Chapter 2 (2/2)

“General manager? That female Emperor[5]?”

Huang Shang Rong, while her subordinates refer to her as the female demoness, her peers, clients and superiors occasionally call her the female Emperor.

She’s 31 this year, having entered Kai Shuo’s sales division as a fresh university graduate. From there she’s continuously climbed up, making a name for herself with her fierce style. At 26 she managed her unit. At 28, she a.s.sisted the general manager in arranging the affairs of the office. At 29, she became the deputy general manager, and last year she spent a year abroad to undertake further studies. When she returned, she rose to become the company’s youngest female general manager.

He’s often said, with her abilities, she’ll be able claim a senior position in central management before 40.

He’s never seen such an ambitious woman, no, more accurately, even men might not be able to match her drive. Her interests outside of work would still be work. To prepare for all eventualities is common sense. Her motto is to think of what others can’t, to do what others haven’t done, can’t do, or won’t do. Under her leaders.h.i.+p, the company’s staff is faster, better and more thorough than anyone else! Even those who are older and more conservative, watching the strong willed Huang Shang Rong, wouldn’t dare find problems with her face to face.

This woman, aside from fierce, it’s hard to find another word to describe her.

Xu He Jun smiles softly “She might be strict, but everything that needs to be done is done properly…” though she can be a little headstrong.

Even her infant care plan, which was harshly rejected 5 years ago, since it wasn’t cost effective, had too many requirements, and would treat the office like a kindergarten…

Reading the meeting minutes, even the 3 or so working mothers at the time, wanting to keep their jobs, preferred to spend more money and spend more time to seek a nanny outside, than to join her in protesting. By the end, it was only her unrelentingly pursuing the matter.

Right now, she’s pa.s.sed the ticking bomb to him. Although it’s hard to convince a large number of people, it’s not impossible. It just needs a few adjustments…

“Yes! She’s really talented.” Jiang Xu Hua unreservedly praises. “Which is why aunt[6] had placed you near her at the time. Aunt had mentioned you have a good head on your shoulders, but you lack ambition, so…”

“Alright, alright, I know what you’re trying to say.” Xu He Jun already guessed what was coming next. “But I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with the way I am now.”

“Of course there is!” The speaker starts blasting, “You’ll eventually have to inherit the company! You need to be sharpened, at the very least, to learn that imposing manner what will be below 1 person but above 10,000[7]!”

Xu He Jun purses his lips, “If you want me to do things, that’s fine. But I don’t like standing at the front of a crowd. If there’s a bullet, the first one will be aimed at me! No, I won’t do this! You come, or rather, why don’t I be one of your hidden advisors, and you can be in charge. This would be fine too, right?”

“Definitely not!” Jiang Xu Hua’s whole body shakes in shock as he listens. As cousins, they’ve been close since young. All the mischievous plans where thought up by him, and he’s always been the best at creating a ruckus, but every time the adults catch on and start scolding them, He Jun is always the first to escape! Who wants to take the fall for this sort of guy? “Dream on!”

“To be the boss is too conspicuous. People will challenge you for no reason at all. I’d rather be second. Then I’d truly only be below 1 person and above 10,000. That way everything will be in my palms, but no one will hold me accountable.” He chuckles from his end.

“And you want me to risk my neck? Really, you %&##,” Jiang Xu Hua curses. “Alright alright, stop trying to set me up. Aunt wants me to tell you, once you’ve sorted your affairs, bring her grandson home for her to hold.”

Aunt desperately wants to hold her grandson, but He Jun’s heart had never settled. Towards his family, he left with the excuse of making a name for himself, refusing to take a wife and start a family. But instantly, despite all his plans, a son unexpectedly falls from the sky for her to hold.

Originally, aunt was delighted, filled with thoughts of holding her grandson, but his uncle was infuriated. Thinking how 2 years ago He Jun had resisted all opposition and entered the company from the very bottom, wanting to rise from being a low level staff, live independently and experience the lives of the common people, and even ran into a son – Good, uncle will be waiting to see how he’ll raise his son as a single father!

