An Ruo was pushed to the door of the president's office by Manager Bai, feeling dazed. She looked at his fatherly, kind gaze, took a deep breath, and knocked on the frosted glass door in front of her.
"Come in." A steady, deep young man's voice replied.
An Ruo pushed the door open and entered. Gu Chao was leaning against the dining table, arms crossed as he sized her up, looking as if he had been waiting for her for a while.
The girl gave him a slight smile. "President."
"Don't be so formal. Come, sit down and have some tea." Gu Chao sat in the sofa area, having already had his secretary brew some top-quality Da Hong Pao tea. He gestured with his hand. "Come on."
As a new intern, how could she dare to trouble the big boss with such hospitality? Given Director Ding's example, An Ruo grew cautious.
Seeing her standing still, Gu Chao glanced toward the hidden door and curled his lips into a smile. "You've been at the company for half a month now. Manager Bai mentioned you've been handling the planning department's reports these past few times. I took a look, and they're very well done."
Receiving recognition from her superior, An Ruo's expression remained unchanged. She only offered a polite smile and tactfully credited Manager Bai. "Thank you for the praise, President, but the credit isn't mine alone. Manager Bai explained things very thoroughly; he's a good teacher."
Gu Chao raised an eyebrow slightly. Not bad—little sister-in-law was neither arrogant nor impatient. Facing him, the president, she maintained a composed and unassuming attitude, working quietly without seeking praise. She had potential.
Behind the bookshelf was a hidden door, separated by a pane of black glass. A man leaned against the wall, his dark eyes fixed on the girl in the office, her back straight as a rod.
Her face was calm, and no matter who she faced or what happened, she always appeared composed, with a faint air of detachment in her demeanor.
She didn't seek credit, didn't curry favor, and understood the rules of workplace survival.
What kind of trials had she endured to lose all passion for life?
Suddenly, he recalled when she returned to the An family, how the vicious mother and daughter there bullied her mercilessly, hurling heartless and harsh words at this girl.
"Well... I see you have good potential, and you're smart and hardworking. A client is coming to Lanzhen for an inspection in the next couple of days. You'll be in charge of hosting them."
According to Manager Bai, this was a rare opportunity—a gift from heaven. Why would she be foolish enough to turn it down?
An Ruo nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Gu Chao checked the time. "They might arrive soon. Go prepare."
"Okay." An Ruo nodded and turned to leave the president's office.
---
A major client was making a surprise visit to Lanzhen for an inspection. Several department heads went to greet them, and the planning department staff craned their necks, eager to join in and catch a glimpse.
President Gu had decreed that aside from department heads and accompanying personnel, everyone else should continue working and not disrupt order.
An Ruo stood with the department heads, surrounded by middle-aged men who had achieved success in their careers. In the middle of them, she, a delicate-looking young girl, seemed somewhat out of place.
A black Maybach pulled up at the company entrance. The driver opened the door, revealing a pair of long, steady legs, followed by the man's tall figure, his shoes polished to a spotless shine.
"He's here, he's here."
Someone in the crowd whispered excitedly in a low voice.
An Ruo looked up and froze in shock. Why him?
The man had already spotted her in the crowd. Now, as her probing gaze met his, their eyes locked. He raised an eyebrow with a hint of amusement, leaving An Ruo dumbfounded.
"Hello, President Jiang."
The department heads took turns shaking hands in welcome.
The man gave a cold glance, keeping his hands in his pockets without moving. The group felt awkward, forcing smiles as they invited him into the company.
What was Gu Chao doing? He said to keep it low-key, but he had to make such a big fuss.
Were these people at the company too idle?!
Shen Xiaoxing looked at the girl who refused to step forward from the crowd. A glint of cunning flashed in his deep eyes, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Is this the person President Gu assigned to host me?"
The planning department head was practically clinging to Shen Xiaoxing to curry favor. This client was important enough for their president to line up and welcome, which meant he was no small figure. But from the moment he got out of the car, he had worn an aloof expression, as if they weren't worth his attention.
The head had no choice. Hearing the man ask about the host, he quickly pushed An Ruo forward. "President Jiang, this is the youngest staff member in my planning department. She's still an intern, but her work performance is outstanding. The president personally assigned her to host you."
The head signaled An Ruo with his eyes to greet him.
An Ruo lowered her gaze and gave a slight bow. "Hello, President Jiang. Welcome to Lanzhen for your inspection."
Shen Xiaoxing raised an eyebrow in satisfaction. Finally, he had a chance to stand openly with her. Even if it was under a false identity, at least, aside from being "Shen Xiaoxing," he could spend a brief time with her.
To make the act convincing, Gu Chao received Shen Xiaoxing in front of An Ruo. They shook hands in greeting and hugged like old friends.
"Old Jiang!"
"President Gu, it's good to see you."
In their minds, both were thinking: This is so damn ridiculous!
Gu Chao rolled his eyes internally. Their A-Xing's pursuit of love was really a pain in the neck. To win the girl, he had to go along with this charade.
An Ruo naturally couldn't understand their silent exchange. She brought over two cups of fine black tea. "President, President Jiang, please have some tea."