Volume One: High School Days Chapter 81: What I Say Goes

When Butler Jin saw Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong, he walked straight over to them. He embraced them both warmly, displaying an intimate camaraderie that left those around baffled and filled with curiosity—why was Butler Jin so close to two janitors?

“Come with me, have you prepared what you’re going to say in a moment?” Butler Jin asked as he led Liu Sheng forward.

“No problem,” Liu Sheng replied, thinking to himself, “There’s nothing to prepare—I’ll have the final say on whatever is said anyway!”

Wang Yi was still rooted to the spot, staring at Ren Xiadong in disbelief. “I’m confused. How do you two know Butler Jin? He’s the second-in-command at Yonghua Group!”

“What?! That old man is Yonghua Group’s number two?!” Ren Xiadong had always thought of Butler Jin as just a regular house steward, merely in charge of Mr. Hu’s household affairs. Hearing Wang Yi’s words left him utterly shocked.

Despite his surprise, Ren Xiadong pulled Wang Yi to sit in the front row. “Are we really supposed to sit here? These seats are reserved for the company’s executives!” Wang Yi whispered nervously, fidgeting uncomfortably from the moment he sat down.

Deputy Director Zhu sat behind Ren Xiadong, looking anxious and distracted. He didn’t know who Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong really were, but judging by Butler Jin’s attitude toward them, they were clearly not ordinary people. He couldn’t help but worry that they might bring trouble his way.

The meeting began with a summary of the past year and a call for employees to work harder in the future. When that concluded, Butler Jin took a file folder and walked up to the podium. Without any preamble, he said, “I’m here today to convey Mr. Hu’s message. Before I do that, let me ask you: does anyone know why Director Liu isn’t here today?”

Everyone present knew Director Liu was absent, but no one knew why. By all rights, he should have been here for such an occasion.

Seeing their confusion, Butler Jin continued, “Because he colluded with the owner of Aochuang and violated the peace agreement, he’s been removed! The one who dismissed him is the new owner of Meyer, Liu Sheng!”

At the sound of his name, Liu Sheng stood up and walked directly to the podium. Butler Jin, seeing this, said quietly, “President Liu, don’t let Mr. Hu down,” then stepped aside and took his seat.

Liu Sheng surveyed the audience, pausing for a moment on Deputy Director Zhu, who nearly fell from his chair when their eyes met.

Then Liu Sheng spoke: “It’s only thanks to Mr. Hu’s trust that I stand before you as your boss. Though I’m unworthy, I have three announcements to make.”

He glanced around the room and continued, “Mr. Hu instructed me to observe the company as a rank-and-file employee. By now, I have a fair understanding, so here is the first matter.”

He picked up the file Butler Jin had left on the podium and drew out a list—a generous gift from Butler Jin. Every name on that list belonged to a lackey of the former Director Liu, whose continued presence would only make Liu Sheng’s job harder.

He read out every name on the list, then declared, “Everyone whose name I just read is dismissed. If you have any objections, take them with you—I don’t want to hear them!”

His words caused an uproar, not just among the executives present but throughout the company, as employees watching the livestream were equally stunned. Nearly all the deputy directors and more than half the senior management were included.

Someone from the audience called out, “Who will fill all these vacant positions?”

Liu Sheng replied, “Did I call your name?”

The person shook his head.

“Then the capable among you will fill them—promotions layer by layer. Outstanding employees from the lower ranks are also eligible. It’s a fair competition; everyone gets a chance!”

With that, the entire Meyer Film & Television Building erupted in excitement. Every employee felt their opportunity had arrived.

“Second, Meyer Film & Television Company will be renamed Liuyao World Film & Television Company. If you have any opinions, keep them to yourselves. I’m not averse to taking advice, but today is my first day on the job, so just do as I say!” Liu Sheng nodded with satisfaction at the newly silenced crowd.

At that moment, the dismissed executives rose in protest. “We’ve served the company for over twenty years! You think you can just send us home like that? Without us old-timers, you’re just a greenhorn who’ll never accomplish anything!”

“That’s right! Butler Jin, say something fair. We’ve been here since Meyer was founded. How can we just be told to leave? I won’t accept it unless I hear it from Mr. Hu himself, and I definitely won’t agree to let this Liu Sheng be the boss!”

Butler Jin responded, “I’m only here to convey Liu Sheng’s appointment. The rest is beyond my jurisdiction, especially your personal grievances.”

Liu Sheng understood Butler Jin’s words as a directive to handle his own affairs.

He looked coldly at the crowd. “As I said, today I have the final say. Don’t you understand?”

“Understand what? What qualifies you to be here? What do you know?”

Liu Sheng smiled. “If you do as you’re told and leave Chong City, I’ll give each of you a sum of money—enough for your families’ living expenses.”

