The Changing Phases - Chapter 21 - A Slight Modification

Liu Yuxin felt a sudden jolt in her heart. How did it come to be her turn so suddenly? She stood up slowly, her expression turning grim. She stammered, “The trainer… is responsible for training our company’s employees. It’s an indispensable and very important position.”

Yang Hongyi showed a sly smile and said, “Your answer is too simplistic. Please come up to the stage, Liu Yuxin.”

Liu Yuxin’s scalp tingled as she thought about everyone watching her. She couldn’t afford to lose face. She quickly walked onto the stage. Yang Hongyi smiled and continued, “Which department did you work in before, Miss Liu? And what were your specific job responsibilities?”

Liu Yuxin replied, “I used to work in the sales department. I was responsible for the daily office hygiene, organizing documents, and addressing employees’ daily needs. I also handled some errands.”

“Very good,” Yang Hongyi said, making a peace sign. Despite its outdated nature, it didn’t look too bad when he did it. Liu Yuxin thought he might jump up and shout, “Yay!” Instead, he said, “Now describe your current job responsibilities in two words.”

Liu Yuxin thought for a moment and then quietly said, “Maid.”

The employees below burst into laughter, and Liu Yuxin’s face turned bright red. Yang Hongyi, however, wasn’t letting up and continued, “Miss Liu, did you not sleep well last night?”

Liu Yuxin was stunned for a moment and then nodded.

Raising his voice, Yang Hongyi said playfully, “Lanyu’s employees who come to work looking like they have two panda eyes can only do maid-like tasks. Those who come to work every day looking listless, if they’re not in a relationship, should hurry up and find someone to marry. If they’re already married, they should get a divorce, and those with boyfriends should switch to someone else.”

Another burst of laughter erupted from the audience, instantly livening the atmosphere. Yang Hongyi said to Liu Yuxin, “Miss Liu, if you want to stay in the training department, your mental state is not up to standard.”

Liu Yuxin fumed. Who said she wanted to stay in the training department? Wasn’t this all arranged by Zhao Junyang? Pouting, she stood on the stage with an indignant look, silently protesting at Yang Hongyi. Yang Hongyi didn’t let her return to her seat and continued with the topic, “Miss Liu is actually quite knowledgeable about makeup, but her look is not detailed enough and lacks a bit of elegance. Let’s see how she looks after some enhancements.”

Yang Hongyi had Liu Yuxin sit down and took out a makeup kit, starting to work on her face. As he busied himself with her makeup, he whispered with a smile near her ear, “Now I finally know what my rumored girlfriend looks like. Not bad, I must say.”

Liu Yuxin looked at him in shock, and his smile grew even wider. “Do I still need to borrow a car from Zhao Junyang? If you like his car model, I can also get one to try.”

“Ah? Liu Yuxin stood there dumbfounded. She was just thinking that Yang Hongyi and Zhao Junyang seemed a bit similar. She had also been wondering why he was making things difficult for her as soon as he arrived. It seems that in the world of socializing, you can’t lie casually, because the world is small! She finally understood now, he is Zhao Junyang’s cousin, that playboy.”

Susu, I really admire you all. I just made up a character casually, and within a day, the news reached the person’s ears. You all are really something when it comes to gossip!

Yang Hongyi chuckled and continued to whisper, “Liu Yuxin, in reality, those daily pickups and drop-offs downstairs weren’t me, but my brother, right? It’s quite odd; my brother actually took a liking to you.” Liu Yuxin glared at him and said, “I have no interest in your brother.”

“That’s indeed the case. Now that Xia Xiaolu is back, you can only pretend not to care,” Yang Hongyi said with a mischievous smile. He moved away from Liu Yuxin, pulling a beautiful scarf from the neck of a girl on the stage. Like performing a magic trick, he produced a few vibrant flowers and pinned them in front of Liu Yuxin’s chest pocket, then smiled with satisfaction and said, “Now that’s much prettier.”

Then, Yang Hongyi walked over to the nearby cabinet, stopped, and took out a curling iron from the drawer. He styled Liu Yuxin’s hair once more. Thunderous applause erupted from the stage. Yang Hongyi handed Liu Yuxin a mirror, and as she looked at her reflection, her eyes lit up involuntarily. She began to admire the transformation. Her originally fair and delicate skin looked even fresher and more charming after some touch-ups. Even the heavy dark circles from earlier had vanished. Her previously straight hair, unchanged for years, was transformed into elegant waves, giving her a graceful curve that made her look more captivating and beautiful. A hint of a fashionable socialite’s aura was subtly revealed. The small flower on her dress was the perfect finishing touch, compensating for the plainness of her outfit.

With just a simple makeover, Liu Yuxin seemed like an entirely different person. She transformed from a lackluster, lifeless employee into a dazzling and eye-catching socialite, leaving everyone in awe. It seemed that even though Yang Hongyi appeared somewhat roguish, he was indeed quite capable.

Yang Hongyi looked at Liu Yuxin’s face, seeming very satisfied. He let Liu Yuxin return to her seat, then put away his smile and explained to everyone, “What I just demonstrated was to show you that putting a little more thought into details can make you stand out more and increase your enthusiasm for your work. Facing every task with a positive attitude is the right approach. Many big companies place great importance on the fame of their trainers, but Lanyu is different. The best fit for the company is what matters. Each one of you here has your own strengths and talents. By uncovering and developing these, you will become Lanyu’s stars of tomorrow. Why would we need to hire from outside when the talent is already here?”

A wave of excitement surged through the audience. Everyone straightened their backs, feeling that Lanyu’s future hope lay in their hands.

Sitting in her seat, Liu Yuxin stared at the delicate flower on her chest, feeling a bit dazed. For some reason, she still preferred the cufflink from earlier.

Yang Hongyi continued to explain, “The purpose of this training is to add new talent to our company’s training department. Everyone should work hard and try to perform to the best of their abilities.” Then, with a mischievous grin directed at Liu Yuxin, he said to the employees, “I believe that in the coming period, we will encourage and support each other, and we will all gain something from this experience.”

Then, the deputy manager of Lanyu’s training department and the most powerful trainer, Josan, stepped onto the stage. She was dressed very formally, with black-framed glasses perched on her nose, forming a stark contrast to Yang Hongyi’s previously carefree demeanor. Wenhui whispered to Liu Yuxin that everyone in the company agreed Josan was very difficult to deal with. The trainers she mentored were all incredibly talented but exceptionally rigid.

Josan spoke with great seriousness, “To stand out in this training, one must not only have a change in mindset but also become more familiar with professional knowledge. Previously, as salespeople, you only needed a basic understanding of skin knowledge combined with sales techniques. However, trainers are different. They are the core strength of our company.”

Josan paused here, glanced at Liu Yuxin, and with a hint of deeper meaning, added, “In our company, trainers need to have rich experience and skills. This is not something that can be achieved in just one or two years. While there are talented individuals among you, I hope no one tries to take shortcuts. Talent selection is not child’s play, and everyone must take it seriously. If you are not up to standard, I will not hesitate to eliminate you.”

Everyone followed Josan’s gaze, which landed on Liu Yuxin. Liu Yuxin couldn’t help but feel frustrated. What was Zhao Junyang’s intention? Knowing she was not yet qualified, why insist on making her participate in this training? Was he trying to train her or find fault with her? Liu Yuxin’s resolve flared up-Zhao Junyang wouldn’t shoot himself in the foot, right? Yes, she hadn’t been with the company long, lacked experience, and might be seen as having gotten her position through connections. But she would work twice as hard not to be looked down upon. For both Zhao Junyang’s and her own reputation, she was determined to give it her all.

After a morning of intensive training, the session finally concluded. The company provided lunch for everyone. Wenhui quickly finished eating and dashed off to a nearby cake shop, saying they had delicious pastries he wanted to buy for Jin. The other women headed to the nearby mall for some shopping. Liu Yuxin stayed in the office, reviewing documents and taking notes. She believed that a trainer needed not only strong professional knowledge and skills but also a passion for the job.

Yang Hongyi slowly walked into the office and saw Liu Yuxin diligently taking notes. Smiling, he said, “Wow, I didn’t expect you to be so hardworking.”

Liu Yuxin shot him a disdainful look and continued to focus on her materials. Yang Hongyi sat down at the seat opposite her, lowering his head and teasing, “You’re not even particularly pretty. What’s my brother thinking?”

Liu Yuxin, exasperated, said, “It should be about my judgment, shouldn’t it?”

Yang Hongyi chuckled and continued, “So, you’re saying you never considered finding a wealthy man?” He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Liu Yuxin, “Liu Yuxin, what kind of person do you think my brother is?”

Liu Yuxin put down her documents and looked directly at Yang Hongyi, “A major flirt.”

Yang Hongyi burst into laughter, seemingly amused by Liu Yuxin’s answer. He then asked, “And what about me?”

Liu Yuxin paused for a moment, then said with utmost seriousness, “An even bigger flirt.”

Yang Hongyi’s smile abruptly vanished, and he furrowed his brow, “Don’t you think I’m better than my brother?”

Liu Yuxin shook her head, “I don’t think so at all. I actually believe you’re more conceited than him.”

“Interesting,” Yang Hongyi remarked as he stood up from his seat. He left with one final comment, “After this evaluation, three people will stay in the training department. Since you’re the woman my brother fancies, you must have some capability. I hope your performance impresses me.”

“Psh, don’t worry about me,” Liu Yuxin responded dismissively.

Yang Hongyi laughed, turned around with a mischievous grin, and said, “Liu Yuxin, aren’t you feeling a bit lost without my brother around? How about I take you out tonight?”