The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship
Chapter 210 - 198 Should I Be Laid Off?

Chapter 210: Chapter 198 Should I Be Laid Off?

Hearing these words, Mu Shuoqian’s gaze suddenly tightened, carrying a chilling sharpness akin to a cold wind.

Mu Hewen put down his crossed legs and glanced at the dumbstruck senior executives: "You all heard it, these are his own words, he resigns over this matter."

No one dared to speak, they all looked at Mu Shuoqian with puzzled eyes, but he had already flipped open his notebook again, writing something while saying: "Where did we leave off just now, continue."

Li Ruhai sighed internally and began to continue his report, while the bored Mu Hewen listened for a while and then got up and left.

However, he had achieved his goal, leaving leisurely while whistling.

Li Ruhai faltered mid-speech, not understanding why the president would agree to Mu Hewen’s provocation. There’s always a what-if, that what-if...

"Li Ruhai, I’m putting you fully in charge of this matter. If you can’t handle it, go home and retire."

Mu Shuoqian’s comment sent Li Ruhai into an abyss, the other executives all secretly rejoiced, no one wanted to take on such an unrewarding task. If anything went wrong, losing their jobs would be the least of their worries.

Li Ruhai felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly, and yet he couldn’t voice his grievances.

Mu Shuoqian closed his notebook, leaning back in his tall seat. He twirled his pen in hand, seemingly unfazed by the recent interruption: "French cuisine and wine are essential. I’ll transfer someone from the French restaurant to help you out."

Li Ruhai thought it would be Qi Meihui or Vice Manager Liu from the French Restaurant, but to his surprise, after some thought, Mu Shuoqian wrote a name on a sticky note and handed it to Li Ruhai: "Her."

Li Ruhai looked at the name, his expression turning uglier than before.

If previously he felt an urge to look down from the rooftop, now he felt he could close his eyes and leap off without hesitation.

Was the president sure he was appointing an assistant to him and not a bigger Buddha?

"Ah, let me work together with Li Ruhai?" Gu Qili was drinking water, and when she heard Mu Shuoqian’s words, she sprayed it all out, "Are you sure you don’t have a fever?"

She moved in front of him and felt his forehead with her palm: "I don’t understand any of this, I’ve never done such things. What if he asks me questions I can’t answer? What if I want to go to the bathroom halfway through? Ah, Mu Shuoqian, you’re overestimating me, if I fail to achieve, then... then do I get laid off?"

Gu Qili’s features scrunched together in worry, she vividly remembered a few months ago at the dinner table, Mu Haotian was mentioning this matter, and recently, every time she went back to the old mansion, he always discussed work with Mu Shuoqian until late. It seemed they were discussing this very issue, and Mu Haotian took it very seriously, it must be very important. She wanted to scream: I can’t do it.

Mu Shuoqian put a stack of documents directly in front of her, her worried look obvious, yet he remained unmoved.

"These are the materials collected by Li Ruhai and his team, read through them as soon as possible. The self-recommendation press conferences of these hotels will be broadcasted to the nation by journalists."

Hearing this, Gu Qili became even more nervous, feeling an urge to hand back the documents and declare loudly that she couldn’t handle it, but her hands gripping the materials did not loosen their hold.

If Mu Shuoqian trusted her like this, how could she give up before even trying? She understood that he was training her, these were big scenes that she would have to face herself in the future.

Gu Qili took a deep breath and nodded firmly: "I got it, I’ll start reading now."

"There will be a presentation at the self-recommendation meeting, write it tonight and give it to me."

"Alright."

When it came to work, Mu Shuoqian was particularly serious. Despite Gu Qili often acting coquettish and willful around him, when he got serious, she bowed her head as if she were a little intern who had done something wrong, the leader said one, she wouldn’t dare say two.

"Start writing now." Perhaps because her compliant appearance seemed a bit pitiful, Mu Shuoqian rubbed her head twice, "I’ll order takeout for dinner."

Gu Qili opened the documents and read through them carefully, but in truth, these were not particularly special. Anything she could find, the other three hotels could surely find as well.

She felt she should write more in-depth on this area.

Gu Qili tapped away at her computer, combining the materials provided by Li Ruhai and her own ideas to complete a self-recommendation report before midnight. She read it over several times before taking it to Mu Shuoqian for review.

He was working in the study. Hearing her footsteps, he looked up, "Finished?"

"Mhm." Gu Qili’s demeanor was like a cautious clerk, constantly observing her superior’s expressions.

Mu Shuoqian took it and began to read through it.

