Plunder-Chapter 161: Secretary Xu
The car stopped at Chengnan Apartments, and Zhou Jin’an got out, holding flowers and carrying things, and went upstairs with Qiao En.
However, when they reached the door of her apartment, Qiao En didn’t let him in.
"Mr. Zhou, I’m a bit tired, please go back."
Zhou Jin’an’s somber eyes enveloped Qiao En. Their gazes met, seeming to hold a thousand words, yet neither spoke.
"Come back to work at Nanchen tomorrow, just use your current identity to join. Don’t worry about anything, I will have Cheng Lu arrange everything."
Zhou Jin’an let out a long sigh, extending the invitation.
"I need to think about it some more."
Qiao En still had reservations.
She had considered Zhou Jin’an’s invitation.
But she wasn’t mentally prepared.
To return to Nanchen as Xu Yayun, to be Zhou Jin’an’s chief secretary—would it be repeating the same mistakes?
But this time, Zhou Jin’an didn’t want to give her the chance to think it over.
"That’s settled then, tomorrow at eight in the morning, I hope to see you on time at your workstation."
Having said that, Zhou Jin’an suddenly offered her a smile, reached out his hand to her head, and ruffled her hair.
For some reason, Qiao En’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He left quickly.
Qiao En closed the door to her room, only to sit on the couch, motionless, for quite a long time.
Should she return to Nanchen?
Did she have the courage to go back?
She tossed and turned that night, utterly unable to fall asleep.
But when the familiar alarm went off, a voice surged within Qiao En.
Why not?
What is there to be afraid of?
This voice inexplicably gave her courage.
She immediately got out of bed, applied light makeup, dressed in a slightly formal business suit, and left the house.
Entering the Nanchen lobby, the receptionist greeted Qiao En.
"Secretary Xu, good morning!"
Qiao En’s heart skipped slightly, but soon after, she put on a professional smile and nodded her head.
"Good morning!"
Riding the elevator to the president’s office floor, the fear in her heart had completely vanished, replaced by excitement.
Just as Zhou Jin’an had said, he had arranged everything.
Upon Qiao En’s return, her workstation had already been tidied up and was restored to its previous neat and orderly state.
As soon as she settled in, a secretary came over to report on work.
Qiao En showed no sign of panic. She turned on her computer, summarized all the work, and then categorized everything by urgency and importance.
When Zhou Jin’an appeared in the office, the schedule she had prepared and the documents requiring his signature were already all laid out on the desk.
"Secretary Qiao is back."
Cheng Lu’s face showed a bright smile.
Zhou Jin’an’s lips also formed a faint smile, and the dim light in his eyes finally brightened once again.
"It’s Secretary Xu."
Zhou Jin’an corrected.
"Right, Secretary Xu," Cheng Lu echoed.
Besides Zhou Jin’an and Cheng Lu, others did not know Qiao En’s true identity.
In the pantry, two junior secretaries held coffee cups and whispered at a low volume.
"Secretary Xu really keeps her cards close to her chest, huh? Previously, I thought she was just a cleaner; turns out she has such capability. I really admire her."
The speaker’s tone was tinged with sarcasm. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
The other let out a heavy sigh, "You have to admire it, yeah. Look at her on the first day of work, getting everything so well organized. Secretary Chen never got it that good when she was here. But I’ve noticed, you know, her way of working is quite similar to the former Secretary Qiao."
"Shh—why are you bringing up Secretary Qiao all of a sudden?"
...
As they discussed in the pantry, Qiao En just happened to be on the other side of the wall in the restroom.
She walked out with an indifferent expression, her gaze coolly sweeping over the two junior secretaries.
"Secretary Xu..."
They greeted Qiao En frantically.
"Have you finished your tasks?"
Qiao En spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, her voice neither light nor heavy, but it carried a unique deterring power.
"Not yet, we’ll get right on it."
The two scurried back to the office as if their feet were greased.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes (metaphor for complex social interactions).
And where there is a rivers and lakes, there are inevitable rumors and gossip.
