OBS Chapter 1440 Scandals Abound
Chapter 1440 Scandals Abound
Chapter 1440 Scandals Abound
The next morning, Tang Jing arrived at the Bianti Company building, looking slightly tired. She had tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning, her mind replaying the news of Qin Hao's return and his astonishing new position. She had put on slightly heavier makeup than usual to cover her dark circles, but the weariness in her eyes was still difficult to completely conceal.
As I walked past the break room, I heard several colleagues gathered inside, whispering among themselves while holding coffee cups.
"Breaking news! Fleck is back in the US!" a young female colleague said in a low, mysterious voice.
"Come on, did you just get internet at home?" A male colleague wearing glasses rolled his eyes. "The news about Fleck's transfer was sent out in an internal email last month, okay? The whole company knows he's going back to the European headquarters."
“Yeah, is this really big news?” another female colleague chimed in. “I thought you were going to say something else. What a disappointment.”
The first female colleague to speak up retorted, "Of course this isn't news, but do you know who the new boss of our mainland branch is after Fleck left? Surely nobody knows that, right?"
"You know?" The male colleague with glasses immediately became interested.
"I don't know either." The female colleague shrugged, and seeing the disappointed looks on their faces, she quickly added, "Although I don't know exactly who the new boss is, I know he's definitely not a foreigner!"
This piqued everyone's curiosity.
"How do you know he's not a foreigner?" an older male colleague questioned. "As far as I know, since our mainland branch was established, the head of the company has always been a foreigner. From the first Englishman to the previous Frenchman, Fleck, it has never changed."
"You guys just don't understand, do you?" The female colleague smugly shook her coffee cup. "In the past, before each new boss arrived, we HR would always have to recruit a translator a month in advance, and the new boss had to personally interview and approve the candidate. But this time, none of that happened at all; not a single translator was recruited!"
Some people think it makes sense, while others disagree.
"That proves absolutely nothing," the bespectacled male colleague pushed up his glasses. "Maybe the new boss is a China expert?"
The HR colleague immediately retorted: "Even if a foreigner is an expert on China, at most he can only speak it. Does he know the characters? Can he understand a report of several thousand words? During meetings, can he fully understand all the technical terms? When do we ever need a translator? Let me tell you, this time it's definitely a Chinese person, otherwise they would definitely hire a translator."
"Alright, alright, stop guessing." The older male colleague waved his hand. "Anyway, the new boss is taking office today. We'll find out at the morning meeting later. There's no point in guessing."
“Sigh, hopefully he’ll be an easier boss to get along with,” another female colleague sighed. “You all know how bad Fleck’s temper is; he gets angry at the drop of a hat. I hope he doesn’t cause us any more trouble. I almost cried last quarter because of his yelling.”
"Exactly, I hope we get something gentler."
Tang Jing stood outside the break room, overhearing the entire conversation. She shook her head inwardly. If these colleagues knew that the new boss was Qin Hao, they would probably be shocked. However, she also understood their concerns. After all, a new emperor brings a new court, and a new leader always brings some uncertainties.
She walked briskly past the break room without stopping. Just as she reached the office area, her assistant, Xiao Liu, approached her mysteriously: "Hey sis, good morning! Did you hear? The new boss is starting today!"
Tang Jing placed her bag on the desk and said casually, "I've heard that the break room has become a gossip hub."
Xiao Liu's eyes lit up, and she lowered her voice to ask, "Sis, do you think the new boss is a foreigner? I heard from Xiao Wang in HR that they didn't hire a translator this time, so it might be a Chinese person."
"How about I go and ask the new BOSS himself for you?" Tang Jing glanced at her.
Xiao Liu quickly waved his hand, saying sheepishly, "Sister, I'm just worried about the saying 'a new emperor brings a new court.' Fleck values Director He so much; what if a new boss comes along and everything is reshuffled... won't our business department be affected?"
Tang Jing sat down in the chair, turned on the computer, and said without looking up, "Looks like I haven't given you enough work. You still have time to gossip here."
