Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 35

Shen Zhibing looked at Qi Zheng with interest. This seemed to be the first time Qi Zheng had proactively suggested having a meal with her, and she looked to be in a good mood.

“You’re quite something. Others would do anything to finish their work and leave early when they hear they can get off work sooner. Yet you actively want to increase your workload. Do you have too much free time or do you feel guilty that your salary is too high?”

The words spoken with CEO Shen’s teasing tone weren’t very funny, but thankfully Qi Zheng didn’t mind. The Shen Group was indeed generous. Although she was still an intern, she had a significant workload and made actual contributions to the company, so her intern salary was considerable.

“Just consider it the first bonus I’ve received, and I want to treat CEO Shen to a meal.”

Shen Zhibing truly couldn’t figure Qi Zheng out. Before, when she invited Qi Zheng, the other person always looked reluctant. Why the sudden change of heart today? As the saying goes, “An unexpected offer of kindness suggests a plot.”

However, neither of those situations seemed applicable to her.

“I appreciate your offer, but I really can’t today. The Yongfeng project is signing in a couple of days, and I have many other projects to review.”

Qi Zheng glanced at CEO Shen’s perpetually full desk and didn’t give up easily.

“No matter how busy you are, you need to eat and rest. Work-life balance is essential for improving efficiency. CEO Shen is so smart; surely you understand this principle. We won’t go far, just near the company. How about it?”

Qi Zheng made an inviting gesture. Her tone wasn’t demanding and sounded quite engaging.

Shen Zhibing had indeed worked all day and was a bit tired. She originally planned to have Yun Fei order a meal to be delivered to the office, but since Qi Zheng was so sincere, she might as well go downstairs and take a stroll.

“I only have one hour.” Shen Zhibing glanced at the work on her hand and squeezed out a precious hour.

“There’s a good Ningbo cuisine place nearby, it’s very close.”

After work hours, Shen Zhibing didn’t leave immediately, and Qi Zheng tactfully didn’t rush her. They only took the CEO’s dedicated elevator downstairs about half an hour later, after the number of departing employees had thinned out.

“You’ve become quite familiar with the area around the Shen Group.” Shen Zhibing usually had a private car service, entering and exiting directly from the parking lot, and rarely strolled around the vicinity.

When it came to familiarity, she might genuinely lose out to Qi Zheng.

“A tall person among dwarves, that’s all.” Qi Zheng wasn’t a fan of aimless wandering either, but compared to Shen Zhibing, many people could easily win.

After making arrangements with CEO Shen, Qi Zheng had called to book a table. A later time would certainly mean losing the best seats, but thankfully, she could still reserve one.

“This place does great business; it’ll get even more crowded later.” Qi Zheng led Shen Zhibing to their seats. The location was a little lively, not a quiet area by the window.

“You should have chosen a quieter place.” Shen Zhibing generally approved of the overall environment here; it was much better than a street food stall.

“Eating Chinese food requires a little bit of the ‘smoke and fire’ of life. The flavor is better when it’s lively.” Qi Zheng spread out a placemat. It was a bit busy nearby, but not so noisy as to disrupt the meal, as it was a restaurant in a top-tier CBD after all.

“CEO Shen, what would you like to eat tonight?” Qi Zheng handed her a menu while opening her own.

“You’re more familiar with this place. You decide.”

Qi Zheng looked up and smiled: “I’m treating tonight, CEO Shen, please don’t be a stranger.”

Shen Zhibing couldn’t quite pinpoint what felt strange, but Qi Zheng was truly a little different today.

“You have to argue with me over a single meal? You really don’t want to spend my money?”

The words were the same, but CEO Shen’s tone had changed, and it no longer sounded quite so unpleasant.

“I can earn my own money, and spending someone else’s money is always a bit less comfortable. Eating with my own money feels more secure, and I can eat more.” Qi Zheng said this half-jokingly, then lowered her head, focusing on the menu.

She had been here twice; she wasn’t very familiar with it, but she knew the general flavors. Having eaten with Shen Zhibing for so long, she also generally understood CEO Shen’s taste.

“That’s all. Please use less MSG, and reduce the amount of spring onions by half.”

After ordering, Qi Zheng added two more requests to the waiter. Shen Zhibing hadn’t expressed much opinion, but she was quite satisfied with Qi Zheng’s choices.

“You’re quite observant.”

Qi Zheng smiled, not responding to the topic.

The dishes were served quickly. They didn’t order wine, and the dinner was settled just like a regular home-cooked meal. Shen Zhibing hadn’t had high expectations for the place, but she surprisingly managed to eat over half a bowl of rice by the end of the meal.

“How was it?” After paying the bill, Qi Zheng symbolically asked for CEO Shen’s opinion.

“It was very good.”

Stepping out of the restaurant, the temperature outside was only slightly lower than during the day, still hot. They draped their jackets over their arms and walked slowly in their shirts. Shen Zhibing noticed Qi Zheng was walking in a direction that wasn’t back to the company and called out to her: “You haven’t forgotten the way back, have you?”

“I just finished eating. A walk helps with digestion. We’ll head back later.”

Shen Zhibing checked the time. There were still ten minutes left of the one hour of free time she had allotted.

Qi Zheng knew what she was thinking and smiled: “I’ll apply for an extra fifteen minutes. I’ll make up for it with work time later.”

Shen Zhibing wasn’t so demanding, but hearing Qi Zheng calculate so precisely made her smile instead.

There was an ice cream truck by the roadside. Qi Zheng had seen it several times after work, but unfortunately, never had the chance to try it.

