Chapter 529: Chapter 529 Forgiveness
Zhou Ling looked at Chen Ting with cold eyes and said, "Chen Ting, go to HR and handle your resignation. Considering the contributions youâve made to the company, you can take an extra monthâs salary when you leave!"
"What?" Chen Ting seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, and the other sales ladies burst into raucous laughter.
"Do you think youâre the General Manager?" Chen Ting mocked while laughing, "You, just a measly intern, dare to talk to me like this? I think itâs you who should be leaving. Tomorrow is the last day of your internship; youâd better hurry back and pack your things!"
There was no trace of disturbance on Zhou Lingâs face, and her gaze towards Chen Ting even contained a hint of pity.
She sighed and shook her head gently, "If youâre unwilling to accept it, I can only have HR send you a notice."
At this moment, Ma Tao, having finished the dismissal process, stepped out of the HR office.
"Manager Ma!" Chen Tingâs eyes were sharp, and she immediately spotted Manager Ma emerging, saying, "Manager Ma, this intern is too arrogant. I think our company wonât keep an employee who refuses to follow company policies. Let her leave the company instead!"
Ma Tao, glimpsing the tranquil face of Zhou Ling, flew into a rage and swung his hand, slapping Chen Ting across the face with a smack.
The force of the slap was so strong, as if it hit a drumskin, causing all the sales ladies to be completely stunned. Everyone didnât understand why Manager Ma would slap Chen Tingâwerenât they supposedly in an ambiguous relationship?
Ma Tao, with veins throbbing in anger on his neck, barked, "Chen Ting, Iâm telling you, Iâm no longer the companyâs General Manager. If you want to die, donât come looking for me! I want to live a few more years! And let me tell you, the intern you mentioned has been personally appointed by the President as the new General Manager. Continue running your mouth if you dare, you short-sighted wench!"
With that, Ma Tao stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The room fell silent, everyone was dumbstruck. President Ma had been dismissed, and the person taking over was the intern everyone had looked down upon? How could this be possible!
Chen Ting was in disbelief, staring at Zhou Ling and stammering, "How is this possible, how can you become the General Manager? This makes no sense, youâre just a girl from a mountain village, what kind of connections do you have? Thatâs right, you must have powerful backing, pretending to be weak to take us by surprise, such craftiness, indeed very crafty!"
Zhou Ling looked at Chen Ting with a hint of disappointment. Even now, Chen Ting had not realized her own mistake.
In her eyes, all successful people must rely on connections and relationships to succeed! But what she would never understand is that, in front of success, a humble disposition, a fighting spirit, and the drive to strive are most important!
Otherwise, why are there so many rich second generations, but how many can surpass their parents? Because they lack the desperate drive to succeed that their parents possessed!
"Go and handle your resignation now," Zhou Ling said indifferently.
Chen Ting shuddered, her voice trembling as she spoke, "No, Zhou Ling... no, Director Zhou! I was wrong, I really was! Please donât fire me, donât fire me, please! I have a mortgage to pay every month, and my child still needs to go to primary school, I canât be without a job!"
At this time, everyone else was silent as the grave, especially those who usually sided with Chen Ting to ridicule Zhou Ling. They wished they could shrink into the cracks in the wallsâif Zhou Ling decided to settle accounts after autumn, wouldnât they be unable to escape trouble?
Thinking this, they panicked, and the looks they gave to Chen Ting were even tinged with resentment. If it werenât for her, how could they have possibly offended Zhou Ling?
Facing Chen Tingâs plea, a trace of unwillingness to harm flickered in Zhou Lingâs eyes. Zhou Ling was not a cold-hearted person, but she also knew that she was no longer a regular employeeâshe was the companyâs director, and she had to be responsible for the company!
She was aware that her abilities were insufficient for the role of director, but since the president had entrusted the company to her, she had to put forth 120% effort to repay the presidentâs deep affection! No matter what the presidentâs intentions were, she had to live up to this grace of recognition!
Therefore, no matter how much she didnât want to, she couldnât let personal feelings interfere with business! Lacking in experience, she could only rely on the companyâs regulations!
"Chen Ting, itâs not that Iâm settling personal scores in public, but what you did was truly outrageous!" Zhou Ling said gravely, "I can let go of our past grudges, but you mocked and ridiculed the companyâs guests, severely violating the companyâs rules."
After pausing, Zhou Ling added, "Mr. Ling and the president reached a deal worth a hundred million, making him a distinguished guest of the company. Yet, he was belittled by you. Do you think I could forgive you?"
Chen Ting was stunned; the âpauperâ in her mind was so wealthy, having secured a hundred-million deal with the president!
Her heart was filled with remorse. She not only reflected on her past actions and thoughts but also questioned whether judging people by their appearances was right.
"Go and process your resignation," Zhou Ling said softly, "Chen Ting, I hope you learn from this lesson. No matter what we do, we should follow our hearts. To us, customers are God, and we should treat every guest sincerely. I hope that when you move on to other companies, youâll abandon your bad habit of judging by appearances and have a fresh start!"
Chen Ting sighed. If Zhou Ling had said these words to her before, she would surely have scoffed, but now things were different! Zhou Ling was the director, and the âpauperâ she had identified was a billionaire. She deeply realized how narrow-minded she had been!
"I understand. Iâll go and process my resignation," Chen Ting sighed softly, "I now see how wrong I was! I apologize for my earlier mockery and ridicule, and thank you for your words!"
With that, Chen Ting approached Ling Feng and bowed deeply, "I apologize, Mr. Ling, for my previous attitude was extremely poor, and Iâm sorry!"
From Chen Tingâs eyes, Ling Feng did not see resentment, but clarity. It seemed that after going through this event, she harbored no bitterness but felt an enlightened sense of realization.
This was already quite rare!
"Zhou Ling, is there really no other way but to dismiss her?" To everyoneâs surprise, Liu Tingyu suddenly spoke up, "If we donât pursue the matter, could we allow Chen Ting to continue working for the company?"
Chen Tingâs body trembled; she looked at Liu Tingyu in disbelief. She never expected that the person pleading on her behalf at this moment was the very object of her mockery.
Zhou Ling hesitated before saying, "If Sister Liu doesnât pursue the matter, according to Chen Tingâs actions, the company would mark a major demerit and deduct her performance bonus for half a year!"
Turning to Chen Ting, Zhou Ling asked, "Can you accept this outcome?"
Chen Ting took a deep breath, a look of gratitude flashing in her eyes, "I accept the punishment. Thank you, Director Zhou, thank you, Miss Liu!"
Although losing half a yearâs performance bonus was harsh, at least she kept her job. After all, finding another highly paid job was now very difficult.