Chapter 140: Late for Work

The slight sliver of genuine affection Ye Fei had held for his master evaporated in an instant, utterly destroyed by the old man’s preposterous words.

Just as he was about to retort, the old man impatiently cut him off: "Get lost already. Stop hovering in front of me—scram!"

The hollow feeling that had gripped Ye Fei’s chest suddenly dissipated, replaced by a sense of grounded relief. He chuckled, waved a hand, and called out, "I’m off, old man! Wait for my return!"

As Ye Fei walked away, the old man sitting on the branch dissolved into a wisp of thin smoke. The area was empty, save for the wind rustling through the leaves.

Standing at the entrance of the villa, Ye Fei finally felt composed. Bai Yaoyao emerged from inside, stretching lazily. Upon seeing him, she asked in surprise, "Don't you have to go to work?"

Ye Fei glanced at his watch, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind. "I think I’m late. What should I do?"

Bai Yaoyao eyed him, curious. "I don't work, so I don't know what happens when you’re late. It’s not a big deal, is it?"

...Indeed, asking such a question of a young socialite was somewhat misguided.

Ye Fei had countless times wanted to roll his eyes at Bai Yaoyao, though usually only in his mind. This time, he didn't even wait to do it internally; he rolled them right there and then before sprinting off toward the company. Truth be told, even if he didn't care for the job, he still had to play the part at the Gao Group for a few days.

When he reached the foot of the Gao Group building, Ye Fei caught his breath and checked the time. He was a full three hours late.

He straightened his clothes, but as soon as he stepped inside, he was blocked by Gao Yuyang.

"Do you know what time you're supposed to be at work?"

Ye Fei smiled faintly. "I do. So what? I’m the Chairwoman’s bodyguard, not yours. You’re welcome to ask for my help if you have a genuine issue, and I might consider assisting if I feel like it."

Gao Yuyang looked at the people gathering around and deliberately raised his voice. "Just because you used your looks to land a bodyguard position, you think you have special privileges now?"

Ye Fei stood in the lobby, facing a furious Gao Yuyang, who looked like a balloon on the verge of popping.

"You... you're just a country bumpkin clinging to a wealthy woman. How do you keep deluding yourself into thinking you’re the one in charge?"

The onlookers, holding their morning coffee, were thrilled to have some drama to watch. As office workers living the nine-to-five grind, they lived for this kind of gossip.

"Isn't that Manager Gao and the bodyguard? How did they get into a fight?"

"I heard this bodyguard is something else. He had a row with the young master yesterday, and now he's picking a fight with a manager. He probably doesn't know that money makes the world go round."

"I give him three days before he gets kicked to the curb."

Ye Fei remained calm. He examined Gao Yuyang carefully, suddenly recalling that Mika had sent him a full dossier on the man the previous night. Gao Yuyang was a member of the Gao family, but only a low-ranking peripheral relative. He had been a mere clerk at the Gao Group until, suddenly, he was transformed into a manager. And not just any manager—he was handpicked by Situ Feng. Many of the Gao Group’s departments were now under Situ Feng’s control, and this Gao Yuyang was clearly a turncoat.

"I saw a dog at the entrance that had lost its owner, Manager Gao. Do you recognize it? It looked like your dog."

Gao Yuyang’s face turned leaden. He glared at Ye Fei, a fire burning in his eyes.

His assistant, seeing the situation, knew that if he didn't back Gao Yuyang, he would be the one blamed when the score was settled later. "Who gave you the nerve to insult our manager? Manager Gao is a member of the Gao family, and this is the Gao Group. How dare you act so recklessly? You’re just a hired thug—what are you acting so arrogant for?"

There were many members of the Gao family within the group, but most were small-time players. Few had reached the level of manager like Gao Yuyang. Ye Fei seized the opportunity. "Wow, what a high-and-mighty Gao family member! Aside from the Chairwoman, everyone else at the Gao Group is an ordinary employee. How did you, Manager Gao, manage to climb to such a high position? Could it be that you used some unsavory methods?"

Immediately, the murmurs around the room grew louder.

"I was wondering how he got that promotion. We work our fingers to the bone and never see a chance for a raise."

"Could Gao Yuyang have defected to the Situ family?"

The entire company knew that Situ Feng had invested in the Gao family, and they knew that since his arrival, the company's hierarchy had been in flux. Many had been nursing grievances over this investment for a long time, as they hadn't seen such internal restructuring in years; strictly speaking, it felt like an occupation by outsiders.

Many Gao family members who already despised Gao Yuyang now looked at him with disdain. "So that’s it! Gao Yuyang betrayed his own ancestors!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuyang’s face flushed deep red. He glared at Ye Fei, fists clenched, and retorted, "I earned my promotion fair and square! What would a country bumpkin like you know about corporate policy?"

Fortunately, Ye Fei actually did understand corporate policy. He enunciated clearly, "Manager Gao, if I recall correctly, you were previously a technical staffer. How did you suddenly transform into a manager? To be honest, while I may not know the company's policy, I do know that a technician cannot simply leap to the head of the Sales Department."

Ye Fei didn't want to tip his hand too early, especially since Xie Yanzi was also deeply dissatisfied with Gao Yuyang—it was an insult to everyone that a mere clerk could be handpicked by Situ Feng.

So, Ye Fei decided to stir the pot further.

Gao Yuyang’s assistant’s eyes darted around, truly at a loss for how to explain.

"That's not how it is! Our manager didn't get his position because of Situ Feng!" The assistant, in his panic, turned the original doubt into an explicit admission.

Because Ye Fei had never actually mentioned Situ Feng, but the guilty assistant and Gao Yuyang had brought him up themselves, the surrounding employees began to riot.

"So that’s the truth! I’m going to find the Chairwoman and get an explanation. Even if someone else has to be the Sales Manager, it shouldn't be a traitor like Gao Yuyang."

"Exactly! Let’s all go to the Chairwoman together. I don't believe we can't get this guy fired."

"Let’s go! I don't believe the Chairwoman would stand by a traitor."

A large crowd marched toward the top floor. Ye Fei couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Gao Yuyang certainly hadn't expected that he would end up exposing his own secrets while trying to use his status to intimidate a late bodyguard.

"If I were you, I'd pack up and leave now. It’s better than being dragged out," Ye Fei remarked to him, offering a tone of mock pity as he walked away.