"I'm sorry, Mr. Liu. I had some family issues recently, so they impacted my work. But now that everything's resolved, I promise it won't affect my work in the future. Please give me a chance," I whispered, head bowed, as I entered Liu Li's office. It was truly humiliating to be so subservient in front of someone my age.
Liu Li stared at me expressionlessly, her eyes scrutinizing. She remained silent for a long moment, a playful smile slowly creeping across her lips. This look intimidated me even more. Women are the most vicious. Was this woman really planning to use me as a target?
"Fang Wen, don't be nervous. I just want to talk to you calmly. There's nothing else to it," Liu Li said calmly. Her demeanor was completely different from what it had been like in the public office, at least much gentler. "If I remember correctly, we joined the company together, right?"
"Yes, we were hired in the same batch, so we started from the same point. It's just that I'm a bit of a nerd. I don't have Mr. Liu's quick learning ability, nor his dedication and hard work. It's really embarrassing that I've been here six years and still haven't made any progress," I said, blushing.
Liu Li smiled faintly and said calmly, "Don't flatter me. There's no need. Honestly, the reason you're still stuck isn't because you're incompetent. The key problem is that you don't even realize it."
"Ah, where?" I asked, lost for words. If I keep going this way, it's only a matter of time before I'm eliminated.
Liu Li spoke clearly, "Ambition. You lack ambition and are content with the status quo. That's your biggest problem. You know, the workplace is a fiercely competitive arena. How can you achieve anything without competing?"
It was a revelation, a revelation that instantly revealed where I'd lost.
"Mr. Liu was right. I'm a little too complacent and lack a sense of urgency or crisis. But I promise, from today on, I'll work even harder to create greater value and profits for the department and the company," I said forcefully.
Liu Li smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescents, a truly beautiful sight. For the first time, I noticed that Liu Li at this age was even more feminine and charming than when she first joined the company in her early twenties. Her captivating smile distracted me.
"Yes, you should strive to create greater value for the company and secure more benefits for the department. Only then can you play a more important, perhaps even irreplaceable, role in the company. But first, you must convince your immediate superior, me, that you are valuable. Now, I ask you, what can you do for me?" Liu Li stared at me and asked.
Yes, what can I do for Liu Li? To her, besides being a male animal with decent looks, what value do I possess in her eyes? Was Liu Li hinting that I should first make her comfortable? I looked Liu Li up and down and noticed that the look in her eyes was profound, even her smile seemed full of meaning.
Suddenly, I seemed to understand something, but I couldn't believe it.
Seeing me lost in thought, Liu Li suddenly leaned her head closer and said mysteriously, "Since we've worked together for so many years, I need to give you a heads-up on something."
Liu Li's expression made me feel a little distracted. The delicate scent of her perfume tickled my nose, and I blushed as I whispered, "What heads-up?"
"The company is planning to train and promote a group of key personnel, department heads. Our current marketing head is a bit too old, so I'm moving him to another position. We have three candidates for this position, and you're one of them. Do you understand what I mean?" Liu Li whispered, her lips almost touching my ear. Suddenly, I felt like this woman wasn't so unapproachable; she actually had a lovely side.
Liu Li's point was that I could potentially be promoted to a more important position, but besides working even harder, were there any other ways to defeat my competitors?
"Thank you, Mr. Liu, for your concern. I'll work even harder," I said sincerely. It now seemed that Liu Li, far from trying to dissuade me, was actually trying to help me. This made the dark thoughts within me clear up a bit. Yes, she was sending me a signal.
Liu Li smiled faintly, stood up, and slid around from behind the desk, sitting down with her butt propped up on it. She reached out and patted my shoulder, saying meaningfully, "There are many ways to compete. Sometimes, hard work alone isn't enough to earn you a promotion. As the saying goes, 'The real skill lies beyond the poem.' You're a little too honest."
I raised my eyelids and looked up at Liu Li, finding her staring at me meaningfully. Her foot rubbed against my thigh, her right index finger resting on her lips, a look of ecstasy.
Seeing Liu Li's ecstatic expression, my body reacted immediately. Noticing her, Liu Li covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, but she didn't move her foot away. Instead, she moved closer, her movements becoming increasingly frivolous.
At that moment, I felt like my body was about to explode. Although I still deeply loved Tang Jia, you were so unkind and unjust. You could climb into someone else's bed for a promotion, so why couldn't I?
Thinking of this, my breathing quickened. Under Liu Li's encouraging gaze, my hand gradually reached for her stockings...