Scenes that only appear in countless novels, TV dramas, or movies started playing in Ju Li’s mind.
Cliché, thrilling, shocking…
And yet, strangely exciting.
In the many mental rehearsals of “how to reject him,” one particular thought kept flashing through her mind:
Boss Zhong, filthy rich! What kind of beauties hasn’t he seen?
And yet, he wanted to take advantage of her!
Could it be that she wasn’t ordinary at all? That, instead, she possessed some unique charm capable of ensnaring a billionaire boss, and she just hadn’t realized it for over twenty years?
Summoning all her rationality, she suppressed this unrealistic and absurdly self-satisfied thought. But another voice surfaced in her mind:
A two-minute “quick shooter”, even if he did force himself on her, it wouldn’t be too unbearable. After all, just one blink and it’d be over.
Besides, Boss Zhong is undeniably good-looking…
No, no, no!
Oh, God, what was she thinking?!
Had she completely forgotten about the core values of socialism?
What about morality? Dignity? The heroic spirit of “wealth cannot corrupt me”?
Ju Li stood frozen in place, her gaze blank, while an intense ideological battle raged inside her mind.
Meanwhile, Zhong Liyan spoke again in a calm tone, “How do you prepare that noodle and tomato dish?”
“Huh?” Ju Li didn’t immediately grasp what he meant.
“There’s no pot in the hotel. Why did you bring dried noodles?” Zhong Liyan frowned and repeated his question.
“…” She blinked in confusion, dazed for a moment before responding, “Oh, there’s a hot water kettle.”
“Then go cook the noodles.” With that, he retracted his gaze and continued working.
Ju Li stood there, slowly processing his words. Wait… is he saying I should eat something first… to replenish my energy before the “unspoken rules” happen?
Six seconds later, he raised an eyebrow and gave her a pointed look, as if to say, Why are you still standing here?
She quickly turned around to cook the noodles.
Even while slicing the tomatoes, she was still plagued by endless doubts.
A few minutes later, she used the large beer mug provided in the hotel room to serve the tomato and Lao Gan Ma spicy noodle soup, then placed it in front of him.
For some reason, she felt like one of those foolish people who not only get sold but also help count the money for their buyer.
“You’re not eating?” Zhong Liyan looked up.
She shook her head, her expression innocent.
“Tonight’s going to be busy. You should eat something to replenish your energy.” He lifted a portion of the noodles with his chopsticks, elegantly took a bite, and slowly chewed. He was surprised, his little secretary, even in a hotel room, had managed to make noodles that tasted quite good.
It wasn’t gourmet cuisine, but it was unexpectedly decent.
“Huh?” Ju Li raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“If you’re not eating, then get to work. Go through all these emails, summarize the key points, and report back to me.”
As he spoke, he turned his laptop toward her. The screen displayed his inbox, and next to “unread emails,” a bright red number stood out:
34!
“…” Ju Li stared at that number for several seconds before finally reacting.
Her face flushed instantly. Before he could see her expression, she turned around, pretending to find a chair, and secretly made a crying face with her back to him.
Oh, God… what had she just been thinking…
Late at night, the lights outside dimmed, while the stars began to twinkle.
Zhong Liyan stood up, rolling his neck to relieve the tension. He wanted to stretch but, remembering that someone else was in the room, he held back.
However, when he turned around, he saw his secretary, who had been helping him go through emails, now fast asleep at the desk.
This woman seemed to have no sense of ladylike etiquette, she could even sleep in such a position.
Her long hair was casually tied into a ponytail, now drooping messily, with strands splayed across the desk like countless relaxed black threads.
Recalling her every movement, he realized that while she tried to maintain the aura of a professional woman, her natural, unrestrained demeanor always shone through.
One could call it careless about appearances, or call it carefree.
Perhaps that was the privilege of youth, life had just begun, and in these unpolished years, everything one did felt right, carried the scent of youth.
At her age, he had already begun his exhausting hustle.
The air conditioning in the room emitted a faint hum. He found a clean bathrobe and draped it over her shoulders.
Turning away, he finally stretched without restraint, the stern aura around him dissipating significantly, leaving behind a sense of relaxed leisure.
He walked across the living area and into the bedroom.
A few minutes later, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.
……
The air carried a fresh, damp scent, reminiscent of childhood summers by the riverbank after the rain. A light breeze stirred, blending the fragrance of flowers and grass with the moisture-soaked air, brushing against her cheeks as she ran.
