CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 382

From this, it was evident that Qi Mulan had no such relationship with Xiao Linye abroad as everyone speculated.

Seeing Xiao Linye remain silent, Kang Xuan continued, "They misconstrued the meaning, so..."

As he spoke, Kang Xuan’s tone hitched, evidently unsure of how to proceed.

Xiao Linye gave him a chilly glance. "So they let her take her designs and get the hell out?"

At this moment, his tone was icy and dangerous.

Xiao Linye was all too familiar with the kind of whirlpools that could exist in the workplace. He had relocated the finance department from that floor precisely because he worried such incidents were incredibly difficult to prevent, yet his precautions had still failed.

Kang Xuan was taken aback by his words. He hadn’t expected the boss to be so well-informed.

"What do you suggest, then?" Kang Xuan couldn’t help but ask.

Xiao Linye immediately became enraged. "Do I even need to ask? What’s the point of keeping such people? Speculating on their superiors’ thoughts? Sucking up to the powerful and stepping on the weak?"

Kang Xuan flinched under the force of his anger. "I’ll handle it right away."

Manager Zhang had really gone too far this time, he thought. To do such a thing at her age! It didn’t matter if Qi Mulan was the boss’s woman or not. Even if she were, Manager Zhang shouldn’t have acted so presumptuously, especially after seeing the boss’s concern for Ye Yuning. Her loyalty was truly misplaced this time. Especially since Manager Zhang had insinuated that Ye Yuning would soon divorce the boss. If the boss found out, he probably wouldn’t allow Manager Zhang any foothold in Upper City.

Meanwhile, Manager Zhang, after receiving the call from the old chairman that morning, was still thinking about telling Liu Ying, considering it a way to vent some frustration on Liu Ying’s behalf. Indeed, though Manager Zhang had appeared to be scolding Liu Ying at the time, she had long been dissatisfied with Ye Yuning. She thought she had seized an opportunity, but recalling Kang Xuan’s earlier attitude, her scalp tingled. She had a nagging feeling this incident wasn’t so simple.

Kang Xuan quickly returned to her. "Get ready."

"What do you mean?" Manager Zhang was slow to understand.

She stood up respectfully, her face full of anxiety.

Kang Xuan stated bluntly, "The Xiao Corporation can’t keep you."

His words were direct. This meant Manager Zhang was being fired.

Manager Zhang’s face paled instantly. "No, wait! I haven’t done anything, have I?"

"You may not have *done* anything, but as the HR Manager, you seem to lack basic professional judgment."

Manager Zhang was speechless.

Basic professional judgment, basic professional judgment...! Her face was deathly pale, and her heart trembled.

"Could it be that Designer Ye and the Seventh Master really...?"

"Still prying?"

Kang Xuan’s sharp question cut her off.

And Manager Zhang became even more certain that this Designer Ye definitely had an improper relationship with the Seventh Master.

Kang Xuan stated, "You’re in serious trouble this time. The Nanjia Peak project isn’t finished, and now you’ve driven the key person away."

"But isn’t Miss Qi Mulan also a designer? Can’t she take over?"

"You think it’s that simple?"

Kang Xuan gave Manager Zhang a cold look, incredulous that she could say such a thing at this time. How could she be so clueless? he thought, exasperated.

He couldn’t be bothered to talk to someone like her any longer and turned to leave. "Just pack your things and go."

"Shouldn’t you at least find someone to replace me?"

Manager Zhang was unwilling to give up, trying to buy herself some time. She hoped to redeem herself in the time she bought. She had moved to the Xiao Corporation from her previous company precisely because she knew the benefits were good. But she hadn’t been there long, and leaving now would do no favors to her career.

Kang Xuan naturally saw through her intentions and scoffed, "It’s just an HR Manager position; the department won’t collapse because you’re gone."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Manager Zhang stood rooted to the spot, a chill seeping through her entire body. She had never imagined that merely trying to curry favor with the future Seventh Young Mistress would lead to such a disaster!

The Nanjia Peak project had been causing headaches for the higher-ups in the company for some time. She had truly struck a raw nerve with them.

However, she didn’t realize she had been too hasty. Ye Yuning had actually planned to wrap things up today and not come in tomorrow. As a result, by targeting someone who was already about to leave, she had sealed her own fate.

Meanwhile, Xiao Linye drove directly to Manlang.

He dialed Ye Yuning’s number. It was answered quickly. "Hello?"

"Are you coming down, or should I come up?"

His tone was rather assertive, clearly indicating he wanted to see Ye Yuning immediately.

On the other end of the line, Ye Yuning was in a meeting. She had been frantically dealing with her studio’s affairs for the past few days. Even the meeting she had returned for at noon yesterday had been haphazardly conducted.

She was just settling into her work when Xiao Linye’s call came. Taken aback, she asked, "Do we really have to meet right now?"

"Then I’m coming up."

Ye Yuning was speechless for a moment.

Come up?

She glanced at the packed meeting room and then at her seat. No, he can’t come up!

However, before she could respond, the call had already been disconnected.

Xiao Linye hung up, got out of his car, and walked directly towards the elevator lobby he had seen Ye Yuning exit before.