09
This is the first time I've stayed up all night since leaving investment banking.
I usually wake up between 6:30 and 7:00, but today I didn't hear the alarm until it went off for the third time, and it was already 7:30 when I woke up.
I guess I got a little too excited yesterday.
Once awake, Chen Ning will no longer stay in bed.
Although she was a little tired, when she sat up, drew back the curtains, and saw the summer sun shining on the whole city, it was as if the sun gave her energy, and her spirit seemed to be replenished.
Speaking of which, Zhang Xinjie said she could take a day off today, and apart from a few non-urgent tasks, there wasn't much else to do.
Chen Ning leaned against the bed, tilting her head to look out the window.
The streets were already bustling with activity, traffic was congested, some people were chasing after buses with bags on their backs, and others were walking briskly with umbrellas in hand.
She didn't live in her family villa, but rented a house near Tyranny.
Although the location is good, the building is low-rise and faces the street, and the building is relatively old, so the rent is not high, at 2,900 yuan per month.
2,900 yuan is nothing to Shen Ning, the daughter of the chairman of a listed company, but it is a huge expense for Shen Ning, an ordinary office worker, especially since she is still on probation and it is almost half of her salary.
This is the real life of an ordinary person.
She was lucky to have such humane leaders as Zhang Xinjie and Han Wenqing, who did not encourage overtime and protected the rights of employees.
But she knew that she was just one of the very few lucky ones.
She thought of yesterday's thrilling match.
Even with her eyes closed, Shen Ning could clearly picture Yi Qiang Chuan Yun's final, solitary figure.
At that moment, she finally felt like she had grasped something.
Zhang Xinjie also told her that her feeling was correct.
At times like these, a little warmth within her constantly encouraged her—don't stop, keep moving forward.
So Chen Ning lifted the sheet, got out of bed to wash up, and in a hurry, only did her eyebrows and applied lipstick. She was still dressed in her usual white short-sleeved shirt and black wide-leg pants. She rushed out, scanned a shared bicycle, and took a 10-minute ride to clock in at 8 o'clock.
Although Qingdao's temperature doesn't reach above 35℃ like other northern cities, the sticky heat of the rainy coastal area is still uncomfortable.
The section of the bike ride wasn't a tree-lined road, and by the time I got to work, I was already sweating slightly.
I rushed upstairs in the elevator and saw Han Wenqing already in his office working on documents.
Well, both of them were working overtime and staying up late to watch the game, but the captain's self-discipline and sense of responsibility far surpassed hers.
Shen Ning felt both encouraged and a little frustrated, but this did not hinder her cheerful mood as she greeted Han Wenqing with a smile.
Good morning, Captain Han.
Han Wenqing was also taken aback: "Didn't we give you a day off?"
"I guess I was infected by everyone's spirits. I felt pretty good today and didn't get through it without feeling too tired."
It's not just infection, it's assimilation, isn't it?
Han Wenqing still couldn't understand why this usually elegant and composed person had acted like a madman in the group chat yesterday.
Zhang Xinjie also sent him a message that night, saying that he could gradually hand over some of the more difficult tasks in the team to her, such as analyzing the situation of other teams, or even business negotiations.
Han Wenqing agrees with this, noting that Shen Ning has been making progress in the less than one month they've spent together.
Not only in terms of work efficiency or results, but also in terms of broadening horizons, and now in terms of mindset.
However, this speed and intensity are also a burden for her.
Han Wenqing's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Have you eaten?"
She paused for a moment, then said, "There's oatmeal in the drawer. I'll make some in a bit."
Han Wenqing's tone was quite disapproving: "What's wrong with not eating breakfast after staying up all night?"
Shen Ning was slightly taken aback and smiled, "I just woke up a little late today and didn't have time to eat. I'll just have something to eat for now and eat more at noon."
What kind of weird habit is this?
Can you make up for skipping breakfast by eating lunch?
Han Wenqing was somewhat displeased, and his usual lecturing style kicked in again: "Go to the cafeteria to eat now, and come back up after you're done."
It's not good for her to slack off during work hours so openly, especially since she's still on probation.
After a moment of hesitation, Shen Ning tried to persuade Han Wenqing: "Captain, I'm not actually that hungry. It's past 8 o'clock, so the cafeteria will probably be closing soon, right?"
"The cafeteria serves breakfast until 9 a.m., so you have plenty of time to eat."
"or……"
"Don't make me say it a third time."
"...Okay, thank you, Captain. I'll be right back."
Knowing he didn't have the courage to continue arguing with the straightforward captain about breakfast, Chen Ning simply accepted the leader's kind offer.
