Chapter 3: Rumor Has It the Company Is Downsizing

“Mom, Dad, let’s not bother persuading them anymore. If they want to keep that thing, let them keep it.”
“But Uncle, I’ll say it bluntly—Yiren Group hasn’t been doing well lately. The HR department is discussing layoffs. For someone like Lu Ye, who just eats and waits around, his job will be the first to go!”
The implication was clear: If you don’t hand over the golden compass, your son’s rice bowl will be smashed—he won’t even have a security guard position left.

Lu Yuqing put down his chopsticks, the lines on his forehead knitting together.
He never expected his own younger brother’s family would threaten him with Lu Ye’s job to force him to hand over the golden compass. Wasn’t this just outright plundering?
To be honest, Lu Yuqing felt uneasy. He had no idea what Lu Ye had been up to during his years in the army, nor did he know anything about his son’s secret identity after returning from service. He simply believed Lu Ye was nothing more than a lowly security guard at Yiren Group.
He was torn, wondering if he should hand over the golden compass or not.
Even if he did, it wasn’t certain that Lu Ping would actually help Lu Ye. He might just sell it at the antique market and pocket the money himself.
But if he refused, with Lu Ping’s authority as deputy HR manager, firing a security guard would be as easy as saying a word.
This feeling of being choked and threatened—it was infuriating!

Lu Ye suddenly asked, “Company layoffs? How come I haven’t heard a thing about it?”
Lu Ping, feeling triumphant, sneered, “That’s inside information from the higher-ups. What would a lowly security guard like you know?”
Lu Ye smiled, “Oh, insider news from the top? Well, my fiancée will be here soon. Why don’t I ask her if that’s true?”
The room was stunned.
Not only were his second uncle and aunt surprised, even Lu Yuqing found it unbelievable. He’d never heard his son was dating—how did a fiancée suddenly appear?
Lu Ping was even more confused. What would Lu Ye’s fiancée have to do with the company’s top management?
He thought it over and decided it was impossible—Lu Ye must be boasting.
“Someone like you has a fiancée? And she’s a company executive? The only female executive at Yiren Group is President Su. Are you going to claim your fiancée is President Su?”
Lu Ping scoffed, “Stop bluffing. I suggest you hand over the golden compass. For the sake of family, I might reluctantly save your job.”

Just then, there was a gentle knock at the door.
Lu Ye grinned, “The door’s unlocked, please come in.”
A radiant figure pushed open the door, carrying a gift bag.
It was Su Qianqian, the most beautiful woman in Pearl City!
Even if Lu Ye’s second uncle and aunt had never met her, they’d seen her photo on TV news and financial papers—she was indeed the CEO of Yiren Group.
What was she doing here?

Lu Ye greeted her warmly, smiling, “Soon we’ll all be family—no need to bring anything!” Saying this, he deftly took the bag from Su Qianqian’s hand and peeked inside: two bottles of exquisitely packaged fine wine.
Wow! Each bottle cost over two thousand yuan…
“Wife, let me introduce you. This is my dad!”
“Dad, her name is Su Qianqian, Chairman of Yiren Group, and my fiancée.”
Lu Ye led Su Qianqian to Lu Yuqing, who greeted her. Su Qianqian discreetly pinched a bit of soft flesh at his waist, but smiled sweetly and called out, “Dad!”
“Sorry I’m late, something came up at work. Lu Ye said you like to drink, so I brought two bottles for you.”
Lu Yuqing was stunned for a long moment, then nodded with satisfaction and laughed, “Good, good! My daughter-in-law is excellent!”

My goodness!
My silly son actually found such an outstanding wife? Impossible!
To become the chairman of Yiren Group, the girl must be sharp, and she didn’t look like she’d lost her senses—how did she fall for this kid?

Su Qianqian noticed the others at the table and politely asked, “Who are these three?”
Lu Ye pretended to be confused, “Wife, you don’t know him? He’s just been promoted to deputy manager of our group’s HR department. He was just saying Yiren Group isn’t doing well and layoffs are coming!”
“Not doing well? Layoffs? Where did this news come from? Even I, the CEO, haven’t heard of it!” Su Qianqian said, puzzled.
Seeing this, Lu Ping’s heart skipped a beat. This was bad!
Lu Ye’s fiancée really was President Su!

