Official Career Storm

Chapter 1561 1561

Jiang Yiren came over in the afternoon.

In the morning, at home, she heard from her aunt that it was thanks to Song Guanchao last night, otherwise, she would have been in trouble by now.

Thinking about how those people kept pouring her drinks last night, Jiang Yiren felt so angry her eyes turned red, and after calming down, she felt a wave of fear.

She had initially told Song Guanchao about the department dinner, and he asked her to notify him beforehand.

But the events from the past few days affected their relationship, so she didn't bother to tell him out of spite.

Now thinking about it, if Song Guanchao hadn't shown up last night, she would have been violated.

Along with the lingering fear, there was also a hint of sweetness.

Song Guanchao didn't notify her yet secretly followed and protected her.

"He still cares about me."

A slight smile crept up to the corners of her eyes.

She walked into the office, and her colleagues looked over, smiling when they saw it was her.

Jiang Yiren felt a bit strange; she thought after last night's events, these colleagues would deliberately ignore and isolate her.

After all, their dirty tricks last night didn't succeed.

Since force didn't work, surely, they would come at her softly, naturally isolating her so that as deputy director, she would be completely ignored.

But the reality was the exact opposite.

Was it because of Song Guanchao?

She was unaware last night, not knowing what happened after Song Guanchao arrived, or if he said anything.

But from the reaction of her colleagues, he must have said something.

Jiang Yiren walked to her workstation with a blank expression, put her things down, and left the office.

She went to Song Guanchao's office, stood at the door, collected herself, and knocked gently.

Hearing Song Guanchao's "Come in," she pushed the door open.

She closed the door, walked over, and said, "Thank you for last night."

Song Guanchao asked, "Why didn't you tell me about the dinner last night?"

Jiang Yiren bit her lip, not knowing how to answer.

Should she tell him that she was in a bad mood, so she didn't mention it?

That would be too reckless.

And from their long-term interaction, she knew Song Guanchao didn't like capricious girls.

Song Guanchao didn't continue pressing, to avoid embarrassing her: "I talked to those who forced you to drink last night; it won't happen again."

"Oh." Jiang Yiren pursed her lips, secretly pleased.

What Song Guanchao did, in her view, was all out of concern for her.

He cares about me, that's why he did these things.

It means he still has feelings for me.

Just unsure why, that night, he had to lock the door.

"Try to take control of the secretary section soon. If there's anything Shi Qin does that you can't handle, come find me."

"Okay."

"Alright, go ahead and get busy."

Jiang Yiren didn't leave; she summoned her courage and asked, "Do you have time tonight?"

Song Guanchao shook his head.

After the exhaustion of last night, he needed to properly recuperate in the next few days.

Alright, then.

Jiang Yiren felt a bit disappointed: "Then I'll go back."

She returned to the office, looked at her colleagues, while Song Guanchao's words echoed in her ears.

He told me to take control of the secretary section soon.

But, how to take control?

She didn't have any experience in this area.

Right, I can ask my sister.

She pulled up Qu Xiangru's WeChat: "Sister, do you have time tonight?"

A few minutes later, Qu Xiangru replied: "What's up?"

"I'd like to ask you something."

"You can come find me this evening."

At this moment, Shi Qin pushed open the office door, intending to go to the restroom.

While passing the office, she saw Jiang Yiren and was a bit surprised.

Jiang Yiren didn't come in the morning, so she guessed something must have happened last night.

But she came over in the afternoon.

Judging by her expression and demeanor, it didn't seem like she experienced anything.

Shi Qin furrowed her brows slightly.

Just then, Jiang Yiren looked up.

She already knew that last night's dinner was a setup specially orchestrated by Shi Qin to target her, intending to kick her out through such lowly means.

A surge of anger rushed to her heart. She was about to stand up and demand an explanation when she suddenly remembered Song Guanchao's words, forcing herself to restrain the impulse.

She compelled herself to squeeze out a smile, then withdrew her gaze.

But her fleeting expressions were all caught by Shi Qin.

Shi Qin glanced at others, planning to ask about it later.

After returning from the bathroom, she called a man into her office.

"What happened after I left last night?" Shi Qin asked directly.

The man pretended not to understand: "Nothing much, after eating and drinking, we all left."

Shi Qin asked, "Who took Director Jiang home?"

The man hesitated: "Director Song came later."

"Song Guanchao?" Shi Qin frowned.

"Yes."

"You may leave."

The man closed the door.

Shi Qin took a box of lady's cigarettes from the drawer, lit one, feeling a little uneasy.

How did Song Guanchao show up?

Did Jiang Yiren tell him about last night's dinner?

"This little girl is quite cunning."

Having escaped a trap, Shi Qin felt a deep sense of regret.

No wonder Jiang Yiren had that expression just now; it seemed she already knew Shi Qin was out to get her.

With this experience, coupled with Song Guanchao's appearance last night, it won't be easy to deal with her again.

But it doesn't matter.

If force doesn't work, then go soft.

She is the head of the secretary section; at worst, she could isolate her directly.

Make her the deputy director in name only.

She knows too well the kind of person Jiang Yiren is.

Young, with a decent background, but with mediocre ability and overly simple thoughts.

Such a person is not suited to mix in this system.

Moreover, these individuals tend to be proud, with a sense of boundaries.

Once isolated, it won't be long before she can't endure it and leaves on her own.

This move is called 'Winning without fighting.'

...

Time flies, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.

During this week, Shi Qin discovered a fact she couldn't accept.

She wanted to rally everyone in the section to isolate Jiang Yiren.

However, to her horror, she realized they were paying lip service, saying yes but not acting on it.

Not only did they maintain close communication with Jiang Yiren, but whenever the office needed to draft a document, they reported to Jiang Yiren first.

Only after things were almost done, did they come to her for a signature.

The one being isolated turned out to be her!

This realization brought Shi Qin an unprecedented fear.

She knew it must be the work of Song Guanchao!

But knowing was useless; she could do nothing about it.

Song Guanchao could make the entire secretary section cooperate with Jiang Yiren, primarily through tactics of intimidation or incentives.

By contrast, she could only offer incentives.

If she resorted to intimidation, it would likely result in someone flipping the table and possibly reporting her as well.

After all, being in the same section, the various violations and misconduct she engaged in couldn't be swept completely under the rug.

They would surely have some hold on these matters.

Hence, if she wanted to regain control, she could only use incentives.

However, incentives required the premise that the opposing party was free to choose.

But the current situation was that the opposition had already been influenced by Song Guanchao's intimidation or incentives.

Song Guanchao had gained the upper hand!

Unless she could provide an irresistible offer, there was no way they would switch sides.

But she was merely the head of a section and couldn't offer anything substantial.

Just as Shi Qin was in despair, on the other side, Song Guanchao suddenly received a call from Wu Qiangwei.

"Zhang Yan's case is resolved."

Hearing this, Song Guanchao was astonished and immediately headed to the office.