Chapter Nine: The Blueprints Are Missing?

Yan Xuan frowned as he glanced around the office, only to find it empty. At that moment, Supervisor Hu emerged from inside. “Yan, head to the main conference room for a meeting.”

“Oh, all right.” Yan Xuan didn’t have time to think further, hurriedly grabbing his laptop and following after.

The meeting was much like any other, focused on discussing several company proposals. As a newcomer, Yan Xuan usually just listened in silence. Today, however, the meeting was chaired by Director Wu.

Once the main topics were finished, Supervisor Hu shifted the conversation toward Yan Xuan.

“So, Yan Xuan, have you finished your design draft?” Director Wu asked, his expression as calm as the day before.

“Yes, it’s ready.”

Everyone turned their attention to Yan Xuan as he opened his laptop, but suddenly his expression changed.

The momentary panic on Yan Xuan’s face was noticed by all. Most people were puzzled, though a few seemed to understand.

Director Wu arched an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

Yan Xuan glanced at him. “Director, my… my design is gone.”

“Oh?” Director Wu’s expression didn’t change, his tone still mild. “Are you sure?”

“Yan, are you perhaps lying because you didn’t actually finish?” Supervisor Hu cut in abruptly.

“That’s impossible. I saw Yan working on the design yesterday,” Tang Xueying blurted out. She immediately blushed and lowered her head under the sudden scrutiny of her colleagues.

“Tang, you’re still too young. Who’s to say he didn’t purposely let you see him working, just to have someone vouch for him?” Supervisor Hu said coolly.

“Exactly.”

“Supervisor is right.”

“When you’re young, you should admit your mistakes. Making up stories is pointless.”

“I thought he was ambitious, but now…”

The small conference room buzzed with murmurs.

“That’s not possible—Yan isn’t that kind of person.” Hearing the comments, Tang Xueying mustered her courage and spoke up. “Director Wu?”

“Yan Xuan.” Director Wu glanced at Tang Xueying, a trace of helplessness in his eyes, before turning to Yan Xuan. “Are you sure you completed it?”

“I’m sure! I finished just before the meeting. I definitely saved it, but now it’s gone and I don’t know why. I suspect…” Yan Xuan was regaining his composure after the initial panic.

He hadn’t created the design on a company computer, but on his own laptop. Though his family situation wasn’t great and he’d used that laptop for years, he’d always taken good care of it.

At first, he’d thought perhaps his laptop had malfunctioned. But now, he was no longer so sure.

“Suspect what?”

“I suspect someone tampered with my laptop and deleted my design,” Yan Xuan said firmly.

Disdainful looks swept the room.

If it had just been a lie before, now it was an outright fabrication—hardly dignified.

“And who do you think would have done that?” Even Director Wu’s patience was wearing thin.

Whether or not the work was done, or how good it was, was another matter. But to try shifting blame for his own mistake onto someone else—this spoke poorly of his character.

Director Wu glanced at Tang Xueying, noting the anxiety and anger on her face, and shook his head inwardly.

She’s too emotionally involved. This can’t end well. Could this girl truly have feelings for Yan Xuan? Outwardly, Yan was good-looking and tall, but his background was too ordinary, and their differences too great. Better that she suffer a short heartbreak now than a long one.

Having made up his mind, Director Wu spoke. “I don’t care about any of that. I’m not interested in the process, only the result. I want your design on my desk before the end of the workday. You have two hours.”

Yan Xuan and Tang Xueying both blanched.

Unlike them, a few others smirked with satisfaction.

He’s done for. This time he’ll be out of the company for good.

Director Wu gathered his papers and was the first to leave the small conference room. Tang Xueying bit her lip, glanced at Yan Xuan, and resolutely followed the director.

The others whispered amongst themselves, but no one spoke to Yan Xuan. In their eyes, he was finished—his departure from the company already sealed.

Yan Xuan ignored their opinions, grabbed his laptop, and returned to his workstation. With just two hours left, he might not have enough time, but he had to try; otherwise, he couldn’t reconcile himself to failure.

“Lao Ma, everything’s fine?” Supervisor Hu and Ma Yi were the last to remain. Once only the two of them were left, Supervisor Hu asked quietly.

“Don’t worry. I used permanent deletion. There’s no way he can recover it,” Ma Yi replied with a sly grin.

“Good. Once that kid’s out, both Manager Tan and I will remember your contribution.”

“Supervisor Hu, you’re too kind. It’s my honor to serve you. Besides, I’ve never liked that kid,” Ma Yi said obsequiously, grinning beside him.

Laughter echoed.

For the next two hours, Yan Xuan worked with single-minded focus, shutting out the rest of the world. Even so, the time was far too short—he simply couldn’t finish.

When the workday ended, everyone instinctively looked his way.

Yan Xuan drew a deep breath, picked up his laptop, and headed straight for the director’s office.

No sooner had he left than the office filled with murmurs.

“He knows it’s impossible but still insists on trying. That’s real persistence.”

“If he was going to do this, what was he doing before?”

“At least this way, he leaves because he couldn’t finish, not because his design was awful. Saves some face.”

“So that’s it—you really understand!”

Meanwhile, Yan Xuan knocked lightly on the director’s door. A voice from inside invited him to enter.

When Director Wu saw him come in, he looked up. “Is it done?”

“…No.” Yan Xuan took a steady breath. “But I’d like you to look at my draft.”

Director Wu studied him in silence, and Yan Xuan met his gaze calmly.

After a full minute, Director Wu sighed softly. “All right, let’s see it.”

It was impossible to produce a complete design in just two hours, but Yan Xuan had already formed a clear concept. He laid out his sketches before Director Wu and began to explain his ideas.

At first, Director Wu listened half-heartedly. In her mind, Yan Xuan’s departure was inevitable. Even for Tang Xueying’s sake, she had to remove this unstable element from the company.

Letting him finish was merely a gesture of fairness.

But as Yan Xuan spoke, Director Wu’s expression changed.

This Yan Xuan… had some real talent.