Some would call her Professor, others boss, and then there were those like Zheng Wenqi who would simply call her "sister" or "brother."
What they called her ultimately depended on their individual personalities.
But this detail also showed that Zheng Wenqi and Shen Qingqiu likely had a very good relationship.
"I wasn’t on vacation. I went home to take care of a few things, and it’s all done now," Shen Qingqiu said.
"Huipin City is opening soon, isn’t it? How are things going?"
"The supply chain is a huge mess. I just got into an argument with my manager a minute ago. I’m so pissed! I desperately need Sister Shen to treat me to a big meal to soothe my wounded soul."
Shen Qingqiu glanced at Lin Jiang, who understood what she meant. He nodded and mouthed the words "barbecue shop" to her.
"Fourth floor of Berkeley, the Zhongjiang Barbecue Shop. Tell Shengyao to come along."
"You got it! I get off work in an hour. See you in a bit."
"Okay."
Shen Qingqiu ended the video call. Lin Jiang smiled and said,
"You two seem to have a pretty good relationship. She even calls you Sister Shen."
"Wenqi has a more cheerful personality. Shengyao, by comparison, is more down-to-earth and a bit more level-headed than she is."
After a pause, Shen Qingqiu continued,
"I’ve spoken with Shengyao before. He doesn’t plan on pursuing a Ph.D. After he finishes his graduate thesis, I’ll recommend him to your company. As for whether he’ll stay, well, that’s not for me to say."
After all, as graduate students from Jiaoda, they were talented enough to choose better opportunities. So whether they would stay wasn’t really up to Shen Qingqiu.
"If I have to, I’ll just throw money at them. It would be best if I could get them both to stay."
"Shengyao is more likely. Wenqi is less certain. Both of her parents are civil servants, so it’s highly probable she’ll enter the public sector after graduation. I’ll find a chance to talk to her privately and see what she’s thinking."
"If her family has connections in that area, the chances of her working for a private company are slim."
"That’s what I was thinking, too. We should probably pin our hopes on Shengyao."
Lin Jiang nodded. If he could win him over, he’d be acquiring a high-caliber talent.
Soon, Lin Jiang drove to Shen Qingqiu’s home. He helped her with her luggage, and they went upstairs together.
This was Lin Jiang’s second time at her place, but his first time going inside.
It wasn’t large, just over 50 square meters, with two bedrooms and a living room. The place was kept very clean, more than enough space for one person.
"Have a seat for a bit. You must be tired after all that driving. I’ll go make you some tea."
"Don’t trouble yourself. It’s almost time anyway. You’re their professor; you can’t be too late."
"You’re right. I’ll go change, and then we can head out."
Shen Qingqiu went into her room. Lin Jiang took out his phone and sent a message to the manager of the barbecue shop at Berkeley, asking her to save a table for them.
Before long, Shen Qingqiu came out.
She was wearing a casual sweatsuit and a pair of white ankle socks. Her hair was casually tied up in a bun, giving her a relaxed and effortless look.
"I’m just going to use the restroom. I’ll be right out."
Lin Jiang nodded. ’It seems like the last step for every girl before leaving the house is a trip to the restroom,’ he thought. ’Shen Qingqiu is no exception.’
After coming out of the restroom, Shen Qingqiu took a pair of sneakers from the shoe cabinet. The two of them left together, driving toward Berkeley.
...
「Xingcheng Bay Phase II, Huipin City.」
At six in the evening, Zheng Wenqi shut down her computer and stretched.
The wage slave had completed her day’s tasks. She was ready to go all out on a feast with Shen Qingqiu tonight and vent some of her frustrations.
Seeing Zheng Wenqi grab her bag and prepare to leave, her surrounding colleagues all subconsciously glanced her way.
Even though it was quitting time, everyone else in the office had tacitly stayed behind to work overtime.
At this moment, Zheng Wenqi stood out like a sore thumb.
Everyone knew she was leaving, but no one dared to leave with her.
Even those who had finished their work had to stay behind and pretend to be busy to curry favor with the leadership.
"Zheng Wenqi, where do you think you’re going?"
Just as Zheng Wenqi reached the door, a middle-aged man in a suit emerged from a private office in a partitioned-off area.
The man’s name was Liu Chenyou, the manager of Huipin City’s purchasing department.
"It’s just six o’clock. Why are you leaving already?" Liu Chenyou said, clearly displeased.
