After the Cannon Fodder Awakens, They Marry the Heroine! - Chapter 8

Li Beichen was likely provoked, and after the birthday banquet ended, he began to show a trend of counterattack. He arrived earlier and left later than Li Mo every day, even openly criticizing her during the monthly executive meeting.

“The overall performance of the Marketing Department looks good, but the gap among the salespeople is too large,” Li Beichen said with a frown. “According to the data feedback, a quarter of the employees have seen a significant drop in performance, which is detrimental to the long-term development of the market.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this is related to the new team you established, Li Mo, isn’t it?” Li Beichen’s gaze landed on the side in front of him. “Showing such favoritism is not right.”

Li Mo remained seated at the head of the table. Hearing Li Beichen’s accusation, she looked up with a glance. “The capable rise to the top. The company doesn’t keep deadwood.”

“I’m not as kind-hearted as you, little brother, willing to spend money to support useless employees,” Li Mo said with a laugh, not at all concealing the mockery and disdain in her smile. “If their performance is poor, fire them and replace them with employees whose performance is up to standard.”

Although Li Mo showed favoritism to some employees, she used her own connections to help them develop new clients, rather than seizing resources from other employees.

At least 80 percent of those so-called quarter of underperforming employees were simply deliberately slacking off and passing the time in the Marketing Department, having listened to Li Beichen’s words.

Li Beichen’s grounds for complaint were blocked, and his face showed displeasure. “Li Mo, your methods are too cold-hearted. Their performance is only temporarily low. When I was managing them, their performance was significantly above standard.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll notify HR to transfer those people to the department you manage,” Li Mo said in a relaxed tone. “That way, we can even save a sum of compensation money.”

“You’re being unreasonable!” Li Beichen raged in futility.

During the three-hour meeting, Li Beichen’s time spent targeting Li Mo accounted for almost half.

Very regrettably, however, none of Li Beichen’s attacks were effective in that hour or so. No matter where he started, Li Mo always managed to defuse them with just a few words.

In the remaining hour and a half, Li Mo only took five minutes to raise ten points of criticism about Li Beichen’s management, each one fatal, almost forcing Li Beichen to smash his laptop and storm out.

Upon hearing the news of her own destiny value increasing, Li Mo rose easily from the main seat and announced the meeting adjourned.

“Little brother, getting angry often is bad for your health. If you feel tightness in your chest, remember to see a doctor. Don’t have something happen while you’re still so young,” just before stepping out of the conference room, Li Mo kindly reminded him, leaving Li Beichen with a look of contempt.

Her eyes clearly broadcasted: I look down on you. You’re nothing but trash.

Hearing the sound of a table being slammed and objects being thrown and shattered inside, the corner of Li Mo’s mouth curled up, and her mood became even more pleasant.

She raised her wrist to check the time, and seeing that the lunch break was approaching, Li Mo handed her documents to her assistant and took the dedicated elevator to the Administrative Department floor.

Knock, knock. A clear tapping sound rang out next to Wen Runan. Looking up, she saw Li Mo smiling at her.

“President Li? Why are you here?” Wen Runan pulled her thoughts away from the spreadsheet.

“I missed you, so I came,” the smile on Li Mo’s face was very gentle. “Do you have time to eat with me?”

Would she refuse an invitation from the great beauty? Of course not!

Wen Runan immediately tossed her work aside, grabbed her phone, and stood up. “Sure! Is President Li treating?”

On the other side, Li Beichen, who couldn’t control his temper, now had a bandage wrapped around his left palm after failing to control the force with which he smashed his laptop.

The meeting had delayed his time for ordering food, so Li Beichen had no choice but to put on a straight face and head to the company’s executive restaurant with a few high-level executives who supported him, intending to quickly settle lunch.

Before he could sit down, he saw Wen Runan holding Li Mo’s hand, looking up slightly at her, with a smile that could not have been brighter.

“President Li?” Noticing Li Beichen’s halt, the secretary reminded him quietly, “The private room is this way.”

Li Beichen slowly exhaled. Thinking of what Wen Runan had said to him earlier, he suppressed the emotion in his eyes. “Okay, I know.”

Be patient. Wen Runan was only helping him gather intelligence, and getting a little closer to Li Mo was normal.

“Li Mo—” Wen Runan stretched out the end of the name. “That name sounds so lovely. Does it have a special meaning?”

“No special meaning. My mother simply liked calligraphy and chose the character Mo

Ink

from the Four Treasures of the Study,” Li Mo explained.

“Oh, then why is Junior President Li called Li Beichen?” Wen Runan asked curiously. “According to Auntie’s preference, shouldn’t Junior President Li be called Li Yan

Inkstone

?”

