Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 53

The number of times Ms. Shen mentions Ms. Q is gradually increasing, with a trend to catch up with Mr. A. This needs attention.

Qi Zheng lowered her head and thought for a moment, still unwilling to leave: “I have nothing to do at home anyway.” She paused and added, “I just want to hear President Shen’s opinion; I won’t delay her for too long.”

Yun Fei knew the internal competition was a big blow, especially for a newcomer like Qi Zheng. She had been exceptionally selected and had received more attention than others throughout the process.

Although HR hadn’t officially issued the document, the internal news must have spread considerably. Experiencing such a rise and fall, who could feel good? Yun Fei gently pressed her shoulder, only reminding her: “President Shen certainly has her reasons. Try to communicate well. If it doesn’t work, just wait a little longer.”

Shen Zhibing had not disclosed her thoughts on this matter to Yun Fei before, and no one knew what the boss was thinking. Yun Fei was afraid that Qi Zheng might not control her emotions and clash with President Shen, which could affect her future work.

“I won’t make a scene.”

Qi Zheng simply didn’t understand Shen Zhibing’s intention. She was indeed uncomfortable, very uncomfortable, but not to the point of arguing at the drop of a hat.

Shen Zhibing came out of the office. Only Qi Zheng was left in the secretary office. She paused for a moment and slowed her steps: “You haven’t left yet?”

Qi Zheng stood up, picked up her bag from the desk, and followed her: “I was waiting for you.”

Shen Zhibing seemed to have guessed Qi Zheng’s purpose and showed no particular reaction: “I’m busy tonight. I’ll find time to talk to you in a few days.”

The HR specialist had hinted over the phone today that if President Shen could change her mind quickly, there was still a chance. This ‘quickly’ couldn’t be later than tomorrow’s closing time.

Shen Zhibing’s “a few days” would mean the chance was long gone for Qi Zheng.

She followed Shen Zhibing into the elevator, refusing to give up: “It won’t take much of your time. I just want to know the reason. Why did you disagree with me going to the Sales Department?”

Shen Zhibing glanced at the time. She had to go back to Yunlu Garden first, and then rush to the hotel.

“You have many questions, and they can’t be explained in a few words, but my attitude is already very clear.”

Many questions? Why had President Shen never mentioned them? Why wait until she was selected to veto her, but merely watch before?

The elevator arrived, and Qi Zheng subconsciously followed her to the parking lot. Seeing that she still wouldn’t back down, Shen Zhibing shook her head: “Get in the car first. I don’t have time to waste here.”

When they arrived at Yunlu Garden, Qi Zheng was still not invited upstairs. Shen Zhibing asked her to wait in the clubhouse. Seeing that Shen Zhibing didn’t send her back, Qi Zheng wondered if she was going to take her to the social event.

She looked down at her suit. It was conventional, the typical office worker outfit.

Shen Zhibing’s attire tonight was not extravagant and did not create a noticeable distance between her and Qi Zheng, suggesting it was a casual event.

“Come with me. If you can stay until the end of the evening, I’ll tell you.”

Qi Zheng regretted not dressing up more. She was actually quite conscious of her image.

Shen Zhibing saw her frown and slightly curled the corner of her mouth, but did not point it out: “Tonight is mainly with people from industry associations. There aren’t many clients, mostly colleagues.”

Qi Zheng went along. The atmosphere was slightly better than the previous events she’d attended, but she still couldn’t avoid being secretly scrutinized. Shen Zhibing blocked some attention for her, but there were times she couldn’t manage. Perhaps it was intentional by the boss, or perhaps Qi Zheng’s face was too unfamiliar, which made everyone curious.

Finally, after three hours, they were back in the car heading home.

Shen Zhibing was quite satisfied that Qi Zheng had managed to stay until now and told the driver, “Go to the suburban villa.”

Aunt Xin, seeing Shen Zhibing arrive tonight, specially instructed the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack and have it delivered to Shen Zhibing’s room.

Qi Zheng stood by the door, and Shen Zhibing sat at the dressing table removing her jewelry. The earrings seemed uncomfortable tonight; Qi Zheng had seen her fiddle with them several times throughout the evening.

“Eat something first. Wait for me.”

Shen Zhibing quickly tidied up and returned to the sofa. Qi Zheng hadn’t eaten much of the snack. Shen Zhibing looked at it and smiled.

“Are you angry and showing me your displeasure?”

Qi Zheng froze for a moment. She didn’t immediately deny it.

Shen Zhibing hadn’t mentioned a word about this matter beforehand, and afterwards, she delayed giving an explanation, acting as if she didn’t care at all.

That was true. For President Shen, this matter was just a document.

Qi Zheng felt a little low: “Maybe this matter isn’t that important to you. But for me, I missed an opportunity.”

Shen Zhibing’s smile deepened: “The opportunity to earn more money?”

Qi Zheng froze again, but then heard Shen Zhibing continue: “Does your current salary not meet your needs, or do you have other places where you need money?”

“I said I want to earn enough for the penalty fee as quickly as possible, and then…”

Shen Zhibing interrupted her: “If that’s why you want to go to the Sales Department, then I believe this decision is even more correct.”

Qi Zheng raised her head abruptly. Although she had guessed this possibility, she always thought Shen Zhibing wouldn’t mix personal and professional matters to this extent.

But now Shen Zhibing was so candid. Qi Zheng’s anger rose. Even the best temper couldn’t stand it: “President Shen, if you didn’t want me to successfully terminate the contract, you could have refused my condition initially. But you cannot agree and then intentionally use your position to create obstacles for me. I’m earning money based on my own ability. How does that bother you? Besides, even if I go to the Sales Department, I’d be creating profit for Shen’s. Why must you disregard the company’s performance because of our personal arrangement!”

Shen Zhibing leaned back on the sofa with her arms crossed, listening to Qi Zheng’s complaints and accusations, showing no anger on her face. Instead, she maintained a faint smile: “Keep talking. Let out all the dissatisfaction in your heart.”

Qi Zheng took a deep breath. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything too harsh. She just felt suffocated and powerless. She hated this despair of seeing a glimmer of hope only to be told the path ahead was blocked.

“I don’t want to say anything more. It’s your company, so of course you have the final say. No matter how much I say, it’s useless.”

Qi Zheng got up, ready to return to her room. This was probably President Shen’s explanation, and she understood.

“Wait a moment.”

Qi Zheng stopped but didn’t turn around. Shen Zhibing didn’t rush to speak, and the room fell silent for a long time.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to hear my reasons? Why are you rushing off before I’ve even finished?”

Qi Zheng slowly turned around to face her, not understanding what Shen Zhibing was playing at now.

“Come and sit down. If you want to listen, you need to have the right attitude for listening.”

Qi Zheng returned to her previous spot, sitting face-to-face with Shen Zhibing across the small coffee table, where the late-night snack still had some warmth.

“Qi Zheng, do you think you’re suitable for sales? Or, do you like this job?”

Qi Zheng thought about it, nodding hesitantly. This question had been asked several times during the selection process. Back then, she had answered a very definite ‘yes,’ but this time, she revealed her true inner thoughts.

“Then, based on your performance today, do you think you can become a sales elite?”

Qi Zheng frowned. What performance?

She hadn’t been given any task to promote anything today. To be precise, she had only received a heavy blow.

Shen Zhibing poured a cup of tea and slowly said, “You insisted on staying in the secretary office to wait for me, which shows you have the perseverance of a salesperson, but you were always passive, being led by me. At the dinner, when facing others’ curiosity and scrutiny, you chose to stay low and avoid contact with strangers as much as possible.”

Qi Zheng nodded. What Shen Zhibing said was indeed true.

“You have an introverted personality. Although you’re not exceptionally composed, you’re remarkable for your age. Sales requires an outgoing, active, persistent, thick-skinned, and resilient personality. You should know that working hard for several months only to have the deal fall through is a normal occurrence.”

Qi Zheng knew all this when preparing for the internal competition interview.

But when it actually happened to her, it felt different. Even her instinctive reactions were different from what she had anticipated.

“If you had gone to the Sales Department, missing the opportunity to meet so many people and resources tonight, and hoping people would overlook your actions, would be enough for you to fail the year-end departmental assessment.”

“I was just…” Qi Zheng slowly began, with less confidence, “not quite used to it yet.”

“There are specialized skills in every field, Qi Zheng. Your strengths don’t lie there, and your personality isn’t suited for sales. If you’re only focused on making quick money, I won’t approve your transfer. It’s as simple as that.”

Qi Zheng had actually been conflicted these past few days. On one hand, she wanted to go to the Sales Department; on the other, she was reluctant to leave the secretary office. For her, the work in the secretary office was becoming more and more manageable, even feeling like she was advancing rapidly. However, facing the unfamiliar Sales Department made her nervous, yet she felt compelled to accept the challenge.

Shen Zhibing’s explanation ended there. Qi Zheng didn’t know what to say. The outburst of temper she’d had toward President Shen earlier now felt a little awkward.

“I won’t hinder your plan to earn the penalty fee, but I don’t want you to ruin your career development just because you want to make money. I won’t allow talent to self-destruct in front of me.”

Qi Zheng was speechless and nodded: “I understand. I’ll think of other ways.”

Shen Zhibing took a sip of tea and said lightly: “In the fourth quarter, the company will establish a temporary business development team, which will draw key personnel from various core business departments.”

Qi Zheng looked up upon hearing this, pondering the meaning of President Shen’s words.

“Because it’s a concentration of resources for an end-of-year sprint, the profit is considerable, and the bonuses are generous. Everyone will have a stage to showcase their talents, but the positions are limited.” Shen Zhibing looked at her meaningfully. “Qi Zheng, do you dare to try?”

Qi Zheng felt that Shen Zhibing was a difficult person to fathom. One moment she vetoed her transfer application, and the next she offered her an olive branch.

