Chapter 45: Security Chief Zhang Qiang’s Resentment

The next day, Lin Jian woke up to find that his mother, Lin Jing, had already checked out and gone home.

Although it was Saturday, the security department didn’t get weekends off, so he still had to go to work. However, the rest of the company was resting according to national statutory holidays. Even the president, Ye Ziqiu, hadn’t come in! Since Ye Ziqiu wasn’t at work, Lin Jian was in no rush to return her car. He figured he’d drive it for a couple more days.

He spent the entire morning idling away. As a newly promoted deputy supervisor still in his learning phase, he didn’t need to stand guard; he just had to observe and listen. He even managed to squeeze in a nap in the security room at noon.

Around two in the afternoon, however, Ye Ziqiu suddenly called him.

"Hello, President Ye! Security Guard Lin Jian is currently on patrol duty. Awaiting your instructions!" Lin Jian boomed, despite actually lying flat on a bed.

On the other end of the line, Ye Ziqiu rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. From the vice presidents down to the cleaning staff, everyone in the company trembled in her presence and spoke to her with the utmost caution. Yet this guy... She was rendered entirely speechless and helpless.

"Lin Jian, do you have any plans after work tonight?" she asked softly.

"After work..." Lin Jian’s eyes darted around. He did have plans. He was supposed to treat Zhang Qiang and the other security guards from yesterday’s shift to dinner, and he also needed to help his mother move some things into their new home. But judging by Ye Ziqiu’s tone, she needed him for something tonight. So, he quickly replied, "I’m free! Just give the word, Boss, and I’ll follow your orders to the letter!"

Ye Ziqiu hummed in acknowledgment. After a moment of silence, she said, "Come with me to a place tonight. I’ll probably be drinking, so I need you to drive."

"No problem. What time?"

"I need to attend a cocktail party in Modu at seven, so come over at four. We’ll leave early."

"Ah, going to Modu? Alright, I’ll head over early!" Lin Jian grinned, about to hang up.

But just before he could, Ye Ziqiu suddenly called out, "Wait, wait a minute."

"What’s wrong, Miss Ye? Something else?" Lin Jian asked.

"Stop calling me Miss Ye," she snapped, annoyed. "Call me that again and see how I deal with you! Why can’t you just drop it?"

"Okay, okay, I won’t. Just tell me what it is," Lin Jian hastily compromised. There was no point in antagonizing his boss.

"Do you have a suit at home?" Ye Ziqiu asked abruptly.

COUGH, COUGH...

Lin Jian nearly choked. What was going on with Miss Ye? Asking him if he had a suit?

"I’ve never worn a suit in my entire life," he answered meekly.

"Oh, then... then..." Ye Ziqiu stammered, at a loss for words.

Lin Jian’s mind worked quickly. "Is it because I can’t dress too casually for this cocktail party? I’ll go buy a set this afternoon then. Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you."

"I don’t trust your taste. How about this: leave work this afternoon, come pick me up at my house, and I’ll help you buy a suit!"

"Ahem, is... is that appropriate?" Lin Jian raised his eyebrows. Miss Ye wanted to buy him clothes! Wasn’t this progressing a bit too fast?

"Stop talking nonsense! If you don’t want to go, then forget it!"

CLICK.

It seemed Ye Ziqiu had hung up out of sheer embarrassment.

After dropping the call, Ye Ziqiu’s face flushed crimson. She raised a small hand as if to slap herself. What was wrong with her? Why did she have to ask this lowly security guard to accompany her? It wasn’t like she didn’t have male friends...

"Alright, never mind..." She covered her forehead with her hand, realizing she actually didn’t have any presentable male friends. In Jiang City, aside from her subordinates at work, her only real friend was Jiang Xue. Finding a male companion was genuinely difficult.

"Yes, he and I are strictly just friends!" she mumbled, as if trying to hype herself up. She only admired the little security guard’s loyalty and character. As for anything else, she would just brush it off. They could be friends, but strictly platonic ones.

Meanwhile, Lin Jian sat in the security room, smoking a cigarette before using his walkie-talkie to call his supervisor, Zhang Qiang.

