Has the Boss Bost His Temper Today? - Chapter 2

“Talking back to your superior… Secretary Duan, this behavior…”

“Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Duan Shiming: “…”

Wait, so the guy in the Cullinan is actually his boss? Is his life over before it even started?

He glanced at the dark succulent plant on the desk. Next to it stood a sandalwood nameplate engraved with the name ‘Chu Yanzhou.’ Tsk, the surname Chu, he thought. It was the same as the parent group’s name, which made it even more intimidating.

What a disaster.

He really should have checked his horoscope before leaving the house.

Chu Yanzhou leaned back in his chair and took a sip of the hot Americano beside him.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze drifting over the rim of the cup to rest on the young man, whose ears were now bright red. He was quietly enjoying the performance of the person who, ten minutes ago, was brazenly shouting “big brother” but was now as silent as a quail.

When he set the cup down, the ceramic clinked softly against the saucer. He let out a light chuckle.

“It seems the new secretary is quite shy.”

Duan Shiming gave a strained, awkward smile. Think, brain, think! Say something!

“Xin Lei.”

“Yes, President Chu.”

“Did you go over the protocols with the new secretary?” Chu Yanzhou noticed Duan Shiming remained silent, though his eyes were darting around restlessly.

He was clearly trying to figure out a way to bluff his way through this.

Xin Lei nodded. “Yes, I told him on the way up.” Seeing that Duan Shiming wasn’t speaking, she poked him from behind. “Introduce yourself to President Chu.”

The Quail: “…” Wait, just give me a second to reboot my dignity.

“You can head out first.”

Xin Lei froze, looking at Chu Yanzhou before realizing he was speaking to her. She gave Duan Shiming a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and whispered as she turned to leave, “Be bold. President Chu likes people who are straightforward.”

The Quail: “=)”

Was he not straightforward enough? He hadn’t even started the job and he’d already ‘paid’ for it in advance.

With a soft click, the office door closed.

Duan Shiming glanced back to confirm they were alone, then whipped around and slammed his hands together in a prayer gesture. “President Chu, I am incredibly sorry about scratching your car earlier.”

“I thought I was your ‘big brother’?”

Duan Shiming sighed, looking deeply remorseful. “It’s all my fault. I was so anxious to get to work on time. I wanted to make a good impression on my first day.”

“Well, you certainly stood out. The first impression was very deep,” Chu Yanzhou remarked.

Duan Shiming: “.”

Chu Yanzhou took in the young man’s expression, picking up a fountain pen from the desk and rubbing it between his fingers. “Self-introduction.”

Duan Shiming stood straight, hands clasped in front of him. “Hello, President Chu. My name is Duan Shiming. I am 21 years old, and my major was Police Dog Technology.”

Chu Yanzhou’s hand stopped mid-motion. “…?”

Duan Shiming met his gaze with an innocent, angelic smile.

“Did I not hire a secretary?” Chu Yanzhou doubted his own hearing. “Repeat that. What was your major?”

Duan Shiming: “Police Dog Technology, sir.”

“Who hired you?” Chu Yanzhou frowned.

Duan Shiming pointed a finger at him. “Wasn’t it you, Boss?”

Chu Yanzhou:  Was he insane? Why would he hire a Police Dog Technology major as a secretary? To train who? Him?

Sometimes, when a person is truly speechless, all they can do is laugh.

Duan Shiming: “?” What’s with that look? Is he looking down on my minor? If I told him my real major, it would scare the life out of him!

“Continue.”

Duan Shiming suppressed his rising temper and continued his introduction, listing his work ethic, his attitude toward learning, and even a list of his favorite foods.

The more Chu Yanzhou listened, the more confused he became. What on earth did headquarters send him? “I recall the requirement for male secretaries was to be a Beta.”

Duan Shiming nodded. “I am a Beta.”

“You’re a Beta?” Chu Yanzhou looked at him skeptically. Could a Beta really look like this?

Duan Shiming was used to people questioning his secondary gender. “Yes, I’m a Beta.”

“Come here.” Chu Yanzhou wanted to test something. He picked up a document from the desk.

Duan Shiming’s lips moved as he muttered something under his breath.

