Chapter 24.2

Her cheeks flushed again as she tugged at the corners of her lips in frustration. She had already mentally prepared to give up her first kiss. What was the point of a forehead kiss?

Could he really be… not capable?

…

Later, Song Wei encountered Zhuo Wan once in the office. The two were waiting for the elevator, and Song Wei greeted her first.

Perhaps because Chen Jubai had instructed discretion, Zhuo Wan didn’t say much, though her eyes still carried a hint of scrutiny.

Naturally, Song Wei didn’t dare provoke her. If Zhuo Wan decided to resign on impulse, where on earth would she find another capable deputy general manager?

For several days, Song Wei had been tied up with the Navigator Project, unable to leave work on time even once.

With her parents nagging every day, Chen Jubai took up the task of picking her up from work.

Eventually, he simply stayed at the office, waiting until she finished so they could leave together.

During the day, Song Wei devoted herself entirely to her work. Once in the car, she’d fall asleep immediately. At home, after eating and showering, she’d collapse into bed, barely exchanging ten sentences with him in a day.

The upcoming Friday review meeting was about to change all that.

At 10 a.m., Song Wei stood in front of Yao Miaoxuan’s desk. “You’re coming with me.”

Yao Miaoxuan was taken aback. “Me?”

Over the past few days, Yao Miaoxuan’s work efficiency had exceeded expectations. Even the caregiver-like spreadsheet tasks had been completed on time and with excellent quality. Song Wei smiled. “Was I not speaking Mandarin?”

Yao Miaoxuan immediately stood up. “I’m going.”

On their way, they ran into Ji Yao and Dong Ruicheng, who had come specifically to cheer them on. Ji Yao was brimming with excitement. “Go get ’em, boss! Land Fang Hongshen, and we’re golden!”

Dong Ruicheng chimed in, “Go, Weiwei!”

Song Wei responded, “Alright, let’s go.”

Ji Yao, who used to look down on Yao Miaoxuan, now chatted amicably with her. Seeing how the latter had moved into Weiwei’s office and even worked overtime a few times, Ji Yao seemed to warm up. “Don’t screw this up for her, alright?”

Yao Miaoxuan huffed, raising her chin. “Who’s screwing up?”

Ji Yao ignored her, grinning at Song Wei. “We’re counting on you, boss. Let’s crush it!”

“Not a problem.”

At the entrance of the conference room, Song Wei turned to ask Yao Miaoxuan, “Confident?”

Looking at everyone, Yao Miaoxuan nodded. “Yes.”

Having worked alongside Song Wei for a week, contributing bit by bit, Yao Miaoxuan was genuinely excited to be here.

This felt different from anything she had experienced before.

“Alright, let’s go. Listen carefully and take good notes.”

“Got it.”

Today’s requirement review meeting wasn’t like the usual ones—Ling Yaozhi and Chu Qi were both present, filling the room with people.

Yao Miaoxuan, perhaps unaccustomed to such a setting, stuck close behind Song Wei. Though Song Wei felt a bit nervous, she maintained a calm exterior and confidently took her seat across from Fang Hongshen.

Her nervousness, however, wasn’t solely due to the competition ahead but also from the gazes Ling Yaozhi and Chu Qi kept directing at her.

If they kept staring, Fang Hongshen might suspect she had connections.

Although… it did seem to have something to do with her.

Song Wei calmly opened her folder, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything.

At exactly 10 o’clock, the conference room door opened, and Chen Jubai walked in with his assistant.

She glanced at him politely before looking away.

The imposing man took the main seat. “Let’s begin.”

No order was set for who would report first, but Fang Hongshen didn’t stand on ceremony. “Manager Song, shall I go first?”

Song Wei replied, “Please, Manager Fang.”

Fang Hongshen stepped up to begin his presentation.

By the third slide, Song Wei’s expression began to tighten.

She turned to glance at Yao Miaoxuan, who looked just as stunned.

Apart from a different template, the content was almost identical to theirs.

For this requirement-gathering phase, Changyan had created a large group chat that included both Fang Hongshen and Song Wei. Most basic discussions about requirements had taken place in the group. Song Wei had even added the contact person from the other side and had good private conversations with them.

Naturally, Fang Hongshen had done the same. Building relationships with collaborators and collecting requirements was part of their job. Beyond that, each relied on their market research and personal judgment.

For the same project, it wasn’t unusual for results to share similarities. Ultimately, the better-thought-out and more detailed plan would prevail.

But the PRD presented by Fang Hongshen being an exact replica of hers left Song Wei dumbfounded.

The further it went, the colder Song Wei’s heart grew.

The work was hers—Fang Hongshen had only made slight optimizations. But because he presented first, her turn would make her look like a fool.

After half an hour, the technical team began asking questions, and Fang Hongshen answered with ease—using all the preparations she had painstakingly made.

She stared at Fang Hongshen intently, while he gave her a slight smile full of “confidence,” as if victory was assured.

For the first time, Song Wei experienced such blatant and malicious tactics in the workplace.

Her hands trembled.

At some point, the conference room had fallen silent. Someone called her name—twice—before she snapped out of it. Clenching her fists tightly, she looked at the man at the main seat and calmly said, “President Chen, I’d like to speak with you privately first.”

Her opponent’s brazenness indicated careful preparation. She needed time to gather her thoughts and couldn’t charge ahead blindly.

Fang Hongshen immediately interjected, “What could Manager Song need to say that can’t be shared here? President Chen, it’s her turn to report now, and this—”

Chen Jubai didn’t know what was going on, but he noticed her pale face and the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. His chest tightened. Ignoring Fang Hongshen, he stood up directly. “Come with me.”

There was an empty conference room next door. Song Wei followed him in and closed the door.

As soon as the door shut, her strength seemed to drain away, and she leaned against the wall. Chen Jubai turned back, hurrying to steady her. “Are you feeling unwell?”

He reached out to check her forehead and felt a thin layer of sweat.

Leaning on his support, Song Wei steadied herself and broke free from his hand. “I’m fine.”

“What’s going on?”

Song Wei wasn’t perfect, but she always treated every leader and subordinate amicably. While her soft personality didn’t mean she lacked resolve, losing to someone’s ability or power was one thing—but losing to theft was unacceptable.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said steadily, “President Chen, the content Manager Fang just presented is mine. I don’t know how he got my files, but the theft is undeniable. I won’t tolerate it. I plan to confront him shortly, and if he doesn’t admit it, I’ll call the police.”

She had carefully considered her next steps in those few minutes. “However, this is your company, so I felt it necessary to inform you first. I’m also unsure of Fang Hongshen’s worst-case intentions—whether this is just about stealing a project or something else entirely. These possibilities need to be considered in advance.”

Maintaining her composure, Song Wei added, “President Chen, it would be best for the company if this matter could be resolved internally.”

Chen Jubai understood. He looked at the pale lips of the woman before him, his heart aching. Without asking further, he pulled her gently into his arms.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle this.”

This matter could not be left unresolved.

He had promised Yang Yingqiu and Song Gaoyi three or four times already.