Ji Ran’s university was in Beijing and because his internship was in another city, he had no choice but to rent a place to live.
Shanghai was notoriously expensive, with every inch of land worth a fortune. Even renting a single room in a shared apartment in the city center cost four to five thousand yuan a month. Ji Ran simply could not afford that, so he settled for a place along a subway line in the suburbs.
The commute from his residential complex to the company took an hour by subway. Although it was far away, at least he did not have to transfer lines, so his daily commute was not unbearably painful.
However, because the complex was close to a subway station, there were many office workers living there. The parcel lockers were practically overflowing all year round.
Ji Ran left home early and returned late every day, so he was rarely around when couriers came to deliver packages. He also could not make it to the Cainiao collection station before it closed, leaving him with no choice but to have his packages delivered to the company.
The clothes arrived on the morning of the third day and the package was sent to the company’s mailroom.
Taking advantage of the fact that the big boss had not arrived yet, Ji Ran hurried to the mailroom to collect his package.
He had ordered an original JK uniform from a shop with a fairly good reputation. He had originally intended to take it home before opening the package but to his horror, the name of the store was printed right there on the outside of the cardboard box. Worse still, the shipping label displayed his real name and the last few digits of his phone number.
Ji Ran: “……”
This was a little too embarrassing.
Fortunately, there were not many people in the mailroom that morning. Ji Ran hid in a corner and secretly began tearing at the shipping label, intending to destroy every trace of his personal information.
Unfortunately, the shipping label was stuck down more firmly than a couple in the throes of passionate love. Ji Ran picked at it for quite some time but he could not get it off.
Just as he finally managed to lift one corner, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
“Ji Ran, you’re here to pick up a package too?”
“Huh?” Ji Ran looked up somewhat frantically. He put a little too much force into his hand and failed once again. His full name and the last few digits of his phone number were still firmly printed on the box.
Ji Ran: “……”
Damn. He was seriously starting to feel like swearing.
The person who had spoken to him was Lu Ke, Han Shen’s personal assistant. He had a friendly appearance and an equally pleasant temperament. Of course, someone with a bad temper probably would not last long working under Han Shen anyway.
Fortunately, Lu Ke was not the gossiping type. Ji Ran quickly flipped the package over and answered that he was, successfully keeping himself from being exposed.
Lu Ke had come to collect a package for Han Shen. He gave the collection code to the staff, while Ji Ran lowered his head and continued picking at the shipping label.
By the time he finally managed to obliterate his personal information, Lu Ke happened to come out carrying the package.
Lu Ke was in a hurry to answer a phone call and when the precariously stacked parcel boxes began to wobble, Ji Ran reached out and steadied the package for him.
Lu Ke gave Ji Ran a grateful look, then said to the person on the other end of the phone, “Received. Yes, okay. I understand.”
Afterward, Lu Ke hung up with a serious expression and turned to Ji Ran. “Could you do me a favor?”
“Sure,” Ji Ran replied. “What do you need me to do?”
Lu Ke said, “Samuel is here. I need to go downstairs to meet him at the entrance. Could you help me take this package upstairs?”
It was hardly a difficult task. Ji Ran reached out and gathered the package into his arms, then asked curiously, “Wasn’t the boss in M Country on a business trip? He’s already back?”
Lu Ke lowered his voice and whispered, “I heard there was a problem with the Hecheng Intelligence project, so the boss rushed back overnight.”
Ji Ran knew a little about the project. Hecheng Intelligence was one of the leading artificial intelligence companies in the country and held multiple patents. It was currently preparing for an IPO.
Han Shen had represented Feng Sheng and fought his way through a whole group of investment banks to successfully secure the project. Ji Ran was not particularly surprised by that. After all, considering their boss’s terrible temper, if his professional abilities weren’t exceptionally strong, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on to such a position in the first place.
After securing the project, Han Shen had gone abroad on a business trip. Now that he had hurried back in such a rush, Ji Ran had no idea what had gone wrong with the project. He did not dare linger around chatting and said goodbye to Lu Ke before heading toward the elevator.
