The design draft for the carp leaping over the dragon gate was ultimately approved. That library, divided by a central axis and using two materials—metal and glass—to create interlaced light and shadow, would still be a landmark of our city many, many years later.

But that’s a story for later. After the meeting ended, while discussing it animatedly with Yu Shixuan, I casually turned on my phone.

Forty-seven missed calls.

All from Mr. Wang and other colleagues from our company. There was only one reason for this—something had happened at the construction site.

I felt all the blood in my body rush backward into my brain. I immediately ran out to hail a taxi. Cheng Xia told me not to panic; he would drive me there.

There was nothing to be coy about. After getting in the car, I kept trying to call back, but no one answered.

“Don’t worry, they’ll definitely call back,” Cheng Xia reassured me from the front.

“Why did I have to turn off my phone!” I sighed heavily.

A construction site was like a machine—it wouldn’t malfunction during normal operation. When something went wrong, it was a big deal.

“Aren’t you going to start your own business? Why do you still care about them?” Cheng Xia said from the front.

“What business am I starting? I already told you, I was just helping Yu Shixuan.”

Cheng Xia laughed. He said, “Stop fooling yourself. The moment you chose to turn off your phone, you’d already made your decision.”

At the same time, he stepped on the gas pedal and accelerated.

When we were almost there, I finally received a call. It was from my assistant. She sobbed for a long time before I finally understood the general situation.

During the morning inspection by the client’s supervisor, he discovered something substandard and demanded demolition and reconstruction.

However, when they demolished it, the supervisor discovered that this batch of steel reinforcement used was substandard products that didn’t meet specifications. This was a major taboo on construction sites. He demanded a comprehensive inspection and immediately reported it to the client.

At first, the person in charge called me—I didn’t answer. Then he called Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang rushed to the scene in a panic, trying to prevent the inspection by stalling. As they argued, the two parties actually got into a conflict. Mr. Wang accidentally pushed the other person to the ground, and his head was cut open.

When I arrived, the scene was already in complete chaos.

Supervisor Chen sat on the ground, crying and shouting, “You dare hit someone! I’m calling the police!”

“Who hit you! Supervisor Chen, I just bumped into you a little. Be reasonable!” Mr. Wang shouted with a red face and thick neck.

“Mr. Wang!” I interrupted him loudly.

When everyone saw me arrive, it was as if they’d seen some great savior. They surrounded me, talking all at once. “Manager Ren, you’re finally here! They’re making trouble out of nothing!”

Most of them had watched me being “punished to stand” yesterday with their own eyes.

Of course I could have ignored it all. Yesterday Mr. Wang had personally told me not to come back anymore.

I glanced at Mr. Wang, but still quickly went over to help up Supervisor Chen, saying, “Are you alright? Does it still hurt? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

“Right! To the hospital. I want a medical examination!” This grown man was screaming heart-wrenchingly.

“Don’t worry, this is my project. I’ll definitely give you justice.”

After speaking, I called a few people to take Supervisor Chen to the hospital, then turned around and said to Mr. Wang, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated, “Mr. Wang, this steel reinforcement isn’t ours. Hurry and get it cleared away.”

Mr. Wang was stunned for a moment, then quickly had people start dismantling it.

That he could actually let the evidence be displayed so openly—I was truly impressed.

What was a supervisor? He was the imperial commissioner sent by the client to protect the quality of the project.

Every phase of construction needed his signature before it could continue. Generally, construction sites treated them like living gods.

This father surnamed Chen didn’t have a particularly good temper. He ate and drank as he pleased, but when he cursed at you, you still had to act like his grandson. Mr. Wang was genuinely annoyed by him, but normally they called each other brothers every day, and it seemed harmonious enough.

Mr. Wang said, “This batch of steel hasn’t just been used for one day. Damn it, he’s always turned a blind eye to it. Why is he going crazy now!”

“Why did you use substandard steel, and also,” I asked, “why didn’t I know about this?”

He irritably took a deep drag on his cigarette, avoiding my eyes, and said, “Isn’t it all the same? I just wanted to save some money.”

Then he said, “Dongxue, you have to help me! If I really tell the client, I’m finished.”

I sighed and ultimately still went to the hospital.

Supervisor Chen was being bandaged while cursing up a storm. “You punk, you fell into my hands! I’ll skin you alive!”

I approached and said, “Supervisor Chen, how are you? Feeling better?”

He glanced at me sideways and waved his hand. “This has nothing to do with you!”

