In this headhunting initiative, exactly three HR executives were recruited. Su Wei rejected the one she absolutely couldn’t stand but accepted the other two—one assigned to headquarters, the other to the UK branch. Their mission: fully organize both companies’ structures.
Departments like R&D, Design and Planning, Logistics, Marketing, Customer Service, Strategic Development… divisions Su Wei had never even imagined were meticulously listed by the pair. Only executive hires required Su Wei’s personal interviews; all others were handled by them and Qiao Yu.
Qiao Yu had been promoted by Su Wei to HR Director of Jiucang Group—effectively the company’s highest-ranking official for now. Many roles remained vacant. Even Li Keqin, a major contributor, was still just an operations project manager. Su Wei considered promoting her to Operations Director, but that role oversaw all company-wide operations—meaning she could no longer personally manage Qin Ge. If Li Keqin hesitated, Su Wei wouldn’t push.
“Chairwoman.”
Su Wei rarely visited the office. Li Keqin seized the chance to approach her directly.
“What is it, Keqin? Short on staff again?” Su Wei replied without looking up from her desk documents. With Jiucang Group and its branch now totaling hundreds of employees, not every issue needed her decision—but the proposals requiring approval were numerous. Some ideas showed promise, yet for the company’s current stage, they still needed time to mature.
After over a month of experience, Li Keqin had grown noticeably more composed. Still, what she was about to say weighed heavily on her future. A trace of nervousness lingered.
“No, Chairwoman. You once asked if I’d consider formalizing my earlier idea. I’ve thought long and hard… I can’t bear handing this idea to someone else. Nor can I give up the mature Qin Ge project. So… I have a bold proposal.”
“Oh?” Su Wei had already guessed. She set down her pen, smiled slightly, and met Li Keqin’s gaze. “Go on.”
“I apply to be Chief Operating Officer of Jiucang Group’s UK branch.”
“COO, huh…” Though the title sounded loftier than Operations Director, branches rarely had COOs. Truth was, Li Keqin had hoped for headquarters—but guessed Su Wei held power tightly there, so she settled for the branch.
“Keqin,” Su Wei said gently, “I won’t establish a COO role at the branch.” Li Keqin’s expression dimmed—just as she opened her mouth to soften the moment, Su Wei continued, “But you can become Software Operations Director. All future software operations fall under your oversight.”
“Thank you, Chairwoman!” Joy instantly lit Li Keqin’s face. She bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Though limited to “software,” it was still a promotion. Rising this high after barely a month left her deeply satisfied. Her future stretched far; becoming branch general manager before thirty wasn’t impossible. As the company grew, Su Wei couldn’t manage everything alone—the legacy would eventually pass to her. Seeing Li Keqin’s radiant smile, Su Wei kept a straight face. “Remember: greater power means greater responsibility. If software operations falter, I’ll hold you accountable first.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Chairwoman.”
“Good. Since we lack a Software Planning Director, you’ll cover that temporarily too. Your software project is approved. Launch it ASAP. I care only about results.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“One more thing: never tarnish our reputation for profit. At the next meeting, I’ll declare our motto clearly—Jiucang serves customers with heart and soul.”
“Yes.” Li Keqin nodded. She knew about new colleague Li Yi’s nearly profitless project—yet Su Wei granted him rare autonomy. Within the company, only Su Wei outranked him. This proved how deeply Su Wei valued “heart and soul.” Li Keqin silently resolved to adjust ad selections and strategies for both Qin Ge and the upcoming software.
“Go ahead. I’ll inform Director Qiao and announce your transfer. Recommend a suitable replacement to her too.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, after the initial sales surge, headquarters’ software entered a plateau—but even plateaued sales doubled prior figures. This month’s projected revenue: around 400 million Zhou Yuan. Su Wei’s share neared 200 million. Qin Ge had also turned profitable, earning roughly 60 million Zhou Yuan monthly. This stability gave Li Keqin the confidence to propose a new project.
Watching her company stride forward, Su Wei felt refreshed. Back at school, she proudly shared the news with Zhou Xi. Though uninvolved in operations, Zhou Xi cared deeply—she was a beneficiary too.
“Wow, Weiwei! You’re my lucky star!” Whether genuinely grateful or just playful, Zhou Xi tackled Su Wei onto the bed and planted several quick kisses. Su Wei wiped her cheek with mild disdain and shot Zhou Xi a scornful glance. “Why so worked up?”
“How could I not be?” Zhou Xi propped herself up, eyes sparkling. “I just told Grandpa—I won’t take allowance anymore! And I’m declining future project funds too! He even said I’m more promising than my two older brothers!”
“You have two older brothers?” Su Wei blinked. “Why never mention them?”
Zhou Xi’s smile faded. She sighed softly. “It’s… complicated.”
“Oh…” Su Wei didn’t press. If Zhou Xi didn’t want to share, she’d respect that. After a long silence, Zhou Xi lay beside her and spoke quietly, “When we were little, both brothers were so kind. I still remember them playing with me. But university changed everything. After they left for college, their attitudes shifted completely. Especially the eldest… I could see real hostility in his eyes.”
As she spoke, a faint shimmer of tears gathered at the corners of Zhou Xi’s eyes.
