Chapter 16

Clearly, Gu Zhao was playing dumb.

Sheng Quan didn’t believe that he couldn’t understand what she was saying.
If Gu Zhao’s comprehension was really that poor, he wouldn’t be recognized as a
tough person in the industry.

He didn’t want to go against her, but he also wanted to work, so he chose
“middle ground.”

She couldn’t help but smile wryly.

It was really hard for Gu Zhao to use that “noble and cold CEO
face” to pretend to be ignorant.

Some of Gu Zhao’s thoughts, although extreme, did make some sense. For
example, “people tend to be more tolerant of powerful individuals or
events.”

Especially when this “powerful person” was working wholeheartedly
for her despite having a stomach ailment.

Watching the elevator doors close, Sheng Quan sent a message to Secretary Secretary
Zhang: [Take care of Mr. Gu; take him for a thorough check-up. If he doesn’t
want to, just say it’s my order. [Ask the doctor about any precautions Mr. Gu
needs to take in this situation.]

Buy something to eat when you get to the hospital and keep the receipts for
reimbursement from finance. I’ll tell HR to count today as overtime for you.
[Thank you for your hard work.]

In the elevator, Secretary Zhang felt the vibration of his phone. He
discreetly took it out and glanced at it, immediately smiling.

On a workday, if it was considered overtime, he could do anything, even if
it meant carrying files for Mr. Gu!

He quietly typed with one hand: [Alright, thank you, President Sheng. I will
take good care of Mr. Gu! Hard work.jpg]

[Ding——]

The elevator doors opened, and Gu Zhao walked out first. Secretary Zhang
quickly followed. After walking a few steps, he heard his superior ask,
“What did President Sheng say to you?”

Hearing this cold and intimidating voice, Secretary Zhang’s back tensed
subconsciously. He quickly replied, “President Sheng asked me to take good
care of you and to have you undergo all possible check-ups.”

Gu Zhao glanced at the time, his brows slightly furrowed.

Although they hadn’t worked together for long, Secretary Zhang, his
secretary, already understood his boss’s habit of being precise with time. No,
it was a good habit.

Gu Zhao’s action clearly indicated that he was calculating how much of his
work time would be consumed by the medical examination.

Secretary Zhang weakly said, “President Sheng probably wants to see the
examination results. She cares about you.”

Gu Zhao was taken aback. “She cares about me?”

Now it was Secretary Zhang’s turn to be stunned. President Sheng practically
had the word “care” written on her face. Wasn’t Mr. Gu deliberately
asking a known question?

But Gu Zhao, having stood out from a group of competitors, wouldn’t stupidly
say, “Are you blind?” He maintained a serious attitude and a sincere
look in his eyes.

“Yes, President Sheng cares about you. She specifically instructed me
to ask the doctor about how to take care of your health. It’s only you. President
Sheng is usually so busy; if it were someone else, she wouldn’t be so
concerned.”

In one sentence, he not only explained the chairman’s concern for the
president but also subtly flattered the president. Secretary Zhang’s face
remained serious, but inside, he secretly gave himself a thumbs up.

With this level of responsiveness and the ability to please both sides in
conversation, Secretary Zhang’s future trajectory seemed destined for the
position of executive assistant.

After praising himself, Secretary Zhang noticed that Gu Zhao was still
standing in place without moving and asked in confusion, “Mr. Gu?”

Gu Zhao then came to his senses.

He lowered his head again to check his watch, calculating the time in his
mind. If he were to undergo all the tests, there would be no way he could
finish reviewing all those documents.

But Sheng Quan was concerned about him.

The man with an expressionless face and a cold demeanor struggled in place
for a full three seconds.

In the end, he turned around, and his gaze sadly swept over the files Secretary
Zhang was holding. Finally, he closed his eyes and said in a deep voice,
“Since that’s the case, let’s follow President Sheng’s instructions.”

Secretary Zhang: … Why does he sound like he’s being forcibly separated
from a lover?

As Gu Zhao regretfully abandoned the idea of “examining the doctor and
the files without delay,” Sheng Quan first looked at the scale of the
company’s cafeteria and then checked the progress bar.

006’s thoughtful report: [The career value of the first sponsored person:
16]

It was happily shared with Sheng Quan: [The career value of the first
sponsored person has been steadily increasing these days. [When it reaches
twenty, the host can draw a lottery again.]

Sheng Quan, however, wasn’t as optimistic: [Without any work, Yan Hui’s
career value reaching this level is already the limit. [To further increase it,
we’ll have to wait for his works to come out.]

After all, people would only show affection if they “saw”
something. During this time, Yan Hui’s “handsome pancake vendor”
topic might have been popular, but it was ultimately based on empty talk.

