The Only One With a Mouth in the CEO Novel - Chapter 42: What to Do When a Subordinate Is Too Deferential to Their Boss

Chapter 42: What to Do When a Subordinate Is Too Deferential to Their Boss

Tuesday, a workday.

Ye Jin suddenly received a message from Gu Qingyang.

Gu Qingyang: [Sis, where did you download that secondhand app you mentioned last time? I want to get it too.

Ye Jin fell silent.

Why would a rich second-generation heir be looking for a secondhand platform?

Before Ye Jin could reply, Gu Qingyang directly video-called her.

Ye Jin answered:

What are you doing?

In the video, Gu Qingyang was at the Gu residence. Behind him was a messy pile of items. The life-sized figurine that usually stood in the living room had vanished, and the display cabinet once packed with collectibles was completely emptied.

It looked as if bandits had just ransacked the place.

Yet Gu Qingyang seemed delighted, saying, I’m planning to sell all the stuff I don’t need and use the money to start a business.

Ye Jin: But weren’t these all your prized collections? Won’t you regret selling them?

Why would I?

Gu Qingyang replied, I never really liked them that much anyway—I just bought them because everyone else was.

Gu Qingyang: I used to follow trends blindly, buying whatever others did. But now I realize how pointless that was.

So, liquidating all his assets to start a business was supposed to be meaningful?

Ye Jin truly couldn’t comprehend Gu Qingyang’s thought process.

She answered his earlier question: Just pick any secondhand app with high download numbers. I was only making an offhand comment back then.

Alright.

Gu Qingyang hung up.

After finishing her urgent tasks, Ye Jin asked around about Gu Qingyang’s entrepreneurial progress.

Their company had already been established. They had even acquired an online shopping platform, revamped it completely, and launched it on app stores.

Ye Jin downloaded it.

To her surprise, it looked quite professional.

Yet her first thought was: Gu Qingyang is doomed.

Gu Chenxi was playing a long game, determined to bleed them dry until not a cent remained.

Although this had nothing to do with Ye Jin,

she still felt a chill run down her spine.

Truly a capitalist—ruthless.

Ye Jin pondered for a moment, carefully recalling if she had ever offended Gu Chenxi.

Thankfully, no.

She had always been diligent in her work. Aside from the occasional slip of the tongue, she had maintained proper decorum around Gu Chenxi.

She must never provoke Gu Chenxi again.

What if he quietly held a grudge? She could end up like Gu Qingyang—oblivious to how she’d been ruined.

Ye Jin shuddered involuntarily and hugged herself tightly.

—
In the afternoon, Ye Jin received an invitation from Guan Yan for afternoon tea.

In the past, she would have simply notified Gu Chenxi in some casual manner before going.

But today, Ye Jin formally submitted a field work application and waited for approval through proper channels.

Both Yan Rong and Gu Chenxi were her superiors.

So they could both see her application.

Yan Rong to Ye Jin:

Application approved. Stay safe outside.

Already on edge, Ye Jin snapped to attention upon seeing Yan Rong’s email and quickly typed a reply.

Ye Jin to Yan Rong:

Huh? Huh? Huh?

Who are you to approve my application? Revoke it now.

Gu Chenxi:

Had he offended Assistant Ye recently? Probably not.

Though puzzled, Gu Chenxi still revoked his previous action and returned the application to the previous level.

The second email arrived belatedly.

Ye Jin to Yan Rong:

Sorry, I was in a hurry earlier.

My application was submitted for President Gu to review.

I know you meant well by helping me, but since you no longer work at Vastness now, please refrain from casually handling Vastness’ work information to avoid displeasing President Gu.

Not only was Ye Jin becoming cautious herself, she was also desperately trying to salvage Yan Rong’s situation.

Gu Chenxi:

Being portrayed this way by Assistant Ye, he lowered his gaze and typed, attempting to restore his image.

Yan Rong to Ye Jin:

President Gu isn’t that unreasonable.

Ye Jin to Yan Rong:

I know.

But no matter how easygoing a boss might be, we employees should still be conscientious, follow procedures properly, and strive to stay in the boss’ good graces.

But hadn’t they always operated this way before? Why was it suddenly unacceptable now?

Gu Chenxi’s expression darkened, the corners of his eyes drooping with a hint of grievance.

Ten minutes later, Gu Chenxi approved Ye Jin’s field work application.

Following the address Guan Yan had sent her, Ye Jin arrived at an upscale afternoon tea restaurant.

Xiao Ye, come sit.

Seeing Ye Jin arrive, Guan Yan stood up to greet her, gently inviting her to sit beside her.

Guan Yan: Young women all love coming here for pastries, so I took the liberty of choosing this place.

The table was already filled with exquisite desserts and steaming hot black tea.

Without even setting down her bag, Ye Jin directly sat next to Guan Yan.

Madam, I’m not hungry right now.

