Jiang Xiaoyi had reasonable grounds to suspect that Ye Zhen was messing with her—and she already had evidence.
That night, she didn’t get home until nine.
Jiang Xiaoyi was actually very fast at drawing, but she couldn’t withstand Ye Zhen’s perverse obsession with details. Either she had drawn too many eyelashes, too little hair, or even failed to make the eyes lively enough. All of these became reasons for him to demand revisions. In the end, after six consecutive edits, she finally barely managed to complete the task.
The corridor light had long fallen into disrepair and broken. The old residential building had no elevator either. Jiang Xiaoyi felt her way up the narrow staircase in the darkness and opened the door to her rented home.
The outside of the building was shabby, and the inside wasn’t much warmer.
Jiang Xiaoyi’s family had never been wealthy. Her parents ran a small business, but a year ago, while delivering goods, they were in a car accident and fell into severe comas. They lay in the ICU for several months, but the driver who caused the accident fled and could not be found. Jiang Xiaoyi spent all of the family’s savings and took on heavy debts, but in the end, she still failed to save her parents’ lives.
Now her parents were gone, but the debt remained. Jiang Xiaoyi could only keep living with the pain, working hard to repay the money.
Before bed, Jiang Xiaoyi glanced at the weather forecast, then skilfully brought over a plastic basin and placed it beneath the diagonal corner of the living room’s southeast side.
The neighbour next door had brought his girlfriend home for the night again. It was destined to be an unrestful night.
Sure enough, thanks to the terrible soundproofing, Jiang Xiaoyi was forced to listen to her neighbour’s night-time exercise all night. Early the next morning, the downstairs neighbour’s dog woke her up with its barking.
She climbed out of bed, still half-asleep, and glanced at the southeast corner of the living room.
The weather forecast had been accurate. It had indeed rained, and quite heavily too. Rainwater was currently leaking down, and the plastic basin she had placed there last night was almost full.
If not for the top-floor leak, the rent wouldn’t have been five hundred yuan cheaper.
Jiang Xiaoyi felt it was quite worth it. After all, Rong City didn’t rain often.
Unfortunately, her method of spiritual victory didn’t last even a second before a phone call from her uncle dragged her back to reality.
“Xiaoyi, about the fifty thousand yuan we lent your parents for their hospital stay before… our family urgently needs it now…” After Jiang Xiaoyi’s uncle finished speaking, his voice filled with worry and guilt. “Also, come over when you have time. I’ll ask your aunt to make your favourite fermented-rice dumplings. After your mum passed, no one makes them for you anymore. Sigh…”
These past few years, nearly all of Jiang Xiaoyi’s income had gone toward repaying debts. She was left with only a pitiful amount for living expenses and could only afford to live in this rundown neighbourhood.
Originally, she would have been able to pay off this fifty-thousand-yuan debt once she got her year-end bonus. But who could have expected her uncle’s family to urgently need the money now? Jiang Xiaoyi looked at the balance in her bank account and had no idea where she could borrow money on such short notice…
**
“Hey! Jiang Xiaoyi, look! HR has sent out an internal recruitment notice! Before President Ye’s official secretary is hired through the recruitment process, the company will first select someone internally to serve as his temporary secretary for one month!”
“How do romance novels always write it? The CEO always gets attracted to the genuine, unpretentious little secretary. I’m going to try! And even if President Ye doesn’t fall for me, looking at President Ye’s face every day is still better than looking at Eunuch Li!”
Wang Yani and several other female colleagues were extremely excited and prepared to sign up, but Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t muster any energy at all.
Because she was thinking about that fifty thousand yuan, Jiang Xiaoyi had been distracted ever since arriving at Ruiyi. Hearing Wang Yani’s words, she only glanced weakly at the recruitment notice.
For someone like Ye Zhen, his looks were directly proportional to his level of abnormality. Even if she died, she would absolutely never become his assistant.
“Look, the benefits are excellent. Once selected, the salary will be five to six times that of the previous position!!! Aside from that, there’s also a performance bonus!”
Five or six times the salary?!
Jiang Xiaoyi instantly came back to life.
She could do it!
Death, as long as it was a worthy death, was worth it!
