“You really do this kind of thing in a company of any decent size?” Liu Xie turned to look at the three interviewers. “Do you all do this too?”
“Eh, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” the girl replied enthusiastically, explaining to Liu Xie. “This so-called female assistant position isn’t like a real assistant job. Since President Liu already has a male assistant who manages everything smoothly, there’s no need for another. So this female assistant barely touches any actual work. Her only task, if any, is probably just to keep President Liu happy.”
“A position like this, which carries absolutely no risk and no entry barriers, only requires knowing how to serve a man. I don’t think I’d do a bad job, and this is my chance.”
The girl pointed at the three interviewers beside her. “A role this insignificant, which won’t affect the company environment at all, is the same to them no matter who they choose. So why not let me take it?”
“So you bribed them?” Liu Xie frowned, feeling her dislike for the girl intensify, almost spilling over.
“Of course, it wasn’t just me. Everyone who came to interview today has some connection with HR, otherwise how could they even know about this secret position?” The girl feigned surprise. “Oh, and of course, except for you. I knew the moment I saw you that you weren’t here for an interview and that you wouldn’t know about this round.”
“Because I know everyone else who’s here, otherwise how else could I bid higher than all of them?”
“Then why did you call me to interview?” Liu Xie didn’t quite understand this part. “You clearly knew I wasn’t here to interview.”
“I also know you definitely aren’t from this company, or else they would’ve recognized you.” The girl stepped forward and shook hands with the interviewers one by one. “When I saw you, I just knew you were way more suited for this position than I am. But even so, I still beat you, which somehow makes me feel a little despicably happy.”
“You have quite the self-awareness.”
“That’s how people are. It makes them happy to trample those better than themselves underfoot, as if they’ve conquered the entire world’s strongest warrior.” She smiled faintly and walked over, extending her hand to Liu Xie as if to shake.
“Whether or not you’re interested in this interview, I apologize for wasting your time.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you.”
Liu Xie pulled out her phone, tapping and sending a message to confirm Liu Anran wasn’t too busy, then slowly said, “People are like that—when they want to show off, they especially want the person who just humiliated them to watch.”
The girl also walked toward the three interviewers but tapped her phone as well.
Liu Xie spoke up, “You have President Liu’s phone number.”
“We don’t have President Liu’s phone number.”
“I want you to take Liu Anran’s call.” Liu Xie smiled slightly and handed over the phone she had just dialed. “Thanks to me, this should be your first time speaking with your President Liu.”
“You haven’t gotten an interview, and you definitely haven’t gotten a job. Like I said, I’m getting the floor, you’re getting the post.”
“Yeah, yeah, old man. I see you’re looking left and right at this interview without any conscience, so you better look down.”
This was Liu Xie’s first smile until now—because she was finally satisfied.
Before the voice on the phone came through, the sound of a door opening reached them first.
The door of the interview room swung open, and a young man in a sharp suit with an always chilly expression held his phone to his ear, his face dark enough to drip with gloom.
He spoke to the person on the other end, “Is your HR department planning to ride roughshod over me?”
In front of Liu Xie were the interviewers, heads bowed and drenched in sweat. Just moments ago, they had refused Liu Xie’s interview but had stood up to applaud the other girl.
Behind Liu Xie was the stunned girl, her gaze darting repeatedly between the blonde girl and the cold president—only moments before, she had been arrogant and triumphant.
Liu Xie’s phone repeated the same sentence.
“No, President Liu, it’s just that we saw this female assistant position suddenly open up with no requirements, so we took the liberty to help you…”
“You took the liberty to sell this position? And all the money went into your own pockets? Is the company’s job slot your personal property that you can sell it off like this?” Liu Anran’s serious yet barely concealed anger was the first time Liu Xie had ever seen it.
“You dare to act on your own and profit from this? How can I trust you to still work in the company?” Liu Anran’s long, bony fingers rapped the table in front of the three interviewers. “I stipulated that this one position wouldn’t involve any company matters. But what if some malicious corporate spy offers you enough money and gets close enough to me? Wouldn’t they easily achieve their goal?”
“Taking a step back, even if I really wanted to hire someone to please me, would I need you to do this?” Liu Anran’s tone was thick with disappointment. “I didn’t expect to find people like you under my own company’s management.”
“President Liu…”
The three lowered their heads, as if all their excuses were caught in their throats.
“My meaning is clear. The three of you are no longer fit to serve as the company’s HR.” Liu Anran frowned. “I don’t trust you to be inside the company anymore. I will also review all employees previously approved by you. Anyone involved in bribery will be marked for close monitoring.”
“Understood…” One of them spoke up and seemed about to take off the ID badge hanging from his neck.
“Before you resign, there’s one last task you need to handle. Whether you handle it well will decide if I blacklist you from the talent market.”
Looking at the three with a faint glimmer of hope, Liu Anran pointed to Liu Xie beside him. “Take her and process her onboarding. The position is my female assistant.”
Everyone present was stunned.
Then, Liu Anran turned around with an overwhelming aura, glaring at the girl standing there, trembling for unknown reasons.
The sharp sting of cheap perfume made him furrow his brow slightly. “As for how to deal with you…”
He looked toward Liu Xie.
Clearly, he wanted Liu Xie to decide.
Liu Xie understood and took a few light steps to stand beside Liu Anran.
She looked at the girl who had brazenly snatched her dear younger brother away. Even though she had just put on a fierce front, a burning anger still stuck in her chest.
“Just let her go. After all, she isn’t here for your company, she’s here for you,” Liu Xie said. “So as long as you have someone by your side, she won’t come anymore, right?”
After saying this, she tugged Liu Anran’s tie, stood on tiptoe, and left a kiss on the side of the young man’s face.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the girl’s expression shatter in shock and collapse.
Satisfied.
Now she was completely satisfied, with not a trace of anger left.
It was like declaring ownership over her treasure, blocking off any gaze of covetousness.