Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 48

Qi Zheng was stunned. Did CEO Shen see through her pursuit of a career, or rather, her ambition? That’s right, Qi Zheng indeed wanted to achieve something in her career.

She wasn’t a rich heiress born with a silver spoon, but she still longed to create her own success. She used to treat work as the only way to earn money, so she went all out, terrified that delaying even a second would mean missing a project and breaking a promise to her lover.

But her lover didn’t wait for her. When they were still very young, her lover cried and told her: “Qi Zheng, a woman’s youth is very short. I can’t let my parents be sad, and I can’t let myself wait indefinitely like this.”

Qi Zheng was dejected. Supporting her body, which was exhausted from long-term overtime, and her already blurred, tear-filled eyes, she choked out, “Can’t you give me even a little more time? I’m already trying hard to rush forward, but the finish line is far, and I need time.”

Her lover hugged her, kissing her cheek, but it was their last embrace: “Zheng, you are very good. I will never meet anyone who treats me better than you in the future. But our life is not just about love; there are many realities. You are too idealistic and too stubborn.”

Qi Zheng’s ideal was to marry her lover openly and legally once her career was established, even though they were both women. But her lover advised her to compromise temporarily; a ‘contract marriage’ (or marriage of convenience) wasn’t bad. They could put on a show in front of others but stay together long-term in private.

Qi Zheng resisted and even loathed such a compromise. She rejected it without a second thought.

“A contract marriage means the first lie. In the future, countless lies will have to be used to sustain it. What will we do then? Continue to compromise or overturn all the previous lies?”

It would be too hard to turn back. Since she couldn’t even tolerate the first lie, where would the courage come from to overturn everything? The moment her lover began to waver, Qi Zheng knew they were heading toward a fork in the road.

Qi Zheng fell silent, even starting to use work to numb and escape. She refused to communicate with her lover. Instead, the other person tried to persuade her, but Qi Zheng coldly rejected her: “If, in your eyes, our love is only worthy of forever existing in the shadows, then is there any need for us to persist?”

If there was no light destined for them, why talk about any future?

Her lover was disappointed, shocked, and heartbroken but still left. Not long after, Qi Zheng received an invitation. Her lover had said that this person was the contract marriage partner she had considered before, and she wanted to prove to Qi Zheng that this choice was feasible.

Qi Zheng poured almost all her time into work. Her abilities advanced rapidly, her performance stood out, and she became an indispensable talent in the eyes of her superiors.

However, only she knew that she was no longer the indispensable one in her lover’s life.

When she saw her lover, who had chosen a contract marriage, shopping for baby products with a slightly bulging belly, Qi Zheng realized she couldn’t cry. She stood not far away, watching her quietly for a long time, and suddenly realized that the person she once loved so deeply could instantly become so unfamiliar.

Qi Zheng quickly walked out of the mall, and the constraints in her heart suddenly loosened.

Her self-torture over the past few days had finally come to an end. Because she had realized that the person who abandoned the past was not her, but the other person.

It was truly foolish of her to be stuck in place, clinging to a relationship that was not worth holding onto.

Qi Zheng didn’t know who she would meet in the future, but she knew she wouldn’t let herself suffer like this again.

Shen Zhibing didn’t disturb Qi Zheng, even though she clearly noticed her zoning out. Qi Zheng’s transformation was not accidental. Shen Zhibing did not call off Allie’s investigation. But she admired the current Qi Zheng and didn’t want to miss such a piece of raw jade.

In this day and age, talent is priceless. Especially now, Shen Zhibing needs to cultivate her own trusted associates as quickly as possible.

Yun Fei knew of Shen Zhibing’s plan and had no objection to her choice: “Won’t the pressure be too great for Qi Zheng?”

“There’s no progress without pressure. She is not someone who can’t handle pressure. I’d really like to know what her limit is.”

Yun Fei was also very satisfied with Qi Zheng’s work performance, but she knew Shen Zhibing’s demands were always high.

“I have already assessed the few people you asked me to scout in the business department. Here is the performance report.”

For Shen Zhibing to successfully take over, she not only has to deal with her second uncle’s people but also replace the relatives of the old officials who were with her grandfather’s batch. They all rely on their seniority and personal connections and sometimes don’t completely listen to Shen Zhibing, making it very difficult whenever new policies need to be implemented.

“Next month, find a reason to establish a temporary project team and bring them together. I will personally assess them.”

Yun Fei asked again, “What about Qi Zheng?”

After considering, Shen Zhibing said, “She will be placed later. She passed the preliminary assessment; what I want to see is her ability to lead a team.”

Yun Fei was surprised: “CEO Shen, are you planning to let Qi Zheng lead a team so soon?”

“Second Uncle is also accelerating his moves. If I continue at the previous pace, I may not be able to win steadily. Alarming Grandpa and having the old gentleman step in is not the result I want.”

To win, she had to win completely.

Yun Fei returned to the secretariat and gave Qi Zheng a meaningful look. Qi Zheng was still busy with the Huatian Water Conservancy report. Yun Fei occasionally asked her about the progress, and Qi Zheng didn’t hide anything.

Qi Zheng was improving quickly, but for CEO Shen to bring her into the core competition of the senior level, it might also be a tough battle.

However, Shen Zhibing doesn’t have many people she truly trusts, and Yun Fei also hoped that CEO Shen could have a few more right-hand people, so she wouldn’t have to bear the burden alone.

“Qi Zheng, work hard, and there will definitely be generous rewards in the future.”

