C11 A New Manager of the Design Department

"Isn't that the new design intern who started yesterday?"

"Yes, an intern who, overnight, transformed into a manager. And it was special assistant Gu, right from Director Zhan's side, who introduced her."

"They know how to play the game. If you can charm a man, what can't you get?"

"You're spot on. There was that two-minute video that went viral online, showing a woman in bed with Zhan Yeling. It was quickly taken down, but I saw it before it disappeared. That woman was Xiong Miao."

"You can still see the marks on her face; they haven't completely healed. They're identical to the ones in the video. I couldn't possibly be mistaken."

"And then there's the rumor swirling around the internet about her stealing someone else's husband, and the wife came to confront her, right?"

"Exactly, she's become an internet sensation now. Who doesn't recognize her?"

"I just can't fathom it. How could such a brazen, unprincipled woman catch the eye of our esteemed Director Zhan? Surely his taste isn't that poor. How did she manage to seduce him? And now she's even been brought into the company."

Xiong Miao had just stepped out of the office when she noticed a group of people huddled together, buzzing with gossip.

Their conversation was laced with slander about her.

"What are you all huddled up here for? It's work hours! Is the company paying you to stand around?" Xiong Miao, frustrated, reprimanded them with the authority of a leader.

Back in her school days, she was the class president, adept at managing her classmates, and she naturally exuded leadership qualities.

Her rebuke caused the group to scatter, each person heading back to their workstation.

Still, there were some who resented her, envious of her rapid rise to manager at such a young age and her apparent favor with Director Zhan. They scoffed, "What's so special about her? She just used her body to climb the ladder. As if that's something new."

Though the comment was distasteful, it was spoken quietly and directed at others.

Xiong Miao chose not to single them out.

She could do nothing but grit her teeth and swallow the bitterness.

After pouring herself a glass of water, she returned to her office. She had been diligently reviewing the materials, but now the sourness in her heart made it impossible to focus on a single word.

Even at the end of the workday, people were still gossiping about her.

All of it was harsh and unpleasant.

Xiong Miao was beginning to understand that her position was not an easy one to occupy. On her very first day, it was as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

The harder things got, the more determined she became to prove herself with her performance. She would silence her doubters with her success at the upcoming product launch.

She absolutely had to make this season's new product launch a success.

"Hey, Mumu, if you're free tonight, could you help me look after the little ones? I have to stay late at work," Xiong Miao phoned Su Mumu.

Time was running out before the new product launch, and she was still in the dark. She had to make up for lost time.

"What kind of job makes you work overtime on your second day?" Su Mumu sympathized. "Just remember to take care of yourself and eat something. I'll take good care of the kids."

Thank goodness for Su Mumu's assistance; without it, Xiong Miao would be at her wit's end.

In the company, everyone else had gone home, leaving only the light in the manager's office burning. Xiong Miao worked late into the night, determined to master all the details of the new product launch within two days before moving on to the design phase.

"Director Zhan, Master Zhan has asked you to come home for dinner; everyone is waiting for you," Special Assistant Gu reported to Zhan Yeling in the Design Department elevator.

"Tell him I'm working late and that they should go ahead without me. I won't lose at the new product launch. He'll have to keep his promise when the time comes," Zhan Yeling said, hands in his pockets, his face betraying no emotion.

"Understood!" Gu Yi acknowledged the order and hastened to relay the message.

"Ding!" The elevator came to a halt at the Design Department floor, and the doors slid open.

"There's still a light on," Gu Yi observed, noticing the glow from an office, and struck up a conversation.

Zhan Yeling strode into the office, his long legs carrying him with purpose. The light spilled from the manager's office, and through the clear glass, he could see a woman deeply engrossed in her study of the documents.

"That's the new manager, Xiong Miao, hard at work," Gu Yi offered by way of explanation.

Zhan Yeling, afflicted with face blindness, couldn't make out the features of the person before him, much less identify who it was.

As Gu Yi moved to step inside, Zhan Yeling raised a hand to halt him. Gu Yi complied, standing still.

Meanwhile, Zhan Yeling loomed like a mountain before the glass window.

Xiong Miao, engrossed in her reading, felt a vast shadow loom over her, sending a chill down her spine. She looked up abruptly, her gaze colliding with the man's dark, inscrutable eyes. They were cold, unfathomable.

She shuddered involuntarily.

Zhan Yeling! Why had he come again?

Xiong Miao bowed her head, conflicted. Should she go out and greet him? Was he standing outside just to watch her? Why would he come to see her so late?

"Cough cough, Manager Xiong, please get the background information and fabric samples for this season," Gu Yi said, his hand curled into a fist at his mouth as he coughed lightly to get Xiong Miao's attention.

"Okay," Xiong Miao replied, quickly locating the requested files from the stack she had just organized, and passed them over with precision.

Xiong Miao walked to the door, unable to resist glancing back to gauge Zhan Yeling's reaction. Instead, she saw his tall figure turning and striding away.

"Manager Xiong, please continue with your work and try to get some rest soon," Gu Yi said cordially, then followed suit and left.

The interruption had broken Xiong Miao's concentration, and she found herself unable to dive back into her work. Besides, she had already reviewed most of the material for the day.

She tidied her workspace, switched off the lights, and left for the day.

What remained a mystery to her was Zhan Yeling's purpose for visiting the Design Department at such a late hour.

Just to retrieve some documents? It wasn't anything significant. Special Assistant Gu could have handled it. There was no need for him to make the trip himself.

He's quite the odd one. I can't figure him out.

Xiong Miao shook her head, dismissing the thought, and grabbed a quick bite at a street vendor before heading home.

The six little ones were already sound asleep. Xiong Miao planted a kiss on each of their soft cheeks. The scent of milk and the warmth of the babies always soothed her after a long day.

"Mumu, thank you for all your hard work. I'll start looking for a nanny tomorrow." Xiong Miao still felt guilty for taking up so much of Su Mumu's personal time.

"There's no need for formalities with me. Make sure you get some rest too; you've had a tiring day." Since Xiong Miao's home was too small to accommodate her, Su Mumu had to leave for her own place.

After a shower, Xiong Miao cuddled up with the little bundles and drifted off to sleep contentedly.

The sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through the quiet of the night on the asphalt road, its body reflecting the neon lights in a dazzling display.

"Director Zhan, the lady and Miss Ling should have already left your office. Shall we head back?" Gu Yi probed for his response.

"Head to the midnight venue," Zhan Yeling, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up.