The next day.
Shi Ying got up early and made herself look especially presentable.
Although she didn’t know whether she would run into her target today, opportunities favored those who were prepared!
The onboarding process went smoothly. The person who had spoken to her on the phone was named Zhou Fan. After finishing the paperwork, Shi Ying hugged her newly issued laptop and followed behind her into the elevator.
The elevator went all the way to the top floor.
Looking at the changing numbers on the display, Shi Ying asked curiously, “Sister Zhou Fan, is our office on the top floor?”
Wasn’t the top floor usually where the president stayed in novels?
Zhou Fan glanced at her and smiled. “The design department isn’t actually on the top floor. It’s just that someone in the secretary’s office is on leave recently, so we need someone to fill in.”
“Secretary Jiang saw your resume that day and thought you were excellent, so you’ve been temporarily transferred there to help.”
Shi Ying didn’t care much about the position itself. She had joined the company only to complete her mission. The faster she finished, the more reward she would receive.
The secretary’s office?
Wouldn’t that mean she could come into contact with Shang Group’s president, Shang Chenyuan?
Shang Chenyuan was Shang Yu’s uncle—wasn’t this the perfect shortcut? Win over the uncle first, then the nephew!
Shi Ying could practically see a million waving at her.
“Ding—” The elevator doors opened.
When Jiang Wen saw the girl walking out of the elevator, even though he had been prepared, his pupils still shook.
Too similar.
Almost identical.
He swallowed before finally finding his voice. “Miss Shi?”
Zhou Fan introduced, “This is Secretary Jiang.”
Shi Ying smiled obediently. “Hello, Secretary Jiang. I’m Shi Ying.”
“Hello, hello…” Jiang Wen scratched his head awkwardly and instinctively took the things from her hands. “Let me carry that. I’ll take you to your workstation.”
Shi Ying looked at him in surprise as he carried her laptop and briefcase for her. Even Zhou Fan, who was about to leave, widened her eyes.
Everyone knew Jiang Wen was President Shang’s secretary—a cold, efficient work machine.
After Zhou Fan entered the elevator, she gave him a suspicious glance.
What’s gotten into him?
Shi Ying felt a bit uncomfortable with Jiang Wen’s attentiveness. The way he treated her made it seem like she wasn’t here to be a secretary, but to be the president.
“Miss Shi, you can sit here. For work matters, you can go to Director Cheng, or you can come to me.” Jiang Wen pulled out her chair, placed her laptop and bag neatly, then stood aside with a smile. “Do you have any questions?”
“N-no… nothing.” Shi Ying stepped back slightly, forcing a polite smile. “Thank you, Secretary Jiang.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Oh, right.” Jiang Wen had just taken a few steps when he turned back. “There’s a document on your computer. Print it out and bring it in for President Shang to sign. It’s also a good chance for him to meet you.”
“Okay.”
After Jiang Wen left, Shi Ying printed the document and stood in front of the glass door, tidying her appearance.
After all, he was the uncle of her target. If things went well, he’d be her future uncle too. She needed to leave a good impression.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Ying gathered her loose hair into a ponytail before heading to the president’s office with the documents.
The office door was slightly ajar. Inside, she could vaguely see a minimalist black-and-white interior.
Shi Ying knocked.
No response.
She knocked again, a bit harder this time. The door slowly opened a crack.
“President Shang?”
She didn’t dare go in directly and only peeked her head inside to look around.
It seemed no one was there.
She was about to pull her head back when the lounge door inside opened.
A pair of long, straight legs appeared before her.
Polished leather shoes stepped onto the spotless white floor as the man walked toward her.
Above the neatly pressed trousers was a pristine black suit, paired with a white shirt. Two buttons at the collar were undone, faintly revealing his firm chest.
Her gaze moved upward—and his handsome, refined features, somehow familiar, came into view.
Shi Ying froze.
Wasn’t this the creep she met at the pavilion the other day?
“Who are you?” The man’s tone was calm and casual, yet carried the steady authority of someone in power.
He didn’t recognize her?
Then… why had he stared at her like that before? Like a starving man seeing a freshly baked pastry.
Shi Ying’s mind turned. Maybe it had been a misunderstanding?
After all, this was the famous Shang Chenyuan. She didn’t seem to have anything worth his attention.
A slight crease appeared between his brows. He walked behind his desk and sat down, tapping the pen lightly against the surface, snapping Shi Ying out of her thoughts.
“Hello, President Shang. I’m Shi Ying, the new member of the secretary’s office.”
“Come in.” Shang Chenyuan leaned back in his chair and slightly lifted his chin at her.
Suppressing her doubts, Shi Ying walked in and handed him the document. “Secretary Jiang asked me to bring this for your signature.”
Shang Chenyuan reached out to take it. His fingers seemed to brush her fingertips unintentionally, the cool touch making her shiver.
The office was quiet, filled only with the soft scratching sound of pen on paper.
Standing by the desk, Shi Ying secretly glanced at him again.
His features were strikingly handsome. A small mole at the corner of his eye appeared and disappeared under the light, giving him an indescribable charm.
Someone like this… could he really be a creep?
Shi Ying shook her head inwardly. If she said that out loud, people would probably think she was crazy.
“Your name is Shi Ying?”
Shang Chenyuan suddenly spoke, pulling her back from her thoughts.
“Yes. I hope for your guidance, President Shang,” she said stiffly, using polite formalities.
He seemed to chuckle softly, his voice clear and refined. “Guidance would be too much. If Jiang Wen transferred you here, you must be very capable.”
With a slight movement of his wrist, he pushed the signed papers toward her.
Even though she knew he was just being polite, Shi Ying still blushed at the praise.
His voice was just too pleasant.
Pleasant enough to make her ears tingle.
It just felt… strangely familiar.
Shang Chenyuan looked at the girl standing before him.
She wore a light beige shirt tucked neatly into dark blue jeans. She looked slender, delicate.
Her brows and eyes were exactly the same as before. Every expression, every smile—unchanged from five years ago.
It was as if time had left no mark on her.
She had suddenly disappeared five years ago, and now suddenly reappeared.
Yet when facing him, there was no joy of reunion—only confusion and curiosity.
As if, in her memory, he had never existed.
Shi Ying picked up the documents and cautiously asked, “President Shang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
She turned and walked out, letting out a long breath.
Even though Shang Chenyuan seemed easy to get along with, being alone with the big boss would make anyone nervous.
She left in a hurry, completely unaware of the sticky, obsessed gaze following her from behind.