Chapter 844 - 811: I Quit
Yan Huaiyi asked Xu Chunliang to recount the situation again. Xu Chunliang told the truth, but when he said Yang Yunfeng cursed at him, Yang Yunfeng was displeased and defended himself, "I didn’t swear. There were three colleagues nearby; they can vouch for me." He believed the three female colleagues wouldn’t dare offend him.
Xu Chunliang immediately took out his phone and played a recording.
Yang Yunfeng was dumbfounded. This guy was so insidious to have recorded the conversation.
When Yan Huaiyi heard the clear voice from the phone saying, "Cooperate with your grandma," he almost burst out laughing. Holding back his laughter, he looked at Yang Yunfeng and said, "Xiaoyang, you still call that not swearing?"
Yang Yunfeng said, "I...it’s just a catchphrase. I didn’t mean it as swearing. It’s a habit that came out unconsciously. I meant no harm..."
Yan Huaiyi said, "Alright, you...you don’t need to make excuses. You...you started with cursing. Even if Xiaoxu reacted aggressively, it’s your own doing. As a department head, you...you can’t treat colleagues so rudely..."
Yang Yunfeng couldn’t help but realize that Xu Chunliang was Yan Huaiyi’s protégé and that Yan Huaiyi was clearly siding with him. Yang Yunfeng thought he was clearly in the right, and even with favoritism, Yan Huaiyi wouldn’t be this obvious. But now, he realized he was wrong.
Yang Yunfeng said, "Dean Yan, it was wrong of me to curse, but isn’t his hitting me more serious? He even threatened me, saying if I dared step into that office, he’d beat me whenever I showed up."
Yan Huaiyi looked at Xu Chunliang and asked, "Did you say...say such things?"
Xu Chunliang denied straightforwardly, "Absolutely not."
Yang Yunfeng pointed at his phone, "You’re lying with your eyes wide open. I dare you to play the whole recording."
Xu Chunliang said, "You think I’m as stupid as you? Would I record myself while recording you?"
Yang Yunfeng was furious, visibly angry, thinking that this guy wasn’t only rude and unreasonable but also insidious and despicable. Yang Yunfeng, red-faced and neck veins pulsing, said, "There were others present, let them come and confront me."
Yan Huaiyi asked Yang Yunfeng to call the three witnesses over. Yang Yunfeng questioned Kang Yueqi, "Kang Yueqi, did Xu Chunliang hit me?"
Kang Yueqi shook her head, "I didn’t see."
Yang Yunfeng couldn’t believe her response, "How could you not have seen? He clearly hit me; my face is still swollen."
Kang Yueqi said, "Don’t ask me, I didn’t see."
Yang Yunfeng turned to Pan Yingying, "You say!"
Pan Yingying replied, "I was looking at my phone at the time, I really didn’t see."
Kang Yueqi glanced at her, thinking what’s with your ’real didn’t see,’ suggesting mine was fake? Didn’t we agree not to get involved in this?
Li Shuangshuang answered before Yang Yunfeng could ask, "I didn’t see either. I just heard a slapping sound, but I don’t know who hit whom."
Yang Yunfeng felt a chilling sensation deep inside, thinking I’ve worked with you for years, and this guy just got here two days ago, yet you’re all siding with him? Is it because he’s younger and more handsome? Women shouldn’t be like this; looks don’t equate to justice.
Yang Yunfeng said, "Did you hear him threatening me, saying if I dared step into that office again, he’d beat me whenever he saw me?"
The three female colleagues looked at each other, then simultaneously shook their heads.
Yang Yunfeng said, "Are you not going to admit hearing it?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Dean Yan, you heard it yourself; he dares to say such things right in front of you. Who is threatening whom, really?"
Yan Huaiyi’s face turned serious.
Yang Yunfeng angrily said, "Fine, you all ganged up against me, alright! I’m quitting, okay?"
Yan Huaiyi said, "Xiaoyang, what are you saying?"
Yang Yunfeng said, "I’m quitting!"
Yan Huaiyi nodded and said, "You all heard it; we should...should respect Yang Yunfeng’s decision and agree!"
Yang Yunfeng always thought Yan Huaiyi was an incompetent and weak leader, but he never imagined he would seize on his verbal slip and smoothly push him out the office.
He originally planned to make a big scene in front of Yan Huaiyi, even if he couldn’t get Xu Chunliang kicked out of the office, at least get him a thorough scolding to teach him a lesson. But Yang Yunfeng hadn’t anticipated a few things: first, that Xu Chunliang would record everything; second, that the three female colleagues would unanimously stand by Xu Chunliang; third, that Yan Huaiyi would side with Xu Chunliang so completely.
Yang Yunfeng now regretted immensely, feeling as if he dug a pit for himself, jumped in, only to find no one pulling him out, and instead everyone filled the pit with dirt. Even if he wanted to climb out now, he couldn’t.
Yan Huaiyi said with earnestness, "Xiaoyang, I’ve repeatedly advised you all to maintain good colleague relationships and be tolerant towards subordinates. How did it come to...come to...this?"
Yang Yunfeng was completely dumbfounded. Yan Huaiyi, you old stutterer, you were just pretending to be a fool all along. The reason you didn’t make a move before was that you didn’t have a good knife at your disposal. Now that you’ve found one, you’re striking really hard.
Yan Huaiyi said, "You go to the External Relations Office first, and make sure to get along well with your... with your colleagues. The rest can leave now, Xiaoxu... you... you stay."
A few people went out together, and Yang Yunfeng pointed at three female colleagues: "Alright, you conspired to mess with me."
