Daily Life of a Villain at Work [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: The Eighth Day of Being a Stingy (Frugal) CEO

While employment details would take time, adopting a cat could be arranged immediately.

The very next day after the idea sprouted, Chu Qi invited Wen Qingyun to a pet shop to see if they could find a little kitten they both liked. With the well-behaved “Big Orange” as a prior model, Wen Qingyun’s gaze naturally gravitated toward cats with orange fur.

They arrived at the perfect time. A female ginger cat had just had her Elizabethan collar removed after being spayed and was waiting for a destined owner.

“Qingyun, what do you think of this one?” Chu Qi asked.

Wen Qingyun leaned down to observe. The kitten had a “gold quilt on a silver bed”—ginger fur on top with a white belly and nose, and four white “gloves” on her paws. She looked quite majestic. When Wen Qingyun poked a finger into the cage, the cat sniffed it with a damp pink nose.

This cat is destined for me.

“Is she for free adoption?” Wen Qingyun asked.

“I’ll go talk to the shop manager,” Chu Qi replied with a smile.

Five minutes later, Chu Qi returned. “Adoption is free, but she’s only had her first vaccine; we have to bring her back here for the next two. Also, to prevent abandonment, we need to buy three months’ worth of food and litter from the shop. They’ll throw in a free deworming.”

Chu Qi found the terms reasonable—about 1,000 yuan total for supplies the cat would need anyway.

“It’s a match,” Wen Qingyun said. “Why don’t you give her a name?”

The cat wasn’t exactly small; from a distance, she looked a bit like a giant fried chicken drumstick. But “Drumstick” was too unrefined.

“Today is the eighth day of the first lunar month, the first ‘Eight’ day of the year,” Wen Qingyun said seriously. “It’s the Festival of the Stars, so let’s call her Yuanbao (Gold Ingot).”

“What does a gold ingot have to do with stars?” Chu Qi asked, puzzled.

“Nothing. It just means today is a lucky day,” Wen Qingyun replied solemnly. Calling a cat “Gold Ingot” was a bit cliché, but adding a layer of cultural trivia made it sound sophisticated.

“Fine. Yuanbao it is. Will she take your surname?”

“You’re raising her; she takes yours,” Wen Qingyun said immediately. Ginger cats are notoriously gluttonous. If the cat took her name, wouldn’t she have to pay for the daily canned food? No way.

…

The Art of Frugality and Feline Care

After the cat’s bath and deworming, the two headed to a large supermarket. Since the Spring Festival was still ongoing, many items were on sale.

Wen Qingyun spent a long time comparing labels before picking out ten cans of high-quality food.

“Your cooking is good,” Wen Qingyun said. “You should buy ingredients and make cat food yourself. It’s more cost-effective and healthier.”

Chu Qi agreed. “I’ll see how Yuanbao’s appetite is. If she’s not picky, I’ll process raw meat and add the necessary nutrients myself.”

Wen Qingyun decided to stay another night to see if Yuanbao truly liked her.

…

The Final Showdown at Hongyi

On the morning of the ninth day, Chu Qi rushed to the office—not to work, but to wait for Fu Huan to either transfer or fire her.

Fu Huan, having been talked down by the HR Director, had temporarily rescinded the firing order. He approached Chu Qi’s desk ten minutes after she clocked in.

“Attend a banquet with me tonight,” he ordered. “The HR Director spoke up for you, so I’m letting you stay for now.”

“Is it a client meeting?” Chu Qi asked.

“No, just some friends of mine. You’ve met them.”

“I’m sorry, I have to go home and take care of my cat. Please find someone else,” Chu Qi refused directly.

“It’s a workday! You’re refusing a task for a cat?” Fu Huan’s face darkened.

“President Fu, I am your subordinate, but dining with your friends is not part of my job description.”

“You don’t want this job anymore?” Fu Huan slammed the table.

“If refusing unreasonable requests leads to threats, then this job has no meaning to me,” Chu Qi replied calmly, her tone laced with a subtle mockery that infuriated him.

Fu Huan stormed off to the HR department, determined to show everyone who was boss. Chu Qi, meanwhile, was delighted. Being fired for such a ridiculous reason meant she wouldn’t have to quit and could claim a severance package of N+1, plus her bonus and overtime—likely a six-figure sum.

…

The Six-Figure “Goodbye”

“President Fu, are you joking?” the HR Director asked, stressed. “She’s been at work for thirty minutes. How has she ‘endangered the company’?”

“I don’t need an assistant who ignores my commands,” Fu Huan snapped, ignoring the fact that he’d frequently stolen Chu Qi’s research for his own credit.

Eventually, the Chairman, Fu Hong, intervened. He chose to indulge his son. “Fine. If he doesn’t like her, let her go. But compensate her fully. Part on good terms; don’t leave a grudge.”

The HR Director offered Chu Qi a generous agreement with no non-compete clause. “The Chairman feels bad about this. You’re free to work anywhere else.”

Chu Qi played her part. “I’ll leave today, but I want all my payments—including today’s—to hit my account before I clock out. I don’t trust Fu Huan’s words.”

By 5:00 PM, the six-figure sum was in her account. She shut down her computer, grabbed her things, and walked out of Hongyi Electronics for the last time.

…

Home and New Beginnings

“Hey,” Wen Qingyun’s voice was lazy and alluring over the phone.

“President Wen, I’ve officially left. When can I start at your company?” Chu Qi asked happily.

“You left today? Already?” Wen Qingyun checked her system.

[System: Mission progress significantly increased. Current progress: 55%.]

“I can start as early as tomorrow,” Chu Qi said. “I’ll start moving my things tonight.”

“Too rushed,” Wen Qingyun said. “Pack tonight, move the essentials tomorrow.”

“Understood. See you in thirty minutes. Wait for me to come home.”

The phrase “Wait for me to come home” made Chu Qi’s heart swell. When she opened the door and saw Wen Qingyun on the sofa with Yuanbao on her stomach, her happiness peaked.

…

The Promotion

Yuanbao adapted quickly to Wen Qingyun’s penthouse, her fur soon claiming most of the furniture. Wen Qingyun turned a blind eye to the shedding—except for the bedroom. She and Chu Qi spent a lot of time on that bed with no clothes on; cat hair would definitely ruin the “experience.”

On the twelfth day of the first month, Wen Qingyun held a meeting with the branch managers. Chu Qi was appointed Deputy Director of R&D. The plan was for her to take over as Director within nine months once she proved herself.

Wen Qingyun kept the news to herself until the night of the Lantern Festival (the 15th). After a particularly “comfortable” session of service, she finally spoke.

“Start tomorrow?” Chu Qi’s eyes lit up.

“Yes. I’ll introduce you to the leadership myself. There’s a one-month probation period. If you can’t handle the intensity, you won’t pass.”

“And my salary?”

“Base 25k, with subsidies and bonuses, about 30k pre-tax. No cap on bonuses—it all depends on your ability,” Wen Qingyun said. She was frugal in life, but she knew talent like Chu Qi’s was worth every penny.