Opening the door, he looked at Xiao Xun with a hypocritical smile, "A misunderstanding, absolutely a misunderstanding. How could my meager offerings ever catch your eye? Take whatever you desire."
With that, he made a gesture of invitation.
Xiao Xun walked in and sat directly on the sofa. "The company sent me to learn, for three days. I've been here for two days, but I haven't learned a thing. Today is the last day, and if I don't learn something to take back, it'll be hard to explain."
Cui Zhihao lit a cigarette. "I told you on your first day, with your skills, there's nothing much to learn here. Besides, I've already shown you the most confidential documents. That's enough sincerity, isn't it!"
Xiao Xun leaned back on the sofa. "My superiors require me to write a profound reflection on my learning experience. You can't expect me to just write down that material you showed me, which I don't even know if it's real, can you!"
Cui Zhihao's expression turned unpleasant. "How about this! I'll have someone write one for you, and I'll send it to your email later. How does that sound?"
A smile curved Xiao Xun's lips. "Is that appropriate?"
"It's perfectly fine. Nothing inappropriate about it. As it happens, I need to go to the company's regular meeting. Feel free to help yourself. If you want to play games, play games. If you need anything, just tell the people outside."
After speaking, he threw the cigarette he had barely smoked onto the ground and walked out directly.
Xiao Xun took out his phone and saw a message from Chu Xiangning.
"Are you awake yet? Today is my first day of school, and I might not be able to see you until the weekend. You don't even contact me proactively. There's a guy at my school who's particularly annoying, like a lapdog, always pestering me."
Xiao Xun replied, "I'm at work, working hard to make money. Since school has started, focus on your studies! After I'm done with my tasks in a few days, I'll come to see you."
After sending the message, he stood up and looked at the scenery outside the window. From the outside of the Jingji Group building, one couldn't see the bustling streets. It was all skyscrapers and parking lots. Sunlight struggled to penetrate, making the entire building appear somewhat ominous and gloomy.
After watching for a while, he suddenly remembered the secret passage behind him and wondered where it might lead.
He glanced outside and saw only 'coders' furiously typing. The meeting wouldn't end anytime soon.
Xiao Xun gently pushed open the door. There were stairs leading up and down, but he didn't know where they led.
He heard a knock on the door from outside, so he quickly closed the hidden door and returned to his chair, calling out, "Come in."
Cui Zhihao's secretary walked in and looked at Xiao Xun. "Mr. Xiao, our supervisor said you were looking for me?"
Xiao Xun didn't react immediately. Then, remembering the report writing, he said to her, "Yes, please help me write a report. It needs to be at least ten thousand characters, and I need it within two days. Just send it to my email."
The secretary thought to herself, Why should I write a report? I'm not from your company.
However, her professional demeanor prevented her from showing any problems. She asked, "Mr. Xiao, what kind of report would you like me to write?"
"It's nothing much, really. Just my thoughts and experiences from my three-day visit to Jingji Group, and some improvement suggestions for Saint Loman."
Hearing Xiao Xun's request, the secretary hesitated. "Mr. Xiao, the first two are fine, but for the last one, I really... I don't know the current operational situation of your Saint Loman!"
"Then just write the first two, and try to focus on the technical aspects."
Looking at Xiao Xun's bossy demeanor, the secretary felt an urge to strangle him, as if it were the eve of school starting, and she had played all vacation, still needing someone else to help her catch up on her homework.
However, there were many similar templates online. Downloading one, adapting it, and making a few changes wouldn't be too difficult.
Such reports were mostly perfunctory and formal. Every company had its own plans and progress. If the leaders valued you, they would consider whatever you said. If they didn't value you, even if you wrote a report as brilliant as a best-selling novel, they wouldn't spare it a second glance.
To put it plainly, no matter how well it was written, they basically wouldn't read it.
When Cui Zhihao returned, he told Xiao Xun, "Tonight, the company has specially prepared a grand farewell party, mainly for the four of you senior executives from Saint Loman. Please make sure to attend."
Xiao Xun shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't. I still need to pick up our CEO from work on time."
Cui Zhihao rested his hands on the desk. "It's alright, we've already invited your company's President Mu, and she has agreed to come."
Since Cui Zhihao had said so, Xiao Xun couldn't possibly refuse.
In the evening, Jingji Group booked the entire top-floor banquet hall of the Minghuang Hotel. The attendees included not only the executives from both companies but also various political and social elites. In plain terms, Jingji Group wanted to high-profilely announce to the entire nation that Jingji Group and Saint Loman Group were strategic partners, truly 'ants on the same rope.'
This was what was known as the 'localization' operation model of multinational corporations, with Saint Loman playing the role of the 'comprador.'
Since the most renowned figures in the city were invited, Young Master Gu would naturally not miss it, especially upon hearing that President Mu of Saint Loman would also be present. He naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.
One segment of the farewell party was for the four senior executives of Jingji Group to share their observations and insights from the past three days. Those three, clearly well-prepared, spoke eloquently.
As for Xiao Xun, who had spent three days playing games, he only learned about this segment when he was called to the stage to share.
Unprepared, he was 'rushed onto the stage like a duck' and stood there, holding the microphone, looking at the audience with great nervousness.
In his life, he had never spoken in front of so many people he didn't know.
His forehead was covered in sweat, whether from the spotlight overhead or from nervousness, he didn't know.
There was a long silence, and the host neither rescued him nor urged him.
Young Master Gu, seeing that the person on stage was the young man who had confronted him that day, immediately let out a scoff from the audience. Everyone's gaze converged on the source of the sound, wanting to see who was so impolite.
Upon seeing it was Young Master Gu, some people directly joined in booing, while others shouted, "Get off! Get off!..." to echo Young Master Gu.
Xiao Xun clenched his fist, an inexplicable surge of anger rising within him. He raised the microphone, his voice trembling slightly, "Everyone here today is a prominent figure in our city. The reason for holding this evening party is simple: to tell you that the two companies are now in a cooperative relationship. We hope that out of respect for Saint Loman, you will not make things difficult for Jingji Group."
He glanced at Mu Jiahe and saw no particular expression on her face. He continued, "I'm not very good at speaking, so there's really nothing much for me to share. In these three days I've been here, what I've seen is a well-ordered hierarchy. From the moment each person enters this company, they have their own rank.
When those of lower rank encounter those of higher rank, they bow and greet them. Even during meals, there are several dining halls. The food in the highest-level dining hall, which becomes disgusting from eating it too often, is probably something some employees wouldn't dare to eat in their lifetime."