But rumors and gossip are silenced by the wise.
Qiao En took a deep breath; after a busy morning, she found that facing work was far easier than facing fear.
"Secretary Qiao, Director Zhou is looking for you."
Just as Qiao En sat down in her office, Cheng Lu came to call her.
Qiao En walked straight toward Zhou Jin’an’s office, knocked on the door, and his voice came from inside.
"Come in."
"Director Zhou, you wanted to see me?"
Qiao En entered, carrying with her an air of professionalism.
Zhou Jin’an squinted, sizing her up; she had returned, the woman who haunted his dreams.
"Come out with me."
He rose and strode towards the exit.
"Is this for business or personal reasons?"
Qiao En didn’t move.
She was someone who kept business and personal matters separate, and now, during work hours, she knew what was important.
"Business."
Zhou Jin’an cast a dark, unclear glance at Qiao En.
She followed in his steps, joining him in the elevator.
In the underground parking lot, Cheng Lu was already waiting in the car.
Once Qiao En and Zhou Jin’an got into the car, it sped away.
"Where are we going?"
Qiao En asked, perplexed.
"You’ll know when we get there."
Half an hour later, the car pulled up at the entrance of the busiest mall in Rong City.
"Why have you brought me here?"
Qiao En was puzzled.
Zhou Jin’an’s gaze was sharp as he glanced at her.
"Get yourself a few new outfits. Your current position is the Chief Secretary at Nanchen; your current attire isn’t quite fitting."
He was blunt.
Qiao En was well aware of it.
As Zhou Jin’an’s Chief Secretary, her attire had to be exquisite.
It wasn’t just a symbol of her own status but also a reflection of Zhou Jin’an’s image.
"I’ll buy them after work. If there’s nothing else, Director Zhou, I’ll go back to work now."
She maintained a strictly businesslike demeanor and turned to leave.
"There’s a social engagement tonight; you’ll accompany me."
Upon hearing this, Qiao En’s steps halted.
As Zhou Jin’an’s Chief Secretary, attending social functions with him was part of her job.
Therefore, she couldn’t refuse.
Buying clothes, shoes, and bags, Qiao En shopped with speed and precision, choosing every item with taste.
Once everything was settled, Qiao En approached Zhou Jin’an, "Can we go now?"
"No."
Zhou Jin’an turned and walked toward the elevator, "Your makeup and hairstyle need to be changed entirely."
She now had short hair with no particular style.
This appearance naturally didn’t suit the status of a secretary.
Fortunately, Qiao En was open to such changes.
Soon she was surrounded by stylists and makeup artists.
The stylist wielded scissors, cutting skillfully atop her head.
Instantly, an elegant and noble air seemed to connect with Qiao En.
However, in terms of makeup, Qiao En deliberately had the makeup artist erase the traces that were distinctively hers.
Zhou Jin’an, leaning on the sofa nearby, kept his eyes fixed on the mirror image of Qiao En.
He noticed something; Qiao En appeared reluctant to confront her past.
"Are you still afraid?"
"It’s not fear, it’s caution."
Qiao En also gazed at her reflection in the mirror for a long while.
In that moment, she was radiant, all traces of plainness gone.
At the same time, her own sharp edge began to emerge.
She was Qiao En, but she no longer wanted to be Qiao En.
Zhou Jin’an didn’t press her. He nodded, "Take your time, I’m here for you, and I won’t let anything happen to you."
As the two talked, Cheng Lu came in to hurry them along.
"Director Zhou, it’s almost time; we should leave."
Social engagements were typically scheduled for seven in the evening. Qiao En glanced at the time—there was still an hour to go.
"Who are we meeting later?"
She picked up her small bag and followed in Zhou Jin’an’s steps, asking one more question.
Usually, she would prepare in advance for social engagements.
Being prepared was half the battle for success.
But Zhou Jin’an didn’t stop; he just turned his head, his gaze deep as he glanced at Qiao En.
"Someone neither of us is particularly keen on meeting."