Gu Qili’s heart thumped nervously, wondering what his reaction would be after reading it. Would he praise her or scold her?

She had seen the way he scolded people, utterly merciless, and those managers he had berated were all as silent as cicadas in winter.

And now, she wished she could spit out a cocoon and wrap herself up in it.

Finally, Mu Shuoqian turned to the last page, looked it over, closed the folder, and lifted his gaze.

Gu Qili didn’t dare look into his eyes anymore, her head bowed, staring at her own toes, as the rabbits on her slippers seemed to mock her cowardice.

"Rewrite." His deep voice struck her eardrums, carrying his usual sternness.

As expected, she was still not up to par.

"Understood." She took the folder he had placed on the desk, turned around with a hint of disappointment, and left.

Mu Shuoqian watched her noticeably wilted back, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Gu Qili returned to her room, sat in front of the computer, opened the document, and couldn’t help but laugh as soon as she turned to the first page, her faint smile gliding over her lips like a breeze.

She hadn’t noticed when Mu Shuoqian used a pen to scribble all over it, highlighting areas he was dissatisfied with and giving her brief and to-the-point advice.

Turning to the last page, at the bottom in his strong, forceful handwriting was the phrase: impossible is nothing.

Nothing is impossible.

Seeing this sentence, the gloom that had clouded Gu Qili’s mood vanished. She knew he had always been supportive and encouraging her. More than a lover, he was like her guiding light, standing on high to illuminate her unknown path, guiding her direction when needed, setting sail with the wind.

With his encouragement, Gu Qili revised her self-recommendation letter once again and added some fresh elements.

She was busy until late at night until, finally, the self-recommendation was complete. Gu Qili took it back to Mu Shuoqian for review. Compared to the last time, she was brimming with more confidence and no longer bowed her head, not daring to look at him.

After reading it from start to finish, Mu Shuoqian rarely affirmed her work: "How did you think to include VV Lian in this?"

Gu Qili said, "Every five-star hotel has a French Restaurant, but I think what they lack is talent like V. Personally, I find his cocktails really attractive and they are a distinctive feature of our restaurant. So, I portrayed him a bit more legendarily, hoping that even a little bit of it would spark some interest, which would be a success."

Mu Shuoqian nodded, and they worked together to amend some deficiencies. Not until past three in the morning was the report finally completed.

Gu Qili sent an email to Li Ruhai, then stretched satisfactorily, finally content.

After a busy night, Gu Qili had forgotten all about Hu Jiaojiao. Before Mu Shuoqian returned, she had been ready to confess everything to him. However, as soon as he came back, he handed her this troublesome task. She was so preoccupied that she had no time to think about it.

When she woke up the next morning, Mu Shuoqian had already gone to the airport. Considering how busy he was lately and that she had an important task to accomplish, Gu Qili decided to endure a little longer, assuming Hu Jiaojiao wouldn’t stir up trouble so soon.

He hadn’t told her about the business trip yesterday, and it wasn’t until she woke up and opened her phone that she found he had sent a picture. The photo showed a black suitcase, with a passport on top of it, tucked with a boarding pass already processed, and the background was the spacious airport hall.

"Off on a business trip again," Gu Qili sighed with a trace of wistfulness. He seemed to have just come back from a trip. He was always flying around; he might as well set up a home in the sky.

Her fingers quickly typed a line of text: Come back soon.

No response came, he must have already boarded the plane.

Gu Qili got up, washed up, ate, and arrived at the restaurant when only Kang Hongxiu was there.

The two chatted while they got into their uniforms, ready for the morning meeting.

The meeting was still hosted by Guo Jun, summarizing yesterday’s work and assigning today’s tasks.

Guo Jun seemed in a very bad mood, with a dark face, he harshly criticized those who made mistakes, but since Gu Qili always maintained a flawless record, he struggled to find fault with her. Finally, itching to criticize, he pointed at her and said loudly, "You dress up so beautifully every day. Are you here to work or to find a partner?"

Gu Qili felt it was absurd; she followed the restaurant’s requirements, wore light makeup to work, and donned the restaurant’s uniform. Which eye of his saw her dressing up? Was it wrong for her to be naturally beautiful?

Having long been accustomed to endurance, Gu Qili didn’t retort a single word. Guo Jun criticized her for a few more remarks, seemingly bored, then announced the end of the meeting.

"He must be crazy," Zhu Ping approached Gu Qili, "He just doesn’t like you for some reason."

Just as Gu Qili was about to say it was fine, she saw Li Ruhai walking towards her with a smile, calling from afar, "Miss Gu."