Fans were not fools; falling in love just by looking at a celebrity’s photo
was rare, especially in this entertainment industry where looks were highly
variable. Yan Hui’s appearance could only be considered slightly above average.
Ultimately, it would depend on his work to make a real impact.

We need to get him to release some work quickly. His current popularity is
mainly built on topics. Without some substantial work to consolidate it, there
will be continuous backflow.

006, initially cheerful, became anxious upon hearing Sheng Quan’s words:
[What should the host do? ]

Sheng Quan leaned back in her office chair comfortably. [After all, I’m not
a professional in this field. [I don’t know what to do next.]

But she wasn’t in a hurry: [Professional matters should be handled by
professionals. [I’m the boss; I don’t need to worry about such things.]

---

Yuan Zixin had already finished listening to all the company’s rules,
regulations, and welfare benefits.

Even though Sheng Quan, the boss, felt that “these rules might be too
complicated,” Yuan Zixin, like every other person applying to Starlight,
instantly declared, “No problem, I’m okay with it,” upon seeing the
welfare benefits.

Not to mention the five insurances and one fund being included, but there
was also overtime pay. Just providing accommodation alone made her instantly
raise the “I love Starlight” banner.

After roughly explaining the points new employees needed to pay attention
to, which departments the company had, and which department she belonged to,
the HR lady invited Yuan Zixin to a fingerprint and facial recognition
recording.

While Yuan Zixin obediently recorded her information, she asked, “Is
this for preparing for clocking in and out? But I didn’t see a time clock at
the entrance.”

The HR lady smiled and said, “No, this is for our dedicated
elevator.”

“We have a dedicated elevator?” Yuan Zixin was surprised.

“Yes, since we are an entertainment company, we will often have artists
coming in and out. Privacy and confidentiality are relatively more important
than other companies. Plus, President Sheng is also…”

She gave Yuan Zixin a look that said, “You understand what I mean,
right?”

Yuan Zixin instantly got it: “I know. All the people in Starlight Building
belong to President Sheng.”

“Yes, so our company has some privileges compared to other
companies.” Although she had only been working for a few days, the HR lady
already spoke with an expression of great pride.

Yuan Zixin could totally understand her.

In a company where overtime was paid, accommodation was provided, and five
insurances and one fund were included, even though she hadn’t officially
started working yet, she already felt a strong sense of belonging.

She just wanted to say: From now on, the company is my home, and I will work
wherever I go.

After recording her fingerprints and facial features, she sighed, “So,
the elevator I used just now is the dedicated elevator for our floor?”

“No, that’s not it.” The HR lady explained, “That’s the elevator
for positions at the level of the President’s Office and above. The one for
employees is next to it.”

Yuan Zixin looked left and right again, whispering as she continued to
listen to the insider information she had heard: “It’s said that Mr. Gu is
going to open a personal elevator for President Sheng. President Sheng refused;
otherwise, our company would have three dedicated elevators.”

Having a dedicated elevator in a commercial building in the central area on
the 33rd floor was something Yuan Zixin had only seen in the Mary Sue President
dramas she watched when she was a child.

It sounded a bit exaggerated, but thinking about how Sheng Quan was the
owner of this building, it seemed quite normal.

This might just be the world of wealthy people.

She asked, “Why did President Sheng refuse?”

“It seems like it’s because there are employees from other companies in
the Huaxing Building who need to use the elevators. Freeing up two elevators
won’t have too much impact on other people’s elevator use, but three or more
would be unnecessary,” the HR lady explained.

Yuan Zixin thought of Sheng Quan, who smiled and waved to her downstairs,
and couldn’t help but sigh, “President Sheng is really kind.”

It was rare to see someone at such a level considering the interests of
ordinary employees.

Although they hadn’t spent much time together, Yuan Zixin could feel that
Sheng Quan was a person with principles.

Due to the unique nature of the work, she met many wealthy people. In this
circle where the good and the bad coexisted, she had seen many who didn’t care
about the joys and sorrows of others as long as they had money. Still, when
faced with someone more powerful, they would become subservient.

Certainly, there were wealthy individuals with both wealth and
cultivation, but they were a minority. In this circle, most people spoke in
terms of interests, and few cared about refinement.

So, Yuan Zixin admired Gu Zhao. Regardless of whether someone was rich or
not, Gu Zhao looked down on anyone with insufficient intelligence.

Yet his ability to disguise himself was poor, which explained his poor
interpersonal relationships.

In reverse, Sheng Quan must be even more impressive if she could make
someone like Gu Zhao bow down and serve. The company had great potential.

When Yuan Zixin saw her small but exclusive dormitory, she once again
marveled, “This company has great potential.”

Her admiration wasn’t simply because of the employee dormitory but was a
conclusion drawn from her experience working for multiple companies.

