sanitation project’s partners have always met with you directly. If you want to leave, at least finish the project first.”

The group knew when to stop pushing, unwilling to offend Liang Wenru further.

The ten who were allowed to resign left the office and sent a message to Pei Susu in the group chat.

“Susu, Chu Xiaosan wants to replace the team with her own seniors from university. We’re out of here. We won’t be sending out resumes for a while, but wherever you go, remember to take us with you.”

Pei Susu, who was at home resting after having just unpacked her belongings, replied helplessly.

“Alright.”

They truly were a handful—her warnings from that morning had gone unheeded. Still, because of their association with her, their days under Chu Qingzhu would likely be tough.

She shook her head, savoring the rare leisure of not having to spin like a top. Suddenly, she received a text from Liu, special assistant to the president of the Fu Group.

“Ms. Pei, would you be interested in trying for the position of General Manager at Fu Group? We can discuss salary and benefits in person; rest assured, it will be more generous than Xingye’s.”

She was fairly certain she hadn’t sent a resume to the Fu Group. Moreover, though she had performed well at Xingye, it was only a leading local company, while Fu Group was the foremost conglomerate in the capital. Why would they seek her out specifically?

As she puzzled over this, a phone call pulled her back to reality. Seeing that it was Lu Qianqian calling, a gentle warmth flickered in Pei Susu’s eyes.

Back when they both got married, Lu Qianqian had moved abroad with her husband, while Pei Susu spent her days toiling to keep Xingye afloat. The last time they met for drinks and skewers was three years ago, celebrating Lu Qianqian’s wedding.

“Qianqian, how have you been?”

It had been far too long since she’d truly talked with Lu Qianqian.

Lu Qianqian, having just landed, gently caressed her visible baby bump. “Little Susu, you won’t need to search for your ‘Lu’ anymore—your ‘Lu’ is back.”

Pei Susu couldn’t help but laugh. She was just as optimistic and playful as ever.

“So where is my ‘Lu’ now?”

Pregnant, Lu Qianqian quickly grew sore after walking a while. She put her hands on her hips and found a nearby seat. “I’m at Huaijiang Airport, ten kilometers from the city center. Hurry up and come pick me up.”

She smiled with anticipation, eager to see Pei Susu’s shock at her pregnancy.

Pei Susu put on her Bluetooth earpiece to maintain the call, grabbed her car keys, and headed out the door. “Did you and your husband argue? Coming home alone?”

After all, Lu Qianqian’s marriage had been a business arrangement, and Pei Susu had always worried about her wellbeing.

Thinking of her husband, who had transformed from an icy CEO into a gentle partner, Lu Qianqian’s lips curled into a blissful smile. “As if he’d dare! My parents are getting old and nostalgic, so they decided to return and develop here. I missed you, so I came back early.”

“Oh, and remember to come with me for a checkup at the hospital later.”

“Are you feeling unwell?” Pei Susu’s heart tightened, and she pressed the accelerator, her car speeding up sharply.

“That’s a secret. You’ll know when you get here.”

—

At Xingye Group, Chu Qingzhu, beaming, led three men and two women into the office area that had once belonged to Pei Susu and her team. Seeing only the remaining five, she lifted her chin.

“Go find other desks. We need this area.”

Assistant Lin tried to dissuade her hesitantly. “Director Chu, the number of offices was fixed during renovations—there are no extras. With ten cubicles now vacant, perhaps you could use the open workspace for now?”

The people behind Chu Qingzhu were visibly displeased. “Qingzhu, we left managerial positions at Fortune 500 companies to join Xingye, and there isn’t even a decent office for us?”

“Exactly, we’re all at the managerial level and have always had private offices. Now at Xingye, we’re expected to sit at shared desks.”

Liang Wenru, having heard that Chu Qingzhu had successfully poached new hires, came out to check. “Assistant Lin, tell them to vacate the offices. Didn’t they already apply to resign? I’m approving it now.”

Chu Qingzhu shot her a mocking glance. “Well, hurry up and call them out to hand over the major project.”

“But the partners’ affairs have always been checked and managed by those five,” Assistant Lin explained, holding back frustration.

Chu Qingzhu was utterly unconcerned. “We’ve already arranged to have dinner with the partners tonight, I’ll explain everything then.”

Liang Wenru waved his hand impatiently. “Go on.”

Assistant Lin had no choice but to notify each one.

Mu Yuluo, acting as the representative, led the remaining four to hand over the project documents left by Pei Susu to Chu Qingzhu. “The first section contains all project data. The second section is President Pei’s reference notes and files from previous collaborations, which could help you understand the partners’ requirements and habits.”

“We’ll pack up and leave right away, so as not to impede Mr. Liang and Director Chu as you lead your new team to greater contributions.”

Chu Qingzhu flipped through the project materials and tossed the second section aside.

As if she needed Pei Susu’s experience as a reference.

She had graduated from a prestigious foreign university—how could she possibly be inferior to Pei Susu, who had never studied abroad and only knew how to bury herself in work?

Liang Wenru glanced at the time and turned to leave. “Qingzhu, review the materials with your team. I’ll coordinate with the partners. At eight tonight, we’ll dine at the five-star hotel.”

Chu Qingzhu regarded the documents in her hands with determination. “Of course, Wenru. I’ll study the materials carefully and do my utmost to make the project a success.”

With spirits high, she gathered her seniors and juniors, along with ten employees filling in on the project, and studied the documents in a six-hour marathon meeting. All the while, she dismissed the value of those reference notes.

As dinnertime approached and the focus of the project had still not been addressed, one of the employees timidly suggested, “Director Chu, the partners are strict about details. Would it help to gather samples of components from other companies for comparison, as President Pei used to do?”

“That’s right, President Pei always did it that way.”

Pei Susu again. Chu Qingzhu glared at the young employee, her face stern. “Stop wasting time. If the partners chose us, it’s because they trust us. Why rely on others’ products for comparison? Our job is to pursue perfection.”

In the past, Pei Susu had encouraged open discussion regardless of rank. The employees never expected to be so harshly scolded for speaking up and immediately fell silent.