"No, sis, I'm going to work right now, right now!" Xiao Liu shrank her neck and ran back to her workstation in a flash.
Tang Jing shook her head as she watched her assistant flee in disarray. She wasn't worried that Qin Hao would make things difficult for her, but one thing bothered her: now that Qin Hao was her boss, it seemed she would never have the chance to confront him directly again.
Just as Tang Jing was in a daze, He Han walked over and stopped at the door of her office.
"What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?" He Han asked with concern, looking at Tang Jing's slightly tired face.
Tang Jing hesitated for a moment, then felt there was no point in hiding it: "The new BOSS is Qin Hao."
"What?" He Han didn't react for a moment, thinking he had misheard.
Tang Jing repeated, "The new branch manager is Qin Hao. I saw him at Luo Zijun's house last night, and he told me himself."
He Han finally came to his senses, but his heart remained unsettled for a long time. He stood there, his expression shifting, and after a while, he whispered, "How could it be him? Has the big boss gone mad?"
As a junior partner at Bianti, He Han was well aware of what such an exceptional appointment meant. Returning from a year-long rotation in Hong Kong, he jumped directly from junior partner to senior partner and was appointed general manager of the mainland branch—such a rapid promotion was unprecedented in the company's history. Without the full support and approval of the top boss, this would have been absolutely impossible.
He racked his brains but couldn't understand how Qin Hao had managed it. What achievements had he made in Hong Kong in just one year that would lead the big boss to promote him so exceptionally?
"He's only been in Hong Kong for a year, right?" He Han muttered to himself, as if asking Tang Jing, or perhaps asking himself.
Just as Tang Jing was about to nod, a commotion arose in the office area. The two turned their heads at the same time and saw a tall figure walking towards them from the direction of the elevator, surrounded by several senior executives.
Today, Qin Hao wore a well-tailored light blue suit, paired with a white shirt and a dark blue tie. The suit fabric shimmered softly under the lights, perfectly highlighting his muscular physique. He walked with an air of confidence and composure, exuding a powerful presence with every step.
In the office area, all the employees stood up involuntarily. Some recognized Qin Hao and gaped in surprise; others didn't know him, but were also intimidated by his aura and subconsciously stood up as well.
Good morning, Mr. Qin!
"Hello, Mr. Qin!"
Greetings came one after another, but the voices all carried obvious surprise and uncertainty.
Qin Hao smiled and nodded to everyone, his gaze sweeping across the office area. When his eyes landed on Tang Jing's office, he paused deliberately, gave Tang Jing and He Han a faint smile, and then walked straight to the largest office—Flake's former office, now his.
The moment Qin Hao entered the office and the door closed, the entire office area erupted in chaos.
"The new boss is actually him? Qin Hao?"
"My God! Good heavens! If I hadn't just seen him go into that office with my own eyes, I would have thought I was dreaming!"
"Do you think he might be the big boss's illegitimate son? Otherwise, how could he have risen so quickly?"
"Possibly! Very likely! Otherwise, there's no other way to explain it!"
"Who knows? Maybe there's some connection we're unaware of."
Tang Jing scoffed at her colleagues' gossip. She knew that although Qin Hao's family was well-off, they were all pure Chinese and had no connection whatsoever with the big boss of a multinational corporation like Bianti. If Qin Hao really had such a background, how come he almost got rejected during his internship? And how could He Han not know?
She turned to look at He Han, only to see that He Han's expression was not very good, his lips were tightly pursed, and he turned and went back to his office without saying a word, closing the door rather heavily.
Tang Jing understood He Han's feelings. Four years ago, Qin Hao was still a newcomer under him. Although he was outstanding in ability, he was still relatively inexperienced. Later, Qin Hao's rapid promotion had already put some pressure on He Han. And now, Qin Hao had suddenly become his direct superior. This kind of psychological gap would be hard for anyone to accept.
Ten minutes later, the company's internal communication system sent a meeting notification: all department directors and above should immediately attend a meeting in conference room number one.
