The Epoch of Miyu

Ji Feng looked at Xu Miyu and asked mockingly, "What makes you so sure I'm helping you or making amends?"

Hearing his words, Xu Miyu froze momentarily.

"Is... isn't that the case...?" she stammered.

"So you came to me now because you feel the compensation for one night isn't enough?"

As Ji Feng posed the question, a mocking smile spread unabashedly across his lips. He deliberately framed it crudely, wanting to embarrass Xu Miyu and force himself to confront what happened last night.

He sought to alleviate some of the self-loathing she had stirred in him by making her feel ashamed.

He was pleased to see uncertainty, humiliation, and the struggle to maintain composure flash across Xu Miyu's face. His words had stung her.

He thought perhaps in the next moment she would, like his mother, transform at the brink of endurance into a hysterical, resentful woman.

But she surprised him.

She appeared so fragile, yet she endured more than his mother ever could.

From her weakness, she even summoned a stubborn composure. Lifting her head, she met his gaze directly and said, "Mr. Ji, last night was an accident. I don't need any compensation, and I must return the money your assistant Xue gave me."

After saying this, she raised her chin slightly, and a newfound, desperate courage flickered in her eyes. With this expression, she added, "And strictly speaking, I didn't lose out last night. Perhaps you were the one at a disadvantage. Maybe I should be the one compensating you!"

Ji Feng stared at Xu Miyu, taken aback by her words. She was actually defending her dignity.

He had assumed she was too cowardly to possess such a thing.

She even suggested that he might have been the one at a loss and that she should compensate him.

Ji Feng was so infuriated he was momentarily speechless.

She really had the nerve!

On the other side, after stating her position, Xu Miyu quickly reached into her pocket to retrieve the bank card, intending to return the money to Ji Feng face-to-face before he could say anything else harsh.

When her hand emerged, it held a folded bill with the card tucked inside.

But as she unfolded the bill, Xu Miyu froze in shock.

It wasn't the bank card inside—it was a used phone recharge card! Jiao Xiumei didn't know how to recharge her phone online and always bought these prepaid cards to top up her balance.

Xu Miyu stood there, stunned.

She forced herself to think hard: if what she had was a used recharge card, where was the bank card now??

Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would shatter her chest. The bank card must still be with Jiao Xiumei... Jiao Xiumei had taken it...

A cold, despairing realization washed over Xu Miyu. No wonder Jiao Xiumei hadn't come looking for her after work—she must have discovered the bank card too!

And just moments ago, Xu Miyu had acted so confidently about returning the card and money...

It was all her fault. After the shock of last night's sudden events, her mind had been in a daze. She thought she had retrieved the bank card and, not daring to check it in front of Jiao Xiumei, had stuffed it into her pocket. Afterward, she had been too distracted to double-check. Who would have thought it would be such a coincidence that Jiao Xiumei had a recharge card mixed in, passing for the real thing?

Xu Miyu desperately commanded herself to stay calm amid her panic. She had no idea how to face Ji Feng next.She spoke of repaying the money, suggesting that perhaps she should be the one compensating him. But after her bold declaration, she couldn’t produce her bank card. Instead, what she pulled out was a used prepaid card.

The scene was utterly absurd and ridiculous.

What must he think of her?

With that thought, her mind descended into chaos again. The stubbornness and confidence she had mustered to defend her dignity crumbled away. Embarrassed, she forced out the words, “I’m sorry,” and then steeled herself to explain, “I didn’t know my bank card had been replaced with a prepaid card…”

Even as she said it, she found the explanation absurd. Hoping to salvage some dignity, she tried to smile calmly, as if to show she wasn’t lying. But her smile trembled, on the verge of shattering.

In response to her fragile smile, Ji Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.

He watched Xu Miyu intently, observing her rare display of defiance and the rapid shifts in her expressions, trying to see through what he perceived as a deliberate act of playing hard to get and attempting to bewitch him.

But in the end, he grew frustrated, realizing her performance was flawless—she genuinely seemed to want to repay the money. It was just an unfortunate coincidence that her bank card had inexplicably turned into a prepaid card.

Ji Feng curled his lips in a mocking sneer.

His parents’ relationship was already enough to irritate him, and now this woman was adding to his annoyance.

Impatiently, he stood up, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. He looked down at the woman before him, his gaze reducing her to the dust. Coldly, he said, “Once I give money, I never take it back. If you don’t want it, throw it away or donate it—it’s up to you. That two hundred thousand is to sever all ties between us. Remember, from now on, keep the money, do your job as a supervisor, and don’t show up in front of me again.”