She opened her eyes and felt momentarily disoriented, taking a while to realize where she was.
A soft covering lay over her back, its weight and warmth bringing a sense of security.
In her line of sight, Zhong Liyan was sitting at his desk, reviewing something on his computer.
His body sank into the chair, his left arm propped on the desk, fingers loosely curled near his nose, obscuring most of his face.
Only his thick, sword-like brows, which were slightly furrowed, and his sharp, falcon-like eyes were visible, making him seem even more unapproachable.
Ju Li secretly watched him for a long time, seeing his gaze sometimes burn like a torch as he knitted his brows together; sometimes, he closed his eyes in exhaustion, pinching the bridge of his nose; other times, he would lower his gaze in deep thought, remaining completely still, like a sharply chiseled sculpture.
She closed her eyes again, mentally sketching the image of a chivalrous swordsman, gripping a long sword, exuding righteousness, cutting through evil effortlessly.
Then, she carefully carved Zhong Liyan’s features onto the swordsman’s face.
A warrior who rarely smiled, with a strong temper and an imposing presence, wiping out all evil with ease.
She rubbed her face against her arm, the corners of her lips curving up slightly before she took a deep breath to suppress her smile.
Sitting up quietly, she inhaled deeply, expanded her chest, and grabbed the robe that had been covering her.
Zhong Liyan glanced up at her before finishing his review of the document. Only then did he let out a long breath and check the time.
It was already 3 am. He had been about to tell her to go back to sleep, but before he could, she spoke first.
“Boss, can I ask you a question?”
“…” Zhong Liyan gave her a sidelong glance, staring at her so intently that Ju Li almost gave up on asking. Then, finally, he said, “Go ahead.”
It was the first time she had heard him say “Go ahead” instead of just a grunt or a nod.
A proper and polite response, his voice was so pleasant.
She hesitated for a few seconds before cautiously asking, “Boss, since you didn’t want to sleep with the girl that Jim from Fat Goose Entertainment sent you, why did you still let her into your room?”
Ju Li wasn’t entirely sure whether Zhong Liyan really didn’t want to sleep with that girl. But she phrased the question as if she already knew he didn’t, trying to bait him into confirming her assumption.
At the same time, it was a way to adjust the tone of their conversation, making him feel like she understood him, that she was smart enough to see through his actions.
Of course, this tactic would only work if she had guessed correctly.
If, by any chance, Zhong Liyan was just quick in that aspect and had already finished with the girl in two minutes…
At least, he could still go along with her words and pretend nothing had happened, since she had asked, “Since you didn’t want to sleep with her…”
Before asking, she had considered all possible outcomes.
The worst-case scenario? She was wrong, and he would just make up an excuse to brush her off, at most, he might find her nosy and overstepping.
After all, a secretary is closely involved in both the professional and personal life of a president. Knowing some of his secrets wasn’t unusual.
They were still in the process of building trust anyway, so he might just take the opportunity to warn her about boundaries.
It was precisely because she had thought through everything carefully that she dared to ask.
Zhong Liyan never expected his little secretary to ask such a question.
It was a bit over the line, a little awkward.
But… she wasn’t asking whether Jim had sent a girl to him or accusing him of being a sleazy boss who took advantage of women.
Instead, she was asking why he had pretended to accept the gift if he wasn’t interested.
His lips twitched slightly, suddenly, he was intrigued.
“How do you know I didn’t want to sleep with her? As I recall… that little starlet is quite pretty, and she has a great figure.”
And how do you know that I didn’t already sleep with her?
Ju Li couldn’t help but smile at his words.
He wasn’t upset about her overstepping, nor did he find her question too bold for their level of acquaintance.
And… the way he phrased his response already answered her question, she had guessed correctly!
He really hadn’t wanted to sleep with that girl.
“I was just guessing,” she said with a sly smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Zhong Liyan opened his mouth as if to speak but then closed it again. A moment later, he found himself smirking too.
A silent exchange of smiles between two sharp minds.
Ju Li had never seen him smile so naturally and sincerely before. Even though it was just a faint curve of his lips, he looked effortlessly charismatic.
Compared to this, the polite smiles he wore while socializing with clients seemed forced and insincere.
She was momentarily dazed, then quickly lowered her head with a shy smile, avoiding his gaze.
She needed to stick to her own rules!
What was it again?
