The Former Assistant Seduced The Current President - Chapter 3

The flight booked for the new president had been delayed by a full day. This was a significant blunder.

Standing in the administration office, facing a furious Manager Ma, Yan Xi lowered his head and explained weakly, “I am sorry, Manager Ma. I did not have enough money in my account at the time, and the delay in transferring funds took too much time.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Are you implying the company pays you too little?”

Manager Ma interrupted him sharply, sneering, “Assistant Yan, have you forgotten that you are now just an ordinary clerk in the administration department?”

Yan Xi remained silent for a second. “It is my fault. Is there anything I can do to make up for it?”

“No need,” Manager Ma laughed mockingly. “President Shi has rescheduled for tonight’s flight. Thanks to you, the company’s original meeting schedule has to be changed as well.”

“I sent President Shi an email to apologize,” Yan Xi said quietly. “I will explain it to him in person later. It was my personal mistake.”

“You probably will not have that chance.” Manager Ma’s tone was cold, his eyes filled with a subtle mockery. “President Shi does not think you are suitable for the administration department. You do not need to come to the company for the next two days. Stay home and reflect on your actions.”

This meant he was being suspended pending further disciplinary action. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yan Xi nodded. “Alright.”

He walked out of the office, his slender frame casting a tall, proud shadow against the glass door. Manager Ma curled his lips in a sneer and spat out three words: “Hypocritical pride.”

Yan Xi had studied design and applied to the YK company after graduation. Although he initially applied to the publicity department, he ended up being transferred to the president’s office by chance less than six months later. He was lucky enough to be appreciated by the former president, who kept him as an assistant for three years.

A month ago, the company underwent a major equity restructuring, and the board of directors underwent a massive shake up. The former president was forcibly removed, and Yan Xi, caught in the crossfire, was demoted back to the administration department overnight to enjoy the status of a newcomer. Many people in the company wanted to see Yan Xi humiliated, eager to watch a former favorite of the previous regime suffer. After all, becoming a top assistant at such a young age had made him the target of much jealousy. Furthermore, he always maintained a cold, distant demeanor, rarely showing enthusiasm to anyone. Even when new employees greeted him, he would only give a slight nod before walking past. Behind his back, many whispered that he was more arrogant than the president.

Taking advantage of his fall from grace, many were eager to teach him how to be a newcomer. To their disappointment, ever since he was transferred to administration, Yan Xi handled files and arranged meetings with impeccable precision, leaving no room for anyone to catch him in a mistake. However, nobody expected him to stumble over a simple plane ticket. Manager Ma certainly would not let this opportunity to suppress him go to waste.

With no work and no overtime, the sudden leisure made Yan Xi feel somewhat lost. He bought a lemonade and sat alone on a bench in the city garden to pass the time. He spent the day in boredom, watching birds, counting ants, and waiting for time to pass from dawn until dusk.

Yan Xi did not like dealing with people, especially strangers. For him, memorizing a new face required a great deal of energy. He was aware of the whispering behind his back; everyone assumed Yan Xi was arrogant and distant, but in reality, he simply could not remember their faces. When he was a top assistant, people only dared to mutter behind his back, but now, anyone felt bold enough to mock him to his face. Most of the time, after they finished talking, Yan Xi would politely ask, “Sorry, who are you?” He asked sincerely, but others mistook it for sarcasm. Yan Xi did not know who should be more annoyed.

As night finally fell, he sighed in relief, left the garden, and walked into a nearby bar. Within two days, he had suffered the double blow of romantic betrayal and a professional failure. His self confidence was severely shaken, and he could not bear it. He intended to get half drunk, throw all his unhappiness behind him, and go home to sleep. However, just as he reached a state of mild intoxication, he received an email.

The sender’s name was not unfamiliar to Yan Xi. He opened the attachment directly. It was a screenshot, a post from Cheng Zhen’s Weibo.

The photo was provocative. Cheng Zhen was shirtless, facing a mirror, with striking scratch marks on his shoulders. A woman was hugging him from behind, her figure sexy and alluring. He had finally succeeded; he had climbed the social ladder and was eager to announce it to the world. The comments below were filled with congratulations and teasing. Previously, Cheng Zhen’s feed had only consisted of fitness and travel; he had never so openly displayed his private life. In comparison, Yan Xi’s existence had been like a shameful clown, never once acknowledged in the light of day. They had not even been broken up for a week, his predecessor’s corpse was not yet cold, and the successor had already moved in. Truly the top tier of scum.