The next second, Chu Yanzhou looked over as if asking, “Aren’t you coming?”

Duan Shiming flashed a helpful smile. “Coming, President Chu.”

Hearing that melodic, upbeat tone, Chu Yanzhou looked up and glanced to the side.

The scent of citrus and lime pheromones, which seemed to cling to the boy’s body, flooded his senses. In his ear, he could almost hear that flirtatious “big brother” from earlier.

He felt like he was walking into a trap.

Chu Yanzhou remained silent for a few seconds.

“Any orders, President Chu?” Duan Shiming asked with a smile, though his patience was wearing thin.

Admittedly, the boy’s image and temperament fit the secretary’s office perfectly. They were, after all, the face of the company.

But…

Chu Yanzhou looked away. Was headquarters sending a Police Dog major just to test him? Was this an insult or a provocation? Were they trying to take over his company by ensuring he failed the 28 billion dollar gambling agreement?

Did they think he was the type of man to be distracted by a pretty face?

“Re-print this.”

Duan Shiming took the paper and glanced at it. “Where is the printer?”

“You don’t know?” Chu Yanzhou shot back.

Duan Shiming replied earnestly, “If I don’t know, I have to ask! That is my ‘learning attitude’.”

Chu Yanzhou said nothing.

Duan Shiming asked again, “Can I just go outside to print it?”

“What do you think?”

Duan Shiming thought to himself, I knew it! He’s still holding a grudge about the car. But he wasn’t one to back down easily. He’d already paid the money, so he had to make it worth his while.

He had to earn that money back.

Chu Yanzhou set down his pen. “I want that document back on my desk in three minutes.”

Duan Shiming’s foot had barely moved. Did he not account for walking time?

Chu Yanzhou glanced at his watch. “Two minutes and fifty seconds left.”

Whoosh!

Bang!

In an instant, the lean, tall figure dashed out of the office, closing the door with a sound that felt like an earthquake.

The other secretaries in the office: “???”

Duan Shiming clutched the document, panting as he stopped at the door. “Help! How… how do I use the printer?”

Xin Lei stood up with a smile. “Come here, I’ll show you.”

Ten minutes later…

Having mastered the printer, Secretary Duan walked back into the CEO’s office with the new document.

Knock, knock.

“Hey, President Chu.”

Chu Yanzhou looked up to see a head peeking through the door suspiciously, looking like a child. This guy had scratched his car and showed zero remorse, so why was he still so cheerful?

He found that carefree attitude irritating.

Duan Shiming waved the paper. “I printed it.”

Chu Yanzhou said coldly, “How many minutes did I give you?”

Duan Shiming explained, “I had to learn how to use the printer first, so—”

He was cut off immediately.

“I don’t want explanations. I only want results. If you can’t do it, it’s an efficiency problem.”

Duan Shiming pursed his lips. Tsk, this Cullinan owner is a tough nut to crack!

Chu Yanzhou tapped his fingers on the desk in a slow, steady rhythm. “I don’t care who placed you in this position, but basic skills like printing should have been a prerequisite. If you don’t know how, I have every right to question your competence. Is there a problem with that?”

His voice was flat, but the underlying pressure was palpable.

During the stare-down, Duan Shiming felt the man’s gaze traveling down his stiff posture. He felt a chill down his spine. “No problem.”

“Also”

Duan Shiming: “(-_^)?”

“Starting tomorrow, you must wear formal business attire,” Chu Yanzhou said. “That is basic image management for a secretary.”

Duan Shiming’s face lit up. Oh, so the car topic is over! “Yes, President Chu!!!”

Chu Yanzhou:  It was like someone had stepped on a loud speaker. He tapped the wooden desk again and hooked his finger. “Give me the document.”

Duan Shiming scurried over to the desk, leaned down, and handed it over. “Please sign here, President Chu.”

As his arm extended, that same rogue citrus-lime scent brushed past Chu Yanzhou’s nose.

Chu Yanzhou thought to himself that winning the agreement against the Chu Luo Group wouldn’t be easy if they were sending distractions like this. However, he wouldn’t budge. He would take his company back.

