Chen Zhaoci led Fan Jia into a larger office, which was surprisingly decorated with elegance and style. A beautiful woman in her thirties stood up from behind the desk with a smile. Dressed in professional attire, she appeared efficient and radiant.
Chen Zhaoci introduced, "This is the company's financial director, Zhang Wei. You can call her Sister Wei."
Fan Jia immediately realized this was the person who had called her last time to persuade her to make a nude loan video. She looked uneasy and said, "Hello, Sister Wei."
Zhang Wei waved her hand casually and said, "You go ahead. I'll have a chat with Lingling here."
Chen Zhaoci said to Fan Jia, "Sister Wei has been wanting to meet you. Why don't you girls chat for a bit? I'll go report to the boss, and you should get ready too. We'll see the boss later."
Fan Jia replied, "Oh... okay."
After Chen Zhaoci left, Zhang Wei pulled Fan Jia to sit on the sofa and said, "What a lovely girl. You're so pretty—do you have a boyfriend?"
Fan Jia lowered her head. "No."
Zhang Wei said, "It doesn't matter if you don't. In the future, find someone young and promising, like Zhaoci, right? Lots of girls like him."
Fan Jia fell even more silent, her hands resting on her thighs, clenched into tight fists. Zhang Wei observed her reaction keenly. Picking up the tea set from the coffee table, she began brewing Gongfu tea and said, "I heard from Zhaoci that you're having trouble repaying the loan but don't want to make a video. Normally, the company would never lend you more money in this situation. However, on one hand, Chen Zhaoci says you're his most valued junior, and on the other, I've heard you're very capable with great potential. So, the company has studied this for a long time and come up with a solution that benefits everyone."
Fan Jia looked up, her eyes hopeful. "What solution?"
Zhang Wei placed a cup of tea in front of her and said, "Join our company, just like Zhaoci did."
The freshly brewed tea steamed gently. Zhang Wei said, "Try it. It's premium Zhengshan Xiaozhong." Fan Jia picked up the teacup and took a small sip. Zhang Wei laughed, "Silly girl, you don't know what's good. I don't serve this tea to just anyone." Fan Jia knew nothing about tea and only found it slightly bitter and astringent, so she took another sip.
Zhang Wei refilled her cup and said, "The company has very high standards for employees. Ordinary people can't even get in. Look at Zhaoci—he used to owe the company over a hundred thousand. In the past few years, through his work, he not only paid off his debt but also bought a house and a car. Isn't that reaching the peak of life? Of course, since we're an elite company with excellent benefits, we also have strict rules. Once you join, you must strictly obey your superiors' orders and follow instructions in everything. Especially since company employees are like family, we understand and support each other. Can you do all that?"
Fan Jia immediately replied, "Yes! I can!" After saying this, she felt a bit embarrassed and cautiously asked, "Can I really join the company?"
At this moment, Fan Jia felt both joy and worry. She was happy that they actually wanted her to join the company. If she could get closer to the people and operations, she might uncover whether they were connected to the deaths of the two girls. But she was also worried that this would be too slow—were they trying to reel her in slowly, tying her tightly to the company? Investigating a case might not afford such delays.
Nevertheless, Fan Jia decided she would not let this opportunity slip away.Zhang Wei said with a smile, "Of course you can. You have such a good image and temperament, graduated from Huaicheng University, and after talking with you for so long, I feel your eloquence and thinking are both excellent. You're a young person with potential. Currently, the company has two positions for you, but both require passing interviews, as there are many competitors. One is to start as a salesperson, just like Chen Zhaoci. This is quite demanding, and the income is unstable at first. The other is to be Assistant to our Boss Zhou. This opportunity is rare because the previous assistant just left, and you happened to come along. However, this job is also very demanding, almost requiring 24/7 availability to attend to all of Boss Zhou's needs. You'll have to handle his work matters and accompany him to business dinners, social events, and business trips. But it offers a stable income of 5,000 a month. Moreover, as the leader's assistant, after working with him for a few years, your horizons will broaden, and you can become a department head, at which point your income will be much higher. I was also Boss Zhou's assistant for a few years. Look at me now—am I not doing well?"
Fan Jia said, "Sister Wei, I... I'd like to try for the position of Boss Zhou's assistant."
Zhang Wei picked up her teacup, her glamorous nails shimmering faintly under the light. She smiled and said, "Alright, I really hit it off with you. As far as my interview goes, you've passed. Whether you can leave a good impression on Boss Zhou next is up to you. If Boss Zhou takes a liking to someone, he treats them very well, even giving them clothes and jewelry. What are sky-high luxuries for us are just a drop in the bucket for him. Little sister, whether you can seize this opportunity is entirely up to you."
Fan Jia showed a somewhat confused expression. Zhang Wei clinked glasses with her and said, "Bottoms up." Unable to refuse, Fan Jia drank two more glasses. Zhang Wei chatted with her for a while until Chen Zhaoci came to pick her up, then let her go.
Chen Zhaoci looked at her and said, "Boss Zhou is waiting for you."
Fan Jia gently tugged his sleeve and asked, "Should I go for the interview to be Boss Zhou's assistant?"
Chen Zhaoci showed a very suggestive smile, which made Fan Jia slightly taken aback. But the expression vanished in an instant, and he resumed his calm and earnest demeanor, replying, "That's great. Go for it. I hope you pass the interview."
Fan Jia's eyes shifted, and she asked softly, "You... don't want me to go?"
He looked ahead, smiled, and said, "What are you talking about? If you want to aim high, how could I stop you?"
Fan Jia pressed on, continuing to probe. She stood still, her expression stubborn, and whispered like a mosquito, "If you don't want me to go, I won't. Sister Wei hinted... that the assistant's relationship with Boss Zhou might be... very close. I... I don't know... Brother Zhaoci, should I go?"
Chen Zhaoci turned to look at her. Through his glasses, his gaze was deeper than ever before.
After a long pause, he smiled, ruffled her hair, and said, "Go. Success depends on effort. Whether it's a bright future or a degrading life depends entirely on your own choices. Besides, do you have any other path to take?"
Fan Jia followed Chen Zhaoci to the office at the end of the third floor. Upon entering, it was a large room decorated in a classical style, with black leather sofas, a large bookshelf, and calligraphy and paintings on the walls—a typical boss's office.
Chen Zhaoci said, "Boss Zhou, Fan Lingling is here."
"Come in."A man emerged from behind the desk. At first glance, he appeared quite refined and respectable. He was around forty years old, of average height, dressed in a black Tang suit and wearing black-rimmed glasses, exuding a rather intellectual air.
OpenNovel