Chapter 8

Unless the matter is both important and urgent, Chen Jubai rarely contacts employees after work hours.

Jiang Zhendong had just arrived home and was preparing to spend time with his child when he saw a call coming in. Handing the child to his wife, he took his phone and retreated to the room to answer it.

“President Chen.”

Without any pleasantries, Chen Jubai went straight to the point: “Did you interview a product manager today?”

Jiang Zhendong immediately felt uneasy and curious. It was rare for Chen Jubai to intervene in hiring matters. The product manager position’s final interview was usually overseen by their department’s deputy general manager. Generally, if the candidate received his approval, there would be no further issues—the final interview was merely procedural.

Why would this come up all of a sudden? Cautiously, Jiang Zhendong replied, “Yes, President Chen. It’s a supervisor returning from Company A in the capital—very experienced, and the resume is quite impressive.”

“What was the outcome of the interview?”

Sensing that there might be a connection prompting this rare inquiry, Jiang Zhendong quickly adjusted his tone. “She managed to achieve a 15% market share during a growth period. The projects she’s handled are well-documented, and her capabilities are strong.”

Chen Jubai frowned. Song Wei wouldn’t deceive him, so there must be something Jiang Zhendong wasn’t disclosing. His voice turned stern: “What are your concerns?”

Jiang Zhendong explained, “Company A’s main business is different from ours. I’m worried she won’t be able to handle our current tasks. Moreover, the salary she’s accustomed to in the capital is likely much higher than what we offer here. I doubt she’d accept the disparity. Also, she doesn’t have much management experience.”

After finishing, he tentatively added, “However, her personal skills are impressive. Should we let Deputy General Manager Ling interview her once more?”

Chen Jubai, having been deeply involved in technical work during the company’s early days, understood the responsibilities of a product manager’s role better than anyone. Furthermore, although Song Wei had worked in an internet technology company with a different focus, claiming she couldn’t handle the job was an exaggeration.

As for management experience, the key for product roles isn’t the title—it’s the projects they’ve led.

His face darkened, and his voice dropped to an intimidating tone: “Anything else?”

Jiang Zhendong froze. Though unsure of the reasoning behind this intense scrutiny, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

Despite being a few years older than Chen Jubai, the hierarchical relationship and Chen Jubai’s overwhelming presence always made Jiang Zhendong feel immense pressure. He blurted out the truth almost involuntarily, “President Chen, our department currently has four product managers—three are women. One is about to go on maternity leave, and another recently announced her pregnancy. I was considering whether we should hire a male candidate.”

“That’s your reason?”

“President Chen, I’m thinking about the company’s interests. Today’s candidate mentioned she’s planning to return to her hometown to get married and have children. If she starts dating, gets married, then has a baby…” Jiang Zhendong carefully hedged, “President Chen, I can speak with her again tomorrow to evaluate her other capabilities. If she’s not suitable for the product role, we could shift her to operations instead—”

Chen Jubai didn’t catch the latter part of the sentence.

His stern expression softened slightly at the earlier mention. “Planning to get married and have children?”

“Yes, President Chen. That’s what she said…”

Walking to the fridge, Chen Jubai retrieved a bottle of water, twisted it open with one hand, and took a couple of sips. A faint smile played at his lips. “You’re overthinking it.”

“And one more thing, Jiang Zhendong—our company doesn’t resort to workplace discrimination to cut costs. What you’ve done today not only risks damaging the company’s reputation but also sets a precedent for internal discrimination, fostering an unhealthy work environment.”

Though his tone had eased, every word hit home, leaving Jiang Zhendong drenched in sweat. “Understood, President Chen.”

“Come to my office tomorrow. Your performance review for this month is canceled. Inform her to attend the final interview. Keep this conversation between us confidential.”

“Understood.”

After assigning the follow-up tasks, the call ended. Standing by the window for a moment, Chen Jubai hesitated but ultimately chose not to contact Song Wei.

Whether she chose to attend the interview, passed it, or accepted the job would be entirely up to her.