Zheng Wenqi checked her watch. "Isn’t quitting time six o’clock? There shouldn’t be a problem with me leaving now, right?"
"The company is in its busy season. Look around, who else is leaving this early? All your colleagues are busy, so why are you the only one trying to leave early?"
"They are them, and I am me. I’ve already finished all my work. Why can’t I leave?"
The saying "Gen Z is here to fix the workplace" isn’t just for show.
And Zheng Wenqi, having been doted on since childhood and coming from a family that wasn’t short on money, certainly didn’t need this job. Naturally, she wasn’t about to put up with Liu Chenyou’s attitude.
"Didn’t you see that I’m still here? I’m the manager, and I haven’t even left, yet you’re taking off. Does that look right to you?"
"That’s your problem. Besides, I already worked overtime for the first few days, and you guys didn’t even pay me for it. So when it’s time to clock out, I’m leaving. No one can stop me."
The other colleagues in the office remained silent. Though their eyes were fixed on their computers, their peripheral vision was glued to Zheng Wenqi and Liu Chenyou.
’This girl is amazing,’ they thought. ’A true Gen Zer, built different.’
Liu Chenyou was losing face. His tone rose as he prepared to teach her a lesson.
"You have no sense of organization or discipline! You clearly don’t have the awareness to treat the company as your family. You have zero spirit of dedication. How can the company feel secure in training you?"
"Do I have to stay here and put on a show of useless work just to make you happy? Don’t manage your employees with a slave-driver mentality. Work is about efficiency. Authority exists to maintain order, not as a tool for you to save face."
Zheng Wenqi relentlessly shut Liu Chenyou down, grabbed her bag, and strode out of the office.
The office fell into a stifling silence. The other colleagues didn’t dare to breathe, but inwardly they were already cheering for Zheng Wenqi.
They all felt the same way, but none of them dared to do the same.
They hadn’t graduated from prestigious universities, had no connections, and no background. This job was their lifeline, and they couldn’t risk losing it.
"Damn it! What a spoiled brat!"
After cursing under his breath, Liu Chenyou also left.
Having lost so much face, if he didn’t leave now, he’d just become a laughingstock for the others.
Liu Chenyou had barely left when a young woman in a work uniform, holding a folder, followed him out.
The woman’s name was Li Shuting. Her position was the same as Zheng Wenqi’s: a management trainee.
But their statuses were completely different.
Li Shuting was only a graduate student from a decent "Project 211" university, and her bachelor’s degree was from an even less prestigious school.
In contrast, Zheng Wenqi had both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from a top-tier "Project 985" university. For her to be a management trainee here, it was almost as if Huipin Group was reaching above its station.
For Li Shuting, it was the other way around; she was the one reaching to get into Huipin Group.
This situation highlighted the gap between them. When it came to promotion opportunities, Zheng Wenqi would certainly be considered first, while Li Shuting would have to wait her turn.
For these reasons, the two had become rivals.
"Manager Liu."
Seeing Li Shuting behind him, Liu Chenyou, who had been about to light a cigarette, put away his lighter.
"What is it? Do you need something?"
"Manager Liu, this is the purchasing plan and project list for the 31st. I just finished organizing it. Please take a look."
Taking the file from Li Shuting, Liu Chenyou pointed out several mistakes.
"Revise these parts and bring it back to me tomorrow."
"I’ll revise it right away. I don’t have anything to do when I get home anyway. Being at home or at the office is all the same to me," Li Shuting said with a smile.
"Your educational background may not be as impressive as hers, but your work ethic is much stronger."
"Actually, Wenqi is a good person. But then again, she hasn’t graduated yet and has less work experience. She’s bound to have trouble adjusting to the professional world. She’ll be fine after she’s been broken in a bit."
Standing next to Liu Chenyou, Li Shuting showed no intention of leaving.
"My first job was at Xintiandi, also as a management trainee. I was mainly responsible for the food procurement supply chain. Every day, I had to face all sorts of problems and customer complaints. For over a year, I was exhausted every day, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Thinking back now, that experience really toughened me up."
Liu Chenyou remained silent, taking out his lighter again to light his cigarette.
Li Shuting, ever observant, moved to block the wind for him.
"What you said just reminded me. A troublemaker like her needs to be taught a hard lesson. Tomorrow, I’m assigning her to the food section. I refuse to believe I can’t handle her!"
"How about you let me mentor her? After all, I’ve worked in that area before."
"Fine. While you’re at it, teach her a thing or two about how to behave."

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