"Manager Li, what I don't understand I can learn, I didn't use underhanded methods to join the company; I was properly interviewed and hired," Ning Luoxi stood up and said defiantly.

Reputation is extremely important to a woman, but now she was being called a vixen by Manager Li time and again. If Ning Luoxi were to tolerate this, then what kind of looks would she get from others at the company in the future?

Slap…

Manager Li swung her hand, and a slap landed squarely on Ning Luoxi's face.

"You…" Ning Luoxi looked at Manager Li in shock, not having expected her to bully someone like this, slapping her after just a couple of words.

"You what, you think you're in a position to reason with me?" Manager Li said menacingly to Ning Luoxi. "And the rest of you, what are you looking at? This has nothing to do with you."

Manager Li seemed to have lost it, shouting at the onlookers gathered around.

Everyone knew Manager Li was domineering and nobody wanted to provoke her. After giving Ning Luoxi a sympathetic glance, they quickly distanced themselves from the center of trouble.

Some of the more experienced employees clearly saw what was happening.

Put simply, Manager Li was Li Guangxin's wife. When Ning Luoxi first reported to the company and later because of Chen Hong's incident, Li Guangxin was promptly demoted from his position as project manager.

Manager Li then used her connections to assign Ning Luoxi to her materials department. manager Li believed her husband was demoted because of Ning Luoxi, so she tormented Ning Luoxi and slung mud at her—in revenge for her husband Li Guangxin.

"Let me tell you, you trash, if you're not satisfied, you're more than welcome to roll out of here," Manager Li scolded, pointing at Ning Luoxi's nose.

Ning Luoxi bit her lip, holding back her tears.

Ning Luoxi felt incredibly wronged. She had been diligent at Qin's Group, but Manager Li constantly made things difficult for her, and today she had slapped her in front of so many people.

Ning Luoxi wanted to fight back, but she knew that doing so would inevitably mean she couldn't stay at Qin's Group. Yet to continue to endure...

Was she really expected to let others walk all over her?

Manager Li had a look on her face as if she had Ning Luoxi completely under control. "Today, you're going to move all these materials back to the storeroom, instead of trying to slack off every day... trash…"

Slap, slap...

Manager Li hadn't finished speaking when suddenly a hand reached out. Before she could comprehend what was happening, she had already been slapped twice.

The sound of the slaps was crisp, echoing clearly throughout the entire hall.

Manager Li was completely stupefied; she was used to bullying others at the company. When had it ever been her turn to be bullied by someone else?

Ning Luoxi was also stunned. She couldn't believe that someone in the company would dare to hit Manager Li.

At that moment, a person stood in front of Ning Luoxi. He was tall and straight with a calm demeanor. There wasn't an air of arrogance about him, but his spine was clearly unyielding.

It was Ding Fan!

Ning Luoxi could hardly believe her eyes; Ding Fan had actually appeared in front of her.

"I really don't understand, how Qin's Group could employ someone like you." Ding Fan's tone was indifferent, as if he wasn't the one who had just slapped someone else.

Manager Li felt her cheeks burning, her teeth clenched in hateful fury as she stared at Ding Fan.

"You dare to hit me! Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty here..."

Manager Li could almost lose her mind. The other party was dressed in cheap street stall clothes and wearing canvas shoes, looking like a complete bumpkin. And now she had been slapped by such a bumpkin.

Seeing Ding Fan standing up for Ning Luoxi, Manager Li instantly understood. The newcomer must have seen her bullying Ning Luoxi and stood up to defend her.

Ding Fan didn't even bother acknowledging Manager Li. He glanced at the large wooden box nearby and the scattered books on the floor, which obviously were quite heavy.

"She had you move things this heavy all by yourself?" Ding Fan ignored Manager Li, asking Ning Luoxi as if he was merely making conversation.

Ning Luoxi didn't quite understand why he was asking but nodded anyway.

"Kid, you better worry about your own problems first." Manager Li was fuming now; this bumpkin not only hit her but was now treating her like she was invisible. "Xiao Wang, this person is causing trouble in the company, seize him for me."

Xiao Wang was the security guard at the entrance of the hall. He hadn't fully processed what had happened as it occurred too quickly.

Now, Xiao Wang eagerly pulled out the rubber club hanging at his side. "You, stay put! Put your hands on your head and crouch down," he ordered.

