At seven thirty in the morning, Shen Jianian came downstairs and encountered Fu Jichen in the dining room.
Ever since finding out that the man in front of her was the eldest grandson of the Beicheng Fu Family and the future heir to the Junshan Group, she felt more intimidated by him.
It was an unconscious obedience to those in power.
Even when the Shen Family wasn't down on their luck, they were never close to the threshold of the Fu Family, owing to differing social circles. The Fu Family was a top-notch aristocratic family with centuries of prosperity, while the Shen Family, built from scratch, couldn't compare.
Shen Jianian walked up to the table, "Good morning, Mr. Fu."
"Morning." Fu Jichen glanced at her with indifferent eyes, placing down the coffee cup in his hand.
The weather had warmed up today, with temperatures reaching up to thirty degrees. Shen Jianian wore a pure white dress with a round neck, the tightened waistline showing off her slender figure, paired with a structured trench coat that complemented the softness, adding a touch of sharpness.
Zhou Rongzhen brought breakfast to the table, offering both Chinese and Western options, with a focus on light flavors and nutritional health.
Shen Jianian remained silent, taking her time to finish half a bowl of red bean porridge and a bun, then cautiously lifted her eyes to look across the table. Fu Jichen had already finished eating at some point, leaning back in his chair watching a tablet. Shen Jianian didn't dare to delay and quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth: "I'm done eating."
Indeed, Fu Jichen was waiting for her. Hearing this, he locked the tablet and held it in his hand as he got up to leave.
Shen Jianian hurried to catch up, almost forgetting her phone if it weren't for Zhou Rongzhen's reminder.
The driver who had taken her to the Yin Family was waiting by the car, opening the rear door with a cold expression, and Fu Jichen settled in, though the car door remained open.
Shen Jianian hesitated for a moment and opened the door to the passenger seat.
Qu Mo's expression cracked slightly, his eyes twitching twice involuntarily. During his moment of distraction, Shen Jianian had already buckled her seatbelt and was ready to leave. Qu Mo looked at his boss in the back seat, who raised his hand, too lazy to fuss over these details.
Qu Mo understood the signal and closed the car door for him.
The journey was silent, and the car stopped at the East Ke Office Building.
Fu Jichen got out of the car and walked into the lobby, where voices greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Chen," rising and falling. After greeting him, the employees stealthily glanced at the girl following Mr. Chen, wondering about her identity.
In the exclusive elevator for the CEO, there were only two people: Shen Jianian and Fu Jichen. Shen Jianian addressed him like everyone else, "Mr. Chen," then hesitated, asking, "May I ask what my job entails?"
She studied art, diligently practiced the cello from a young age, and graduated from a top-tier music academy in the country. Had it not been for her father's poor health and frequent heart issues, she would have gone abroad with Pei Che for further studies.
Shen Jianian was completely clueless about the duties of a CEO's assistant, worried she would mess things up.
"Zhu Yilan will assign tasks to you; ask her if you're unsure." Fu Jichen explained, "You can't become proficient all at once; learn more and contemplate more if you're unsure."
Once the elevator doors opened, Shen Jianian immediately noticed Zhu Yilan whom he mentioned.
Zhu Yilan's expression slightly changed; before, her eyes only followed Fu Jichen, never taking notice of anyone else when he was around. For the first time, she saw the person beside him before him.
Shen Jianian was a step behind Fu Jichen, exiting the elevator.
"Mr. Chen." Zhu Yilan lowered her gaze slightly; her hand gripping the folder tightened uncontrollably.
The elevator doors slowly closed behind them, and Fu Jichen's gaze landed on the top of her head. In work situations, he was consistently calm and indifferent, only discussing business: "From today onwards, she is the CEO's assistant. I'm handing her over to you; teach her well."
Zhu Yilan had met this girl before in the Rose Manor, and afterward, she speculated about her relationship with Fu Jichen endlessly, never expecting to meet again under such circumstances.
"Mr. Chen, I'm afraid..." she was actually troubled, handling numerous tasks daily with no extra energy to teach a newbie who seemed clueless.
Moreover, the girl's identity was a mystery, and if offended, there was no telling what consequences she might face.
Fu Jichen's voice was cold, "What, any concerns?"
Usually straightforward and decisive in front of him, Zhu Yilan hesitated for the first time: "No, Mr. Chen, perhaps you could directly specify what kind of work you want to arrange for her."
"Do as you should." Fu Jichen frowned at her, sounding displeased, wondering when she got so timid.
Left with no choice, Zhu Yilan reluctantly accepted the assignment: "Okay, I understand."
Fu Jichen didn't look at her anymore and strode briskly to his office.
Shen Jianian remained where she was, pursing her lips and glancing at Zhu Yilan who appeared quite helpless, fully aware she was a trouble for others: "Secretary Zhu."