He leaned in closer to Xu Miyu, narrowing his eyes to scrutinize the forced composure on her face, while making sure she saw the undisguised disgust on his.

“Remember, from now on, I don’t want to see you again.”

In the gentlest of tones, he delivered the harshest of warnings.

Xu Miyu listened to Ji Feng’s warning, feeling the oppressive weight of his presence.

She instinctively took a step back.

Steadying herself, she straightened her neck and replied to Ji Feng, “I don’t want to see you again either! And no matter whether I find the card or not, I will find a way to repay you! If I ever earn more money in the future, rest assured, I’ll compensate you too!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Ji Feng’s expression shift. He seemed furious, his eyes narrowing in anger. But he only glared at her briefly before turning and walking away, as if he couldn’t be bothered to argue with her any further.

As he strode off, he tossed a mocking remark over his shoulder after putting some distance between them.

“Then I hope you keep your word!”

Xu Miyu watched Ji Feng walk away until his figure disappeared, and then her entire body slumped.

She stood rooted to the spot, at a loss.

Below the terrace, the swimming pool lit up with colorful lights, followed by rhythmic music. Someone was hosting a pool party.

The boisterous joy from the poolside made Xu Miyu, standing alone in the corner of the terrace, feel even more isolated and helpless.

This city would never shine a spotlight on someone who was lost. This hotel would never halt its revelry and luxury for anyone’s sorrow.Xu Miyu stood dazedly, listening to the joyful clamor drifting from the swimming pool. That kind of happiness had once been hers too. But now, it felt like a luxury she couldn’t afford.

How could she even think about experiencing joy when she hadn’t yet figured out how to live properly?

Xu Miyu turned and broke into a jog, fleeing the cheerful noise that didn’t belong to her. She ran off the terrace, out of the hotel, and came to a stop on the street.

Cars flowed like a river, streaming along the urban riverbed of the city’s nighttime roads.

She took out her phone and dialed Jiao Xiumei’s number.

She confronted Jiao Xiumei, “Did you take one of my bank cards at noon? Don’t touch it—the money in it isn’t mine. You need to give it back to me right away!”

She had to return the money to Ji Feng.

But Jiao Xiumei remained unmoved, even sounding delighted as she replied, “You’re always so stubborn. This card was clearly meant for me. The PIN was written on the back, and after you left for work at noon, I checked at an ATM—there’s exactly 200,000 yuan in it! See? Isn’t this the 200,000 you prepared for your brother?”

Xu Miyu’s voice trembled, almost breaking into tears as she pleaded, “Please give the card back to me. That 200,000 really isn’t mine! How about this—I promise I’ll find a way to slowly gather 200,000 for you in the future, but for now, you absolutely cannot touch the money in this card. You have to return it to me!”

Jiao Xiumei paid no attention to her words, sticking to her own interpretation: “I know, this might be your emergency savings. You’re reluctant to part with it, and now that you’ve given it up, you’re having second thoughts and want it back. Oh, you difficult child!” Jiao Xiumei’s throat seemed to house multiple vocal cords—furious, coaxing, threatening, persuasive—switching between them effortlessly. Now, in her gentle tone, she was a world apart from the woman who had threatened to jump to her death at noon.

“Third Daughter, deep down, you do care about your mother. You just couldn’t bear to watch me really die in front of you.”

Then, her tone shifted abruptly: “Third Daughter, I’ve always said you’re cunning and full of tricks. If I hadn’t threatened to kill myself, you’d never have willingly handed over the money. When did you turn into such a sponge, only squeezing out drops when pressed? Enough now, we’re family. Let’s not hold grudges overnight. This matter is over, alright? I’m not angry with you, so stop making a fuss. But next time I ask you for money, just give it willingly. Let’s not have these life-and-death dramas between us—it’s bad for our relationship!”

Xu Miyu gripped her phone, letting out a cold laugh. Her teeth chattered, and her entire body trembled.

