Chapter 4 Apologize to Lu Chen Immediately

• Fan Ming?
• Lu Chen’s lip curled when he recalled Fan Ming’s threats at the hospital yesterday.
• Though it didn’t matter whether he was fired or not since he was only here to resign.
• When Lu Chen showed up at the security supervisor—Yu Hai’s office, he wasn’t even able to hand in his resignation because Yu Hai had taken the lead in firing Lu Chen. “Lu Chen, you’ve been taking leave every two or three days. It’s severely disrupted the schedule of the security department. I’ve asked General Manager Xia about it, and he says to fire you.”
• “Oh. Then just give me the remainder of my salary,” Lu Chen requested calmly.
• “You’re being fired. Why would you still have a salary? Even your deposit is forfeited.” Yu Hai wore a faint jeering smile. He’d thought that Lu Chen would have made a scene; instead, Lu Chen had been unexpectedly spineless. A hint of disdain sparkled in Yu Hai’s eyes.
• Brat, of all people, why did you have to offend Director Fan? Director Fan is in a position of power within the company. Firing a security guard like you doesn’t even require paperwork.
• Lu Chen looked at Yu Hai with a veiled expression on his face. “Fine. I’ll ask General Manager Xia directly.”
• He laughed icily, then exited the security office.
• Though he had succeeded the family estate and wouldn’t look twice at such a paltry sum, no one would ever dare to make off with money that belonged to him.
• Yu Hai frowned at Lu Chen’s confidence, then made a call to Fan Ming.
• “Director Fan, that brat Lu Chen is on his way to General Manager Xia’s office. We’re not even returning his deposit. That doesn’t seem right,” Yu Hai reported anxiously.
• “Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken to General Manager Xia. He’s just a security guard—why would General Manager Xia trouble herself over him?”
• Fan Ming said, then hung up and pocketed the phone, a sneer playing at the corners of his lips.
• Lu Chen, oh Lu Chen. You trash. How are you going to fight for your woman now?
• Firing you is just the start. When I find out which loan shark lent you the money, you’ll suffer even more.
• Ten minutes later, in General Manager Xia’s office.
• Xia Jun lifted his head and frowned at Lu Chen, who had just barged into his office. “Who are you? What are you here for?”
• “General Manager Xia, he’s one of the guards from the security team, Lu Chen. He insisted on seeing you and I couldn’t stop him,” the secretary explained as she appeared at Lu Chen’s heels.
• She glowered at Lu Chen. I’ve never seen such a crass man in my life. I can't believe that he just shoved me to the side when I didn’t allow him in.
• “Lu Chen from the security team…” Xia Jun nodded, recalling Fan Ming’s conversation with him from this morning about firing Lu Chen.
• “Yes, that’s me.” Lu Chen sat down on the chair opposite Xia Jun’s desk and looked at him coolly.
• “It’s fine if you fire me, but why are you withholding my salary? And even my deposit? General Manager Xia, please give me an explanation.”
• Xia Jun frowned again. “I’ve heard about your termination. You’ve been absent without leave for quite a few times now so the company can’t afford to hire you. Not releasing the remainder of your salary was my decision, and according to the company’s regulations.”
• Since Fan Ming had brought it up with him, he had to give Fan Ming face.
• Fan Ming was the sales director of the company after all. He was capable and brought in a significant number of sales for the company each year.
• On the other hand, Lu Chen was just a security guard, so there was no comparison between the two. Lu Chen was, of course, dispensable.
• “Company regulations? Then how is it that I’ve never heard of it? Aren’t company regulations meant to regulate staff?” Lu Chen was getting irritated. Now that he’d succeeded the family estate, the salary didn’t mean much to him, but it was a matter of principle.
• The company had no such regulations and he had never taken absence without leave, for he’d received permission each time.
• Xia Jun was helping Fan Ming to pick on him. Did they think that he was still a simple guard?
• “I’m the boss here. If I say that there’s such a regulation, then there is such a regulation. If you have it in you to become the boss, then you can also make the rules as you wish.” Xia Jun threw a mocking glance at Lu Chen. Since he’d already decided to be on Fan Ming’s side, there was no need to care about a small fry like Lu Chen any longer.
• A small fry like him wouldn’t be able to create a ruckus even if he tried.
• “Are you sure that you want to pocket my money, even though it’s such a small sum?” Lu Chen smiled angrily.
• If he’d suffered persecution like this before today, he wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.
• But things were different now.
• “If you want to take things like that, so be it. If you disagree, you can make a police report and let them handle it. Alright, you’re no longer a member of my staff. You can go now.” Xia Jun shrugged, sure that he had the upper hand over Lu Chen.
• “Indeed, General Manager Xia. You’re a very arrogant man,” Lu Chen remarked, smiling as he gave Xia Jun a thumbs up. Honestly, he had never been so humiliated before.
• Yes. The way he saw it, Xia Jun had humiliated him.
