PB - Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Shen Shoucheng was assigned to Qiao Qi, so Shen Shouxin naturally went with Jin Zhihuan. Both were given the position of ordinary assistant. Since President Shen was an elder, the final arrangement followed his wishes. Qiao Qi had a good impression of Shen Shoucheng. When Qi Er was boasting about the Data Analysis Center, Shen Shouxin was the only one naive enough to show her impatience, while Shen Shoucheng had maintained a state of attentive listening.
After the arrangements were settled, President Shen left Ruifeng. Shen Shouxin remained on the top floor, while Shen Shoucheng followed Qiao Qi to the thirty-fourth floor. Before entering her office, Qiao Qi asked Yao Qiu to come in as well.
“This is Miss Shen from Changfa, Shen Shoucheng.” Qiao Qi introduced them. “This is my secretary, Yao Qiu. Starting today, Miss Shen will be my assistant. Where's Yangpu?”
“He went to the branch office.”
Qiao Qi nodded in understanding. “In that case, Yao Qiu, please take Miss Shen on a tour of the departments first to familiarize her with the group.” She then said to Shen Shoucheng with a hint of apology, “I really should be the one to take you myself.” She pointed to her desk, her tone helpless. “I'm just too busy. I'll have to trouble Miss Shen to go with my secretary for now. Is that alright?”
“That's alright, President Qiao. Please, go ahead with your work.”
The office door hadn't even closed before Qiao Qi was already immersed in her work. Yao Qiu led Shen Shoucheng on a tour, introducing each floor from top to bottom. Along the way, they ran into Jin Zhihuan, who was personally showing Shen Shouxin out of the marketing department. Jin Zhihuan glanced at Yao Qiu but said nothing. He offered a few words of concern to Shen Shoucheng before leading Shen Shouxin to the next department.
“Miss Shen, are there any snacks you particularly like, or do you have any special dietary requirements? I can have someone prepare them in advance.” Each floor of the group had a break room with snacks and drinks for employees to relax. In comparison, the break room on the thirty-fourth floor was the most spartan, with very few snacks besides coffee and tea. Even the ones they had were mostly healthy foods.
“That's alright, I can buy my own.” Shen Shoucheng thought for a moment and then voiced her request. “Secretary Yao, could you take me to see the Data Analysis Center?”
“The Data Analysis Center isn't in the main group building. Because of its research projects, it's located over by the university town. If Miss Shen wants to go, you might have to wait until I've finished my work for the day.”
“Then don't worry about it. Secretary Yao, let's continue.”
Yao Qiu's introductions were detailed and not at all perfunctory. By the time they had toured all the major and minor departments, it was quitting time. Back on the thirty-fourth floor, Yao Qiu knocked on Qiao Qi's office door. Qiao Qi looked up from her work and asked, “How was the tour?”
Shen Shoucheng stood obediently. “Ruifeng is truly massive.”
A warm smile graced Qiao Qi's face. “It's too late today, so I won't assign you any work. Miss Shen, you can head home.”
Shen Shoucheng nodded. Shouxin had finished long ago; her phone had buzzed several times, likely with messages from her urging her to hurry up. She said goodbye to Qiao Qi and left Ruifeng.
After she left, Qiao Qi asked, “What's going on with Qi Er at the Data Analysis Center?”
“It seems Vice Supervisor Zhao found him to be an eyesore and publicly berated him a little. It probably made him lose face again.”
“Call them and let them know. Qi Er is a senior supervisor in the group, after all. They should give him some face in public.”
“Alright, I'll do it now.”
The feud between Qi Er and the Data Analysis Center began several years ago. The first time Qi Er sent someone to the center, they were driven away. Qi Er didn't think much of it at first. But then his assistant of many years returned and told him that a math problem asking for a correlation coefficient was posted outside the center. The answer was the password to the door, and a note said the people inside were too busy to come open it. The furious assistant pounded on the glass door for a long time, but no one paid him any mind.
Later, Qi Er went in person. The door opened, and he was quite pleased with himself. He summoned the director, vice director, and all the team leaders to a meeting, where he gloated and rambled off-topic for over half an hour.
Just as Qi Er was getting into the swing of his speech, the center's director, Ning Song, tossed his work badge onto the middle of the conference table and looked at him expressionlessly. “If you don't leave now, I'll resign.”