He Han walked out of the office with a serious expression and headed towards the conference room with several other executives. Tang Jing noticed that the executives' expressions were also quite complex; some were puzzled, some were nervous, and some looked like they were watching a good show.
The meeting lasted all day. It started at nine in the morning, with only a short lunch break in between, and the meeting room doors did not reopen until five in the afternoon.
When the executives came out of the meeting room, they were all pale-faced, some even with their backs soaked with sweat, their ties askew, and their hair disheveled. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they hadn't gone to a meeting, but rather to participate in a marathon.
Soon, Qin Hao's "reputation" began to circulate within Bianti. Some said that on his first day at work, the new boss gave several department heads a severe dressing-down, showing them no mercy. Others said that Qin Hao pointed out the problems in their work over the past year, each one incisive and leaving them speechless.
According to the secretary who privately reviewed the meeting minutes, Qin Hao's remarks were not unfounded. He knew in detail the achievements and mistakes of each department's senior executives over the past year, speaking entirely extemporaneously without notes. This demonstrates that he had thoroughly investigated the company's situation and was intimately familiar with the performance of each executive before taking office.
Of course, some executives were also praised at the meeting, such as He Han. Qin Hao specifically mentioned the business department led by He Han, which had achieved steady growth in performance and high customer satisfaction over the past year, making it an important pillar of the company.
However, He Han felt uneasy. After the meeting, he returned to his office, closed the door, and sat in his chair for a long time without moving. He admitted that Qin Hao had grown very quickly, far beyond his expectations. But he had never imagined that one day Qin Hao would become his direct superior, and that this day would come so quickly and so suddenly.
While the other executives cast envious and resentful glances his way, He Han felt no joy whatsoever. Instead, he felt a deep sense of frustration and loss. It was like a teacher suddenly discovering that a former student has not only surpassed him but has also become his leader.
……
Tang Jing was looking worriedly at the always-closed door to He Han's office when his assistant, Xiao Liu, sneaked in, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"Sis, this is great!" Xiao Liu said in a low voice, her eyes sparkling. "The new boss is actually Lao Qin! You two are such good friends, he'll definitely protect our sales department! Our lives are going to be so much better from now on!"
Tang Jing rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Have you ever thought about how a new boss, in his new position, will quickly establish his authority? What do you think he'll do?"
Xiao Liu paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "To establish prestige... that definitely requires achieving results! This will make our sales department even busier, requiring us to take on more projects and generate more revenue..."
"No," Tang Jing interrupted her. "The fastest way to establish prestige is to fire one or two people who don't work hard, to make an example of them."
"I'm going to get to work right away!" Xiao Liu quickly slipped away, returned to his workstation, turned on his computer, and pretended to be working diligently.
Tang Jing watched her assistant's retreating figure, shook her head, and refocused her attention on her work. However, she found it difficult to concentrate completely, her mind frequently wandering to He Han's office, or involuntarily thinking of Qin Hao.
As it was nearing the end of the workday, Tang Jing noticed that He Han's office was still closed. After hesitating for a moment, she got up and went over, gently knocking on the door.
"Come in." He Han's slightly tired voice came from inside.
Tang Jing pushed open the door and saw He Han sitting at his desk, holding a document in his hand, but his eyes were clearly not focused on the document, but rather he was lost in thought.
Tang Jing closed the door and walked to the desk: "Are you... alright?"
He Han looked up and saw it was Tang Jing, but he wasn't too surprised. He put down the documents and rubbed his temples. "Sit down. I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Nothing else, it's just that you don't look too well..."
"Alright, you can go ahead and get busy." He Han waved his hand and picked up the documents again. "President Qian's case is more pressing. There are quite a few companies eyeing this piece of the pie lately. We need to hurry up and not let others beat us to it."
"Okay, I'll go follow up right away." Tang Jing stood up, and glanced back as she walked to the door. He Han had already lowered his head to look at the documents, but his tightly furrowed brows and pursed lips betrayed his inner turmoil.
