Chen Wenting felt uneasy. Would this time be different? She kept glancing toward the door. Today was the first day for the new secretary. In the past, secretaries barely lasted a morning before showing up in her office in the afternoon to process their resignation.

So far, she hadn’t received any such notice. That meant things were safe for now.

Yan Wenshu was someone she had carefully selected after considering all aspects. First, he was good-looking, with a gentle and humble personality. Second, despite his young age, he had already earned a master’s degree from a prestigious university in the country, racking up national scholarships with ease. Third, his credit score on Alipay was over 600, with no loans or bad financial records.

Still, just in case, Chen Wenting decided to check in on him.

When she arrived, Yan Wenshu was writing something, his head slightly lowered. He wore a well-fitted suit, his skin was fair and smooth, and his features were exquisite. His long, thick lashes cast a faint shadow on his face. At that moment, the way he concentrated on his work made it hard to look away.

Chen Wenting quietly admired him for a moment before stepping forward and knocking lightly on his desk. She lowered her voice and asked, “Yan Wenshu, how’s your first day going?”

Yan Wenshu put down his pen and looked up, a polite yet distant smile appearing on his face. “It’s good. Everyone has been very friendly.”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “Though, sometimes they seem a bit too enthusiastic… I’m still getting used to it.”

Chen Wenting looked at this fresh, innocent expression and thought, Of course, their enthusiasm isn’t normal. They’re clearly being flirty and trying to get on his good side.

After spending a year at the company, she had figured it out. Tianhai was a paradise for people who were into looks. In fact, every single person here was attractive.

There wasn’t a single unattractive employee in the entire company. Not just in terms of appearance but also overall presence and style. Even the cleaning ladies had an air about them that made them look like they could act as rich ladies in those web dramas.

It might seem unfair, but that was the reality. Even if someone looked ordinary when they first joined, after a year of being here, they would be completely transformed.

People outside the company could recognize a Tianhai employee at a glance, just based on their aura and the way they dressed.

Looking at the utterly confused Yan Wenshu, Chen Wenting felt a twinge of guilt and awkwardly said, “You’re new, so the excitement around you will fade over time.”

Though, she knew clearly that with his face, he’s probably never going to blend into the background.

She then paused before asking, “Have you met Chairman Zang yet?”

Yan Wenshu nodded. “Yes, I just delivered some documents to her office for Manager Yan.”

Him?

Chen Wenting frowned. She knew Yan Feng well. That guy had actually allowed Yan Wenshu to meet President Zang instead of finding some excuse to block it?

That took guts.

She wasn’t about to comment on his audacity, but she was sure of one thing, Yan Feng was bound to fail. How could someone like him possibly win over Chairman Zang, a woman who was not only stunning but also highly successful?

Glancing around at her coworkers, she lowered her voice and asked, “Alright, but what I really want to know is, how did Chairman Zang treat you? Did she say anything? Like… did she tell you to come see me?”

Yan Wenshu hesitated slightly before replying, “She seemed fine. I just delivered the documents and left. I didn’t hear her give any other instructions.”

Chen Wenting immediately let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. Get back to work.”

Yan Wenshu noticed the look of relief in her eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he called out to her, “Wenting… can I call you that?”

“…Sure.”

Being looked at like that by such a handsome guy made her heart skip a beat. Before she even realized it, she had already handed over her WeChat contact.

Does he like me?

Chen Wenting couldn’t help but fantasize. It felt like winning the lottery as she excitedly returned to her desk.

Yan Wenshu, however, simply smiled as he watched her leave, the expression in his eyes distant.

——

9:20 AM

Zang Ling eagerly walked into the meeting room. The moment she stepped in, she forced herself to keep her movements controlled, so she wouldn’t seem too impatient.

“Chairman Zang.”

“Good morning, Chairman Zang.”

The room was already filled with people, but Zang Ling’s eyes landed instantly on the man seated to her left.

As her employees greeted her one after another, she nodded absentmindedly, still stealing quick glances at him.

And just like that, she ended up looking at him for an extra two seconds.

So good-looking…

She pretended to be composed as she took her seat at the head of the table. While waiting for the meeting to begin, she fought the urge to stare at him, trying to distribute her gaze evenly among everyone.

But the more she restrained herself, the more impatient she became.

So, the moment the clock hit 9:30, she said, “Let’s begin.”

With that, the reports started.

Unlike the usual dull and tedious meetings, She felt the meeting today was quite refreshing.

Maybe it was because of the new secretary. His presence made the whole room seem brighter.

She listened to the sound of his pen gliding across the paper, the tiny voice in her head was screaming in approval. Not just a pretty face, huh?

Zang Ling stole a quick glance at his writing. It was elegant and flowing, a perfect match for his aura.

With so many people around, she couldn’t afford to let her interest show too much. Instead, she seized moments during the reports to sneak a few glances at him.

But just as she turned her head slightly, their eyes met.

And then… he smiled at her.

Zang Ling was taken aback, “!!!”

She almost fell for it.

Damn, male beauty is dangerous!

Like facing an emergency, she quickly averted her gaze, focusing on the projector screen instead. For a split second, panic flashed across her face.

I can’t keep looking at him, or my entire persona will crumble.

