Tomorrow as Bright as Day – Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Would Jiangliu Brother still talk to her now that he knew she was a woman?
She had deceived him—would he be angry?
Would he mind her being female at all?
Facing the computer screen, Ming Xi felt her thoughts pulling violently in opposite directions, unable to stop herself from spiraling. Still, once the lie about her gender was finally laid bare, she let out a breath of relief. Only—Brother Jiangliu online didn’t reply for a long time, and she was really worried.
Could it be that Brother Jiangliu really disliked her because of her gender?
Could he be one of those men who favor men over women?
[Oh…]“Smiling Without Talking” finally replied, simply acknowledging that he knew.
In truth, Liang Jiancheng, sitting at home, had also been thinking quite a bit.
Someone didn’t casually reveal their gender without reason—did Ming Xi have something on her mind? Between him and her, this kind of exchange was bound to reach a moment of honesty sooner or later. Openness was, of course, a good thing. He only hoped that when that day came, the two of them would already be aligned in heart and spirit—souls intertwined…
“Little Sister Qianjin…” Brother Jiangliu was truly clever, defusing her embarrassment and guilt with a single sentence. But the term “Little Sister Qianjin,” that humorous style…
Ming Xi suddenly thought of someone.
Could Jiangliu Dadao be Liang Jiancheng? Once the thought appeared, it stubbornly refused to go away. And yet—she didn’t dare verify it.
In her heart, she firmly decided: Impossible.
On Tuesday, Ming Xi had to rush to the factory, so she arrived at the company a little late. Unexpectedly, she ran into Liang Jiancheng in the lobby of Zhongjin Tower—he had just finished escorting a client downstairs.
After seeing the client off, Liang Jiancheng deliberately waited for a while.
“Why are you so late for work today?”
Miss Ming looked radiant today—so much so that it was hard not to glance at her a few extra times. As the elevator doors slid shut, Liang Jiancheng stood beside her and spoke in a restrained, casual tone.
Huh?
He wasn’t her boss—why should he care what time she started work? Ming Xi straightened her shoulders, then relaxed again, letting out a light sigh.
“Is it really that late…?”
Liang Jiancheng: …Wasn’t it? He’d already finished a client meeting.
Suddenly remembering something, Ming Xi turned to face Liang Jiancheng. Right in front of him, she casually lifted her shirt cuff and generously displayed her newly purchased treasure—a low-key yet luxurious elegant women’s watch.
“Oh, I don’t know what time it is. Let me check…” As the watch was deliberately shown off, she spoke to herself in a tone that was half-confused, half-calculated.
Liang Jiancheng found it quite amusing—even more interesting was what he saw on Ming Xi’s wrist—
The exact same model as the one lying in the drawer of his own walk-in closet at home.
“Oh dear! Is it already 10:30?” Ming Xi raised her watch high, then lifted her chin slightly to meet Liang Jiancheng’s gaze as it drifted downward. Her eyes filled with a mischievous yet adorable smile as she asked, “Mr. Liang, could you help me confirm the time? I just bought this watch—feels like it’s not keeping time very accurately.”
Really? Liang Jiancheng nearly raised a hand to his forehead. He was laughing so hard that the corners of his eyes had begun to glisten.
This was truly maddening…
The gift he’d been planning to give hadn’t even been delivered—she’d gone and bought it herself. What kind of helpless, lethal coincidence was this?
Seeing him laugh so uncontrollably—his chest rising and falling, even his shoulders trembling—Ming Xi felt as though she’d just shown him an outrageously funny movie clip.
Ming Xi silently lowered her hand.
Yes, she had deliberately shown off her wealth—but did his reaction really have to be this big?
“Is it that funny? Haven’t you ever seen a nouveau riche before?” She glared at Liang Jiancheng.
Liang Jiancheng finally managed to rein in his laughter. He had indeed seen plenty of nouveau riche, but never one this adorable. Of course, he found it so funny partly because of her deliberate flaunting, and partly because he was laughing at himself.
“My time shows 10:35. Miss Ming might want to check the time on your computer instead. That would be more accurate.” Liang Jiancheng replied after glancing at his watch, even offering a suggestion.
Humph.
“…What do you think of my new watch?” Ming Xi couldn’t help but ask directly. Since she’d shown it off, she naturally hoped for some feedback.
“Very good, your taste is simply impeccable.” Liang Jiancheng said admiringly.
Of course it was, it cost over fifty thousand yuan.
“Thank you, Mr. Liang. It’s the same brand as the one you’re wearing…” Ming Xi said contentedly, not forgetting to compliment him, “So, Mr. Liang, your taste is also impeccable.”
“Yes…” Liang Jiancheng admitted that his taste was very good, and getting better and better.
After a brief exchange, the elevator doors opened, stopping first at Haiou’s floor.
Ming Xi immediately lifted her chin and straightened her back, stepping out as if she were walking straight onto a flower-strewn path—light, decisive, effortless. Before the doors fully closed, she turned back and called out: “Mr. Liang, let’s work hard together! Roll up our sleeves and give it our all! Anything is possible!”
Liang Jiancheng nodded happily.
Yes.