Tang Jing gently closed the door and returned to her office. She had just sat down, preparing to turn on her computer and continue working, when she saw Qin Hao walk out of the general manager's office and head straight towards her.
In the office area, all the employees' eyes involuntarily followed Qin Hao's figure. Whispers began to circulate again.
"Where is President Qin going?"
"Judging by the direction, it seems they're heading to Manager Tang's office?"
"They used to have a good relationship. Now that President Qin is back, he'll definitely take care of his old colleague, right?"
"Tsk tsk, Manager Tang is about to take off."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Qin Hao walked to the door of Tang Jing's office. Tang Jing quickly stood up: "President Qin."
In front of so many people, she had to maintain professional politeness and distance.
Qin Hao ignored the stares of the others, walked straight into the office, stepped forward, and reached out to close the laptop that Tang Jing had just opened.
"Let's go," Qin Hao said. "It's my first day at work, I'll treat you to dinner."
Tang Jing hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously refused: "How about next time? I still have a ton of work to finish. Mr. Qian's case is urgent, we need to hurry."
"Having a bowl of noodles with Lao Zhuo won't take up too much of your time. Work is never-ending, but your health is your own responsibility. You can't possibly not even have time to eat a meal, can you?"
Tang Jing noticed all her colleagues were secretly glancing in their direction, their eyes filled with curiosity and gossip. She knew that if she refused again, she would only attract more attention. Reluctantly, she stood up and said, "Well... okay. But I have to take my laptop with me; I have to work overtime tonight."
"Whatever you like." Qin Hao gestured for him to proceed.
Tang Jing braced herself and followed Qin Hao away in full view of everyone.
The moment the two stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, the office area erupted in chaos.
"My goodness! President Qin treated Manager Tang to dinner on his very first day at work! Their relationship is definitely something special!"
"They used to be in the same group, so it's normal for them to have a good relationship, right?"
"Normal? Have you ever seen a new boss take his subordinates out to dinner alone on his first day in office? Especially a female subordinate?"
"Exactly! There must be a story behind this!"
Someone approached Tang Jing's assistant, Xiao Liu, and surrounded her, bombarding her with questions: "Xiao Liu, you've been with Manager Tang the longest, do you know what their relationship is?"
Xiao Liu looked completely bewildered when asked: "I...I don't know. Manager Tang has never talked to me about her private matters."
"You're going to be rich now," a female colleague said enviously. "Manager Tang and General Manager Qin have such a good relationship, they'll definitely take good care of your department in the future. Don't forget them when you're rich and powerful, Xiao Liu!"
“That’s right.” Another male colleague winked and said, “I could tell they were having an affair from the beginning. I thought they would break up after President Qin went to Hong Kong, but a year later, things are still the same.”
"Tsk tsk, if this is true, it's really a workplace romance story! A domineering CEO and his capable female subordinate!"
As the group was chatting animatedly, He Han happened to come out of his office, ready to leave work. Hearing their discussion, his expression darkened, and he coughed lightly twice.
The discussion stopped abruptly.
"Director He."
"Hello, Director He."
Several colleagues greeted each other awkwardly, then quickly dispersed and returned to their respective workstations.
He Han ignored them and walked straight to the elevator, his expression not very good. After his figure disappeared into the elevator, his colleagues huddled together again.
"Shh, don't gossip about Manager Tang in front of Director He again," an older colleague reminded him.
"Why? Could it be..." A young female colleague's eyes lit up, as if she had discovered some great secret.
"Otherwise, why do you think Director He doesn't date? He's been with the company for so many years, and countless beautiful women have been interested in him, but he hasn't accepted any of them. I heard that he's interested in Manager Tang..."
"Wow! This is shocking news! I have to share this in the MSN group!"
"You can't just say things like that. Be careful, if Director He finds out, you'll be in big trouble."
……
Meanwhile, at Lao Zhuo's Japanese ramen restaurant, Tang Jing couldn't help but complain as soon as she sat down: "Why didn't you just call from your office to invite me to dinner? Why did you have to make such a big fuss? Now, I bet the rumors in the office are flying everywhere."