Seeing no movement, Duan Shiming looked up from the paper, winked his right eye, and smiled. “President Chu, please sign.”

Chu Yanzhou’s expression turned subtle.

Finally, the pen moved across the paper, leaving behind a sharp, aggressive signature.

Duan Shiming grabbed the signed document and prepared to turn around. “Should I head out to work now?”

“Do you know how to manage a schedule?” Chu Yanzhou asked.

Duan Shiming looked down at him, hugging the file. “?”

Chu Yanzhou met those incredibly clear eyes, which looked as empty as a blank slate. His temple throbbed. “Go call Xin Lei in for me.”

Duan Shiming nodded obediently. “Oh, okay. Sure.”

Chu Yanzhou looked at him. “Get out.”

“Okay.” Duan Shiming nodded.

“Duan Shiming.”

Duan Shiming was halfway out when he heard his boss call him. He turned his head. “Huh?”

Chu Yanzhou kept his head down, flipping through other files. “In the future, use professional and concise language. This is a workplace. I am your superior, not your family. Who are you acting cute for?”

Duan Shiming felt baffled. “I wasn’t acting cute.”

“No more ‘oh’s’ and ‘ah’s’ during work hours.”

Duan Shiming: “…”

“Out.”

Duan Shiming almost let an “Oh” slip out, but realizing it was an interjection, he quickly corrected himself. “Yes, President Chu!”

He clutched the files and hurried out of the office, moving in a suspicious, hunched manner as if he were up to no good.

Once he was gone, Chu Yanzhou picked up his phone and dialed a number. “Send me Duan Shiming’s detailed file. Find out who shoved him into this position.”

If he really was a “connected” hire from headquarters, Chu Yanzhou wouldn’t go easy on him.

Duan Shiming returned to the secretary’s office and saw Xin Lei by the printer. He walked over. “Sister Xin Lei.”

Xin Lei turned around. “What’s up?” She pointed to a clean desk nearby. “That’s your station.”

Duan Shiming looked where she pointed and saw a desk with a small cactus. He noticed his colleagues were all dressed impeccably and looked sophisticated, without a hint of “work exhaustion.”

He leaned in and whispered to Xin Lei, “Do we really have to wear suits every day?”

Xin Lei felt refreshed by the scent of his pheromones. “Yes.”

Duan Shiming: “By the way, President Chu wants to see you.”

“Got it.” Xin Lei nodded. “Go get settled at your desk. I’ll go over your specific tasks with you later.”

The secretary’s office was right next to the CEO’s, bright and spacious with eight workstations. He saw one empty spot, that had to be his.

The desk was a minimalist white design with a privacy screen, located in the back row against the wall. It felt very secure.

Duan Shiming was secretly pleased. He sat down and was immediately greeted by his colleagues turning around to look at him. “=(!!”

“Is something wrong?”

“Little colleague, do you have some secret talent?”

The Alpha colleague sitting in front of him, named Ying Feng, turned his chair around with a meaningful smile. Aside from the pretty face, it was rare to see a fresh graduate here. Chu Luo Group never hired fresh grads.

Duan Shiming racked his brain. “I’m good at eating?”

He couldn’t exactly tell them his best skill was long-range sniping.

“Ying Feng, don’t scare the kid. We haven’t had a newcomer in ages.” A female Beta colleague stood up and offered him a tin of cookies. “Want to try some? I made them myself.”

Duan Shiming’s eyes lit up at the mention of food. “Yes! Thank you, Sister.”

He took them with both hands and sniffed. Mmm, no smell of eggs. I can eat these!

The cookies were a lifesaver. He’d missed breakfast because of the morning’s chaos and was starving.

They chatted while they worked. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious and much easier to navigate than he had expected.

Tucked away in the back corner by the window, Duan Shiming realized he had the perfect “slacker” spot. He munched on cookies and sipped black coffee provided by a colleague.

Compared to his days at school, carrying heavy loads in summer, hiding in the snow in winter, and undergoing high-pressure survival training, this was paradise.

Maybe he wouldn’t quit. He was flexible, after all.

Two million was a lot, but he could earn it back by getting paid to slack off!

Crunch, crunch.