“I’m the project manager. If it has nothing to do with me, who does it have to do with?” I sat to the side to look at his injury.

This injury was really—tsk tsk tsk—fortunately we got to the hospital in time. If we’d delayed a bit longer, it would have completely healed.

“You don’t need to say anything. I will definitely report this matter. We must conduct a comprehensive inspection of all the steel that’s been used,” he said.

“Fine,” I said.

He didn’t expect me to say this and was momentarily stunned.

I said, “But I’ll remind you of one thing. Every previous phase of the project proceeded under your signature. You also have to bear joint liability for any losses caused to the construction site.”

He flew into a rage. “What responsibility do I have to bear! You used substandard steel and you still have the nerve!”

“What if we didn’t use it?”

He froze. I smiled and said, “If we demolish the previous construction and discover everything is normal, how will you explain it to the client?”

He stared at me, as if contemplating what I was up to.

“This batch of steel reinforcement did indeed come in early, and we did indeed want to use it,” I smiled. “But I replaced it. The previous construction never used it once. If you don’t believe me, feel free to inspect it.”

He looked at me in shock and said, “You’re lying! Why would you bring it in if you weren’t going to use it!”

I didn’t answer. Instead I said, “All the substandard construction discovered today, we’ll completely demolish and reconstruct it. We’ll also randomly inspect the steel used according to your wishes. Will that work?”

He sneered and said, “Too late for that now.”

I sighed and said, “Whether insisting on demolition will have a negative impact on your work, we won’t even mention. You also know very well what kind of person Mr. Wang is—he has money, connections, and time. When he makes trouble, it really never ends.”

His expression was displeased, because what I said was the truth. Mr. Wang would definitely insist that Supervisor Chen was taking bribes, being obstructive, and making unreasonable trouble. No one could compete with a rich second generation in terms of being willful.

“Right now, Mr. Wang already knows he was wrong and is waiting outside. If you’re willing to make a friend, I’ll let him come in. You know, he treats his friends exceptionally well.”

Supervisor Chen’s expression was uncertain. After a long while, he said, “Manager Ren is quite something. It’s a waste for you to work under that fatty Wang.”

“Not at all. I hope you’ll give me more guidance.”

I stood up and opened the door. Mr. Wang appeared at the entrance carrying large and small packages, calling out affectionately, “Old Chen—I wronged you—”

—

By the time everything was finally resolved, it was already midnight.

Cheng Xia was actually still waiting for me outside. He was truly patient, sitting in the car reading a book.

I withdrew my gaze and looked at Mr. Wang in front of me.

Since our relationship had deteriorated, it had been a long time since we’d faced each other so honestly.

His voice hoarse, he said, “When did you replace the steel reinforcement?”

I said, “When I discovered that my assistant Xiao Cai had forged my signature.”

Her courage wouldn’t have been that great on its own. It must have been at Mr. Wang’s instigation. Mr. Wang definitely wasn’t doing it for stupid reasons like getting off work early.

It must have been for money.

So after checking, I quickly discovered that batch of cheap steel, but I didn’t make a fuss. I just had the workers continue using the previously purchased steel during construction.

I knew this time bomb would explode sooner or later, but at least it wouldn’t explode on me.

Mr. Wang hung his head. After a long while, he said, “Thank you for this time. I didn’t expect you to come back and help me…”

I smiled and said, “Back when I was hitting walls everywhere, it was Mr. Wang who gave me an opportunity. No matter what, I remember your kindness.”

And also, you could say Mr. Wang was a good boss—he mixed business with personal matters and was more petty than anyone. But if you said he was some kind of tyrant, well, not really. After all, he was generous with money and never gave uninformed guidance on professional matters, which already put him ahead of eighty percent of bosses.

So I wasn’t lying. I truly was grateful that he gave me a place to stay and a relatively stable period of life.

He also smiled magnanimously. “I still remember, I’ve never seen a woman who could drink that well. Eye-opening!”

“That’s all in the past. Take good care of yourself from now on,” I said.

“You’re still leaving?”

This place had already started rotting from the roots. Staying any longer would be courting death.

“Yes.”

He was still the boss, after all. That momentary warmth vanished completely. Mr. Wang leaned back and sneered, “This isn’t a place you can come and go as you please.”

I smiled just as brightly and said, “Mr. Wang, if you’re going to say that, I might have to go chat with your wife about Xiao Cai’s matter.”

He looked at me. I looked at him too.

“See you in the world.”

“Come visit home often.”