Ding Ning looked at her sympathetically. “It must be hard to work under him.”
“It’s not that bad. General Manager Sun is ultimately a decent person, though his desire for control is a little strong. He will do everything himself regardless of whether it’s important or not. Other than that, there’s nothing worth criticizing. Besides, he has a keen eye, knows how to use his men, and has a firm grasp of the overall situation. If his subordinates have good suggestions, he would also accept them positively. In just three years, he has put Ninghai Filiale’s business into order. But in the past six months, due to the closure of several large jade mines in Myan, the price of raw materials have been gradually increasing. This resulted in the jewelry market fluctuating and our company’s performance declining. Even I, the deputy general manager, have to personally go out and purchase the raw materials.”
Mu Yanran had high praises for General Manager Sun. Perhaps it was a form of psychological impact, in which she had appreciation and gratitude to him for recognizing her worth and employing her. What bothered her was the other deputy general manager who enjoyed opposing her and displaying her own merits in front of General Manager Sun.
Ding Ning sighed. “The workplace is like a battlefield. No matter how capable he is, his single flaw of excessively controlling behavior means that he’s destined to never be a good leader. If his input is required for every decision, it’ll seriously affect his subordinates’ subjective initiative and greatly reducing their efficiency. There won’t be a future for his subordinates if they stay in such a company.”
“Are you gonna regret it?”
Mu Yanran knew the company’s drawbacks. In fact, she often felt tired and wanted to leave. But she owed General Manager Sun a debt of gratitude for employing her. She couldn’t bring herself to put down her pride and leave at this moment.
“Sister Mu, I know that you’re a person who knows gratitude. You didn’t leave Tianfu so far because you appreciate his kindness in employing you. But excessive loyalty will become foolish loyalty. This will affect your career development. An outstanding talent should choose the good unit that can develop her ability. With your ability, I think you’re better of running your own company than working for others. Haven’t you heard of this saying? One is better off being the leader of ordinary people, rather than the subordinates of excellent people.”
A solemn-faced Ding Ning said, “I don’t want to regret. The main reason I agreed to be the jade engraver in your company is you. I’m not one who enjoys being bound to others, especially a boss with such a strong desire for control. I’m afraid that it’ll be a disaster, not a blessing, for me if I join your company.”
Mu Yanran’s face fell. Holding her arms, she said cynically, “You can just tell me if you want to go back on your word. Why bother finding an excuse like this? Besides, you haven’t signed a contract yet. No one can do anything to you even if you break your promise.”
“Sister Mu, I’m really sorry. Previously, I had no idea about the situation within your company. To be honest, I’m not going back on my word. I just think that General Manager Sun will surely disagree to fulfill the conditions you promised me. We can give it a try if you don’t believe me. Whether or not it works, I can promise you that I’ll always be at your service as long as you need me. However, I’ll only serve you alone. I have nothing to do with your company. I can even give up things like my basic salary and commission,” Ding Ning said sincerely.
It wasn’t that Ding Ning wanted to break his promise. Rather, he realized that he previously didn’t give it a thorough consideration.
Evidently, Mu Yanran was an idealistic girl. She believed that with her role as a deputy general manager, she could make the decision of hiring him and giving him so much freedom.
However, he didn’t share her opinion. A controlling boss would never allow his deputy general manager to give a jade engraver such a large degree of freedom. Moreover, there was another deputy general manager who was causing a hindrance and fanning the flames. If he rashly enters the company, he would only intensify their conflict.
When that happens, what should he do? It was true that he wanted the conquer Mu Yanran, the ice queen, but he wouldn’t give up his freedom for her. He still had a lot of things to do and didn’t have the leisure time to labor as a jade engraver despite criticism.
Mu Yanran’s expression eased after hearing Ding Ning’s words. Nevertheless, she refused to give up. “You don’t know for sure that General Manager Sun would reject the request. I think he’ll definitely agree.”
“Well, since you’re so confident, I’ll go with you and take a look. Understand this: I have a lot of things to do and don’t have the time to slave away in your company. If you couldn’t get the promised conditions approved, I won’t sign the contract with your company.”
This girl wouldn’t understand until she encounters setbacks. In that case, he would make her give up completely. Ding Ning could only prove his inference with facts.
Mu Yanran said with confidence, “That’s decided then. I promise you that I’ll be able to convince General Manager Sun.”
“Let’s go and see then.” Ding Ning wasn’t concerned about this. For some matters, the outcome would only be known after everything had happened. Perhaps he was mistaken.
The office building of Tianfu Company Ninghai Filiale was a lot less magnificent than Ding Ning had imagined. It wasn’t even comparable to Xia Ziyu’s precision machinery and equipment company.
Never mind that the building was located in such a remote area that it was practically in the suburbs, the office was an old building with only eight floors.
The building appeared dilapidated due to its old age. Even after renovations, the vestige of time could still be seen from the small cracks in the building.
Even compared to the jewelry store chain below the Tianfu Building, it lacked the touch of luxury and elegance. The building looked more like a newspaper company in times of war.
Even though this was normal in Ninghai, where an inch of land was worth an inch of gold, it also showed that Tianfu Company didn’t attach as much significance as imagined to Ninghai Filiale.
Ding Ning found this unbelievable. After all, Ninghai was an international metropolis with countless affluent people. Luxury business like jewelry had a huge market potential here.
Just how brainless were the seniors of the Tianfu Company that they ignored such a large slice of profit?
Mu Yanran seemed to recognize Ding Ning’s doubts and gave him an explanation. Only then did he understand the reason behind it.