Li Mo’s motion of picking up food paused, and a trace of nostalgia entered her eyes. “It was supposed to be that way, but my mother passed away very early. After she left, it was just Li Mo and Li Beichen left.”

“I’m sorry, I thought Auntie…” Wen Runan apologized in a fluster, looking at Li Mo with embarrassment.

“My father quickly remarried. Many people only remember my stepmother’s existence now. I’ve gotten used to it,” Li Mo said she was fine, but the helplessness in her tone and the sadness in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

At least to Wen Runan, it was very obvious, making her feel deeply sympathetic.

The great beauty was truly pitiful. Not only did her mother pass away early, but neither her father nor her little brother could be relied upon; they all sided with her stepmother!

If the Male Lead’s grandfather hadn’t skipped over his own eldest son and handed the company directly to the great beauty, the great beauty’s life now would be unimaginable.

Come to think of it, if the world hadn’t had a flaw that allowed the great beauty to wake up, the great beauty would have been the textbook example of beautiful, powerful, and tragic!

“Li Mo, now I know. I’ll help you remember Auntie. I won’t let anyone forget her,” Wen Runan’s protective instinct was aroused, and she was further mesmerized by the beauty. “If we have a chance, we can visit Auntie together.”

“Okay, thank you,” Li Mo’s eyes looked slightly red, but she quickly concealed it.

Seeing this, Wen Runan felt even more pained and firmed up her previous decision: The Male Lead can get lost; I’m going to stick with the great beauty!

Seeing Li Mo’s performance and Wen Runan’s reaction, 033 felt both frustrated at Wen Runan’s lack of resolve and worried about its former Host’s fate.

Honestly, she’s been captivated by beauty again! She really doesn’t learn her lesson! She’s crashed once, and now she dares to crash a second time! The Administration Bureau is heartless too, blurring the former Host’s memory!

033 had a lot it wanted to say. It wanted to whisper into Wen Runan’s ear and tell her to wake up! But reality was cruel. 033 didn’t dare utter a single word and could only continue to lurk in Li Mo’s consciousness.

Li Beichen had a very unpleasant lunch. Every so often, he would think of Wen Runan being outside with Li Mo. Countless times, he wanted to drop his chopsticks and rush out to confront her.

But when he looked at the injury on his left palm, Li Beichen would calm down again.

This was the company’s executive restaurant. The people dining here were mostly company management. If he caused a scene here, he would lose no less face than he did in the executive meeting!

The above was Li Beichen’s internal monologue before leaving the private room. When he walked out, he saw Wen Runan holding Li Mo’s right hand with both of hers, looking intently at her palm as if it were a precious treasure, even seeming about to lean down and kiss it.

Could he still tolerate this? Li Beichen’s fury quickly surged, burning away his remaining shred of rationality.

“Wen Runan,” Li Beichen’s face was black. Ignoring what Wen Runan was doing, he grabbed her arm and forcefully dragged her toward the exit.

Li Mo chose not to hold onto Wen Runan this time. Instead, she rose directly and, in front of the many people in the restaurant, immediately slapped him.

“You dare to hit me?” Li Beichen pressed his tongue against the inside of his mouth, tasting a slight metallic flavor.

He released Wen Runan’s arm and raised his hand high, swinging it toward Li Mo’s face.

Li Beichen was fully conscious now. Compared to him being hit by Li Mo, Li Mo being hit by him would be much more humiliating.

He had the advantage in physical strength. Even if Li Mo resisted, he could firmly pin her down. Even if he suffered some damage, he had to inflict greater injury on Li Mo.

He was going to publicly step on the always-haughty Li Mo, make her lose face, and shatter all her pride.

Li Beichen’s plan was good, but he underestimated Li Mo too much. She didn’t need any unnecessary movements; she only needed to lift her foot and step down.

“Aow—” Before his hand could swing down, Li Beichen recoiled.

The heel of Li Mo’s high-heeled shoe had struck the top of his foot, and the pain transmitted to his nerve centers made Li Beichen feel as if the top of his foot had been pierced through.

“My little brother is being immature. Please excuse us,” Li Mo calmly withdrew her foot, offering an apologetic smile to the surrounding executives.

Then Li Mo simply took Wen Runan’s hand and left, not giving Li Beichen a single unnecessary glance.

Wow, the great beauty wins completely.

Wen Runan couldn’t help but cheer inwardly. As she left, she gave the Male Lead a look of helplessness and heartache, opening her mouth as if to speak but stopping, finally turning away with a look of forced restraint.

Her heart belonged to the great beauty, yes, but she also needed to spare some time to placate the Male Lead.