Upon arriving at the General Affairs Department, Han Qian encountered no difficulties. The supervisor, a woman in her mid-thirties surnamed Yang, was gentle and mild in temperament. The department housed around a dozen employees, most of whom were of similar age to Han Qian. The deputy supervisor, however, was an oily middle-aged man of about forty.
Throughout the morning, Han Qian silently observed the atmosphere of the department.
Leisurely.
Overwhelmingly so.
There was little to do—occasional document deliveries to other departments punctuated an otherwise languid routine. Some watched movies, others played games. But this idleness brought Han Qian no comfort. He lacked the privilege to enjoy such ease. His aspirations lay in the Planning Department, where he believed true opportunities awaited. Compared to the battleground that was Planning, this place resembled a retirement home.
As noon approached, and no one made a move toward lunch, Han Qian rose and softly asked a colleague how meals were typically handled here.
"Hungry? Let's go together. I'd rather not eat alone anyway."
The colleague was amicable. On their way to the first-floor cafeteria, they exchanged brief introductions. The young man was named Su Liang, slightly younger than Han Qian and only two months into the job. He, too, was unclear about the department's responsibilities.
"Printing a few documents a day seems to be the bulk of it," Su Liang remarked. "But Sister Yang is always busy, though no one knows exactly with what."
At the cafeteria, they encountered Manager Song Qing from Human Resources. After exchanging friendly greetings, Han Qian ordered a rice meal, while Su Liang chose a bowl of beef noodles. Just as they were about to eat, Song Qing approached with two bottles of juice.
Placing a bottle before Han Qian, she offered an apologetic smile.
"Han Qian… Actually, General Manager Yan is a good person. I heard you've been transferred to General Affairs. I'm sorry about that—your contract was indeed for Planning. But this department has its merits. It was established by GM Yan herself. It's calm now, but when things get busy, the work is substantial. Still, if you're unwilling to stay, I can arrange for your transfer back to Planning in a few days."
Han Qian responded with a calm smile.
"Returning to Planning would be ideal, but I won't press the matter. It was GM Yan's personal directive this morning, and I can't very well refuse. I just wish to make the most of my youth—work hard and learn. If it's possible, I'd appreciate your help."
Song Qing shook her head with a gentle smile.
"It's no trouble—it's my job. Enjoy your meal; I have other matters to attend to."
"Other matters" at noon? Han Qian chuckled, nodded, and rose to see her off. As he returned, Su Liang glanced at the juice bottles and spoke quietly.
"Brother Qian, not keen on General Affairs? It's an easy gig—less stress, higher pay than most departments. Why bother with the strain of Planning? But if you'd rather not say, forget I asked. I'm just curious about what happened between you and GM Yan. Heh heh."
Han Qian sighed with a wry smile.
"When I first arrived, unfamiliar with the layout, I nearly collided with her. Didn't know who she was, and we had quite the shouting match."
Su Liang's expression changed immediately. He leaned forward and whispered, "Was it you who fought with GM Yan by the elevator the other day? I heard someone even pulled her hair…"
"If you mean last Friday, then yes, that would be me. Enough gossip—eat your noodles."
"You're a hero, Brother Qian!"
Su Liang offered a dramatic salute before diving into his meal, utterly unconcerned about potential consequences. Whether it was indifference or an easygoing nature, Han Qian couldn't tell. But he himself could no longer smile.
A troubling thought struck him—was Song Qing's visit truly an apology? Or had she been sent by GM Yan to sound him out? If so, trouble loomed. Yan Qingqing would never let him return to Planning.
Melancholy settled in.
And Han Qian's suspicion was well-founded.
After leaving the cafeteria, Song Qing jogged to the fourteenth floor and paused outside the general manager's office. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.
"GM Yan—ah!"
Before she could finish, a file folder came hurtling past, grazing her waist. Frozen in place, Song Qing dared not move. Yan Qingqing's eyes blazed with fury.
"Is the Planning Department filled with idiots? This is their proposal? Do they think everyone else is a fool? If this project is earmarked for us, Changxiang will bury us during bidding! Who builds a commercial complex next to a pedestrian street? Do they think we'll sell apartments to people watching planes take off from there?"
Song Qing retrieved the folder and set it back on the desk before retreating several paces.
Yan Qingqing, fuming, dialed a number. The response she received only exacerbated her frustration.
Vice President Wen from Changxiang had leveraged family connections to steer clear of this financial trap. Now, with Changxiang out, the burden would fall to Rongyao. Only two major real estate firms remained in the city, and the authorities would never hand the project to a smaller player—nor would the smaller firms dare touch it.
Drained, Yan Qingqing slumped onto her desk, chin resting atop it, and gazed helplessly at Song Qing.
"Sister Song, what do I do? All we need now is an official decree to force Rongyao to take this cursed project. It's a guaranteed loss… but what's the use of asking you?"
Song Qing offered an awkward smile, eyes lowered.
"GM Yan, planning isn't exactly my expertise. Perhaps you should consult Vice President Kang."
"Him? He'd love nothing more than to see me fail. By the way, what about Han Qian? I still feel a little guilty about shuffling him to General Affairs."
Exhausted, Yan Qingqing's voice had lost its usual vigor. Song Qing, recalling Han Qian's demeanor, replied softly:
"I looked into his background. His academic records are fabricated, but he infiltrated Changxiang and made a name for himself in their Planning Department within a year. It seems he later became a private consultant to someone influential. He still wants to join Planning, though he's not overly insistent. He's surprisingly mature for his age."
"Planning, huh? I feel like burning that department to the ground—he wants to self-immolate there? Wait, he actually knows planning?"
"He seemed to during his interview."
"Fine. Go back to your work. Tell Xiao Yang to inform Planning I want a revised proposal. Have the Project Department give me a preliminary analysis ASAP. If they don't deliver, no one's going home tonight. And make sure dinner is arranged for them."
Song Qing nodded and tiptoed from the office.