He then produced a power card. “And don’t think that just because you leave Chong City, you’ll be beyond my reach!”

At the sight of the power card, everyone fell silent. A power card was tantamount to seeing Mr. Hu himself—disobeying Liu Sheng would be defying Mr. Hu. If they offended Liu Sheng and he exercised the authority granted by the card, their entire families could be doomed.

After a long silence, all those who had been dismissed left the conference hall, resigned to a life of retirement.

With the second matter resolved, Liu Sheng continued, “The third matter is a bit more amusing. I’m creating two new positions in the company: Director and Deputy Director.”

At this, Deputy Director Zhu immediately sank to the floor. He knew exactly what this meant—he was about to be made an example of. No matter how those around him tried to help him up, he couldn’t stand.

“As for what these positions entail and who will fill them, let’s have our new Deputy General Manager, Ren Xiadong, explain,” Liu Sheng said, glancing at Ren Xiadong, then at the dumbfounded Wang Yi beside him. Wang Yi felt as though he didn’t know them at all—just days ago, they’d been rank-and-file employees helping him with his work, and now, out of nowhere, they had become the company’s owners. The transformation was so abrupt, he wondered if he were dreaming—a dream from which he could not wake.

Ren Xiadong glanced at Deputy Director Zhu, still on the floor, then hurried to the podium and spoke into the microphone: “As the names suggest, the Director is the supreme commander in the war against restroom filth, and the Deputy Director is his right-hand man. Don’t underestimate these positions—they wield considerable power. This building has thirty-eight floors; imagine how many restrooms that is! Wouldn’t you agree that’s a lot of authority?”

Everyone burst out laughing—everyone except Deputy Director Zhu, whose face grew ever darker. Still, he managed to say, “I… I’d like to resign. Please, both of you, approve my request.”

Liu Sheng quickly snatched the microphone. “Come now! If not for you, I’d have been fired long ago. Then I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you now.”

He waited for Deputy Director Zhu to respond, but Zhu found himself speechless; the very words he’d once spoken—“I’ll keep these two on and make their lives miserable”—had come back to haunt him.

Liu Sheng went on, “As for these two powerful positions… hmm… let me think. I’ll give them to the ones who first came up with the idea.”

He looked at Deputy Director Zhu. “Deputy Director Zhu—no, Director Zhu—this position was tailor-made for me by you. Now I’m giving it back. Isn’t that fair?”

Deputy Director Zhu knew if he refused, he might not even have the right to beg for food in the future. So, coldly, he said, “Thank you, President Liu. I’ll do my best.”

He was about to leave when Ren Xiadong added, “In a hurry to take office, are you? Good, we need proactive employees like you. Oh, and don’t forget your nephew—he’s the Deputy Director!”

After Director Zhu left, Liu Sheng dismissed the meeting and invited Butler Jin to dine with him.

During the meal, Butler Jin told Liu Sheng that ten percent of Liuyao World Film & Television Company’s shares belonged to Huayong, twenty percent each to Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong, and the remaining fifty percent to various shareholders. A company of this size, after all, could never belong to just one person.

After dinner, Butler Jin didn’t linger in Chong City but returned straight to Xunhai City to report the day’s events to Mr. Hu at the Huayong Group headquarters.

Liu Sheng didn’t idle away his afternoon. He pored over all the company’s documents, taking an hour to gain a thorough understanding of the organization. He promoted the former manager of the editing department, made Wang Yi a manager, and, after arranging everything, retired to the general manager’s office with Ren Xiadong for a rest—only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.

A stylishly dressed, alluring female secretary entered. “President Liu, President Ren, my name is Ruan Danning. I was Director Liu’s secretary, and now I’ll be yours. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”

She deliberately leaned forward, revealing a deep cleavage, nearly causing Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong to have nosebleeds.

Liu Sheng quickly composed himself. “We’ll be counting on you, Secretary Ruan. I may not come to the office often.”

Secretary Ruan licked her lips. “Don’t worry. Director Liu rarely came either—I handled everything.”

“So you hardly saw Director Liu? You must be extremely capable,” Ren Xiadong remarked.

Secretary Ruan gave a seductive smile. “Oh, I saw him often—just at night.” With that, she left the office.

It took a while for Liu Sheng to recover from the vision of Secretary Ruan’s curves. “Why didn’t I dismiss her? She was Director Liu’s person!”

“Don’t even think about it! If you fire her, I’ll quit on the spot!” Ren Xiadong glared at Liu Sheng.

Liu Sheng realized he couldn’t do without Secretary Ruan for now, since she had been handling all of Director Liu’s work. Still uneasy, he called the HR director—who, ever since Liu Sheng joined, had never given him any trouble and had even stood up for him at the meeting earlier that day.