The morning rush had cost him some time. By the time Ji Ran returned to the office, executive assistant Asher had already arrived. The moment he saw Ji Ran, he immediately stood up and said, “There’s an emergency meeting in five minutes. Lu Ke is downstairs receiving the boss. Come with me and help set up the conference room.”
Ji Ran nodded. “I’ll put this down and come over.”
Asher glanced at the package box and simply said, “Put it on my desk for now. The meeting is about to start.”
Ji Ran had no choice but to leave the package on Asher’s desk before hurrying after him to set up the conference room.
Two minutes later, Asher raised his hand to check the time and said, “Samuel has arrived at the company. I’m going to prepare the meeting materials. Connect the computer to the projector.”
Another two minutes passed.
Ji Ran had just finished testing the equipment when the conference room door was pushed open and Han Shen walked in.
Today, he was wearing a dark gray notched lapel suit. The wool twill fabric and formal double breasted cut made him look especially imposing. His vest and tie were both perfectly in place and they only served to make his already cold and aloof face appear even more stern and severe.
He looked like a towering snow capped mountain, radiating an unmistakable authority that allowed no one to question him.
Ji Ran lowered his head and silently retreated to the side, already feeling sorry for everyone who was about to attend the meeting today.
Before long, the heads of the various departments entered with gloomy expressions.
No one spoke.
In the enormous conference room, the only sound was the muffled noise of chair wheels rolling across the carpet. Even the air itself seemed to have frozen solid.
Ji Ran did not want to get scolded, so after finishing setting up the conference room, he prepared to quietly slip away.
Han Shen, however, lifted his eyes and glanced at him.
Ji Ran: “……?”
This project had nothing to do with him, did it?
After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, Asher reached out and grabbed Ji Ran by the wrist.
Ji Ran promptly fell backward into an empty chair.
Only then did Han Shen withdraw his gaze. In a cold voice, he said, “What is going on with Hecheng Intelligence? I received word that the person in charge wants to put the project on hold.”
Zhao Zhishan, the VP of the Equity Financing Department and the person in charge of the Hecheng Intelligence IPO project, said, “During the previous meeting between both sides, we had already confirmed their intention to cooperate. At the time, their explanation was that one of Hecheng Intelligence’s founders was away on business and that they needed to postpone the signing. Unexpectedly, after you went abroad, Jinshi Investment Bank secretly approached Hecheng Intelligence’s senior management. We only discovered it yesterday, when we went to their executives to request the financial data. The person in charge told us that either we jointly underwrite the project with Jinshi Investment Bank, or they would leave Jinshi Investment Bank as the sole underwriter.”
The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.
What Jinshi Investment Bank had done was practically the investment banking equivalent of a scumbag who stole someone else’s lover right out from under them. Not only had they snatched away their partner, they had even turned around and slapped the rightful party across the face twice.
Han Shen had always held himself in extremely high regard. How could he possibly tolerate something like this?
Ji Ran raised his head and looked at Han Shen. He expected the man to explode in a fit of rage but Han Shen’s expression remained completely unchanged.
His voice was calm and composed as he asked, “Do we know why Hecheng Intelligence went back on its word?”
“We found out,” Zhao Zhishan replied. “Apparently, the founder who was away on business is related to one of Jinshi’s executives.”
Han Shen let out a cold snort.
That single sound seemed to lower the already chilly temperature of the room by another two degrees.
But the meeting still had to continue.
After a few seconds, another vice president asked, “Then what do we do now? Should we jointly underwrite the project with Jinshi Investment Bank?”
“No.”
Han Shen lowered his eyes, his gaze cold as he said, “This project can only belong to Feng Sheng.”
His decisive tone was like a stabilizing pillar in the middle of a storm, gradually calming everyone who had been growing increasingly anxious.
Even Ji Ran found himself quietly breathing a sigh of relief.
Zhao Zhishan straightened her back and there was noticeably more force in her voice as she asked, “Then what do you need us to do now?”
“You continue moving the project forward. I’ll go to Beijing to meet with Hecheng Intelligence’s founder.”
With that, Han Shen stood up and left the conference room.
It was raining today and because there were concerns that a flight might be delayed, his personal assistant had booked the nearest high speed rail ticket for him.
