Shang Zhi Tао hаndlеd hеr emotions wеll, but whеn it camе time for wоrk, shе grеw аnхiоus. She got оff the bus and glanced arоund—nо Luan Niаn in sight. Pеrfесt. Shе dashеd intо thе оffiсe building.
Nо one had tаught hеr what tо do after а one-night stаnd with her boss. Shе hаd sесrеtlу sеarchеd оnline уеstеrdaу, and thе аdvice wаs: рretеnd nothing hapрened, and nеithеr рartу would feel аwkwаrd.
Shаng Zhi Tао rеmаinеd unеasу until thе aftеrnoоn. During the weеkly mееting, shе heаrd Аlех say to Lumi, "Wе’ll have an online mеeting with Luke latеr to go оver thе Q4 budgеt. You аnd Flora will attend."
"Not in person?" Lumi thought Luan Nian was slightly easier to communicate with face-to-face. In remote meetings, he always raised all sorts of questions to keep you from zoning out.
"He’s away on a business trip. An advertising industry summit."
"Alright then."
Shang Zhi Tao breathed a sigh of relief beside them and took the spreadsheet from Lumi to start writing formulas and calculating the budget. Lumi sat next to her, watching as she typed Excel formulas without pause, patted her shoulder, and gave her a thumbs-up. "Tao Tao, you’re the best."
"Huh?" Shang Zhi Tao didn’t understand.
"I dare say your Excel skills rank fifth in the company. The top four are those geniuses in business analysis."
Shang Zhi Tao blushed slightly.
She had put in the effort. At first, she only knew simple formulas, which were enough to handle her work, but she felt it wasn’t good enough. So she began studying systematically. Sun Yuanzhu had recommended books to her and sometimes even held late-night classes for her and Sun Yu. Shang Zhi Tao even started considering delving into data visualization.
"I just think being more proficient can improve efficiency."
"You’re absolutely right."
Lumi sat beside her, helping her sort through the data. In truth, Shang Zhi Tao didn’t need much guidance anymore—she had already gone through most of the basic tasks in the marketing department. She was diligent, meticulously organizing the work she had done, and had a clear understanding of everything. Lumi trusted her.
Both of them were too busy to go out for lunch at noon, but they managed to finalize the materials and send them to Alex just before the afternoon meeting.
Usually, for budget meetings, only the boss and project leads needed to communicate, while others were just attendees. Shang Zhi Tao heard Luan Nian say, "Sorry, the previous agenda just ended, so I’m late."
"No problem, we just finished organizing everything. Is Hong Kong hot?" Alex asked Luan Nian.
"It’s okay. A bit hotter than Beijing. Who are the attendees today?" Luan Nian asked.
The planning and marketing departments introduced their respective attendees, and the meeting officially began.
Shang Zhi Tao opened her notebook to take meeting minutes. Everyone present was more experienced than her, so this task didn’t need to be assigned—she took the initiative. Besides, taking meeting minutes was actually a great way to learn, especially when attending meetings with Luan Nian. He was sharp-minded, concise in his language, and always got straight to the point without beating around the bush. Shang Zhi Tao was quietly learning from him.
Sometimes she wondered, what if she could become someone like Luke?
Today’s budget discussion was a bit intense. Starting with the first project, Luan Nian began asking about ROI estimates. The first project was an industry exchange event organized by the sales department, held in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Chongqing, and Xiamen, inviting clients from different industries for discussions. The goal was client relationship maintenance, with an overall budget of 17 million.
"Is there a draft list of invited clients?" Luan Nian asked.Apollo from the sales department replied, "Yes, I'll send it now." The invited clients were all top-tier in the industry.
After a few seconds of silence, Luan Nian said, "The project objectives are problematic. If it's about maintaining client relationships, taking them out for drinks and meals would suffice. These clients could be fully covered with 500,000, and we could even do better. Why are we spending 17 million to achieve what 500,000 could accomplish?"
Everyone in the meeting room exchanged glances. The industry exchange salon was an annual must-do project for Lumi, aimed at building industry influence. No one had expected Luan Nian to target this project first.
"So, how would Luke suggest adjusting it?"
"My suggestion is: if you can't figure it out, cut it."
Selkie from finance shrugged at them. She had given them a heads-up before the meeting, having attended risk control meetings with Luan Nian and knowing how strict he was. But the senior executives present hadn’t believed her, thinking he was too young and inexperienced to have such resolve. They had underestimated this young man. Though he was younger than them, his decisive methods were not to be underestimated.
"Is this acceptable?" Alex tried to smooth things over. "Apollo, take your team back and revisit this project. Maintaining client relationships is just a small aspect; building industry influence is still necessary."
"If it’s about building industry influence, then I need to see what reports might be released and what conclusions they’ll draw. Which experts can be invited, and how many potential clients will be attracted. In the last meeting, we discussed the company’s business transformation—medium-sized clients with short, frequent projects could also be taken on. Include these clients in the invitation list as well." Luan Nian laid out his demands directly. "First, clarify these points, then consider whether to proceed. Next project."
Shang Zhi Tao noticed that Apollo, the head of sales, was not pleased. She wondered how they would react if Luan Nian were facing them in person. Deep down, she agreed with the questions he raised. After working in marketing for a few months, she had gradually developed a sense of budgeting—it was real money being spent, and every penny should make an impact, shouldn’t it?
"Shall we move on to the next budget item?" Alex asked.
"Alright." Shang Zhi Tao heard Luan Nian take a sip of water, the gulp reminding her of the movement of his Adam’s apple when they kissed. Did Luan Nian ever think about what happened that day, like she did?
The meeting was too intense. Lumi kicked Shang Zhi Tao under the table and then sent her a message: "Cut them all, hahaha. No more spending from now on."
"I’m terrified."
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy, and no one was happy except for the laughing Lumi. Lumi didn’t care—it wasn’t her money being spent, nor was she saving any. She just felt satisfied. In her street-smart words, "These old-timers need to be put in their place." Lumi had often clashed with these senior executives over money—spending lavishly when it suited them, dragging their feet during internal audits, smiling to your face while talking behind your back. With Luan Nian’s approach, everyone would have to rein it in a little.Luan Nian wasn't foolish; he knew today's meeting would earn him plenty of blame. But he didn't care. Even so, he sent alex a message: "Your department will have to work overtime to control the budget, which might be tough, but you need to understand—in this matter, I'm helping you."
"I know, thank you." alex wasn't foolish either; with Luan Nian stirring things up this way, his job became much easier.
"The marketing department is the company's cash cow. Only by controlling the budget well can you avoid getting caught on minor issues. This year, the headquarters' internal audit is stricter. If they really scrutinize things carefully, how many of those present today would pass? At best, a reprimand; at worst, dismissal; and the most severe could even lead to criminal charges."
"I've heard about that too. Thanks for playing the bad cop, luke." alex understood Luan Nian's goodwill now. He probably realized that although he managed the marketing department, he couldn't do much about those people. So Luan Nian stepping up today to tighten the budget wasn't a show of power—it was simply making a statement.
lumi sent Shang Zhi Tao another message: "luke is such a sexy man. Every time he's this sharp, I want to tear off his clothes and see how he's different from other men."
Don't bother, I've seen it—he's different. Shang Zhi Tao thought to herself. As if she had seen many men—she only had that shallow experience with Xin Zhaozhou.
"kitty said this morning that our internal chats might be monitored." Shang Zhi Tao replied to lumi, a bit worried their discussion about Luan Nian might be seen.
lumi laughed out loud: "Relax, it won't reach you or me. Others are saying even wilder things."
"Oh, okay."
The meeting was unbearable. Luan Nian kept firing shots, and everyone was scrambling to keep up. Shang Zhi Tao suddenly felt that what she had experienced in the past few months couldn't even be called the workplace—today was the real deal. Confrontational yet deliberately restrained, seemingly agreeable yet with undercurrents swirling beneath. Finally, when the meeting ended, Luan Nian suddenly asked, "Who took the meeting minutes?"
alex glanced at Shang Zhi Tao: "flora did."
"Send them to all attendees after the meeting and copy me. I have a banquet later, so let's wrap up for today. Thanks for your hard work." Luan Nian hung up.
Shang Zhi Tao closed her laptop and left the meeting room. Her phone buzzed with a notification—it was a message from Luan Nian: "Confirm the second reporting deadlines with them and include them in the meeting minutes."
"Okay."
No further words.
Luan Nian's strictly business-like attitude made Shang Zhi Tao breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe things wouldn't be awkward from now on? She suddenly wondered: Does acting as if nothing happened make one appear dignified? Probably. Look at luke—he acts like nothing happened at all. His handling of this matter was so skillful, clearly a master at this game.
She went to confirm the next reporting deadlines with the various managers. Everyone was clearly in a bad mood and brushed her off: "I need to have an in-depth discussion with my team. This change isn't minor—it's practically like starting a new project. Let me discuss it first." They just wouldn't say when it could be done.
Shang Zhi Tao felt a bit stuck. Sitting at her desk, she tried to phrase things carefully, feeling this task was simply too hot to handle. About half an hour later, Luan Nian had already finished his first drink at the banquet. Not having received Shang Zhi Tao's meeting minutes, he asked her: "Why haven't you sent them yet?""The bosses haven't finalized the next reporting time yet." Shang Zhi Tao tried to phrase it as tactfully as possible.
Luan Nian roughly understood—Shang Zhi Tao was being manipulated by them. Where had the courage she once shown when honestly recording "Luke advised me to resign" in the interview notes gone? Luan Nian frowned, then wrote in the executive group chat: "I’ve thought about it. Even though there are major changes, the budget must be finalized this week. Please have the secretary schedule a meeting for Wednesday afternoon. Teams without new proposals by then will be considered as forfeiting their budget." He then added: "Alex, have the colleague from your department who took the meeting minutes send out what was just discussed. I’d like to review it again."
"Okay," Alex replied quickly, then said to Shang Zhi Tao, "Just send it out like that."
Shang Zhi Tao nodded and sent out the meeting minutes. Looking up, she saw Lumi signaling to her with her eyes. Both glanced toward the hallway, where a stunningly beautiful woman walked beside Tracy and entered Tracy’s office.
"Who?" Shang Zhi Tao mouthed to Lumi.
Lumi took out her phone and sent a message: "Don’t you recognize her? Luke’s ex-girlfriend, the one from the email."
"Even more beautiful than in the photo," Shang Zhi Tao replied.
"I heard her family background is excellent too."
"Oh."
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