• Even a saint would get mad when provoked. Lu Chen wouldn’t just let it go after being humiliated so. Few men could make off with his money and get away with humiliating him.
• He took a hard look at Xia Jun before taking out his phone and making a call to Lu Zhong.
• “Uncle Zhong, Dong Jia Electronics is worth one or two billion. How long will it take if I want to bankrupt it?” Lu Chen asked.
• “Half a day, Young Master,” Lu Zhong answered, chuckling.
• “Good. Then I want to see them bankrupt by the end of today.” Lu Chen ordered before hanging up.
• He smiled mildly at Xia Jun. “In this world, no one would dare to take my money without good reason. If I don’t allow it, I’ll beat it out of him even if it’s just over a penny.”
• He turned and walked out as his words trailed off.
• Xia Jun’s face was full of scathing laughter. He brushed Lu Chen’s meaningless threats off his shoulder without giving them a second thought.
• If Lu Chen had the power to bankrupt his company, why would he be working here as a guard?
• ……
• Lu Chen suppressed his anger as he left Xia Jun’s office, intending to rush back to the hospital.
• Lin Yijun was going to discuss a business deal today, so she needed him to keep their daughter company.
• Lu Chen had just reached the ground floor reception counter when he caught sight of Fan Ming lounging around the counter with a small crowd, looking as if they’d been hanging around in wait for him.
• That was right. Fan Ming really had been waiting there just to taunt him.
• Lu Chen hadn’t just roughhoused him yesterday; he’d also made him lose face, and badly. He always paid tit for tat, and there was no way he was going to miss this.
• “Isn’t this Lu Chen? I heard that you sought out General Manager Xia for an explanation. He must have given you what you wanted.” Fan Ming smiled sardonically at Lu Chen.
• Yu Hai and a few other security guards watched mockingly.
• They were all army veterans, yet none of them had been able to beat Lu Chen, who had never served in the army. This made them rather dissatisfied with Lu Chen.
• Hearing that Lu Chen had not only been terminated but that even his deposit had been forfeited, had made these guards’ hearts leap in glee.
• Lu Chen looked coolly at Fan Ming, whose face was full of scorn. He took out a cigarette, lit it up, and drew a puff, all in lazy motion before replying with a faint smile, “Please, continue your show.”
• Since Fan Ming was acting up, then let him go all out!
• But he’d see how Fan Ming would fare when Dong Jia Electronics declared bankruptcy later in the afternoon.
• Hearing Lu Chen’s sarcasm, the smile dropped from Fan Ming’s face. He hated it when Lu Chen kept his airs up even after being cornered.
• “Lu Chen, you’re just trash. Why are you putting on airs in front of me?” Fan Ming growled.
• “That’s right, Lu Chen. You’re just a simple guard while Director Fan has both money and power. Who do you think you are to offend Director Fan? Lu Chen, listen to me. Quickly apologize to Director Fan, or you may not be able to find a job throughout the whole of Chongqing.” Yu Hai’s words sounded like advice, but it was laced with threats.
• “A mere sales director can put the freeze on me? Yu Hai, are you kidding me?” Lu Chen was so angry that he laughed instead.
• Yu Hai’s face contorted slightly. He hadn’t thought that Lu Chen didn't know what was good for him. He snorted, then kept his peace.
• Fan Ming laughed contemptuously. “I may be a mere sales director, but one word from me got you fired from the company. And not just that—you weren’t able to get your salary, or even your deposit. Lu Chen, I’ll be honest with you. Firing you was completely my decision. I simply don’t understand. How are you even fighting with me? If you’re really all that, then get your salary before you leave or make General Manager Xia revoke your termination, why don’t you?”
• “Fan Ming, you sound very lofty, don’t you?”
• Just then, an authoritative voice rang out. The crowd’s heads swiveled around and saw General Manager Xia striding from the elevator toward them.
• Noting the terrible expression on General Manager Xia’s face, a sense of foreboding came over Fan Ming and the others.
• “General Manager Xia, are you heading out?” Fan Ming smiled shamefacedly at him.
• “Humph!” Xia Jun gave Fan Ming a death stare as his voice deepened. “Let me ask you—Lu Chen has a good track record with the company, so why did you fire him? And you’re from the sales department. What gives you the power to terminate someone from the security team? Who gave you the authority?”
• “Abusing your power to terminate good employees? Fan Ming, unless you apologize to Lu Chen immediately and he forgives you, I’ll terminate you right now!” Xia Jun bellowed.
• “Huh?” Fan Ming flinched, completely mystified by what was going on.
• He trembled in his shoes at the sight of General Manager Xia overflowing with rage.
• Yu Hai and the other guards looked bewildered. Hadn’t General Manager Xia agreed to fire Lu Chen?
• Then what was going on now?
• Lu Chen watched Xia Jun blister at Fan Ming as the hint of a cold smile lifted the corners of his eyes.