Chapter 104: My Face Hurts a Little

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Liang Jinshang suddenly recalled the excuse he had given Shang Yucheng ten minutes ago about needing to work overtime, and now it felt like a slap in the face. His cheek stung slightly.

Shang Yucheng closed the distance in a few long strides, withdrawing the cold, distant glance he had shared with Liang Jinshang and scanning the group of subordinates around them.

The big boss rarely visited their retirement department, especially after hours. There had to be a special reason.

Recently, the biggest change in the department was the sudden arrival of Nan Yi, an outsider with no relevant knowledge or qualifications. The staff had speculated for days about why she had been parachuted in, and today the mystery was finally revealed.

But this bombshell had exploded rather loudly…

Everyone’s gaze shifted as they looked at Nan Yi. No wonder this sickly-looking newcomer had dared to splash coffee on someone so brazenly, and her off-brand suit felt surprisingly high quality… Could it be a “dragon robe” after all?

Shang Yucheng had no intention of defending Nan Yi, but his presence alone indirectly confirmed her powerful backing.

Those who had been watching or looking for trouble quickly greeted Shang Yucheng and quietly dispersed.

Only the woman who had been doused with coffee remained.

She was a comfortably well-off middle-class wife who wasn’t too worried about losing her job but wanted an explanation.

“President Shang, your lady here…” The woman took a deep breath to steady herself. “No matter what, I’ve been trying my best to mentor her these past few days. Even if my tone wasn’t perfect, everyone knows my character—I have no ill intent. For her to splash coffee on me without any reason, isn’t that insulting?”

Shang Yucheng didn’t even bother to look at Nan Yi, his attention fixed instead on addressing the woman who had dared to lie openly and run amok under his nose.

Before he could reach Liang Jinshang, Nan Yi stepped forward silently and positioned herself between Shang Yucheng and Liang Jinshang, addressing the woman:

“I’m sorry… I was wrong just now. Besides compensating you for your loss, what else can I do to earn your forgiveness?”

The woman’s anger was palpable.

If Nan Yi had apologized sincerely like this in front of everyone earlier, she could have saved face.

But this “boss’s wife” had insisted on waiting for the boss’s backing, letting everyone else leave before stooping to such a humble apology.

Accepting it felt humiliating, but rejecting it was impossible with her powerful patron right there.

The woman reluctantly made her position clear to Shang Yucheng: “President Shang, my abilities are limited. I really can’t mentor Miss Nan. Let today’s incident drop, but please assign her a different mentor.”

Shang Yucheng responded with a casual “Hmm.”

The woman clicked her high heels and left, leaving only the three of them.

Nan Yi made a move to take off the suit jacket and return it to Shang Yucheng, but he declined, saying, “Keep it on.”

He didn’t have the habit of letting unrelated women wear his clothes.

If Nan Yi hadn’t happened to meet him by the sink and mentioned she had dinner plans with Liang Jinshang but had dirtied her clothes, he wouldn’t have lent her the jacket.

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Since it was borrowed, there was no need to return it.

Nan Yi gave a shy thanks.

Liang Jinshang stood to the side, feeling like an outsider.

Especially when she heard Shang Yucheng tell Nan Yi to keep his suit on, she felt an uncomfortable sting in her heart.

She was still here! She was still catching her breath!

Noticing Liang Jinshang’s plaintive look, Shang Yucheng asked lightly, “Still working overtime? I’ll take you home.”

A sudden pang of guilt made her reply, “Not anymore… I have plans to celebrate my belated birthday with Nan Yi.”

Seeing her tone soften and her honest demeanor, Shang Yucheng gave a half-smile: “I owe you a meal too. Mind if I join?”

Liang Jinshang glanced at Nan Yi, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

Nan Yi nodded, “Sure, I don’t mind.”

Liang Jinshang booked a table at a trendy handmade pizza place.

A popular spot.

Small and humble, not the type to offer special privileges to someone like Shang Yucheng.

They would have to queue like everyone else.

Since the wait would be an hour, Liang Jinshang suggested accompanying Nan Yi to buy new clothes.

They needed to replace the shirt that had been stained, plus Nan Yi’s own outfit needed changing.

She couldn’t bear to see Nan Yi wandering around wearing Shang Yucheng’s suit.

They first went to the C brand counter.

The woman from earlier had a point—this was Liang Jinshang’s first time here—but she remained composed.

It didn’t matter; she knew she could afford any luxury goods herself in the future.

Liang Jinshang directly found the shirt that had been stained.

Seeing the price tag, she exchanged a look with Nan Yi.

Tsk.

Nan Yi’s expression soured; this was far beyond her budget.

The saleswoman, accustomed to all kinds of wealthy socialites and wealthy wives, naturally realized these two women were not the usual clientele.

But behind them stood a shining golden Buddha statue.

The saleswoman’s gaze swept over their similarly refined faces before lingering on the suit Nan Yi wore for three seconds.

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Then, without missing a beat, she began flattering Nan Yi.

“This lady has excellent taste. This shirt is a new arrival this autumn and suits your temperament perfectly. You can pair it with this skirt.”

The saleswoman chattered on, but Nan Yi kept glancing at Liang Jinshang with her eyes. She couldn’t afford even one item, let alone respond to the saleswoman’s pitch.

Liang Jinshang spoke for her, “If we only want this shirt, can we get a discount?”

The saleswoman casually glanced at her, disdain barely concealed in her micro-expression. “Only VIP customers who spend over five million receive standard discounts. Are you one?”

Liang Jinshang earnestly replied, “Is it so difficult for you to answer a customer’s question in a straightforward way?”

The saleswoman unenthusiastically dismissed her, “Sorry, this is our brand’s policy. All counters worldwide…”

“Then according to your policy…” Shang Yucheng, who had been standing silently nearby, finally spoke, “How much spending does it take to fire a sales associate on the spot for being unsatisfactory?”

The saleswoman’s eyes darted between Liang Jinshang and Shang Yucheng in surprise.

Liang Jinshang kindly linked her arm with Shang Yucheng’s, clarifying, “Just prepare my order according to that standard.”

The saleswoman stammered, “...I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

What followed was the highest level of service.

But Liang Jinshang had only done this to vent and didn’t truly want to get anyone fired or buy a ton of luxury goods. She was an architect; wearing these clothes on a construction site would be a waste.

So she told Shang Yucheng she declined.

“Try everything on, buy what fits,” Shang Yucheng commanded from the sofa, his tone regal.

Then he tilted his head, his deep voice whispering by her ear, “Do me a favor and consider this for me—I have no plans to switch careers to insurance sales anytime soon.”

How could she take that personally?

The taunts earlier had targeted Nan Yi’s man, not her.

Thinking this, she looked up to find Nan Yi.

At that moment, all the sales associates had gathered around them, while Nan Yi, who had just been fawned over enthusiastically, stood alone under the spotlight, solitary and distant in her gaze.