CEO Shen is famous for not mistreating talented people, which is why Shen’s company is full of elites. Not many newcomers can gain CEO Shen’s favor, and Qi Zheng is considered the most well-known. Her previous “air drop” into the Yongfeng project team was curious enough, and later, her direct promotion to the CEO’s Secretariat caused quite a stir at the headquarters.

People at the headquarters were not yet familiar with Qi Zheng’s face, but her name was already well known across various departments.

“Did you hear? The new person in the secretariat, Qi Zheng, is often called into CEO Shen’s office.”

“What’s the big fuss? She works in the secretariat, so of course, she reports to CEO Shen every day.”

“She is in the data analysis position, just a junior secretary; she isn’t even responsible for reviewing reports. When have you ever seen CEO Shen pay so much attention to this position? If she really cared, would it have been vacant for so long!”

“So, this position was specially kept for her? Unlikely, even though her performance on the Yongfeng project was indeed good, Shen’s company is never short of talent. Take our Director Yu, for example, she was also personally promoted by CEO Shen.”

“In short, this Qi Zheng is not simple. Maybe she really is a ‘Great Sage Equaling Heaven’ and is about to skyrocket.”

“Exaggerating, exaggerating. There’s really no need to flatter her like that.”

Yu Xinyan just returned from meeting a client and saw several employees in her department huddled together, gossiping.

“Afternoon tea time is over. Do you want to use up your dinner time?”

Seeing Yu Xinyan appear, those people immediately scattered: “Director, we just encountered some business difficulties and chatted for a bit too long.”

Yu Xinyan didn’t believe the excuse but didn’t expose them on the spot either. Every year, people in the department are subject to elimination at the bottom, and the competition is even fiercer in core departments. Shen Zhibing had hinted to her that she intended to readjust the department structure early next year, and several departments would be split and reorganized then.

Adjustments meant personnel changes were inevitable. These people were probably going to be leaving by the end of the year, and Yu Xinyan didn’t like subordinates who were loose-lipped.

Since entering the headquarters, Qi Zheng has spent most of her time in the secretariat, and Yun Fei hasn’t given her extra work assignments. But this doesn’t prevent her name from being remembered by various department heads; after all, not everyone gets the one-on-one treatment from CEO Shen.

What the lower-level employees saw was the boss’s high demands, but what these senior managers saw were opportunities and good fortune.

Qi Zheng was preparing for her driving test. She could drive herself, but the original host couldn’t. She still had to go through the motions, learn and take the test, and she even received a satisfied compliment from the instructor.

She planned to return the designated company car after getting her license; she really couldn’t bear CEO Shen’s excessive generosity, or she wouldn’t even be able to afford the gas.

Shen Qixing’s frequency of visits to the secretariat increased, and he particularly liked to come when Yun Fei was accompanying Shen Zhibing to meetings. Qi Zheng and the other two secretaries were working. He came in and placed a report on the desk of the second secretary, Xin Jia.

“Please ask CEO Shen to sign this; the sooner, the better. It needs to be issued next week.”

Xin Jia looked at it; it was the list of personnel for the temporarily added performance incentive bonus. The business department submitted a list of qualified salespeople, which needed HR approval and then submission to the finance department.

“I will give it to CEO Shen as soon as she returns from the meeting. Vice President Shen, please rest assured, it will be processed as quickly as possible.”

Shen Qixing kept looking in Qi Zheng’s direction, but across the computer screen, the person was too focused and didn’t respond to him.

“Xin Jia, how has Qi Zheng’s work performance been recently?”

“Very good.”

“I heard CEO Shen is quite fond of her and even gave her the analysis report for Huatian?”

Recently, more people have been coming to inquire about Qi Zheng indirectly. Yun Fei had instructed them not to disclose too much about Qi Zheng’s situation. However, since the Vice President of the HR department was asking, Xin Jia couldn’t be too perfunctory, as this might affect Qi Zheng’s year-end evaluation.

“CEO Shen’s requirements for each of us are the same. Recently, Qi Zheng has had a report in hand, so CEO Shen has been asking about it more.”

Shen Qixing pouted, wanting to ask more, but Shen Zhibing walked in with Yu Xinyan.

“Why are you here?”

Shen Qixing picked up the report from the desk and handed it over: “I came to deliver this, waiting for your approval.”

Shen Zhibing stopped, quickly flipped through a few pages, scanned the list in the final appendix, and picked up the fountain pen from Xin Jia’s desk to sign it directly.

“It’s done.”

Seeing that she was clearly trying to rush him away, Shen Qixing couldn’t find a reason to stay.

Yun Fei and Xin Jia returned directly with Shen Zhibing from the meeting room. Qi Zheng had intended to tell her that the third draft was almost ready, but CEO Shen seemed very busy.

“Qi Zheng, you come in too.”

Called in so suddenly, it was Qi Zheng’s first time meeting Yu Xinyan face-to-face.

“This is Vice Director Yu of the Procurement Department.” Yun Fei introduced her to Qi Zheng, as Shen Zhibing wouldn’t do this.

“I called you in today mainly to discuss the Huatian Water Conservancy contract. You are all aware of the issues with the preliminary cost data. There are many problems, and it can basically be confirmed that they were not caused by mistakes. Someone deliberately used the contract to gain benefits and line their own pockets.”

Yu Xinyan’s expression was the most serious. This matter essentially happened right under her nose. If accountability was pursued, she would be implicated.

“Xinyan, first talk about the situation in your department as far as you know.”

Qi Zheng was startled. She really didn’t know that besides Secretary Yun, CEO Shen could be so gentle and polite to anyone else.