After Divorce, My Ex-Wife Became My Creditor - Chapter 15 - Roping Someone In

Han Qian woke up early with two dark circles under his eyes. He had planned to stay up until midnight before sleeping, but Wen Nuan kept him up until 11. He couldn’t fathom where she got all that energy. Having barely slept for two hours, Han Qian was too exhausted to cook. He knocked on Wen Nuan’s door, but there was no response. Pushing the door open, he found she had already left for work. Glancing at the phone on her bedside table, Han Qian quickly grabbed his clothes and dashed out.

It was almost nine o’clock.

Turns out he had slept for four hours, not two.

He splurged on a taxi to get to work, but despite his efforts, he was still late. Rongyao Group’s clock-in time was 8:50. As he got out of the taxi, he saw General Manager Yan’s Raptor parked at the company’s main entrance. His heart sank, and he sprinted towards the building. Seeing General Manager Yan standing at the door with her arms crossed, wearing a pencil skirt, Han Qian felt a wave of despair.

“Sorry, General Manager Yan, I overslept.”

Yan Qingqing glanced at the folder in Han Qian’s hand, her expression softening slightly.

“Stayed up all night reviewing documents? Or was it traffic? You know, you could give me a reason that shows you’re working hard, and maybe you’d earn a bonus.”

Han Qian scratched his head awkwardly.

“No real reason, just overslept. My dad always taught me to be honest.”

“Too bad your honesty didn’t impress me. You’re an hour and a half late, so you’ll need to work an extra hour and a half tonight. It’s Tuesday; by Thursday morning, I hope you can make me leave the office with a smile.”

“Alright, General Manager Yan… um… can I go upstairs now?”

He sprinted into the elevator without noticing who else was inside. As he burst out onto the eleventh floor, he saw Su Liang sipping coffee in the hallway. Su Liang tilted his head at Han Qian, who mirrored the gesture.

“Is there a problem?”

“Qian-Ge, did you take the executive elevator up?”

Perhaps Han Qian spoke too quickly. Hearing Su Liang’s comment, he turned to look and realized it wasn’t the same elevator he had used yesterday. He quickly pulled Su Liang along, heading towards the General Affairs Department, speaking as they walked.

“Never mind where I came from. Can you find someone who can do 3D modeling? I have a sketch here; have them help with it. Also, I need you to visit some reputable renovation companies today. Ask them about their material needs and the price homeowners in our new district are willing to pay for renovation materials. Remember to keep the receipts; you can get reimbursed at the Finance Department. Treat yourself to something nice.”

As he spoke, Han Qian handed the folder to Su Liang and continued.

“There’s a preliminary plan inside. Ideally, I’d like the information by tonight. If the planning proposal succeeds, you should be able to earn a bonus of around twenty thousand. Hurry back; I need to find Yang-Jie.”

Without giving Su Liang a chance to respond, Han Qian dashed off, leaving Su Liang standing there, stunned. Su Liang gradually realized that he didn’t enjoy a leisurely job as much as he thought. Whether he started work early and had a relaxed day or a busy one, it was still a day at work. He saw this as an opportunity.

Su Liang went off to his tasks, while Han Qian entered the General Affairs Department, immediately sensing unfriendly gazes directed at him. Su Liang’s warning from yesterday had come true; the department’s usual routine had been disrupted, and these people disliked being busy, let alone seeing others bustling around.

Ignoring them, Han Qian, who never cared much about others’ opinions, carried his materials into Yang Lan’s private office. One particular gaze grew even sharper.

As he entered, Yang Lan was on the phone, seemingly speaking with a school teacher. Han Qian paused, surprised that Yang Lan, who appeared to be in her thirties, already had a child in school.

Yang Lan hung up the phone and gave Han Qian a wry smile.

“Qian, being late on your second day isn’t a good habit. This morning, General Manager Yan specifically came to the General Affairs Department looking for you. I covered for you, saying I sent you to buy some things, so don’t slip up.”

Hearing this, Han Qian’s face fell as he sat across from Yang Lan, lamenting.

“My dear Yang-Jie, I let you down. I got caught by General Manager Yan at the company entrance and confessed everything. Now I’m in trouble, and I’ve dragged you into it.”

Yang Lan was momentarily taken aback, then stood up and playfully tapped Han Qian’s forehead with her finger, smiling wryly.

“You, can’t you be a bit more tactful? Qian, I heard General Manager Yan assigned you the task that wiped out the entire Planning Department?”

“Yeah, she said it falls under the General Affairs Department’s responsibilities. I impulsively took it on, but realized last night that I might have overestimated myself. I can’t complete this planning proposal alone, so I asked Su Liang to handle some errands. Can the Finance Department cover the expenses for this work?”

“If it’s reasonable, yes.”

“That’s good to hear. Here’s my preliminary plan from last night. If you have time, please take a look and guide me. Consider it a task for the General Affairs Department as a whole. I’m new here and shouldn’t overstep my bounds. If I want to stay long-term and continue in the General Affairs Department, I’ll need your support, Yang-Jie.”

Han Qian was humble, doing what he felt was right. Even though this was a task from Yan Qingqing, he worked in the General Affairs Department now and couldn’t make his direct supervisor look bad or seem like a threat to her position.

Yang Lan didn’t rush to pick up the materials. She leaned forward slightly, her ample chest resting on the desk, but Han Qian kept his gaze down, respecting boundaries. In front of a woman like Yang Lan, he couldn’t show too much ambition. She had seen it all at her age and wasn’t just a pretty face; she was a capable supervisor. Unless he intended to win her over, which he didn’t-he was focused on making money.

“Are you trying to drag me into this? Looking for someone to share the responsibility? Su Liang isn’t experienced enough, so you chose me? Or did you sense the discontent from other staff in the department?”

Han Qian looked up and smiled.

“Yang-Jie, if the planning proposal succeeds, the bonus will be substantial, beyond your expectations.”

Yang Lan nodded with a faint smile.

“I know the bonus is substantial, and I understand the challenge that wiped out the Planning Department. They just do their jobs for a paycheck; the company’s losses or profits don’t concern them. For General Manager Yan to get a genuine proposal, she needs to invest heavily. Now, I want to know how confident you are in your success.”

“One hundred percent.”

Han Qian’s beaming confidence was infectious, though Yang Lan was more surprised than impressed, thinking him overly self-assured. Nonetheless, she didn’t refuse his offer.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. If you need help, come to me. You’ve already acted without permission, so I won’t be petty and make things difficult to assert my authority. You were late by an hour and a half; stay late tonight to make up for it. Since you’ve recruited Su Liang, he should stay too. I’ll keep an eye on you both. Go on, get to work.”

Han Qian stood, bowed in gratitude, and as he opened the office door, Yang Lan called out loudly.

“Han Qian, just do what you need to do and don’t worry about others.”

“I understand, Yang-Jie.”

After Han Qian left, Yang Lan picked up the folder and muttered softly.

“Sly one.”