Chapter 4, A Fault Finder

She truly desires to climb higher and aspire to be a person of a higher rank

What a sense of pleasure it must be to confront someone whenever one wishes

Ning Meng: "The process of attaching invoices and going through the OA reimbursement procedure is somewhat cumbersome"

One of the women is named Shi Ying, around forty years old, and is an elite in investment banking, being one of the earliest female securities representatives after the implementation of the IPO review system in the country

He changed the subject and asked, "Did you go to see Old Tang yesterday?"

It was already past 2 a.m. when I got home, and I was too lazy to wash up again, so Ning Meng threw herself onto the bed and fell asleep immediately

She knows that dealing with him in his current situation cannot be achieved through mere compromise and submission; the more she does so, the more it will provoke this perverse boss's tendencies.

Therefore, she no longer wishes to be a secretary. She wants to engage in projects, to pursue work that can create wealth, and to take on positions that allow for advancement.

Yet Lu Jiming deeply felt that she and he were fundamentally from different worlds. Although we are now in a socialist society where there should be no class distinctions, the disparities of wealth and poverty have quietly divided people into different ranks. The wealthy individuals like Lu Jiming live at the pinnacle of the pyramid

Ning Meng understood that Lu Jiming's series of actions, which walked the fine line of provocation, were all because he felt she was being disobedient by staying at his house, causing him to call for a designated driver early in the morning, which displeased him

Ning Meng suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. To display such blatant self-promotion and seeking fame, the wealthy truly are audacious and shameless

Ning Meng rubbed her face, and every tremor in her voice was filled with desolation and indignation as she lamented: "Don't mention it! It's all because of my donkey-like boss who is exploiting me!"

Yet her face displayed an air of usual deference and humility

The main visitors are two ladies, and the rest are their accompanying assistants

You Qi did not respond to her forceful explanation and suddenly became somewhat earnest: "A Meng, do you know why you have always been so two-faced?"

You Qi let out a scoff, and a look of disdain appeared on her beautiful face: "A whore not only has to smile sweetly on the outside but also has to frame others for the murderous thoughts in her heart. You lack the skill to frame, so you are not qualified to be a whore." After a pause, You Qi said, piercingly, "You are insecure."

Ning Meng defended: "However, after the peasant uprising, the land belongs to the farmers. But if I were to lead an uprising, the company would not become mine, and I would lose my job as a result. Therefore, your analogy does not apply to my situation."

Subsequently, she vented her frustrations internally to an extreme degree

Ning Meng recounted the events of last night to You Qi

This is the taxi fare from yesterday when I picked you up and returned home after dropping you off. You mentioned yesterday that I could directly reimburse it with the ticket today without going through the OA process. Ning Meng thought for a moment and then added, "Actually, this small amount of money doesn't matter if it's not reimbursed."

After listening to Youqi's earnest advice, Ning Meng really wanted to find a soundproof pit to jump into. She truly did not want to hear her heart-wrenching chatter.

Lu Jiming let out a sound of "ha": "If you really are not taking a taxi to save costs for the company, I will immediately eat these two taxi tickets!" His voice became heavy, "Speak honestly!"

Ning Meng, with a sense of righteousness, said: "Just kidding! I assure you with all my heart that I wouldn't dare, so what!"

Two words, with a strong imperative meaning, make Ning Meng's spirit shiver

Lu Jiming said enthusiastically: "Oh! That works, I will give you my Maybach, do you think you will be satisfied with that?"

After Lu Jiming finished discussing the day's meeting agenda and several documents that required his stamp and signature, taking advantage of Lu Jiming's good mood, Ning Meng took out two taxi receipts from her pocket.

He picked up the taxi receipt and glanced at it, suddenly asking: "Is it just these two? Did you not take a taxi when you came home from the hospital yesterday?"

Ning Meng was taken aback by the sound. Is he upset over such a trivial matter? It seems that the illness of this boss's boss has worsened again

She feels a bit embarrassed. She thought she had hidden this secret of her inferiority very well, and that no one would discover it. However, in the end, it was still uncovered and exposed by Youqi.

She gathered her spirits and hurried to the company

Ning Meng entered the office, and Lu Jiming looked at her, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk, the sound unmistakably revealing his displeasure

She cannot afford that big guy

Boss, let's not go with this one, "Ning Meng smiles, smiles, and smiles again." You see, with my salary, your Maybach would run out of gas with just one step. I can't afford to maintain it either!

Ning Meng is very humble: "You are the boss, you decide how much to raise!"

As Ning Meng stepped out of the office, she felt utterly exhausted. Sometimes, she truly wished to let herself go, to stop being so cautious, and to shout a couple of times at Lu Jiming. She wanted him, who always held himself in such high regard, to experience what it feels like to be choked and splashed.

Lu Jiming raised his hand and pointed at the door: "You go out!"

"I went there after work." Ning Meng reported to him about the situation of visiting the hospital yesterday

Ning Meng gritted her teeth and, thinking she was smiling without any stiffness, told You Qi: "You are really annoying! What are you doing studying psychology when you have nothing better to do? It feels like you have stripped me of my clothes and left me with nowhere to hide!"

Generally speaking, when a new boss takes over, if one drinks too much the night before, it is only natural to take the next day off to rest at home, especially since the company belongs to oneself; who would dare to say anything about it

Youqi said to Ningmeng: "Ameng, you are self-conscious, which makes you afraid to refute, and as a result, you have become a timid and two-faced person. You need to be more confident! You are truly no worse than anyone else, really! Although you may not be as stunningly beautiful as I am, you excel in your delicate charm! It's just that your approach to presenting yourself is not quite right; you keep trying to tidy yourself up in the style of the old female director of the counseling office."

