Chapter 12#
Chapter 12#
Vice President Sun had joined Wencheng for a relatively short time and had not yet cultivated enough mutual trust with Zhang Xingchuan. This was a potential disadvantage for both his own and Wencheng’s development.
Therefore, Zhang Xingchuan had always been proactive in establishing a good relationship with this partner.
Vice President Sun was just suspicious and loved “darkly crawling” (acting out of bitterness/eccentricity); he wasn’t actually stupid. After more contact, he could understand Zhang Xingchuan’s intentions. The two of them could be said to be actively working toward a “two-way rush” in their professional relationship.
However, Vice President Sun lacked talent in socializing, and even his after-the-fact efforts missed the mark, presenting an embarrassing situation where the more he tried, the more hilarious it became.
Tan Xiao had been with Vice President Sun for more than half a month and thought Vice President Sun was a decent person because he was upright and open when doing practical work.
But he was truly poor at interpersonal interactions—unable to read the room and saying stupid things he thought were humorous.
Zhang Xingchuan was undoubtedly a social butterfly, and every time he faced Vice President Sun, he could only sigh in frustration—he tried his best, but he just couldn’t “carry” him.
Vice President Sun could often make a scene very awkward single-handedly, and even when there was a silence, he couldn’t figure out why. Tan Xiao often had to help “save the scene” when he was around.
The colleague group loved to joke: “It’s as hard as climbing to heaven for ‘Noble Sun’ (a concubine rank) to get promoted, but keeping the favor is simple—just don’t let the CEO see his face.”
In the group now, when the new returnee master’s student Secretary Feng is mentioned, it’s assumed he is the CEO’s latest favorite.
According to the descriptions in the group, this Secretary Feng is a serious worker with quite a temper, perhaps not very smooth in personality? Anyway, after meeting Vice President Sun a few times, they both disliked each other.
Since Secretary Feng could reach the rank of “Daying” (a lowly concubine rank), he was naturally ready to “respond” (the literal meaning of daying) by the CEO’s side at any time. Occasionally, he would also act as a mouthpiece for the CEO. He had passed messages to Vice President Sun several times, and for some reason, each time he managed to make Vice President Sun extremely angry—last time he kicked the wall plaster, and this time he smashed a paper cup.
The colleague group made a sharp-tongued summary of this incident: “Noble Sun lost his favor to Feng Daying, had his face brushed off by a cleaning matron, and finally had his ‘jade foot’ smashed by an unseeing glass door. Noble Sun was in great pain, alas.”
“…” Tan Xiao was truly going to burst out laughing from these bored and sharp-tongued former colleagues.
That evening, by the tennis court, Tan Xiao said goodbye to several fellow students he had randomly met in the afternoon. After playing for an afternoon, he felt physically and mentally refreshed.
On his phone, which he had left by the court, there were missed calls and messages.
Zhang Xingchuan: Off work, off work.
Zhang Xingchuan: Where are you? Are you still looking at the flowers?
These were messages from half an hour ago.
Tan Xiao immediately replied: I was playing tennis just now.
After sending it, he took a water bottle and drank some water, intending to ask Zhang Xingchuan what he was doing and when he would be free lately.
Zhang Xingchuan’s call came first.
Tan Xiao answered and asked with a smile, “Eh? Is the CEO not busy today?”
Zhang Xingchuan also said with a smile, “Is Dr. Tan not busy today? How do you have time for tennis?”
Tan Xiao said, “Dr. Tan is no longer busy. Dr. Tan is going to ‘gap’ for a month.”
Zhang Xingchuan was quiet for a few seconds before asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Tan Xiao heard the concern and said, “Brother, I’m a ‘salted fish.’ A salted fish just wants to ‘gap’.”
Zhang Xingchuan was still on his way back to the company. He checked his wristwatch and thought about the evening’s arrangements. There was an online meeting at six, with nothing major to discuss; it would finish in an hour at most.
“I’m almost back at the company,” Zhang Xingchuan suggested. “Want to come play at Wencheng?”
Holding the phone in one hand, Tan Xiao was about to pack his racket with the other. Hearing this, he held the racket and gave it a spin.
He wanted to go.
Zhang Xingchuan added, “Also come see our flowers.”
Tan Xiao couldn’t resist; he really wanted to go.
“Is it appropriate?” he said. “It’s been more than a month since I left Wencheng.”
Zhang Xingchuan issued a one-on-one invitation over the phone: “Wencheng is a warm big family, always welcoming every traveler who left home. You should ‘come home’ and visit often.”
“…” Tan Xiao laughed out loud and said, “President, learn something good from Teacher AI.”