Afterward, Asher came back in and reminded him that he also had a meeting with investors that afternoon.
“You attend it in my place,” Han Shen said. “And bring Lumi, the VP of the Asset Management Department.”
Asher nodded and agreed, then asked, “Then who do you want to accompany you to Hecheng Intelligence?”
Han Shen casually gave him a name.
“Aaden.”
He was Han Shen’s previous work assistant. His position was not as high as Asher’s and his primary responsibility had been handling some of the projects in the Equity Financing Department for him.
Asher’s expression became somewhat indescribable.
“He’s been gone for a week.”
Han Shen looked puzzled. “Why did he resign?”
“You really…” Asher rubbed his forehead, his face filled with speechlessness. “What other reason could there be besides not being able to stand working for you?”
Han Shen neither agreed nor disagreed. He simply continued, “Then have the new assistant come with me.”
“We haven’t hired anyone yet,” Asher said, shaking his head. “There’s only one intern here who was transferred over through the rotation program.”
Han Shen said, “Then the intern.”
Asher stared at him. “You’re serious?”
Han Shen looked at him. “Otherwise, was I joking?”
“Fine, I suppose that works.” Asher paused before adding, “But if possible, try not to be so harsh on Julian.”
Han Shen stopped what he was doing and raised his head.
“Am I really that harsh with people?”
Asher rolled his eyes, utterly speechless.
“Yes. You merely called someone out of bed at three in the morning on their wedding night to make them revise a proposal for you.”
“Because he made a mistake in his work,” Han Shen said, seeing no problem with his own actions. “Today’s work should be finished today. That’s a basic principle of working.”
Asher: “……”
That might be true but it had been the man’s wedding night!
“Why are you suddenly concerned about the intern?” Han Shen glanced at him. “Are you two close?”
“Not particularly,” Asher shook his head. “It’s just that the kid is diligent and steady in his work and he has a very proper attitude. Don’t mistake his good temper for permission to keep bullying him.”
“I’m not that bored but you…” Han Shen raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to play the sympathy card for him?”
Asher: “I just want you to have the tiniest bit of empathy.”
Han Shen: “With that much free time on your hands, you might as well pray that he has the tiniest bit of working ability.”
Asher was rendered speechless. “You really are, “
Outside the door, Ji Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief after learning that the big boss was going on a business trip. He cheerfully opened his computer and began his daily industry analysis.
Halfway through, he suddenly remembered that his package was still with Asher. He walked over to Asher’s workstation, only to find it completely empty. There was nothing there at all.
Wait.
Where was his package?
Asher happened to come out of his office at that moment and Ji Ran politely asked, “Asher, may I ask where the package I left here earlier went?”
“Luke took it,” Asher said. Then he told him, “Don’t leave yet. I happen to have something to tell you. The boss is going to Beijing later. Pack your things and accompany him. You’re leaving soon.”
Ji Ran instinctively refused. “But there are so many things I don’t understand…”
“It’s only a business trip. I’m not sending you up a mountain of knives or down into a sea of fire.” Asher patted him on the shoulder, his tone calm. “It’s not that difficult. Just stay by Samuel’s side and take care of some of the work. The main problem is that I can’t get away and the other assistants aren’t familiar with the work.”
Ji Ran: “But I’m only an intern…”
“So what if you’re an intern? Don’t sell yourself short.” Asher smiled. “Everyone has seen how much you’ve grown during these two months at Feng Sheng. I ran into your former supervisor yesterday and he was still praising your strong work abilities. Trust me. You’re smart enough to get the job done.”
Asher had called him smart. He had said that everyone had witnessed his growth. He had said that he was definitely capable of completing the task.
Ji Ran’s head felt light from all the praise. By the time he came back to his senses, he had already nodded.
“Then it’s settled.” Asher immediately brightened, as though afraid Ji Ran might change his mind and continued without giving him any chance to reconsider. “Send your identification information to Luke. He’ll book your ticket.”
Ji Ran: “Oh…”
Although the sudden business trip had caught him somewhat off guard, the matter was settled just like that.
But before leaving on the trip, Ji Ran still needed to get his package back.