As she grabbed her work card and phone and prepared to go downstairs, Han Wenqing called out to her again: "I need your help this afternoon."
Well, so it turns out they were just trying to give their subordinates more work, so they were trying to appease them beforehand.
Captain, are you also someone who's good at using tricks?
I can't tell.
He silently grumbled to himself, but remained outwardly serious: "Okay, what kind of work is it?"
“It’s not work. Xu Xinnuan will be coming over this afternoon. I’ll probably be in a meeting then, so just bring her up for me later.”
oh?
Oh dear.
It turns out they were cooking for private individuals.
She maintained her usual dignified and proper smile, but the fire of gossip in her heart was already burning faintly, filled with excitement and a little thrill.
In this industry, no one is not curious about the love lives of the star team members, especially since this person is her strict boss.
When the news broke, it was all over the trending topics, and people were digging up dirt on the girl. They couldn't find a single bad thing about her. At most, they said that girls are born unable to speak. The rest of the story was all about her cute, kind, and lovable angelic little stories.
His father was worried that negative public opinion might affect the company's image, but instead it attracted a lot of envy and blessings.
She was so curious about this amazing little girl. She had heard that she had been here once or twice before, and everyone else in the team had seen her, but she was the only one who arrived late and missed it.
I never expected to have the chance to spend time alone with him this time.
Chen Ning tried hard to control his voice, and his reply sounded like the usual formulaic response he gave at work: "Don't worry, Captain, just let me know when the time comes."
Oh my, it's so good that we didn't take a single day off.
As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and hard work pays off.
As she gets the hang of her job, and with the summer workload being relatively lighter, Chen Ning can now easily handle all kinds of basic tasks and has figured out how to coordinate with various departments.
In just one morning, the remaining miscellaneous tasks from yesterday were basically completed.
There were no extra important matters to be explained as yesterday, so Han Wenqing naturally didn't invite Shen Ning to dinner again. After all, they weren't that familiar with each other, so there wasn't much to talk about.
Shen Ning had absolutely no intention of having dinner with the team leader. Since the work was going so smoothly, she went down to the cafeteria to get takeout and sat in front of her computer to watch an online finance-related course.
After finishing eating, I put the chair back, half-reclined, covered myself with a small blanket, and took a nap.
He has finally recovered most of his mental state.
Han Wenqing spent most of the afternoon in meetings. After all, it was the company's semi-annual management meeting, with all senior executives in attendance and middle managers from all departments required to report on their progress. It was going to take a while to finish.
The entire floor was filled with one person, as if it were Chinese New Year. Apart from occasionally helping to collect documents from other departments that needed the team leader's signature, she spent the whole afternoon studying the materials on the USB drive left by Zhang Xinjie.
Every time I watch it, I can't help but admire how capable she is as a leader.
He's just an esports player, not a company founder like Captain Han who has to take on executive responsibilities. Even if he holds the position of vice captain, it should be a team matter.
At least she had never heard of any deputy team leader being responsible for helping the planning department revise event plans.
But Zhang Xinjie did it all, and did it very well.
What's most frightening is their extreme self-discipline and efficiency in time management, as well as their rigorous and calm emotional control.
Rather than saying that management positions like Wu Meng or Han Wenqing are Chen Ning's targets, it would be more accurate to say that perfect individuals like Zhang Xinjie are Chen Ning's targets.
Just like the logically organized folders on this USB drive, there are team-related basic tasks, tournament-related tasks, league team information, training-related tasks, online game department-related tasks, training camp-related tasks, publicity and promotion tasks, event-related tasks...
Each folder is a mountain and a treasure trove to her.
She must overcome obstacles, and she must also learn from them.
An afternoon passed quickly amidst the vast amount of study materials.
Around 4 p.m., she finally received a message from Han Wenqing.
Han Wenqing: Xu Xinnuan has arrived at the reception room. Thank you for helping me come up. I told her...
Shen Ning revealed a mysterious smile, took her work card, and went downstairs.
All the way, she imagined what kind of person Xu Xinnuan was. She heard that she looked young, that she was very gentle, that she was very sweet, and that she was very healing.
Only after experiencing it did I realize that what I had heard was...
That makes perfect sense.
Inside the gatehouse, a girl with a piano case and canvas bag on her back, her hair tied in a ponytail, and wearing a light green floral dress sat quietly.
Her gaze was a mixture of expectation and hesitation, a conflicted look of wanting to acknowledge him but not daring to.
