Chapter 87: Reporting Work

Lin Jian had been looking for a chance to ask the long-legged Shen Ke out. After all, she was the one who knew the escaped Old Cat best, and she was in charge of the case. He could definitely pry more secrets out of her.

Just as he was debating when to ask her out, she surprised him by calling first.

"Second Sister, how did you know I was thinking about you?" Lin Jian had just finished lunch and was enjoying the air conditioning in his office.

"Acting like a smartass, aren’t you? Are you looking for a beating?" Shen Ke scolded with a laugh. "With a mouth like yours, who knows how many innocent girls you’ll coax into bed..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. On the other end of the line, she actually blushed. She clicked her tongue and asked, "Do you have time tonight? Would my dear benefactor do me the honor of having dinner with me, so this humble girl can express her gratitude for you saving her life?"

Lin Jian chuckled. "Second Sister, you should know that the proper way to repay a life-saving debt is to pledge yourself to me. You think you can just dismiss me with a single meal? That’s a bit too insincere, don’t you think?"

"Oho, you’ve got some complicated thoughts for a little brat. I really think you need a beating. Tell me what you want to eat tonight and cut the nonsense," Shen Ke teased.

"Second Sister, I really don’t have time tonight," Lin Jian said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "I’m currently acting as a driver for our boss. Last night, to save you, I made her wait at the company until eleven o’clock before I finally went to pick her up.

"If I stand her up again tonight, she’ll go crazy."

"You’re acting as a driver for your boss now?" Shen Ke asked in surprise.

"Yeah, just filling in for a few days. Our boss offended some people recently. Since she knows I’ve got some martial arts skills, she has me doubling as her driver and bodyguard."

"You’re definitely qualified to be a bodyguard. Last night at the incinerator operating room..." As Shen Ke spoke, she recalled the scene she had witnessed upon re-entering the room the previous night.

Four men had their hands severed, and the rest had suffered heavy blows. Although those strikes hadn’t been fatal, they were entirely crippling. Last night, that place had been an Asura arena. Even someone like her, who was used to gruesome scenes, had felt her hairs stand on end. Clearly, Lin Jian’s skills were far from simple.

"So when will you be free? Let me treat you to a meal first. As for the life-saving debt, allow this humble girl to repay you slowly over time."

"How are you going to repay me?" Lin Jian asked, pushing his luck.

"Heh, you’ve got a dirty mind for a brat. You should be on your lunch break tomorrow noon, right? Come pick me up then, and we’ll have lunch together. That’s settled, kid!" With that, Shen Ke hung up the phone with a giggle.

Lin Jian smiled. The real reason he had rejected Shen Ke for the evening was simply that he felt too embarrassed to ask Ye Ziqiu for more time off!

Of course, he still had a dinner appointment tonight. However, he could bring Ye Ziqiu along to this one. She needed to eat after work anyway, so having dinner together shouldn’t be a big deal. Old Ye would likely agree.

But adding Shen Ke to the mix wouldn’t work. He couldn’t force these two women together.

At two-thirty in the afternoon, Lin Jian received a call from Secretary Jin at the company’s executive office. Secretary Jin informed him to report to Ye Zi’s office at exactly three o’clock. President Ye wanted an update on the security department’s recent situation and advised him to prepare.

Hanging up Little Secretary Jin’s call, Lin Jian’s mind spun, and he jumped up. He quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie and said to Liu Fei, "Vice Manager Liu, report back to the security room immediately."

"Copy that. Copy that."

Liu Fei never fought for power or profit. Furthermore, he was the hardest worker in the security department; almost nothing could get done without him.

A moment later, Liu Fei hurried into the security room. "Lin Jian, what’s wrong? You sounded pretty anxious. Did something happen?"

"President Ye wants me to report on the security department’s status at three o’clock. Help me analyze this quickly—what exactly does she want to hear?"

Although Lin Jian was on excellent terms with Ye Ziqiu—to the point where they were secretly dating—he had to take work matters seriously. Otherwise, Ye Ziqiu would definitely be disappointed.

"A report, huh," Liu Fei pondered for a moment before saying. "The security department currently has sixteen people on rotation. We’re a bit understaffed. We should increase our numbers.

"I think we need to add at least six more, because the security presence at the mall and supermarket is far from enough!

"On top of that, places like the mall’s roller-skating rink, arcade, cinema, and fast-food courts all need additional personnel.

"Aside from adding manpower, the company also has several fire hazards..."

Like the back of his hand, Liu Fei ran through all the specific details of the security department for Lin Jian.

Lin Jian listened very carefully, asking extra questions whenever there was something he didn’t understand.

At 2:55 PM, Lin Jian arrived outside the executive office. Little Secretary Jin gave him a friendly smile and whispered, "President Ye is in a good mood today. Let me ask her for you."

Saying that, she knocked and opened the door. "President Ye, Vice Manager Lin from the security department is here. Shall I let him in?"

"Come in," Ye Ziqiu’s indifferent voice drifted from inside.

Little Secretary Jin pushed the door fully open, motioned for Lin Jian to enter, and then closed it from the outside.

Ye Ziqiu sat in her executive chair, her face stern and devoid of any smile. As Lin Jian walked in, she nodded and said, "Please take a seat, Manager Lin."

PFFT.

Seeing her so deadpan, Lin Jian couldn’t hold back and broke character, laughing out loud.

Ye Ziqiu glared at him in annoyance. She grabbed a pen, threatening to throw it at him, and hissed softly, "This is the office. Can you be a little serious?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she almost burst into laughter herself. She shot Lin Jian another glare. "This is all your fault. All your fault."

"What’s my fault?" Lin Jian said, speechless.

"Looking at you makes me want to laugh, so it’s your fault!"

When a great beauty like her acted coquettishly, she was breathtakingly charming. A classic older woman archetype like her could instantly slay countless bachelors and young men. Lin Jian was no exception. Seeing her affectionately complain that it was "all his fault," his soul was nearly snatched away. He desperately wanted to pounce on her and plant a couple of fierce kisses on her lips.

"Hehe, if seeing me makes you want to laugh, that means I can make you happy and help you relieve your stress. I actually think that’s a good thing. Otherwise, everyone in the entire company avoids you when they see you, terrified that you’ll snap and scare them with a straight face!" Lin Jian chuckled.

"I have to build up my image as an Iron Lady. Otherwise, how can a woman like me keep so many men in the company in line?

"But I called you here today to talk about work. You can begin now. I need to understand the recent situation of the security department. As the vice manager, tell me your thoughts first."

Ye Ziqiu steered the conversation back to the main topic, looking at Lin Jian with hopeful anticipation. She truly wanted Lin Jian to be an outstanding man—someone who was diligent and responsible in his work.

Lin Jian straightened his posture and said directly, "Understood, President Ye. I will begin then."

Instantly shifting into a professional mindset, he delivered a factual report. "The company’s security department currently has a total of sixteen people. This morning, three of them submitted their resignations, and the paperwork was completed this afternoon.

"Out of the remaining thirteen, three are managers and vice managers. That leaves only ten people specifically responsible for the various on-site tasks. In my opinion, ten is far from enough. Moreover, I’d like to change the security department’s shift schedule from two shifts to three... Also, I recommend that we hire female security personnel."

Lin Jian began outlining his ideas.

Although a portion of his report was what Liu Fei had told him, he had also woven in his own suggestions—such as transitioning from two shifts to three, and the inclusion of female guards.

He was right; Rejuvenation Square was massive. If the entire security force consisted solely of men, they would face certain limitations in specific situations. Therefore, the security department needed to bring on a few female members.

As Lin Jian continued his report, Ye Ziqiu’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.