“I really wonder—do you have any genuine feelings for me? Do you care so little that you’d push me to my death without a second thought? Ms. Jiao, may I ask—am I really your biological daughter? Why have you treated me like this my whole life? Today, I need to make one thing clear: no matter what, you have to return that 200,000 to me. Don’t force me to call the police!”Jiao Xiumei's vocal cords instantly switched to the furious mode. "What? Call the police? Go ahead, I dare you! You’ve really gotten full of yourself! Don’t think I don’t know anything—the police don’t interfere in family matters. Even if they come, they’ll just tell the family to sort it out themselves. Trying to scare me with the police? I’ve really spoiled you rotten! Let me make this clear to you, Little Extra: I’ve already withdrawn the money from the card, and I’ve snapped the card in half. So just give up on getting it back! And now you’ve learned to talk tough to me? I’ve really let you develop some bad habits!" She launched into a tirade, scolding Xu Miyu nonstop.

Xu Miyu moved the phone away from her ear but didn’t hang up. Expressionless, she walked into a small outdoor noodle stall by the street and ordered the cheapest bowl of plain noodles. She ate quietly.

By the time she finished her meal, Jiao Xiumei had finally vented her anger and hung up.

Xu Miyu lowered her head to sip the noodle soup. Staring blankly into the broth, she wondered why her mother was so biased.

She had always yearned for attention and validation from her family. This desire had been like a belief, sustaining her through repeated compromises and self-sacrifice.

But now that belief was beginning to waver and shatter.

What had all her sacrifices and efforts ultimately brought her?

Not validation, not affirmation, not the warmth of familial love.

Only her mother’s continued favoritism and endless dissatisfaction.

She began to doubt whether it was even right to seek affection and recognition from this family.

Who could teach her how to break free from a mother who clung to her like a leech, sucking her dry?

Two teardrops fell into the noodle soup without her even noticing. She lied to herself, pretending the salty bitterness came from the broth—she wasn’t crying.

Putting down the bowl, she lifted her head and gazed at the dark sky, thinking, "No matter how difficult it is, I must find a way to repay Ji Feng those 200,000 yuan."

**

When Xu Miyu returned to the dormitory, the other three were still discussing who would become the new team leader.

Luo Qingping made no attempt to hide her ambition, openly telling the others, "I’ll be honest with you—before my shift ended, I sent self-recommendation emails to both the supervisor and the manager. Given the current situation on our floor, I’m more qualified than any of you. I hope you have the self-awareness not to compete with me."

Ke Wenxue teased her sarcastically, "Oh, my dear Team Leader Luo, your dream of becoming an official finally has a chance to come true, huh?"

Yin Xiang nudged her arm, warning her not to offend the person most likely to become the new team leader.

"Be careful—if she really becomes the team leader, she might assign you the dirtiest rooms on the work roster!" Yin Xiang whispered as softly as possible to Ke Wenxue.

Ke Wenxue caught on and immediately switched sides, turning from sarcasm to flattery with jarring abruptness: "But, Pingping, I genuinely admire your frankness—it’s so upright!" She gave Luo Qingping a thumbs-up.

Just then, Xu Miyu entered the dormitory. Seizing the moment, Ke Wenxue turned to her and said, "Sister Xu, you’re back? Yin Xiang and I were just saying how Pingping has such an honest heart. She wants to be team leader—so what? She never hides her intentions. Hiding things and scheming in secret—that’s what shady people do, right, Sister Xu?"

Xu Miyu froze in the doorway, unsure how to respond.For a moment, she even suspected that Ke Wenxue knew everything and was speaking with hidden meanings.

But soon she realized Ke Wenxue was just making casual conversation.

Because Ke Wenxue directly pulled her over. Ke Wenxue invited her to snack on sunflower seeds while speculating about potential candidates for the team leader position.

"Sister Xu, besides Pingping, do you think there are any other possible candidates for our new team leader?"

Xu Miyu pressed her lips together, unable to utter a word.

Anything said now would sound hypocritical when reflected upon tomorrow.

She could only say: "Perhaps it will be announced tomorrow."

Ke Wenxue immediately asked: "That soon? Sister Xu, have you heard some rumors?"

Xu Miyu froze, truly unsure how to respond. She realized her words were too clumsy to handle both present and future situations.

Yin Xiang chimed in: "You're asking Sister Xu about something even you, the gossip queen, aren't sure of? She just arrived not long ago. Aren't you making things difficult for her?"

Ke Wenxue immediately agreed: "That's true actually. No matter who becomes team leader, it shouldn't affect Sister Xu much since she just passed her probation period."

She clapped her hands and began gathering the sunflower seed shells: "Forget it, let's wait and see. Maybe it really will be Pingping. Starting tomorrow, I'll try to butter you up, Pingping! Hope you won't hold past grievances against me and take good care of me!"

