The dining area of Hengxing Group is located on the 9th to 12th floors of the Hengxing Building. Breakfast and dinner are free, while lunch is inexpensive with a wide variety of dishes.
However, He Yuan usually goes to the cafeteria when there are fewer people. Although he is the boss, he is often not in the company, and sometimes he just grabs a quick bite on the way.
But whenever he is in the company, he usually has lunch in the company cafeteria.
After the three of them arrived at the cafeteria, there were hardly any people left. Following the principle of “ladies first,” Lin Yue stood at the front of the line.
The braised pork ribs glistened attractively, but Lin Yue only glanced at them. There was only one small portion left, and as a newcomer in the workplace, she understood social etiquette well.
She casually pointed at two dishes. Just as she was about to leave with her tray, He Yuan slightly raised his hand to block her path.
“Wait a moment.”
“Hm?” Lin Yue turned her head in confusion.
He Yuan made a small gesture with his hand and said to the cafeteria lady, “Give her that portion of ribs.”
“I don’t need it, I—”
Her refusal faded under He Yuan’s gentle yet slightly firm gaze.
Forget it, Lin Yue thought. It’s just a portion of ribs. The boss is probably just being well-mannered and doesn’t want to take the only serving for himself.
As for the money from the café earlier, she didn’t think that just because He Yuan was rich, she shouldn’t repay him. But since he was such a big boss, she was afraid of causing misunderstandings, so she had privately asked Zhou Yunce about it. Zhou Yunce told her not to return the money.
Now she felt a bit embarrassed. Holding her tray, she waited to the side. After He Yuan got his food, he noticed that Lin Yue hadn’t followed and turned back with a slight frown.
“Secretary Lin, what are you standing there for?”
Lin Yue glanced at Zhou Yunce, who was still deciding what to eat. “Shouldn’t we wait for Assistant Zhou?”
He Yuan’s lips curved slightly downward. “You are my secretary.”
As soon as she heard that, Lin Yue immediately followed him.
However… this was her first time sitting face-to-face with He Yuan during a meal. During her internship, she only handled tasks within the company. It was only after becoming a full employee that she was brought to work directly by He Yuan.
So, with Assistant Zhou not yet there, she felt quite pressured.
He Yuan ate silently, but his posture was upright and elegant. His table manners were refined and pleasant to watch. Lin Yue secretly glanced at him and subconsciously didn’t dare to make any noise.
Help… this is too stressful.
Lin Yue cried out in her mind: Assistant Zhou, please come quickly.
As if on cue, Zhou Yunce arrived with his tray. Just as he was about to sit beside Lin Yue, He Yuan lifted his eyes and glanced at him casually. Startled, Zhou Yunce immediately sat next to He Yuan instead, even leaving a bit of distance between them.
Lin Yue lowered her head and ate, not noticing the subtle tension between the two men.
With Zhou Yunce joining, the atmosphere at the table became much more relaxed.
“Hey? Secretary Lin, you’re 25, right?”
Lin Yue looked at Zhou Yunce and nodded. “Yes.”
Zhou Yunce had the typical look of a charming playboy. When he smiled, there was a hint of flirtatiousness. Tilting his head slightly, he said, “Mr. He and I are two years older than you. I heard you mention blind dates—honestly, I’m getting a bit anxious too. Do you use any dating apps? Maybe you can introduce me to one.”
Lin Yue shook her head. “I don’t use any dating apps. Mine was introduced by a classmate’s mother.”
She had a college roommate who was local, and her roommate’s mother was very enthusiastic about matchmaking. After introducing her once, she seemed to get hooked on it.
Zhou Yunce nodded. “Actually, you’re not that old. Why are you already thinking about settling down?”
Lin Yue smiled slightly, but there was a trace of loneliness in her eyes. Seeing this, He Yuan glanced at Zhou Yunce and reminded him, “Eat.”
Zhou Yunce made a zipper motion across his mouth.
“It’s nothing, really. I’ve been single for so many years, and this city is so big. I just want someone to keep me company,” Lin Yue said casually, making an excuse. “But for now, I’m not considering blind dates. Work is more important.”
After speaking, she glanced at He Yuan, who was also looking at her.
For about three seconds, they both shifted their gaze away at the same time.
Lin Yue (thinking): Boss, believe me, this is really how I feel.
He Yuan (thinking): That innocent look…
There was some rest time at noon, but Lin Yue didn’t really have time to relax. To establish herself in a company, she needed to understand it thoroughly—at the very least, know what the company does and what its main business is.
Speaking of the He family’s Hengxing Group, it originally started in real estate. Later, under the continuous development of the current chairman, He Hongtian—He Yuan’s father—and after two transformations, Hengxing became a leading force in the real estate industry. However, the challenges He Yuan now faced were even greater.
In today’s social environment, companies that rose through real estate are all seeking transformation. The real estate market is no longer thriving, and its cash flow is not sustainable in the long term. The shareholders’ meetings have been held countless times, but the conservative faction always blocks progress.
As the eldest son, He Yuan had grown up under He Hongtian’s influence. While still in university, he had already invested in projects overseas and made substantial profits.
During his graduate studies, he had already begun participating in the company’s operations online. He even managed a struggling subsidiary given to him by He Hongtian, turning it around in less than two years—boosting its revenue to exceed the total of the previous two years combined.
Today is the information age. The internet is a vast virtual digital world that continuously changes people’s clothing, food, housing, transportation, lifestyles, and ways of thinking. In other words, whoever grasps information may hold the future. Transformation for Hengxing is inevitable.
At the early stage of transformation, there may be necessary losses. But He Hongtian understands that this task must be entrusted to his son. By supporting him from behind, he can help He Yuan firmly establish himself within Hengxing.
He Yuan did not return to his own office but went to Zhou Yunce’s office instead. Zhou Yunce poured him a cup of tea and smiled as he looked at He Yuan sitting upright on the sofa.
“Do you regret removing that ‘no dating or marriage for five years’ clause from the contract?”
He Yuan wanted to roll his eyes at him. “No.”
Zhou Yunce was almost laughing to death. “Still pretending. We thought that clause would restrict others, but who knew it would completely set Secretary Lin free? And you even saw her going on blind dates—haha, I can’t, this is too funny.”
He Yuan: “…”
When selecting a secretary before, the “no dating or marriage for five years” clause had been the top condition in the contract. He didn’t want someone to become fully capable at the job only to leave for marriage and children.
He never expected that the person who came for the interview would be someone he fell in love with at first sight.
At the time, he didn’t even know what he was thinking. After Lin Yue’s interview, he had someone remove that clause from the contract.
A classic case of shooting himself in the foot.