“President Fu!”
President Guan, the person in charge, and several vice presidents came forward to greet him warmly.
“So this is the newly appointed president of the S City Branch? I never expected him to be so young!”
“Please look around as much as you like, President Fu. I’m sure we can give you and headquarters a satisfactory explanation!”
Fu Rongzheng barely responded. He was as cool and aloof as ever.
As he inspected and tested the facilities, he also audited the accounts, pressing them with one question after another.
“President Guan, where did the R&D funds the Group invested over the past two years go?”
“It’s been so long, and you haven’t made a single advance in research and development?”
“The powertrain models are outdated? And the system still hasn’t been upgraded?”
“The figures on the data sheets don’t even add up? Do you think I’m easy to fool?”
“An explanation? What, are we supposed to chop off your heads and send them to headquarters as an explanation?”
President Guan and the others had started out confident, but now Fu Rongzheng’s relentless questions had them sweating profusely and left them thoroughly chewed out.
“President… President Fu, this… this… we…”
The afternoon wore on, and Fu Rongzheng clearly had no patience left to hear their excuses.
He flung a stack of documents at them.
“President Guan, Vice President Wang, you can pack your things and get out!”
“What the company needs is talent, not parasites like you who cut corners and shirk their duties!”
Fu Rongzheng left, his face dark.
After finishing her notes, Shu Yuwei followed with Secretary Zhao and the others.
Secretary Zhao gave a soft snort. “Those old slickers are used to thinking too highly of themselves. They figured President Fu was young and easy to fool. What a joke!”
“President Fu has a doctorate in engineering from Germany. He’s incredibly capable in his field!”
Shu Yuwei looked surprised when she heard that.
“Secretary Zhao, President Fu is only twenty-nine, and he already has a doctorate from Germany? Isn’t graduating from a German university supposed to be hellishly difficult?”
Zhao Qian nodded. “It is. But who do you think President Fu is?”
“He earned his doctorate and returned to China at twenty-five. Then he spent several years working at headquarters!”
Shu Yuwei fell silent.
She knew her boss was impressive, but she hadn’t realized he was a genius!
And according to rumors, President Fu was the Group’s heir. His transfer to the branch was actually a way for headquarters to send him down to gain experience.
In just a few years, President Fu would probably return to headquarters and formally inherit the vast Group and its billions in assets!
Shu Yuwei sighed.
Comparing yourself to others really was enough to drive you crazy.
What worries could a heaven-blessed prodigy and top-tier genius like Big Boss possibly have?
Unable to help herself, Shu Yuwei shot her boss a slightly envious look.
Unexpectedly, Fu Rongzheng happened to turn around and look at her.
“Assistant Shu, do you have a problem with me?”
“Huh? No, no!”
Caught off guard, Shu Yuwei quickly composed herself and put on a sincere, admiring smile.
“Boss! I was just deeply impressed by your professional ability and talent!”
“Having the good fortune to work for such a wise and brilliant boss is a blessing I must have earned in a past life!”
“Boss! Rest assured, I’ll work loyally under you!”
“I’ll follow and support you with all my heart for the rest of my life!”
Shu Yuwei showered him with praise, without forgetting her plan to cling to his coattails.
She hurried over like an eager lackey to open the car door for him.
“Boss! Please, get in!”
Fu Rongzheng’s brows twitched twice. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
Still, his expression seemed considerably better.
Shu Yuwei let out a breath of relief.
Secretary Zhao looked at her in surprise. “Assistant Shu, I have to say, that little trick of yours seems to work pretty well on President Fu!”
Shu Yuwei grinned. “Hehe.”
Of course it did. Who didn’t like hearing nice things?
Turns out even a cold-faced boss was pretty easy to butter up!
Over the next few days of the business trip, Shu Yuwei continued flying from place to place with Fu Rongzheng and the others, visiting the Group’s major auto plants, auto-parts centers, and test bases in cities across the country.
They held all kinds of meetings and organized business dinners with industry people, keeping so busy they barely had time to stop.
Fu Rongzheng was just as busy, often working overtime at night.
Although Fu Rongzheng was young, he was a highly capable, hands-on leader.
During the trip, he personally tested various vehicle models and took part in production and R&D. He could spot problems at a glance and identify what needed improvement.
He was also well versed in data models and algorithms, knew how to make good use of talent, and had an exceptionally sharp eye for the market. He prioritized R&D, performance, and consumers.
In just a few days, Shu Yuwei learned a great deal from him.
More importantly, working for Fu Rongzheng didn’t mean attending those alcohol-fueled dinners, and there was none of the drinking-table culture she hated.
When necessary, Fu Rongzheng would even stand up for his employees.
Shu Yuwei’s opinion of her boss improved considerably.
She became even more convinced that she wanted to work for him for the rest of her life. Even the way she looked at him grew brighter.
“Assistant Shu, is there money on my face?”
“More than money, Boss! Your face is shining with a bright and brilliant future!”
Fu Rongzheng was speechless.
“Assistant Shu, stop talking.”
“Yes, Boss!”
Once they entered the meeting room, Shu Yuwei obediently fell silent and focused on taking notes.
Fu Rongzheng showed nothing on his face, but the corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
…
Another week passed.
The business trip was nearing its end.
Shu Yuwei’s initial enthusiasm had visibly faded, and she was looking worn out.
It was her first time being away on business for half a month. She’d lost count of how many cities she’d visited, meetings she’d attended, factories she’d toured, and people she’d met.
Every day, Shu Yuwei collapsed into bed and was too exhausted to get up.
When she was little, she’d envied the adults who wore business suits, carried briefcases and laptops, and rushed around airports in high heels, traveling from city to city for work.
She’d thought they were amazing—elite white-collar workers of the modern city.
But now that she’d grown up, she wasn’t envious at all.
They were all wage earners, all workhorses, nothing more!
Business trips especially seemed designed to drain every last ounce of life out of a working person!
At least hers was almost over!
For the first time, she found herself missing her rented room with its partitioned-off space. Once she got back, she was going to sleep for two whole days!
Shu Yuwei checked her schedule, then dealt with and sent out a few emails.
Just then, a weather alert caught her eye.
“…According to meteorological observations… Typhoon No. 1 has formed…”
“…Based on the typhoon’s projected path, meteorological experts predict it is highly likely to make landfall in Haicheng within a week…”
“Residents are advised to make the necessary preparations for typhoon conditions before traveling…”
Haicheng?
Wasn’t she in Haicheng on a business trip right now?
It was a southern coastal city, and typhoons were common at this time of year.