“CEO Shen, would you like to have that?”

Following the direction she pointed, Shen Zhibing also saw the truck.

It had been many years since she had eaten roadside ice cream. She used to buy it often when studying abroad.

“Wait for me.”

Shen Zhibing not immediately rejecting it meant tacit approval. Qi Zheng jogged over, stood by the truck, said a few words to the owner, and soon returned with two ice cream cones in her hand.

“Here you go.” The pink strawberry flavor was on top, a very cute and tempting color.

Cute and soft—it didn’t quite match CEO Shen’s usual style.

But that didn’t stop the ice cream from tasting good. CEO Shen couldn’t resist the temptation and took a gentle bite. It was a nostalgic, irresistible flavor.

She glanced at Qi Zheng, who was also intently licking her cone. Qi Zheng had ordered the matcha flavor, and her upper lip was covered with a faint layer of green. Shen Zhibing subconsciously licked her own upper lip, then paused.

The cone wasn’t large, but it was very refreshing on this muggy summer evening. Shen Zhibing’s mood brightened; she couldn’t quite say why.

“Qi Zheng, the Yongfeng project is about to sign the contract. What are your plans afterward?”

CEO Shen actually proactively asked for her opinion. Qi Zheng originally wanted to say, “Didn’t you already arrange everything for me?” But she had decided to get along peacefully with CEO Shen and, as much as possible, guide Shen Zhibing toward acting like a normal person, so she naturally couldn’t be completely honest.

“I’ve already received my graduation certificate. Next, I should find a job where I can officially sign a contract, work hard, and strive to make money.”

A plan similar to that of most fresh graduates. Shen Zhibing countered, “My secretarial office can’t keep you?”

To be honest, Qi Zheng also preferred the working atmosphere of the secretarial office and felt that those secretaries, especially Yun Fei, were more professional and friendlier.

“It’s hard to convince people for a graduate like me to directly enter the headquarters, let alone the secretarial office.”

Shen Zhibing was unconcerned: “Your internship experience in the project team is visible to all, and your contributions and achievements to the Yongfeng project are undeniable. The Shen Group has always promoted based on ability, with strength as the priority. Education and experience are merely a kind of recruitment threshold, not the only standard.”

Qi Zheng believed this; she had clearly felt it while working there.

“I believe that, but I just feel it’s a bit too fast.”

“Then are you planning to stay in the real estate company, or do you want to start as a regular employee in another department at the headquarters?”

By the sound of CEO Shen’s words, she had no intention of letting Qi Zheng go. No matter where she worked, it wouldn’t escape the scope of the Shen Group.

“CEO Shen, what if I want to go to another company?”

Shen Zhibing became serious. It seemed she had considered this question long ago but was unwilling for it to become a reality.

“You want to go to the Lin Group? Didn’t you say…”

Qi Zheng quickly interrupted: “It has nothing to do with the Lin Group. It’s that I want to find a job that truly belongs to me, relying on my own capabilities.”

Shen Zhibing seriously considered Qi Zheng’s words and finally understood the underlying meaning.

“You think working at the Shen Group is because of my connection?”

Qi Zheng didn’t speak, but she did indeed think so, and the people in the project team thought so too.

“I won’t deny that arranging for you to join the company initially was because I promised you, but since then, you have proven with your ability and performance that you have the competence to handle this job. The quick offer of a position in the secretarial office is something you earned yourself, not something I forced upon you. So, you don’t need to have misgivings because of this.”

Qi Zheng hadn’t expected CEO Shen to be so frank, but hearing it did make her feel much better.

“If you’re excellent, naturally people will be envious of you, and you can never make that jealousy disappear. The only way is to make yourself even better, to ensure they can never catch up to you. That is the best counterattack against jealousy and criticism.”

“CEO Shen, thank you for your affirmation.”

Qi Zheng had thought that in Shen Zhibing’s eyes, everything she did was just what any regular employee should do.

“The Shen Group has clear rewards and punishments. If you do well, the rewards won’t differ because of your identity. After the Yongfeng project signing, everyone in the project team will receive a corresponding bonus, and you are no exception.”

Qi Zheng had heard this from Dong Xiao and wasn’t surprised.

Shen Zhibing continued: “I originally didn’t want to tell you too early, but since you have concerns, I can give you a heads-up: you will receive an additional bonus.”

“An additional bonus?”

“As an intern, you naturally won’t wait to receive a year-end bonus, so the portion you are owed will be paid to you in advance. I have also had HR prepare the evaluation certificate you requested earlier; it will be completed directly by the project leader and Dong Xiao.”

She hadn’t expected CEO Shen, who was so busy, to still manage these matters.

“Well? Can you consider working in my secretarial office now?”

Shen Zhibing’s attitude towards Qi Zheng at this moment was entirely that of a boss encouraging an excellent employee, not commenting on her ‘canary in a cage.’ Outside the villa, both she and Qi Zheng had another layer of identity, and Shen Zhibing wasn’t so confused as to mix up the two.

“Then may I propose a condition to you?”

Shen Zhibing looked at her: “Trying to raise the price?”

Although she said that, she still allowed Qi Zheng to continue.

“CEO Shen, I would like to add a supplementary clause to our contract.”

“What do you want to add?”

“I want to use my earnings from work to offset the breach of contract compensation until the full amount is reached, at which point the contract will be automatically terminated.”

Shen Zhibing was somewhat displeased. She hadn’t expected Qi Zheng to still be preoccupied with dissolving the contract. She hadn’t forced her to complete the terms of the agreement, so why was she still trying to escape?