Qin Hao sat down opposite her and said nonchalantly, "If I called, would you come?"
Tang Jing was speechless for a moment.
"Besides, when have you ever cared about those rumors? This isn't like the Tang Jing I know."
Tang Jing said irritably, "I don't care, but I don't want to become the subject of gossip. You're the general manager now, and I'm the project manager. Our relationship is already sensitive enough; it's not good to cause any more misunderstandings..."
"What misunderstanding?" Qin Hao raised an eyebrow. "You think we're dating? So what? We're single. Even if we were dating, it wouldn't violate company rules, would it?"
"You..." Tang Jing was speechless, her face slightly flushed, and she quickly changed the subject: "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's order, I'm hungry."
Just then, Lao Zhuo, the owner of the ramen shop, walked over. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a Japanese chef's uniform with an apron tied around his waist, and a gentle smile on his face.
"Hey, when did you get back, Xiao Qin?" Old Zhuo's eyes lit up when he saw Qin Hao. "It's been so long! What do you want to eat today?"
Qin Hao smiled and shook his head: "It's your first day at work today, so you can decide what to do. Bring us anything new or interesting."
"Goodness, you're forcing me to take matters into my own hands," Old Zhuo laughed. "Then I won't give you the menu. Go to the kitchen and see what else you can serve."
"Thanks, Lao Zhuo."
"Don't mention it, I'm just glad you came," Old Zhuo said, turning and heading to the kitchen.
As soon as Lao Zhuo arrived, Tang Jing opened her laptop and started working. Seeing her workaholic appearance, Qin Hao couldn't help but shake his head.
"Isn't it a bit much to push them like this?" Qin Hao tapped the table. "Anyone who didn't know better would think Bianti was some kind of blood and tears factory, not even letting its employees eat."
Tang Jing didn't even lift her eyelids, her fingers flying across the keyboard: "The food hasn't been served yet, waiting is a waste of time. Mr. Qian's case is really urgent, I need to hurry."
Qin Hao leaned forward, looking at Tang Jing: "I've been in Hong Kong for a year, don't you have anything to talk to me about?"
Tang Jing then looked up at him, then lowered her head again to continue typing: "You said it's just a meal, chatting is a separate price."
Qin Hao couldn't help but laugh. The contrast between Tang Jing's serious demeanor and her sudden joke was really hard to bear.
"So, what's the price for a chat?" Qin Hao asked cooperatively.
Tang Jing's fingers continued typing on the keyboard, and without looking up, she said, "Unless you can help me secure Mr. Qian's deal. The competition for this case is fierce; several companies are vying for it. If you can offer some valuable advice, I might consider chatting with you for a while."
"You," Qin Hao sighed helplessly, "Workaholic is no longer enough to describe you, you're a pure nuclear-powered beast of burden."
Tang Jing then raised her head and looked at Qin Hao seriously: "I understand cows and horses, but please explain what a nuclear-powered cow or horse is."
"The literal meaning," Qin Hao explained seriously, "Nuclear power means it doesn't need electricity or oil; the energy is inexhaustible. You, on the other hand, don't need to eat or drink, don't need rest or entertainment, and rely entirely on self-motivation to operate 24/7. What else could this be but a nuclear-powered ox or horse?"
Tang Jing paused on the keyboard, thought for a few seconds, and then retorted, "I don't agree with your statement. First of all, I eat, drink, and rest; secondly, my salary is very high, and that's my motivation."
"But I haven't seen you use it to improve your life." Qin Hao looked around: "The place I live is still the same apartment I rented three years ago, and the clothes I wear are just a few sets of business suits. Money is only money when it's spent; it's just a string of numbers when it's in the bank."
Tang Jing paused for a moment, then said softly, "I can't help it, I'm terrified of being poor. My family wasn't well-off when I was a child, so I got used to being frugal. Now, although my income is higher, I don't have such high demands for material life. As long as I can eat my fill and stay warm, that's enough. Saving money gives me a sense of security."