In most companies, employees tend to slack off to some extent, but as she
passed through various departments at Starlight Entertainment, almost everyone
seemed dedicated to their work.

The atmosphere was different from the companies she had previously
experienced, where people were often stressed and the workplace felt
oppressive, as reflected in the saying “three years on the job.”

Starlight Entertainment, despite being a new company, had a positive
atmosphere. Yuan Zixin observed that people genuinely wanted to stay at
Starlight and hoped to climb the corporate ladder. Even though they were busy,
there was a sense of satisfaction in their work, unlike other companies she had
been to.

Yuan Zixin’s job required her to frequently check various platforms for
information. While she had seen many videos of “young people slacking
off” in contemporary society, based on what she observed, eighty percent
of Starlight Entertainment’s employees were young, full of vitality, and eager
to progress.

In an exaggerated sense, their eyes were filled with light.

She touched the small bed in her dormitory, thinking that even at the age of
thirty-seven, she felt as if rays of light were bursting from her eyes.

In a company where “capability leads to promotion” and
“promotion naturally leads to increased benefits,” anyone would want
to give their all.

Still immersed in thoughts about the unexpectedly “normal”
company, Yuan Zixin received a call from the secretary’s office to meet the
chairman.

As she went upstairs, she could clearly feel that everyone’s attitude towards
her had become more friendly.

This was normal; in Starlight Entertainment, the chairman, Sheng Quan, was
the top figure.

This was one of the differences between Starlight Entertainment and other
companies. In typical companies, while the chairman holds a high position,
employees might not necessarily hold them in awe. After all, chairpersons
usually don’t frequent the office. The real person managing and determining
their positions and benefits was usually the president.

However, in Starlight Entertainment, Gu Zhao seemed to have “Sheng Quan
is the greatest” written all over him.

Even if Sheng Quan herself didn’t mind, he firmly executed it: whenever the
two walked together, he would step back, and in disagreements, he would
immediately yield when others were present.

completely disregarding the face of the Chief Executive Officer.

This behavior of his sets an example, and the people below would naturally
follow suit. For example, the two young and fresh-faced twin boys are at the
front desk.

Facing Yuan Zixin, who had been “summoned” by Sheng Quan, the envy
on their faces was almost overflowing.

Unconsciously influenced by the atmosphere of “you must be excellent;
why else would Chairman Sheng personally interview you and now personally talk
to you?” Yuan Zixin gradually gained confidence as she walked.

She hadn’t felt this confident since she graduated. Until she entered the
workforce, her confidence had gradually worn down, leaving only a facade of
bluster.

Lost in thought, Yuan Zixin became nervous when she arrived at the
chairman’s office.

Now, she was facing not the “rich book fan” but the top boss who
paid her salary.

After knocking on the door and hearing the response “come in,”
Yuan Zixin took a deep breath and entered.

Upon entering, her first reaction was, “This office is really
big.”

Her second reaction was the awe-inspiring view of the bustling cityscape
outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Indeed, Sheng Quan, who owned the entire building, had an office that surpassed
her previous boss’s by a mile.

Seated behind the spacious desk, Sheng Quan, upon seeing Yuan Zixin sit
down, immediately got to the point.

“Do you think you can bring Yan Hui to the forefront in two
years?”

Yuan Zixin was momentarily stunned by this question.

But she quickly adjusted her state: “Yan Hui has great potential in
various aspects. If Chairman Sheng believes in me and the company is willing to
provide resources, I believe I can.”

“Good.”

Sheng Quan nodded. “Then Yan Hui is entrusted to you.”

Yuan Zixin:

Is that all?

Not asking her thoughts on Yan Hui’s development or why she’s so confident?

Seeing Yuan Zixin’s calm appearance but actually bewildered expression,
Sheng Quan smiled slightly.

“Maybe you don’t know, but I have actually learned about you through
other channels. I know that your abilities go beyond this. It’s just that you
have been restricted by some invisible rules, preventing you from fully
displaying your potential.”

She stood up, extended her hand to Yuan Zixin again, and said, “I
assure you, regardless of how other companies in this industry operate,
Starlight Entertainment doesn’t acknowledge, and doesn’t need, any invisible
rules.”

Yuan Zixin was stunned. Neither overtime pay nor accommodation benefits had
given her as much impact and security as Sheng Quan’s words did.

She heard the young but reliable chairman in front of her say, “I look
forward to the future where you create new stars for Starlight
Entertainment.”

Yuan Zixin’s heart was racing, and her eyes reddened at the corners. Once
again, she held Sheng Quan’s hand.

In this moment, she felt like something that had been restraining her was
instantly shattered, revealing a self that had never changed but felt brand
new.

“Thank you. I believe I can meet your expectations.”

Because this time, someone stood by her side.