Don’t look at his face! Don’t get close to him! No physical contact!
Avoid him like a deadly plague, he’s as dangerous as a femme fatale!
“Our company has various collaborations with different platforms. The fact that he sent you a woman means he wasn’t entirely sure about the stability of your business relationship. If you accepted his gift, it would send a signal, you acknowledge his goodwill and are willing to let him hold a small leverage over you. It’s an unspoken rule among many business partners.” Zhong Liyan’s voice was rich and steady as he explained patiently, as if teaching a child.
Ju Li looked up. Just a moment ago, she had been embarrassed for being momentarily distracted by his looks, but now, she was completely drawn in by his words.
“But… isn’t that unfair to the girl?” She frowned. “Businessmen gaining each other’s trust by sacrificing young women, that’s just too unethical.”
“For that girl, being allowed into my room is already a sign of my approval. After returning to the company, she would receive more resources than others because her boss would see her as a bridge for communication with me. The next time Jim comes to see me for work, he will definitely bring that girl again. He might even have her bring up some conditions that he finds difficult to ask for himself.” Zhong Liyan gazed at her calmly and said,
“Other girls would fight for such benefits but still wouldn’t get them. She not only won’t feel like she’s making a sacrifice, but she’ll also think she’s getting a huge advantage. This isn’t because I didn’t actually sleep with her, even if I had, she wouldn’t see any problem with it. You’re still new to this circle. For many young people, their bodies are simply part of what they have to offer in their work. I don’t agree with it, nor do I encourage it, but… just as the jungle follows the law of the survival of the fittest, the rules here are the same.”
“……” Ju Li remained silent for a while before nodding. She suddenly felt that she still had a lot to learn.
These big shots played such a complicated game. She had originally thought the boss was just being polite, but she hadn’t expected so many layers to this.
She had always heard that the entertainment industry was deep waters, and now she finally understood. Using her personal values and experiences to judge the people in this circle was completely naïve.
“Any other questions?” he asked.
She actually wanted to ask why he hadn’t just slept with the girl, after all, isn’t there a Chinese saying, ‘Since you’re already here, might as well’?
But she quickly realized that the question was too personal and held back.
So she shook her head. “No, nothing.”
“In the future, don’t peek through the peephole. The person outside can detect the light from it and know that you’re watching,” Zhong Liyan said coolly.
Ju Li’s face turned red. Being caught in such a sneaky act made her feel thoroughly embarrassed.
The worst part was that she had exposed herself.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, she quickly changed the subject.
“Boss, I’ve finished reading all 34 emails. Let me report to you.”
“You’ve sorted them all?” He raised an eyebrow. If she had finished reading them before sleeping, she really was quite fast.
Ju Li nodded, grabbed his laptop, opened the temporary text file she had saved, and connected to the room’s printer.
Zhong Liyan watched her moving around busily, not even noticing that her ponytail had loosened.
Then, Ju Li started going through the emails one by one, summarizing their main content and attached files.
Each interpretation included her own analysis.
Zhong Liyan closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, listening to her report.
For the simpler emails, he dictated responses while she typed.
For the more complex ones, she marked them for his review later.
As time passed, Zhong Liyan gradually felt a sense of comfort amidst the fatigue of work.
Over the years, he had worked with many secretaries, some with far superior professional skills to Ju Li. But in terms of learning ability, potential, and intelligence, none of them compared to her.
Back in Beijing, he had a secretary who worked with him for four years. But when the headquarters moved to Jianghai City, she stayed behind because her family was in Beijing.
She had been a highly compatible assistant, yet he still found her work too rigid and lacking independent thought and decision-making.
She could handle a lot of miscellaneous tasks and served him well, but she was never truly an “assistant.”
While he disliked recklessness and overstepping authority, excessive caution could also make someone unsuitable for the job.
Ju Li, however, was different. Though she was still just an assistant, not yet a proper secretary, she was already actively and boldly taking on work for him, and achieving results beyond his expectations.
That was truly remarkable.
A freshly graduated temp worker who didn’t even fully understand his schedule yet, let alone help manage his work and time, was already solving problems independently and exceeding expectations.
That was something worth admiration.
He had never placed any expectations on her, yet she had already written an excellent PR statement and solved the most difficult client issue.
After the attempted suicide of the lead actress in Warm Summer Sweet Tea, she immediately identified the key issue, whether a new actress could seamlessly take over, and carefully selected a suitable candidate for him.
