Chapter Thirty-Four: I Absolutely Have to Outshine Her!

Just as I was pondering Qin Ruhua’s words, the sharp tapping of footsteps echoed from behind, and someone walked in.

I turned to see a woman in her forties, as stout as a pig. Despite her age and lack of a graceful figure, she was dressed in a garish outfit: black silk stockings stretched over thick legs, paired with black high heels. Her hair was a light-yellow, wavy perm, and her face was caked in a thick layer of powder, worn with an air of arrogance.

As soon as she entered, she fixed her gaze on Qin Ruhua and me, her expression darkening as she strode over.

"Which department are you from? What are you doing here?" She stood before me, her tone quite aggressive.

However, given my current status—a major shareholder of the company—if a diligent employee felt my presence was hindering work and wanted me gone, I would naturally support them. So, instead of getting angry, I smiled and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

Qin Ruhua quickly replied, "This is Manager Yang from our Design Department."

I immediately stood up, extended my right hand, and smiled. "Hello, Manager Yang. I’m Chu Fan, President Ling’s bodyguard."

"President Ling’s bodyguard?" Manager Yang didn’t shake my hand. She looked me up and down and said stiffly, "If you’re a bodyguard, why are you loitering here? You’re disrupting the staff."

Still unsure if she was merely arrogant or truly strict and impartial, I gave a slight smile. "Manager Yang is right. I was just chatting with Qin Ruhua, and I’m leaving now."

Manager Yang studied me, then glanced at Qin Ruhua before asking coldly, "Are you Xiao Qin’s boyfriend?"

That was blunt, to say the least.

"No, just a friend."

I could have easily said I was her brother, but since a nearby employee had already blown that cover, it was no longer an option.

"If not, then get out," Manager Yang said expressionlessly. "Don’t interfere with the staff’s work."

I gave a helpless smile. "Manager Yang is certainly disciplined. I admire that."

I wouldn’t treat her like I treated Zhang Shaohua. Zhang had ulterior motives regarding Ling Xuan and had targeted me multiple times, which is why I dealt with him. But Manager Yang seemed diligent and impartial; that wasn't a bad thing for the company. As a shareholder, I should understand and support that.

However, before I could leave, Manager Yang pulled out two movie tickets. She cast a disdainful glance at me, then turned to Qin Ruhua with a gentle smile. "Xiao Qin, I bought two tickets. Leave work a little early this afternoon, have dinner with my son, Xia Yu, and catch a movie. It’ll be a good chance for you two to get to know each other."

I was stunned. I didn’t know who Xia Yu was, but I could guess he was her son. In an instant, everything was clear.

Manager Yang had a clever scheme: first, she tried to intimidate me to establish her authority, then she tried to set her son up with Qin Ruhua right in front of me, clearly intending to make me back down. With her backing, her son had a bit of status, something she clearly thought a mere bodyguard couldn't compare to.

Damn it, and I’d actually thought she was a good, professional employee!

I looked at Qin Ruhua and saw she was in a difficult position; she wanted to refuse but found it hard to do so directly given the power dynamic. Her eyes kept darting toward me.

I immediately said, "Sorry, Manager Yang, but Hua-hua and I have already made plans to see a movie tonight." I used the nickname "Hua-hua" deliberately to make it clear that our relationship was special.

"Yes, Manager Yang, I’m really sorry, we already have plans," Qin Ruhua immediately echoed.

Manager Yang’s face darkened instantly. She glared at me coldly. "You want to pursue Xiao Qin, too?"

"That’s none of your business, is it?" I replied calmly.

Manager Yang was taken aback. She eyed me with disgust and sneered, "Young people these days really don’t know their place."

She turned back to Qin Ruhua, her tone softening again. "Xiao Qin, you’re so pretty, it’s only natural you’d have many suitors. But young people today are too flighty and prone to bragging. You need to distinguish between those with real substance and those who are just full of hot air. My husband and I are both managers at large companies; over the decades, we’ve bought two houses and two cars, all set aside for our Xia Yu. Even our savings will go to him eventually. With conditions like that, he’s certainly good enough for you. You won’t lose out by dating my Xia Yu..."

As she spoke, she kept glancing at me with a mix of arrogance and disdain.

Talking like that in front of me was a joke. I simply sat back down, leaned comfortably against the chair, and looked over to see Qin Ruhua staring at her computer screen in frustration and helplessness.

Seeing me sitting there so insolently, Manager Yang could no longer be bothered to keep me around to listen to her show off. She pointed at me and shouted, "Why are you still sitting there? Get out! This is my department, and it’s still working hours!"

I looked at the ceiling and said calmly, "I am a bodyguard, and I only take orders from President Ling. Furthermore, I have the authority to move freely throughout any part of this company to check for potential threats or risks to her safety."

"You!" Manager Yang’s face turned bright red. As arrogant as she was, she didn’t dare openly disregard Ling Xuan’s safety for fear of the repercussions.

"Look at this, just look at this," she shifted her tactics, her finger shaking as she pointed at me, feigning a deep, exasperated sigh. "So young, yet so disrespectful of his elders. Is there any hope for someone like this? None at all! Xiao Qin, look at him—lazy, no talent, no ambition, just waiting to rot. Don’t let him fool you, or you’ll have nowhere to cry when it’s all over. My Xia Yu is ten thousand times better than this little bodyguard. Plus, I’m your supervisor; work hard, and I’ll promote you to a lead position. You’ll have a career and a family set for life, a hundred million times better than this unambitious little guard..."

Qin Ruhua looked at me, caught between laughter and tears, her face full of helplessness. The other office staff sat at their desks, watching with great interest.

"Stop!" I suddenly sat upright and held up a hand to silence her.

This old woman was clearly snobbish, long-winded, and lacked any sense of decorum. To get her way, she spoke in a way that was deeply cutting; even without using profanity, her words were sharper than any insult. Although I was immune to her barbs, I was getting annoyed.

Manager Yang paused, glaring at me.

"I’ve listened to you show off until my ears are calloused," I said coldly. "Now it’s my turn."

Manager Yang gritted her teeth, her finger trembling as she pointed at me. "Look at this! The truth is finally coming out! He’s just a braggart..."

The other female employees giggled, finding the scene quite entertaining.

"Chu Fan, what are you doing?" Qin Ruhua asked, looking at me with a bitter smile.

I smiled back, took out my phone, and dialed Huang Xiaohui’s number.

"President Chu?"

"Xiao Hui, someone is showing off in front of me—bragging so hard they’re about to reach the heavens. Come down to the Design Department on the fifth floor immediately to help me show off. You have to outdo her!"

"..."

"Did you hear me? Come down now!"

"Understood, I’m coming down right away."

Since everyone in the company called Huang Xiaohui "Secretary Huang," they weren't sensitive to the name "Xiao Hui." Moreover, most entry-level employees rarely interacted with the Chairman’s secretary, so they had no idea I was calling her.

Manager Yang was addicted to her own scolding, continuing incessantly, "Look at him, can’t even brag on his own, has to call someone else. I’ve lived over half my life and this is the first time I’ve seen such a person."

She even turned to address all the employees, raising her voice. "You girls, take note! When looking for a partner, find someone steady, not someone who only knows how to brag..."

The employees, who had been smiling, were forced to put on expressions of rapt attention. It was clear that Manager Yang’s sharp tongue was feared throughout the office, and everyone was terrified of her.

I gave a cold, inward smile. If it weren't for me, any other young man would have been humiliated and had his self-esteem crushed by her tirade. Since she was so devoid of basic decency, I couldn't wait to see how she’d end up when this was over.