Shine on Me

Taking leave on the same day was naturally impossible. I worked overtime to finish the budget report and the next morning, placed the typed leave request along with the report on Lin Yusen's desk.

I thought my leave request would be quietly approved like everyone else's, but I was being too naive...

As soon as Lin Yusen arrived, I was summoned into his office.

"Why are you requesting leave?"

"Uh, I'm not feeling well."

Lin Yusen looked up.

His gaze swept over me from head to toe in a scrutinizing manner: "Unfortunately, I used to be a doctor. I really can't see any signs of discomfort on you."

I reflexively asked, "Are you a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?"

Otherwise, how would he know the diagnostic method of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking?

Unexpectedly, as soon as I finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed drastically, and the look he gave me turned icy cold. I froze. He averted his gaze and said in a restrained voice, "I won't approve your leave. You may leave now."

Dejectedly, I walked out of his office with the leave request in hand. Yin Jie approached me: "Did you get the leave approved?"

I looked at her seriously and asked, "Are you a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?"

Yin Jie replied blankly, "No, are you having a seizure?"

"Would you get angry if you heard this question?"

"Why would I? At most, I'd think you're crazy."

Exactly! But why did Lin Yusen react as if I had stepped on a landmine? I sighed, tore up the leave request, threw it in the trash, and decided to keep a low profile for the next few days.

However, the tree may prefer calm, but the wind will not cease. The following days turned out to be even more eventful.

It all started when Yin Jie discovered that we were being discriminated against.

"This is too much! She just joined the company but was assigned to Building A. Even if that room became vacant because someone left, we should have priority since we joined earlier. It's just because she has connections—she's related to the department head. This is infuriating! The logistics department is way out of line."

The two company dormitory buildings, A and B, had different conditions. Building A had two people per room, with private bathrooms and washing machines, among other amenities, making it much better. Building B had four or eight people per room, with shared bathrooms and showers. When we joined, the logistics department said Building A was full, so we were assigned to Building B. But recently, Yin Jie found out that an HR employee who joined after us was assigned to Building A.

Now, she was fuming in the dormitory.

"What should we do? No way we're letting this slide. I'm going to protest with the logistics department!"

Yu Hua, though usually mild-mannered, wasn't one to take unfair treatment lying down either. She nodded and said, "Right, let's file a complaint."

Yin Jie frowned. "I'm just worried a complaint won't do anything. They might drag their feet, and by the time anything happens, she'll have been living there for ages. Would they really force her to move out then?"

After thinking for a moment, I said, "Why don't we just go straight to Vice President Lin? Back when I was in the finance department, the section head specifically told new employees to come to him with any work or living issues."

Yu Hua nodded. "Our supervisor said something similar, but... go to the vice president?"

"Of course! Yin Jie and I are from the management department, and you're from the marketing department. Technically, we're all under his direct leadership. Who else should we go to?"

Remembering how he always nonchalantly ordered me around, making me work overtime and run errands, I suddenly felt this idea was completely justified!Yu Hua was thoughtful and tended to overanalyze: "Maybe we shouldn't. That person is related to the department head. Would Vice President Lin resent us for causing trouble and making things difficult for him?"

She had a point... If our direct supervisor thought we were being unreasonable, that would be disastrous.

My mindset was different from theirs, which was why I could speak so casually. Realizing this, I felt a bit ashamed and quickly said, "How about this—you two write the complaint, and I'll go talk to Vice President Lin."

Yin Jie immediately objected: "No way. If we're doing this, we go together, or no one goes."

Yu Hua nodded in agreement.

I made up a random excuse to persuade them: "No need. I'll go alone. If too many of us go, the VP might think we're pressuring him."

Anyway, with so many debts already, one more wouldn't matter. I wasn't worried at all about Lin Yusen forming any negative opinions of me over this. In fact, within reasonable limits, I found I was actually happy to give him a little trouble. And something this minor could hardly be considered trouble for him...

However, the next morning, Lin Yusen was absent all morning. I waited and waited until around 3 or 4 PM when his figure finally appeared at the office door. I immediately rushed up to him excitedly.

"Vice President, do you have a moment now?"

His steps paused as his gaze swept over my face. Without saying a word, he walked straight to his office. After a moment's hesitation, I followed him inside.

Only after entering did he speak...

"Close the door. What is it?"

I went to shut the door first. When I turned around, I happened to see him take off his suit jacket and casually toss it aside.

Today he was wearing a rather formal suit that made him look exceptionally distinguished. When he had walked through the main office earlier, he had drawn everyone's attention. Now with the jacket discarded, he stood by the desk in just a crisp white shirt, pouring tea with his head slightly bowed. The black cufflinks peeked subtly from his sleeves, and his every movement was a pleasure to watch.

I suddenly remembered people saying he used to be a surgeon. I wondered what he looked like wearing a white coat and holding a scalpel...

The sound of voices from the main office outside snapped me out of my reverie. I realized with a start that I'd been spacing out. Yet even though I wasn't speaking, he didn't hurry me either, standing there silently with a calm expression as he let me look him over. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I quickly explained the dormitory situation.

He lowered his gaze. "You came to me for something like this?"

"Y-yes."

He took a quiet sip of tea, his composed expression revealing nothing. Then he turned to set down the teacup and picked up the phone.

Soon the logistics director arrived. I ran out to fetch Yin Jie and Yu Hua too.

The logistics director immediately apologized to us, saying things like "this was entirely our oversight in work" and so on. Yin Jie, ever the diplomat, promptly expressed understanding, saying things like "we're causing trouble for your department."

Even Yu Hua, who usually struggled with social interactions, managed to force a stiff smile...

The atmosphere was harmonious all around.

Then the logistics director raised a tricky question—there was only one dormitory with two beds, but there were three of us. What should we do?

We had never considered this problem and were momentarily stunned.

But clearly, we had no say in the matter. Lin Yusen made the decision with a single sentence: "Yin Jie and Wan Yuhua will move."

The logistics director naturally had no objections: "Understood. Please both fill out transfer requests when convenient, and we'll arrange it as soon as possible."Yin Jie and Yu Hua exchanged a glance before stepping forward together. "Vice President, we—"

Lin Yusen didn't give them a chance to finish.

"That's enough on this matter. Nie Xiguang, you stay."

Yin Jie and Yu Hua shot me a worried look. I shook my head, and they had no choice but to leave quietly.

The office fell silent. Lin Yusen leaned back in his chair. "Miss Nie, do you have any objections to how I handled this?"

For a moment, I didn't notice the change in how he addressed me. I shook my head. "No."

"I thought as much." He nodded, his gaze gradually taking on a mocking tone. "Since Miss Nie seems intent on traveling incognito, I presume you wouldn't mind living conditions that are... closer to the common people."