The Villainess Is Pretending to Be Sweet Again Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 27

Recently, the relationship between Nuo Yang and Long Huaichang had returned to its former harmony.

However, while their personal issues had smoothed out, their careers were now facing some troublesome challenges.

For some reason, the atmosphere in the company had been strange lately. As a junior editor, Nuo Yang had no idea what was going on—and neither did the other editors in her department.

The company wasn’t small by any means, with over 50 employees and more than a dozen media accounts under its management, along with dozens of other online platforms.

The editorial team, being the final producers of content, had sensed something was off. In their private group chat, discussions about the company’s internal issues were already underway—

Has anyone else noticed that the ads on our main accounts have been decreasing?

Yeah, and the ones we do get are all over the place—I even saw one for health supplements. What’s going on? Money shouldn’t be the only criteria for accepting ads.

It’s not just the main accounts either. Ads on all our platforms have dropped. What’s happening to our company?

I have a bad feeling about this…

Nuo Yang watched as the group chat gradually fell silent, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

The company’s operations relied heavily on advertising revenue. If that dried up, even payroll would become an issue.

Most importantly, Nuo Yang worried that the company’s struggles might be related to her…

That morning, the entire company gathered in the conference room for a meeting.

It was brief and to the point. The general manager sat at the head of the table, reviewing the monthly financial report before addressing everyone.

“Revenue has dropped sharply recently. The sales team needs to lower their rates by another 40%—just focus on securing any ads we can get. As for the editorial team, avoid controversial content, especially those handling independent accounts. Chu Kexin, your wording needs to be more diplomatic. Don’t give anyone a reason to target us.”

Chu Kexin, sitting beside Nuo Yang, muttered under her breath, “What ‘reason’? It’s not like we’re criminals…”

The general manager clearly heard her but, weighed down by his own concerns, said nothing. After a few more perfunctory announcements, he dismissed the meeting.

Once it ended, Nuo Yang didn’t linger to chat with her colleagues. Instead, she followed the general manager to his office.

“Sir,” she said, knocking on the door. “I’d like to talk to you.”

The manager glanced back at her, set down the documents in his hands, and gestured for her to sit.

Nuo Yang took in his grim expression, which only reinforced her suspicion that the company’s troubles stemmed from her conflict with Long Yingjun.

“Is it because—”

Before she could finish, the manager cut her off. “Yes, it’s related to the Long family.”

He sighed. “But this isn’t your fault.”

New media was a relatively recent industry, an offshoot of traditional media. In the early years, companies like theirs had thrived, but as regulations tightened, their numbers had dwindled.

“Headquarters was never fully supportive of our direction,” the manager admitted. “They’ve always believed traditional industries are more stable, so they’ve never had much faith in us.”

“It was just the beginning with Long Yingjun’s matter, so it’s not entirely because of you.”

The general manager looked at Nuo Yang and said leisurely, “The market hasn’t been doing well across industries recently, and headquarters is having some cash flow issues. They’ve decided to cut off our funding supply and have us stand on our own.”

“What if we can’t manage independently?” Nuo Yang asked with concern.

“Then we’ll just have to wait for unemployment,” the general manager said gloomily. “Headquarters is quite firm on this, and it seems the Long family has been applying pressure too.”

Though the general manager phrased it tactfully, Nuo Yang knew the root cause was still herself.

Those Long family members really are no good!

Well, except for Long Huaichang—at least that child is sensible and well-behaved.

“If we were to go independent, how much funding would the company need?” Nuo Yang frowned. “After all, it’s all because of me…”

The general manager sighed deeply. “Quite a lot. You’d better not ask.”

“Just tell me, General Manager. Maybe I can help.”

“Young lady, why do you keep making such bold claims at your age?”

“General Manager…”

“Fine,” the general manager said, perhaps moved by Nuo Yang’s guilt and clinging to some faint hope. “We did some calculations with headquarters recently—it would take over six million.”

Six million—enough to buy two or three small apartments in this city. That’s no small sum for anyone.

The general manager had expected Nuo Yang to retract her probing questions after hearing this, but instead, she actually looked relieved???

Why are you relieved???

Nuo Yang patted her chest. “I thought it would be more. Just six million? I’ll cover it.”

General Manager: “…This is RMB, not game currency.”

Nuo Yang: “I know. Don’t overthink it, General Manager. I’m buying this company.”

General Manager: “????”

Why could he understand every word she said, yet the sentence made no sense to him?