It wasn't until Shen Ning jogged into the guard room and said to her, "Are you Xu Xinnuan? I'm Shen Ning. The captain sent me to pick you up," that the girl's eyes lit up, she nodded, smiled sweetly, and stood up to walk towards her.
Hmm, at that moment, Chen Ning felt like she was walking from the scorching sun into the shade of a tree, a warm yet refreshing pleasure.
Xu Xinnuan followed Shen Ning into the building. Many people around her knew her, and there were always people staring at her as she came and went.
Although this was her third time here, she hadn't stayed long before. It was still an unfamiliar environment for her, and she was surrounded by unfamiliar people, which made her feel a little awkward.
While waiting for the elevator, Shen Ning noticed that she was tightly gripping the strap of her canvas bag, and started chatting with her with a smile.
"Is it hot outside?"
Xu Xin Nuan was a little surprised, her fingers tightened again, and she nodded to her.
"Shall we go upstairs for ice cream later?"
Xu Xinnuan quickly waved her hand.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Shen Ning asked.
Xu Xin Nuan paused for a moment, then shook her head.
Well, it's not because you can't eat cold food, it's just that you're embarrassed to eat it.
Shen Ning smiled and encouraged her, "Then have one. Iced drinks are a company perk that everyone gets, and there's no limit. Before the holiday, some of the guys were eating three or four a day."
Xu Xin Nuan hesitated for a moment, then took out her phone and started typing.
[That's not a good idea; it's an employee benefit.]
She's a very careful and cautious girl who's afraid of causing trouble for others.
Shen Ning moved closer to her, and seeing that no one was waiting for the elevator with her, she whispered in her ear, "Then just consider it as eating my portion, since I can't eat these next few days anyway."
After saying that, Chen Ning put his hand on his stomach, his eyes looking somewhat cunning.
Xu Xin Nuan immediately understood and became nervous. She hurriedly typed: [Then don't catch a cold, the air conditioning is quite cold when you come in.]
This adorable reaction pleased Shen Ning greatly: "Okay, thank you."
Sometimes the relationship between girls is strange; they can become close by sharing a small secret or offering a small act of help.
Shen Ning took Xu Xin Nuan to get ice cream, and at Xu Xin Nuan's suggestion, they went to the captain's office to check if the small plant named "Xiao Yu" was growing healthily.
There were only the two of them on the entire floor. Shen Ning thought it wouldn't be right to leave Xu Xin Nuan alone in the lounge or the captain's office, so she sat down in her office and the two of them sat down together and started chatting.
[I might type a little slowly.]
“No rush, and there’s no hurry to talk.” Shen Ning didn’t feel any inconvenience in communicating and chatted naturally. “I heard you looked young before, and it’s true now that I’ve met you. We’re actually about the same age, but looking at you, I look much older than you.”
Xu Xinnuan typed, scratching her head: [I also hope to be as mature and elegant as you!]
Chen Ning's smile deepened: "You have a talent that many people can't obtain even after undergoing countless cosmetic procedures. For example, floral dresses suit you perfectly, but I can't wear them."
[That's impossible, someone as pretty as you doesn't have to be picky about clothes.]
Wow, such a nice compliment!
Shen Ning knew she was quite pretty; many boys had mentioned it, both openly and secretly.
However, compliments from cute girls are much more pleasant to hear than those from men.
"It's not that it looks bad, it just doesn't match. It doesn't give me that youthful vibe. I usually wear solid color suits more often."
Xu Xinnuan looked at her, and her white and black outfit, which had a sporty and casual style, made her look very energetic.
[I thought that formal jobs like assistants required formal attire every day, that's how it's portrayed in TV dramas.]
“Yeah, that’s true, but Tyranny is an exception.” Shen Ning recalled her formal shirt and skirt on her first day, seemingly quite nostalgic. “I dressed very formally on my first day of work, like in a TV drama, but the team was all wearing black and red sports uniforms, which made me look particularly… out of place.”
Xu Xinnuan blinked incredulously.
"Although they didn't mention anything about clothing, I changed to this style the next day, otherwise it felt too awkward."
[A sporty style is comfortable, but unfortunately we don't allow that kind of casual look; it's not really suitable for meetings or music therapy sessions.]
Shen Ning stood up abruptly: "Let me teach you a trick, watch carefully."
As she spoke, she took a black blazer from the rack next to her and put it over her white short-sleeved shirt.
Wearing this outfit completely overshadows the casual style of the white T-shirt, while the narrow black wide-leg pants are in the same color family as the suit, making the outfit look like a formal suit. The key is that it doesn't look out of place or eye-catching.
