Chapter 5: An Unexpected Encounter with Lan Ding

Su Manman hung up the phone and continued with her work.

…

Ye Feng had just planned to get familiar with the company’s environment when he suddenly needed to use the restroom. As he came out, he unexpectedly ran into Ding Lan, his childhood playmate from the orphanage.

Ding Lan recognized him at a glance, and upon seeing Ye Feng’s attire, a mocking expression appeared on her face.

“Well, isn’t this Ye Feng? After all these years, I can’t believe you’re cleaning toilets here!”

Ye Feng didn’t argue with her. He looked at Ding Lan, who stood before him in a red dress and heavy makeup, and sighed.

“And you? What do you do these days?”

“Me? I’m now the supervisor of the sales department at Hengda Group,” Ding Lan replied, proudly brushing her perfectly styled bangs.

“All right, I can’t waste time chatting with you. The new company president is arriving today, and I need to leave a good impression.” She tugged her collar lower and pushed out her chest confidently.

“By the way, you’d better stay in the restroom and not come out. Dressed like that, you’ll ruin our company’s image, do you understand?” With that, she sashayed away.

Ye Feng felt somewhat disgusted by her behavior. Straightening his clothes, he muttered, “You’re nothing but a weed dreaming of spring and autumn. You should take a look at yourself in the mirror before coming out to scare people.” He turned and walked quickly to his office.

Pushing open the door and seeing no one inside, Ye Feng sat heavily in the boss's chair, patted the armrests, and said, “Let me feel what it’s like to be president. Tsk, tsk, tsk, it’s not much after all.”

Just then, a woman dressed formally in a white blouse and black pencil skirt walked in. Seeing the man in the chair, she immediately recognized him as the new president, Ye Feng—having seen his handsome photo before, she remembered him clearly.

“Hello, President. I’m your secretary, Tao,” she said, her heart fluttering as she looked at Ye Feng’s striking face, her expression shy.

“Secretary Tao, spread the word: I’m already at the company. There’s no need for a grand welcome at the entrance.” Ye Feng glanced at her, then lowered his head to fiddle with his phone.

“Yes, President.” Seeing that he didn’t even spare her a second glance, Secretary Tao couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

“Wait,” Ye Feng suddenly called out.

Secretary Tao’s face immediately lit up with joy. “Is there anything else, President?”

“Bring Ding Lan to me.”

“All right, President.” Without another word, Secretary Tao turned and left.

When Ding Lan learned the new president wanted to see her, she was over the moon. Hastily tidying her clothes, she thought, “With my looks, how could I not win over a new president? After all, every man is lustful.”

Ding Lan swayed her way toward the president’s office, already imagining herself conquering the new president and reaching the peak of her life.

Knock, knock, knock—Ding Lan rapped on the door.

“Come in!” Ye Feng deliberately lowered his voice so Ding Lan wouldn’t recognize him.

“President, is there something you need from me?” she asked coyly.

Ye Feng said nothing.

“President, why aren’t you saying anything? Turn around and have a look at me.”

Seeing no response from the man behind the chair, Ding Lan summoned her courage and took a few steps closer, leaning on the desk and tugging her collar even lower.

“President, turn around. My feet are starting to hurt from standing.”

“It’s your idea for me to turn around. Don’t regret it,” Ye Feng said in a deep voice, spinning the chair as he spoke.

When she saw his face—the very man she’d just mocked—Ding Lan froze.

She blurted out, “Why is it you? What are you doing here? Where’s the president?” She fired off a barrage of questions.

“Why are you so surprised? Seeing me here was unexpected, wasn’t it?” Ye Feng’s lips curled with a wicked smile.

“You, a toilet cleaner, dare to barge into the president's office and pretend to be the president? You should look at yourself and see what you are!”

Ding Lan simply couldn’t believe that Ye Feng was the new president of Hengda.

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you—you’re fired,” Ye Feng said calmly.

A mocking sneer flashed across Ding Lan’s face.

“On what grounds? What right do you have to fire me? Who do you think you are?”

“Because I’m the president of this company. Do you think I have the right?” Ye Feng suddenly stepped forward, raising his voice. Startled, Ding Lan was struck speechless, her face turning pale as she collapsed weakly to the floor.

“Secretary Tao, come in!” Ye Feng called toward the door.

There was no immediate response. Suddenly, Ding Lan, still sitting on the floor, burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha… Ye Feng, you’re nothing but a fraud! None of this is real!”

“Secretary Tao!” Ye Feng shouted angrily.

“Pre… President, what’s the matter?” Secretary Tao hurried in, flustered.

Seeing her panic, Ding Lan’s confidence faltered. Grabbing Secretary Tao’s hand, she pleaded, “Secretary Tao, please beg the president for me. I haven’t done anything wrong; I can’t be fired. Please, help me!”

Secretary Tao looked troubled and scratched her head. “Sorry, Supervisor Ding, I can’t help you.”

Ding Lan dropped to her knees, clutching Ye Feng’s leg. “Ye Feng, please don’t fire me. I can’t lose this job.”

“For the sake of our childhood in the orphanage, please, show some mercy and let me off this time.”

Ye Feng stood with his back to her, not sparing her a glance.

Seeing this, Ding Lan panicked even more. She began to unbutton her clothes, muttering, “Ye Feng, as long as you forgive me this once, I’ll give you whatever you want. I can be your pet, your servant—whatever you want, as long as you don’t fire me. I’ll do anything.”

Ye Feng turned and slapped her hard across the face, leaving a vivid five-finger mark—proof of his strength.

Ye Feng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out as he instructed Secretary Tao, “Go, call security. Get her out of here.”

“Yes, President, right away.” Secretary Tao almost ran from the room.

Ding Lan sat on the floor, completely stunned and silent.

Soon, Secretary Tao returned with two security guards.

“President!” they said in unison.

“Take her out. From now on, she is never to set foot in here again,” Ye Feng ordered, nodding.

The two guards came over and lifted Ding Lan to drag her out. Unable to break free, she began shouting, “I won’t let you get away with this, Ye Feng! One day, you’ll be the one begging me on your knees!”

Hearing her, the guards hurried to remove her, fearful of doing anything to anger their new president.

“Secretary Tao, are there any business projects the company is working on recently?” Ye Feng asked, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk.

Startled by the question, Secretary Tao quickly answered, “Yes, we have a collaboration with Tingxuan Corporation. The agreement is finalized and will be signed today.”

“Oh? Where is the signing? Tell me—I’ll go personally.” A sly, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Ye Feng’s lips.

“At One Taste Café. President, would you like me to accompany you?” Secretary Tao asked cautiously.

“No need. I’ll go alone. By the way, give me your number so I can contact you directly if I have questions.” Ye Feng handed her his phone.

Secretary Tao entered her number and saved it.

…

Ye Feng took a cab to One Taste Café. When he walked in, he was greeted by the elegant English-style décor.

Turning, he spotted Su Manman sitting by the window, having coffee with Meng Qing and his sister-in-law. Su Manman, sharp-eyed, noticed him and asked in confusion, “What are you doing here?”

“I was just passing by, and suddenly had a stomachache, so I came in to use the restroom,” Ye Feng lied, not wanting Su Manman to know his real purpose.