….

Song Wei didn’t expect to receive another call from the HR department at Guangnian Tech, inviting her to the final interview.

Over the phone, Tan Bing repeatedly confirmed if she could attend on Friday. Though surprised, Song Wei remained composed. “Did Director Jiang approve my application?”

“Yes,” Tan Bing replied.

Even she found it puzzling. After the initial interview, the decision had been to reject the candidate. Why the sudden change of heart?

Still, it was a positive turn of events. As someone in HR, Tan Bing had experienced similar situations herself and could empathize. Moreover, Song Wei’s capabilities far outshone other candidates the company had considered through headhunters. Missing out on her would have been a loss.

She couldn’t help but add, “Miss Song, don’t take Director Jiang’s comments to heart. The product department is short-staffed right now, so he has a lot of concerns. Our company isn’t what you might think; you can learn more through Qingfei.”

“Got it. I’ll confirm later. Thank you.”

Song Wei hesitated.

This was unexpected.

She had been sporadically exploring job opportunities, including companies larger than Guangnian Tech and those offering higher salaries. However, influenced by Zhu Qingfei, she had developed a favorable impression of Guangnian Tech and saw great potential in its market prospects.

But she remained conflicted. Jiang Zhendong had left a terrible impression on her.

She couldn’t discuss her interview plans with Yang Yingqiu—bringing it up would only invite endless lectures about civil service exams.

Nor did she consult Zhu Qingfei, whose advice at the moment wasn’t reliable.

After a night of deliberation, Song Wei decided to accept Friday’s interview invitation.

Previously, her lack of planning had led to a layoff. This time, she knew she had to think long-term.

AR and VR were key industries supported by Nan’an City and major areas of domestic investment. Guangnian Tech, as an emerging player, had limitless potential.

She couldn’t find a reason to refuse. If she planned to stay in Nan’an, a VR-focused company was the best choice, and Guangnian Tech was the top option.

As for other concerns, she gave herself a one-month trial period. If the leadership, colleagues, or work environment proved unsuitable, she’d cut her losses early.

The third-round interview turned out to be easier than expected. Her interviewer was a deputy general manager, around forty years old, professional and courteous, though a bit long-winded…

After discussing her work experience, the interviewer spent ten minutes detailing the history and future of Guangnian Technology, ten minutes introducing their various impressive projects, and the last ten minutes painting an ambitious vision of the company’s future. His enthusiasm left Song Wei momentarily stunned.

At the end of the interview, he directly offered her the position, inviting her to start the onboarding process on Monday morning.

Song Wei accepted the offer.

That evening, she shared the good news with Zhu Qingfei. After chatting with her close friend, Song Wei decided to inform him as well.

He replied quickly: [Congratulations.]

Song Wei responded: [Thank you.]

Chen Jubai followed with: [Dinner on Monday night?]

It was the first time he’d proposed a meal together since the concert. Song Wei agreed.

There wasn’t much reason to refuse—he and Jiang Xiaoyu had helped her a lot recently, so she felt it was only right to express her gratitude by treating them to dinner.

….

The weather had warmed up over the past few days, and the sky was bright and clear.

On Monday, Song Wei woke up early, applied makeup, and dressed in a sharp office outfit, topping it with a tailored wool coat for a professional look.

As she was leaving, Yang Yingqiu and Song Gaoyi were still at home. Yang Yingqiu noticed her attire and frowned. “Where are you going?”

The inevitable confrontation had arrived. Song Wei replied, “I found a job. I’m starting today.”

To her surprise, Yang Yingqiu was calmer than expected. “You’ll regret this one day. By the time you consider taking the civil service exam again, it’ll be too late.”

“I won’t regret it.”

Yang Yingqiu shot a glance at Song Gaoyi, who was also preparing to leave, her tone turning irritable. “You’re just like your father.”