Xu Xinnuan's eyes lit up.
"A suit jacket is a versatile treasure. Whenever I need to have a meeting with another department, I just put it on and I'm all set."
After thinking about Xu Xin Nuan's warm and light-colored clothing style, Shen Ning continued to suggest: "You can wear a light-colored jacket, such as white or beige, so you can wear shorts, jeans, skirts or anything else underneath."
Xu Xinnuan immediately gave a thumbs up.
[This is amazing! I never thought sportswear and suits could be paired together!]
"It's just a shortcut, perfect for comfort and laziness."
Are there any rules regarding the style of this type of suit jacket? Or can any style be used?
Shen Ning looked Xu Xin Nuan up and down: "Hmm... for you, you don't need to buy anything too fitted, a short style, mid-length, around the upper thigh, so you can wear it with skirts or pants underneath. As for the design... you can find something unique with the buttons or cuffs, something not too rigid."
As she spoke, Chen Ning took off her coat and handed it to Xu Xin Nuan: "Try it on."
Xu Xin Nuan hesitated for a moment.
Although Shen Ning was dressed quite casually, when she came in, she noticed that the bag next to her was a Gi brand, a style she had never seen before, and it must be very expensive.
Moreover, according to Han Wenqing, Shen Ning was recommended by their manager, so they must all be from the same circle and be relatively wealthy people.
This coat is probably super expensive too.
Seeing Xu Xinnuan's hesitation, Shen Ning smiled and said, "I just brought this over yesterday, it's still quite clean, don't worry."
Huh? That's not what she meant.
Xu Xinnuan waved her hand, suddenly caught in a complicated dilemma regarding the progress of the project.
Shen Ning didn't feel embarrassed at all. She still smiled and was very generous and proper: "Don't mind, I'm just looking for a style to refer to when I buy something in the future."
As she spoke, Shen Ning handed her coat to Xu Xin Nuan and then took her phone and stood on the other side to take a picture.
The clothes have already been delivered to my hands; it would be too impolite to push them away now.
Xu Xinnuan carefully unfolded her coat, pretending to glance at the tag casually.
Surprisingly, it's from the affordable and budget-friendly U brand.
It's not what I imagined.
It seemed as if their bodies relaxed a lot in an instant. After putting it on, they took several photos from different angles and then huddled together to study them.
"Look, except for black which doesn't suit you very well, the others go quite well. You should buy a size S, since I have a broad frame and a size M would be a bit too big for you. U is cheaper, but it would look a little too formal on you. You could look for other brands with button designs that are similar in style."
Xu Xinnuan nodded twice.
When Xu Xin Nuan heard Shen Ning casually mention that it was cheap, she felt a little ashamed. She had been so concerned about the price and afraid of showing her ignorance, but Shen Ning was so generous and didn't seem to have any other intentions.
Thinking this way, she felt more at ease: [I thought it was especially expensive and I was worried it would wear out.]
A deep, thoughtful smile.
She's such a pure and kind girl.
"Why did you associate my outfit with something expensive?"
Xu Xinnuan pointed to the bag.
Looking over there, Shen Ning suddenly realized: "Oh, that's just for show, to scare people. Besides, I can't afford it with my current salary."
After all, with a monthly salary of only a few thousand yuan, it would really hurt to not use one's previous savings.
"Is Captain Han here?"
As the two were talking, a female voice came from the doorway. Turning around, they saw two girls standing at the door, each holding a document. One of them looked like someone they had seen in the finance department.
"Team Leader Han is in a meeting and might be a while. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"We are from the legal and finance departments. We have a few questions about the equipment procurement contract that the team brought over the day before yesterday, and we would like to confirm them regarding the bidding and price comparison, as well as the two clauses concerning payment and breach of contract."
Shen Ning immediately took out her notebook: "Then I'll write this down first, and when the captain comes back I'll pass it on to him and then give you a reply. Is that alright?"
"good."
Seeing that Shen Ning had work to do, Xu Xin Nuan took off her coat and gently draped it over the back of the chair. She then gestured towards the restroom before leaving.
The restroom was on the other side of the circular floor. After Xu Xinnuan finished using it, she went to the lounge to get a bottle of water and stayed there for a while before going around to her office from the other side of the direction she had come from.
This direction leads directly to the elevator lobby. Just as she reached the corner, Xu Xin Nuan heard the names "Chen Ning" and "Captain Han" and subconsciously stopped in her tracks.
The voice wasn't loud, and it was far from Chen Ning's office. The team members were all on vacation, so the person speaking didn't seem worried about being heard at all.
