Chapter 27: Keep Pushing Back as Long as You’re Still Standing
The meeting room was suffused with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.
Yet Ruan Mianmian remained unaffected, her spirits even slightly lifted, for at last she heard the system’s broadcast:
[Congratulations, Host. Your words combined with action have struck back effectively, humiliating Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali. You have earned 1,000 points, and your life span is extended by 100 days.]
A thousand points! A hundred days added to her life! One hundred days!
She could live a little longer now.
The upgraded system was indeed powerful. Earning points used to feel impossible, but now it seemed almost easy.
Li Hao strode to the head of the table, pulled out his chair with force, and sat down. The other three found their seats as well.
“What are you three causing trouble for so early in the morning?” Li Hao asked, though he already knew the answer.
Li Xiaofei was quick to speak: “Director Li, it’s Ruan Mianmian! She deliberately ruined my and Yali’s reputations, and even poured soy milk on me!”
Thankfully the soy milk wasn’t hot, or she would have been disfigured.
Fang Yali hurried to chime in: “That’s right, Director Li. Ruan Mianmian’s gone mad—spouting nonsense first thing in the morning. We were just trying to make her shut up because we couldn’t stand it.”
Li Hao turned to Ruan Mianmian, scolding, “Ruan Mianmian, you’re fighting with colleagues first thing in the morning. Are you trying to get fired?”
Ruan Mianmian met his gaze and sneered, “Director Li, you blame me without even asking why. Why don’t you ask what caused the conflict?”
Li Hao snorted coldly, “Fine, then tell me—why are you fighting with them?”
No matter what, it would always be Ruan Mianmian’s fault.
“Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali tried to hit me first. Am I supposed to just stand there and take it? I was defending myself—what’s wrong with that?”
Li Xiaofei sprang up, agitated: “You provoked us on purpose!”
Ruan Mianmian shot back, “You talk a good game—pure nonsense. You provoked me first. You and Fang Yali glared at me with hatred as soon as you walked in. You threatened me, said you wouldn’t let me off. If you’re going to treat me like that, am I not allowed to say a word in return?”
She waited, and the system broadcast chimed again: [Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
Ruan Mianmian silently exclaimed, “YES!”
She resolved that today, she’d argue relentlessly, no matter what. She would rack up points and life span, whatever it took.
After all, Li Hao would protect Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali. She was outnumbered, so she must seize this opportunity to earn as much as she could.
---
“Ruan Mianmian, you… you insulted me again! I’ll beat you to death!” Li Xiaofei was so enraged she lost all reason, standing up and ready to attack.
Ruan Mianmian stood up too, pointing at her, “Director Li, see? She’s trying to hit me again. It’s always her who starts it. Are you just going to blink and pretend you don’t see?”
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
Before Li Hao could speak, Fang Yali seized the chance to incite, “Director Li, you see? Ruan Mianmian’s arrogant attitude—she just insulted Xiaofei, and now she’s insulting you!”
Today, she hoped Ruan Mianmian would get fired.
“Fang Yali, Director Li hasn’t said a word, but you never shut up. Well, clowns are good for losing weight, and it suits you just fine. Keep going!”
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
In Ruan Mianmian’s mind, the little gremlin cheered her on with a song:
Keep going, hey-ho!
Keep going, hey-ho!
Let’s all work together, keep going, keep going,
Keep going, hey-ho!
Fang Yali couldn’t sit still any longer, slamming the table and standing up, “Ruan Mianmian, you’ve gone too far! Why are you insulting me?”
Ruan Mianmian replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “Alright, alright, don’t get angry. Today, I only want to insult people, but not you!”
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
Listening to the system’s broadcasts and watching her points tally, Ruan Mianmian could barely contain her excitement.
She was raking in rewards today!
“You… you… you lunatic! I’ll fight you!” Fang Yali, repeatedly insulted, lost her temper and lunged at Ruan Mianmian.
Li Xiaofei, already furious, joined in when she saw Fang Yali attack. The humiliation of being soaked in soy milk that morning had to be avenged!
Ruan Mianmian darted around the conference table to evade them, shouting energetically at Li Hao, “Li Baldy, are you blind? Can’t you see these two trying to beat me up? I’m going to report you to Manager Wang for letting your niece and her lackey assault a weak, defenseless woman like me!”
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
Li Hao watched the chaos unfold and slammed the table in anger, “Enough! What do you all think you look like? Stop it!”
If this reached Manager Wang, he’d be in trouble too. After all, Friday’s incident had been his scheme, and Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali had even ended up at the police station.
The three stopped, but Ruan Mianmian refused to sit down or speak calmly, keeping her distance from Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali, wary of another joint attack.
---
“Do you think this is a marketplace? Brawling like fishwives here—do any of you respect me as your supervisor?”
Ruan Mianmian, fueled by the system’s steady stream of points and life span, fearlessly taunted, “Director Li, you’re not my contact lens. Why should I keep you in my sights?”
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
“You…” Li Hao slammed the table again, “Ruan Mianmian, you’re outrageous! I’m going to fire you!”
“You refuse to be fair and act blind—go ahead, fire me if you dare! Being ugly is fine, but favoritism is incurable!”
By now, Ruan Mianmian had earned over two hundred days of life span, and she felt it was worth it.
Since things had escalated so much, she might as well go all out. If she got fired, so be it.
[Congratulations, Host. You have earned 200 points, and your life span is extended by 20 days.]
Li Hao’s face flushed with rage, his neck thickening. He decided not to mediate the trio’s conflict any further.
Pointing at Ruan Mianmian, he said, “Fine, Ruan Mianmian, you’re something else. Just wait—I’ll make sure you’re kicked out!”
With that, he stomped out of the conference room, leaving the three behind.
Let them do as they please!
He’d be glad if Ruan Mianmian got beaten to death!
He was furious!
Gone already?
Ruan Mianmian scoffed disdainfully.
She took out her phone, turned on the recording function, and said, “Li Baldy has left. Are you two still planning to beat me up? Come on, I’ll record your assault and send it to the group chat so everyone can see who the real victim is!”
Li Xiaofei and Fang Yali saw her filming them, and despite their seething anger, they dared not lay another finger on her.
They shot her venomous looks, as if wishing to tear her to pieces.
But all they could manage was to glare at Ruan Mianmian—there was nothing else they could do.
The two stormed out of the conference room in fury.
Ruan Mianmian put away her phone and, in high spirits, rearranged the chairs before leaving.
They were all good people, sent to her to boost her life span—what was there to fear?