Follow You?

Friday.

Around ten in the morning, Guo Shunjie, who had just received an assignment from Zhou Changchun's office, returned to his desk. Frowning at the thick document in his hands, he got up again and walked over to Dong Xuebin, who was working on a spreadsheet. He set the document on Dong Xuebin's desk with a smile. "Little Dong, you're not busy, are you? Proofread this document for me. Director Zhou said there are too many typos, so make whatever corrections are needed. Hurry up—Director Zhou needs it this afternoon."

Wasn't this your job?

But Dong Xuebin also wanted to build good relationships with his coworkers, so he said, "All right, I'll get on it right away."

Guo Shunjie nodded approvingly and returned to his seat, crossing one leg over the other as he leisurely sipped his tea.

At eleven thirty, Dong Xuebin and Tan Limei went upstairs to deliver a file.

On the way, Tan Limei quietly asked, "Guo Shunjie dumped his work on you again, and you did it?"

Dong Xuebin gave an awkward sound. "We're coworkers. It's only right to help each other out."

"Hmph, right my ass. Let me tell you, Guo Shunjie relies on his good relationship with the branch bureau's political commissar to throw his weight around in the General Office. He acts like an old hand and bosses newcomers around as if he were the General Office's leader. When I first got here, I ran plenty of errands for him too. He's really hateful. Oh, right, right." Tan Limei lowered her voice further. "Before you and Sun Zhuang came to the General Office, there was a pretty decent young guy who got squeezed out by Guo Shunjie. He made him do this and that all day long. Who could stand that?"

Dong Xuebin was taken aback. "That happened?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Tan Limei said no more. "Anyway, be careful."

"Mm, thanks for the warning." Dong Xuebin sighed inwardly. Government offices really were worlds apart from school.

During the lunch break, Dong Xuebin returned the document to Guo Shunjie. "Brother Guo, it's done."

Without saying anything, Guo Shunjie casually flipped through a few pages before finally nodding with a smile. "All right, thanks for the hard work." Seeing Guo Panwei, Chang Juan, and the others heading out to the cafeteria with their meal tickets, Guo Shunjie patted the empty seat beside him. "Little Dong, sit down. Let's have a chat, just us brothers."

Dong Xuebin hesitated, then slowly sat down. "Go ahead."

Only after everyone else from the General Office had left did Guo Shunjie smile and say, "You seem pretty sharp, much better than Sun Zhuang. So, what direction are you planning to develop in from now on? Have you thought about it? Got any goals?" He looked every bit like a leader having a heart-to-heart with a subordinate.

Dong Xuebin cursed inwardly, but answered perfunctorily, "Not really. It's still hard to say whether I can even keep my position as a Civil Servant. I just want to work hard and accomplish something first." Passing the Civil Servants exam did not necessarily mean a lifetime iron rice bowl. According to the rules, if a newly recruited Civil Servant received poor evaluations from their leaders for two consecutive years, they would reportedly be automatically dismissed. Of course, few government offices actually did that, unless someone performed truly badly or offended some leader.

Guo Shunjie chuckled. "No need for us brothers to play games. You've been in the General Office for several days now. You've heard about it, right?" He was most likely referring to his relationship with the political commissar. "Little Dong, as long as you follow me from now on, we can talk about anything. At the latest, I should be moving up a step next year. When that happens, wouldn't promoting you be easy? I guarantee you won't lose out." His meaning could not have been more obvious.

Uh, what was this supposed to mean? Was he trying to recruit him? Follow him?

You weren't even a leader. Why the hell would I follow you?

Dong Xuebin understood that if he became Guo Shunjie's lackey, Guo Shunjie would definitely work him to the bone from then on. He might even make him carry bags and pour tea. As for getting promoted? What bullshit. What could you use to promote me? How could you promote me? Never mind whether you even had that kind of influence—what if you used me up and tossed me aside afterward? Where would I go to argue my case? This was nothing but an empty promise.

Dong Xuebin wanted a promotion, but he had not been blinded by it. After calmly considering it, he carefully said, "Brother Guo, thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I just joined the General Office and haven't even figured out all the work yet. Right now, I just want to steadily do the work in front of me well. You see..." He had no choice but to decline tactfully. Dong Xuebin did not want to offend anyone, much less someone with connections.

Guo Shunjie's expression changed. "The opportunity is right in front of you. Have you thought this through?" He was asking the political commissar to help him angle for a leadership position in the bureau. If he could take office successfully next year, Guo Shunjie planned to bring at least one or two subordinates with him, so he could quickly establish his authority in a new environment. Who would have thought that the moment he tried to recruit Dong Xuebin, he would be rejected? It made Guo Shunjie lose face.

Dong Xuebin hesitated, but still said, "Thank you, Brother Guo, but I..."

Guo Shunjie's face darkened. Before Dong Xuebin could finish, he flicked his hand and walked away. "You don't know what's good for you." From then on, he held a grudge against Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin slapped his forehead. Great. He had offended a coworker right after joining the government office.

Two in the afternoon.

After Guo Shunjie came out of Deputy Director Zhou's small office, he did not even return to his own seat. He walked straight to Dong Xuebin's computer, his face stiff as he tossed a stack of documents onto the desk. "Print five copies of each. Don't mix up the order. They're needed before four this afternoon." His tone was nothing less than an order.

Everyone in the General Office looked over, wondering how Little Dong had offended Guo Shunjie.

Dong Xuebin was furious. Only now did he see Guo Shunjie's true colors. He wanted nothing more than to kick him.

If I follow you, I have to be your lackey. If I don't follow you, I still have to do your work. You won't even leave me the slightest choice. Isn't that way too domineering?

What kind of fucking person was this?

A little later, Guo Shunjie went out to smoke in the restroom, and Tan Limei, Zhuangzi, and the others asked with concern, "Binzi, what happened?"

Dong Xuebin forced a smile. "Nothing."

Seeing that he did not want to talk about it, Tan Limei and the others did not press him. They all went back to their own work.

Guo Panwei, sitting to the side, glanced at Dong Xuebin. His eyes shifted, and he said, "Little Dong, you're not busy, are you?" He pointed at the cardboard box by his feet. "There are a few things you can help deliver to Finance later. I've got something to do and can't get away, so I'm leaving it to you." Seeing how easy Dong Xuebin was to order around, Guo Panwei assigned him a task too. After that, he knocked on Zhou Changchun's office door and went in with an attentive smile to make tea and pour water for the leader.

Fuck you.

Was this never going to end?

Dong Xuebin nearly cursed out loud. One Guo Shunjie and one Guo Panwei—neither of them was any good.

He truly experienced what it meant to be bullied for being kind. Clenching his fists, Dong Xuebin felt that he needed to do something. He could not keep passively taking hits like this, or he would never have a chance to turn things around in the future!!!