Xu He Jun emits a bitter laugh, “Ah, it’s not like that”

“Ha! It’s exactly like that.” Gloating over his miserable state.

A noise suddenly resounds through the office. Xu He Jun quickly hangs up and raises his head. It’s her! Didn’t she finish work early?

Huang Shang Rong had also thought she was the only one in the office working overtime, and looks somewhat absentminded. Her originally tightly bound hair was loose; long and glossy as it drapes over her shoulders. Her eyes are misty, unlike how bright and alert they are during the day, stretching as she walks out of the office. The instant she see him, her eyes widen in shock, straightening herself as though preparing for battle, correcting her posture, restraining all her excess movements, and placing her hands together as she stares at him.

So even the female demoness needs to relax sometimes! His lips twist into a smile.

“Still haven’t gone home?” She raises an eyebrow, trying to exude her usually meticulous appearance.

“Yes, overtime.” Xu He Jun pats the day care file sitting on his desk.

“Oh, right. If you hadn’t mentioned it I would’ve forgotten.” She glances at her watch. “Then go and fetch two ready meals, we’ll discuss it as we eat. I’ve had enough coffee for today, just brew me a cup of tea.”

Hateful! Really a female demoness, she knows how to exploit people!

Xu He Jun picks up the beverage on his desk, drinking the rest of the bitter gourd tea before looking up to see the silent Huang Shang Rong.

Her lunchbox was already empty, but he had only taken a few bites from his. Hateful! He can’t even compete with her in eating! He scoops up two heaps of rice, shoving it into his mouth. Just then, she had merely listened to his report. Holding a pair of chopsticks in her left hand, and recording his proposal with the pen in her right. To be able to mult.i.task like that, now it’s his turn to eat.

Sipping on the hot tea, Huang Shang Rong turns her attention to his report, taking the time he uses to eat, to scribble her notes on a white piece of paper.

Not only are her abilities high, even her appearance is always held to a neat and professional standard. As a career woman, she appears to spend a lot of time and money on her looks. Her long and thin nails are always coated in a light and glossy nail polish. Ever since she entered the company, her nails have always been polished, while her physique is also well maintained.

None of the other female employees her age can pull of her high waisted, 23 inch skirt. Aside from the simple antique style Gucci watch on her left wrist, she’ll occasionally wear a striking Tiffany necklace when she’s in a good mood. Other than that, it’s rare to see her with any other accessories. Even her long, flowing hair is now neatly pulled to the back of her head. To her, there really is no time to let loose.

But regardless of how strict she is, she’s still a person! Doesn’t she have any ‘private’ time?

That is to say, dressing down at home, nestling on the couch watching TV, eating popcorn, laughing without regard for her appearance, or even disregarding her messy hair and dishevelled state to leave the front door and chase down the garbage truck?

“General manager, did you just … were you using your right hand to write, while eating with your left?”

“Yes.”

“You’re … left-handed?” He knows some left-handers had wanted to switch hands, practicing to write and hold chopsticks with their right.

“No, I’m right-handed.”

“Then how did you…”

Huang Shang Rong raises her eyes towards him, “I trained it. Becoming ambidextrous saves a lot of time.” For example, eating and taking notes at the same time.

“This… your stomach will be upset!” Xu He Jun conscience voices.

“Chatty, just eat your food.” She shoots him down with one stroke, throwing his concerns back to his face.

“So what you mean to say is, if the design of the infant room is too complex, it’d distract from our company’s core functions — are they here for childcare or to work.”

He nods. “If we keep the initial plan simple, limiting it to just ‘baby-sitting’, many people would be willing to try. After all, to be able to save money and to find a close carer, who wouldn’t agree?”

“Wait wait, as you say … but?” She realized he still had something to add.