The three female colleagues felt like they were dreaming. They could swear on their reputations that they hadn’t conspired with Xu Chunliang. No one expected Yang Yunfeng to get slapped and then kicked out of the office. But to be honest, this Yang Yunfeng isn’t likable either.
Xu Chunliang closed the door, smiling at Yan Huaiyi, "Dean Yan, sorry for causing you trouble."
Yan Huaiyi pointed his finger at him, feeling overjoyed inside, "Xiaoxu, you should first take the position of deputy director of the office and preside over... over the office’s work."
Xu Chunliang said, "I guarantee I’ll complete the task."
Yan Huaiyi said, "You... you go back first; I’ll... I’ll handle other matters." Yan Huaiyi felt his fighting spirit and passion returning. Finally, he wasn’t fighting alone. With Xu Chunliang as his little comrade, there was someone to handle things he couldn’t conveniently deal with himself.
After leaving the dean’s office, Yang Yunfeng immediately went to find Pan Junfeng. After hearing the whole story, Pan Junfeng was a bit surprised. Surprised by Xu Chunliang’s audacity and surprised by Yan Huaiyi’s attitude. How did this stutterer suddenly become so arrogant? And replacing an office director without even discussing it in a meeting?
Yang Yunfeng, full of grievance, said, "This Xu Chunliang is not only overbearing but also adept at winning people’s hearts. Our office’s women have all been won over by him." Totally forgetting that Pan Yingying was Pan Junfeng’s biological niece in his grievances today.
Upon hearing this, Pan Junfeng’s face immediately turned sullen: "Don’t just focus on others; don’t you have any issues yourself? You got slapped and then got pushed out. How many years have you been in the office director’s position? Don’t you have any experience? Where’s your brain?"
Yang Yunfeng slumped his head: "Dean Pan, I just feel wronged. Isn’t our Dean Yan too biased? I know Xu Chunliang is his man, and he wants to replace me, but shouldn’t there be a reasonable reason to replace me? Am I not trying hard at work, or did I make a mistake? You can’t just replace me without any explanation, right?"
Pan Junfeng considered confronting Yan Huaiyi, but instantly changed his mind. It wasn’t appropriate for him to get involved; it should be someone with a similar standing to Yan Huaiyi.
The most suitable person was naturally Secretary Sun Weimin.
Sun Weimin shared common interests with him. After discussing it with Sun Weimin, Sun Weimin immediately went to Yan Huaiyi’s office.
Yan Huaiyi was in a good mood today, watering the plants by the window.
Seeing Sun Weimin come in, he grinned, "Old Sun, come and have a look. How’s my bonsai fig tree doing... doing?"
Sun Weimin went over to admire it, "The climate here isn’t suitable. Your fig tree is somewhat struggling to adapt."
Yan Huaiyi understood Sun Weimin’s underlying meaning: "With the environment like this, we can’t be so picky, just... just being alive is... is already good enough..."
Sun Weimin felt that Yan Huaiyi’s demeanor had changed these past two days. Could Xu Chunliang be his adrenaline shot?
Yan Huaiyi didn’t invite Sun Weimin to sit, continuing to water the plants with a spray bottle. Sun Weimin had no interest in admiring the struggling houseplants. He pulled out a cigarette and handed it to Yan Huaiyi, who shook his head to indicate he didn’t smoke, so Sun Weimin lit one for himself.
This small gesture indicated his lack of respect for Yan Huaiyi. He took a puff of smoke and said, "Old Yan, I heard you removed the office director Yang Yunfeng."
Yan Huaiyi didn’t even look at him, "Where... where did you hear such rumors?"
"What? It’s not true?"
Yan Huaiyi said, "He offered on his own to... to step down. In front of everyone in the office, I sincerely tried to persuade him to stay, but he was adamant. Since that’s the case, I... I can’t force him. So, I let him go to external relations."
Sun Weimin cursed Yang Yunfeng in his heart, knowing full well that Yan Huaiyi wanted to replace him but still offered to step down. If that’s not self-destructive, what is? Just gave someone the perfect opportunity to push him off, making Yang Yunfeng the donkey being nudged down the hill.
Sun Weimin said, "It’s inevitable to have emotions on the job. I’m very familiar with Yang Yunfeng. He’s meticulous, responsible, and exceptionally capable, a rare talent."
Yan Huaiyi said, "What’s least... least lacking in this world is talent... The earth spins without anyone. I just don’t believe if he leaves me with a mess... there’s no one who can step up."
Sun Weimin was filled with caution. Yan Jieba’s demeanor had drastically changed today. In the past, he never clearly expressed his opinions, but today, on Yang Yunfeng’s issue, he was so resolute and wouldn’t make any concessions.
Sun Weimin said, "But Old Yan, for a major decision like adjusting the office director, at least we should have a meeting, right? Otherwise, doesn’t it show a lack of respect for our team?"
Yan Huaiyi turned towards Sun Weimin, "What... what do you mean by that, Secretary Sun? Whom did I disrespect? Who do you think I should respect?"
Sun Weimin had never seen him so harsh before. He forced a smile and said, "Old Yan, don’t get upset."
Yan Huaiyi said, "The office director offered... to resign, and as a dean, I can’t approve it? Do I have to consult with each of my deputies, and finally... finally consult with you... the secretary... secretary?"
Sun Weimin cursed silently, "I’m a secretary, not a secretary secretary!"
Now, writing a book is really tough. If I write a Chapter of three thousand words, they say it’s short and weak. If I change it to four thousand, they say the price went up. If I write less, they say I’m out of creativity, if I write more, they say I’m adding filler. No matter what, this third Chapter needs to be posted today. Votes as you please, I’ve given it my best!