Suddenly, the office fell into an eerie silence.

The sound of the cookie crunching became painfully obvious the moment the room went quiet.

Duan Shiming stuffed the rest of the cookie into his mouth. A tall shadow loomed over him. He hesitated for two seconds, his cheeks bulging, and slowly looked up. He was met with his boss’s face.

Eyes met.

The atmosphere was tense.

Duan Shiming looked down guiltily, his jaw moving slightly as he tried to swallow the evidence.

From the side, his stuffed cheeks made him look round and puffy. He even dared to keep chewing, looking exactly like a hamster.

crunch… crunch…

Duan Shiming caught a glimpse of thin-soled leather shoes. He peeked up, only to lock eyes with those deep, dark orbs again.

“Is Secretary Duan very hungry?”

Chu Yanzhou stood by the desk, his large hand resting on the edge. He looked down at him, his gaze traveling from bottom to top, full of unspoken meaning.

Duan Shiming worked his jaw to swallow quickly. “Not hungry, not hungry,” he mumbled.

“Deduct two hundred,” Chu Yanzhou said.

Duan Shiming looked up in shock.

What?

Deducting money for eating a cookie?!!

Was this Alpha a professional mugger!

Chu Yanzhou saw his wide-eyed disbelief. His almond-shaped eyes were already large, but now they were even more prominent. The “deadly” glare had zero actual threat, and his trembling lips made him look like a kitten about to hiss.

Chu Yanzhou’s mood instantly improved.

“Any objections?” Chu Yanzhou asked. “This is company policy.”

Duan Shiming gripped the edge of the cookie tin, his teeth gritted. “No objections.”

Yes, he had objections! Huge objections!!!

The other secretaries: “?”

Since when was that a rule?

Chu Yanzhou looked at Xin Lei. “Xin Lei, make a note of it. Two hundred off Secretary Duan’s pay this month.” He turned to leave the office.

Duan Shiming glared at his retreating back.

“Oh, and Secretary Duan.” Chu Yanzhou stopped abruptly and turned around, catching the young man mid-tantrum.

Duan Shiming switched his expression instantly, plastering on a fake smile. “Yes, President Chu? Any other fines? Let’s get them all out of the way.”

The secretaries:  Bold. Very bold. The President really will fine you.

Chu Yanzhou noted the frustrated expression. “Starting tomorrow, in addition to scheduling, you will be responsible for screening three hundred group emails. You will organize them into digital files and report the main contents to me every day before you leave. In a month, I’ll add project follow-ups and expect you to complete project conversions.”

Duan Shiming:  Wait, what? That was a very long sentence.

Chu Yanzhou thought he was scared. “Can’t do it?”

Duan Shiming actually just didn’t understand the technical requirements. Switching industries was a massive challenge.

Chu Yanzhou looked at his dazed expression. “If you can’t handle it, you can leave now.”

The secretaries: “!!” So direct! The President is in a terrible mood today!

“How rude.”

The whisper cut through the air, turning the room dead silent.

The secretaries stared at Duan Shiming in disbelief, too afraid to look at the President’s face.

They knew their boss was sharp-tongued, but this newcomer had a spine of steel.

Duan Shiming looked up into those dark eyes without a hint of fear, his expression honest and brave. “How do you know I can’t do it if I haven’t tried? What if I can? Will you apologize to me?”

“Talking back to your superior. That’s another fifty off this month.” Chu Yanzhou looked at Xin Lei and nodded. “Keep an eye on Secretary Duan’s manners and etiquette.”

His steady footsteps faded into the distance.

Xin Lei saw Duan Shiming’s chest heaving with anger. His face was flushed, and he looked ready to explode. The “scent of gunpowder” was strong.

Afraid of a bigger scene, she rushed over and patted his shoulder to calm him down. “Xiao Duan, Xiao Duan, stay calm.”

Duan Shiming took several deep breaths, staring at the retreating figure. He clamped his jaw shut, swallowing the insults he wanted to scream.

“I am very calm.”

They had met twice, and the man had already taken two million and two hundred and fifty dollars from him!

Fine. His competitive spirit was officially ignited!

Chu Yanzhou, you just wait and see.