Chapter 15: A Promotion Earned Through the Body

Jiang Yan reread the sentence several times before she could be sure she hadn’t misread it.

Her hand hovered over the keyboard. After a deep breath, she typed:

【Jiang Yan: Manager Chen, may I ask who the designer of this garment is?】

【Factory Clothing Manager Chen: Dong Jia.】

“Dong Jia…” Jiang Yan murmured the name repeatedly.

She turned her head, searching for Dong Jia’s figure in the office.

【Factory Clothing Manager Chen: What’s wrong? Didn’t you know? I thought you had a connection with the designer, that’s why you cared so much.】

Jiang Yan didn’t see the last sentence.

She had already left her workstation and walked to Dong Jia.

Up close, Jiang Yan discovered that Dong Jia’s nameplate indicated her position as team leader.

She remembered that before she left Li’s Group, Dong Jia was just a junior clerk.

Before that, she didn’t have any outstanding design works.

Jiang Yan picked up the nameplate, a curve forming on her lips, her eyes filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

She examined the nameplate repeatedly, chuckling and asking, “Congratulations, colleague Dong Jia, you’ve been promoted to team leader in just over a month.

If I remember correctly, the conditions for promotion to team leader in our department are:

One, design a best-selling garment; two, work for the company for five years and make a significant contribution to the company.

You joined the company the same year as I did, less than five years.

That means you designed a best-selling garment.

I was away from the company for a while, so I don’t know which garment designed by colleague Dong Jia is the best-selling one?

I’d like to take a look and learn from it.”

Hearing Jiang Yan’s words, Dong Jia immediately stood up and snatched back her nameplate.

She glanced at Jiang Yan, showing no sign of nervousness or fear.

Her tone was arrogant: “Employee promotions are all submitted by department leaders, audited by the general manager, and then reported for confirmation.

My promotion followed standard procedures. If you have any objections, you can go to Manager Yu.”

“What do you mean, I have objections?” Jiang Yan continued to smile. “I just want to see the recent best-selling garments and learn from them.

Usually, when our department has excellent design products, we’ll specifically take them out for everyone to learn together.”

Jiang Yan’s voice attracted the attention of her colleagues.

Dong Jia, seeing everyone’s eyes on her, was not afraid at all. She tilted her head slightly and said, “I said, my promotion followed standard procedures, it was decided by the leadership.

You’re now at the same level as me, why are you questioning me?”

Jiang Yan hadn’t interacted much with Dong Jia before, just ordinary colleagues.

However, she remembered that Dong Jia often imitated her.

For example, if Jiang Yan wore a certain outfit one day, she would wear a similar, or even identical, outfit the next day.

The bags Jiang Yan used, down to the accessories, she would copy.

Even now, the black and white sheath dress she was wearing was in the same style as what Jiang Yan wore yesterday.

However, Jiang Yan hadn’t taken these things to heart.

But using irregular means to get promoted and plagiarizing her designs crossed Jiang Yan’s line.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to say something, Gu Qingqing came over and tugged at her sleeve, whispering, “Yanyan, don’t argue with her, you’ll be the one who suffers.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yan frowned, turned to Gu Qingqing, and asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“Come with me, I’ll tell you.” Gu Qingqing pulled Jiang Yan away.

Seeing Jiang Yan being pulled away, Dong Jia became even more arrogant, arms crossed, she snorted coldly at her back.

Then she glared at her colleagues around her and scolded, “What are you looking at? Don’t you have work to do!”

Gu Qingqing pulled Jiang Yan to the break room and made her a cup of her favorite coffee.

Seeing that there was no one else in the break room, she sighed and said, “You’ve been gone for over a month, you don’t know, Dong Jia and Manager Yu are having an affair.

This promotion was given to her by Manager Yu.

A few days ago, some people were unhappy about this and went to Manager Yu to argue.

But within three days, that colleague was fired by Manager Yu with some excuse.

I stopped you just now because I was afraid that if you made a big fuss with her, she would go to Manager Yu and complain, and you’d be in trouble.”

“A promotion earned through the body,” Jiang Yan sneered, a faint smile playing on her lips. “No wonder she’s so confident when questioned.”

“We’re all just small employees. Although you’re a team leader, Manager Yu can fire you with any excuse. Let’s just work hard and not cause trouble,” Gu Qingqing said with a serious expression, sighing again.

“Thank you, Qingqing.” Jiang Yan patted her shoulder, her tone firm, “But I won’t let this go.”

“You didn’t listen to me.” Gu Qingqing, being Jiang Yan’s good friend, understood her personality.

She might seem gentle and easy-going, always smiling, but she was incredibly stubborn.

Once she set her mind on something, she would never give up.

Gu Qingqing worried for Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan took a sip of coffee, raised her cup, and smiled, “It’s delicious.”

As soon as Jiang Yan returned to the office, a colleague told her that Manager Yu wanted to see her.

Before she could go to Manager Yu, he came looking for her.

It seemed that Dong Jia had already complained to Manager Yu.

Jiang Yan entered Manager Yu’s office with a smile.

“Have a seat…” Manager Yu pointed to the sofa.

Jiang Yan didn’t hesitate, thanked him, and sat down.

Manager Yu smiled, walked to the door, closed it, and pulled down the blinds.

Jiang Yan frowned slightly at his actions.

Manager Yu had previously tried to take advantage of Jiang Yan several times, but she had refused.

Jiang Yan didn’t want to make a big fuss, so she treated it as a joke.

But now, it was clear that Manager Yu wanted to revisit the issue.

Manager Yu slowly approached Jiang Yan and sat down next to her.

After Jiang Yan shifted her position, Manager Yu moved closer again.

Jiang Yan simply stood up: “It seems the sofa is too small, two people can’t sit.”

Manager Yu didn’t press her, but crossed his legs and said with a smile, “A colleague said you were causing trouble during work hours, I think you should give me an explanation.”

“It was Dong Jia, right?” Jiang Yan looked down at Manager Yu, blinking her eyes, “She knows how to choose her words, even using ‘causing trouble’.”

“Smart people don’t beat around the bush.” Manager Yu’s smile disappeared, his tone turning serious. “Take out your phone.”

Jiang Yan frowned, and Manager Yu explained directly, “I want to make sure you’re not recording.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yan understood.

Manager Yu was going to talk to her openly.