“Yes!” Xu He Jun’s mouth curls up with a smile, eyes restraining his laughter, clearly scheming.

“At the start we shouldn’t aim for anything too grand. Bring it a little closer to what people can accept. After we’ve gained some momentum, and the number of partic.i.p.ants increase, and it slowly becomes more acceptable, by that time, even if we want a games room, we’ll get a games room. If we need nursing time, there’ll be nursing time. Ah, we can even invite qualified carers. Teaching career women how to balance their work and families … hehe, this is what it means to use a long line to catch a big fish[8].”

Huang Shang Rong fixes her gaze on him, tacitly nodding her head, as one of her hands continuously records the plan in a notebook.

“Not to mention, right now having children is encouraged. If a company voluntarily sets up a child care room, we’d actually be able to receive more government grants. With more money, we can achieve things more easily, raising the scope and efficiency of our services! If we arrange things with enough impact, who knows, we might even make the news!”

“But, sitting at the top are a few old coots, I fear they won’t easily agree.” She starts raging at the mention of them.

“Leave this part to me, I’ll convince them.”

“What method do you have to convince them?” At the time even her ferocity had no effect, what could he do?

“Haven’t you heard of overcoming strength through adopting a soft approach?” Ah, his damaged brain, of course Huang Shang Rong wouldn’t have heard of it!

“What do you mean?”

“Those old foxes have sure climbed high. They couldn’t care less about the lives of their staff. Not to mention the important men in that generation, I dare say they’ve never changed a single diaper for their own children. Wanting them to sympathize with the struggles of a working woman – dream on! So you need to sell them a business plan, a ‘long term investment’. Present it as a plan that will not only make them money, but improve their reputation. Flatter them until their heads spin and their mood lifts, then they’ll agree.”

“Nnn….” Her face darkens. “This hand of yours, sounds like….”

“Like a bar hostess right?” Xu He Jun frankly states. “General manager, please understand one thing. Would a woman get more things if she used your method, or through behaving like a bar hostess?”

Pretending he doesn’t notice Huang Shang Rong’s face turning pale, he continues, “I don’t need you to imitate them, also for you, it’s probably… eh, it definitely wouldn’t suit you. I know, during the talk just maintain the company’s image and present yourself as a dedicated employee. No one will fault you for it. Just be sure to occasionally flatter them, praise them for their bravery and foresight, their consideration for the company’s image; and to undertake such an important task, who knows how many people would feel grateful towards them…”

“I’ll tell you, raise them up a little and they’ll be overwhelmed by the ‘adoration’, and start thinking ‘Ah! To think our female Empress would see us in such a light!’ I swear, as long as you’re willing to say it, they’ll readily have it signed and sealed.”

Huang Shang Rong: Work Mode Off

Huang Shang Rong was originally disgruntled over his suggestion, but after the way he described it, affecting by his enthusiasm, even she couldn’t restrain her laughter.

Xu He Jun is suddenly dumbfounded. While it wasn’t like her smile could compare to the heavens, it’s hard to deny the way she looks while laughing is more appealing than normal.

“To think, you even know how to laugh!”

The laughter instantly recedes, as Huang Shang Rong narrows her eyes into a glare. “Nonsense.”

“Not to mention, you’re a lot prettier when you laugh.”

Hearing this, she schools her expression, putting away the files on the desk. Before she leaves, she even lightly taps his head with the doc.u.ments. “Brat, don’t joke at this older sister’s[9] expense.”

Being looked down on? Xu He Jun rushes to tidy his things, briskly following her out.

“So, general manager, what do you think of my approach?”

Huang Shang Rong’s steps suddenly pause, instantly turning her head back. He hadn’t expected her to suddenly stop, slowing himself to avoid running into her — no, he did run into her but he manages to restrain himself just in time, braking right as he brushes against her shoulder.

She actually hadn’t jumped away, but stares at him with a strange look in her eyes.

