Chapter Eighteen: I Don’t Want to Be a Secretary

I only stayed with Cheng Jia for half a minute. Seeing her busy handling several urgent documents and having no time for me, I didn’t disturb her further. Now, I finally understood what it felt like to be idle. In the vast twelfth floor, I didn’t even know where I should stand!

As I wandered aimlessly, Fan Yunting passed by, talking on her phone. She glanced at me and stopped in front of me.

She finished her call in a few words, then lowered her phone and said, “Your name is Tang Qian, right? I noticed the box you left on that empty desk hasn’t been organized, yet here you are wandering around. Why is that?”

Looking at this legendary woman in the industry, I answered seriously, “Since I arrived this morning, no one has told me where I should work or what my responsibilities are. So I just left my things there, not daring to organize them. I don’t even know where I should stand, so I’m walking around to familiarize myself with the environment.”

Fan Yunting frowned slightly and said, “You should have gone directly to President Hua and asked her to arrange your position and tasks, instead of waiting for someone to come find you. Don’t you understand such basic principles?”

Feeling somewhat wronged, I replied, “I did. As soon as I arrived, I reported to President Hua and asked her to arrange things for me. But she told me not to rush, that she’d sort it out after the introductory meeting. Yet I’ve waited until now and still haven’t received a reply.”

Fan Yunting looked surprised. “Really? Then come with me to see President Hua. We need to settle you somewhere; otherwise, wandering around like this doesn’t look good.”

I had no choice but to follow her back to Hua Jingjing’s office.

Fan Yunting knocked and entered, getting right to the point, “President Hua, Tang Qian from the Marketing Department says he hasn’t been assigned any tasks yet. Which department do you think would suit him?”

Hua Jingjing looked up and glared at me, then smiled at Fan Yunting, “I’ve been considering this myself. I’ve reviewed Tang Qian’s work record over the past few years and found that he’s not particularly capable and his performance has been consistently poor. He’s never been involved in planning work either, so it’s really hard to place him,” she said, her eyes mocking me.

I pretended not to notice. Her evaluation left me speechless; my performance had indeed been terrible.

Fan Yunting glanced at me and said, “Is that so? May I take a look at his record?” Hua Jingjing picked up an open folder from her desk and handed it over. “Of course. Here.”

Fan Yunting flipped through it quickly, scanning four years of my work history in just a few minutes. She glanced at me again, then turned to Hua Jingjing. “Tang Qian’s sales performance is certainly poor, but I think it’s more a matter of suitability. The product modification proposals he made in his first year seem quite creative. The record shows he once led a beverage development project but abandoned it halfway. Why?”

Her last question was directed at me.

I remembered the supervisor in the R&D department, as much a jerk as Hua Jingjing herself, and stared at her as I replied, my words carrying a double meaning, “Because the supervisor deliberately made things difficult for me, always finding faults and never doing any real work. With such a shameless boss, how could I continue?”

A sharp crack sounded as the pencil Hua Jingjing had been fiddling with suddenly broke. Fan Yunting looked at her curiously. Hua Jingjing forced a smile. “Hmm... pencils these days are really poor quality, aren’t they?” She tossed the broken pencil into the trash.

I felt her murderous gaze bore into me.

Inside, I was elated, my face unable to hide a triumphant smile. I ignored her glare, savoring that indescribable thrill flooding through me once again.

Though Fan Yunting sensed something odd, she had no idea that, having just met me today, Hua Jingjing and I were already bitter enemies. She leafed through the record again and said to Hua Jingjing, “I think Tang Qian has a fairly deep understanding of our products and professional knowledge of beverages. Assigning him to the product management and planning group might be suitable. What do you think, President Hua?”

---

Hua Jingjing’s first reaction was to cry out, “No!”

Fan Yunting was startled, not expecting such a loud and unequivocal rejection of what she thought was a reasonable suggestion. Eyes wide, she asked, “Why? Does President Hua already have plans for him?”

Hua Jingjing immediately regretted her outburst, realizing she had been too emotional. She coughed lightly and tried to compose herself, covering her embarrassment with a smile. She blinked and said, “Yes, although Tang Qian does know about our products, that was three years ago. Besides, he knows nothing about planning work. It would be too rushed to have him start immediately.”

Fan Yunting asked, “So, President Hua, what do you propose?”

