Chapter 139: A Forced Promotion

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Before going to bed, Xu An’an thought about messaging Jiang Li to ask whether he had arrived home, but in the end she dismissed the idea.

The longer she spent with Jiang Li, the more she felt that he did not really like texting.

But didn’t Assistant Wang message him quite often?

In fact, for Jiang Li, it all depended on the person.

Xu An’an was the only person he wanted to speak to face-to-face. If that was impossible, he would settle for a video call or a phone call. Texting was the least desirable option.

As for work-related matters, if something could be explained in two or three sentences, he would send a message.

Xu An’an discovered all this only later.

But that was beside the point.

The next day, when Xu An’an returned to the magazine office, the editor-in-chief summoned her to his office.

He was brewing tea and said unhurriedly, “Although the sales of the issue you handled this time weren’t as good as Fang Nini’s, they were still quite respectable. So, after a meeting with senior management, we’ve decided to appoint you deputy department head.”

He clearly thought Xu An’an ought to be deeply grateful to him.

Xu An’an frowned. “I believe Director Xue has already told you what I think.”

Xue Shengnan had indeed mentioned it to the editor-in-chief long ago, but he had not taken it seriously. After all, this was a promotion. How could anyone possibly refuse one?

Seeing that Xu An’an truly did not want the position, the editor-in-chief’s expression darkened.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“You won’t give me the department head position, so now you want to rebel? Do you have any idea how many people outside would kill for this deputy position? Don’t be so ungrateful. You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”

This kind of promotion forced upon her made Xu An’an extremely displeased.

Her small face cold, she said indifferently, “In that case, I won’t stand in anyone else’s way. Please give the position to someone else.”

The editor-in-chief was about to say something when Fang Nini suddenly appeared.

“Heh. Who do you think you are? We offer you an opportunity and you don’t know how to appreciate it, acting as though we’re trying to harm you!”

“Third Uncle-in-Law, since Xu An’an doesn’t want to be deputy department head, give it to Jiang Fei.”

Ever since Fang Nini had become department head, Jiang Fei had turned into her devoted lackey, so Jiang Fei was naturally the first person Fang Nini thought of.

The editor-in-chief did not want to agree.

In his eyes, Jiang Fei was lazy and slippery. If she had not managed to avoid committing any serious mistakes, he would have fired her long ago. Even so, he had already been keeping an eye on her in secret, waiting for an excuse to dismiss her.

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But Fang Nini had already called him Third Uncle-in-Law!

If he refused, her aunt would surely lose her temper with him again once she found out.

“Since this has nothing to do with me, I’ll go back to work.” Xu An’an already knew what the answer would be. The fact that the editor-in-chief had not immediately rejected Fang Nini said enough.

Fang Nini stopped her. “Why are you leaving? I haven’t assigned you any work yet. Go wait in my office.”

Faced with an order from her superior, Xu An’an had no choice but to obey. She went to Fang Nini’s office and waited.

But she waited and waited, and Fang Nini still did not return.

Wasn’t this wasting her working time?

Just as Xu An’an was preparing to leave, Fang Nini came in. Anyone who did not know better might have thought she had deliberately waited outside and only entered when she saw Xu An’an about to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going? Did I say you could leave?” Fang Nini snorted through her nose, putting on the airs of a superior. She took an unhurried sip of coffee. “An’an, don’t think I’m targeting you. I truly admire you.”

Remembering how Fang Nini had called her Sister An’an every other word when she first arrived at the magazine office, and comparing that with her attitude now, Xu An’an found it laughable.

Fang Nini really was something. She had deliberately shown the editor-in-chief a photograph of her aunt. When she noticed that he was interested, she had her aunt come to the magazine office every day to bring him things.

Fang Nini’s aunt was actually quite attractive, dignified and elegant.

Yet she had taken a liking to the editor-in-chief—a potbellied man with a receding hairline.

Did she like him because of his age and his aversion to bathing?

No. It was because he had money!

Xu An’an remained expressionless. “Weren’t you going to assign me some work? Please tell me what it is.”

“No rush. Sit down first.” Fang Nini took another sip of coffee before asking, “Would you like to try the coffee beans I just bought? They taste wonderful. My aunt gave them to me to celebrate my promotion!”

She could maintain the pose of a superior for no more than three seconds before reverting to her true self.

Xu An’an’s brows drew together slightly. “No, thank you. Let’s discuss the work first.”

Only then did Fang Nini put on an act and flip through the documents on her desk. “Let me tell you, this interview subject is excellent. He recently returned from overseas, is young and accomplished, and is developing a ride-hailing application. Apparently, it will be released very soon.”

“I’m giving you this opportunity, so I hope you’ll make good use of it.”

Xu An’an was certain there had to be a catch. If the assignment were truly so good, how could Fang Nini possibly hand it to her? But since it was work assigned by her superior, she could only accept it.

So she waited a little longer, but Fang Nini still did not give her any documents or information.

“Is there nothing else?”

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“Oh, right. Why are you still here?” Fang Nini looked at Xu An’an in surprise. “Go arrange a time with him yourself.”

As she spoke, she tossed Xu An’an a business card.

Fang Nini had done it deliberately.

By the time the workday was nearly over, Xu An’an still had a mountain of unfinished tasks and could only stay late, miserably working overtime. As Fang Nini passed by, she even took the opportunity to mock her.

“Oh, what’s this? Don’t you usually leave the moment your shift ends? Why did you suddenly discover your conscience today and decide to work overtime?”

She had clearly come to taunt Xu An’an on purpose, seeking revenge for the previous day.

Xu An’an said nothing. She merely fixed Fang Nini with an increasingly icy stare, frightening her into taking a step back.

“What kind of look is that?”

Xu An’an ignored her, lowered her eyes, and continued working.

When Fang Nini noticed everyone else staring at her, heat rose to her face. The person who ought to be looking like a fool here was Xu An’an!

How had it somehow become her?

“What are you looking at? Anyone who hasn’t finished their work is not allowed to leave!”

Everyone else hurriedly lowered their heads.

Once Fang Nini had strutted away in her high heels, one person after another began complaining.

“If this keeps up, I really don’t want to work here anymore!”

“Exactly. She’s nothing but a nepotism hire, wielding borrowed authority like a weapon!”

“She criticizes other people for not working overtime, but didn’t she run off early herself?”

“You don’t know the half of it. When I passed her office, I saw her painting her nails while watching television and laughing her head off. What kind of workday is that?”

Little Mei edged toward Xu An’an, wanting to vent as well, but Xu An’an made a gesture for silence.

Thinking Xu An’an wanted to concentrate on her work, Little Mei could only give up and bury herself in her tasks.

Xu An’an had noticed that Jiang Fei was still there. As Fang Nini’s devoted lackey, Jiang Fei would certainly make a note of everyone who complained about Fang Nini and report them to her the next day.

But even if Jiang Fei had not been there, Xu An’an would not have joined in the complaints.

With time like this, she would rather finish her work as quickly as possible and go home to collapse in bed.

The only question was, should she go back to Jiang Li’s place later, or to Xue Shengnan’s?

When Xue Shengnan had left earlier, she had seemed to be in a rather bad mood.

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