Well aware of Guan Yan’s long-winded tendencies, Ye Jin cut through her lengthy preamble and said, Why don’t you tell me directly what you need? I’ll see if I can help you.

It’s still about Qingyang.Guan Yan’s hand was currently held by Ye Jin, which unconsciously brought their psychological distance closer.

Guan Yan elaborated: He’s been insisting on starting a business recently, asking for money. I gave him all my savings, but he still says it’s not enough. He sold the yacht he worked so hard to acquire at a discount, and even sold all those collectibles he painstakingly gathered at home.

Mhm.

Ye Jin listened patiently, tilting her ear toward Guan Yan.

Guan Yan’s tone grew more anxious: But even after all this, he keeps complaining that he doesn’t have enough money.

Ye Jin thought Guan Yan probably just wanted someone to confide in.

So she prompted: So what did he do this time?

This child. Guan Yan said exasperatedly, He actually sold all the equity shares that Chenxi gave him too.

Ye Jin fell silent.

No need to guess – Gu Chenxi must have secretly bought them back.

Capitalists really don’t tolerate any losses.

Everything Guan Yan had taken from Gu Chenxi to subsidize Gu Qingyang had been harvested back by him.

The shares he was forced to give away before had now come full circle and returned to his hands.

What a perfect example of profiteering without investment.

Ye Jin: Don’t worry, I suspect Young Master Gu will quiet down soon.

Guan Yan looked puzzled: How do you know that, Xiao Ye?

Ye Jin: When Young Master Gu has nothing left to sell, he’ll naturally quiet down.

False.

Actually, it’s when Gu Chenxi finds there’s nothing left to harvest that he’ll naturally stop.

Ye Jin’s consolation didn’t have any effect on Guan Yan.

She let out a soft sigh, her expression downcast.

Ye Jin couldn’t help but ask, Haven’t you always supported Young Master Gu in everything he does? Now that Young Master Gu wants to build his own career, you should fully support him too.

Guan Yan waved her hand wearily, lowering her head to massage her brow with tired fingers.

She wore the expression of someone bearing unspoken troubles. Ye Jin watched coldly from the side, thinking she had brought all this upon herself.

Guan Yan had always lived in the past, trapped in dreams, never having a truly awake moment.

Even now.

She never considered opening her eyes to see the reality clearly.

Perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seem, Ye Jin said. I don’t know if you’ve heard of this phrase – sometimes things need to be broken before they can be rebuilt.

Ye Jin felt she might have found the breakthrough point in Gu Chenxi’s family conflicts.

This breakthrough point lay with Guan Yan herself.

As long as she could resolve the issues with Guan Yan, her mission as a mouthpiece would soon be completed.

Going home was within sight.

Ye Jin couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth slightly, feeling quite pleased.

Just relax your mind, Ye Jin comforted. Young Master Gu has grown up – he can’t hide under your wing forever. Let him venture out on his own and stop interfering.

Guan Yan murmured softly, I suppose that’s the only way.

After saying many comforting words, Ye Jin finally managed to calm Guan Yan, this anxious mother.

After seeing Guan Yan off,

The desserts on the table remained untouched.

Seeing there was still time, Ye Jin ordered some more treats and had them all packaged and delivered to the President’s Office.

President Gu, I brought back some afternoon tea. Would you like to try some?

Though Ye Jin said this, she had already placed the items on his desk.

Gu Chenxi glanced up.

Several exquisitely shaped desserts were arranged on a plate, accompanied by black coffee to cut through the sweetness.

Assistant Ye was very thoughtful.

She had even considered that he might not enjoy sweet foods.

Gu Chenxi’s mood had been low all afternoon, but now it suddenly brightened, even making the office feel more cheerful.

Hmm.

He responded casually, closing the document in his hand and placing it aside before taking a sip of coffee.

Having seen Gu Chenxi speak several times now,

Ye Jin was no longer surprised by his occasional utterances.

Ye Jin said, President Gu, I’ll go attend to my work now.

She bowed respectfully and left without any unnecessary words, displaying remarkable professionalism.

She perfectly embodied Gu Chenxi’s ideal of an exemplary assistant.

Yet Gu Chenxi found himself feeling unaccustomed to this.

He quickly glanced at Ye Jin several times, watching her until she left, but couldn’t discern anything unusual.

Not just that day.

According to Gu Chenxi’s observations, Assistant Ye’s unusual behavior continued:

During every conversation, she maintained a strictly businesslike tone.

She would smile politely when making eye contact.

And she never again asked those questions he wouldn’t answer.

After finishing fieldwork, while driving Ye Jin home, Gu Chenxi opened his AI assistant and asked: What should I do when a subordinate is too respectful toward their boss?

This was the first time in his life Gu Chenxi had encountered such a dilemma.

After brief analysis, the AI quickly provided five suggestions.

Gu Chenxi read them carefully and realized he couldn’t implement any of them.

Because they all required talking.