He had to go back to shower and change clothes. The two agreed to meet at the company later. Zhang Xingchuan hung up the phone.
The new administrative secretary of the CEO’s office had also gone to the meeting today. Now this Secretary Feng was sitting in the front row of the business car. He waited until the CEO in the back finished his call before turning his head to remind him: “The online meeting with two directors starts at six o’clock sharp.”
“I remember.” Zhang Xingchuan was in a bright mood, and his expression was much more relaxed and happy than before.
Secretary Feng said nothing more and remained silent. He was certainly much more discerning than Vice President Sun, knowing when to speak and when to keep quiet.
Zhang Xingchuan indeed intended to cultivate this young talent.
Among the current staff in the CEO’s office, besides special assistant Jiaxin, the other administrative staff were also steady and reliable but relatively average in aptitude and hard to use for major tasks. So far, this new Secretary Feng seemed good in all aspects, and Zhang Xingchuan planned to give him more opportunities.
After returning to the company, Zhang Xingchuan sent another message to ask Tan Xiao roughly when he would arrive.
The road was very congested at this time, so Tan Xiao was coming by subway.
He said: On the subway, about half an hour.
Zhang Xingchuan: I’ll quickly have a small meeting. Wait for me a bit after you arrive.
Tan Xiao: Can I go into your office to see the flowers?
Zhang Xingchuan: Yes, ask Secretary Feng to open the door for you.
Zhang Xingchuan went to the meeting.
Secretary Feng received his instructions and, after half an hour, picked up Tan Xiao downstairs.
“Hello,” Tan Xiao said. “Where’s Sister Jiaxin? Is she not here?”
Secretary Feng said, “She’s on a business trip.”
Tan Xiao nodded. Seeing that he was cold, he didn’t speak further.
Upon arriving at the CEO’s office, several colleagues working overtime saw Tan Xiao and greeted him enthusiastically.
Tan Xiao chatted briefly with them and, not wanting to disturb their overtime, found an empty seat near Zhang Xingchuan’s office to sit.
He soon discovered that Secretary Feng’s workstation was his old spot from when he was an intern in the CEO’s office.
When his workstation was being arranged back then, he saw an empty spot here and told the administrator he could sit here.
Later, when he became familiar with Jiaxin, she told him that no one liked to sit in this spot before because it happened to face the side of the CEO’s desk. Whoever sat here would be “monitored” by the CEO from all angles.
Tan Xiao looked at the CEO’s office again. Zhang Xingchuan had gone to the conference room for the online meeting, and the room behind the glass partition was empty.
The flowers on the desk were blooming quietly. Butterfly orchids have a very long flowering period; a single bloom can last up to two or three months. Now the butterfly-like flowers on the stems were still the old acquaintances Tan Xiao had seen—the plant was living well, and the flowers were blooming well.
Tan Xiao didn’t ask to enter the CEO’s office.
Secretary Feng was organizing the meeting minutes from the day. Actually, he had finished them long ago, but to avoid interacting with someone who had “E” (extrovert) written all over his face like Tan Xiao, he pretended to be incredibly busy.
He had already observed Tan Xiao for a bit. He was also a bit curious: who exactly was this youthful and handsome college guy? Could a former intern who had already left truly be this close to the CEO?
He didn’t quite understand, but there must be a reason for the CEO’s actions.
Tan Xiao had very good eyesight and could see the work document on Secretary Feng’s screen.
He saw that Secretary Feng’s notes were very serious but also very rigid; Secretary Feng seemed like a meticulous, stubborn person. Meanwhile, Vice President Sun was very aggressive and adventurous in his work.
It was too normal for “Feng Daying” and “Noble Sun” not to get along—two personalities that were naturally mutually exclusive.
In the reflection at the edge of his computer screen, Secretary Feng discovered Tan Xiao was peeking. He leaned slightly to block the screen.
Tan Xiao: “…”
Tan Xiao was sometimes a bit rebellious. When Secretary Feng picked him up downstairs, he had been blunt and had hardly spoken to him after coming upstairs.
Now he just had to tease Secretary Feng and have a good talk with him.
“This spot where you’re sitting, this used to be my workstation,” Tan Xiao said. “This computer—I even applied to administration for a new one.”
Secretary Feng didn’t look back or respond.
Tan Xiao said, “Have you heard them mention it? I interned at Wencheng for two months during the winter break.”
Secretary Feng, the “I” (introvert) person, continued to play deaf and mute.
Tan Xiao said, “Secretary Feng, what did you do for work?”
Three black lines appeared on the back of Secretary Feng’s head.