Besides, although Ye Zhen was a bit difficult, judging from the personnel transfer orders, he knew nothing about the company and was just a pretty-faced idiot. Weren’t idiots easy to deal with?
As long as she stroked his ego, wouldn’t he be even easier to fool than a clever boss? As long as she thickened her skin, praised him shamelessly, treated his nit-picking as farting, and studied Eunuch Li’s professional spirit, perhaps she could take advantage of being his temporary assistant to gain his favour.
Then wouldn’t her project approval also be able to go through the green channel?
Most importantly, for five or six times her salary, Jiang Xiaoyi felt she could endure it. Besides, after earning enough money in one month, couldn’t she just return to her original position?
So what if she had to “enter the sea” for one month?
She could do it!
**
Jiang Xiaoyi excitedly signed up and anxiously waited to enter the sea.
But unexpectedly, there were too many people who wanted to enter the sea, turning it into fierce competition like dumplings being dropped into boiling water. The opportunity to become Ye Zhen’s temporary assistant was as strict as an emperor selecting concubines. Jiang Xiaoyi had no chance at all.
Wang Yani also sighed deeply. “Ah! I heard they chose Dora from the Investment Department. She graduated from Stanford! How could we compete with her?”
Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t feel happy either. It seemed this chance to get rich would not fall to her.
But unexpectedly, things took a turn. A week later, all the strong competitors were eliminated one after another, and the Administration Department actually sent Jiang Xiaoyi the notice to enter the sea!
Was she really about to turn her luck around?!
Jiang Xiaoyi couldn’t believe it at all. “They really chose me?”
The HR director nodded. “Yes. Once you complete the health check required by President Ye, if you pass, you can start in three days. President Ye’s official assistant will arrive in the middle of next month. Before then, you’ll serve as the temporary assistant. The salary will be settled daily.”
Settled daily!!!
How could a boss who was willing to pay wages daily be abnormal? He was clearly an angel descended to earth!
And didn’t that mean the earlier she started, the more she could earn of that five-times daily wage?
Why wait three days? Jiang Xiaoyi felt she could start seamlessly right away!
Because of this, early the next morning, Jiang Xiaoyi rushed passionately to the designated hospital, planning to complete the check-up in the morning and start work in the afternoon.
Ye Zhen seemed rather annoying, but unexpectedly, he was quite concerned about employees’ health. All these medical check-up items would be reimbursed by the company.
But when she received the list of examination items printed by the nurse, Jiang Xiaoyi could no longer smile.
In past company health checks, the list of items had only been one sheet of paper. This was the first time she had seen a list as thick as a booklet…
When she went for the blood test, the nurse took out more than twenty blood collection tubes. Then, after counting, added one more.
…
Jiang Xiaoyi finally understood the meaning of starting three days later. By the time she had completed all one hundred-plus tests, it was already three days later…
**
Three days later, probably because her medical results were acceptable, she sat opposite Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen’s office was very tastefully designed. It did not have Boss Liu’s old rosewood desk and chairs. Instead, it used minimalist European-style elements. His face, which could only be described as luxurious, looked unexpectedly harmonious among them, giving off quite an aesthetic impact.
But although Ye Zhen’s appearance was truly top-tier, unfortunately, he had a mouth, and his tone was somewhat sarcastic.
“Jiang Xiaoyi, congratulations. You have obtained the opportunity to become my temporary assistant.”
After Ye Zhen said this, he paused for a very long time. So long that Jiang Xiaoyi began wondering whether the conversation had already ended and whether she should leave. Only then did Ye Zhen frown, somewhat displeased.
“Do you have nothing to say?”
Say what?
Ye Zhen smiled. “For example, now that you’ve become my temporary assistant, do you have any thoughts? After all, we’ll be working together for about a month. I hope you won’t be too restrained or tense. You can say whatever you want. That way, I can understand you better.”
Was this her cue to go through the process and start flattering him?
Fine!
After being influenced by Eunuch Li for so many years, Jiang Xiaoyi could produce this kind of flattery almost effortlessly.
“Thank you for your concern, President Ye. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity. I didn’t expect even a temporary assistant position to come with such good health check benefits.”