In fact, the incident itself was rather dramatic. The person who was responsible for Ninghai Filiale was the vice president who kicked General Manager Sun to Ninghai, as well as the manager’s former subordinate.
It was unknown how big of a grudge there was between the two that the vice president drove General Manager Sun to a dead end. He sent General Manager Sun to Ninghai to expand the market there and always had an excuse to delay the start-up funds issued by the head office.
He forced General Manager Sun to increase the company’s income, reduce their expenditure, and simplify everything. It took an arduous struggle for them to purchase this old office building.
With the market expansion in Ninghai, the company gradually became richer and the annual performance report was like a slap on the vice president’s face. It made him even more annoyed.
The vice president kept intercepting their application for funds to purchase a new office building, preventing the allocation of the funds. In despair, the filiale had no choice but to settle here while waiting for funds that might never arrive.
Listening to Mu Yanran’s words, Ding Ning admired that courageous General Manager Sun a little bit. The manager was able to increase the company’s performance under such great pressure. That meant that he was indeed a very capable person.
It was a pity that he had talent but no one appreciated that. He was miserably bullied by the former subordinate who then became his superior.
Mu Yanran seemed to be trying to change Ding Ning’s impression of General Manager Sun in trying to bring up good things about the manager. Evidently, she admired General Manager Sun.
After learning that General Manager Sun was a handsome man in his early forties, Ding Ning couldn’t bring himself to like that man. Did the Queen fall for her immediate superior?
“Deputy General Manager Mu, you’re back.”
Although the sparrow was small, its viscera were complete. Although the office building of Tianfu filiale was not magnificent enough, nothing was lacking such as the car park, security room, company lobby and so on.
After noticing Mu Yanran and Ding Ning parking and getting out of their car, several security guards greeted them diligently. However, their ostentatious deference and frequent glances at Mu Yannran’s chest made Ding Ning uncomfortable.
The deputy captain of the security guards was particularly awful. The lust and greed in his eyes were almost undisguised.
Ding Ning didn’t know if Mu Yanran was insensitive or was accustomed to it. She nodded calmly and led Ding Ning into the company lobby.
Ding Ning was an emotional person and his face was immediately gloomy. He couldn’t wait to teach the deputy captain of the security guards a good lesson. He asked unhappily, “Didn’t you notice where their eyes are looking?”
“Their eyes belong to them and it’s not illegal to stare. What can I do even if I hate it? Besides, you also looked at me with that sort of gaze.”
Mu Yanran looked indifferent and her brusque words made Ding Ning blush.
Even though Mu Yanran was a deputy general manager, those people neither harass nor rape her. What could she do? She couldn’t call the police and have them arrested just because they were staring at her.
Unconvinced, he mumbled, “I’m not so dirty. I’m just looking with the eyes of appreciation. It’s different from theirs. The way they do it is blasphemy. How can your company employ such security guards? I don’t know if it’s them or the thieves that should be guarded against.”
“The deputy captain of the security guard is Wang Cheng. He’s an idle rascal. He’s an indecent person who’s constantly causing trouble. But he’s the younger brother of Wang Juan, another deputy general manager of the company. Wang Juan brought him here as a security guard, hoping that he’ll settle down and stop causing trouble outside.”
Mu Yanran gave some helpless explanation. Until Wang Cheng violates the company’s regulations, there was nothing she could do to him.
Wang Juan was also trying to make Wang Cheng turn a new leaf. Her intention was pure.
After all, China was a country where connections matter. When a person gets a good job, others reap benefits as well. Wang Juan was a deputy general manager. How could she not watch over her only younger brother?
But leopards can’t change their spots. Whether Wang Cheng’s recruitment was a blessing or a disaster was still unknown.
“Deputy General Manager Mu, you’re back. General Manager Sun said you should head straight to his office after you come back. He wants to talk to you.”
The beautiful young woman at the front desk immediately stood up and relayed the message after seeing Mu Yanran. She also looked at Ding Ning with curiosity.
In her mind, Manager Mu was someone who preserved her moral integrity and never walked with another man. She even deliberately keep General Manager Sun at arm’s length.
It was her first time seeing Ding Ning walking next to her, with the distance between their shoulders measuring no more than five centimeters. She couldn’t help her curiosity.
“Alright. I’m on my way.”
Mu Yanran turned around and apologetically said to Ding Ning, “Please wait in the reception room for a while. I’ll go and talk to General Manager Sun first. I’ll also tell him about you joining the company.”
“Sure. I’ll wait for you here.”
Ding Ning did not care and nodded. There were several reception rooms on both sides of the lobby. He found a room at random and went in. He sat on the sofa, waiting.
Mu Yanran took a few steps and turned to the girl at the front desk. “Tingyu, make him a cup of coffee!”
“Okay, Deputy General Manager Mu!”
The girl at the front desk named Tingyu responded sweetly and got up to make Ding Ning a cup of coffee. She became even more curious about Ding Ning’s identity.
Even though clients came to the company before, Mu Yanran had never asked coffee to be made on her own initiative. There must be something going on.
“Are you and Deputy General Manager Mu friends?”
Tingyu blinked her big round eyes and asked in a timid voice. It made her look absolutely adorable.
“Yes, Yanran and I are friends,” Ding Ning said with a smile.
This girl at the front desk was really eye-catching.
“What kind of friends? Is that kind? Well… Hehe!”
Tingyu was obviously a lively girl who enjoyed gossip. She became more courageous after seeing that Ding Ning was an amiable person. She naughtily pressed her two thumbs together and questioned him with a suggestive expression.