Every problem she solved showcased her outstanding logical thinking and execution skills. That was intelligence.
It was hard to believe that these high praises were being used to describe a girl who had just stepped out of university.
Zhong Liyan opened his eyes and looked at the little secretary focused on her report.
For the first time, he truly saw her.
Yes, this was the fastest he had ever given a “newcomer in his field of vision” his acknowledgment.
……
The first ray of morning light pierced the horizon, casting delicate golden threads over the earth. A vast expanse of white mist tore open the deep blue curtain left behind by the night.
Dawn had arrived.
Sunlight filtered through the glass, gently caressing two figures, one firm, one soft, tracing their warm silhouettes.
The glow inside the room blended with the misty light outside, softening the originally distinct contours of the two people.
Zhong Liyan stood up, walked toward the sunlight, flung open the window, and took a deep breath of the lingering night chill.
Ju Li tidied up the desk, stacking the forms, documents, and PPTs that Zhong had already read through. She double-checked that he had processed all 34 emails and completed all 43 approval procedures.
Only then did she slump her shoulders and exhale deeply.
Goodness!
Exhausted.
She felt as if she were floating on clouds, her ears, eyes, and hands so drained they barely obeyed her commands.
Turning her head, she saw Boss Zhong standing tall in the morning light, his eyes sharp and full of energy.
He had worked through the night without rest, not even taking a moment to nap at his desk, and had endured hours of intense mental labor.
Yet he seemed even more refreshed than she was.
Suddenly, he turned and caught sight of Ju Li’s drained, lethargic expression. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, unintentionally revealing a hint of disdain.
“…” Ju Li inhaled sharply. What kind of look was that?
Ughhh!
If she had known she’d be dragged into this all-nighter, she would have kept the energy-boosting milk tablets for herself!
Now she was in worse shape than her boss, a middle-aged man, and was completely underestimated because of it!
The only reason he was still so full of energy after working non-stop and skipping sleep was because of the miraculous milk tablets she had given him!
Did he think it was because he was naturally strong and resilient?
He was already in his thirties!
Did he have no self-awareness?
So frustrating!
Early in the morning, Ju Li called Chen Haoyu.
The celebrity had a shoot that morning and was already up. His voice was clear and full of energy, it seemed he had been doing well these past couple of days.
“What made you think of checking in on me? I thought that once you left the set, my little swallow had flown away, never to return,” Chen Haoyu teased, half-serious.
He genuinely worried that Ju Li only interacted with him for work. Every heart that sincerely treasures a friendship longs for the same sincerity in return.
“Of course not. I still need to rely on my big backer,” Ju Li chuckled, abandoning the polite words she had originally planned.
“Alright, what do you need?” Chen Haoyu asked readily.
“There’s someone in your crew named Qiu Xianyue. Do you know her?” Ju Li asked.
“No idea,” Chen Haoyu answered without hesitation. The name was too minor, he had never even heard of it.
“Can you do me a favor? Help me get in touch with her and have her call me immediately,” Ju Li said.
“No problem, I’ll take care of it now,” Chen Haoyu agreed without hesitation.
“Thank you.” Ju Li’s voice softened, dropping the teasing tone and becoming sincerely appreciative.
Chen Haoyu liked hearing her speak like that, soft and genuine.
It reminded him of the night he had collapsed into her arms, crying, and how she had spoken to him then with the same gentle warmth.
Their friendship was real. He confirmed it once again.
Satisfied, he laughed. “Alright, I’ll get it done.”
Less than thirty minutes after the call ended, Chen Haoyu rang her back.
“Good thing you called early! Qiu Xianyue was just a tiny extra in the crew, she wrapped up filming last night and was about to catch a high-speed train this morning. She’s right here with me. I’ll hand her the phone now.”
After his bright and cheery chatter, Ju Li faintly heard him switching to a cooler, more distant tone:
“The person on the phone is Zhong’s chief secretary, Ju Li. Speak to her.”
It was obviously directed at Qiu Xianyue.
Ju Li couldn’t help but smile. Just moments ago, he had been casually joking with her, and now he was putting on airs in front of Qiu Xianyue, his ability to switch personas so openly was almost comical.
And… what ‘chief secretary’? That made her sound way more important than she actually was.
If only he knew that the [Little Secretary System] still labeled her as a “poor, low-level office worker”!
“Hello, Ju Li… teacher?” A clear, slightly hesitant female voice came from the other end of the line.
