The Prodigal Son

Introduction

``` Volume 1 Chapter 1 Maple Leaves

In this world, there are many ways to categorize people, often in opposing relationships. Where there are men, there are women; leaders exist for a reason, and subordinates are indispensable. The wealthy look down on beggars, and the counterpart of a mistress is a sugar daddy. However, there are those who call themselves hermits, yet have no corresponding title.
Perhaps it's because hermits themselves go unnoticed, or perhaps the only challenge left for them is themselves!
Ye Feng is just an ordinary worker, as ordinary as can be. His name, Ye, means leaf, and Feng means maple. He is as unremarkable as a maple leaf, blown by the merciless autumn wind, arriving noisily in a relatively open city in the south, which we can simply call a special zone, or S City.
Though the name is ordinary, Ye Feng is quite handsome. If it weren't for the wide black glasses perched on his nose, if he didn't have a pair of worn-out leather shoes to accentuate his look, and if his shirt collar, which had been washed to a slightly yellowish white, didn't reveal his status, he could be considered an ideal lover among women...
But ifs are just ifs; life is life, and there are no ideal ifs in life, only the harsh reality. The current reality is that Ye Feng is slumped over his desk, sitting in the company's dead zone!
S City places great importance on feng shui, and of course, the office is no exception. Most people worship Lord Guan, and there are also some privately circulated sayings. Naturally, everyone wants to sit by the window, but that spot is currently occupied by the boss's wife, shielded by dark glass, claiming the outside view is bad and blocking the negative energy. Of course, the office has to have some large-leafed plants to wash away dust and attract wealth. This position is taken by the finance department, and the spot facing the door and corridor is generally avoided because it is filled with negative energy!
Ye Feng was assigned to this dead zone as soon as he arrived. To his left is a wall, in front is the corridor, and to his right is a huge copier, clattering away all day. That copier has been deemed the number one killer in the office by white-collar workers; aside from when documents are being copied, few dare to approach it.
As soon as Ye Feng sits down, negative energy, yin energy, and murderous intent converge, but there's nothing he can do about it. The gates of hell for newcomers are not so easy to pass!
At this moment, he has his hands on the desk, and the distance from his eyes to the paper on the desk is no more than the distance from the pen tip to the paper surface, which raises suspicion about whether he is filling out a form or just taking the opportunity to slack off and doze off!
Suddenly, the phone rings with a 'ding' sound. Ye Feng scratches his head, pushes up his glasses, and turns his head in confusion.
Ye Feng, your phone. A big-eyed beauty looks at Ye Feng with a mix of anger and blame, Are you slacking off again?
The definition of beauty has weakened a lot these days; just by sticking out your chest and showing some thigh, you can be considered a beauty. If you can also twist your slim waist a bit, you can be counted among the beauties of beauties!
If Fang Zhujun were judged by this standard, she would definitely be left out. She wears a black professional suit, revealing neither her chest nor her thighs, but instead appears dignified and graceful. Her long hair cascades down like a waterfall, black and shiny, causing several young men in the office to glance over and swallow hard.
Ye Feng looks at Fang Zhujun with an expression no different from looking at a piece of wood, just with a hint more confusion, Looking for me?
If I'm not looking for you, who else would I look for? Fang Zhujun almost throws the phone at him. It's not that there isn't a phone on Ye Feng's desk, but it broke a few days ago, and the finance department hasn't fixed it yet. His position is that of a sales manager, but it's an internship. In this day and age, if you go out to sell and your business card doesn't have the word 'manager' printed on it, it will be thrown straight into the trash. He is responsible for sales in two provinces, both of which are underdeveloped and impoverished. Of course, he could also explore business in Southeast Asia, but it seems the company has no plans to enter that market for now.
Oh. Ye Feng responds slowly, standing up as if he has early-onset dementia, taking the phone and ignoring Fang Zhujun's eye roll, Who is it? Manager Chen? Okay, I'll be right over.
He says he will go over, but first tidies up his desk, glances at the forms on the desk, shakes his head, crumples one up, and tosses it into the trash can. Fang Zhujun is taken aback and glances at him; it was a job application!