Qin Hao looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew Tang Jing's past, knew that she came from an ordinary family and had worked her way up to where she was today through her own efforts. This experience had shaped her resilient character and made her indifferent to material possessions.
“But life isn’t just about work,” Qin Hao said softly. “There should be other things too. Like good food, like friends, like…”
Tang Jing's fingers paused on the keyboard. She looked up, met Qin Hao's gaze for a few seconds, then quickly looked away, returning her eyes to the computer screen: "My life is good now, very fulfilling. I don't need to change it."
As the two were talking, Lao Zhuo had already brought the dishes over. On an exquisite wooden tray were several dishes: two bowls of steaming tonkotsu ramen, a plate of fresh Arctic sweet shrimp sashimi, a small dish of sea urchin, and a few delicate side dishes.
"There are still some Arctic shrimp and sea urchins left, all just flown in today. Try them and see if my cooking skills have deteriorated." Old Zhuo placed the dishes on the table one by one.
Qin Hao tapped on Tang Jing's laptop: "Old Zhuo is being so kind, let's put the work aside for now?"
Tang Jing helplessly closed her laptop: "I know, the only thing you can't miss is good food. I'm sick of hearing that."
Old Zhuo laughed and said, "Little Qin really knows how to enjoy life. You guys enjoy your meal, I'll go and get busy, there are still a few tables of guests in the kitchen."
"Thanks, Lao Zhuo."
"I should be thanking you." Old Zhu waved his hand. "You came to support my business as soon as you got home. You guys eat, and call me if you need more."
After Lao Zhuo left, Qin Hao picked up his chopsticks and said, "Try it. Lao Zhuo's cooking skills have never declined."
Tang Jing also picked up her chopsticks, took a mouthful of noodles, and put it in her mouth. The rich and fragrant broth melted in her mouth, and the noodles were chewy and smooth—it was indeed delicious. She couldn't help but take another sip of the soup, a satisfied expression on her face.
"How about it? I didn't lie to you, did I?" Qin Hao asked with a smile.
"Mmm, delicious." Tang Jing nodded honestly and picked up another Arctic sweet shrimp. The shrimp meat was sweet and crisp, with the fresh taste of the ocean; it was indeed very fresh.
However, even while eating, Tang Jing wasn't completely idle. While eating, she chatted with Qin Hao about work: "Regarding Mr. Qian's case, I actually have an idea. Their company is in traditional retail, and they're being heavily impacted by e-commerce. I think we can help them transform by integrating online and offline channels..."
Qin Hao looked helpless: "When I was your partner before, you always made it impossible for me to have a peaceful meal. I never thought that even now that I'm your boss, I still can't escape it. Can we just have a proper meal together?"
"With a new boss in charge, I'm just doing this to boost your performance," Tang Jing said matter-of-factly. "How could you refuse?"
Qin Hao: "..."
The two discussed work while eating. Tang Jing discovered that although Qin Hao had been away for a year, his understanding of the domestic market remained profound. Several of his points were insightful and even overturned some of her original plans.
“Your idea is better,” Tang Jing said earnestly. “I was too limited by their existing business model before, always thinking about how to optimize it. But your idea of cross-industry cooperation can really open up new possibilities.”
Qin Hao said calmly, "When you only focus on one point, it's easy to get stuck in a local optimum. But when you step back and look at the whole board, you'll find there are better moves."
Tang Jing nodded thoughtfully. She suddenly realized that Qin Hao's success wasn't solely due to his outstanding abilities, but also because he possessed a broader vision and perspective. This was something she needed to learn.
After finishing his meal, Qin Hao called Lao Zhuo to settle the bill.
Stepping out of the noodle shop, night had already fallen. Shanghai's night was brightly lit, with a constant flow of traffic.
"Then I'll go first."
Are you sure you don't need me to deliver it?
"I don't have coffee or drinks at home, so I can only deliver to the downstairs."
Qin Hao:......