New Client in the President’s Office - Chapter 24

Shen Yan stepped into the conference room and was surprised to find that the meeting was quite formal.

The conference table was a long rectangular one, with seats arranged neatly, each accompanied by a nameplate and a cup of tea.

She carefully examined the nameplates.

The main seats were occupied by representatives from government departments, with only one seat in the middle left empty.

Across the table were nameplates for several well-known companies in S City.

Behind the long table, a row of horizontal desks and chairs was set up.

Shen Yan quickly understood those seats were for assistants like her.

She chose a seat in the corner, placed her notebook on the table, and waited for the meeting to begin.

Once the leading officials took their seats, the host announced the start of the meeting.

This was Shen Yan’s first time attending a government meeting.

After taking multiple civil service exams, provincial exams, and public institution exams, this was the first time she was listening to those who had already passed them delivering reports.

She listened attentively, taking detailed notes on the meeting content and even learning from their phrasing.

Although she had no idea why Fan Mingxu had brought her here, she was definitely learning a lot.

After the government representatives finished speaking, it was time for the company representatives to present.

Fan Mingxu’s speech was the exact one she had forwarded three times without making a single edit.

After listening to the first corporate representative speak, she stopped taking notes.

She had to give herself some credit

Not to brag, but even though Fan Mingxu had sent the speech draft back three times, she hadn’t changed a single word.

And yet, she was sure her draft was better than what this guy was reading right now.

Since she no longer needed to take notes, she picked up her phone.

First, she checked WeChat for any missed messages.

Then she browsed through her social media feed to see if she had missed anything.

Finally, she opened Alipay to check on her virtual pet chicken.

After scaring off Feng Shanshan and Sun Qiongsi’s chickens, she noticed a red notification in her messages.

Thinking it was just a transaction reminder, she clicked on it.

But unexpectedly, it was a message from Zhong Cheng.

Zhong Cheng: Yanyan, for these government meetings, we’re really just here to make up the numbers.

You don’t have to take notes so seriously.

Shen Yan: ?

She had been careless.

She had blocked him on WeChat, Weibo, and even his phone number…

But she had forgotten about Alipay!

Alipay had a chat function too?!

She checked the timestamp he had sent the message after seeing her taking notes during the meeting.

God.

Why did he sound like he was trying to “teach” her?

Shen Yan started doubting her own judgment.

Was Zhong Cheng always like this before?

Her taste in men was really terrible.

She ignored him and swiftly deleted and blocked him on Alipay as well.

Then she deleted the entire chat.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Zhong Cheng kept glancing in her direction, puzzled by her lack of response.

He wasn’t sure what was wrong with him.

He was the one who initiated the breakup.

He knew that staying in S City as two outsiders with no solid footing was a dead-end.

Besides, when they broke up, Shen Yan didn’t even have a job yet.

They were just two broke college students.

He had feared that if she continued taking the civil service exams, he’d have to financially support her after graduation.

He hadn’t expected Shen Yan despite being socially anxious to silently apply to Lu Corporation and actually get hired.

That made him feel a little happy, but also a little uneasy.

He wasn’t sure how she had managed to get into Lu Corporation maybe HR had made a mistake.

But he worried that her personality would make her suffer in the workplace.

He wanted to find a chance to talk to her again.

Even if they couldn’t be a couple, they were still friends, right?

If Shen Yan faced any difficulties, he would definitely help her.

He hadn’t expected that she would block him on everything.

Only their Alipay connection remained, probably because she had forgotten about it.

Seeing that Shen Yan wasn’t replying, he figured that Alipay might not have sent her a notification.

Luckily, their companies were now neighbors, so he would have plenty of chances to find her.

After the meeting ended, Shen Yan followed Fan Mingxu out of the district government building.

Cheng Rong was already waiting at the gate.

She checked the time 4:45 PM.

At Teacher Cheng’s driving speed, they could be back at the company in just 20 minutes.

That was awkward.

If she weren’t riding with Fan Mingxu, she could just go home directly after reaching the office.

Fan Mingxu seemed to read her thoughts.

“Xiao Shen, when we get back, summarize today’s meeting.

I attended on behalf of President Lu, and I need to report to him first thing in the morning.”

Shen Yan’s heart sank.

If he was giving her this task now, it meant he expected a report tomorrow morning.

In other words she was working overtime today.

Her dream of leaving early was officially shattered.

But wait…

Wasn’t he supposed to be trying to recruit her?

Despite her internal complaints, she still obediently replied, “Okay.”

Hearing her well-behaved response, Fan Mingxu nodded in approval.

“Xiao Shen, Assistant Zhou values you, and I also want to mentor you.

Don’t be afraid of working late.

You’re single, aren’t you?”

Shen Yan: …

Where was this going?

“Since you’re single, you don’t have anything to do after work anyway.

Why not stay at the company and focus on your career?

Look at Assistant Zhou he’s not much older than you.

If you put in the effort…”

Shen Yan: …

Was he really trying to sell her a dream?

And didn’t he just say earlier that Zhou Xing was only successful because he got lucky and shared a dorm with Lu Yu?

Shen Yan held back her sarcastic thoughts and stayed silent.

The atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Sensing this, Cheng Rong finally spoke up.

“Director Fan, if you keep making her work overtime, when will she have time to find a boyfriend?”

Teacher Cheng!

Fan Mingxu paused, considering his words.

“That’s true.

We just received a ‘Responsible Employer’ award.

We should be contributing to marriage and birth rates.

Old Cheng, you have a point.

We hire so many young college graduates every year why not encourage them to date internally?”

Cheng Rong joked, “So they can work overtime together as a couple?”

Fan Mingxu clapped.

“Great idea!

Old Cheng, you’re my inspiration.”

Then he turned back to Shen Yan.

“Xiao Shen, write up a proposal for an internal company networking event.”

Shen Yan: ???

She hesitated.

“Director Fan… What about the uniform survey?”

How could he assign two new tasks in a single afternoon?

Wait.

Counting the meeting summary, that made three!

“Do the uniform survey first.

Once that’s done, move on to the networking event.”

Then, as if he had just remembered something, he added,

“That young guy with Director Yang earlier he looked like a recent graduate too.

Maybe we can collaborate with Huaxin Group on this.”

Shen Yan: …

Was he seriously eyeing Zhong Cheng for this?

Was Zhong Cheng haunting her or what?!

Zhong Cheng was haunting her.

Shen Yan worked an extra hour to complete the meeting summary.

Thankfully, she hadn’t listened to Zhong Cheng’s nonsense and had taken proper notes otherwise, she wouldn’t have finished in time.

Was he sent to sabotage her?!

After work, she grabbed dinner at the cafeteria.

Since it was still early and the company was near the river, she decided to take a ride on her electric bike to enjoy the evening breeze.

She bought a coffee, placed it in her bike’s basket, and rode toward the riverbank.

Sitting on a bench, she sipped her coffee and admired the rippling water.

It was peaceful.

Just as she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment, she opened them again

And saw someone she didn’t want to see.