12: Chapter 12: Using Beauty to Lure Customers?

The colleagues outside the office were collectively petrified, falling into a state of bewilderment.

They looked at each other, seeing shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.

What just happened in there?

Cao Kun... that usually honest and simple Cao Kun actually dared to be so confrontational, talking back directly?

Even more surreal was that the always strong and authoritative "Female Demon" Ji Guangli was actually... scolded to tears?

The uncontrollable sobbing leaked through the door crack, so clear it made one's heart tremble.

"I... I didn't hear wrong, did I? Is Cao Kun crazy?" Sister Zhang covered her mouth, her eyes nearly popping out.

"He actually dared to turn around and criticize Manager Ji?" Another colleague felt their worldview being shaken.

"The point is... Manager Ji cried? My god, I've been in the company for three years, and this is the first time I've heard her cry..."

"Yeah, me too. Hearing her cry so sadly, I suddenly feel like... she's not that hateful anymore. A bit... heartbreaking?"

"Yeah, usually I just thought she was heartlessly strict. I didn't expect..."

Everyone discussed in low voices; the fear and slight resentment they originally felt for Ji Guangli were now mixed with surprise, curiosity, and even a hint of sympathy.

...

Inside the office, Cao Kun froze in place, his hands and feet feeling awkward and out of place.

He had anticipated Ji Guangli slamming the table in a rage, anticipated her sneering and telling him to get lost to the HR Department, and even anticipated her calling security to "escort" him out...

But for all his calculations, he never expected that this iceberg, which he thought was indestructible, would collapse in such a fragile manner.

Crying without any regard for her image, heart-wrenching, as if pouring out all her grievances.

To be fair, even in this state of "pear blossoms bathed in rain," with her makeup slightly smudged, Ji Guangli was still breathtakingly beautiful. That sense of brokenness instead added a different kind of pitiable charm.

But now was clearly not the time for appreciation.

Just as Cao Kun was panicking, unsure whether to hand her a tissue or quietly retreat, that familiar mechanical voice rang out in his mind again.

[Ding! New mission issued: Help Ji Guangli and make her feel heartfelt happiness.]

[Mission Reward: Comprehensive Body Strengthening, with Mastery of Combat as a bonus.]

"Holy crap!" Cao Kun wailed in his heart. "System big brother, why are you adding to the chaos now?"

Looking at Ji Guangli, whose shoulders were shaking from crying as she immersed herself in her world of sorrow, and then thinking about the goal of "heartfelt happiness"... Cao Kun felt his head growing two sizes larger.

Isn't this difficulty level a bit too high?

Right now, Ji Guangli is crying her eyes out, clearly devastated. How could I possibly make her happy?

This mission is going to be tough to handle!

In the two years he'd been with the company, the number of times he'd seen Ji Guangli smile could be counted on one hand, and most of those were fake business smiles.

Truly laughing heartily? Unheard of.

Could this be a long-term mission?

Maybe making her the General Manager would make her truly happy?

But he knew his own worth; he often couldn't even finish his own performance targets. How could he help?

Furthermore, he had just lashed out at Ji Guangli and made her cry. She must hate him to death right now.

How was he supposed to make her happy?

However, the reward for this mission was quite good.

"Whatever, a real man knows when to yield and when to stand tall. I've already had my fill of talking back and venting. For the sake of the reward, I'll coax her if I have to!"

Cao Kun gritted his teeth, braced himself, and stepped forward. He pulled out a few tissues, clumsily handed them over, and softened his voice: "Um... Manager Ji, please stop crying... It's my fault. I went too far with what I said. I apologize to you. You..."

It would have been better if he hadn't comforted her; this comfort seemed to open a floodgate.

She thought of her hardships over the years.

She thought of the grievances she'd suffered over the past two days.

Her emotions completely broke down.

Instead of stopping her crying, she began to cry even harder.

While crying, she began to speak intermittently, as if talking to Cao Kun, yet also as if venting to herself.

"Do... Do you think it's fucking easy for me? Waaah..."

"My family is from a remote rural village, dirt poor! My dad was disabled in a work accident years ago and can't do heavy labor. My mom's health has always been poor, and she's on medication year-round. I have younger siblings still in school... The whole family relies on me! Almost all of my monthly salary has to be sent back; I only keep one or two thousand for myself to scrape by in Zhongzhou!"

"Don't look at me like I'm making twenty thousand a month—sounds like a lot, right? But the expenses are so high!"

"To this day, I'm still renting a room in an Urban Village. I squeeze onto the Subway for over an hour every day to get to and from work. The cosmetics I use are all cheap alternatives or knock-offs! My clothes are always professional wear; I don't dare spend a single cent recklessly!"

"I work overtime every day, desperately chasing business, just thinking about achieving more results to get more commission and bonuses so my family can be a bit more comfortable and my parents won't be so tired... I have nothing but work!"

"And yet, there are still fucking people gossiping behind my back all day, saying I have a thing with the boss, saying I rely on my beauty to seduce clients into signing contracts..."

"If I really fucking relied on that, would I have to work this hard? My sales would have fucking doubled long ago!"

"Now... clients humiliate me, the boss criticizes me, the people in Department One mock me... I just want to rely on my own ability to earn more money honorably. Why is it so hard?"

"Waaah..."

This outburst of grievances exploded in Cao Kun's ears like a clap of thunder.

He had never imagined that this female superior, who was always impeccably made up, well-dressed, and had a powerful aura, actually carried such heavy life shackles and family pressure.

That harshness, strictness, and lack of human touch were perhaps just a hard shell she put on to protect herself and fight for survival in this cruel city and workplace.

Beyond the shock was deep regret and self-reproach.

His words just now, though partly out of rebellion against long-term suppression, were indeed too mean, stabbing like a knife into the heart of this already overburdened woman.

"Manager Ji, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"

This time, Cao Kun apologized sincerely, his tone filled with guilt.

"I'm a bastard. I shouldn't have said that to you! I didn't know you... had so many difficulties. I was wrong. Can you forgive me? I'll definitely work hard from now on and never slack off again!"

He was desperate to make amends.

However, after the emotional release, Ji Guangli's reason and pride quickly returned.

She suddenly realized that she had exposed her most fragile and unsightly side in front of a subordinate—and one who had just defied her.

A massive sense of shame and annoyance overwhelmed her.

"Get out!" She suddenly turned around, her back to Cao Kun, her voice thick with nasality but exceptionally cold and hard.

"I don't want to see you right now! Get out!"

"Manager Ji, I..."

"Get out! Now!" Ji Guangli's voice was resolute and brook no argument.

Cao Kun opened his mouth, saw Ji Guangli's slightly trembling but straight back, and knew that saying anything now was useless. He could only sheepishly say, "Then... don't be too sad," and quietly exited the office.

The colleagues eavesdropping outside the door had naturally also vaguely heard Ji Guangli's tearful complaints.

Any original thoughts of watching the drama or sympathizing with Cao Kun had now turned into silence.

They recalled that although Ji Guangli was usually strict, she was never vague when fighting for departmental bonuses and benefits, and would even pay out of her own pocket for afternoon tea to boost morale...

They used to take it for granted, but now they knew that every cent meant more burden for her family.

"I didn't expect... Manager Ji's family situation to be so difficult."

"And we were calling her 'Female Demon' behind her back all day..."

"She's in Zhongzhou alone, supporting a family, and can still lead a department like this... She's actually quite impressive."

"Sigh, it's not easy for anyone."

The atmosphere in the office became exceptionally heavy, with everyone lowering their heads and reflecting on their previous words and actions.

...