Luo Qingping ignored her, only emitting a confident hum.

For some reason, after hearing the conversation between Ke Wenxue and Luo Qingping, Xu Miyu felt unsettled all evening.

The next day at work, the supervisor personally came to hold the morning meeting.

The first thing she announced was:

"Come, let me announce the new team leader candidate - she's your colleague, Xu Miyu! Come on, Miyu, come say a few words to everyone. Didn't I tell you before leaving work yesterday? You should have been somewhat prepared! Come on, quickly say a few words to everyone!"

As the supervisor's words fell, Xu Miyu's heart sank to the bottom.

All her unease seemed to suddenly break free, swarming out from her chest.

She saw everyone casting surprised looks at her.

She saw Luo Qingping widening her eyes, glaring at her as if she were a mortal enemy.

She saw Ke Wenxue and Yin Xiang, both wearing expressions of shock and betrayal.

She wondered what to do - it seemed in that instant, she had offended everyone.

Xu Miyu had absolutely no experience speaking in front of crowds. Steeling herself, she went to the front mustering all her courage and strength, but only managed to stammer out eight words: "Thank you everyone, I will work hard."

After she finished, the supervisor clapped to show support. But no one joined in, making the applause suddenly become awkward and isolated.

The supervisor stopped clapping after two attempts.

"Alright then, everyone wait here while I and your Team Leader Xu arrange today's work schedule. Come, Xu Miyu, come with me to the office. I'll guide you for two days to show you what the team leader needs to be responsible for daily."

As she spoke, she prepared to leave with Xu Miyu.

At that moment, Luo Qingping slammed the table and stood up.She stepped in front of the supervisor and Xu Miyu, her face dark with anger, and demanded, "Supervisor Yang, I think we need an explanation from you. Why is she the team leader? How long has she even been here? How can someone who just became a regular employee get promoted to team leader? Any one of us here is more qualified than this newcomer, right? Or is it just because she's the oldest?"

Being questioned so publicly, the supervisor’s expression turned unpleasant. She retorted, "Is it that you all need an explanation, or is it just you who needs one?"

Luo Qingping answered directly, "Yes, it’s me. I think I should be the one to take on the team leader role. I’m not convinced that she got it!"

The supervisor laughed, a faint trace of mockery in her tone. "You think? Who do you think you are, Huang Xiaoming? Do you also think you should be the chairman of the board at Siwei Hotel? Step aside. If you can do the job, do it well. If you don’t want to, go home. There’s no room for all your 'I think' nonsense. If you’re not convinced, take it up with higher-ups. Xu Miyu’s appointment came directly from above."

With that, the supervisor brushed aside Luo Qingping, who was seething with discontent, and led Xu Miyu to the office.

On the way, Xu Miyu’s already trembling heart sank even further.

Whether intentional or not, the supervisor had openly revealed many things, as if deliberately making enemies for her, the newly appointed leader. Her words had clearly implied to everyone: Xu Miyu has connections with the higher-ups; she got the team leader position through the back door.

Anxiously, Xu Miyu thought that this would only make it even harder for others to accept her.

Xu Miyu soon realized she was right. No one respected her as the suddenly promoted team leader.

Their attitudes toward her instructions and tasks varied—some pretended not to hear and ignored her; others said they understood but secretly did nothing, feigning compliance; some outright refused to follow orders, bluntly stating, "I don’t want to do this job, don’t ask me."

Despite the differing attitudes, the outcome was the same—none of them accepted Xu Miyu’s authority.

Under this oppressive atmosphere, Xu Miyu spent the entire day anxious and unsettled, unable to eat a single bite.

During her lunch break, she had to step outside the hotel to make a phone call and deal with Jiao Xiumei.

She demanded that Jiao Xiumei return the bank card by express delivery, or she would really call the police. Jiao Xiumei hung up on her.

Furious and hurt, Xu Miyu stood by the roadside, trembling all over.

She resolved that, no matter what, she wouldn’t compromise this time. That 200,000 yuan had always been unclear in origin, and if Jiao Xiumei seized and kept it, it would only become even more dubious.

Steeling herself, she went straight to the nearest police station and asked an officer what she should do if her mother had taken her money. Could she report it? Would the police help her get the money back?

The officer asked her, "First, can you prove the money is yours? That it belongs solely to you and not to any family members?"

Xu Miyu was stunned. The bank account wasn’t under her name; she couldn’t prove it.