Song Gaoyi paused briefly, said nothing in return, and turned to Song Wei with a kind smile. “Congratulations, Weiwei. Work hard. I’ll make you something nice for dinner tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Song Wei replied, her mood lifting a little. “But I have plans tonight. How about tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

As she closed the door behind her, Yang Yingqiu let out a sharp humph, clearly holding some resentment. Her tone was curt as she asked, “Who are you having dinner with tonight? New colleagues? Be mindful not to associate with just anyone.”

“…” Song Wei took a bite of her breakfast bun and calmly replied, “No, it’s with Chen Jubai.”

This answer caught Yang Yingqiu off guard. After a brief pause, her tone softened. “In that case, go ahead. But when the time is right, bring him over to meet the family.”

“It’s not the right time yet.”

“Then when will it be the right time? After you’re married and have the certificate? Or after you’ve had a child? Are you just going to inform us after it’s all done?”

Song Wei knew this was residual frustration over her finding a job without prior discussion. She didn’t take it to heart but had also lost her appetite. “We’ll see. When it’s appropriate, I’ll let you meet him.”

Despite the tense exchange, her spirits lifted as she stood in front of Guangnian Technology’s building. Taking a deep breath, she told herself that this was a fresh start, regardless of what came before.

After completing the onboarding process, she proceeded to the seventh floor to report to the product department.

Jiang Zhendong greeted her personally with a bright smile, a stark contrast to his demeanor during the interview.

“Manager Song, welcome to Guangnian.”

Song Wei responded politely.

Jiang Zhendong clapped his hands, drawing the attention of over a dozen people in the spacious office. “Everyone, this is our new product manager, Song Wei. She’ll be heading the Product Division One. Let’s give her a warm welcome!”

Applause erupted, and Song Wei bowed slightly. “Thank you, everyone. I look forward to working with you.”

Jiang Zhendong led her to her office, introducing the department as they walked. “The seventh floor houses Product Division One, and the eighth floor is for Product Division Two. Each division has two product managers. You’ll be taking over the terminal equipment line. Later, Li Cheng will come by to hand over the work.”

“Thank you, Director Jiang.”

Inside her new office, Jiang Zhendong adjusted his glasses and apologized, “Manager Song, I might have left you with a poor impression during the interview. I sincerely apologize. Please don’t take it to heart. If you have any questions about the work, feel free to reach out to me.”

Song Wei wasn’t adept at reading people, so she couldn’t tell whether he was being genuine or simply polite. His words seemed earnest enough, and she decided not to overthink it. A little emotional detachment could save a lot of trouble.

Besides, since she’d already joined the company and he was her direct supervisor, there was no point in straining their relationship. “Director Jiang, I look forward to working with you.”

After he left, a manager named Li Cheng entered. Noticing her seven-to-eight-month pregnancy, Song Wei immediately understood why Guangnian Technology had decided to hire another manager.

Li Cheng rubbed her belly as she took a seat. Smiling warmly, she said, “Manager Song, I hope you don’t mind. Standing for too long makes my back ache these days.”

“Not at all. Please, have a seat.”

Before handing over her projects, Li Cheng chatted a bit. “I’ve been waiting for over a month for someone to take over. I was worried I’d have to manage everything while giving birth.”

Seeing the surprise on Song Wei’s young face, Li Cheng chuckled. “Did I scare you?”

“Not at all.”

“In this line of work, we’re like mothers. When there’s an issue, they always come to us first, don’t they?”

Song Wei smiled. “That’s true.”

“Don’t worry, though. Our company may be young, but we’re blessed with good genes. It’s a privilege to raise these projects—they’re coveted by others. The process is manageable.”

Li Cheng’s metaphor hit home. Product management was indeed like parenting. Product managers were the “mothers,” while the technical team acted as “fathers,” only responsible for the creation phase before leaving everything else to the managers.

Feeling a sense of camaraderie, Song Wei said, “Manager Li, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your ‘child.’”

“You’ll have to play stepmother for now.” Li Cheng looked at her belly with a trace of tenderness in her eyes. “I might not return after this. Even if I do, I won’t have the energy for such demanding work.”

