The dining area of Stellar Group is located on floors nine to twelve of Stellar Tower. Breakfast and dinner are complimentary, while lunch is affordable with a wide variety of dishes.
However, He Yuan usually visited the cafeteria during off-peak hours. Though he was the president, he was often absent from the company, sometimes grabbing a quick bite on the go.
But whenever he was in the office, he typically had lunch in the company cafeteria.
When the three of them arrived at the cafeteria, it was nearly empty. Following the principle of ladies first, Lin Yue stood at the front of the line.
The braised pork ribs glistened temptingly, but Lin Yue merely glanced at them. As the last portion remained, she—being a workplace newcomer—understood the importance of social etiquette.
She randomly pointed at two other dishes. Just as she was about to leave with her tray, He Yuan slightly raised his hand to stop her. “Wait a moment.”
Hm? Lin Yue turned to him in confusion.
He Yuan gestured lightly toward the cafeteria auntie and said, “Give her this portion of ribs.”
“I don’t need—”
Her refusal died under He Yuan’s gentle yet firm gaze.
Fine, Lin Yue thought. It’s just a portion of ribs. The president probably just has good manners and didn’t feel right taking the last serving for himself.
There was also the matter of the coffee shop bill. She didn’t believe she shouldn’t repay him just because he was wealthy, but fearing misunderstandings, she had privately asked Zhou Yun Ce about it. He advised against reimbursing him.
Now feeling somewhat awkward, she stood aside holding her tray. After He Yuan got his food, he noticed Lin Yue hadn’t followed. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned. “Secretary Lin, why are you standing there?”
Lin Yue glanced at Zhou Yun Ce, who was still pondering his choices. “Shouldn’t we wait for Assistant Zhou?”
He Yuan’s lips curved downward. “You’re my secretary.”
Hearing this, Lin Yue immediately followed him.
However… this was her first time eating face-to-face with He Yuan. During her internship, she had only handled internal company tasks. It was only after becoming a full-time employee that He Yuan began bringing her along.
With Assistant Zhou yet to join them, she felt genuinely pressured.
He Yuan ate silently but with refined posture—elegant and dignified, a pleasure to watch. Lin Yue stole a glance and unconsciously moderated her own movements.
Help, this is torture, she screamed internally. Assistant Zhou, please hurry up.
As if on cue, Zhou Yun Ce approached with his tray. Just as he was about to sit beside Lin Yue, He Yuan glanced at him imperceptibly. Startled, Zhou Yun Ce immediately took a seat beside He Yuan, leaving a slight gap.
Lin Yue kept her head down, eating, unaware of the subtle tension between the two men.
With Zhou Yun Ce’s arrival, the atmosphere at the table lightened considerably.
“Hey, Secretary Lin, you’re 25, right?” Zhou Yun Ce asked.
Lin Yue looked at him and nodded. “Yes.”
Zhou Yun Ce had the classic “playboy” look—charming and slightly roguish when he smiled. Tilting his head, he said, “President He and I are two years older than you. Hearing about your blind dates made me a bit anxious too. Do you know any dating websites? Could you recommend some?”
Lin Yue shook her head. “I’m not on any dating sites. Mine was introduced by my classmate’s mom.”
She had a local university roommate whose mother was an avid matchmaker. After setting Lin Yue up once, she seemed to have developed a habit.
Zhou Yun Ce let out a thoughtful hum. “Actually, you’re not that old either. Why are you thinking about settling down so young?”
Lin Yue smiled faintly, a trace of melancholy hidden in the corners of her eyes. Noticing this, He Yuan glanced at Zhou Yun Ce and reminded, “Let’s eat.”
Zhou Yun Ce made a zipping motion over his lips.
“Actually, it’s nothing special,” Lin Yue casually offered an excuse. “After being single for so many years in such a vast city, I just want to find someone to accompany me. But I’m not considering matchmaking at this stage anymore. Work should be the priority right now.”
As she finished speaking, she glanced at He Yuan, who also looked at her.
For about three seconds, their gazes held before both simultaneously shifted their focus away.
Lin Yue’s internal monologue: Boss, believe me, that’s really what I think.
He Yuan’s internal monologue: Those innocent eyes…
There was some break time at noon, but Lin Yue had no leisure. To establish oneself in a company, one must first thoroughly understand it – at the very least, know what the company does and what its main businesses are.
Speaking of the He Family’s Stellar Group, it actually started in real estate. Through the continuous development under the current chairman, He Hongtian—He Yuan’s father—and two major transformations, Stellar had now become a leader in the real estate industry. However, the challenges He Yuan faced were even more demanding.
In today’s social environment, companies that made their fortune in real estate were all seeking transformation paths. The real estate market wasn’t prosperous now, and the cash flow from property wasn’t sustainable in the long run. Countless shareholder meetings had been held, but the conservative faction kept obstructing progress each time.
As the eldest son, He Yuan had been immersed in the business world since childhood, following He Hongtian everywhere. Even during university, he had invested in some overseas projects that earned him substantial returns.
During his graduate studies, he had already participated in company operations remotely and turned around a struggling subsidiary that He Hongtian handed to him. In less than two years, he boosted its previously lagging revenue to exceed the total of the past two years combined.
Now firmly in the information age, the internet represented a vast virtual digital world that continuously transformed people’s clothing, food, housing, transportation, lifestyles, and ways of thinking. Therefore, grasping information meant potentially seizing the future. Stellar’s transformation was an inevitable trend.
Though the initial phase of transformation might bring necessary losses to Stellar, He Hongtian understood that this task must be entrusted to his son. With himself providing support from behind, He Yuan could truly establish his footing in Stellar.
Instead of returning to his own office, He Yuan went to Zhou Yun Ce’s. Zhou Yun Ce poured him a cup of tea, smiling at He Yuan who sat perfectly straight on the sofa.
“Regretting removing that five-year no-relationship contract condition now?”
He Yuan wanted to roll his eyes at him. “No.”
Zhou Yun Ce was nearly dying of laughter. “Still pretending? You thought that condition would restrict yourself, but who knew it would completely set Secretary Lin free. You even saw her on a blind date! Hahaha, I can’t take it, this is absolutely hilarious.”
He Yuan: “…”
When selecting his secretary initially, the five-year no-relationship clause had actually been the primary contract condition. He didn’t want someone who would leave to get married and have children just when they became proficient.
He never expected that the candidate who showed up for the interview would be someone who captured his heart at first sight.
At the time, without thinking it through, Lin Yue had someone remove that clause from the contract right after the interview—a classic case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own foot.