"They're really resentful right now. The company set their sales target at 400,000, but if they don't hit at least 80% of that, they don't get any commission. At their current pace, there's no way they'll make it. So they've pretty much given up. Since they're only getting a base salary either way, they figure why not just take it easy."
He smiled. 'Oppressive policies are worse than a tiger, indeed.' How could they set targets without any basis in reality, just plucking a number out of thin air?
Apparently, Li Yang had set the monthly sales target for all four stores at 400,000. But these stores were in different shopping districts, some even in different cities. How could their targets be identical? It was just absurd.
"I hear some of them have already put in their notice."
Just as Zhu Jing finished speaking, an employee came out of the NLB store to use the restroom. She saw Zhu Jing and greeted her. Zhu Jing asked, "Is your supervisor coming in today?"
The employee replied, "No, he said he's going to the new NLB at Xinyue Square to scope out the situation and try to poach a few of their people."
'Poaching people?' Yang Hui had to laugh. 'Where did he get that confidence? Never mind the fact that Yanghe Commerce offers much higher salaries and benefits; even if the pay was the same as Futong Commerce, he wouldn't be able to poach anyone. The people who followed Yang Na over were her die-hard loyalists. There's no way he could tempt them away.'
"Look how messy their checkout counter is. Milk tea, tape, pens, a calculator... it's covered in everything. It makes for a really terrible shopping experience."
Zhu Jing grunted in agreement. "I heard a super gorgeous woman from the brand's corporate office came by a few days ago and just kept shaking her head. She demanded they clean up the store on the spot. They did, but a few days later, it's right back to being a mess."
"A super gorgeous woman? Who? Serene?"
"I think that was the name. Boss, how do you know her?"
'Oops,' he thought. 'I let that slip.'
"Zhu Jing, if you were in charge of NLB, would you feel a lot of pressure?"
Though she didn't know why Yang Hui was asking, his expression was serious, so Zhu Jing answered in kind. "It wouldn't be a problem at all. We're managing to keep Airex afloat even with its brand power in the dumps. A trendy brand like NLB would be much easier to handle."
"Come on, let's take a walk around the mall. We can talk as we go."
As he walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhu Jing through the mall, he observed that Wanlong Square and Xinyue Square were in completely different leagues when it came to reputation, facilities, and retail management. Coming here from Xinyue Square felt like stepping out of a modern supermarket and into a chaotic street market.
On the way, he got a call from Cheng Jun. The first NLB store in Xinyue Square was opening tomorrow, and she was asking if they should try to build some hype and make a big push for opening-day sales. Xinyue Square could then send them a performance report.
Yang Hui thought for a moment and said no. Tomorrow was a weekday, so sales probably wouldn't be explosive. Besides, he didn't like to rely on gimmicks in his business. He believed that steadily improving the products and services was what truly mattered.
"Since it's the grand opening tomorrow, are you going to come see me at the office?"
Yang Hui figured she was getting an itch that needed his... 'help'. Since he was definitely going to check on the store for the grand opening tomorrow anyway, he agreed.
Zhu Jing, listening nearby, was completely confused. 'Airex doesn't have any new stores opening, does it? What's this about a huge grand opening?'
Seeing her hesitant expression, he decided not to hide it from the female subordinate he was planning to mentor. "Zhu Jing, I have my own business on the side."
"Ah—what kind of business is it?"
Zhu Jing was genuinely shocked. 'How old is he? He looks like he only graduated two years ago. It's already impressive enough that he's gotten this far in his career, and he has a side business too?'
"Come on, let's get something to eat."
Then he added nonchalantly, "NLB is my business."
Zhu Jing stared at him, her brain seeming to short-circuit. She didn't understand. 'NLB is Futong Commerce's business, solely owned by Li Yang. How could it possibly be your business? Is the boss joking with me?'
"I'm talking about the NLB on the first floor of Xinyue Square."
"Ah—" Zhu Jing was so surprised her face contorted, her mouth hanging wide open.
"Why are you so surprised? Your mouth is open wide enough to swallow a big banana."
He'd made the joke without thinking, but it completely flustered Zhu Jing. A deep blush spread from her earlobes down to her collarbone, and the necklace resting against her neck quivered rapidly over her pulse.
Realizing her reaction, he quickly added, "I meant a real banana."
Zhu Jing lowered her head, silent. The blush remained on her cheeks as her right hand unconsciously toyed with the collar of her shirt. Her mind was in turmoil as a vivid image flashed through it.
They had only taken a few steps when someone called out, "Zhu Jing."
The shout snapped her out of the ambiguous atmosphere. She looked up and saw the person who had called her: the mall's operations manager, Li Lei.
"Manager Li."
"You came to the mall and didn't even say hello? Let me treat you to a meal."
Yang Hui stood to the side, silent, a cold smile on his face. 'This Li Lei guy seems completely oblivious to my existence. It's one thing to not even greet me, but to ask Zhu Jing out for a meal without even acknowledging the man standing right next to her?'
"That's not necessary, Manager Li. I'm here with my boss."
Boss? Only then did Li Lei bother to size up Yang Hui. He couldn't stand guys like him. Why? Because he was even more handsome than Li Lei himself.
Li Lei was 1.8 meters tall and very handsome, which made him extremely popular with women. He would often joke with his colleagues, making outrageous comments like, "What are you even comparing? Are you as handsome as me?" This just went to show how conceited he was.
But today, faced with Yang Hui, that conceit vanished. He felt outmatched in every respect, and he hated it.
He gave Yang Hui a nod, and Yang Hui returned the perfunctory, polite gesture.
"Your company's President Shan often stops by my office for tea. I was just telling him what a capable person Zhu Jing is and that she really ought to be promoted."
Zhu Jing gave him an odd look. 'The last person who tried to use President Shan's name to pressure Yang Hui was President Peng from the High-tech Zone Yida Department Store. After that, Yang Hui wouldn't even add her on WeChat. I heard she's been sidelined at the company ever since.'
'This Li Lei must not know my boss's temper. What's the point of putting on an act in front of him? He barely even listens to orders from President Li, and nowadays President Shan just goes along with whatever he wants. Trying to use President Shan's name to pressure him? He's definitely barking up the wrong tree.'
'And as for him taking credit for supposedly telling Dan Biao to promote me—who cares? Besides, is anything he says even effective? If it was, would I have been stuck on base pay for months on end? She couldn't stand people who had no real ability but loved to brag. She much preferred people like her boss, who got things done quietly without ever trying to take the credit.'
'Like?' Zhu Jing startled herself. 'Why did I just use the word "like"?' But then she thought about when he had touched her thigh earlier today. She hadn't hated it at all. In fact, when he'd moved his hand away, she had felt a little disappointed, even empty.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter