Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 52

At the dinner return invitation, Hua Tian’s attitude was much more familiar than yesterday. Soon after they sat down, the two people in charge were already clinking glasses. Qi Zheng listened to her colleague from the branch company say that when they visited Hua Tian in the afternoon, the issues that had been in a stalemate were all conceded by the other party.

Qi Zheng quietly listened. Shen Zhibing had already been poured several glasses by the other side, but that was the extent of it. Shen Zhibing had changed her strategy today. She had eaten snacks before coming, and at the start, she toasted all the important people. After that, she let the people from the branch company take over.

Yesterday, there weren’t enough people, so today the branch company replaced two more capable people, and also brought an additional backup.

“President Shen, you’re not drinking so early? That’s not giving us face.”

“Engineer Liu, please don’t take offense. I drank too much yesterday, so I dare not be reckless today.”

“President Shen’s alcohol tolerance has always been good. Those few cups yesterday wouldn’t have troubled you. Could it be that since the deal is done today, you’re ignoring us?”

“Engineer Liu, you truly love to joke. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have volunteered to drink so much just now. I genuinely have the will but not the strength; please forgive me.”

Shen Zhibing had indeed been generous just now, proactively toasting and charming every one of them. Now if he were to be forced, it would be beneath him.

He raised his glass and turned to Qi Zheng, who was next to Shen Zhibing, and said with a smile, “If President Shen doesn’t drink, then I’ll drink with Xiao Qi. She hasn’t touched her cup much today, right, Xiao Qi?”

With that, he extended his glass directly towards Qi Zheng, practically wanting to pour it into her mouth.

A flash of disgust crossed Qi Zheng’s eyes, but she lowered them so the other person couldn’t see.

Shen Zhibing reached out and blocked the glass, smiling faintly, “Engineer Liu, please spare my new employee. Qi Zheng just graduated from university and is following along to learn about the business. Please don’t make things difficult for her.”

Engineer Liu’s upper body was halfway across the table, making his posture particularly awkward. Shen Zhibing refused, and he couldn’t drink with Qi Zheng either, which made him lose face. But he didn’t dare to openly challenge Shen Zhibing; her politeness to him was entirely for the sake of Hua Tian.

“Just one glass. Finish this glass, and Xiao Qi is free for the rest of the night.” Engineer Liu tried to save face, but Shen Zhibing’s hand remained in place.

“Qi Zheng was very uncomfortable last night and barely slept the second half of the night. I’m afraid even one glass could cause trouble. Engineer Liu, you wouldn’t want the cooperation to be affected by this kind of news involving Shen’s, would you?”

Engineer Liu unhappily drank the wine himself, and after sitting back down, took a few large bites of food, ignoring the laughter and teasing from his colleagues.

With Hua Tian’s softened attitude, Shen Zhibing’s purpose for this business trip was achieved. Yongcheng was not within the core business development area of Shen’s, and she had only made the special trip because of the location of Hua Tian Water Conservancy.

On the flight back, Shen Zhibing was looking at documents. For her, a business trip was merely moving her office, with the added necessity of extra social engagements. Qi Zheng didn’t have as much work and appeared overly relaxed sitting next to President Shen at this moment.

“If you’re tired, you can rest. I won’t deduct normal rest time from employees.”

“I’m not tired, just a bit bored.”

Shen Zhibing casually pointed to the screen next to her: “If you’re bored, you can watch a movie.”

“The boss is working, but I’m watching a movie? President Shen, you’re setting a trap for me.”

Although Shen Zhibing’s vulnerability only occasionally showed itself at night, after that night, the distance between them seemed to have closed again. Qi Zheng would sometimes joke with President Shen, and their relationship could be considered harmonious.

Shen Zhibing didn’t give Qi Zheng any other documents, nor did she care how she passed the time. Fortunately, Yongcheng was not too far from Haicheng. The flight was landing just as she finished reviewing a few documents.

Shen Zhibing was supposed to go to the psychological clinic today, but the business trip forced her to reschedule. The clinic secretary called to confirm if her appointment for tomorrow afternoon was still on. Shen Zhibing thought for a moment and confirmed she would go tomorrow afternoon.

After hanging up, she turned to Yun Fei and said, “I need to leave an hour early tomorrow afternoon. Please condense the meeting times.”

Shen Zhibing’s idea of condensing meeting times wasn’t cutting down on the meeting content, but shortening the intervals between meetings and eliminating the lunch break. Every business trip usually resulted in a backlog of work, and Shen Zhibing would usually choose to work overtime, but this time she wanted to leave early, which was unusual.

Although Yun Fei was surprised, she followed President Shen’s instructions. Qi Zheng also returned to the company with the pickup driver. Being able to go on a business trip with President Shen so soon after starting, and the news that she was protected the day after supposedly blocking drinks for President Shen, quickly spread.

The news from the branch office traveled faster than a fax. Even before they returned, the story was already vividly depicted.

Shen Qixing also listened with great interest in her office. The HR department was actually the most gossipy, and they had a legitimate reason: concerning employee performance to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of employee efficiency.

Shen’s has always encouraged the capable, so the fluidity between departments has been significant, and the management has always supported internal competition for positions. Recently, three business departments submitted staffing needs to HR, and there were quite a few vacancies, with several being highly desirable positions.

Encouraged by Yun Fei, Qi Zheng also submitted an application in the system. She actually didn’t meet the standard of being employed for one year before applying, but Yun Fei said applications were unrestricted. There were many screening criteria, and the length of employment was only one consideration, not a hard-and-fast rule.

