Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Warning to the Rest

"Wow! So this really is the top star of the design department! Only she would dare pull something like this now!"

The commotion drew many eyes, and more than a few people looked ready to try their luck as well, clutching their documents so tightly they nearly crumpled them.

"Well... all right, but please wait a moment."

Xiang Nuan looked troubled, but in the end she obediently took the papers.

A ripple of delight swept through the room, and several people had already prepared the files in their hands.

Unexpectedly, just as Meng Xueying was about to turn away, the papers in Xiang Nuan's hands were suddenly snatched away.

Ruan Mianmian took them and flipped through them casually.

"Isn't this the contract with Kaiyue Group? Why aren't you proofreading it yourself?"

Her cool gaze swept over her, and Meng Xueying froze for an instant before smiling sweetly and replying, "Oh, that. Contracts like this rarely have problems; in fact, they could just be sent out directly, but to be safe..."

"Is this how you do things?"

Ruan Mianmian's expression turned cold at once as she questioned her.

Meng Xueying was stunned, not understanding why Ruan Mianmian would ask such a thing.

At that moment, seeing this scene, the people in the office no longer dared to act rashly; one by one, they settled back into their seats, waiting to see what would happen next.

Meng Xueying forced the smile on her face to remain in place and asked, "Supervisor Ruan, what do you mean by that?"

Ruan Mianmian tossed the document in her hand aside, then folded her arms and glanced at the work badge on Meng Xueying's chest.

So this was the so-called star of the design department?

Disdain flickered across Ruan Mianmian's face as she said, "I heard you're the design department's top star, yet you handle your work so halfheartedly. Kaiyue Group is a very important client for our company.

And you didn't even proofread this contract yourself, just tossed it to someone else at random. I don't think this so-called top star amounts to much."

Being scolded, Meng Xueying's face flushed red. She hurriedly defended herself. "All these contracts are exactly the same as the sample; there wouldn't be any problems at all. I gave it to her only because I wanted her to mail it for me."

"Do you have no hands?"

"Huh?"

Meng Xueying dimly regretted her impulse. This matter had originally been something many people were eager to do.

But she had gone and become the first one to stick her head out, and on top of that she had run into someone like Ruan Mianmian, who loved meddling in other people's business.

"Didn't your mother teach you to do your own work yourself?"

Ruan Mianmian's face was ice-cold, and she showed not the slightest bit of mercy. She shoved the documents back into Meng Xueying's arms and continued, "Since you bear the title of top star, I hope you'll take your work seriously. If I catch you passing things off to others like this again, don't blame me for not showing you any courtesy!"

Ruan Mianmian had a sweet face, and at first glance her temperament seemed as soft and gentle as her name.

But whenever she turned sharp, she gave off a force that could truly shake people.

Even though Meng Xueying had flourished in the design department for so many years, meeting someone like Ruan Mianmian, who liked to strike suddenly, left her somewhat unable to cope.

Grinding her teeth, Meng Xueying knew she had indeed hit the wrong target this time.

"All right, Supervisor. I was careless this time. I'll handle all the contracts personally from now on."

"Not just the contracts."

Ruan Mianmian's cool gaze swept over her, then moved past Meng Xueying to slowly scan the room.

Her red lips parted as she said lightly, "I hope everyone will throw away those bad habits you've accumulated in your hands. Throw away what should be thrown away. We're all smart people, and I don't feel like saying too much.

I'll only remind you of one thing here: if you truly need help, you can come to me anytime. But I hope none of you are using that as an excuse to make life unpleasant for yourselves!"

As her words fell, the office sank into silence.

Meng Xueying's face turned crimson.

She had been in Hanhai for so many years, and wherever she went she was praised by others. She had never imagined that today she would be brought down by this Ruan Mianmian.

But she would never admit defeat. Just wait and see what happened later!

Meng Xueying took the contract in her hand, her fingers tightening until several creases appeared in the paper. With a dark expression, she returned to her seat without saying a word.

As the instigator who had encouraged Meng Xueying, Chen Xiaoyu was even more silent now.

On the other hand, Cheng Yun showed a faint smile of relief. In a low voice, she said, "Actually, I think this is pretty good. Think about how hard it was when we first came here."

Chen Xiaoyu frowned. "If I'd known this would happen, I might as well never have said those things to Meng Xueying. She must be cursing me in her heart right now!"

Meng Xueying had been publicly reprimanded by Supervisor Ruan over this matter, and she certainly wouldn't be in a good mood.

Chen Xiaoyu couldn't help but feel a chill of fear. After all, Meng Xueying was the company's top star. If she wanted to make trouble for her, wouldn't that be easy as breathing?

"It's fine. I actually think this Supervisor Ruan seems pretty good. We just need to perform well from now on."

"You're optimistic enough. I..."

Chen Xiaoyu secretly regretted her own inability to stay calm.

...

With just a few sentences, Ruan Mianmian had ridiculed Meng Xueying until she had no face left to show, and Xiang Nuan, standing nearby, was still trembling slightly, not yet having reacted.

One had to know that Meng Xueying really was the top star.

She was the kind of person even the general manager would stop to speak with when passing in the hallway!

And now, for her sake, the supervisor had actually scolded Meng Xueying so harshly in front of so many people.

If this reached the general manager's ears, who knew how much of a storm it would stir?

What's more, from what she had observed, Team Leader Wang Yue did not seem to get along well with the supervisor either, and the team leader was very close to Meng Xueying...

Thinking of these connections, Xiang Nuan immediately felt that her future work life was bound to be full of chaos and upheaval.

Seeing that the person beside her had fallen silent as if no one were there at all, Ruan Mianmian glanced sideways and happened to catch Xiang Nuan's frightened expression.

She spoke up to comfort her. "Why are you so scared? This is strategy."

"Strategy?"

Xiang Nuan forced out a smile uglier than crying and asked, "What strategy?"

"Set an example to warn the others."

Xiang Nuan was stunned. Why did she suddenly feel that she was the monkey being warned?

Ruan Mianmian let out a faint smile. This girl, Xiang Nuan, really was too inexperienced.

Just this little scene had already frightened her. As for the things that were about to happen next, perhaps she should not reveal them yet.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, the sound of a door opening suddenly rang out behind them.

Ruan Mianmian raised an eyebrow and glanced in Meng Xueying's direction.

Sure enough, the complaint had been filed in record time.

Wang Yue's expression was calm, but displeasure showed in her eyes. She walked over in a hurry, came straight to Xiang Nuan's workstation, and set the documents in her hand down on the desk.

"Xiang Nuan, go sort out these documents for me. Mail what needs to be mailed, and photocopy what needs to be copied."

Her tone was domineering and brooked no refusal.

As her voice fell, the office suddenly went still, and everyone was watching this side openly or covertly.

Some were purely there for the fun of it, while others wore looks of smug satisfaction, presumably waiting to see Ruan Mianmian make a fool of herself.

But whose joke this would end up being was still uncertain.

Ruan Mianmian smiled faintly, directly scooped up the documents on the desk, gathered them all before her, and asked with an eager expression, "Team Leader Wang, which ones need photocopying? Which ones need to be mailed?"