Qin Yi’s temper flared instantly upon learning of the situation.
He hadn’t realized until yesterday what a petty man Yuan Guangchuan was.
Just as Qin Yi was preparing to confront Yuan Guangchuan for an explanation, Yuan Guangchuan and Huang Shanshan walked out of Chang Yufei’s office together.
Huang Shanshan spotted Qin Yi and sneered, "Qin Yi, you’re lucky!"
Then, without waiting for Qin Yi’s reaction, she strode away.
Yuan Guangchuan’s eyes flickered with avoidance at first when he saw Qin Yi, as if he were reluctant to face him.
However, he quickly thought of something and approached Qin Yi directly. "Shall we talk outside for a bit?"
Qin Yi turned and headed towards the exit.
Yuan Guangchuan followed.
Moments later, they arrived at a balcony outside the office. Qin Yi spoke, "Don't you owe me an explanation?"
Yuan Guangchuan shrugged, leaning his forearms on the balcony railing. "I have nothing to explain to you! The company has already placed the debt from the Night Banquet Bar on my head. Even if you’re not satisfied and harbor resentment, there's nothing you can do about it!"
"What did you say?"
Qin Yi's gaze turned cold.
Yuan Guangchuan was startled by his look, but upon regaining his composure, he dismissed it as his imagination and paid it no mind.
He continued, "Qin Yi, if you're unhappy, you can complain to Team Leader Huang or Manager Chang! See if they believe you!"
A cunning smile tugged at the corner of Yuan Guangchuan's lips, his demeanor one of utter confidence.
He wasn't worried at all about Qin Yi lodging a complaint.
The entire company now knew that he, Yuan Guangchuan, was the one who had recovered the debt from the Night Banquet Bar. If Qin Yi were to go around now claiming he had recovered it, not only would people not believe him, but they would also think he was trying to steal credit!
He might even be cursed at!
Most crucially, Huang Shanshan and Chang Yufei hated him to the core. Even if they knew he had recovered the debt, they wouldn't help him!
Watching Yuan Guangchuan's smugness, Qin Yi's anger, as if doused with oil, blazed even more fiercely.
Just then, his phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw it was Zheng Chenggong calling.
Qin Yi answered, "Uncle?"
"Xiao Yi, how are you doing at Xinfa Industrial Company? Are you getting used to it?" Zheng Chenggong asked.
"I'm quite used to it!"
"That's good. Work hard there, and absolutely don't cause any trouble. Don't worry your mother anymore!"
Zheng Chenggong advised, "Although the salary there isn't very high, if you work diligently, you can still earn a decent amount each year."
"You already have a girlfriend now. Once you save up some money, you can get married, and your mother will finally be at ease!"
"Your mother isn't working now and gets quite bored at home. When the time comes, you and Han Xin can have a grandchild for her to look after…"
Qin Yi quickly interrupted, "Uncle, I have work to do, so I have to go. Goodbye!"
He quickly hung up the phone.
The conversation was drifting further and further afield. If he didn’t hang up, he didn’t know where it would lead.
However, Qin Yi understood that Zheng Chenggong was concerned about him.
This was also the reason why he was still working here after his conflict with Chang Yufei yesterday, and why he had diligently gone to collect debts for the company that night!
Zheng Chenggong had specifically used his connections to get him this job, and he couldn't let that good intention go to waste!
Because of Zheng Chenggong's call, Qin Yi's anger subsided considerably.
He glanced at Yuan Guangchuan, paid him no further mind, and went back inside.
Seeing this, Yuan Guangchuan took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, he said, "Looking at your eyes just now, I thought you were going to hit me. You’re such a coward!"
...
The sales department staff discussed Yuan Guangchuan recovering the Night Banquet Bar debt for the entire morning.
At the same time, many people spoke of Qin Yi's incredible luck, saying he had benefited from Yuan Guangchuan's efforts. This continued for the whole morning.
Qin Yi heard everything.
He didn't try to explain anything. After all, as Yuan Guangchuan had said, if he went around now claiming he had recovered the debt from the Night Banquet Bar, no one would believe him.
Throughout the morning, Qin Yi's main thought was: he had hit Chang Yufei yesterday, and a whole day had passed, yet Chang Yufei hadn’t sought revenge.
He couldn't figure out what was going on.
In the afternoon, shortly after work began, Huang Shanshan summoned the entire sales department to the main conference room for a meeting.
In the conference room, Qin Yi saw Song Jia and Chang Yufei.
Chang Yufei’s face was still somewhat swollen on one side, causing him to be furtive, afraid that others would notice the abnormality on his face.
Song Jia and Chang Yufei sat close together in the two primary seats at the head of the conference table.
Song Jia noticed Chang Yufei's swollen face and asked in confusion, "Manager Chang, why is your face..."
"Oh, my gums have been inflamed these past couple of days, so my face is a bit swollen!"
Chang Yufei replied, his eyes involuntarily darting towards Qin Yi, his pupils filled with darkness.
Song Jia nodded, seeming to understand.
Then, she addressed everyone, "Are all the members of the sales department here?"
"Everyone is here!" Huang Shanshan replied.
"Good!"
Song Jia signaled for everyone to quiet down and then asked Chang Yufei, "Manager Chang, do you want to speak, or should I?"
Chang Yufei half-covered his face. "Manager Song, you can speak."
So, Song Jia cut to the chase without pleasantries. "This afternoon, Manager Chang and I have called all of you from the sales department here primarily for two matters..."
"Has everyone heard about the ongoing conflict between the Han Group and the Tang Group?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yi's expression flickered slightly. Huang Shanshan, Yang Zhi, Yuan Guangchuan, and the others exchanged glances.
Huang Shanshan said, "Manager Song, I know about this. Last week, Han Sanwan suddenly declared his intention to deal with the Tang family and prohibited other companies from cooperating with the Tang Group..."
"I've heard about it too!" Yang Zhi chimed in. "A friend of mine works for a subsidiary company under the Tang Group. He was talking to me last night, saying that the Tang Group and the Han Group are currently in a fierce battle, and both sides have lost tens of billions because of it!"
Wow.
At his words, many in the room showed looks of shock.
Sensing everyone's reaction, Yang Zhi, with a hint of pride, continued, "My friend also said that this is a real war between the Tang Group and the Han Group. It probably won't end until one side falls!"
"Yang Zhi, did your friend tell you why?"
Yuan Guangchuan couldn't help but ask, "The Han Group and the Tang Group are both top-tier conglomerates in Haicheng, with market values in the tens or hundreds of billions. Why are they fighting like this?"
"Even if it's competition, they don't need to fight to the death, do they?"