New Client in the President’s Office - Chapter 16

Feng Shanshan was so angry that her nose almost went crooked.

It was one thing for this woman to ignore her question, but then she went and asked Shen Yan something like that.

Shen Yan was caught off guard by the question and was momentarily too stunned to respond.

It was Feng Shanshan who answered for her.

“Ex-girlfriend, thanks.”

Thus, the conversation became strangely awkward.

Feng Shanshan asked Yang Ming a question.

Yang Ming ignored her and instead questioned Shen Yan.

Shen Yan didn’t answer, so Feng Shanshan responded on her behalf.

Only then did Yang Ming glance at Feng Shanshan, which made Feng Shanshan even angrier.

Yang Ming seemed to realize her mistake and said to Feng Shanshan, “Sorry, I hadn’t seen you before.

But I have seen your friend accompany Zhong Cheng to class, so I thought they were still together.”

Feng Shanshan’s tone was sharp.

“They broke up, they broke up ages ago.

Stop spreading rumors.”

Yang Ming immediately apologized.

“Sorry, I didn’t know.”

But Feng Shanshan wasn’t ready to let the topic go just yet.

“The campus beauty doesn’t know why they broke up?”

For a split second, an awkward expression flashed across Yang Ming’s face.

But she quickly recovered with a smile and shook her head.

“I didn’t even know they broke up, so how would I know the reason?”

Feng Shanshan: …

She was so frustrated she could hardly think straight.

She had just given Yang Ming the perfect loophole to slip through.

Her expression remained full of annoyance.

Shen Yan, however, was already convinced by Yang Ming’s words.

She had always felt that Zhong Cheng’s interest in Yang Ming was one-sided.

Even though Zhong Cheng had claimed that Yang Ming had promised to help him get into Huaxin, what could Yang Ming possibly gain from that?

A guy who had a girlfriend?

A guy who couldn’t even afford an apartment in S City?

Even after their breakup, the only advantage Shen Yan could think of about Zhong Cheng was that he saved her a seat at the library.

Clearly, Yang Ming wouldn’t need someone to do that for her.

If Yang Ming did help Zhong Cheng get into Huaxin, it was probably just out of old classmate camaraderie, and Zhong Cheng had completely misunderstood her intentions.

Shen Yan tugged at Feng Shanshan’s sleeve, signaling for her to let it go.

Feng Shanshan still felt stifled, but since this was a university alumni gathering, she swallowed her anger and asked, “Fine, whatever.

Did he get into Huaxin?”

Yang Ming replied, “Yes.”

The tense atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit.

Just as everyone thought the situation had calmed down

“So what was the reason for the breakup?”

A gossipy voice suddenly cut through the air.

Yu Xinnian and Yang Ming were from the same department but not the same class.

He had been trying to recall who Zhong Cheng was but couldn’t put a face to the name.

Feng Shanshan: !!!

Shen Yan: …

This guy is kind of annoying, isn’t he?

Feng Shanshan felt like her entire perception of Yu Xinnian had shattered over this dinner.

She used to think he was a decent person, but that was probably just the “suspension bridge effect” from their job interviews.

In a high-stress environment, he was the only familiar face, chatting with her and easing her nerves.

And the fact that he was also her competitor but still acted friendly made him seem especially charming.

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.

She snapped, “Shut up.”

Yu Xinnian seemed to realize that his question was inappropriate.

He obediently shut his mouth.

Just then, a few more guys arrived.

They were from the Computer Science department, all programmers working on various projects at Lu Corporation.

Shen Yan didn’t know any of them.

Once everyone had arrived, the atmosphere became lively.

This private room had it all hot pot, a grill for barbecue, and even karaoke.

Everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

Shen Yan originally didn’t plan to drink, but she got carried away listening to Xing Ning and Qian Xiafeng’s finance department gossip and ended up drinking along with them.

Xing Ning, after just one bottle of beer, was already getting excited.

She mysteriously gestured for them to lean in.