Alcohol surged through his veins, forcing a rush of anger to his head. In his drunken state, he logged into his Weibo account, intending to vent his anger, only to be stunned to find that he had been blocked.

“Fine. I do not even get the chance to mourn.”

Before Yan Xi could recover, a second email drifted silently into his inbox like a ghost. He opened it hesitantly, and rows of piercing words jumped out at him:

“Do you see? What did you think he liked about you?”

“Without the status of a president’s assistant, you cannot even keep a single man.”

“Without power and status, who would treat you with sincerity?”

“Stop being naive, Yan Xi.”

The email was short but sharp, like a dagger plunged directly into Yan Xi’s heart. Perhaps at the beginning, there were unavoidable factors, and Yan Xi had harbored some impure motives, but later, he had truly wanted to walk hand in hand with Cheng Zhen and face the storms together. He appeared cool and detached on the outside, but he was a human being of flesh and blood. He felt sadness, pain, and resentment.

His mood was at rock bottom, and being half drunk was not enough to heal the wound. Yan Xi walked to the bar, waved at the waiter, and ordered several more bottles.

A young man with handsome features and a clean, aloof temperament sat alone in the corner of the bar. His presence alone was a unique sight, and his drunken state only added to his charm. The alcohol relaxed his tensed back into an elegant curve, and his eyes grew misty and deep, flashing with an alluring light. If this is not seduction, what is? Finally, someone could not resist and approached with a glass.

After a long flight and waiting, Shi Ye had not breathed fresh air for almost an entire day and night. He felt stifled. Finally, the plane landed smoothly at Jia City Airport. He could not wait to walk out of the cabin, but before he could take a single deep breath, he was surrounded by high ranking company executives who had come to pick him up. The thick wall of people acted like an invisible barrier, isolating him from the air around him. He was bombarded with pleasantries and arrangements.

He frowned slightly, his expression serious. Less than ten minutes later, the news spread throughout the company: “The new president is in a bad mood; he looked stern the moment he arrived.”

Escorted back to his hotel room, Shi Ye dismissed everyone and stepped into the bathroom for a shower. After washing away his exhaustion, his spirit felt slightly invigorated, but he still had no appetite. He decided to change clothes and go out to get some air. Having been away from Jia City for many years and surrounded by company people since landing, he had not yet had a chance to see how the city had changed. With the night quiet and still, it was the perfect time to enjoy the view. Shi Ye paused at the hotel entrance and walked down a brightly lit street.

Jia City remained prosperous and bustling at night, with neon lights flickering. Shi Ye wandered the street alone. The breeze brushed his face, bringing a hint of coolness and the unique scent of Jia City, a mixture of faint sea salt, fresh plants, and the aroma of food from street stalls. The familiar scents intertwined, stirring Shi Ye’s memories.

He recalled his youth spent here, the laughter, and the passion of his youth, all drifting away with the passage of time. Now, he was standing here again. It was a surreal feeling. As he walked along the street, Shi Ye’s gaze was drawn to a small bar by the roadside.

The bar’s exterior was a classic retro style. Its lighting design was particularly unique, with warm yellow light projecting through frosted glass and intricate hollow carvings, giving it an artistic touch. Shi Ye could not help but stop and linger. He appreciated works that cleverly utilized elements and colors to create unique visual effects, so he was often attracted by special designs.

Bang.

The bar door was suddenly pushed open with a violent shove, shattering the light on the ground. A strong smell of alcohol rushed out, instantly destroying Shi Ye’s good mood. He frowned and took a step back, only then noticing the young man who had rushed out. His eyes were hazy, and his gait was unsteady; he had clearly had too much to drink. The young man tried to avoid the obstacles, but his legs disobeyed him. He stumbled, his body tilting forward uncontrollably, and he crashed straight into Shi Ye.

Shi Ye had intended to step aside, but his body subconsciously did the exact opposite; he reached out his arms and caught the slender body.