Qi Er tried to pull rank, slamming the table, glaring, and shouting in the conference room. But before he could get more than a few words out, the other team leaders threw down their badges one by one. Qi Er was stunned. He calmed down, claimed it was all a joke, and tried his best to maintain a calm facade, but inwardly he was panicking. If these people left, the Data Analysis Center would be finished. When the board of directors investigated the reason, he would be the one to suffer. He had no choice but to leave the center, muttering curses under his breath.
Whether it was because he was unwilling to give up on the cash cow that was the Data Analysis Center, or because he wanted to put on a show for outsiders, Qi Er still visited the center periodically. Most of the time, he was left to sit alone in an office. Occasionally, he would try to talk to one or two people, hoping to win them over, but he never knew where to start. As a result, his resentment grew deeper and deeper.
That evening, Jin Zhilan arranged a get-together. She went to the Rongfang building and cornered Gu Jianchu just as she was getting off work. With Qi Simiao's help, they managed to drag Gu Jianchu along. Qi Simiao called Jin Zhilan “auntie,” but they were close in age. At the dinner table, the two of them openly discussed the Shen family's arrangements from that day.
Gu Jianchu casually listened as Qiao Qi's name came up. The Shen family must have investigated Qiao Qi's background before making such an arrangement. Qiao Qi had her sights set on Shenzhen, and the Shen family delivered themselves to her doorstep. It was truly enviable.
Someone started talking about Gu Jianchu's business persona. Jin Zhilan laughed. “Our Jianchu is a famous rising star in the business world.” She continued, with a tone that was hard to read, “She's also famous for being ruthless and decisive—she eats people up and doesn't even spit out the bones.”
Gu Jianchu never bothered to refute such comments, merely offering a faint smile. When she smiled, those who were interested in her felt she was seducing them, their minds reeling—especially Qi Simiao. Qi Simiao had slept with Gu Jianchu once or twice and had gotten a taste for it, becoming completely infatuated. But Gu Jianchu acted as if nothing had ever happened, carrying on as usual, which left Qi Simiao both annoyed and resentful.
Gu Jianchu wasn't one for frivolity. She only came out for gatherings like this for an occasional change of pace. Most of her time was spent buried in work. When she needed to relax, she would stay by herself at North Courtyard. In her eyes, maintaining necessary friendships with certain people was also a form of work.
Within the group, the power struggle between her and her eldest uncle had come out into the open. The older generation clung to the group's traditional business model and held a deeply conservative attitude toward modern industries. Gu Jianchu's bold and decisive reforms were seen as radical in their eyes, and her uncle used this point to lobby the board of directors to suppress her.
But Gu Jianchu had her own extraordinary talents. Her insight into emerging industries was exceptionally sharp. Her investments in recent years had all been profitable, and she had even developed the group's most popular new business sector. This had led to a polarization within the group, and over the past year, the board's attitude had started to become ambiguous.
Her rise to the top was only a matter of time. Once the moment was right, Rongfang would inevitably undergo a major personnel shake-up. And she was like a hunter, her eyes fixed on every piece of prey that crossed her path. Around nine o'clock, Gu Jianchu stood up to leave. Stepping out of the warm room and into the cold Beijing winter, the little bit of alcohol she had drunk seemed to freeze away instantly. She walked quickly to her car and drove off.
The next day, Shen Shoucheng arrived ten minutes before the official start time. When she reached the thirty-fourth floor, Yao Qiu was already at her desk. She glanced at Qiao Qi's office. The door blocked her view, but she assumed the person inside was also working.
Seeing her arrive, Yao Qiu led her to a newly set-up desk and said apologetically, “Yangpu still doesn't have time to show you around today. President Qiao has instructed you to start by looking over the marketing department's analysis data from the past month.”
Shen Shoucheng was a little surprised. Internal company data usually involved corporate secrets. She hadn't expected Qiao Qi to be willing to show her these things. She nodded and said, “That's fine.”
Ruifeng was truly massive. Just two weeks' worth of analysis reports filled her entire desk. At noon, Shouxin came to get her for lunch and was shocked to see her desk piled high with documents. After a quick meal in the company cafeteria, the busy Shen Shoucheng ignored her sister's desire to chat and slipped back to the thirty-fourth floor while she wasn't looking.