"Qiang, where are you? I need to talk to you about something!" Lin Jian said directly.

"In the hotel’s underground parking lot. Come over." Zhang Qiang was still putting on airs, making Lin Jian go to him rather than returning to meet him.

Lin Jian smiled, not bothering to argue. Besides, Zhang Qiang was the supervisor, and he was the deputy supervisor, so it was only right that he took the initiative to meet him.

A moment later, Lin Jian found Zhang Qiang in the lounge of the underground parking lot. Seeing Lin Jian walk in, Zhang Qiang tossed him a cigarette.

"You sure slept for quite a while!" he said. It was a double entendre. First, he was mocking him for sleeping soundly during work hours. Second, he was pointing out that the nap had dragged on for quite some time.

Pretending not to understand, Lin Jian lit the cigarette and took a drag. "Qiang, I might have to reschedule tonight’s dinner for the day after tomorrow. If you guys don’t want to change the date, I can pay for it, and you all can go eat first. How does that sound?"

"No need. What dinner? They were just making a fuss," Zhang Qiang waved his hand dismissively, implying that if Lin Jian didn’t want to treat them, he shouldn’t force it.

Lin Jian shrugged. "Qiang, I’m really not trying to stand you guys up. It’s just that President Ye just called and told me to pick her up right now. I have to go to her place immediately, and then accompany her to some cocktail party tonight. I can’t exactly refuse an assignment straight from the boss!"

Hearing this, Zhang Qiang’s face instantly darkened. The bastard was using Ye Ziqiu to pressure him. However, it was indeed Ye Ziqiu’s order that had made Lin Jian the deputy supervisor. He had no idea how this kid had managed to build a relationship with the president, and it infuriated him to no end!

But as for going to a cocktail party with Ye Ziqiu tonight, Zhang Qiang was highly skeptical. This kid was full of crap. He probably just didn’t want to eat at the same table as him and was using President Ye as an excuse. And it wasn’t like Zhang Qiang could call the president to verify the story. Thus, he could only silently curse the punk for being full of deceit.

His expression turned ugly as he said with a dark face, "You’re the deputy supervisor. It’s not good for you to leave during your shift. Talk to President Ye and see if you can wait until you’re off the clock to go."

The guy was using company regulations to block him, essentially telling Lin Jian not to throw the president’s name around. The security department was still his territory!

However, just as Lin Jian was silently cursing Zhang Qiang for being a prick, Miss Ye came in with a god-tier assist! His phone rang. The caller ID read: Miss Ye!

Seeing those words, Lin Jian flashed a wicked grin and answered on speakerphone. "President Ye, I’m trying to ask Zhang Qiang for leave right now, but he’s not approving it. How about I wait until I’m off work? I promise I’ll head over the second my shift is done."

On the other end of the line, Ye Ziqiu was momentarily stunned by Lin Jian’s words, but she quickly caught on. "Give the phone to Zhang Qiang," she commanded coldly.

Her voice was frigid. In the company, whenever that tone emerged, no matter where they were, a pin-drop silence would follow.

Zhang Qiang was so frightened that he shot up from his seat. Was this punk actually going on an errand with Ye Ziqiu?

"Hello, President Ye, this is Zhang Qiang!" he hurriedly answered.

"Lin Jian is going out on business with me this afternoon. That’s all." She didn’t bother explaining what the business was, nor did she discuss his leave. The message was clear: I’m taking him with me, what objections could you possibly have?

"Yes, I..."

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

Ye Ziqiu didn’t even listen to his response. She just hung up!

Lin Jian took his phone back with a smile. "Qiang, the day after tomorrow. I’ll treat you all to dinner the day after tomorrow! I’m heading off."

With that, he walked out of the lounge, grinning from ear to ear.

Zhang Qiang slumped back into his chair, red in the face and seething with anger. This newcomer was too arrogant and absolutely infuriating!

"Alright, you little punk. Just wait and see," Zhang Qiang muttered, a ruthless glint flashing across his gloomy expression.