But since it was something that could utilize her strengths and also earn her money, why not? Wasn’t the purpose of working to earn money?

“Okay, I will work hard.”

Jiang Youyou had planned to celebrate Qi Zheng’s successful internal selection and even booked a Michelin restaurant, saying she was pre-advancing the year-end bonus to celebrate with her. Who knew the situation would change so quickly? After venting, Qi Zheng felt better and ate and drank normally.

Jiang Youyou was still a bit stunned and paused for a long time: “Your boss is truly difficult to please. But then again, how many people who become big bosses are truly normal? If they thought and acted like us little shrimps, wouldn’t that mean I could be CEO too?”

Qi Zheng had also come to terms with it these past two days. Maybe she really wasn’t suited for sales. In short, chasing clients and socializing on the drinking table were not her strengths.

“She’s much more normal than before.” Qi Zheng’s relationship with Jiang Youyou was actually closer now than when they were students, and she would only complain to her occasionally.

Jiang Youyou suddenly leaned closer to her in a secretive manner and whispered, “Qi Zheng, have you noticed that you’ve been mentioning your President Shen more frequently lately? And your attitude towards her is also different.”

Qi Zheng had just finished a piece of short rib, spat out the bone, and asked confusedly: “How is it different?”

“You get angry because of her. Before, whenever you mentioned her, you always wished you could stay as far away from her as possible, preferably not acknowledging each other outside of work. But now, when you mention her, there’s a very obvious emotional fluctuation.”

Qi Zheng was taken aback. She really hadn’t noticed.

Shen Zhibing was very proactive in cooperating with the treatment this time. Although work was still busy, she tried to make time for follow-up visits. However, the efficacy was not progressing as smoothly as she had hoped; in fact, she encountered obstacles early on.

The psychologist looked at her file and said softly: “Ms. Shen, you shouldn’t constantly emphasize your desire to escape the past in your consciousness. This is actually ineffective.”

Shen Zhibing was puzzled: “Increasing self-suggestion is also wrong?”

“It helps, of course, but not right now. The first thing you need to do is to face the past openly and unlock your heart. Only by completely letting go of the past can you truly move on.”

Not by forcefully sealing it and gritting your teeth to enter another role, as she was doing now.

Hearing the mention of the past, Shen Zhibing felt a wave of sadness. The past was already over. She didn’t even want to reminisce, only wanting to forget it as soon as possible and no longer be constrained by it.

“Haste makes waste. Especially with emotions, they are built up over years of small accumulations to reach the present state. Clearing the past cannot be rushed either.”

Shen Zhibing asked in a low voice: “How long will it take?”

The psychologist looked at her report and considered: “Quickest is half a year. Generally, it takes a year.”

“That’s too long. I can’t wait.”

“Ms. Shen, you have suppressed your true emotions for many years, which is heavily related to your work environment. You bear a lot of pressure at work. If you don’t release it in your personal life, the accumulated emotions in your heart will become imbalanced. A year is already an optimistic estimate.”

Shen Zhibing was displeased. This was not a time frame she could accept.

“Then how could she do it?”

The psychologist adjusted her glasses and asked, “Are you referring to Ms. Q?”

Shen Zhibing hadn’t mentioned Lian Ao’s name, so naturally, she wouldn’t name Qi Zheng either. In front of the psychologist, she referred to them as Mr. A and Ms. Q.

Shen Zhibing had told the psychologist that Qi Zheng was very carefree and indifferent after breaking up with her previous relationship. This was her goal, her role model, so to speak. To help the psychologist understand her needs more clearly, she had described Qi Zheng’s behavior in detail during both the relationship and the breakup.

“If she could succeed in such a short time, why can’t I?”

Shen Zhibing believed she was more mature and had more experience than Qi Zheng. Could she really not do it?

“Everyone handles emotions differently, and everyone’s psychological resilience is different. Ms. Q might not have the other emotional troubles that Ms. Shen has. For her, only the romantic relationship needs to be dealt with. But you are different, Ms. Shen. Besides the relationship, your entire emotional processing mechanism is on the verge of breakdown.”

Shen Zhibing frowned, lying on the comfortable sofa chaise lounge. She liked the environment here, as it allowed her to temporarily relax. However, the psychologist’s words were so cruel and direct. This was also one of the reasons she was unwilling to seek treatment two years ago.

Besides the lingering attachment to that relationship, she didn’t want anyone to discover her emotional problems. At that time, her position as Vice President was not stable, and internal challenges within the company were constant. If people knew her real situation, they might not even give her a chance to prove herself.

She raised her hand to her forehead and murmured, “Sometimes I really admire her and I’m curious about her. But I always feel like she’s hiding herself, making it hard to see clearly, and I dare not completely trust her.”

The psychologist recorded in the report: [The number of times Ms. Shen mentions Ms. Q is gradually increasing, with a trend to catch up with Mr. A. This needs attention.]