38: Then fire him.

When Xu Jia and Chen Qiu were in junior high, Xu Yi had just started the third grade of primary school.

At that time, Xu Jia and Chen Qiu had a very good relationship.

And Xu Yi was just a little tag-along, following them around every day.

In Xu Yi's memory, Chen Qiu filled the niche of an older brother that shouldn't have existed in her life.

An older brother who could take her to play, go crazy, and explore the world.

Back then, if she was bullied by someone.

The first person she thought of wasn't the teacher, nor was it her older sister Xu Jia.

It was Chen Qiu.

During that time, her dependence on Chen Qiu even surpassed that on her older sister Xu Jia.

Later, Xu Jia and Chen Qiu both entered the city's high school and lived on campus.

Xu Yi, who had suddenly lost both her older brother and sister, was depressed for a long time.

When Chen Qiu got into university and went to another province.

Her older sister Xu Jia's contact with him also decreased.

It became even harder for her to see Chen Qiu.

So, when she saw that profile outside the conference room just now.

She spent a while trying to recognize him.

If it hadn't been for Ma Du's respectful “CEO Chen.”

She really wouldn't have dared to confirm it.

Chen Qiu looked at the graceful young woman standing before him.

His eyes were also full of emotion.

In his memory, Xu Yi was still a little sprout.

The last memorable meeting seemed to be when he held his celebration banquet for entering university.

At that time, Xu Yi had just started junior high, and she was small and skinny.

The Xu Yi before him had fully grown into a young woman.

She was wearing a brown professional suit and had her hair tied in a ponytail.

That beautiful and bright face displayed a completely different temperament from her older sister Xu Jia.

Xu Jia was pure and alluring.

Xu Yi was spirited and elegant.

“Yiyi, long time no see.”

Chen Qiu smiled.

That smile carried both nostalgia and emotion.

At Chen Qiu's smile.

Manager Ma, standing nearby, was completely stunned.

His eyes widened, and his gaze darted back and forth between Chen Qiu and Xu Yi.

Finally, he lowered his head, feeling somewhat afraid.

He didn't dare to meet Xu Yi's eyes.

What he feared wasn't the false reporting regarding work just now.

CEO Li could cover up that kind of small matter.

What he feared was the relationship between Xu Yi and Chen Qiu.

“Yiyi?”

“Brother Chen Qiu?”

This form of address was enough to clarify their relationship.

He never would have thought.

A young intern whom he could manipulate and scold at will.

A young woman whom he had even harbored improper thoughts about, trying to take advantage of her.

Was actually the new CEO's... younger sister?

Ma Du recalled the past few days.

Under the guise of guiding her work, he had tried to put his hand on Xu Yi's shoulder and tried to touch her hand.

Although Xu Yi dodged him.

But if Xu Yi reported this incident to Chen Qiu... wouldn't he, Ma Du, be completely finished?

Thinking of this, Ma Du immediately broke out in a sweat.

His entire back was soaked almost instantly.

Panicked and flustered, he could only cast a pleading look toward his boss, Li Cheng.

Li Cheng also looked at Xu Yi with surprise.

He had some impression of this girl.

After all, attractive interns were rare in the company.

As for work ability... Li Cheng hadn't paid attention.

Interns, at most, only handle miscellaneous tasks.

But now, was work ability still important?

It wasn't important anymore.

Her affectionate “Brother Chen Qiu” to Chen Qiu was what mattered.

“Haha, I didn't expect this.”

Li Cheng laughed heartily, stepped forward, and tried to break the strange atmosphere.

“To have an old acquaintance of CEO Chen right here in the company, what fate!”

He turned to Manager Ma, and the smile on his face faded.

He had to quickly define the nature of this matter before Chen Qiu could make trouble.

“Manager Ma, your work performance is inadequate.”

Li Cheng's tone carried a hint of reproach.

“You submitted incomplete data.”

“This is a key municipal project for us. You must never make such a small mistake again!”

He defined “incomplete data” as a “small mistake.”

In his view, no matter how powerful Chen Qiu's background was, he was ultimately just a young man under thirty.

Even with the title of Chief Planner, how many projects could someone this age have been responsible for?

