Volume 1, Chapter 24: That Slap to the Face Really Stung

I finished speaking in a nonchalant tone, yet a flicker of warmth crept across Yang Shao’s handsome face.

His expression shifted instantly; his eyes burned with fury as he suppressed his emotions and retorted, "I am the head of E-commerce, not you. Why on earth should I give you my plan?"

I nodded. "Exactly. And I am the head of Live-streaming Operations, not you. Why on earth should I give you mine?"

The atmosphere in the office turned suddenly subtle. The others, as if smelling something in the air, began to cast glances in our direction.

I turned my head toward Manager Mei’s office. Her slender silhouette was reflected on the glass. She was busy with her head down, and given the distance and the closed door, it was unlikely she had noticed the situation.

Feeling the surrounding gazes, Yang Shao frowned. He had likely intended to give me a taste of power, never expecting me to stand my ground so firmly the moment I arrived. Now, with so many people watching, if he played the ostrich, he would only become the office laughingstock.

His complexion darkened, his eyes sharpening like blades as he growled, "Your live-streaming needs to align with our e-commerce rhythm. I have to adjust our tactics based on your broadcast schedule so that I can empower your team!"

Yang Shao rattled off a string of buzzwords—rhythm, tactics, empowerment. It sounded professional, but it was entirely hollow.

I offered a faint smile and said languidly, "I reviewed the data Manager Mei gave me today. It seems that live-streaming sales account for over forty percent of our company’s total e-commerce revenue. So, why exactly do I owe you a plan? Besides, if I recall correctly, our positions are equal. In terms of the company structure, we both report to Manager Mei. Did she instruct you to ask me for one?"

I spoke in a measured, deliberate pace. Yang Shao looked as if he were about to spit fire, the muscles in his cheeks twitching with rage. He was furious, yet there was nothing he could do. In the company hierarchy, we were indeed equals; he had no authority to make demands of me.

Perhaps Yang Shao’s request was merely a test to see where my boundaries lay. In the workplace, the easiest way to avoid being stabbed in the back is to set your boundaries high. He had expected me to either swallow the insult or offer a weak, soft-spoken protest; he hadn't anticipated me countering him on the spot.

Now, the pressure was on him. He had tried to manipulate me, only to find himself checkmated. The few people in the office appeared busy, but in reality, they were all watching the show.

Yang Shao’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. My words had been precise and unassailable; he truly had no right to command me. Moreover, the workplace is a realm of interests—whoever delivers results holds the power of speech. I had seen the performance reports; the core of the company's sales relied on live-streaming. He might even have to beg for my help in the future.

Weighing the pros and cons, Yang Shao took a deep breath and suppressed his temper. "Fine! You don't have to give me the live-streaming plan."

I smiled at him. "But you still need to give me your e-commerce plan!"

"..."

Yang Shao’s eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead. He stared at me in fury. "Why should I give you an e-commerce plan?"

Just then, the door clicked open. Manager Mei’s graceful figure appeared before us, arriving just in time to hear Yang Shao’s roar.

Manager Mei paused, walking toward us with elegant steps, two dimples appearing on her rosy cheeks. "What’s going on? Why all the anger?"

Yang Shao’s expression softened. He pointed at me, playing the victim. "Yu Bin and I are at the same level, yet he’s demanding an e-commerce plan from me!"

I grinned. *Heh, learning on the fly, are we?*

After Yang Shao finished his defense, Manager Mei turned to me, arching her eyebrows as she waited for my explanation.

I looked directly into her shimmering eyes and smiled. "It’s like this: Manager Yang first asked me for a live-streaming plan, so I asked him for an e-commerce plan in return. He then said he didn't need the live-streaming plan anymore, but I still want to see his e-commerce strategy. Since I’m new to the company, I need to get up to speed. If I can see his upcoming e-commerce schedule, Shu Tong and I can better align our broadcasts to maximize the synergy between our streams and the e-commerce events. After all, live-streaming now accounts for nearly fifty percent of our e-commerce performance..."

Manager Mei was brilliant; I knew that a simple recount of the facts would be enough for her to realize that Yang Shao had started the confrontation.

Sure enough, Manager Mei’s gaze shifted to Yang Shao, her crimson lips parting slightly. "I think Yu Bin is right. You should just show him the plan."

Yang Shao’s face changed dramatically, and he became frantic. "No... Manager Mei, I don't even have an operational plan!"

I feigned shock. "Oh my! Does Manager Yang not make operational plans? How on earth do you drive results then?"

Yang Shao realized he had made a slip of the tongue. His face flushed a deep red as he tried to stammer out an excuse. "Manager Mei, I..."

Manager Mei waved her hand, cutting him off. "Yu Bin is right. E-commerce and live-streaming should be closely integrated. Go ahead and put together an e-commerce plan so he can keep track of your upcoming work. And don't forget to copy me on the email."

The matter was settled, but Yang Shao was not ready to give up. Desperate to salvage some dignity, he snapped, "Then I also need Yu Bin to give me a live-streaming plan. I need to understand his intentions as well."

I gave a slight smile. "I don't have a plan yet. As I’m new to the company, I believe the priority is to understand the company culture and operational model first, then deploy a plan based on the actual pain points, rather than relying solely on my past experience."

Yang Shao was unconvinced. He gave a cold snort and retorted sarcastically, "The company hired you to make money, not to be trained at our expense, right?"

"I chose this company because I see its growth potential. While there may be a hierarchy, our working relationship is one of equals. If I were to make drastic changes based only on my past experience the moment I arrived, I wouldn't be doing it for the company's benefit, but merely to show off."

"Well said!"

Manager Mei cheered, clapping her hands enthusiastically. Suddenly, the entire office erupted in applause. The others joined in, though it was hard to tell if they were genuinely cheering for me or using the opportunity to slap Yang Shao in the face.

Amidst the applause, Yang Shao’s face turned the color of liver. Every clap sounded like a strike against his face, but with Manager Mei present, he had to swallow his pride. After all, he was just here for a paycheck.

After leaving the office, I dropped off my paperwork at home and knocked on Zhou Shutong’s door.

"Coming!"

A crisp, feminine voice rang out. Footsteps approached from within, and the door slowly opened, revealing a breathtaking face.