Chen Yang worked at the Yade Cosmetics Company. Though not a large corporation, Yade's perfume products sold quite well, with total assets reaching one hundred million yuan.
However, in the tourist city of Binhai, Yade was considered just an average company.
Chen Yang proudly served as a security guard at Yade.
The company occupied the entire four-story Jinhu Building.
Upon arriving, Chen Yang went to the security room to change into his uniform. "Hey, Old Xia, why's it so quiet today? Usually, you guys are bragging up a storm," Chen Yang's voice preceded him into the room.
Old Xia was the security team leader, and Chen Yang's easygoing personality allowed him to get along well with everyone.
As Chen Yang entered, he immediately noticed the marketing department head, Zhao Xiaolei, glaring at him coldly.
"Oh great, this woman again," Chen Yang muttered, understanding the situation.
Old Xia and the other guards stood aside, not daring to breathe a word, all wearing expressions that said Chen Yang was in for it today.
Zhao Xiaolei, dressed in a tight black skirt, exuded a sexy and alluring aura. Tall, with long legs accentuated by black stockings, she could drive men wild.
However, while warm and hospitable to clients, she treated subordinate employees with icy disdain.
Chen Yang and Zhao Xiaolei had a history. Once, when Old Xia and the others boasted about Zhao Xiaolei's figure, Chen Yang, trying to fit in, joked that her butt must feel great to grab.
Unfortunately, Zhao Xiaolei overheard the remark.
From then on, she harbored a grudge against Chen Yang.
Chen Yang felt he was wrongfully targeted, as Old Xia's group made even cruder comments, like insinuating Zhao Xiaolei slept with clients.
Somehow, Chen Yang ended up in the line of fire.
Although a department head, Zhao Xiaolei oversaw marketing and had no authority over the security team.
Yet she constantly watched Chen Yang, often assigning him strenuous tasks like heavy lifting whenever possible. Chen Yang didn't mind, as he had the strength for such work.
Setting that aside, Chen Yang rubbed his hands together with an awkward grin. "Good morning, Ms. Zhao. You look lovely today. What brings you to grace us with your presence?"
Zhao Xiaolei scoffed coldly. "Chen Yang, you're half an hour late. This is your third tardiness this month, which is grounds for termination according to company policy."
Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat as he glared at Zhao Xiaolei, inwardly cursing her viciousness for monitoring his attendance so closely.
Trying to defuse the situation, Old Xia stepped forward. "Ms. Zhao, Chen Yang is still young and foolish. Let's give him another chance. Just dock his pay for being late."
"Yeah, yeah," Chen Yang agreed hastily.
Zhao Xiaolei shot Old Xia a stern look. "Team Leader Xia, I wasn't talking to you. For Chen Yang's previous two tardies of forty minutes and one hour, why didn't you record them? I think you don't want this job anymore."
Though a minor supervisor himself, fifty-year-old Old Xia found this job difficult to secure. Zhao Xiaolei, meanwhile, enjoyed the president Lin Qingxue's favor. Thus, he didn't dare offend her and could only remain silent, casting Chen Yang a helpless glance.
Chen Yang said flatly, "Ms. Zhao, as the marketing department head, why are you interfering with our attendance issues? Shouldn't that fall under HR's responsibilities?"
Zhao Xiaolei retorted icily, "Are you saying I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong?"
Chen Yang sighed, "Well, you said it yourself."
Enraged, Zhao Xiaolei's face turned pale. This insolent little security guard dared undermine her authority! She gritted her teeth, "Just you wait, I'm going to HR right now."
As she stormed out of the room, Chen Yang's voice called out from behind, "Wait!"
Zhao Xiaolei inwardly sneered, thinking he had finally seen reason and would beg for mercy. She stopped and turned, expecting to see Chen Yang's submissive expression.
Instead, to her surprise, Chen Yang remarked casually, "Ms. Zhao, your button came undone."
Instinctively, Zhao Xiaolei glanced down at the loose top button of her tight black dress.
One had to admit, despite her fierce demeanor and pettiness, Zhao Xiaolei was an attractive woman, as her assets demonstrated.
With an audible gasp, Zhao Xiaolei's face flushed crimson as she quickly turned and refastened the button.
At that moment, Chen Yang leisurely commented, "Ms. Zhao, if you really fire me, then you won't be able to torment me anymore. It's not hard for me to find another security job elsewhere, where you won't be my boss."
Zhao Xiaolei froze, thinking to herself that this was just a regular security position, not a prestigious role. "No, I can't fire him – I need to slowly make this guy suffer."
With that thought, she whirled around and snapped, "I don't need you telling me what to do." She then stormed down the hallway.
Moving hastily, her footing slipped, and she let out a shriek as she nearly fell face-first onto the polished marble floor, which could have caused serious injury.
In that instant, a blur flashed before Zhao Xiaolei's eyes.
She then found herself falling onto someone else's body – Chen Yang's, to be precise.
Their position was rather compromising.
Originally, Chen Yang could have simply caught Zhao Xiaolei, but he chose to let himself fall instead.
Zhao Xiaolei's face burned crimson with embarrassment.
Chen Yang immediately declared with sincerity, "Xiaolei-jie, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt."
His opportunistic nature was showing again.
Although Zhao Xiaolei couldn't really blame Chen Yang since he had helped her, the lingering scent of her perfume on his body was quite memorable for Chen Yang.