Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 39

Shen Zhibing smiled bitterly, “You seem to have understood it even better than I have. It looks like you’ve truly found freedom.”

Qi Zheng supported Shen Zhibing’s body and felt the rising sense of helplessness in the CEO Shen. Afraid she might faint if things continued, she had to push her gently.

“CEO Shen, a breakup is a very normal thing; most people experience it. You just need to get through the difficult phase, and once you get over it later, you won’t be troubled or sad anymore.”

Shen Zhibing first gave a helpless smile, as if she didn’t hold much hope for her own ability to withdraw easily and move on. Then, she snapped back to attention and immediately became wary.

She stood up from Qi Zheng’s embrace, looking at her with confusion and a probing gaze: “How do you know about my personal relationship?”

Her relationship with Lian Ao had always been kept secret; she hadn’t even formally disclosed it to Yun Fei. Qi Zheng only knew before that she had someone in her heart, but certainly not that it was Lian Ao. Could it be Lin Muyun who told her?

And how did Lin Muyun know? Did Lian Ao tell her?

As Shen Zhibing made this association, her mind became a mess. If this was true, it meant Lian Ao was thoroughly giving up on this relationship. They had said that this relationship was like a film negative: the moment it was exposed, it would be ruined.

Qi Zheng sighed, “CEO Shen, the question you just asked me, besides being about love, surely couldn’t have been about studies or work, right?”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s about my situation; I was just asking for your opinion on the matter.” Shen Zhibing put away her rare moment of vulnerability and put up her defenses again. “Did you find out something?”

Qi Zheng thought, I know everything, but I can’t say it. If I do, it’ll be even harder to explain.

“I don’t know.”

Shen Zhibing was half-believing, half-doubting, but at least she wasn’t as hostile toward Qi Zheng as she was initially. Her tone was relatively calm: “Don’t pay too much attention to my private affairs, and don’t interfere casually. Unless I tell you, don’t assume other topics are relevant to me.”

Sure enough, she has a ‘love-struck brain.’ When it comes to emotions, CEO Shen is a completely different person from the sharp and decisive woman she is at work.

Qi Zheng wanted to persuade Shen Zhibing to loosen up, or even if she couldn’t completely extricate herself so quickly, at least not to keep protecting Lian Ao. A man like him wasn’t worth it.

“CEO Shen, don’t worry, I won’t pry into your privacy or invade your life. I just hope you can be happier. If you feel tired or unsure, it means the person isn’t the right one for you.”

Fearing Shen Zhibing would misunderstand again, Qi Zheng proactively explained: “I’m talking about my own understanding, my own experience and feelings.”

Shen Zhibing silently repeated Qi Zheng’s words in her heart. She knew full well that her relationship with Lian Ao had died long ago; she just couldn’t bear to let go.

She just hadn’t expected that Qi Zheng could gain so much insight from Lin Muyun. No wonder her emotions were so calm when facing Lin Muyun.

“I’m fine now. You should go back and rest. You’ll officially report to the Secretary’s Office in a few days. The work challenges ahead will be greater. I hope you take it seriously and achieve better results.”

“I will.”

Qi Zheng officially signed the labor contract with Shen’s and joined the Secretary’s Office, where Yun Fei was assigned to mentor her. On the day she completed the joining procedures, Shen Qixing specially went to the HR specialist’s office and looked over Qi Zheng’s file again.

He was already somewhat surprised when he heard that Shen Zhibing had formally announced at the real estate company that Qi Zheng would be transferred to the Secretary’s Office. Considering that Shen Zhibing personally spoke up, her level of importance was clearly unusual.

Now, she was having Yun Fei personally mentor her. Maybe she was planning to cultivate a second Yun Fei. At that point, Shen Zhibing would have two strong assistants, her wings would be fully grown, and she would be even harder to deal with.

The HR specialist was quite nervous. She couldn’t gauge the intentions of this Vice President, who usually didn’t pay much attention to recruitment work.