The door to Qiao Qi's office was still shut tight, showing no sign of having been opened. She stared for a moment, wondering if anyone was even inside. Her curiosity lasted less than two minutes before the intercom on Yao Qiu's desk lit up. She followed Secretary Yao to the break room and was surprised to see her return with a glass of milk.
Shen Shoucheng spent her first day at Ruifeng in a serious and fulfilling manner. On the second day, she still didn't get to meet the legendary Special Assistant Xu, but the reports on her desk were enough to keep her busy for days. Besides, this was valuable material. After just one day, she was not only impressed by Ruifeng's professionalism but had also gained many insights herself.
“Miss Shen, President Qiao has a partnership meeting this afternoon. She asked me to see if you'd be willing to go with her.”
Shen Shoucheng looked up from the reports, not comprehending at first. After Yao Qiu's words registered, she nodded quickly and said, “I'm willing.” After speaking, she felt a little embarrassed.
Shen Shoucheng wasn't very old, so her reaction seemed particularly endearing to Yao Qiu, who smiled. “Alright, I'll go tell President Qiao right now.”
At noon, Qiao Qi came out of her office. “Miss Shen, have you had lunch yet? Shall we go eat out together?” Once again, Shen Shoucheng only nodded in response after a moment of stunned silence.
Shenzhen was a coastal city, so Qiao Qi thoughtfully took Shen Shoucheng for seafood. The few dishes she ordered on her own initiative all turned out to be Shen Shoucheng's favorites. Rumors aside, Shen Shoucheng actually quite liked Ruifeng's Vice President Qiao. Qiao Qi spoke very little, but when she did, she would have a serene smile on her face, and her soft, gentle voice always made one want to hear her say more.
Seeing that she was only having plain congee, Shen Shoucheng asked with confusion, “Is the food here not to your liking, Vice President Qiao?”
“I'm not very hungry, so congee is fine.” Qiao Qi's gaze was gentle, and her tone was apologetic. “I was too busy yesterday to take proper care of you. I hope you're adjusting well here, Miss Shen.”
Shen Shoucheng felt her face grow warm, and her tone became a little unnatural. “No trouble, no trouble at all. I can take care of myself.”
“Alright.” Qiao Qi turned a dish she liked toward her. “If you need anything, telling me or Yao Qiu is the same. I heard you're interested in the Data Analysis Center. How about I have Yao Qiu take you there for a look tomorrow?”
“Thank you, President Qiao.”
“You're too kind, Miss Shen.”
A moment of silence fell. Shen Shoucheng ate quietly, her mind on other things, and her movements slowed. Perceptive as she was, Qiao Qi naturally noticed and took the initiative to ask, “Miss Shen, is there anything else you need?”
Shen Shoucheng looked directly at Qiao Qi, hesitant and a bit shy. “President Qiao, next time, please don't ask for my opinion. I'm your assistant now. If there's anything you need, just give me the order.”
Qiao Qi had thought she might be complaining that the work was too much or too difficult, but she was actually complaining about her politeness. Qiao Qi readily agreed, “Alright.”
“Also, please stop calling me Miss Shen. You can call me Shoucheng.” Shen Shoucheng thought for a moment, feeling that was perhaps not formal enough and too intimate, then added, “You can also call me Xiao Shen.”
A smile touched Qiao Qi's brow. “I think I'll call you Shoucheng.”
“Okay.” With one matter settled, she still had other questions. As she hesitated whether to speak, Qiao Qi waited patiently. Finally, Shen Shoucheng mustered her courage and asked, “Those reports you gave me are very important to Ruifeng. Why were you willing to let me see them and even take me to a partnership meeting?”
Shen Shoucheng's confusion puzzled Qiao Qi at first, but then she slowly understood. “Because these are all skills you'll need to master in the future. Isn't this what your father asked me to teach you?”
These words surprised and moved Shen Shoucheng. She thought back to her conversation with Shouxin after work yesterday. She learned that not only did Shouxin have her own private office, but she had also spent the entire day doing simple filing tasks. It was leisurely and uninteresting. Although Shouxin complained about being bored, her expression clearly showed she was pleased with it.
Although they had only known each other for a few days, being with Qiao Qi felt comfortable and reassuring. She was very glad her father had entrusted her to Qiao Qi, and even more glad about her own decision to insist on coming to Ruifeng.
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