—

Somehow, news of Nuo Yang’s plan to buy the company spread like wildfire, and soon everyone knew about it.

Several of Nuo Yang’s close colleagues huddled together, whispering—

“Didn’t she just become a full-time employee six months ago?”

“She’s always been so low-key—what’s this about buying a company??”

“I have no idea either! I thought I misheard at first!!!!”

Even the receptionists joined in—

“Isn’t Nuo Yang that intern editor who just graduated?”

“She got promoted!”

“Promoted? She’s about to become the boss!”

“Oh my god, what’s going on???”

Before the chatter could die down, the glass automatic doors at the entrance slid open.

The general manager walked in, beaming like spring sunshine, alongside Lawyer Chen, his smile deepening the wrinkles on his face.

“Lawyer Chen, Lawyer Chen, please have a seat here!” The general manager quickly asked the receptionist to pour tea, grinning. “I still can’t quite believe this is real. It’s just… so sudden.”

Lawyer Chen chuckled. “When Nuo Yang told me she wanted to buy the company, I was surprised too. She’s never run a business before.”

Fortunately, it was a small company with fewer than 100 employees. Even if it went bankrupt, it would barely scratch Nuo Yang. Lawyer Chen wasn’t too worried.

Besides, Nuo Yang had already explained the whole situation to her. She couldn’t bear seeing others suffer for her sake. The thought of all the employees who had families to support made her feel she had to do something.

“Nuo Yang said you’ve all taken good care of her and treated her well,” Lawyer Chen got straight to the point. “She really likes it here and naturally wants everyone to stay together.”

The gathered crowd burst into enthusiastic applause.

What noble sentiment! What genuine affection!

All their kindness toward Nuo Yang, that little intern, hadn’t been in vain!!!

For their new little boss, Nuo Yang, they clapped even harder!!!

—

The office was practically drowning in flattery. It seemed Nuo Yang had made the right call by not going in today.

After hearing Lawyer Chen’s report, Nuo Yang laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

She knew her colleagues well—they were definitely up to their usual antics.

Still, Nuo Yang genuinely loved the atmosphere at the company. Even though work could get overwhelming at times, everyone was kind and looked out for her.

Just as she’d told Lawyer Chen, she really liked it here and wanted to stay with everyone.

“Alright, I’ve done what you asked,” Lawyer Chen said over the phone, chuckling. “So, when are you treating me to dinner?”

“Whenever you want,” Nuo Yang replied with a laugh. “No need to pick a date—how about today at my place?”

Lawyer Chen sighed. “But your home…”

“Long Huaichang is going out with classmates tonight and won’t be back for dinner,” Nuo Yang said, lounging on the sofa with her feet propped on the armrest. “Actually, I’ve never understood why you dislike Xiao Huai so much, Lawyer Chen.”

Long Huaichang was such a well-behaved kid—nothing like the icy beauty described in the original novel.

Lawyer Chen crossed her arms. “It’s not that I dislike her. It’s our firm.”

“The firm?”

“Mm. Our boss has explicitly forbidden us from having any dealings with the Long family. No matter how much they offer, we won’t take their cases.”

Nuo Yang blinked, puzzled.

The firm still needed to make money—why single out the Long family?

But from Lawyer Chen’s tone, she didn’t seem to know either.

“That’s why I’ve avoided interacting with Long Huaichang ,” Lawyer Chen said, twirling a lock of hair as she gazed out the car window at the parking lot. “I think our boss must really despise the Longs.”

Nuo Yang pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond.

“Anyway, enough about that. If I’m coming over, I’ll grab some takeout on the way,” Lawyer Chen said cheerfully. “With Mid-Autumn Festival coming up, it’s crab season. I’ve got a fresh box in the trunk—we can chat over dinner~”

“Great! I’ll order some dishes downstairs.”

“No alcohol, just drinks. I’m driving.”

“Got it. Drive safe.”

After hanging up the phone, Attorney Chen glanced once more toward the shadowy corner, where she could vaguely make out several figures sitting in a black car. Though the sight made her uneasy, she didn’t dwell on it and simply started her car to leave.

What she didn’t know was that as soon as her car drove away, two men stepped out of the black vehicle. They raised high-powered cameras and snapped multiple shots of her car’s rear until it disappeared from view.

“That’s definitely Attorney Chen from Anzhong Law Firm,” one of them said. “We’ve got the photos. Send them to the general manager right away.”