From the moment the elevator doors opened, the CEO’s gaze was fixed firmly on Xu Ke’s face. He didn’t bother listening to what the man was saying, instead focusing on Xu Ke’s arms, which were being held by two people. His gaze was like laser beams, wanting to bore two holes into the hands of the two people. His facial muscles slightly trembled with tension.
His hand was on the manager’s shoulder, his fingers unconsciously squeezing the manager’s shoulder painfully. Before the manager could cry out, he pushed him aside and strode up to Xu Ke. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he bent his back slightly and said with a trembling voice, "Mr. Xu, I apologize for not welcoming you properly. My subordinates have not been disciplined well and have offended you."
The CEO raised his head, looked at the two with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and said, "This is Mr. Xu. Why haven’t you two let go of his hands yet?"
The two were stunned by the CEO’s attitude and didn’t react for a long while. Only when the CEO spoke did they release their hands as if they had touched something hot.
The security guard was better off. He was just doing his duty, assured that he wouldn’t be affected. The man standing on the other side of Xu Ke, however, was not so lucky. He knew what he had done and how excessive his actions had been, especially what he had been doing these past few days. These things replayed in his mind as if in a movie.
The more the man thought, the weaker he felt. Xu Ke hadn’t done anything yet, but the man couldn’t stand any longer and collapsed to the ground.
The manager, pushed aside, recalled something as well. The color slowly drained from his face, but no one noticed his reaction. Everyone was focused on Xu Ke, standing tall like a bamboo in the corridor.
"What are you doing on the ground? Get up and go back to your post, don’t embarrass yourself here," the CEO said, glancing at the man sitting at Xu Ke’s feet.
The man heard the CEO’s words like grasping a life-saving straw. He scrambled up quickly and tried to run, thinking that as long as he wasn’t in the way, Xu Ke might forget his misdeeds and he could escape this ordeal. But as he took two steps, Xu Ke called him back.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Did I give you permission to leave? Weren’t you quite bold just now, happy to scold me to my face?" Xu Ke approached the stiff man and said.
As Xu Ke spoke, the man’s figure slowly hunched down. Though about 1.8 meters tall, he seemed to shrink himself to 1.7 meters, as if he could find a crack to hide himself.
"It was my fault for not recognizing who you are. Please just consider me a lunatic rambling. If you need to vent, I’ll stand here and let you scold me back. If cursing doesn’t appease you, you can hit me, I’ll just stand until you feel satisfied. Would that be alright?" The man lifted his head, showing a fawning yet cautious smile.
He wasn’t afraid of embarrassment now, thinking it could just become gossip for a few months until a new story took its place and everyone forgets. What terrified him was losing his job.
But as the saying goes, what you fear most often comes true.
Xu Ke smiled, hands in his pockets, looking at the man with a relaxed demeanor. His deep eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts. Just as the man grew more and more anxious under his gaze, Xu Ke spoke, "I’m not interested in hitting or scolding you, but I do not wish to see you in this company anymore."
Xu Ke’s words were spoken with ease and casualness, like everyday chatter, yet in an instant, they sent the man’s emotions spiraling into despair.
The man could no longer restrain himself. He reached out and grabbed Xu Ke’s sleeve, speaking anxiously, "I know I was wrong before. I sincerely apologize for what I did. Can you please not fire me? I desperately need this job. I have mortgage and car loans to pay and elders at home to care for. I even have a girlfriend I’m discussing marriage with. I truly can’t afford to lose this job, or I won’t survive."
Xu Ke slowly peeled the man’s hand off his arm.
"Everyone has a tough life in this world," Xu Ke gazed at the man, who showed a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and continued, "But what does that have to do with me?"
"No, you can’t, you can’t do this." Hearing Xu Ke’s words, the man grabbed Xu Ke’s arm again, "I am an old employee of the company. I have worked hard for the company for many years, and my performance is top-notch in our department. Apart from saying a few unpleasant words to you, I have done nothing detrimental or harmful to the company. I am a contributor to the company; you can’t just dismiss me. This isn’t fair."
"Where does fairness stem from in this world? Even if you are an old employee and your performance is excellent, this company is under my control. I don’t know if other companies only value an employee’s ability, but in my company, an employee’s ability and character both matter. If someone has abilities but mediocre character, no matter the contribution to the company, I wouldn’t keep them because I can’t tolerate people with poor character in my company." When Xu Ke said this, his gaze didn’t leave Jane.
Jane listened to Xu Ke, becoming increasingly rigid, until she was as stiff as a block of wood, almost indistinguishable.
"What I’m saying today isn’t directed at just one person; it’s for everyone. I hope everyone here gets the message. If you’re caught, be proactive and spare me the trouble of rooting you out myself. I won’t show favoritism based on your age or gender, and for those who haven’t been caught, discreetly correct yourselves. If you intend to err again, ensure you cover your tracks well and don’t get caught by me. The consequences aren’t something you’d want to know. I always believed in iron-clad management. If you have opinions about my decisions and can’t rise above me, then stifle them, or you can leave. My company doesn’t need you; there will always be someone else more capable and obedient to come in after you."
If Xu Ke’s earlier words were for the employees, the latter part was directed at the executives. No matter the initial mindset they arrived with, they now stood quietly, willingly becoming the backdrop for Xu Ke.