Chapter 378 School Anniversary
Juniper spoke calmly, "At most two days, Levi will come back begging us. I checked the job postings at StellarWorks Inc., and they don't need people at all. The double salary was just a trick to get Levi to be their mole. Levi might have gotten a lot of benefits from StellarWorks Inc., but his buddies didn't get anything. If StellarWorks Inc. doesn't want them, even if Levi doesn't come back, the tech employees who followed him will definitely return."
Karen's eyes lit up, "Then we can make an example out of them, teach them a lesson, and show them who's really in charge here!"
She gave Juniper a thoughtful look and lifted her chin.
"Quinn, you're quite the schemer!"
No wonder she could get Magnus sent to prison for three years.
Juniper glanced at her, "If I weren't bad, you wouldn't love me."
"Don't get too excited too soon. Maybe these people really won't come back! If things get out of hand, we might end up guarding the gate here and never go back!"
Two days later, early in the morning.
A group of workers gathered at the factory gate.
As soon as Karen and Juniper arrived, they were surrounded.
Although this situation was expected, Karen and Juniper were still a bit excited and shocked that they actually came back.
Karen cursed under her breath, "Damn it! You really nailed it!"
Juniper was speechless.
The workers started talking all at once.
"Levi said you are Ms. Juniper Abbott. Ms. Juniper Abbott, we were blinded by greed and got tricked by Levi!"
"Levi said StellarWorks Inc. invited us over with double salaries! But yesterday, when he took us to StellarWorks Inc. to start the job, the person in charge there completely ignored us!"
"Double salary, my foot! It was all a lie! Luckily, I didn't quit my job yesterday!"
"Ms. Karen Abbott, Ms. Juniper Abbott, for the sake of us being the factory's technicians, please let the employees who quit yesterday come back!"
"We really fell for Levi's trick!"
Karen shouted, "Everyone, quiet down! Listen to me for a moment!"
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Karen spoke with a stern authority, "I'm glad you all came back, but let me make one thing clear: this kind of thing can happen once, but it must never happen again! Those who want to return will keep their current salaries and benefits! From now on, anyone who truly works for the factory, no matter their position, will have opportunities for promotion! I promise, as long as you do well, there will be no shortage of bonuses!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
Karen raised an eyebrow at Juniper, "Ms. Juniper Abbott, would you like to say a few words?"
Just as she finished speaking, Levi burst through the crowd!
"Ms. Juniper Abbott, I was blinded by StellarWorks Inc. before! I'll make up for the losses I've caused the factory as soon as possible!"
"Ms. Juniper Abbott, Ms. Karen Abbott, considering my many years at this factory, can you give me another chance?"
Karen looked at Juniper, "It's your call."
She hated Levi and didn't support his return, but she was fair and wouldn't oppose someone useful.
Juniper wasn't surprised that Levi came back begging.
People like Levi, who were opportunistic, were the quickest to change sides.
But the factory was short-handed right now.
Levi looked at Juniper with sincere pleading eyes, "Ms. Juniper Abbott, I really know I was wrong now!"
Juniper pretended to think for a moment, then spoke with difficulty, "You led the workers to strike and leave. If I let you come back easily, wouldn't I be setting myself up for trouble if you do this again?"
"Ms. Juniper Abbott, I've learned my lesson! If not, I'll kneel and apologize to you!"
As he spoke, Levi was about to kneel.
Juniper didn't stop him.
Levi, feeling extremely awkward, knelt down straight, "Ms. Abbott, is this sincerity enough? I just want to come back and work hard! I'll even work overtime during holidays!"
Juniper looked at him coldly.
After a long while, she slowly said, "Levi, you led the trouble and caused significant losses to the factory. We can't take you back. If you want to kneel, go ahead and kneel here, so others can see the consequences of being a traitor!"
She swept her oppressive gaze over the crowd.
Her voice rose, "From now on, anyone in the factory who doesn't work properly and forms cliques will be fired immediately upon discovery!"
"You should all know, this factory belongs to the Abbotts! Not the Morgans! Know your place, understand who pays your salary, and recognize who you work for! This is your last warning!"
As her words fell, applause erupted.
Karen, slightly stunned, had a newfound admiration for Juniper.
When Levi knelt, she thought Juniper would be soft-hearted and let him stay.
But unexpectedly, Juniper made an even harsher example out of him.
Unconsciously, she curled her lips and joined in the applause.
In the following days, the issue of slackness and delays on the production line was completely resolved.
The factory's production line returned to normal.
Juniper and Karen then left.
On the way back to Southern City, Juniper received a message from Ophelia.