“President Su, I only heard rumors—this is all a misunderstanding!” Lu Ping stammered, sweat soaking his back.
“Misunderstanding?” Lu Ye sneered, “You threatened my dad to hand over the golden compass, claiming it was inside information from the company’s top management. Now it’s suddenly a misunderstanding?”
After Lu Ye finished recounting the whole incident, Su Qianqian’s pretty face darkened. She immediately called Lu Ping’s superior and unleashed a scolding.
“Lao Xu, what kind of people are you promoting? Your newly appointed HR deputy, Lu Ping, has terrible character. Fire him for me right now, and next time, choose your personnel more carefully!”
“Yes, yes, I’ll deal with him at once. Please don’t be angry, President Su.”
“President Su, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance—I can’t lose this job!” Lu Ping trembled all over, nearly falling to his knees.
Lu Ye’s second uncle and aunt were also on edge. Their beloved son had finally climbed to this position—they couldn’t afford to lose it.

“Lu Ye, he’s your cousin—can’t you let him off?”
“Yes, yes, we’re all family. Why be so ruthless?”

Lu Ye chuckled, “Before my wife arrived, did any of you treat me or my dad as family? You lifted a stone and smashed your own toes, and now you blame me for being ruthless?”
Second uncle and aunt were left speechless. Lu Ping hung his head, biting his lip in humiliation and pleading, “Brother, it was wrong of me as your elder. I’ve wronged you and Uncle. I really know my mistake now—can you help me plead with... with your wife?”
“All right, I’m just a broad-minded person after all.”
Hearing this, Lu Ping and his parents flashed a look of joy. They’d thought all hope was lost, and had only pleaded for luck. Who knew this fool would really repay evil with kindness?
But in the next moment, their smiles froze.

Lu Ye sneered, “Wife, since he’s my cousin, could you save face and not fire him? Let him come work under me as a security guard?”
“Sure.”
Even though Su Qianqian had many complaints about Lu Ye, she despised people like Lu Ping even more—using a bit of authority to bully even his own family. Who knew how other employees might suffer under him?
On principle, Su Qianqian was willing to stand with Lu Ye on this matter.

Lu Ping’s face flushed with anger. “Lu Ye, don’t push me too far! How could I be a security guard with you?”
Lu Ye shrugged innocently. “Don’t want to? Then I take back what I said—just leave.”
“No, no! I just said that out of anger. Security guard it is. Actually, being a guard isn’t bad at all, ha ha ha!”
Lu Ping forced a fake smile. Only when he calmed down did he remember the house and car loans he still owed. Every month, a large sum went to the bank. If his income was cut off, he’d be finished. Even as a security guard, he had to tough it out for now.
But this meal would be hard to swallow. Staying longer would only invite ridicule, so he found a clumsy excuse and left with his parents.

After the three of them departed, Lu Yuqing grew increasingly suspicious and couldn’t help but ask, “Qianqian, my son has neither money nor talent, is lazy and unmotivated, and annoyingly shameless. I’m really curious—what did you see in him?”
Lu Ye rolled his eyes and complained, “Dad, am I really your biological son?”
“No, how many times have I told you? I picked you up from the recycling station.”
Su Qianqian couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t expected Lu Ye’s father to be such a character—she’d never seen a father so dismissive of his own son. Even though everything he said was true, since she was going to marry Lu Ye and would interact with Lu Yuqing often, it would be best to leave a good impression.

“Dad, Lu Ye isn’t as hopeless as you say—he does have some virtues…”
Lu Yuqing glanced at his son and scoffed, “Him? After raising him for over twenty years, I’ve yet to find a single virtue. Qianqian, tell me—what virtues does he have?”
“Well…” Su Qianqian racked her brains for a long time but couldn’t think of anything, finally blurting out, “He looks fairly decent, I suppose.”

Goodness!
Comrade Su Qianqian, are you praising me or mocking me?