He truly hoped he could run into Miss Ming in the elevator every day—once or even several times. That way, he wouldn’t need any extra motivation at all to keep charging forward with courage and momentum.
Dressed in new clothes, wearing a luxury watch, Miss Ming was naturally brimming with confidence today. She had already been adapting well to her work lately, her state improving by the day. Once back at her desk, she found she no longer felt the need to restrain herself in front of Zhao Yang. Anyway, she and Zhao Yang simply didn’t get along. As long as she did her job well and foreign trade orders kept coming in, what could he do—fire her?
Zhao Yang couldn’t fire Ming Xi, but it was easy for him to make things difficult for her.
Since she was here, Zhao Yang took the opportunity to assign new tasks. Since someone was so capable, from now on, all order-following tasks for Team A’s products would be assigned to her alone.
When Zhao Yang deliberately tried to suppress her using his authority as team leader, Ming Xi clenched her teeth. In the way she met his gaze, there was only judgment: This man was even narrower-minded, more stubborn, and more shallow than she’d imagined.
“I refuse.” Ming Xi placed the task assignment sheet back on Zhao Yang’s desk.
“You’re an employee, what right do you have to refuse work assigned by the company? Don’t you want to work here anymore?” Still stinging from losing their last confrontation, Zhao Yang was clearly prepared this time, pressing her down with company regulations.
“Don’t think that just because you closed one big deal, you can start throwing your weight around. Whatever the company assigns, you do it!”
“According to the previous work process, everyone should be responsible for their own orders. If you dump everyone’s orders on me, even if I worked twenty-four hours a day at the factory, I couldn’t finish them!” Ming Xi’s tone was firm, but she still tried to reason with Zhao Yang.
However, Zhao Yang clearly didn’t want to reason with her—
“Aren’t you very capable? If you can’t finish it, then figure something out.” Zhao Yang completely abused his power as team leader to suppress her. Whether in expression or posture, everything about him radiated deliberate hostility. “Our team is now separating sales from order follow-ups. This is my latest restructuring plan. You’re new here, so you’ll start with follow-ups. You no longer need to handle sales—just focus on tracking orders. You’re detail-oriented and have strong stress tolerance. I think this arrangement suits you very well, Lamia.”
After speaking, Zhao Yang stood up. He wasn’t very tall, and Ming Xi was wearing heels today; their eyes met almost at eye level.
This was blatant workplace bullying…
Ming Xi nodded, saying nothing more.
Recently, because of Pierre’s order, she had become a thorn in the side of every sales rep at Haiou. As team leader, Zhao Yang openly targeted a subordinate without restraint—yet not a single person stepped forward to speak up for her.
In the workplace, people with a sense of justice like Ding Xiao were rare. Even Sister CC, who had recently been friendly with her, lowered her head and pretended not to see anything.
If she were reduced to handling follow-ups only, when would she have time to maintain client relationships or develop new customers? How would she ever gain deeper experience on the front line of foreign trade? She was in this industry for the profits. Yet Zhao Yang, relying on his connection to Mr. Huang’s wife, abused his power and crushed her interests outright.
What was the point of working here at all?
Since joining Haiou, despite her strained relationship with Zhao Yang and the many times he had sidelined or excluded her, she had never gone to Mr. He. But now, she would not allow Zhao Yang to manipulate her so brazenly.
“Fine!” Ming Xi pursed her lips, her gaze sharp as fire, staring directly at Zhao Yang’s face, almost wanting to peel off his shameless skin.
If she wasn’t going to beg, she couldn’t back down. She let out a cold laugh, “I’m going to talk to Mr. He.
“If this arrangement is Mr. He’s decision, I’ll resign immediately—no arguments. I’ll pack up and leave today. But if this is not Mr. He’s decision, I’ll continue doing my sales work. And I’d appreciate it if, in the future, Team Leader Zhao would kindly turn your head away when you see me—so I don’t offend your eyes.”
With that, Ming Xi picked up Zhao Yang’s so-called restructuring proposal and walked straight toward He Yuan’s office. Her heels struck the floor crisply with each step.
Ming Xi knocked on the door, and He Yuan responded with a “Come in.”
Ming Xi pushed the door open and stood silently at the entrance. Inside the office, He Yuan was smiling warmly, entertaining a woman who looked every bit like a wealthy lady.
Seeing Ming Xi storm in like this, He Yuan understood immediately—but had to weigh his options. Unable to resolve the issue directly at that moment, he chose to placate instead.
“Ming Xi, perfect timing. Go make Mrs. Huang a cup of coffee, no milk, just two sugar cubes.” He Yuan sat at his desk, looking up at Ming Xi outside, his eyes carrying calculation beneath the smile.
Ming Xi didn’t pay much attention to He Yuan’s reaction, but instead glanced at the woman seated opposite him—legs crossed, hair neatly coiled, a long face. She looked to be in her forties or fifties. Her features were decent enough, but years of impatience had etched an unmistakable hostility into her expression.
Mrs. Huang…
Mr. Huang’s wife?
Now she finally understood where Zhao Yang’s confidence came from.
