Chapter Thirty-Eight: Expelling Xue Tian'ai?

Because she was covered in millet porridge, Su Jiaqi returned to the locker room, changed into a fresh set of clothes, washed her face, and then stormed off toward the Human Resources department, seething with anger.

She was determined to find out exactly which department Xue Tian’ai belonged to, and then to teach him a lesson he’d never forget! No, not just that—she was going to have him fired and kicked out for good!

She burst into the HR manager’s office without so much as a pause. “Manager Huang, I need you to look up an employee for me. I want to know which department he’s in.”

Manager Huang of HR, a woman in her fifties who was still holding on to her looks rather well, looked up in surprise at the furious Su Jiaqi. Who had the nerve to provoke this formidable young woman?

“Director Su, who do you want me to look up?” Though Huang’s years with the company well exceeded Su Jiaqi’s, Su’s position and influence far outweighed those of a mere HR manager. As such, Huang treated the young woman with a great deal of respect.

“His name is Xue Tian’ai. See if there’s anyone by that name,” Su Jiaqi said.

“Xue Tian’ai?” Manager Huang’s brows knitted deeply at the mention. She’d heard that name once already today. Only this morning, President Qin had personally called her to register a new employee—named Xue Tian’ai. What’s more, this new hire’s position was none other than assistant to the president!

When Qin Mengxue first took over at Menghua Group, she would occasionally make personal appointments, but since then, she’d never directly named anyone for a post. Yet today, she’d directly assigned a man as her personal assistant.

This had already struck Manager Huang as odd. Now, seeing Su Jiaqi here to ask about this Xue Tian’ai, she couldn’t help but wonder just what sort of person he was.

“Yes, Director Su, there is indeed someone named Xue Tian’ai. He’s a new hire today,” Manager Huang answered honestly.

“Perfect. Which department is he in?” In her mind, Su Jiaqi was already picturing the scene of Xue Tian’ai being sent packing on his very first day. She couldn’t help but let a smirk tug at her lips.

“He doesn’t have a department…”

“What?” Su Jiaqi was taken aback. Could it be that Xue Tian’ai had told the truth when he claimed not to have a department?

But how was that possible? What employee didn’t belong to a department? Unless he reported directly to the president, it was impossible.

“Manager Huang, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? How can an employee not have a department?”

“I’m certain. Unless there’s someone with the same name or some unforeseen circumstance, the Xue Tian’ai you mentioned is the very same man the president appointed this morning. He’s now President Qin’s personal assistant, so he doesn’t fall under any department,” Manager Huang explained.

“Assistant to the president? That character is President Qin’s assistant?” Su Jiaqi felt as if she were hearing a fairy tale.

“Yes, President Qin called me just before you arrived to have him added to the system.”

“Unbelievable! Thank you, Manager Huang.” Su Jiaqi bit her lip in frustration and turned on her heel, leaving the HR office.

She decided to go directly to Qin Mengxue and lodge a formal complaint. Su Jiaqi refused to believe there was nothing she could do about Xue Tian’ai!

She took the elevator straight to the twenty-third floor—President Qin Mengxue’s office floor.

With anger still written all over her face, Su Jiaqi strode toward the president’s office. Outside, at the secretary’s desk, Yu Xiaoxiao was sorting through some documents when she caught sight of Su Jiaqi and was momentarily startled.

“Director Su, you’re here?”

“Mm, I need to see President Qin. Is she in?”

“She’s in her office.”

Su Jiaqi nodded and knocked on the door to Qin Mengxue’s office.

Inside the president’s office of Menghua Group, Qin Mengxue sat behind her desk, her face calm as she pored over documents related to the Yangda bid. She was meticulous—she had to give this bid her all, not daring to overlook even the most ordinary file. But today, her mind wandered, and from time to time, she glanced up at the vintage wooden clock hanging on the wall.

Why was Xue Tian’ai taking so long with breakfast? What was he up to? It was, after all, her newly minted husband’s first day of work, and knowing Xue Tian’ai’s personality, she was genuinely worried he’d cause some kind of trouble.

As it turned out, her fears were not unfounded.

Qin Mengxue let out a long sigh, trying to push thoughts of Xue Tian’ai from her mind, when just then, a knock came at the office door.

“Come in!”

Since the door wasn’t closed, Su Jiaqi came in as soon as Qin Mengxue called out.

“Oh, Director Su, what is it? Something on your mind?” Qin Mengxue was a little surprised. The workday hadn’t officially started yet, so why was Su Jiaqi here so early?

“It’s like this, President Qin. I’d like to suggest dismissing someone.” Su Jiaqi wasted no time and got straight to the point.

