Chapter Ten: The New Director

The steady and powerful engine roar of the Bentley Mulsanne still seemed to thunder in Yu Ling’s ears—the enveloping embrace of the top-tier leather seats, the intricate and exquisite buttons on the control panel, and the security guard’s astonished and reverent gaze as she drove into the company’s underground garage—all felt like a surreal and fantastical dream.

She almost weakly maneuvered the car into the absurdly spacious exclusive parking spot, B-18, and pulled out the heavy key, her palm damp with sweat.

Before she could process the overwhelming shock, the company’s sudden emergency meeting hit her like a bucket of ice water.

The atmosphere in the conference room was so heavy it felt like you could wring water from it. The projection screen displayed alarming red arrows and a cliff-like plummet in the curve graph—these were the core data from the first three days since the launch of the “StarSea Project”: user activation rates were far below expectations, retention rates were abysmal, and the conversion funnel almost completely collapsed at critical junctures! The massive marketing budget seemed to have been wasted!

Director Chen’s face was ashen; his knuckles rapped the table with a dull thud. “What’s going on?! Wasn’t the plan scrutinized repeatedly?! Zhang Wei! You’re the chief planner! Tell me! Where’s the problem?!”

The accusation was pointed directly at Zhang Wei. But Zhang Wei, no longer the confident figure she had been at the kickoff meeting, had lost all color in her meticulously done-up face. Her eyes darted anxiously over the cold data on the screen, her lips trembling as she struggled to form a complete sentence. “This… this might be… user habits… or… technical interfaces…”

“‘Might’?! ‘Or’?!” Director Chen slammed the table with thunderous force. “I want concrete reasons and solutions! Not your guesses! The company poured millions into this budget, and all we get is noise?!”

Zhang Wei trembled at the shouting, instinctively casting a pleading glance toward Yu Ling, who sat pale and silent in the corner.

Yu Ling sneered inwardly but kept her expression calm. Zhang Wei had been so proud when claiming credit before; now she was falling hard. Yet Yu Ling felt the weight herself. She had crafted the core framework and the detailed implementation of the plan; she had built the data model. Now, with the total collapse, she was equally accountable. The crushing pressure bore down on her like a mountain, almost suffocating.

The meeting ended acrimoniously amid tense arguments and blame-shifting. Director Chen ordered Zhang Wei and Yu Ling’s execution team to produce a detailed review report and a practical rescue plan within three days, or the entire team would face consequences.

Back at her desk, Yu Ling felt as if she had just lost a battle—physically and mentally exhausted. Staring at the glaring data curves on the computer screen, waves of frustration and helplessness washed over her like a cold tide, slowly drowning her. Although her previously suggested optimizations were insightful, they seemed like mere drops in an ocean compared to this devastating overall failure. Where was the root cause? How could they turn the tide? These huge questions weighed heavily on her heart.

Her phone vibrated. It was Zhao Chen.

[ZhaOC]: [Image: A steaming bowl of wonton noodles garnished with vibrant green scallions and golden egg strips]

[ZhaOC]: The battle’s over? Victory and defeat are common to warriors. Eat first. I’ve ordered a delivery; it’ll be downstairs in ten minutes. Think after you eat.

The brief message, coupled with the warm, inviting photo of the wonton noodles under the light, pierced through the gloom in Yu Ling’s heart like a faint but steady beam of light.

He was always like this—at her most vulnerable and disheartened moments, offering the most comforting care in the simplest way. That bowl of noodles seemed to carry warmth, warming her stomach through the screen, and soothing her icy heart.

---

She sniffed and replied: [Hmm. Lost, badly.]

[ZhaOC]: [Patting head.jpg] Eat first. Even if the sky’s falling, you have to have the strength to bear it.

Yu Ling held her phone, looked at the “patting head” emoticon, and imagined Zhao Chen’s gentle smile as he said this. Her lips involuntarily curled into a smile. Yes, first eat.

Two days later, the project team was still shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere. Zhang Wei, like a headless fly, could only vent her frustration by angrily blaming her subordinates.

Yu Ling and the other team members were frantically analyzing data and searching for the root cause, their eyes bloodshot from long hours, yet they couldn’t pinpoint the core issue. Several proposed rescue plans were rejected by Director Chen as “superficial” and “lacking fundamental breakthroughs.” Time ticked by, and the air of despair thickened.