"This has nothing to do with you; you'd better not get involved in this mess," Ding Fan said to Little Wang with an icy tone.

Ding Fan's eyes were sharp, his murderous aura pervading the air. Little Wang actually felt a chill and couldn't help shivering.

"Hmph, country bumpkin, you're still being arrogant. Little Wang, beat him to a pulp, and if there's trouble, it's on me," Manager Li said to Little Wang, utterly oblivious to danger.

Little Wang was caught in a dilemma, as Ding Fan's presence was overwhelming. For some reason, he was somewhat intimidated by Ding Fan.

"Stop!" Just at that moment, a voice came from the entrance.

When Manager Li turned around, a smug smile crossed her face as she saw the security team captain coming over with two men.

Seeing the captain, Little Wang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kid, today you and this vixen are both getting the boot!" Manager Li said with venom in her eyes.

"Brother Fan..." Ning Luoxi saw that the situation was escalating and nervously stood behind Ding Fan.

Manager Li clung to the security team captain's arm, playing the victim convincingly.

"Captain Qian, this person is causing trouble in our company, and look, he even hit me. This happened right under your security team's watch, so you better teach this guy a lesson."

The security team captain, named Qian Jin, didn't pay any attention to Manager Li's words; he shrugged off her clinging arms and, with a forced smile, approached Ding Fan.

"Brother Fan, what happened here?"

What the hell is going on?

Manager Li was dumbfounded; she had expected the security team captain to come and seek justice for her, but instead, he was addressing her attacker as Brother Fan.

Ding Fan was taken aback too; he didn't recall having any impression of this security team captain.

Seeing Ding Fan's confusion, Qian Jin quickly introduced himself. "Brother Fan, I'm the captain of the security team here. On the day we welcomed new members, I even helped you escort Chen Hong out of the office."

Suddenly, it clicked for Ding Fan. On the day the company welcomed new members, Chen Hong had removed Ning Luoxi's application materials. Ding Fan had lost his temper, and it was only settled when Qin Manshu stepped in. Indeed, a few security personnel had escorted Chen Hong out. It seemed this security man was among the crowd that day.

"Qian Jin, you've got troublemakers in the company, and instead of dealing with them, you're here playing nice. I think your time as security team captain is up," Manager Li fumed, stamping her foot.

"Manager Li, are you tired? I think you should go back and rest," Qian Jin hinted with a glance.

Others might not know Ding Fan's background, but Qian Jin, who had witnessed the event that day, sure did. If the company's CEO Qin Manshu addressed Ding Fan respectfully as Brother Fan, then Qian Jin, even as a security team captain, wouldn't dare interfere, let alone the chief of police.

However, Manager Li completely missed the point of Qian Jin's look. She was too angry, feeling humiliated and disregarded, especially since the captain had addressed her attacker as Brother Fan.

"Fine, if none of you will do anything, then I'll fight you myself!" Manager Li gritted her teeth and charged towards Ding Fan.

Manager Li had made up her mind to scratch Ding Fan's face, no matter what. She couldn't swallow the insult of being hit in front of so many people.

Ding Fan's gaze hardened; he clearly understood Manager Li's intentions. This shrewish woman was unrepentant, still thinking of showing off and bullying others. It seemed she needed a good lesson.

But before Ding Fan could take action, Qian Jin beat him to it, rushing forward and kicking Manager Li, flipping her onto the ground.

Qian Jin's kick was forceful, and Manager Li even rolled on the ground a couple of times.

Manager Li was stunned; it was one thing for the security team captain not to help her, but instead of siding with her, he attacked her.

"Qian Jin, fuck your mother! How dare you hit me!" Manager Li screamed from the ground, looking every part the quarreling shrew.

Her hair was a mess and her face swollen like a pig's head, making her look no different from a madwoman as she cursed from the floor.

Seeing Qian Jin kick Manager Li, everyone else was baffled. They couldn't understand why Qian Jin would side with a country bumpkin to bully Manager Li.

Everyone thought Qian Jin had lost his mind, but he knew that nobody was wiser than him at that moment; he was protecting the CEO's brother. Being considered a hero for that outweighed offending a mere manager.

"What's all this commotion?" At that moment, a dignified voice came from the corridor.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Manager Li cried out in misery, as if seeing her savior.

"Director Tian, you must stand up for me..."