To the others in the room, it might have just looked like a brief moment of eye contact between the Chairman and her secretary before she calmly turned away.

But someone sitting in the corner had noticed everything.

Yan Feng’s heart sank slightly. After knowing Zang Ling for so many years, this was the first time he had seen her show that kind of expression. He had thought he could take his time, slowly making her fall for him bit by bit, but now it seemed he had simply been deluding himself.

He gazed at Zang Ling’s beautiful profile, feeling unwilling to accept this reality. After guarding this flower for so long, now that it was finally blooming, was he supposed to just let someone else pick it?

Not a chance.

Once the discussion concluded, he smiled at Yan Wenshu and asked, “Secretary Yan, did you fully understand the proposals discussed in the meeting? Did you take note of Chairman Zang’s suggestions? Could you please summarize the contents of the meeting for us? I’m not singling you out, of course, but we’ve had issues before where a secretary forgot to take meeting notes, which caused a lot of trouble.”

He made it seem as if he was genuinely looking out for the company.

Yan Wenshu didn’t seem surprised by Yan Feng’s attempt to make things difficult for him. He calmly stood up and succinctly summarized the key points of the meeting in the simplest terms, including Zang Ling’s opinions. He even added his own insights, drawing connections and expanding on the discussion.

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the shareholders immediately turned into his fan, clapping and praising, “Excellent! Secretary Yan truly lives up to his prestigious academic background. So knowledgeable!”

Other shareholders joined in, complimenting him.

“Yes, Secretary Yan, your summary was spot on. Not only are you handsome, but you’re also exceptionally capable. Chairman Zang, I must say, I envy you for having such a talented assistant.”

“Chairman Zang, your new secretary is indeed impressive. I thought I was the first one to arrive at the meeting room, but when I got here, Secretary Yan had already prepared everything.”

“Secretary Yan, if you ever feel like leaving Chairman Zang’s office, come work for me. We can negotiate salary and benefits!”

“…”

Yan Wenshu politely declined each poaching attempt with a warm demeanor.

Meanwhile, after watching him effortlessly handle Yan Feng’s challenge, Zang Ling found herself captivated by his competence. There was just something incredibly attractive about a man excelling at his work.

She didn’t openly comment on the situation, but the admiration in her eyes was becoming impossible to conceal.

Hearing others praise Yan Wenshu, she subtly straightened her back, as if they were complimenting her personally.

Of course, she hadn’t forgotten who had initiated this little test. She turned to Yan Feng. “Secretary Yan’s summary was excellent. Did you catch all that, Yan Feng? If not, Secretary Yan can go over it again with you later.”

“Of course,” Yan Wenshu inclined his head slightly, “But I believe Manager Yan wouldn’t need my assistance.”

Yan Feng’s expression stiffened. Looking at Yan Wenshu’s polite smile, he felt a deep sense of resentment. He quickly composed himself and said, as if nothing had happened, “…Ah, yes. Chairman Zang, I was simply reminding Secretary Yan to ensure nothing was forgotten. Of course, I already know all this.”

Xia Siyu, who had been watching the exchange, smirked slightly.

It was obvious to anyone that Yan Feng had been trying to make Secretary Yan stumble. Newcomers put on the spot in such a serious setting would usually feel nervous.

But instead of falling into the trap, Yan Wenshu had delivered a flawless counterattack.

Xia Siyu hadn’t approved of Yan Feng’s approach in the first place. Who picks on a new colleague on their very first day?

There was no reason for it, no grudge, no personal conflict.

Now that Yan Wenshu had handled the situation so well, Xia Siyu had a newfound appreciation for him. With his abilities, he was bound to achieve great things in the future.

Zang Ling, on the other hand, didn’t pay much more attention to Yan Feng. She simply said, “Alright, since there are no other issues, this meeting is over. I expect to see results by Friday. Dismissed.”

Yan Wenshu quietly began packing up his materials. His movements were methodical and elegant, making even such a mundane task pleasant to watch.

As most people left the room, Zang Ling turned her gaze to the only other person still present. The man had finished organizing his things and was just about to leave.

“Secretary Yan, wait a moment,” she called out.

Yan Wenshu stopped in his tracks and turned back, his tone respectful. “Chairman Zang, do you have any further instructions?”

Zang Ling wanted to tell him he didn’t need to be so formal.

But then, noticing the surveillance camera’s red recording light, she swallowed her words.

“You…” She carefully chose her words. “Don’t leave yet. Come to my office. I have an important task that I need you to handle personally.”

Yan Wenshu looked surprised, his expression slightly troubled. “For me? But I’m still in my probation period. I’m afraid I might not be up to the task.”

Zang Ling, seeing his innocent expression, began to doubt herself.

Was I imagining things earlier in the office?

Had I misinterpreted his actions?

She locked eyes with Yan Wenshu, staring at him intently. At first, he met her gaze head-on, but after a moment, he lowered his eyes.

That confirmed it, this man definitely had feelings for me.

“We can discuss it later. Let’s go.” Feeling pleased, Zang Ling casually tossed out the words and walked out of the conference room.

Yan Wenshu hesitated briefly, then softly replied, “Understood.”

He followed her. Watching the graceful figure ahead of him, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.