Ning Meng said: "It has not been easy for me to drift north, how can I be willful and go against money, don't you think? After all, people are the ones who pay my salary"

When will she be able to equally mock him in return?

This gentleman is likely looking for trouble again due to some dissatisfaction

Lu Jiming's questioning voice suddenly became particularly clear and articulate

Lu Jiming said: I will not take a break no matter how much I drink, just to see who among you dares to use being drunk as an excuse to ask me for leave

Ning Meng is quite impressed by Lu Jiming's seemingly self-destructive behavior of making himself inconvenient in order to avoid making things easier for others

Another young girl in her twenties, Ning Meng recognized her as Xu Sitian, a childhood friend of Lu Jiming. Every time she came, she could stir up a wave of furtive glances and sweeping looks in the company.

Ning Meng lay back on the bed in a daze after turning off the video

However, if she resigns and applies to another fund company, will they give her the opportunity to work in the project department? After all, her three years of work experience ultimately amounts to just being a secretary

The You's Comforting Method really does not sound like it is meant to comfort people

If Lu Jiming insists on not allowing her to change positions to work on the project, should she, in a fit of anger, resign and leave?

She must properly endure it on top

Ning Meng still took a taxi home, without resting in that mansion that was so out of place with the common people.

Yuqin chuckled, "Pah! You just stick a good word on your own face! Aren't you two-faced? You must be wishing to stab someone with a knife in your heart, right? Yet you still wear a smile that is particularly gentle, respectful, frugal, and accommodating, like a blooming flower on your face!"

Mr. Lu, it is like this: I left in a hurry last night and forgot to turn off the main gas valve, so I must go back no matter what

Lu Jiming sneered: "Oh, is this a message for me to give you a raise this time?"

because she is truly very beautiful

You are nothing but a two-faced person

Lu Jiming had been in the office for less than a minute when he dialed Ning Meng's extension

Although this time her sleep was deep and filled with dreams, it was not until the alarm clock rang three times that Ning Meng finally heard it. However, when she got up to look in the mirror, she still saw two dark and shiny circles under her eyes

Yes, she is insecure. She feels as if she is living in Beijing like a blade of grass. While others swipe their cards without a second thought to buy bags at the shopping center in Financial Street, she lacks even the courage to walk in and check the price tags. Although she interacts with wealthy individuals every day, there exists a transparent wall called "wealth gap" between her and those affluent people, and no matter how hard she tries, she cannot cross that wall. She is merely a financial worker serving the rich.

Come in

After work in the evening, Ning Meng invited You Qi to video chat together to relieve the pent-up frustration in her heart

How can I remember that before I fell asleep yesterday, I told you to find a room on the first floor to sleep in? Where are you? How did you slip away? Did you even say goodbye to me? It made me go through the trouble of finding a designated driver this morning

Ning Meng knew that this was enough; if she pushed further, Lu Jiming would definitely force that Maybach onto her.

And she is the one who struggles to survive at the bottom of the pyramid.

Not long after, Lu Jiming also arrived. As he passed by Ning Meng's workstation, Ning Meng could clearly smell the lingering scent of alcohol from his hangover.

Lu Jiming immediately asked: "Why not fight?"

On the second day of work, Ning Meng received a wave of visitors. They were there to discuss pre-IPO investment cooperation with Lu Jiming

Lu Jiming snorted and did not pursue the topic any further

Ning Meng propped her chin up, appearing to be in deep thought, and said: "Are you sure you are not calling me a bitch?"

Ning Meng was momentarily stunned in front of the camera

However, she truly does not want to be a two-faced person exploited by those in higher positions. She hopes that one day she can hold her head high, and when Lu Jiming says something, she can confidently retort back.

Lu Jiming would not do this. No matter how much Lu Jiming drinks, he will still come to work the next day even if he has to lie on a stretcher.

This statement successfully activated the twisted factor within Lu Jiming, and he slammed the table forcefully: "If you say it like that, I have to report you! Can the King of Hell still owe a debt to a little ghost?!"

Yuqin chuckled and rolled her eyes: "In the old society, the reason landlords were able to oppress farmers was largely because the farmers were submissive and did not understand how to resist. If farmers want to rise up and take control, they must revolt. You, my friend, simply lack the courage! You need to learn to resist, learn to revolt, and learn to say no!"

Lu Jiming let out a laugh that was somewhat mocking, a smile that added an unusual vibrancy to his handsome face: "What’s the matter, are you trying to send me a message, asking me to arrange a carriage for you?"

Before falling asleep, Ning Meng thought in a daze

However, thinking back to last night when Lu Jiming was drunk, after she expressed her desire to work on the project, Lu Jiming's attitude made Ning Meng feel a bit anxious again

Ning Meng looked at the ceiling and sighed. Closing her eyes, she began to feel drowsy

You Qi looked at Ning Meng and asked, "Why do I see darkness under your eyes? Is it that the camera focus is not adjusted properly, or are you cosplaying as a panda baby?"

After Lu Jiming listened to the account, especially when he heard Tang Zhengwang express his gratitude to the point of wanting to stab himself with two knives in the ribs, he wore a very pleased expression.

Ning Meng pushed her glasses and said, "No, I took the bus."

I am your secretary, not your mother! You are already so grown up, you can't just finish using the toilet and stick your bottom up waiting for someone else to wipe for you, this is quite absurd!

Then Ning Meng adjusted her glasses and said, "You are the boss. If you personally have such an intention, I, as an employee, would not dare to refuse."

Ning Meng said: "In order to save costs for the company, I generally try to avoid taking a taxi whenever possible."

You Qi leaned closer to the camera, her exquisitely beautiful smile suddenly turning fierce: "You have the audacity to argue with me, but do you dare to argue with your donkey master?"

The lemon pointed to its own nose and asked, "Am I two-faced? Is this not called being adaptable?"