The gaze causes Xu He Jun to feel unsettled, leaving him with no choice but to ask “So how is it?”

“Your solution is good, I knew I was too impatient before. Prepare the drafts and present it with me at the shareholder’s meeting next week. At that time we’ll introduce our proposal…” Her voice falls to a whisper, adding “I hope it pa.s.ses.”

“Don’t worry, management also stands to benefit, and will follow public opinion.” He continues to follow her closely. “But I’m really stunned, to think you’d care so much about the staff.”

Huang Shang Rong grunts with disapproval. Does he also believe she’s actually a female demoness?

“To think you had already prepared this plan for your female staff. If you had gotten the timing right, I think your chances of succeeding would be high, not to mention … you’d even give the plans to me, a man, unconditionally trusting me … I had originally thought you’d shoot down my plan for not having enough impact.”

Change is a revolution, his mother had often scolded him, to think he’d even burden someone else!

“Your approach is more comprehensive, only like this can we really resolve the issue.” She hums as she reflects, “Unlike me, the second I think of something, I’ll charge in head first, throwing a tantrum if it doesn’t work out. Sometimes harming people without even realizing.”

Did these words really come from Huang Shang Rong’s mouth?

“Your temper isn’t as bad as everyone thinks!”

“Nonsense! You don’t even know, once my headache starts acting up….” Reconsidering, she pauses. “Never mind, even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand. I’m leaving, you should hurry up and return home too.”

“Right!” Xu He Jun suddenly shouts, his whole body jumping up, “Oh G.o.d, I forgot! I need to bring Hao Hao home! d.a.m.nit, it’s already past 8, he must be crying to death!”

“Hao Hao?”

“The little baby’s name, I’m calling him Xu Hao.”

He’s even picked out a name? Huang Shang Rong is momentarily stunned, unable to stop herself from panicking with him. “You, how could you forget something like this?”

“How would I know? I’ve only started leaving him with a nanny yesterday, I completely forgot!” He rushes to his seat, clearing his desk, before glancing outside – “s.h.i.+t, it’s raining!”

Looking outside, she sees the pouring rain, with raindrops the size of beans. .h.i.tting the window. The windows were originally sound proof, hearing the sound of the rain shows just how powerful it is. Huang Shang Rong’s mind suddenly pictures a grown man riding on his second hand motor bike, rus.h.i.+ng towards the nanny’s home, cradling his barely 1 month old son in his arms, as they walk home in a raincoat….

A father’s love sure is deep.

“Get in the car, I’ll take you this time.”

Next time on BBD:

It’s actually pretty late, yet he’s bringing her back to his place. Thinking it over, he starts to regret it. It’s not like he’d do something to Huang Shang Rong, but what if she does something to him… Hey hey, enough! His imagination is too excessive. It’s probably not like that, she just wants to hold his son for a bit.

Notes

[1] 1 USD = 30 TWD approximately

38,000*12/30 = $15,200.00 annual income. Taking into account PPP it’s probably similar to living on $30,000 USD. Nanny costs + other child rearing costs is over half his income

[2] Just under $16

[3] Huang Shang Rong trying to ignore the conversation outside, discussing a relations.h.i.+p between colleagues, the chubby Ming Ming and older A Rong.

[4] The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra – recognizing the emptiness of the Five Fundamental Conditions of Pa.s.sion and Delusions; everything in italics is Huang Shang Rong reciting it line by line to calm herself while trying to ignore Ming Ming and A Rong again.

[5] Ping Ying: Nu Huang Di, also a pun on her last name Huang (Yellow)

[6] Maternal aunt – Jiang Xu Hua is related to Xu He Jun through his mother

[7] A person who’s power is only below the Emperor’s/heavens but towers above everyone else

[8] Long term plan for major returns

[9] Not related (obviously or it’d make a weird story), but used by older/higher ranking women to signify familiarity and to claim respect at the same time

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