Ji Ran sent his identification information to Lu Ke and then asked where his package had gone.
[Luke]: Sorry, I didn’t know it was yours. I’ll bring it over to you later.
[Julian]: Thank you.
[Luke]: It was my mistake, so I should be the one apologizing. By the way, your high speed rail ticket has already been booked. Check whether you’ve received the notification.
[Julian]: Mm hmm, I got it.
This was the first time Ji Ran had ever had to leave on such a rushed business trip. He had only just finished packing his things when Asher notified him that he needed to go to Han Shen’s office.
Ji Ran assumed Han Shen wanted to give him instructions about the work and he racked his brain trying to recall everything that had happened during the meeting earlier.
In the office just beyond the door, Lu Ke stood in front of Han Shen with a twenty inch suitcase in hand.
“The luggage is packed. Should I contact the driver now?”
“Mm.” Han Shen closed his laptop, stood up and removed his suit jacket before glancing at the storage rack beside him.
Han Shen received packages almost every day. There were benefits sent by senior executives from the board of directors, products from business partners, merchandise from companies and universities, invitations to various business forums…
Of course, a small portion also came from relatives and friends, as well as private items he had ordered for himself.
These items were sorted and arranged by his personal assistant, who displayed them on the rack until Han Shen had time to classify and put them away properly.
The packages and items he received in the past had all been perfectly ordinary.
The only thing that surprised Han Shen this time was the fact that there was actually a JK uniform sitting on the storage rack.
Its soft pink plaid pattern looked youthful and bright yet it was strangely out of place among everything else.
Han Shen glanced at the skirt. “Who sent this?”
Lu Ke looked slightly embarrassed. “It’s Julian’s. I accidentally took the wrong package.”
Julian?
Han Shen narrowed his eyes.
He remembered that Julian was a man, didn’t he?
“Knock, knock, knock, “
Coincidentally, three knocks sounded from outside the door. A young man’s polite voice followed.
“I’m Julian. Boss, did you ask for me?”
Han Shen: “Come in.”
The door opened a crack and a handsome young man with delicate features walked inside.
This was the first time Han Shen had properly looked at this intern.
To be honest, he was almost excessively beautiful.
His features were refined and delicate, his complexion fair and although his personality was gentle, he was not timid. He was the typical well behaved student who came from a middle class family, had been supported wholeheartedly by his entire family and had also worked hard enough to live up to their expectations.
“Boss, you wanted to see me?” The young man spoke to him, his pronunciation standard and his voice clear and crisp. Everything about him made him seem exceptionally polite.
“Mm.” Han Shen walked over to the storage rack and pointed at the skirt sitting there. “Is this your skirt?”
Huh…?
Ji Ran stared at the scene before him in utter disbelief, feeling a suffocating sense of dread wash over him.
Cressilia: My plan to cover already translated parts first as starting from random chapter is difficult…. By Friday, I will start updating New chapter (from Chapter 11)
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Cressilia
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ChaptersChapter 1 · A cold-hearted bossChapter 2 · “Your skirt?”Chapter 3 · Ji Ran was caught off guardChapter 4 · Relax, you bit your lip until it bledChapter 5 · Don’t want toChapter 6 · Women’s clothing and DaddyChapter 7 · Ji Ran hunched over and began to sob softly.Chapter 8 · Rebellion, offense, and self-rewardChapter 9 · I hate it when people flaunt their wealth in front of meChapter 10 · CompensateChapter 11 · Why are you following me?Chapter 12 · Damn, he forgot to take off his leg chainChapter 13 · Ji Ran was indeed still afraid of him.Chapter 14 · A message came from OrcaChapter 15 · Self-blame, anger, and tears.Chapter 16 · You have to pay more!Chapter 17 · Did you come here just to yell at me?Chapter 18 · Just bear with it a little longerChapter 19 · Women’s clothing live streamChapter 20 · Could you come and pick me up?Chapter 21 Part 1 · It’s all an actChapter 21 Part 2 · It’s all an actChapter 22 · The actions could be even more brutalChapter 23 · A slapChapter 24 · He wanted to surrender a part of himself