It turned out his sister had come to back him up…
“Yes, Mr. He.” Ming Xi turned around, clutching Zhao Yang’s proposal, and went to the break room to make coffee for Mrs. Huang.
The grinder rattled, releasing a rich aroma.
At that moment, someone sidled up beside her. Wu Jingjing’s hushed, uneasy voice came from the left: “Ming Xi… just endure it for now. Let things calm down. If Zhao Yang wants to act tough, just let him. Go to the factory for a week, and Mr. He will definitely ask you to come back. What can Zhao Yang do to you then? Right? We’re here to work to earn money, why offend royalty? Even Mr. He treats Zhao Yang politely…”
This was the first time Wu Jingjing had spoken so frankly to her, and she did it secretly. After finishing, she swayed away with a cup of tea.
At the desk, Wu Jingjing bowed respectfully and placed the cup of tea on Zhao Yang’s desk: “Team Leader Zhao, have some chrysanthemum tea to calm down.”
Ming Xi watched without moving. When Sister CC straightened up and turned around, she even shrugged at Ming Xi—her back still facing Zhao Yang.
Originally still a bit upset, she was now amused by Sister CC’s two-faced behavior. Liang Jiancheng had previously said she was good at “balancing things,” but in that respect, she was completely outmatched by Sister CC.
Carrying a sweetened Americano, Ming Xi returned to He Yuan’s office. She bent slightly and placed the coffee—served in fine porcelain—before Mrs. Huang.
In the process, she ignored the hand Mrs. Huang extended.
“The coffee’s a bit hot, Mrs. Huang, please be careful,” Ming Xi reminded her, while also explaining her actions.
She wasn’t intentionally ignoring Mrs. Huang, but rather being considerate.
Mrs. Huang had the look of someone pampered yet poorly nourished, radiating aggressive anxiety. Ming Xi didn’t dare staring—one glance was enough to remind her of Zhao Yang’s face.
Perhaps anxiety and aggressiveness were hereditary traits in their family.
Mrs. Huang didn’t touch the coffee. She stood up instead, smiling in that blunt, unconcerned way of someone unafraid of offending others, and said to He Yuan, “A-Yuan, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you, but you have to give me this little bit of face. We’ve been friends for so many years, you wouldn’t want certain rumors reaching the US, would you?”
He Yuan looked embarrassed, but still maintained his good manners and nodded, “Mrs. Huang, you’re not making things difficult for me, you’re making things difficult for yourself. Why bother with the little squabbles between the employees? If the money in your beauty card isn’t enough, and Mr. Huang too stingy to top it up, I will. I finally recruited a capable employee—are you really going to chase her away over a misunderstanding? How is the company supposed to run? How is business supposed to continue? Morale will collapse!”
He Yuan looked at Mrs. Huang—then past her, to Ming Xi standing behind.
Ming Xi stood upright. If her previous impressions were still vague, through the few words exchanged between Mrs. Huang and Mr. He, she was neither deaf nor foolish—of course, she understood everything.
Mr. He’s “capable employee” referred to her, and Mrs. Huang personally came here to drive her out.
This was terrible! She still had a sales pitch for a small general merchandise category that she’d spent three nights working on. She hadn’t even secured her footing at Haiou yet—and she was about to be swept out?
Most importantly… she hadn’t even received her commission for that big order yet!
A chill ran through Ming Xi. Mrs. Huang stood up and fixed her gaze on her… “Alright, since you’re reluctant, A-Yuan, I won’t force you. But Xiao Yang is my younger brother. I brought him here to grow, not to toughen him up. Mr. He, you need to take better care of him. That child has a soft temper—he’s been afraid of fierce women targeting him since he was young.”
Ming Xi: …gritting her teeth.
For a moment, she forgot who she was. Fierce? Zhao Yang has a soft temper?
Mrs. Huang said no more, picked up her bag, and prepared to leave.
He Yuan quickly took out a box of Indonesian bird’s nest from the back cabinet, but instead of handing it to Mrs. Huang himself, he walked quickly to Ming Xi’s side, handed it to her, and carefully instructed, “Lamia, please see Mrs. Huang out.”
“Yes, Mr. He.”
Ming Xi took the Indonesian bird’s nest and followed behind Mrs. Huang, keeping a distance of about two meters. Reaching the elevator, she stepped forward and personally pressed the button for Mrs. Huang.
Then, she lifted the box of bird’s nest to hand it to her.
With He Yuan absent, Huang Mengyu dropped the pretense. Looking at the beautiful, spirited, and composed girl before her, a sudden surge of hatred and disgust welled up in her eyes like a snake awakening from hibernation. Her face darkened instantly, and not noticing the elevator doors opening, she sneered,
“Don’t think that just because you’ve climbed into He Yuan’s bed, I can’t kick you out.”
What! Ming Xi’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Partly because Mrs. Huang had viciously slandered her—fabricating such filth, trampling her dignity and reputation. But what she couldn’t bear most was that the elevator doors were now fully open, and someone was standing inside.
Liang Jiancheng was pressing the elevator button, his eyes clear and sharp as he looked at her and Mrs. Huang.
Undoubtedly, Liang Jiancheng, who had come down with the elevator, also heard Mrs. Huang’s sarcastic remark.