Hua Jingjing clearly had no solution, but her clever mind quickly came up with an idea. She looked at me, her eyes full of smugness. “I’m the company’s vice president, and by regulation, I can have a work secretary. Tang Qian seems quick-witted enough, so let him be my secretary for two months. That will help him get familiar with the planning department’s work, and he’ll pick things up faster later.”

Hearing this, my face changed dramatically. My mind buzzed, almost fainting from the rush of blood. My first reaction: a trap! A despicable trap! She wants to torment me constantly, persecute me! I’ll be doomed!

Impulsively, I blurted out, “No!”

Hua Jingjing finally saw me flustered and angry, nearly bursting with joy, though she restrained herself for Fan Yunting’s sake. Still, she struggled to keep her composure, her face turning red and her expression so strange it defied description.

Knowing her expression was unreadable, she slammed her desk and feigned anger, “What? You dare refuse your assignment?”

I cried, “I’ve never been a secretary. I don’t know how.”

Hua Jingjing replied, “You can learn. I’ll teach you.”

I argued, “I can learn planning work too. Why can’t I do that?”

“Because planning work is important. We can’t let a beginner do it.”

“No one’s born an expert. Everyone starts as a beginner, learning step by step.”

“In any case, I don’t trust you. You must start as my secretary. That’s the company’s decision. Do you dare disobey?”

Infuriated, I glared at her, speechless.

Fan Yunting was utterly confused, glancing between us, then seemed to realize something. “I think I... should leave you two alone.”

With that, she quietly slipped out, leaving only the two of us locked in a fierce stare.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my tone calm. “You’re abusing your power. This isn’t the company’s decision. I’ll appeal to General Manager Qi.”

Hua Jingjing laughed twice, stood up, and walked over to me. With a contemptuous tone, she said, “Go ahead! But let me tell you a secret.” She stepped closer to my right ear and whispered mysteriously, “General Manager Qi may be the CEO in name, but he only owns thirty percent of the company’s shares. I, on the other hand, hold sixty percent. Do you understand? I’m the real owner here. My decisions are the company’s decisions. General Manager Qi can’t help you. Go ahead, see if he’ll support you.”

---

I was stunned, unable to believe this young woman was actually the company’s big boss!

Hua Jingjing, proud and confident, stood before me with the air of a true owner. “Don’t believe me? Try it. Go on!”

I looked at her proud posture, and a stray thought crossed my mind: this woman actually has quite a full bust! I shook my head, scolding myself, “Ridiculous! What does her figure have to do with you? Even if she threw herself at me, I wouldn’t want such a vicious woman!”

I remembered that she drove a Ferrari worth millions to work this morning—she must be very wealthy. If she really owns sixty percent of the company, it’s possible. But as far as I knew, the real owner of Lady Green Company should be President Hua Qiming of the Huasheng Group, shouldn’t it? Wait, she’s also surnamed Hua... could it be...

It dawned on me—she must have a close relationship with Hua Qiming. I felt even more discouraged, but anger still burned within me. “I refuse! You’re taking personal revenge!”

Seeing my resolve falter, Hua Jingjing’s smugness grew, her laughter becoming sly. “That’s right, I am taking personal revenge. What can you do about it?”

Furious, I shouted, “I...!” Halfway through, I stopped. I had wanted to say I’m quitting, that I can avoid her if I can’t fight her. But in my rage, I realized that with such a vile woman, there was no way I could stay in this company.

But I couldn’t just leave!

If I quit now, it would mean I was running away from her, that she had beaten me!

How could I let that happen? I, Tang Qian, a man of dignity, could not be driven out by a woman! This was different from wanting to resign for dignity this morning.

This morning, I wanted to resign for the sake of my pride.

But now, resigning would mean losing my pride!

I’d rather force her to fire me—let her show she couldn’t conquer me and had to end the dispute by dismissal. Others might not understand, but I’d leave with my head held high, knowing I hadn’t submitted to tyranny; rather, tyranny feared me and drove me out.

Yes, I couldn’t leave on my own. I had to force her to fire me!

My thoughts raced in a flash, just as Hua Jingjing looked at me expectantly, smiling as she asked, “So, what will you do?”

I immediately calmed down, looked at her, and replied coldly, “Fine, secretary it is. But I’ll state it clearly: I have no idea what a secretary does. If I mess up, I’m not responsible.”

Hua Jingjing was completely thrown by my sudden change of attitude, her mouth agape, nearly dropping her jaw. “You... you’re willing to accept? Did I hear you right?”