Manager Wu still did not take Shi Nian seriously. He thought she was just putting up a brave front or trying to intimidate him—she had no backing!
"I'd love to see what you're up to. Uh, what's it they call you again?" he spoke mockingly as he leisurely sat down.
"Director Shi… She's called Director Shi," the cowardly representative spoke up, only to receive a glare from Manager Wu.
The representative timidly moved backward toward the group. Just then, Shi Nian turned toward the door as if expecting someone.
Noticing her actions, the people in the room instantly turned to look in that direction.
They heard scattered, hurried footsteps rapidly approaching, with a woman leading the incoming group.
As soon as the representative saw the woman, he gave a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat dripping from his face.
The woman instantly pulled the representative behind her after taking a glance at him. She greeted Shi Nian before turning to speak to Manager Wu.
"Old Wu, you dare send Little Bai to receive the director? How bold of you! Little Bai is just an ordinary employee!" the woman roared.
"What's wrong with a worker receiving her, huh?" Manager Wu replied, unconvinced.
"You've forgotten you're just an employee here too! Do you think Shi Wang owns the Shi Consortium? Even if he does, you're just a tool to him!" the woman shot back without hesitation.
"I might be a tool, but you're just trash, Qing Feng!" Manager Wu mocked.
Hearing this familiar name, Shi Nian instantly knew who the woman was.
She tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table—those who knew her would recognize that she was getting impatient.
"It's time to end this," Shi Nian said calmly, immediately bringing the office to silence.
"Get me someone from the HR department."
No one knew what she intended to do.
Little Bai immediately snapped out of it and ran out to carry out her order.
The office remained in awkward silence until Little Bai returned with the head of the HR department.
He had assumed that if Shi Nian wanted someone from HR, it must be the department head himself.
Seeing Shi Nian nod in approval, he smiled sheepishly until Qing Feng gave him a look, and only then did he compose himself.
Unhesitatingly, Shi Nian spoke.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please begin the process of relieving Manager Wu of his position and terminating his employment contract with BaiYue. Also, reinstate former Manager Qing Feng."
The HR head was visibly surprised. Everyone knew that Manager Wu was Shi Wang's man!
The last time Shi Wang appeared here, it was Qing Feng who had lost her position.
He couldn't help but wonder if the uncle and niece duo enjoyed relieving people of their duties—though at least, last time, Qing Feng had kept her job.
"I want this done immediately," Shi Nian's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Yes, Director Shi." Though nervous, he left to get it done. After working so long, he had learned how to adapt to situations.
Seeing him leave, Manager Wu came to his senses.
"You can't do this!"
"I can," Shi Nian said coolly, "but what I want to know is—what can you do? I've been here a while, and aside from your lacking presence, I can't see anything else."
Shi Nian's words caused a ripple of laughter, especially from Han Meimei.
She never imagined Shi Nian had this side to her—or that she could say such words with such a straight face.
Manager Wu truly had an unsanitary presence. He always looked unkempt and untidy. It was early in the day, yet his office was already a mess.
"No matter what, you can't fire me! I was instated in this position directly by Master Shi Wang!" Manager Wu said with pride as he tried to straighten his clothes.
Unfortunately, the more he tried, the worse he looked.
No matter what he said, Shi Nian didn't spare him a glance or a word of reply.
Just when Manager Wu's mouth was about to dry up, she finally spoke.
"It's about time."
As the words left her lips, the office door was pushed open, and the HR head walked in.
He had intentionally delayed a bit, but after some hesitation, decided to bring the documents.
Shi Nian placed the file she received in front of Manager Wu.
"Inside this document, you'll find evidence of the funds and products you've misappropriated in the company's name, and—"
"That's impossible! This is all false! I didn't do any of this!" Manager Wu jumped up, cutting Shi Nian off mid sentence.
Then he rushed to the HR head and grabbed his collar aggressively.
"You did this! Did you do this, Wang Shi? It's only been a few hours, and you dare betray Master Shi Wang?!"
Wang Shi hurriedly pushed Manager Wu away.
"Director Shi, I'm not involved in any of this!" he said hastily, trying to absolve himself.
Seeing that Shi Nian didn't even look at him, he immediately turned toward Secretary Shang, who had just walked in.
When Wang Shi got to his office to compile the documents Shi Nian had asked for, he found that Secretary Shang had followed behind him.
He thought Shang had come to warn him, but instead, the secretary handed him evidence of Manager Wu's misdeeds.
Secretary Shang said nothing when he noticed Wang Shi's look. He had only done what Shi Nian instructed. He, too, was surprised when he saw the file's contents.
Seeing Shang's calm demeanor, Wang Shi felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. Though not entirely innocent in life, he was blameless this time.
Noticing things turning against him, Manager Wu hurriedly called Shi Wang.
As soon as the call connected, he yelled without giving Shi Wang a chance to speak.
"Master Shi Wang, you have to save me! I was only following your instructions!"
No one knew what Shi Wang said, but Manager Wu's expression instantly eased. Then he turned and passed the phone to Shi Nian.
Shi Nian didn't take the phone, forcing Manager Wu to put it on speaker.
"Shi Nian, Manager Wu is my person. Give me some face and let him go," Shi Wang said arrogantly.
"What if I don't?" Shi Nian replied flatly.
"How dare you! Shi Nian, I order you to stop whatever you plan to do!" Shi Wang shouted furiously.
Shi Nian's voice remained soft yet firm.
"You've misunderstood, Shi Wang. You are in no position to bargain. I do not want to."
Hearing Shi Wang's angry shouts through the phone, she promptly ended the call.