Ophelia sent her an e-invitation, an invitation to the Centennial Celebration of Imperial Capital University.
[In two days, it's the Centennial Celebration. Are you going back to Imperial Capital to attend? If you don't go, I won't bother either.]
Juniper originally didn't want to go. After all, the incident of her forging documents had caused quite a stir on the school forum, giving her a bad reputation. Later, she had a child out of wedlock, and her classmates from those years spoke poorly of her behind her back.
But since she planned to do business in Imperial Capital, she couldn't avoid mingling with the circle and meeting people.
These alumni from Imperial Capital University might have questionable character, but those who got in and made it out were generally doing well, with some even becoming industry leaders.
These connections were quite valuable.
Moreover, the best way to deal with being in the eye of the storm was not to avoid it but to ride the waves.
Juniper replied that she would go.
Ophelia immediately added her to an alumni group.
The alumni group was very active, with 99+ messages in no time.
Ophelia sent a private message: [I looked at the group, and a lot of them are just putting on airs. Are they trying to scam investments?]
Juniper was about to reply.
Suddenly, someone in the group @ her: [Isn't this the beauty queen of our 2019 class?]
[Who?]
[Juniper, of course!]
[Juniper? The one who sent the big shot from Imperial Capital University to prison?]
[I think I read some gossip about her online! She's a social media influencer now, right?]
[Being pretty sure has its perks! Even having a child out of wedlock, she can still make money with her looks!]
[People like us who aren't good-looking can only rely on talent!]
The group found a common target to mock, and the messages kept coming.
Ophelia couldn't stand it and directly retorted in the group—
[I remember some of you were admirers of Juniper back then! What, couldn't get her then, still can't get her now, so you're mocking her?]
[No way! Dating Juniper means going to jail! For three years, no less!]
[Exactly! Who dares to date Juniper! Jail warning!]
Juniper looked at these messages expressionlessly.
Someone kept @ her, asking her to say something: [Juniper, we're old classmates after all. Everyone's talking about you, say something?]
[Juniper is still maintaining her cold beauty persona like back then. Isn't she tired? I'm tired for her. Will it kill her to say something?]
[Forget it, saying this to her face, there's no way she'd respond.]
[Is Juniper coming to the celebration? I'd love to see what the former goddess looks like now.]
[The former goddess is best left in memory.]
[After all these years, and having a child out of wedlock, she must have cheated on Magnus. When Magnus got out of prison, I heard he blacklisted her in the industry. She must have suffered a lot, and suffering makes people ugly!]
[She won't respond! Juniper used to pretend not to respond, causing Magnus to go to jail, and she could still come to class with another man's child without a change in expression. Who can match that kind of mental strength?]
Juniper was speechless.
It seemed she had to give a direct response today.
Ophelia sent an indignant DM: [Damn it! These people have such foul mouths! We must go to the celebration and humiliate them! Let them see how well you're doing now!]
These graduates from top universities, wearing the guise of elites, were just better at exams than others. IQ and academic intelligence didn't equate to emotional intelligence.
Character varied from person to person.
If attacking Juniper today could unite them into a small group to gain some connections and benefits, they would drown Juniper in their words.
Juniper responded in the group—
[Thank you for not pursuing me.]
The group fell silent.
Ophelia was laughing so hard on the other end.
[I can't take it, I'm dying of laughter! Will they be pissed off? I remember one of the guys who spoke earlier was crazy about you back then. Sour grapes, he must be shocked!]
Juniper replied: [After all these years, they can still recognize my WhatsApp?]
Her WhatsApp nickname was simple, just "J."
But in a group of hundreds, it was amazing that she was noticed as soon as she joined.
Ophelia: [It shows they're still obsessed with you, hahaha! Oh my god, these people are like your die-hard fans!]
Someone in the group asked again: [Juniper! I want to hear the gossip about you and Magnus! What's going on with you two now?]
Juniper's brow twitched, and she calmly replied: [Broken up, don't @ me.]
As soon as she said that, the group exploded again.
Ophelia was laughing hysterically: [You're so ruthless! Juniper, even though your words have no sound, I can imagine your expression when you typed them!]
[Wait! If you go to the celebration, Mr. Blackwood will be there too! Are you planning to put on a show then?]
Juniper didn't really want to expose her private life to people she wasn't close to.
Some people just couldn't stand others doing well.
If she was doing poorly, they would be delighted, maybe even pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
If she played the victim, they might even want to be her savior and give her life advice.
Ophelia scrolled through the previous messages and found that the first person to @ Juniper was a female classmate.
The profile picture looked familiar.
She asked Juniper: [Was this person a die-hard fan of Magnus back then?]
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