Yun Fei also said she would provide a detailed evaluation of Qi Zheng’s work performance since joining. In short, don’t miss the opportunity, and they would see the result later.

After applying, Qi Zheng didn’t really think she would be selected. When the HR department called her, she was stunned herself.

“Because your employment time is relatively short, our Vice President Shen has to personally interview you before deciding whether to approve your participation in the internal selection process.”

That made sense, but Shen Qixing and Shen Zhibing didn’t get along, and Shen Qixing had repeatedly come to the secretary office to inquire about her before. This personal interview might be specifically aimed at her.

When Yun Fei heard about this, she told Qi Zheng not to worry too much and to prepare her materials seriously.

“Have you told President Shen about this?”

Qi Zheng shook her head: “I should at least wait until I can officially participate in the selection before saying anything.”

President Shen was so busy; she didn’t have time to listen to her step-by-step reporting.

“It’s best to first clarify President Shen’s attitude.”

Since Yun Fei said so, Qi Zheng naturally couldn’t delay any longer. She chose the lunch break to knock on Shen Zhibing’s office door.

After hearing Qi Zheng’s report, Shen Zhibing put her meal box aside.

“You want to go to the Sales and Promotion Department?”

“Yes.”

“This is different from your major and your current job content. Why do you want to go there?”

Qi Zheng thought for a moment and answered truthfully: “I want to earn more money.”

Shen Zhibing was not very satisfied with Qi Zheng’s reason. She waited for a while but didn’t hear a second one.

“That’s it? Just to earn money?”

“The Sales Department allows me to interact with more clients, grasp the latest development policies and industry trends, and also directly create profit.”

Shen Zhibing said nothing, simply waving her hand for Qi Zheng to leave.

“Follow the normal procedure for this matter. We can talk when you make it onto the final list for my approval.”

Qi Zheng felt that Shen Zhibing seemed unhappy, but the boss’s thoughts were not easy to guess.

Shen Qixing’s one-on-one interview was fairly standard, and it wasn’t just her leading it. Personnel and the Sales Department manager also attended.

Qi Zheng’s interview performance was good, and with Yun Fei’s recommendation, the one-year employment threshold was exceptionally waived for her.

“Xiao Qi, I heard from the Sales Department that you performed quite well. You must work hard for next week’s business assessment.”

The HR hurdle was passed. The General Manager of the Sales Department would conduct the final interview and assessment personally. If she passed that too, the transfer would basically be finalized.

Qi Zheng felt a little reluctant. The work in the secretary office was actually quite good.

There were three people competing for the Sales Department position simultaneously with Qi Zheng. Adding her, it made exactly a mahjong table of four. She was the only female and the only one whose employment time was less than a year. But no one ignored Qi Zheng; her story of successive jumps had long spread.

Qi Zheng knew she was still somewhat lacking in experience, especially in sales. She had made her best effort in preparation before the interview, but she hadn’t shown an absolute advantage.

However, the Sales Department ultimately chose her. When the HR department called to inform her of the result, Qi Zheng herself was a little disbelieving.

Yun Fei also received the notification. HR said that the official document would be issued after President Shen signed her approval.

It looked like it was only a matter of procedure—fastest in half a month, but no slower than a month.

Sales and Promotion was indeed a core department, and many people wanted to go there. The headquarter’s Sales Department didn’t have to work hard running external sales every day, but they lacked no major client resources.

Xin Jia and the others were also reluctant to see Qi Zheng go, but moving to a business department would be better for her future development: “Xiao Qi, when you go to the Sales Department, take good care of yourself. Don’t push yourself to keep up with them; just follow your own pace.”

“I will, thank you, Sister Xin.”

“If you encounter any difficulties, tell us. You won’t have any familiar faces there, so don’t let anyone bully you.”

The third secretary joked, “You guys are worrying too much. Xiao Qi is from our secretary office. Who would dare to bully her? Aren’t they afraid she’d report it directly to President Shen? They’ll probably be trying to butter her up. Xiao Qi, you must resist the temptation and not be led astray.”

Departments that directly generate profit or have huge annual budgets are both desirable positions and traps. Different people have different gains.

Shen Zhibing had just finished a meeting and saw the document on her desk awaiting her signature. She read it carefully and called HR.

Qi Zheng received a call from the HR specialist that afternoon: “Qi Zheng, President Shen has not approved your transfer application. So… you won’t be able to join the Sales Department in this internal selection for now.”

“President Shen didn’t approve? Why?” Qi Zheng had not expected Shen Zhibing to block her at the final hurdle. She hadn’t shown any abnormality before, and she hadn’t said anything when she returned from the meeting this morning.

Even if she didn’t approve, shouldn’t she have talked to her first? What did it mean to simply send it back to HR?

“This is President Shen’s decision. She said you are not currently suitable for the Sales Department, and we can’t ask too many questions about that.”

Qi Zheng knew that HR was just the messenger, and she wouldn’t get any answers from them. After hanging up, she looked towards Shen Zhibing’s office. President Shen hadn’t come out since returning from the meeting.

Yun Fei also received the email notification from HR and looked thoughtful. She was a little worried about Qi Zheng’s mood: “Xiao Qi, do you want to leave early and clear your head?”

Qi Zheng shook her head. This was not something that could be solved by clearing her head. She needed to ask Shen Zhibing clearly: what was the reason?

Perhaps President Shen was deliberately avoiding her, or maybe she was truly too busy. Qi Zheng did not get a chance to see her before closing time.

Most of the people in the secretary office had left. Yun Fei saw Qi Zheng still sitting there and advised her to leave together.

“Don’t wait. President Shen has a cocktail party tonight. Even if you see her later, she won’t have the time.”