Pharmaceutical Negotiator - Chapter 13.1

Zhang Si Tan looked up at the sound. A person was standing next to Director Zhang, hands hanging in front of them, looking respectful.

However, the two big eyes blinking repeatedly that was definitely not the look of an assistant regarding a superior!

She was the one who tied that tie, she was the one who straightened that suit it could only be Qi An, the little rascal!

“Hello, Team Leader Zhang, I am Qi An. Please take good care of me.”

Qi An held out her hand, a clear look of triumph on her face.

This little rascal was trying to pretend not to know her.

Zhang Si Tan gave her hand a loose shake: “Hello.”

“Qi An, your desk is opposite Si Tan’s. Ask questions if you need anything, don’t be shy,” Director Zhang instructed.

“Yes, yes, thank you, Director Zhang.”

After Director Zhang left, Zhang Si Tan shot her a fierce glare: “You didn’t bring a cup, how are you going to drink water?”

“Hehe.” Qi An was excited about the new environment. “I’ll bring one tomorrow. I saw there are paper cups in the pantry, I’ll use those first.”

“You don’t need to dress so formally,” Zhang Si Tan looked at her again.

“Oh. Then what do you want me to wear, Sister Si Tan?” Qi An’s and Zhang Si Tan’s desks faced each other, and Qi An leaned forward.

“Call me Team Leader Zhang.” Since there was no one else at the surrounding desks yet, Zhang Si Tan deliberately spoke in a cold tone.

“Oh. Team Leader Zhang, what do you want me to wear?” Qi An knew Zhang Si Tan was joking and played along.

Zhang Si Tan recalled her first meeting with Qi An, dressed entirely in green, with neatly trimmed short hair, who had tumbled out of the car and called her “Sister Si Tan.”

Now her hair was a bit longer, tied in a small knot at the back with a hair tie. In the suit, she still looked quite young and inexperienced.

What nonsense was she thinking?

Zhang Si Tan was startled by her own drifting thoughts and said impatiently, “Wear whatever you want.”

It was Qi An’s first day reporting, and her desk still had no computer, nor was her information entered into the system. After a while, someone called her to go register for facial recognition, and she eagerly ran off.

As soon as Qi An left, Zhang Si Tan leaned back in her office chair.

Looking at the opposite chair, which was slightly pulled out, and the still-empty desk, Zhang Si Tan smiled faintly.

To be honest, she was quite happy that Qi An was hired as her assistant.

Their workspace consisted of three desks: two side by side, which were hers and Li Hua’s, and the third one facing hers, which was now given to Qi An.

There was little privacy in a large office, with many people and scarce resources. Those aiming for promotion would constantly watch you, afraid you’d take their spot. Those content with the status quo might also enjoy gossiping, so one had to be cautious.

As Zhang Si Tan organized the forms, she thought that she needed to warn Qi An when she returned.

When Qi An returned, she was holding a stack of documents and happily showed Zhang Si Tan her “meal tickets.”

The meal allowance, transportation allowance, and various identity verification forms all needed to be signed and sent for stamping.

This kind of extremely tedious and time-consuming paperwork that required running to multiple places was what Zhang Si Tan disliked the most.

Yet, Qi An was doing it happily.

‘Sure enough, she’s a newcomer,’ Zhang Si Tan sighed. ‘I wonder how long Qi An will last before this formality overwhelms her.’

“Team Leader Zhang, look!” Qi An puffed out her chest, showing Zhang Si Tan the badge pinned to her chest.

The shiny little badge read “Healthcare Security Administration” and was carefully pinned to her clothes as a proud offering to Zhang Si Tan.

Zhang Si Tan also wore one on her clothes, but besides the three characters “Healthcare Security Administration,” it also bore her name.

Once Qi An became a full employee, she would also have a little badge engraved with her name.

Zhang Si Tan could understand Qi An’s excitement, and a look of contentment passed over her face.

Before more people arrived and before Li Hua reached his desk, Zhang Si Tan leaned in closer to Qi An and whispered, “I’m very happy you could be my assistant.”

