The colleagues who stayed behind at the company weren't exactly Yan Jun's confidants; those who had been sent out on assignment were, because although assignments were more arduous, they afforded more free time and had more perks.
Among them, aside from two veterans who had been at the company for over a year, the rest were newcomers who had been brought in during the past few months. The company had experienced a high turnover rate in the past few years, especially in departments like planning, where there was intense pressure to perform. If not for his contract, Chen Feng certainly would have left a long time ago.
And most people who weren't bound by contracts, of course, left as they pleased.
Now, these few colleagues were holding Chen Feng back, not so much to save Yan Jun, but to avoid escalating the situation. Naturally, they were also afraid that if things got worse, they would be implicated.
Additionally, if they looked on indifferently, Yan Jun would certainly make them suffer afterward.
"Okay, let go. I won't hit him again."
Once Chen Feng said this and struggled a bit, the two people holding his arms let go, but there were still two blocking his path.
At this time, with the help of two others, Yan Jun finally got up from the ground. He wiped his mouth with his hand, which came away bloody from his nosebleed, and he began to tremble with rage, bellowing, "Chen Feng! I'm going to kill you!"
Chen Feng looked at him with scorn and said, "I'm standing right here for you to kill; do you dare?"
"Good, good, good! Let's see if I dare?"
Having just been wildly thrashed by Chen Feng, his face smeared with blood and his dignity lost, Yan Jun couldn't care less about maintaining the image of a department manager.
While gritting his teeth, Yan Jun quickly went over to grab a keyboard from an office desk. He tugged with both hands but couldn't pull it free—the keyboard was still attached to the computer.
Annoyed, Yan Jun yanked again with all his might and this time, he pulled it free, but in doing so, he caused the computer tower to fall to the ground with a clang. Then the monitor toppled over and smashed on the floor; the screen was utterly ruined. Many items on the desk clattered down as well.
It was like tearing the place apart.
Now that was awkward!
The fearful aura Yan Jun had just exuded instantly deflated. Recalling the ferocity of Chen Feng's attack, his resolve weakened even further.
Chen Feng had nothing to lose, while Yan Jun had his high monthly salary, a car, a house, a family, and children; he couldn't afford to fight to the death.
But now that he had already lifted the keyboard, to back down halfway would be too embarrassing.
Yan Jun quickly looked at one of his subordinates with a meaningful glance, hoping to get him to intervene so he could back down with some dignity.
But the subordinate completely misunderstood his glance, thinking he was being told to get out of the way. He promptly moved aside, signaling that he wasn't blocking Yan Jun from wielding the keyboard as a weapon.
At that moment, Yan Jun was dumbstruck. He silently cursed the idiot, etching the face of this newcomer in his memory.
The newcomer, thinking he had done the right thing, gave Yan Jun a shy smile.
Yan Jun felt so angry it hurt, his hands awkwardly holding the keyboard.
Noticing his cowardice, Chen Feng mocked him, "Yan Jun, your legs are shaking already? You're the kind who can only plot and scheme behind people's backs. When it comes to a fight, you're nothing but a jellyfish. Someone like you definitely can't satisfy his wife. I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up putting several green hats on you."
"Chen Feng! Fuck your mother!" Yan Jun was enraged to the point of explosion because Chen Feng had truly hit a nerve; indeed, he couldn't satisfy his wife, and it had been a concern for quite some time. The fear of his wife being unfaithful had always plagued him.
Chen Feng was bringing up exactly what shouldn't be mentioned.
"Help me hold him down!" Yan Jun shouted furiously, commanding his subordinates and promising them rewards, "Help me hold him down and your bonus next month will be doubled. I'll make sure to give you a big promotion later."
The monthly bonus alone amounted to several hundred yuan, a very tangible benefit. As for the big promotions, although they were not entirely believable, they were still better than being sabotaged.
Immediately, the few people present began to hesitate, looking at each other.
Chen Feng, however, remained calm and said with a smile, "Yan Jun, are you trying to drag others down with you? Others might not know, but do you think we're unaware of how you show favoritism, secretly accept various perks from clients, line your cronies' pockets, take bribes, and harm the company's interests? You're bound to end up in jail sooner or later for this, and yet you're trying to drag others down too?"
"You... you damned well stop slandering me."
Yan Jun immediately lost his composure, feeling very guilty. He thought that he had been careful in his dealings over the past two years, with only himself and a few trusted subordinates in the know and was caught off guard by Chen Feng's blunt accusation.
"What's wrong? Scared? Feeling guilty?"
Chen Feng looked at him with a mocking smile.
Yan Jun was indeed frightened and guilt-ridden. How else could he have been living so comfortably in the provincial capital city of Xiu Zhou these past two years? It certainly wasn't on his annual salary of just over a hundred thousand yuan.
"Chen Feng, don't you freaking accuse me falsely. I've done nothing wrong and stand upright. Do you think people are going to believe you just because you throw out a few baseless accusations?"
Yan Jun said this, but the keyboard he had been holding up was now put down, and he no longer mentioned having his men hold Chen Feng down.
Chen Feng said with a sneer, "Have you forgotten that I used to be the deputy manager too? Your little tricks might deceive others, but they can't hide from someone who has been in your position. Understand?"
Upon hearing these words from Chen Feng, Yan Jun felt his brain buzzing again. He knew his own affairs; he had skimmed plenty off the top in the past two years.
For example, a planning proposal originally priced at one million yuan, but after taking a one hundred thousand yuan kickback from the client, he only reported eight hundred thousand to the company, claiming the client was good at bargaining. This was clearly detrimental to the company's interests.
Another method involved colluding with the project manager on the client's side; a proposal worth one million could have sufficed, but with the project manager wanting a kickback, the quote was hiked up to one and a half million, ensuring Yan Jun got a hefty "management fee."
These two methods were the most common operations and could be considered industry's unwritten rules. There were other more complex ways of skimming off the top as well.
In any case, his gray income for the past two years had been several times his actual salary.
Of course, these actions were criminal, and being caught would definitely result in jail time. Although he believed he wouldn't be caught, he didn't dare take the risk.
Especially if Chen Feng, someone in the know, decided to blow the whistle, there would be no way Yan Jun could escape the consequences.
"Chen Feng, considering you once mentored me, let's just forget today's incident. Consider it repayment for the kindness you showed me back then. As for the bonus and performance issues, I won't make things difficult for you anymore. Let's put an end to this matter. Let it be."
Yan Jun was decisive and chose to compromise for the moment. Making a scene would do him no good.
It was best to stabilize Chen Feng for now and think of a way to deal with him privately later.
Of course, Chen Feng didn't want to let him off so easily. They had already crossed the point of no return; where was the room for sentiment?
Moreover, even though he had just given Yan Jun a beating, the anger he had suppressed for two years was far from being vented.
"Wait!"
"Wait!"
Two voices sounded at the same time. Surprised, Chen Feng looked toward the door and saw Mr. Cao, the company's general manager, walking in with several other executives, followed by a woman in her thirties, exuding a sharp and commanding presence.
Mr. Cao's complexion was terrible, his already dark skin appeared even darker now.