“Dismiss someone? Who?” By rights, Su Jiaqi had enough authority to fire a minor employee without coming to her. Could it be she’d fallen out with one of the managers?

“A man named Xue Tian’ai.”

“Who?” Qin Mengxue was still trying to guess who Su Jiaqi might have quarreled with, but she never expected to hear Xue Tian’ai’s name.

And Su Jiaqi seemed to be suggesting she fire him? What on earth had happened?

“A man named Xue Tian’ai. I hear he’s become your assistant today.”

“That’s right. The man you’re talking about started today as my assistant. But why do you want him fired?” Qin Mengxue’s mind was now a tangle of question marks.

So, with a face full of indignation, Su Jiaqi recounted the various misdeeds Xue Tian’ai had committed in the cafeteria, even embellishing them by claiming he’d ogled her lecherously. However, she omitted the incidents on the bus and subway from the previous day—she had no intention of letting her boss know about such an embarrassing episode.

As Su Jiaqi painted the story with dramatic flair, Qin Mengxue’s expression shifted from cloudy to clear and back again.

By the time Su Jiaqi finished her tale, Qin Mengxue’s brows were tightly furrowed. That scoundrel—he hadn’t even officially started work and had already landed her in such a mess.

“President Qin, keeping someone like him around you is simply too dangerous. Besides, he had the audacity to show up as your assistant wearing nothing but a tracksuit, clearly not taking his job seriously. I strongly suggest we fire him immediately—keeping him will only bring disaster to Menghua Group.” Su Jiaqi sat fuming on the office sofa.

Qin Mengxue felt her headache growing worse. She didn’t believe Xue Tian’ai would bring disaster to the group, nor did she think his status as the Xue family’s eldest grandson meant he had any ulterior motives. But his knack for causing trouble was beyond debate.

As for his attire, Qin Mengxue had asked him about it that morning. He’d told her he didn’t own any formal clothes—he hadn’t known he’d need them for work, so he’d only bought sportswear and casual attire.

Now she was caught between her legally recognized husband and her most capable deputy.

Showing favor to either side would be unwise, and firing Xue Tian’ai was out of the question. If the Qin or Xue families found out she’d fired her husband, who knew how those old fogeys would retaliate?

So, Qin Mengxue began to consider if there was a way to satisfy both sides.

After a moment, she spoke slowly, “Director Su, I understand the situation, but I think firing him over this might be a bit excessive.”

“Excessive?” Su Jiaqi was stunned. Firing a brand-new assistant to the president—what could be excessive about that?

“He’s an assistant I appointed personally, and today is his first official day. If I dismiss him over this, I’m afraid some might accuse me of favoritism toward you. If Xue Tian’ai were to say anything more after being fired, it could have a negative impact on the company’s reputation.”

Right now, Qin Mengxue wished she could summon Xue Tian’ai before her and give him a good scolding. He was the one causing trouble, and now she had to step in to defend him.

Su Jiaqi thought for a moment. It seemed Qin Mengxue’s reasoning was sound. “Yes, President Qin, you always see the big picture. Fine, I’ll just chalk it up to being scratched by a lunatic.”

For some reason, Qin Mengxue’s mood soured at the phrase “scratched by a lunatic,” and her expression darkened.

If Xue Tian’ai was a lunatic, then what did that make her—married to a madman? And anyway, he was her legal husband. How could she let others insult him? If anyone was going to criticize him, it should be her.

Her face frosted over as she said, “Director Su, I don’t want to hear that kind of talk again. If you have criticism for an employee, save it for the meeting room where it can be addressed openly. I have no patience for people speaking ill of others behind their backs.”

Su Jiaqi was startled by Qin Mengxue’s sudden change in tone and expression. Why was the president suddenly angry? Could Xue Tian’ai be someone special to her? Was there really something between them? Otherwise, how could he become the president’s personal assistant on his first day?

Still, she quickly dismissed the thought. Xue Tian’ai was good-looking, sure, but with that sleazy demeanor and shameless personality, if even she couldn’t stand him, surely President Qin wouldn’t either.

Besides, it was well known that President Qin disliked people gossiping behind others’ backs.

“Don’t worry, President Qin. It won’t happen again! I was just angry, that’s all.”

“Good. I’m glad you understand. You’re a pillar of Menghua Group, and every word you say reflects on our image. Please be more mindful.”

“I will, absolutely!”

“All right, then. When you left, was Assistant Xue still in the cafeteria?” Qin Mengxue couldn’t help but ask. Xue Tian’ai really was taking his time with breakfast.

“He was. I saw he’d ordered a mountain of food. He’s probably still eating.”

“All right. You go back to work. When Assistant Xue returns, I’ll give him a stern talking-to. You’ll have a proper explanation for all this.”