“Have you guys heard any gossip about Assistant Zhou?”

Shen Yan was instantly intrigued.

“No.”

“I wanted to ask when you guys mentioned him earlier, but I didn’t get a chance.”

Xing Ning was practically buzzing with excitement.

“Do you know why he still doesn’t have a girlfriend?”

Shen Yan blinked.

“I didn’t even know he didn’t have one, let alone that he’s been single all this time.”

Qian Xiafeng guessed, “Maybe the people around him are too intimidating?”

Shen Yan was curious.

“What do you mean?”

Qian Xiafeng explained, “You guys know that Assistant Zhou and President Lu were classmates, right?”

“I know.

They were also from A University, from the same School of Economics and Management.”

Shen Yan counted on her fingers.

“They graduated four years before us, so the year they finished was the year we entered.”

Qian Xiafeng nodded.

“Right, right.

Didn’t you hear about their legendary stories when you started school?”

Shen Yan and Feng Shanshan both shook their heads.

Shen Yan felt a little embarrassed to admit that she only knew about Lu Corporation because Chai Ya had a crush on the top student from their business school.

Qian Xiafeng explained, “Apparently, the four of them from the same dorm started a company, Shen Yu Technology, while they were still undergrads.

You guys never heard of this?

The founders of Shen Yu Technology were four students from A University.

It was pretty big news.”

Shen Yan and Feng Shanshan really had no idea.

Maybe because they were from different majors, they just never paid attention.

Qian Xiafeng continued, “By the time they graduated, two of the four roommates decided to go their own ways one went home to inherit a hospital, and the other became a trust-fund baby.

Meanwhile, President Lu’s family wanted him to take over Lu Corporation.

So they arranged for Lu Corporation to acquire Shen Yu Technology, which allowed Lu Corporation to break into the internet and tech industry.”

With her limited knowledge of corporate law, Shen Yan asked, “So Assistant Zhou went from being a shareholder to being an employee?”

Qian Xiafeng shrugged.

“We don’t know the exact terms of the acquisition.

But if he was willing to become President Lu’s assistant, I’m sure he wasn’t shortchanged.”

Shen Yan found that reasonable.

She turned to Xing Ning.

“So why is he still single?”

Xing Ning winked at her.

“No idea.

Why don’t you tell us?”

Shen Yan: ?

Xing Ning teased, “You’ve been in the President’s Office for a week already!

You spend every day with Assistant Zhou!

Haven’t you noticed anything?”

Shen Yan thought about it carefully.

Aside from that slightly odd encounter on her first morning, Zhou Xing had seemed completely normal.

She guessed, “Maybe he works too much?

He’s stuck in a 996 work schedule and has no time for dating?”

Even though she had only been at Lu Corporation for a week, Shen Yan could already tell that Vice President Fan didn’t respect President Lu or his faction.

There was definitely serious conflict between them.

And since Zhou Xing was President Lu’s right-hand man, his position at the company probably wasn’t an easy one.

Xing Ning nodded.

“That’s possible.

But I heard he never dated anyone in college either.”

Feng Shanshan translated, “So he’s never had a relationship in his entire life?”

Xing Ning nodded.

Shen Yan was utterly shocked.

She now had a newfound respect for her colleagues’ gossiping abilities.

“How did you even find out about this?!”

Xing Ning put on a mysterious expression.

“There are no secrets in our company.”

Seeing Shen Yan’s surprised face, Qian Xiafeng explained, “Our manager seems to be quite familiar with Assistant Zhou.

He was joking with him once, and we happened to overhear.”

Feng Shanshan processed the information.

“…But according to what you’re saying, when Shen Yu Technology was acquired, he must have gotten a lot of money.

His job might be tough, but his salary must be high.

He’s tall, decent-looking why doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

Her question left everyone in silence.

“Unless… he and… President Lu?”

Sherlock Holmes once said that when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

The moment Shen Yan said this, she regretted it.

Had she just spread an unnecessary rumor?

Besides, Zhou Xing had been really helpful to her at work.