By the time he reaches Manager Chen's office, five minutes have passed. As the door opens, a young girl with tears streaming down her face walks out, glances at Ye Feng, and whispers, Ye Feng, take care.
The girl has a few cute freckles on her face, but it doesn't detract from her appearance. Her name is Zhao Dan, and many in the office have their eyes on her, including Manager Chen sitting inside.
Fired? Ye Feng smiles slightly, Wait for me; I might share the same fate as you.
Okay. Zhao Dan replies softly, walking to her seat to pack her things. Both she and Ye Feng haven't made a single sale in two months, receiving eight hundred yuan each month without any returns, making them targets for the company's layoffs!
Ye Feng enters the office, closes the door, sits down properly, and looks at Manager Chen with a flat expression, as if looking at a piece of wood.
Manager Chen is in his forties, the type of successful person with a protruding belly, unable to see his feet when he looks down.
Ye Feng, it's been two months, Manager Chen finally shifts his gaze from Zhao Dan's departing figure to Ye Feng's face, his expression somewhat displeased. From his attitude, Ye Feng seems more like a leader, But you still have no sales. When I brought you into the company, I had high hopes for your potential, specifically assigning you to two undeveloped areas, but your performance has truly disappointed me!
Manager Chen has a famous theory: a true salesman can sell a wooden comb to a monk or shoes to someone with a broken leg. The company's product is a community smart system, and he expects Ye Feng to sell electronic products for community applications to villages that might not even be able to afford electricity.
Ye Feng smiles and remains silent.
But I still believe in your ability, Manager Chen sighs, pushing a piece of paper over, If you work hard, your internship can be extended for another three months, still at eight hundred a month. What do you think? This is an opportunity! His voice is very persuasive, emphasizing the word 'hard work.' He believes that as long as one isn't mentally challenged, they should understand his meaning.
Why not give Zhao Dan the opportunity? Ye Feng smiles and says lightly, Is it because she won't sleep with you?
What did you say? Manager Chen suddenly stands up, losing all composure, glaring at Ye Feng, Dare to say that again!
I said you fired Zhao Dan just because she wouldn't sleep with you, Ye Feng sighs, A few days ago, her mother was still in the hospital, on an IV drip. You know she needs money and a job, so you proposed the condition of her sleeping with you, but unfortunately, it seems she wouldn't!
Manager Chen sits back down, regaining his composure, Ye Feng, we may be familiar, but be careful with your words. I could sue you for defamation! You should know that we are a place that abides by the law!
Abide by the law? Ye Feng laughs, the sun shining brightly, The law seems to prohibit bigamy, but I seem to have heard that Manager Chen has at least two wives outside!
Manager Chen's face, which was shiny, suddenly turns pale, Don't say such things!
One in Z City, and the other, Ye Feng taps his head, pretending to think hard, Let me think... right, in this city, but of course not living in Manager Chen's home. You have a wife and kids there. One day, I saw you coming out of Jingming Pavilion, hand in hand with someone, looking quite affectionate.
Manager Chen's mouth opens as if two toads were stuffed inside, What did you say? You, you... He glances around, jumping up like a rabbit, nervously pulling down the blinds, then turns back, slapping Ye Feng's shoulder hard, Xiao Ye, I really didn't misjudge you. I told you, you can do it. The position of sales deputy director is still vacant; do you want to consider it?
No. Ye Feng shakes his head.
Name your price. Manager Chen is taken aback, unable to understand this kid's thoughts. He usually handles such matters with great caution, taking a week or half a month to approach them. No one in the company knows about this, and this kid seems to have heard it from somewhere, and he speaks accurately!
Don't make it a situation where both sides suffer; that wouldn't benefit anyone, Manager Chen says softly, That way, you won't gain anything!
Ye Feng stands up with a smile, patting Manager Chen's shoulder as if he has become the president of the company, Manager Chen, my request is simple: give Zhao Dan another chance, and let's talk after her mother gets better!
Manager Chen stares at Ye Feng in shock, as if looking at a monster. When the door slams open with a bang, he finally comes to his senses, hurriedly rushing to the desk to grab the phone, Xiao Wang, has Zhao Dan left? Not yet? Hurry, let her in.