Just when all seemed lost, the company’s internal communication software popped up with an all-staff announcement:

[Personnel Appointment Notice]

After group deliberation, Ms. Vivian Lin has been appointed as the new Marketing Director of Morning Star Technology Co., Ltd., taking full responsibility for the marketing department. The original director, Chen Ming, has been reassigned. Effective immediately.

Ms. Lin brings extensive international brand marketing and internet operations experience, having served at top-tier consulting firm MBB and held senior executive positions at several multinational corporations. It is believed that under Ms. Lin’s leadership, Morning Star Technology’s marketing department will embark on a new chapter!

This announcement hit like a deep-water bomb, stirring up a storm in the stagnant marketing department!

“Vivian Lin? That name… sounds familiar?”

“From MBB?! Oh my god! A big shot!”

“An air-drop? Director Chen got replaced?!”

“Quick, quick! The email has a link to Director Lin’s resume! Let’s check it out!”

The office suddenly buzzed with suppressed chatter. Curiously, Yu Ling clicked the link. The resume showed a photo of Vivian Lin: a poised, mature woman with sharp, confident eyes and immaculate makeup. Her credentials gleamed—Yale MBA, global partner at McKinsey, Asia-Pacific CMO of a multinational FMCG giant—each line dazzling.

Yu Ling’s gaze landed on the “Previous Employers” section, and her pupils suddenly contracted! One line was unmistakably clear: Star Capital — Investment Director!

---

Star Capital?! That top-tier, formidable venture capital firm that thundered through financial news?! Zhao Chen had mentioned working at an “ordinary company” as a “regular employee” but never revealed its name! Could it be… Zhao Chen used to work at Star Capital?! This air-dropped new director with a terrifying background, Vivian Lin, is his… former colleague?!

This thought struck Yu Ling like lightning, freezing her in place. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. Those previously forgotten mysteries—the luxury daily necessities, the extravagant furniture, the Bentley car keys, and Zhao Chen’s casual display of extraordinary insight and finesse—were instantly connected by the thread of “Star Capital.” A clear answer loomed, so overwhelming it almost burst from her throat!

Impossible! Zhao Chen… he clearly said he was just a regular employee! How could he be colleagues with such a high-profile figure?!

As her mind reeled in turmoil, the department assistant hurried over and knocked on her desk. “Yu Ling, Director Lin wants to see you in her office now.”

“Me?” Yu Ling snapped back to reality, pointing at herself in shock. The new director’s first one-on-one summons… was for her, a frantic project team member?

“Yes, you. Director Lin just arrived; she hasn’t even unpacked at the hotel yet. She specifically asked for you. Go quickly!” The assistant’s tone urged her on, tinged with a subtle hint of envy.

With a mix of apprehension, confusion, and deep unease, Yu Ling approached the newly assigned director’s office. The door was ajar. She took a deep breath and knocked.

“Please come in,” came a clear, melodious voice with a slight British accent.

Yu Ling pushed the door open. The office had been completely revamped—simple, modern, and exuding power. Before a massive floor-to-ceiling window stood a woman. She faced away from the door, tall and poised, dressed in an impeccably tailored slate-gray cashmere suit skirt that outlined sharp, clean lines. Her chestnut brown mid-length hair was meticulously styled. Even just from behind, she radiated an intense aura and the oppressive gravitas of someone accustomed to command.

She heard the sound and turned around.

Vivian Lin was even younger and more striking in person than in her photo. Her well-maintained face betrayed no definite age; her features were deeply sculpted, makeup flawless as a magazine cover. Her sharp, phoenix-shaped eyes scanned Yu Ling from head to toe like the most precise scanner.

Her gaze lingered for several seconds, a subtle, elusive flicker of scrutiny passing through her eyes. Then that scrutiny softened into a warm yet professionally distant smile.

“Yu Ling? Please sit,” Vivian gestured to the chair opposite her desk. Her voice was bright, with just the right amount of warmth, yet carried unquestioned authority. She settled herself into the large leather office chair, hands gracefully folded on the polished rosewood desk, poised and composed.

“Hello, Director Lin,” Yu Ling said cautiously as she sat down, trying to steady herself. Facing this formidable new director up close, she felt her palms begin to sweat once more.