“No, no, I’m just making things up,” she quickly added.

But Qian Xiafeng smacked her thigh in excitement.

“That actually makes sense!”

Shen Yan sobered up instantly.

“What makes sense?!”

Qian Xiafeng leaned in.

“Didn’t you just ask me why Assistant Zhou would go from being a shareholder to a regular employee?

What was he after?”

Shen Yan followed her train of thought.

“…Love?”

Qian Xiafeng immediately high-fived her.

The moment Shen Yan said it, she wished she could cover her mouth.

Why couldn’t she just keep quiet?

Feng Shanshan rolled her eyes dramatically.

Ever since she heard Yu Xinnian mention that Shen Yan always ate lunch with Zhou Xing, she had been evaluating their compatibility in her mind.

And here Shen Yan was, jumping straight to the conclusion that Zhou Xing might be gay.

Xing Ning added, “Now that I think about it, I heard somewhere that the last time President Lu rejected the Huaxin princess, he said he already had someone.”

Shen Yan turned to look at Yang Ming, who was singing with Li Hefeng, and whispered, “Huaxin princess?

You mean Yang Ming?”

Xing Ning waved her hand.

“No, no.

You weren’t here yet, so you wouldn’t know.

I mean the real princess.”

Shen Yan was confused.

But Feng Shanshan caught on quickly.

“Yang Ming is just a distant relative of Huaxin’s owners.”

Xing Ning nodded.

“Yes.

The one who interned in the President’s Office was the chairman of Huaxin’s second daughter.

She joined specifically for President Lu.

She worked for about two months, but after getting rejected, she supposedly left his office crying.

Someone asked her about it, and she got upset, saying no one told her that President Lu was taken.”

Hearing this, Qian Xiafeng also remembered.

“Old Shen, no one ever told you?

Before you joined, the President’s Office was filled with people who had connections.”

Shen Yan felt a pang of guilt.

She was a connection hire.

She felt unworthy of being called “Old Shen” in this gossip circle.

Qian Xiafeng continued, “Apparently, most of the people who got in had their sights set on President Lu.”

Xing Ning added, “Yeah, maybe HR finally had enough, so this year they hired a proper intern.”

Shen Yan recalled that on her first day, Zhou Xing had purposely taken her to President Lu’s office.

Was that to check if she had any intentions toward him?

No way, right?

She quickly steered the conversation back.

“So, if President Lu isn’t single, why is Assistant Zhou still single?”

Qian Xiafeng smirked.

“Well, maybe Assistant Zhou isn’t actually single.”

Xing Ning was also convinced now.

“Old Shen, you see President Lu every day.

Tell us, does he have a girlfriend?”

Shen Yan refused to spread any more rumors.

“I’ll observe carefully every day from now on and try to find out.”

She thought to herself, I’m working so hard just to clear Assistant Zhou’s name.

Xing Ning grinned.

“Good.

Having someone in the President’s Office feels great.”

Qian Xiafeng agreed.

While the four of them were deeply engaged in office gossip, the others were singing their hearts out.

Some even got dice from the staff to play drinking games.

“Old Shen, Old Xing, come have a drink with us!”

Yu Xinnian stood on stage with a microphone, calling them over.

Yang Ming also noticed the four of them sitting separately in the corner.

“Or we could all play Truth or Dare?”

This was exactly why Shen Yan avoided social gatherings.

She hated playing games like this with people she wasn’t close to.

Feng Shanshan knew Shen Yan wouldn’t want to participate, so she spoke up.

“Can’t.

We’ve had too much to drink.”

A guy chimed in.

“That’s the best time to play!”

Yang Ming hadn’t really believed them until she walked closer and noticed the pile of empty beer bottles next to them.

She was stunned.

“You guys drank 18 bottles of beer between the four of you?!”

The moment she said that, Yu Xinnian rushed over with the mic in hand and counted the bottles.

“…Seventeen, eighteen…

And there are still two more on the table.

Wow, never judge a book by its cover!”