There was a faint sadness in her tone, and Song Wei understood but felt unsure how to comfort her. Having just joined, she didn’t think it was her place to comment, so she redirected the conversation to the work handover.

Li Cheng had two projects in hand: one was already in the market, while the other was still in its preparatory stage, requiring Song Wei to oversee it from the ground up.

The handover was thorough, and they worked all the way until noon.

When it was time for lunch, Li Cheng suggested heading to the cafeteria, inviting two specialists from Division One to join them.

One was a young man named Dong Ruicheng, and the other a young woman named Ji Yao, both fresh graduates brimming with youthful energy.

The cafeteria was on the 19th floor. By the time the four of them arrived, it was already bustling with people.

Ji Yao said, “Sister Wei, our cafeteria food is excellent—just as good as the restaurants outside. You should try more of it.”

There were self-service stations and specialty counters, and the presentation of the dishes looked impressive.

After selecting their meals, they sat down at a table for four.

The two younger colleagues were chatty, especially Ji Yao. “Sister Wei, since you’re new, let us share some survival tips for the company.”

Song Wei smiled. “Oh? There’s such a thing?”

“Of course! These are the unspoken rules of survival here. Most people take two months to figure them out,” Ji Yao said, putting down her chopsticks and holding up her right index finger with a serious expression. “First, the roujiamo^[1]Roujiamo (肉夹馍) is a popular Chinese street food that is often referred to as the Chinese hamburger. The name translates literally to “meat sandwich” or “meat in a bun.” at Window 2 is absolutely amazing, but they’re limited to 100 portions a day—first come, first served.”

Song Wei hadn’t expected the so-called survival tips to start with this and pressed her lips together, the dimples on her cheeks becoming prominent.

Ji Yao stared in a daze.

Even from the brief glance she’d gotten that morning, Ji Yao had been struck by how stunning the new manager looked—elegant, poised, and beautiful. Now, seeing her up close, Ji Yao realized she was also warm and approachable, with dimples that made her smile irresistible. Bonus points!

They really lucked out with a gorgeous new manager in Division One. So fortunate!

Dong Ruicheng, familiar with Ji Yao’s tendencies, nudged her arm. “Hey, wipe your drool.”

“Stop ruining my image,” Ji Yao retorted, ignoring him and returning to the topic. Unlocking her phone, she opened WeChat. “Second, Sister Wei, let me add you on WeChat and pull you into all our groups—split-bill groups, gossip groups, carpool groups—you name it!”

Song Wei smiled again and exchanged WeChat contacts.

“All right, third tip: You can admire the boss, but don’t act on it.”

This one puzzled Song Wei. “Why not?”

“Sister Wei, you haven’t met the boss yet, have you?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Well, there you go. The boss is only 28—young, handsome, wealthy, and, most importantly,” Ji Yao paused dramatically for three or four seconds, “single!”

Song Wei was taken aback. She remembered Zhu Qingfei calling her boss a “diamond bachelor,” and she had assumed he was in his late thirties or early forties. “That young?”

“Exactly. So naturally, plenty of people in the company are tempted.”

Song Wei’s curiosity was piqued. “Then why can’t anyone act on it?”

“Because no one’s ever succeeded. The boss isn’t that easy to win over, and besides, there are countless heiresses outside the company eyeing him too,” Ji Yao explained. “And on top of that, office romances are banned here.”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s an unspoken rule. There’s no explicit policy, but couples who’ve dated here before either got transferred or were let go.”

Song Wei nodded in understanding. A workplace ban on relationships wasn’t uncommon, so she found it reasonable.

Ji Yao was about to say more when she noticed a group of people entering the cafeteria. She immediately shut her mouth and nudged Song Wei, gesturing with her eyes for her to turn around. Lowering her voice, she whispered, “The boss just came in. The tallest, most handsome one in the middle is him.”

Song Wei turned around and froze on the spot as soon as she recognized the man at the center.