She stammered, "The money is in a card under someone else’s name, and my family member took the card. I want it back. Comrade, can you tell me what I should do?"The staff member told her: "You need to be able to prove the money is yours. We suggest you contact the bank card holder and have him come forward to reclaim the funds, or have the card holder confirm that the card and the money in it were indeed given to you and have nothing to do with your family. Additionally, if the amount is relatively large, it may involve whether the cardholder’s transfer to you constitutes hidden income or tax evasion. In that case, we would also need to coordinate with the tax authorities to investigate the source and use of the funds. Roughly how much money is in that card of yours?"

Xu Miyu’s heart began to race, and she quickly replied that it wasn’t much. She hadn’t expected the situation to be so complicated. She thought Ji Feng would never help her prove that the money was given to her—he probably wished never to see her or speak to her again. She also didn’t want to cause Ji Feng trouble by having the reason for the transfer and tax-related issues investigated because of this matter.

She walked out of the police station, momentarily unsure of what to do.

Lunch break was almost over, so she had to hurry back to work. The entire afternoon was as unbearable as the morning, and her colleagues’ attitude toward her remained just as defiant.

Returning to the dormitory after work in the evening, Xu Miyu felt even worse. She noticed that Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue, whom she had just begun to grow closer to, had become distant toward her. They no longer warmly invited her to chat, and there was even a hint of wariness in their interactions.

Luo Qingping, on the other hand, made no effort to conceal her hostility and rejection, displaying it at every moment.

As soon as Xu Miyu stepped into the dormitory, Luo Qingping began her sarcastic remarks.

"Oh, the great supervisor still deigns to live with us lowly commoners? Must be beneath your dignity, huh?"

"Supervisor Xu, why don’t the three of us move out and make space for you to live more comfortably?"

"Supervisor Xu, who knew you had connections up top? Why not just have the higher-ups fire all of us? Let us see how powerful you really are!"

Xu Miyu didn’t want to confront Luo Qingping directly. She tried to explain calmly, "I don’t have any connections up there. I was just as surprised as anyone when I was made supervisor, really." After saying this, she grabbed her toiletries and retreated into the bathroom.

Standing inside the bathroom, she could hear Luo Qingping’s simmering anger, which hadn’t subsided despite Xu Miyu’s attempt to avoid conflict.

Instead, Luo Qingping raised her voice even louder, deliberately ensuring Xu Miyu could hear every word from the bathroom.

Luo Qingping then approached Ke Wenxue and Yin Xiang, stirring up their negative emotions and trying to form an alliance against Xu Miyu.

She first provoked Ke Wenxue: "You always said she was older, had an unhappy family, and deserved pity. Well, Ke Wenxue, take a good look now. Does she still seem pitiful to you? Maybe you should pity yourself instead! Look how long you’ve been here, and how quickly she rose to become your supervisor. Do you still feel sorry for her?"

Xu Miyu heard Ke Wenxue’s resentful voice from outside: "I’ve really run into a ghost after walking too many dark paths! Those of us who love gossiping can’t stand people who hide their schemes. How can we ever feel safe chatting freely again? This is so annoying!"

Xu Miyu’s heart sank. She was certain that her sudden promotion had offended Ke Wenxue. Ke Wenxue would no longer see her as one of them.

She now pinned her hopes on Yin Xiang, hoping Yin Xiang wouldn’t push her away as someone detestable. After all, Yin Xiang had once confided in her about Zhang Cailu, and they had grown so close.

To her surprise, however, Yin Xiang’s anger was even fiercer than Ke Wenxue’s.

She even seemed to feel a sense of betrayal, as if they had turned against each other.

When Luo Qingping said to Yin Xiang, "And you, Yin Xiang—don’t think I don’t know. You helped Xu Miyu privately, didn’t you? You were the one who tipped her off about that mistress trying to sabotage her. And look how it turned out! She had connections up top and became your supervisor overnight. From now on, she’ll be managing you every day! Who knows, maybe Zhang Cailu’s dismissal was her doing too! Tell me, aren’t you scared to have bared your soul to someone like that? Yin Xiang, you’re usually so sharp about sizing people up. Looks like you really misjudged Xu Miyu this time!"

Hearing Luo Qingping’s words, Xu Miyu’s heart clenched painfully once more. Every word Luo Qingping spoke struck precisely at Yin Xiang’s sore spots.Sure enough, Yin Xiang spoke up, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "You got it right for once. I, Yin Xiang, never deny that I'm a snob. But this snob, out of sympathy for someone, went all out—opening my heart, sharing secrets, holding nothing back to help a person. And in return, she hid everything from us and suddenly became our team leader. Fine, consider me inexperienced and blind, deserving to be used!"

