Chapter 108 It Is Not Over Yet

Only then did Xu Anan learn that both she and Fang Nini had been assigned an interview task, and that only the person who completed it flawlessly would be promoted to department head.

Xue Shengnan had forgotten all about it because she had been in a foul mood and had quarreled with Tang Jin.

For that, Xue Shengnan felt deeply sorry.

If Xu Anan’s promotion were really affected because of her, she would never be able to forgive herself.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been a mess lately... No, let me not say that now. I’d better send you the interviewee’s information first. If you need anything, just tell me.”

To make it up to Xu Anan, Xue Shengnan had already made up her mind that, no matter what, she would help Xu Anan secure the post of department head.

Knowing Xue Shengnan’s true circumstances, how could Xu Anan possibly hold it against her?

She blinked and teased, “Comrade Shengnan, I really have to criticize you a little. How long have we known each other? Don’t you know what I’m capable of yet? It’s only an interview with a building materials businessman. I guarantee I’ll finish the assignment and won’t let you down.”

Amused by Xu Anan’s joke, Xue Shengnan felt somewhat better, though her guilt only deepened.

“With your ability, you’ll definitely get promoted.”

“No matter how much the editor-in-chief sides with Fang Nini, absolute strength will still force a way through.”

Xu Anan thought the same, so she was not worried at all. “Then I’ll wait for your good news.”

“Fine. I’ll treat you to a meal then, and you can choose the place.”

“It’s a deal!”

But Xu Anan’s confidence was soon dealt a blow. She called to arrange the interview, yet the line never connected, which left her a little frustrated.

She waited a while and tried again, but it still would not go through.

Was something wrong?

Xu Anan checked the number digit by digit and confirmed she had dialed correctly. In the end, she decided to go in person; at the very least, it would show her sincerity.

On the way, Xu Anan read through the materials on the building materials merchant once more.

Cheng Gang had inherited the company from his father. In his youth, he had been a spoiled rich boy, good for nothing but holding out his hand for money from home, utterly idle and reckless.

When he first took over the company, he had nearly driven it into bankruptcy.

Fortunately, luck had been on his side. His wife’s family had stepped in to help, stabilizing the situation, and with his wife’s support he had slowly managed to reverse the company’s reputation.

Xu Anan shook her head. She felt that the person who ought to be interviewed was Cheng Gang’s wife. Why should someone who had contributed nothing enjoy the fruits of success?

When she arrived, Xu Anan explained her purpose to the receptionist.

The receptionist asked for Xu Anan’s name again, then her gaze turned colder. “If you want to interview our boss, you need to make an appointment two days in advance. Our boss’s schedule is packed every day, so go back and make an appointment first, then come again.”

Xu Anan did not want to give up just like that. Her time was tight, after all, so she asked the receptionist for the secretary’s number.

But the other woman ignored her.

Xu Anan thought the receptionist’s attitude was strange, so she had no choice but to wait outside and hope for an opportunity. She only needed ten minutes for the interview.

And as far as she knew, Fang Nini’s side was progressing very smoothly.

She could not even get a glimpse of the interview subject, could she?

At that moment, a security guard came over to drive her away.

“Aren’t you an employee of our company? What are you standing here for? Hurry up and leave. Don’t block the view.”

“Can’t I stand here for a little while?” Xu Anan was outside, her mouth dry from the sun, already irritable, and now she was being chased off as well.

The security guard was rude and even pulled out an electric baton. “Move it! You look like a beggar.”

There was nothing she could do. This was their place, so Xu Anan had to walk farther away.

Just as she moved off, she saw Cheng Gang come out surrounded by bodyguards. She hurried forward, but Cheng Gang slipped into the car even faster.

In the blink of an eye, the car vanished before Xu Anan’s eyes.

Seeing this, Xu Anan, no matter how foolish she might be, understood what was going on.

The moment they drove her away, Cheng Gang came out.

Xu Anan could not make sense of it. It was only a ten-minute interview. Was it really necessary to react as if they had seen a ghost the moment they saw her?

Returning empty-handed, Xu Anan found somewhere to get through lunch.

As soon as she got back to the magazine office, she heard several sycophants showering Fang Nini with praise.

“This time, the department head position has to be Nini’s!”

“Department Head Fang, you’ll have to treat us to a meal then. We should celebrate properly!”

Hearing someone call her Department Head Fang, Fang Nini could not hide the smile on her face. She waved a hand. “No problem. I’ll treat you all to Japanese food.”

When she caught sight of Xu Anan passing by, Fang Nini became even more arrogant and pleased with herself. “Anan, you’ll have to do us the honor then.”

Xu Anan feigned surprise. “What, is the spot already fixed in advance? Otherwise, how are you all so certain Fang Nini will be promoted to department head?”

At once, the whole magazine office fell silent.

Quite a few people quietly returned to their desks.

Fang Nini’s expression turned ugly. “Xu Anan, I think you’re just jealous of me.”

Xu Anan sneered. “Jealous of what, exactly? Jealous that you rely on connections to get in through the back door, and then rely on connections to get promoted? Yes, that is truly something to be jealous of.”

“Tell me, who here is not jealous?”

“On the contrary, you act as though it is perfectly natural.”

“Are the rest of us, who work diligently and put our hearts into our jobs, somehow indebted to you? Are we supposed to be working for you?”

These words voiced what many had been thinking.

They were furious, but none dared to say it aloud.

A small-town striver could never compete with the backroom dealings of power and capital.

It was genuinely heartbreaking.

Sensing that the people who had just been flattering her were now looking at her with utter disgust and contempt, Fang Nini flushed with humiliation and had nowhere to hide. She shot Xu Anan a vicious glare, then turned and left.

She did not think there was anything wrong with it. On the contrary, she considered it a skill.

Otherwise, why would others not have it?

Grinding her teeth, Fang Nini muttered, “Xu Anan, the day I become department head will be the day you die.”

Xiaomei gave Xu Anan a thumbs-up. “Anan, what you said was absolutely right. It was exactly what I was thinking too. I really hope you can become department head. If Fang Nini becomes department head, she’ll probably feel even more justified in ordering us around.”

Xu Anan of course knew Fang Nini’s character, so she had no choice but to go find Xue Shengnan.

“General Manager Cheng refuses to accept the interview at all, and he’s even deliberately avoiding me. What am I supposed to do?”

“Can we switch to another interview subject?”

Xue Shengnan paused, then understood everything. Rubbing her brow with some fatigue, she said, “Anan, back then the editor-in-chief and I made a bet in front of all the shareholders. One of the conditions was that the interview subject could not be changed.”

Xu Anan understood then as well.

The editor-in-chief must have been scheming behind the scenes, making sure Cheng Gang would not accept her interview. In that case, Fang Nini would naturally win and easily seize the position of department head.

No wonder Fang Nini had already begun celebrating early.

Was she really going to lose to Fang Nini this time?

A glint of cold light flashed in Xu Anan’s eyes, and she clenched her fists. “It’s not over yet.”