"Was that Captain Han's girlfriend just now?"
"Yes, he even came to my workplace a month ago when the news broke. I saw him."
"How did she and Shen Ning start talking? Isn't it said that someone from higher up used connections to get her in?"
"I don't know, but she's really good at getting things done. She gave everyone in our department a box of chocolates as soon as she arrived."
Why don't we have any?
"Zhang Jiale offended one of our colleagues back then, and it even escalated to Captain Han's level. I guess he's trying to be a good guy and build relationships."
"Quite experienced... I think she and Captain Han have a good relationship. They were the only two still on vacation, and they even had lunch together yesterday."
"Yes, you haven't seen how now all the jobs go through her first, and then to Captain Han."
"I remember we had two assistants transferred in before, but they were both scared away by Captain Han. Shen Ning is quite capable."
"She's pretty and knows how to get things done; she must be quite popular with the boss."
"You think there's any gossip involved? When two women meet, doesn't it look like a storyline about a wife and her secretary?"
"Alright, stop guessing. Putting everything else aside, he does have a really good job, and things have been pretty easy for the finance department lately."
"Everyone in the company knows that Shen Ning got in through connections. Even Captain Han's temper was tolerated. It's obvious that she has a powerful backer. Oh, and there's also the rumor that President Wu sent her to the team as an informant."
"Stop, this has nothing to do with us."
Xu Xinnuan leaned against the corner wall of the elevator and listened to the whole conversation, which was full of suspicion and curiosity, between Han Wenqing, Shen Ning, and herself.
I suddenly felt a dull ache in my heart.
Even after the two people left, Xu Xinnuan remained motionless, unsure of where to go.
Should I go back to the office and continue chatting with Shen Ning?
Is someone going to stay in the lounge alone?
Everything seems a bit strange.
As if God had seen her predicament, the elevator opened less than two minutes later, and a person stepped out. She recognized the footsteps; it was Han Wenqing.
Xu Xin Nuan then walked out.
Han Wenqing was a little surprised that she came from the other side: "Why are you waiting here?"
Xu Xinnuan waved the water in her hand at him.
So they went to the lounge.
Han Wenqing quickly changed the subject: "The seats are booked. I'll pack my things and then we'll leave."
Xu Xin Nuan showed no other expression, but thinking of the two people from earlier, she gestured to Han Wen Qing and said, "[Two people just came to see you about something. Chen Ning, please write them down.]"
Han Wenqing, who can now understand simple sign language, nodded and said, "Then wait for me for a moment."
The two walked back to the office together. Shen Ning looked up and saw the captain return. After greeting him, she handed him the contract she had just received.
After briefly explaining the situation and outlining the adjustments to Shen Ning, Han Wenqing quickly finished the meeting.
"Then I'll make the changes, and you can go through the approval process on your phone in a bit."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your help too, Xin Nuan."
There's nothing troublesome about chatting with cute girls.
Chen Ning smiled and replied, "It's no trouble at all. We had a very pleasant chat."
After speaking, he looked at Xu Xinnuan, who showed no unusual emotion and nodded with a smile.
Han Wenqing naturally supported Xu Xinnuan making more friends. After checking the time and confirming that the work was finished, he said, "Then we'll be going now. You should also go home early. You stayed up late yesterday, so get some rest today."
"Okay, thank you, Captain." Shen Ning then looked at Xu Xin Nuan, "Bye-bye, come again when you have the chance."
Xu Xinnuan nodded, waved goodbye, picked up her things, and walked out with Han Wenqing.
She had only taken a few steps when Xu Xin Nuan suddenly stopped, rummaged through her canvas bag, took something out and put it in her palm, then turned to look for Chen Ning.
Han Wenqing stood there watching, completely bewildered.
Shen Ning was also surprised, and immediately stood up after sitting down: "Did you leave something behind?"
Xu Xinnuan shook her head, reached out and took Chen Ning's hand, placing the thing in her palm.
Two White Rabbit milk candies.
Shen Ning was stunned: "For me?"
Xu Xinnuan nodded, beaming with a bright smile.
"Thanks."
She watched Xu Xinnuan jog back to Han Wenqing's side, and watched the two of them naturally hold hands and walk away.
Even with her back turned, you could feel the happiness emanating from her.
Just like these two candies in my hand.
Shen Ning had no idea why Xu Xin Nuan suddenly returned, or why she would specifically give her the candy.
But she could vaguely sense the warmth emanating from Xu Xinnuan's smile at that time.
Just like her name and candy.
It's warm and sweet.
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