“Xiao He, is this all of Qi Zheng’s information?” He had seen this file before. There was nothing exceptionally outstanding about it, a far cry from the two candidates he had previously recommended to Shen Zhibing.

Qi Zheng didn’t even have any overseas experience. Although Haida’s School of Finance was one of the best in the country, her grades weren’t at the top of her major. How could she be considered outstanding?

Who working at Shen’s isn’t excellent?

“CEO Shen, all the information is definitely complete. We wouldn’t miss any employee information.” Afraid that the Vice President might think she was irresponsible, Xiao He tried hard to prove that all of Qi Zheng’s information had been entered and filed.

Shen Qixing couldn’t find anything else, so he had to return the file to Xiao He: “I’m just asking as a formality, don’t be nervous. The Secretary’s Office has a newcomer, and I’m just curious.”

This person was personally selected by the CEO Shen and did not go through the formal recruitment process of the HR department. Not only Shen Qixing, but others in the HR department were also curious, but no one dared to be as direct as he was.

“An employee valued by CEO Shen, you should pay more attention to them and keep an eye on them.” Shen Qixing lightly tapped the desk twice and left.

Xiao He knew that the CEO was hinting at her to pay close attention to Qi Zheng’s movements in the future.

Shen Zhibing didn’t have too many documents to approve today. After reviewing a few, she allowed herself to relax for a moment. Lian Ao hadn’t contacted her for several days; it was as if they had truly broken up.

Qi Zheng’s words from that night echoed in her ears. Although Shen Zhibing was wary, she had taken Qi Zheng’s words to heart.

Yun Fei knocked and entered: “CEO Shen, all of Qi Zheng’s onboarding procedures are complete.”

Shen Zhibing retracted her thoughts: “What about other arrangements? Have they all been settled?”

“Everything is properly arranged. She can officially start work today.”

Qi Zheng had worked in the Secretary’s Office before, but today she noticed some changes compared to the past. For example, the desk that was originally in the corner had been moved and wasn’t so out of the way anymore. The desk and chair were new, the computer was also new, and her name badge had already been hung up.

“You take charge of the rest. Don’t hold back on what needs to be taught, and don’t worry about my reputation for what needs to be managed.”

Yun Fei nodded, indicating that she understood.

She placed the few documents she had just received on Shen Zhibing’s desk and added: “Eric is back. I told him you wanted to see him.”

Shen Zhibing had just been thinking about this. She hadn’t expected Eric to return so conveniently: “Have him investigate Qi Zheng.”

Yun Fei was puzzled: “Didn’t CEO Shen already decide to let her join the Secretary’s Office?”

Previously, when Shen Zhibing wanted to investigate Qi Zheng, Yun Fei thought it was because she was worried about Qi Zheng’s background. After all, having someone with an unclear background close by was indeed unsettling.

“It’s a private matter.”

Hearing it was a private matter, Yun Fei stopped asking. Back when they were abroad, Shen Zhibing would occasionally talk to her about personal topics, but since returning to China and joining Shen’s, the CEO Shen had spent most of her time on work.

It had been a long time since they had a serious conversation about private matters.

“Then I’ll have him contact you as soon as possible.”

After Yun Fei left, she assigned Qi Zheng some basic tasks. Before, Qi Zheng’s main focus here was completing the report for the Yongfeng project, but now it was different; she had to start dealing with other tasks in the Secretary’s Office.

In the future, many of CEO Shen’s documents might have to pass through her first. Qi Zheng clearly felt a significant increase in pressure.

Yun Fei smiled and comforted her: “Don’t be nervous. You have the ability to handle it. It’s always a little hectic at the start.”

Qi Zheng found Yun Fei much easier to get along with than Shen Zhibing. How could the ever-cold CEO Shen have such a kind, lovely, and considerate secretary sister by her side?

