Wei Yumeng hadn't expected Zhao Li to show up in person, but she hadn't figured out how to handle him yet.
"Mr. Zhao, what brings you here?"
Zhao Li smiled. "Nothing much, just wanted to congratulate Ms. Wei in person. We'll have many more collaborations, so it's good to foster a relationship."
As he spoke, Zhao Li produced a stack of documents. "These are my congratulatory gifts for your appointment as acting president. What do you think?"
Wei Yumeng was a little confused but took the documents and looked through them carefully. She was momentarily taken aback to realize these were precisely the shares Catherine had transferred to Zhao Li.
Zhao Li explained, "Miss Catherine transferred these shares to me unilaterally. As an old shareholder of Feng Group for so many years, I wouldn't do anything that affects the entire company. So, I'm returning them to you in full today."
Wei Yumeng couldn't help but admire him inwardly. As expected of Zhao Li, his reaction and adaptability were remarkable.
If Zhao Li hadn't proactively returned these, the situation would have been entirely different once Wei Yumeng uncovered the truth. It could have even been exposed to other shareholders.
Although Zhao Li wasn't afraid of Wei Yumeng, his position within Feng Group would become untenable if his actions were exposed.
Since Zhao Li was willingly returning these, it indicated his current stance was not to make an enemy of Wei Yumeng. In that case, Wei Yumeng couldn't say much.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Mr. Zhao. I will accept these. In the future, I hope you can offer me more guidance in work. I've only recently taken over and am still unclear about many aspects of the company."
"Of course, of course. We're all part of the same company now, so I'll help where I can."
Wei Yumeng and Zhao Li exchanged pleasantries for a long while before Zhao Li finally left, satisfied.
After Zhao Li departed, Wei Yumeng felt a headache coming on. These old-guard shareholders were truly difficult to please.
Catherine's current situation was vastly different from Wei Yumeng's. She no longer had a private office and was now on equal footing with other employees. Those she once looked down upon now worked in the same office as her.
"Look who it is! Isn't that the renowned Miss Catherine? Why are you working with us commoners now?"
Catherine, having previously relied on her position as acting president, had often bullied these junior employees. She genuinely looked down on people who worked for a living.
"That's right, Miss Catherine. You used to look down on us so much. How did you end up in this position now?"
"What do you know? Miss Catherine is simply immersing herself in the lives of the lower class. We just don't know when this 'experience' will end."
The entire office burst into laughter.
Catherine clenched her fists, wanting to retort but unsure of how to begin. She now understood why Wei Yumeng had assigned her to this position; it was purely to humiliate her.
"Miss Catherine, you'll be working here from now on?"
A male employee walked in, looking surprised.
Other employees chimed in, "Xiao Li, this used to be your goddess. You pursued her for so long, and she never noticed you. Why not try now?"
Hearing this, Catherine remembered him. However, due to their disparate statuses, she had never truly looked at this Xiao Li, not even knowing his name.
But if Xiao Li was truly interested in her, perhaps she could rely on him as a support to safely navigate her time in this department.
"I remember you," Catherine suddenly said. "In the past, I'm sorry. I didn't really mean it."
Given Catherine's past behavior, men who liked her could never truly hate her. Therefore, Catherine believed that if she apologized and fostered some goodwill, this man would be hers.
Xiao Li blinked, completely surprised that Catherine would apologize to him.
The others immediately egged him on, "Xiao Li, it looks like your spring is about to arrive."
"Why don't you take this opportunity and just take her? No matter how bad things are, she's still the eldest daughter of this company."
Catherine deliberately took a step closer to Xiao Li. "Actually, what happened before wasn't what I truly felt. You know, in my position, there were many unavoidable circumstances."
Xiao Li scratched the back of his head. "Miss Catherine, hearing you say that makes me happy, but... I already have a girlfriend."
Catherine froze.
"Although I liked you in the past, you think too highly of yourself. Who could tolerate your temper? I was wiser and turned back before it was too late!"
Xiao Li looked at Catherine with disdain, an expression that was even more humiliating to her.
"My current girlfriend is much better than you. A woman like you, I must have been blind to have fancied you back then!"
Upon hearing Xiao Li's words, the entire office erupted in laughter again.
"Well done, Xiao Li!"
Xiao Li winked at the others. "Of course. Although I was infatuated, I wasn't foolish. I knew long ago that I couldn't possibly reach the lofty Miss Catherine."
Catherine clenched her fists. These people were utterly hateful, deliberately humiliating her. When had she ever been treated like this?
But the others weren't going to stop. Someone she used to order around brought over a large pile of documents.
"Please photocopy all of these for me. Not a single one can be missed."
Once one person started, others approached. "Help me with this proposal."
"And me! Mr. Wei needs this information this afternoon. Hurry up!"
Soon, Catherine's desk was piled high with documents. At this point, even if she wanted to start, she had no idea where to begin.
This situation made her want to cry, but in this environment, she couldn't show her vulnerability.
If she revealed any weakness, it would likely become ammunition for Wei Yumeng.
She had no idea how she managed to complete those tasks, eventually losing track of what she was doing.
Catherine checked the time; it was already four in the morning. She could barely get any rest at home before having to come to the company again.
The dark streets made her feel breathless. She sat down by the roadside and sobbed, but even so, she refused to admit defeat or that she had lost to Wei Yumeng.
One day, she would reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to her, her status, her position, and everything else.