Most likely, he was here to gild his resume and gain experience.

Would a young man gaining experience dare to mess around with a key municipal project like this right off the bat?

Although Ma Du's ability wasn't top-notch, he was a trusted subordinate who had followed him for several years.

If he could protect him, he should.

Li Cheng patted Ma Du's shoulder.

“Ma Du, book a good restaurant tonight and host a welcoming dinner for CEO Chen!”

He gave him a look.

Then, he noticed Ma Du's back was drenched in sweat.

Li Cheng was puzzled.

“It's just missing a few documents. Is there a need to be this terrified?”

“Spineless.”

Just then, Chen Qiu spoke.

His voice was very calm.

“This kind of small mistake does need attention in the future.”

Li Cheng secretly nodded in his heart.

It seemed this young man with the mysterious background was quite mild-mannered.

He knew how to measure things.

This thought had just risen in his mind.

Chen Qiu's voice immediately followed.

“Therefore, Manager Ma, you should seek employment elsewhere.”

“...”

The smile on Li Cheng's face instantly froze.

Ma Du's mind went “buzz” and turned blank.

F... fired?

Li Cheng frowned.

He felt this young man was a bit too aggressive.

“CEO Chen.”

His tone became slightly more serious.

“Ma Du has been traveling a lot recently, visiting several construction sites to verify qualifications, and hasn't rested well.”

“It's inevitable that he would make a small slip-up in his work.”

“I suggest we just deduct his year-end bonus this time...”

As Li Cheng spoke, he secretly kicked Ma Du.

Ma Du woke up as if from a dream.

He staggered, nearly losing his footing.

“CEO Chen! I was wrong! I'm truly sorry!”

“I will definitely take it seriously from now on, be meticulous, I promise...”

He hadn't finished speaking.

Chen Qiu interrupted him directly.

“I think Manager Ma has always been very meticulous when it comes to taking bribes and lining his own pockets.”

Li Cheng's gaze instantly sharpened.

“CEO Chen.”

“Remarks about this subject cannot be made lightly.”

Chen Qiu couldn't be bothered to argue with them.

He simply and calmly stated three names and three numbers.

Every time Chen Qiu said a name.

Ma Du's face grew paler.

When all three names were finished.

Ma Du's face was ashen, like white paper, devoid of any color.

His whole body was trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Li Cheng's heart also sank.

All true?

Damn it!

Li Cheng cursed inwardly.

This Ma Du is too impatient!

The project had just started, and he dared to make his move before anything was finalized!

Moreover... Li Cheng looked at Chen Qiu with uncertainty and suspicion.

How could he know all this so clearly?

Could it have been investigated by Director Wang's side?

Did they want to use this young man to warn him?

Li Cheng's thoughts raced rapidly.

The next moment.

He immediately put on a look of deep distress, pointed at Ma Du, and began to curse him out.

“Ma Du!”

“Is this the guarantee you kept making to me?!”

“You have disappointed me greatly!”

Chen Qiu smiled.

He just quietly watched Li Cheng's performance.

As for why he, a newly appointed CEO, knew all this?

The Walkthrough was no joke.

Let alone Ma Du's petty actions.

Even your actions, Li Cheng, he knows perfectly well.

However, now was not the time to deal with Li Cheng.

Li Cheng still possessed ability.

It wouldn't be too late to make him finish the work and then spit everything out, principal and interest included.

Chen Qiu stood up and walked over to Ma Du.

“Manager Ma.”

“We do not need an engineering manager here who lines his own pockets externally.”

His gaze then turned towards Xu Yi by the door.

“And internally harasses interns.”

“You can proactively go and report yourself to the Disciplinary Committee.”

Chen Qiu's last sentence was not loud.

But to Ma Du's ears, it was like a clap of thunder.

With a 'thump,' his legs gave out, and he immediately knelt on the ground.

“CEO Chen! I was wrong! I'm truly sorry!”

Meanwhile, Xu Yi, standing at the door, was stunned upon hearing the phrase “harasses interns.”

Her entire body froze.

She looked at Chen Qiu, surprised and moved.

“Brother Chen Qiu... how did he know?”