Fortunately, she would spend most of her time in the Secretary’s Office with Yun Fei. Otherwise, she’d have to wear a winter coat to work to avoid getting frozen.

“Today, start by reviewing these materials. They are all the projects that CEO Shen needs to approve over the next half month.”

That rushed? Qi Zheng felt a sense of urgency as she took the documents.

Yun Fei knew what she was thinking and reassured her: “Most of it has already been processed; you don’t need to rush the data. This is just so you can get an idea of the future work content and the way CEO Shen prefers things to be handled.”

So that was it. Yun Fei was indeed experienced and astute.

“Thank you, Secretary Yun.”

In the afternoon, Shen Qixing actually used the excuse of bringing the Q3 employee incentive plan for Shen Zhibing’s signature and then drifted over to the Secretary’s Office.

This time, when he arrived, he blatantly stared at Qi Zheng.

He said to Yun Fei: “I also came by to see if the newcomer who joined today is adapting well, and if there’s anything our HR department needs to cooperate with.”

It sounded like a normal procedure, and Yun Fei couldn’t refuse.

“Qi Zheng is adapting well. That’s very thoughtful of you, Vice President Shen.”

Shen Qixing lightly tapped his palm with the document and expressed his concern: “There are quite a few people in the company paying attention since CEO Shen specially recruited Qi Zheng to headquarters. Although CEO Shen has every right to do so, it would be better to have more detailed achievements to convince everyone.”

Yun Fei knew what Shen Qixing was hinting at, but she wasn’t Shen Zhibing after all and couldn’t openly confront him. However, now that Qi Zheng was in the Secretary’s Office, she naturally wouldn’t let others bully her freely.

“Vice President Shen, don’t worry about that. Qi Zheng’s performance on the Yongfeng project has already been formally reported for performance review by the real estate company. We’ll need to trouble HR to do some publicity then. As for the future, CEO Shen and I both believe Qi Zheng can achieve better results.”

Qi Zheng knew that as a relative newcomer from outside the regular system, it was impossible not to be watched, and she knew that many people were already scrutinizing her in private. However, she hadn’t expected the Vice President of HR to personally show up on her first day of work.

She was aware of the relationship between Shen Qixing and Shen Zhibing and the considerable internal conflict within the Shen family. No matter how outstanding her abilities were, she wasn’t worth this much attention from a Vice President.

Shen Qixing simply wanted to use her to gauge Shen Zhibing’s attitude and intentions. Qi Zheng held her forehead; she didn’t want to become cannon fodder in the Shen family’s power struggle.

Yun Fei was quite righteous and had excellent tact. Shen Qixing was clearly standing just a few steps away from Qi Zheng, and a few of his sentences were clearly directed at her, but Yun Fei deflected everything for her.

Whether through gentle-but-firm or straightforward means, she completely shielded Qi Zheng, preventing her from having a direct conversation with Shen Qixing.

“CEO Shen is free now. You may go in.” Yun Fei received a notification from Shen Zhibing and signaled Shen Qixing to leave.

The other two secretaries hadn’t said much just now, but they were all on Yun Fei’s side. As soon as Shen Qixing left, they all gave Yun Fei a thumbs-up in unison.

Qi Zheng quietly said, “Thank you.”

Yun Fei didn’t mind and didn’t take the matter to heart: “In the Secretary’s Office, you can encounter all sorts of situations. People’s attitudes toward us are not necessarily directly aimed at us, but more often because of CEO Shen. You’ll get used to it later, and you need to learn to adapt. If you have any difficulties, you can ask us.”

With Yun Fei looking out for her in the Secretary’s Office, Qi Zheng’s days naturally wouldn’t be too hard. Shen Zhibing was very busy, with endless meetings and documents to approve every day, and many people trying to see her whenever they could squeeze in a moment. Qi Zheng thought, for CEO Shen to be so busy and still manage to persist in loving Lian Ao for so long, she truly was an exceptional talent in love.