“However.” Before the smile could fully form on Qi An’s face, Zhang Si Tan changed her tone.

“In Qingdao, with Director Qi around, you were well protected. Here, you are just Qi An. I will be very strict. If you need to cry, you can go to the stairwell, the soundproofing there is good.”

Qi An was slightly intimidated by Zhang Si Tan’s sternness, her smile gone, and she nodded blankly.

Having laid down the law, Zhang Si Tan smiled again and said softly, “The stairwell door is heavy, be careful not to get your hand caught.”

“Oh,” Qi An quietly replied, still extremely happy about the shiny gold badge on her chest.

When Li Hua arrived, Qi An was already resting her head on the desk, not doing anything.

Zhang Si Tan had told her to learn more about the Healthcare Security Administration. She clicked back and forth between the “Current Affairs” section of the National Healthcare Security Administration website, finding it hard to concentrate.

Li Hua’s leather shoes sounded like they might be a size too big, dragging when he walked.

He pulled out his chair and sat down with a heavy groan: “We really can’t compare to young people. Just a little drink, and I can’t get up this morning.”

He sprawled out in his office chair, crossing his legs, and pinched his brow hard with his index finger and thumb.

Zhang Si Tan glanced at him, reminding him to be mindful of his appearance now that a newcomer was here: “Look, the newly hired assistant, Qi An.”

Li Hua followed her gaze and instantly straightened his legs: “Haha, I met her in Qingdao. Hello, hello, I am Li Hua, the Li Hua you often write letters to in English essays. Nice to meet you, nice to meet you.”

Qi An burst into laughter at his words: “Qi An, nice to meet you.”

“Hey! You haven’t gone to move your computer yet,” Li Hua exclaimed instinctively when he saw her empty desk.

“Ah.” Qi An was a little confused, startled by his strong reaction. “Isn’t… someone going to move it over?”

“Waiting for them to move it! That’ll take forever.”

Zhang Si Tan looked up at the sound: “Aren’t you here now? Are you going to let the young lady move it herself?”

“Right, right, right.” Li Hua slapped his head, realizing his purpose. “Let’s go, your Brother Li will take you to move the computer.”

“Okay, Brother Li!” Qi An was very happy, calling out readily, and followed Li Hua eagerly to move the computer.

By the time they came back with the computer, the office was gradually filling up. Li Hua helped her set up the computer.

Zhang Si Tan was nearly finished with her form. She clicked save, stood up, and introduced Qi An to everyone.

“This is Qi An, the new assistant,” she put her arm around Qi An’s shoulder. “She just graduated from university, so everyone, take it easy on her.”

This was an assistant hired specifically for Zhang Si Tan, but she didn’t say so. The phrase “take it easy on her” instantly minimized any unnecessary friction. No one would actually boss Qi An around, but by saying this, she immediately brought Qi An closer to them.

Many people in the office had been on the Qingdao business trip with her and had met Qi An, but they didn’t know she was Qi Shenli’s daughter, and Zhang Si Tan didn’t mention it.

Everyone greeted her warmly, and Zhang Si Tan helped her recognize a few people.

“That’s Li Hao, and the people next to her are members of her team.”

“If you have any problems, come to me or Brother Li. The office atmosphere is generally good, but you need to be cautious yourself. Don’t be foolish and blurt out everything.”

“You must back up your computer every time you finish using it. Don’t use your computer to browse websites unrelated to work; everything can be seen.”

“Follow me for lunch.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Si Tan added: “Bring a cup tomorrow. Using paper cups all the time isn’t environmentally friendly.”

Qi An listened carefully, nodding her head vigorously.

“Oh,” Zhang Si Tan remembered something else. “Create a memo and put it on your desktop, listing your daily to do list.”

Li Hua laughed gleefully from the side: “You’re better off with Li Hao than with Team Leader Zhang. You’ll have to split your time in half on this team.”

“It’s fine, I can adapt,” Qi An said without thinking.

Zhang Si Tan glanced at her, felt she had given enough instructions, and sat back down at her desk.