In the restroom, Xu Miyu’s hand trembled, and the soap she was holding fell to the floor with a thud. Its smooth surface was now chipped, its shape distorted and ugly.

She stared at it as if looking at her own interpersonal relationships. She, too, had shattered her connections, leaving them twisted and broken.

After leaving the restroom, Xu Miyu kept wanting to find an opportunity to talk to Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue, to apologize and explain.

It wasn’t that she had intended to hide things from them—it was just… the situation was so complicated that she didn’t even know how to put it into words. The so-called "backer" they assumed she had, that person in a higher position, actually despised her to the core. How could she possibly explain that this supposed "connection" was anything but?

As for Zhang Cailu, the only way for Xu Miyu to stay was to have Zhang Cailu removed. And becoming the team leader in her place—that was an outcome even she hadn’t expected. It might have been the result of that muddled one-night stand. But how could she ever tell them that?

It was a situation where she wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words.

Unable to provide a detailed explanation, she could only offer a vague apology, which came across as insincere and dismissive. This only deepened the hurt for Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue. The more they had once seen her as a pitiable victim, the more they now viewed her as cunning and frightening.

It was as if her vulnerability had been nothing but a facade, and beneath it all, she had been steeping a cup of shrewd, aged tea.

Xu Miyu was filled with regret, unsure how to untangle this mess.

She had never worked in an office before, so she had naively assumed things would be straightforward.

She thought that once Zhang Cailu was gone, no one would be able to frame her and force her out.

She thought that if an opportunity to become team leader presented itself, she should seize it and give it a try—perhaps this was the turning point that would lead to better days.

She thought the duties of a team leader were just what she observed daily, something she could easily handle.

But she hadn’t anticipated that, before even mastering the simple task of doing her job well, managing interpersonal relationships would prove far more critical.

Over the next few days, everyone gradually realized that Xu Miyu’s supposed "upper-level connections" might not be as formidable as they had imagined. Otherwise, why would she remain unscathed despite their collective isolation?

Their courage grew, and their defiance toward Xu Miyu became increasingly overt.

Their attitude left Xu Miyu feeling deeply anxious. At one point, she considered giving up and telling her supervisor she didn’t want to be team leader anymore.

But another voice in her head warned her that doing so would only confirm everyone’s low opinion of her. All the efforts she had made to change, to strive for something better, would become utterly meaningless.

Did she really want to go back to that meaningless, living dead existence?

She decided she couldn’t. She wanted to leave behind the useless Xu Miyu of the past. She wanted to grow stronger, to become a version of herself who wouldn’t feel so inferior that she’d want to hide when facing Nie Yucheng and Lu Zhenzhen.

She resolved to grit her teeth and persevere.After making this decision, Xu Miyu suddenly recalled the words Ji Feng had said to her—"How can you be so sure I'm helping you?"

Now she finally understood what he meant.

Ji Feng's sudden promotion of her to team leader, as he himself had questioned, might not have been out of goodwill. Perhaps he intended to trap her in a position where everyone would resent her, waiting to watch her struggle under the pressure and exclusion.

Maybe he regretted having spent a night with a woman like her? So he chose this method to vent his anger—on the surface, it seemed like he was helping her, but in reality, he wanted to plunge her into a situation where she would be ostracized by everyone.

Thinking back to the disdainful look Ji Feng had given her, she felt a surge of stubborn determination.

The more he wanted to see her fail, the more she refused to let him! No matter what, she had to hold on and persevere.

She steeled herself and made up her mind. No matter what challenges lay ahead, no matter how many people resented her, she would not back down. She would grit her teeth and endure.

If getting a divorce was the first brave thing she had ever done in her life, then facing the current predicament, persevering, and finding a way to excel as a team leader would be the second.

Although she had been a full-time housewife for the past six years and had lost touch with society, she had watched countless dramas. If she carefully recalled and synthesized certain ideas or lines from them, they might just inspire her.

Moreover, over the years, she had often listened to Nie Yucheng talk about his company's affairs. If she reflected on and distilled those conversations, she might even find a way to resolve the current crisis.

Xu Miyu calmed her mind and began to focus on figuring out exactly what she needed to do to turn the situation around.