Tan Xiao said, “I mean before you came to Wencheng.”
Having been singled out for a conversation, Secretary Feng had no choice but to reply, “Worked in Shanghai for a while, also at an internet company.”
Tan Xiao said, “Then do you think life in Shanghai is more comfortable, or is Beijing better?”
Secretary Feng said, “Both are fine.”
Tan Xiao said, “Beijing is just a bit dry, and the wind is too strong.”
Secretary Feng said, “Yes.”
“Where are you from?” Tan Xiao said. “I’m from Zhejiang.”
Secretary Feng paused, became a bit interested, and finally turned around, saying, “I’m also from Zhejiang.”
He mentioned the name of a city in Zhejiang, but Tan Xiao looked completely blank.
“I’ve only been to Hangzhou.” Tan Xiao was truly a bit apologetic now and said, “I actually don’t know Zhejiang very well.”
Secretary Feng lost interest again and said, “Mm.”
“I have plans to go and explore Zhejiang deeply after I graduate, and I’ll visit your hometown then too. The name is so beautiful; it must be a good place.” Tan Xiao was sincere when he said this, not intending to tease.
“It’s okay.” Secretary Feng asked him, “What year are you in?”
Tan Xiao said, “I’m in my third year of PhD.”
Secretary Feng suspected he had misheard and said, “Ah?”
Tan Xiao said, “I’m a third-year PhD student in Finance at Tsinghua.”
“…” Secretary Feng said, “Oh.”
Zhang Xingchuan finally finished his meeting, and Secretary Feng was finally saved.
“President.” Secretary Feng stood up with a start, looking a bit excited.
“?” Zhang Xingchuan looked at him in confusion.
Tan Xiao looked innocent beside him and said, “I had a very pleasant chat with Secretary Feng. We’re even from the same province.”
Zhang Xingchuan understood: Secretary Feng the “I” person had been used as a toy.
“What a coincidence?” Zhang Xingchuan joined the game and said, “Then why don’t you two add each other on WeChat and keep in touch?”
Secretary Feng was about to crumble.
Fortunately, Tan Xiao didn’t take the opportunity to suggest adding on WeChat.
“Come here.” Zhang Xingchuan gestured for Tan Xiao to follow him into his office.
Once inside and with the door closed, Zhang Xingchuan finally said, “In just a short while, you were about to break my new secretary.”
Tan Xiao put his hands in his pockets and made a defiant face.
He didn’t truly have a malicious habit of teasing introverts; he insisted on chatting with Secretary Feng partly because Secretary Feng was a bit impolitely cold, and partly because he was curious about what kind of new employee had caught Zhang Xingchuan’s eye.
He seemed just average.
Zhang Xingchuan had attended a very solemn meeting today, so he was dressed very formally, even wearing a dark blue silk tie.
He took off his suit jacket and hung it casually on the coat rack nearby. Underneath, he wore a white business shirt. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and very long legs. Wearing just the shirt and trousers highlighted his curves even more, giving off a sense of tension.
Tan Xiao was of a similar height, but his shoulder width and chest circumference were probably about a size smaller. Seeing him look exceptionally good even in such an “old man’s” shirt, he felt a bit envious—why weren’t these beautiful pectoral muscles his own?
“Come look at the flowers,” Zhang Xingchuan called him to the desk. “See how well I’ve been taking care of them?”
Tan Xiao walked over, leaned over slightly, and examined the flowers up close. They indeed looked even more vibrant; he was very satisfied.
Zhang Xingchuan leaned his head slightly to the side to observe him. He was wearing the new jacket Zhang Xingchuan had given him last time. The color was fresh, and the person looked refined, pleasing to the eye to the extreme.
Tan Xiao looked up at him, and their eyes met.
Zhang Xingchuan laughed and said, “Zaizai, have you lost weight?”
“Not really,” Tan Xiao stood up straight and said. “I’ve been eating and sleeping all week. If I could lose weight like this, it would definitely make Sister Jiaxin faint with anger.”
Zhang Xingchuan said, “Jiaxin is away on a business trip; you won’t see her today.”
“I heard.” Tan Xiao said, “Isn’t she the CEO’s special assistant? Why did she go on a business trip by herself?”
Zhang Xingchuan said happily, “She can handle things on her own now, so she should get more exercise.”
He was a very typical ENFJ. He enjoyed the process of helping others achieve success, was good at self-expression, always attracted people who resonated with him, and would infect and inspire every follower with continuous enthusiasm.
Tan Xiao wasn’t a follower in his career, but he identified with the followers’ thoughts—Zhang Xingchuan was quite charming.