Chapter 21 - Dispute

“By the way, Manager Cao would like you to come to his office as soon as you get back,” Lu Xiaoman said after a moment.

Ye Fan withdrew his gaze and nodded, “Okay, I’ll go now.”

With that, he turned to head for Cao Guoqiang’s office.

Lu Xiaoman called out in a hurry, “Wait, there’s something I haven’t finished telling you.”

“What is it?” Ye Fan turned back and asked.

Lu Xiaoman spoke seriously, “Before you got back, Manager Cao asked me about your relationship with He Jiaqiang.

I told him there was tension between you and He Jiaqiang was targeting you at every turn.

Oh, I suspect Manager Cao asked because He Jiaqiang must have already reported you for not completing the recruitment task and might be seeking to have you dismissed.

So, you must be very careful.”

“Hmm, thank you,” Ye Fan said with a smile and then confidently added, “But don’t worry, even if He Jiaqiang files a thousand or ten thousand reports, he won’t be able to dismiss me.”

What a joke, Chairman Li Zhaojun is my wife.

To fire me, he’d first have to get her approval.

He Jiaqiang is just a middle manager; Li Zhaojun probably doesn’t even recognize him.

Seeing how confident Ye Fan was, Lu Xiaoman felt much more at ease, even though she didn’t know where his confidence came from, but she intuitively knew that Ye Fan wouldn’t bluff or deceive her.

When he entered Cao Guoqiang’s office, Cao Guoqiang asked Ye Fan why he was late for the meeting to sign the contract with Gao Feng, and Ye Fan explained the situation in detail.

Of course, Ye Fan did not reveal the fact that he had saved someone from a car crash.

Such a heroic tale, if told, would become well-known throughout the corporation, ruining any chance for him to keep a low profile.

“So that’s what happened,” Cao Guoqiang said after listening, “This means that the recruitment task’s failure isn’t entirely your fault; indeed, there were uncontrollable circumstances.”

Cao Guoqiang had heard about the murder case on Wendelu Road before his afternoon shift at 2 PM.

The intended victim was said to be the Deputy Mayor Tantai Wanrong—a sensational news story in Huahai City.

Next, he picked up the office landline to call He Jiaqiang, asking him to come over.

Before long, He Jiaqiang entered the office and upon seeing Ye Fan, immediately started to accuse him.

Cao Guoqiang frowned and gave a pretend cough, and that momentarily silenced He Jiaqiang.

Cao Guoqiang said, “Manager He, I’ve learned about the reason Ye Fan was late to meet Gao Feng and sign the contract.

It was because he happened to be involved in the deliberate vehicular homicide that occurred on Wendelu Road at midday and couldn’t get away, thus causing his delay.

The fault isn’t entirely on him, so he shouldn’t bear full responsibility for the failure to recruit Gao Feng.”

“That’s too coincidental, I don’t believe it,” He Jiaqiang said skeptically, “To get to Tianyuan Road from the corporation, you clearly pass Fu’an Road and Qixing Road, whereas Wendelu Road is in the opposite direction.

How could he possibly have been on Wendelu Road and just happened to be at the scene of the crime?”

Then, turning to Ye Fan, he stared and snorted coldly, “Ye Fan, I know you’re cunning and slippery.

Don’t think you can fool me!”

“I took a detour through Wendelu Road to avoid traffic on Fu’an and Qixing Road, what’s wrong with that?” Ye Fan retorted with a disdainful jibe, “You can go to the police station now and verify it; they have my recorded statement.”

He Jiaqiang was lost for words, thinking to himself that Ye Fan’s steadfast tone surely meant his story was true.

However, such a rare opportunity to act against Ye Fan was not something he could pass up – he had to push for Ye Fan’s dismissal at all costs!

With that in mind, he turned to Cao Guoqiang and said, “Manager Cao, while there are indeed some objective reasons, the cold hard fact is that the recruitment effort for a crucial talent like Gao Feng has failed miserably due to Ye Fan.

Gao Feng wasn’t easy to persuade; it took immense effort to get him to consider joining our corporation.

His addition was vital for the ‘Biomedical’ project strongly advocated by the chairman; it’s a matter of the corporation’s future development.

Now, with Gao Feng fully rejecting the switch to our corporation due to Ye Fan’s tardiness, the loss is huge, and Ye Fan must take responsibility!”

“Moreover, it was Ye Fan who chose not to take the shortcut, leading to this outcome.”

“I strongly request his dismissal!”

Ye Fan couldn’t help but retort, “Oh, so whichever route I take is somehow my fault.

How come you didn’t specify which route to take or which intersections to pass through at what time this morning?

Besides, if Gao Feng was really willing to make the move, how could something this crucial be canceled just because of my delay?

He clearly had no intention of switching!”

“Hmph, no matter your excuses, it doesn’t change the undeniable fact that your lateness caused the recruitment to fail!” He Jiaqiang coldly huffed.

Cao Guoqiang spoke up, “Enough, both of you stop arguing, this isn’t a marketplace!

Ye Fan certainly bears some responsibility for this matter, but it’s not severe enough to merit dismissal.”

“Manager Cao, you’re covering for Ye Fan!” He Jiaqiang’s face darkened, and he bluntly said, “I’ll report this to Vice President Lu.

I advise you to think it over carefully.”

Vice President Lu was none other than He Jiaqiang’s uncle by marriage, the Vice General Manager of Emali Corporation, Lu Yuansheng.

Cao Guoqiang’s complexion instantly turned sour, but he didn’t dare to lash out, nor did he dare to insist on his earlier decision.

He pondered whether he should really go out of his way for Ye Fan, whom he had only met three times.

Ye Fan saw the expression on Cao Guoqiang’s face and didn’t want to put Cao in a tough spot, so he scoffed at He Jiaqiang, “He Jiaqiang, do you really think the recruitment task has failed?

Not necessarily!”

“Ye Fan, even at this stage, you continue to feign confidence with your arguments,” He Jiaqiang, believing he had the upper hand and feeling smug, ridiculed Ye Fan, “Gao Feng personally called me to say he’d rather die than switch to Emali Corporation.”

Ye Fan raised a finger to He Jiaqiang, saying, “Your incompetence doesn’t mean everyone else is.

Within three days, I guarantee that Gao Feng will sign a contract and join our corporation.

If it takes one day longer, I will leave the corporation myself!”

He Jiaqiang’s face darkened and he huffed heavily, “You said it!

If you fail, leave the corporation immediately!”

Cao Guoqiang looked up at Ye Fan in surprise; it was clear now that He Jiaqiang had sent Ye Fan to Gao Feng as a trap.

He guessed maybe just as Ye Fan had said, Gao Feng never intended to join Emali Corporation, and perhaps He Jiaqiang had even maliciously sabotaged Gao Feng’s impression of Emali.

Now, Ye Fan was promising to secure Gao Feng within three days.

“Ye Fan, make sure you’ve thought this through,” he warned with concern.

Ye Fan smiled lightly, “Of course, I’ve thought it through.

It’s just Gao Feng after all; he’s within easy reach.

Thank you for your concern.”