Chapter 95: My Back is Itchy, Am I Growing Someone I Can Lean on?
Apologize? Why should she apologize?
Shouldn’t you only apologize when you’ve actually done something wrong?
If the request is reasonable, then maybe saying sorry doesn’t matter much. But is this request even fair?
It’s like when a teacher asks you to organize a class activity, but a troublemaker not only refuses to help, they keep making a scene. Then the teacher tells you to apologize to them. Who would accept that?
The girl named Xiao Wei froze on the spot.
No matter what, she just couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong. Why should she say sorry to someone who was being unreasonable?
Her pride told her that this was not something she should apologize for. But power wins over reason.
Qian Jiale, the head of the photography team, walked over. He looked a little apologetic, but still said.
“Just do it for everyone’s sake. Please apologize.”
Xiao Wei shook her head, stubbornly saying, “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?”
Qian Jiale continued to speak in a calm, persuasive tone.
“It’s not about who’s right or wrong. You just started your internship, you need to understand that the real world can be very harsh. An unfair treatment is nothing. Taking the loss can be a kind of blessing.”
“I…”
“It’s no big deal. Just say sorry.”
“But I really don’t want to. I… I…”
Her eyes were turning red. She was about to cry. She didn’t understand, why was the whole world helping the one who was wrong?
She was just an intern. But the strong spirit she had when first entering the working world… was starting to break.
The team leader saw his chance and placed a hand on the back of her head, ready to press her head down and force her to apologize.
But before he could push her head, a pale, slender hand reached in and pulled Xiao Wei away from his grip.
Lin Yibai gently patted Xiao Wei on the shoulder and said kindly.
“Everyone goes through tough times to grow. But it doesn’t always have to happen in such a painful way.”
Back in her dorm, Lin Yibai often stayed up chatting with friends. One of her close buddies, Yang Chengjun, liked to say, “If I just lie flat, don’t get married, and have no weaknesses,
I can avoid 80–90% of the pain life throws at me.”
Is it a great truth? A famous saying?
Inside the photography department, Qian Jiale’s face changed immediately.
He thought this was a problem that could be easily solved, but now this girl had stepped in and made things worse.
The little influencer looked like she was about to get mad again.
She and the supervisor exchanged a glance, and then he barked in a deep voice, turning to question Lin Yibai.
“What are you doing? Do you even know what you’re doing?”
Lin Yibai replied right away. “I know.”
Supervisor Qian Jiale got even angrier and snapped.
“Know what? And this is our department’s business, it’s not your place to interfere. This is the photography department. Get out!”
Lin Yibai pulled Xiao Wei behind her. Just because the other side was losing their temper, did that mean she had to stay calm and be the "nice one"?
She said firmly.
“According to the company’s workflow, all the project money comes from my budget. Your department is supposed to follow my direction. So if anyone should leave, it’s you, don’t you think?”
As long as she hadn’t misunderstood what Xia Changyu meant earlier, her words were totally reasonable.
As the project leader, it was her job to coordinate everything, including giving directions to the photography team.
But in reality, the photography team had completely shut her out and treated her like an outsider.
Supervisor Qian Jiale still didn’t accept it and grumbled.
“Listen to you? Do you even understand anything about photography?”
Lin Yibai replied openly. “No, I don’t.”
Qian Jiale laughed in anger. “Then what are you even talking about?”
Lin Yibai stayed calm and said lightly.
“If I did know, then why would we need you here? I just want you to do your actual job, like you’re supposed to help the foreign trade department. I’m only asking you to do your own work. Is that so hard?”
The two of them were stuck in a stalemate.
But when it came to making Xiao Wei apologize, Lin Yibai was completely against it. If someone didn’t do anything wrong, there was no reason to apologize.
Meanwhile, the little influencer thought it was all a joke and even pulled out her phone, ready to go live and share the drama.
Outside the photography department, Xia Changyu had been waiting for a while.
He was very satisfied with Lin Yibai’s actions, because as a project leader, the most important thing was having a strong spirit. Otherwise, every department and every step of the process would just walk all over you.
So he pushed the door open and walked in.
He stared at Supervisor Qian Jiale for a long moment, so long that Qian Jiale started to feel scared. Then he repeated the same words Lin Yibai had said and asked coldly.
“Is that really so hard?”
This was what pressure from the boss looked like.
Being friendly with employees wasn’t always necessary, but authority definitely was.
Everything Lin Yibai had said and done so far had been done with Xia Changyu’s silent approval.
He already knew that these “old hands” who had been with him since the early days would never easily take orders from someone new.
Xia Changyu made it very clear whose side he was on, standing behind Lin Yibai, and said.
“This is a paid project. If we can do it, we do it. If we can’t, then let her go. There are many influencers who can be hired, and even just in Fucheng, there are hundreds of small influencers to choose from. Jiale... I don’t understand what you’re being so stubborn about. Why must it be her?”
“But—but Changyu, let me explain!”
“Answer my question first.”
Xia Changyu’s presence was intense. He didn’t sound harsh, but no one dared look him in the eye.
“What reason could possibly be important enough that you’re willing to hurt your own team just to keep her?”
“…Because… because of her popularity!!”
"She's not that popular, she's a small influencer. There are many people who are much more popular than her. There are many influencers from the music school. Why did you have to choose Xie Xinyi and not someone else?"
"I—I..." Cold sweat started forming on Qian Jiale’s forehead.
And he was clearly someone who didn’t know how to read the room. Anyone with half a brain could tell the boss was fully backing that girl named Lin Yibai. She was obviously the woman behind the boss.
And it did seem a bit shady. Xia Changyu didn’t think it was a good thing for his small startup, still not big or famous yet, to already have workplace bullying going on.
Just then, someone else from the same department raised their hand.
Xia Changyu asked, “Xiao Ying, what is it?”
The girl named Xiao Ying hesitated for a moment, then still spoke up.
“I think... maybe it's because... the supervisor... he’s—!!”
“He’s what?”
“He’s Xie Xinyi’s top supporter.”
“Now that you say it, I remember too! Supervisor Qian even said last time he wanted to buy her a ‘governor-level gift’ or something!”
“Oh ho?”
The truth was out.
Could this be a case of using company money to chase celebrities?
The entire photography team suddenly understood. No wonder Qian Jiale insisted on using Xie Xinyi for the role, turns out he was her top supporter!
Xia Changyu looked at his supervisor, whose face was now completely pale.
At first, he had wanted to scold him. After all, Qian Jiale had been with him since the beginning of the company. But after thinking about it, he decided friendship had its limits.
He simply said, “Jiale, come outside with me for a moment.”
Once they left the room, they didn’t come back.
Before leaving, Xia Changyu gave Lin Yibai a knowing glance, as if to say, ‘I’ve done the hard part. The rest is up to you now.’
You’re basically the boss’s woman, right?
Ahem, in short, it’s your show now.
Lin Yibai understood the message. She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and said, “Looks like Supervisor Qian won’t be back for a while. I just want to ask, without him, can this department still run normally?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
“Supervisor Qian hasn’t been involved in real work for a long time. It’s the same with or without him.”
“Just tell us what to do!”
“......”
It seemed like everyone was now on board with Lin Yibai.
Even a blind person could see the boss was fully backing her completely, without holding back, no matter what.
There was no choice but to follow her lead!