The essence of flattery was not being blatant, but being as subtle as spring rain nourishing things silently.
Jiang Xiaoyi continued her efforts.
“I also didn’t expect President Ye to care so much about his subordinates’ health, willing to spend so much money on my medical check-up and have me do so many tests…”
Jiang Xiaoyi was about to continue when Ye Zhen coolly interrupted her.
“I don’t like a working atmosphere filled with flattery. I hope my assistant is grounded and practical. I only asked you to share your thoughts as a test.”
“…”
He glanced at Jiang Xiaoyi. “You disappoint me a little.”
Damn it. Entrapment, and he still thought he was right?
But who told Ye Zhen to be the boss? Jiang Xiaoyi dared to be angry but dared not speak. She could only lower her head and admit her mistake.
Ye Zhen supported his chin with his hand.
“Actually, your medical report didn’t fully meet the standards either. I hoped my temporary assistant’s body fat percentage could be controlled at around eighteen percent. Yours is nineteen percent. But compared to the other applicants, you’re already the general among dwarfs. Before my official assistant starts, I can only reluctantly make do with you.”
Are you choosing a bodybuilding champion? What does body fat percentage have to do with being an assistant?!
As if Ye Zhen knew what Jiang Xiaoyi was thinking, he glanced at her.
“Body fat percentage reflects whether a person exercises regularly. It can indirectly show a person’s lifestyle philosophy—whether they are self-disciplined, whether they have standards for their appearance. Extended into the workplace, self-discipline, restraint, and high standards for oneself are essential qualities in becoming my assistant. If a person can’t even manage their weight, how can they be competent at work?”
He glanced at Jiang Xiaoyi again.
“I very much dislike people who go home after work and lie in bed doing nothing. Your body fat percentage shows that you persist in exercising and controlling your diet, and that you have expectations for yourself in your spare time. I appreciate this and have decided to make an exception and hire you.”
Jiang Xiaoyi simply wanted to roll her eyes. What kind of prince who knew nothing of the hardships of ordinary people was Ye Zhen? Did he really think every working person lived as comfortably as bosses like him?
She controlled her diet because she had no money and could only buy reduced-price salads close to expiry.
She exercised because ordinary working people had no elevator and had to climb stairs up and down.
She was, in fact, exactly the kind of person Ye Zhen hated most—someone who went home and collapsed on the bed.
After working all day, who still had the strength to work out?
Ye Zhen, however, knew nothing of this. He merely pursed his lips and concluded, “I have nothing else to say. Move your workstation tomorrow and officially start.”
Start tomorrow?! How could that be acceptable?
Jiang Xiaoyi immediately said, “President Ye, I can start this afternoon. I can move my workstation during lunch break.”
What a joke. Five times the salary—she couldn’t miss even half a day!
“No need.” Ye Zhen leaned back in his boss chair, hands folded over his chest. “This afternoon, complete another emotional stability assessment and psychological health evaluation. If you pass, you’ll start tomorrow.”
???
Jiang Xiaoyi immediately argued with reason. “Thank you for your kindness, President Ye. I know many people develop psychological problems due to stress, but I’m doing very well. Can I skip it?”
“Of course not.”
Ye Zhen smiled. “If you don’t do it, I won’t feel at ease.”
Although he had a bit of prince syndrome, being this concerned about his subordinates was admittedly a little touching.
But Jiang Xiaoyi only wanted to start work quickly and earn money. Just as she was about to speak again and try to persuade Ye Zhen, she heard him continue in a matter-of-fact tone.
“These days, many perverts look perfectly fine on the surface, but inside, they’ve long become twisted. If you don’t do a psychological health evaluation, I’m afraid I’ll be in danger working with you.”
?
So the one hundred-plus physical examinations were also because…
Perhaps sensing Jiang Xiaoyi’s questioning gaze, Ye Zhen nodded.
“That’s right. Modern people—many of them are already psychologically abnormal, and physically unhealthy too. If your body has health risks such as infectious diseases, that would also threaten my health.”
He took a sip of black tea, then smiled at Jiang Xiaoyi again.
“So, to keep this job, I hope you maintain your health properly.”
Jiang Xiaoyi felt that her originally healthy psychology might soon become unhealthy.
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