“No need for that, just call me Ju Li,” she said with a smile. She was no ‘teacher’ of anything.
Keeping it brief, she quickly informed Qiu Xianyue to take a cab to Hengdian immediately for a 10 am audition for the lead role in Warm Summer Sweet Tea.
Producers would be present, along with the head of Zhanyun Group himself, Zhong Liyan.
Qiu Xianyue was stunned. If it weren’t for the fact that the person standing next to her was none other than the renowned celebrity Chen Haoyu, she might have thought Ju Li was a scammer.
Chen Haoyu ignored her shock. He grabbed the phone back and chatted briefly with Ju Li again before hanging up.
Turning to see Qiu Xianyue still frozen in place, he decisively said,
“I’m taking the crew’s transport today. My nanny van is yours, get to Hengdian and do your best at the audition.”
Then, without hesitation, he picked up his phone and called his agent.
Qiu Xianyue turned to glance at Chen Haoyu, then recalled the soft yet efficient voice of Ju Li on the phone.
She couldn’t help but wonder, who exactly was this Ju Li?
How could someone like Chen Haoyu take her request so seriously?
……
After settling things with Qiu Xianyue, Ju Li borrowed a computer from Boss Zhong again.
This time, she was really in too much of a hurry and lacked experience. Next time she went out, she would definitely bring her laptop.
She opened her work email and prepared to write an email to Qiu Fang.
While drafting the email, Ju Li hesitated a little, after all, she had bypassed the producer and reported directly to Boss Zhong.
But she had no choice. As a mere secretary, no one believed in her abilities.
Some looked down on her and mocked her, while others tried to deceive and manipulate her. If she truly wanted to get things done, she had no choice but to use every means necessary.
With that thought, she quickly finished writing the email, copied the boss Zhong Liyan in, and clicked send.
If she had to be the enemy of the producers, then so be it.
After all… the system told her to be the enemy, so she had no choice!
……
The interview went smoothly, and Qiu Xianyue exceeded expectations with an outstanding performance.
Seated behind his desk, Zhong Liyan tapped his fingers on the tabletop and said to Qiu Xianyue, who was standing in the middle of the room, “Wait outside for a bit.”
Ju Li led Qiu Xianyue out and headed straight downstairs for tea.
Once only Zhong Liyan and Qiu Fang remained in the room, he finally spoke, “What do you think of her?”
Qiu Fang lifted her eyes to look at Boss Zhong, pressing her lips together, unsure of how to respond.
To be honest, Qiu Xianyue was excellent. Though a newcomer, she had natural talent, her expressions, movements, emotions, and lines were all on point, and her appearance was impeccable.
But… Qiu Xianyue wasn’t someone she, as the producer, had found. If the boss took a liking to her, where would that leave her?
Moreover, when Ju Li had shown her the PowerPoint presentation, she had deliberately withheld it and never passed it on to Zhong Liyan.
She wasn’t sure if Ju Li had reported this to Boss Zhong. If she had… then not only had she offended Ju Li, but she might have also offended Boss Zhong by suppressing his relative’s presentation.
Heaven help her!
How could she have made such a mistake?
Hadn’t she already noticed before that Ju Li, despite her gentle appearance, was actually a shrewd and calculating woman?
And she was also Boss Zhong’s relative…
Regret consumed Qiu Fang, her face turning pale and her lips losing color.
Was Boss Zhong asking her opinion about Qiu Xianyue as a subtle warning?
What could she say?
“She’s very suitable, very good…” she forced the words out, feeling uneasy.
Zhong Liyan lowered his eyes in thought, his sharp gaze sweeping over Qiu Fang’s stiff expression. After a moment, he suddenly smiled and said, “Then it’s settled. Qiu Xianyue is hired. Go handle the contract and have her start preparing today. We can’t afford delays in the shooting schedule.”
“…” Qiu Fang glanced up at Zhong Liyan. Seeing the unexpected smile on his face, she felt even more anxious.
“Yes, Boss Zhong.” She didn’t dare delay and immediately got up to handle the matter.
“You managed this situation well. Qiu Xianyue happened to stand out in White Fan Strategist, so it was a fortunate coincidence,” Zhong Liyan said. Though he didn’t spell it out, his words made it clear that he wasn’t blaming her.
“The budget overages in the past few days haven’t been too high. As for the upcoming tasks, I won’t go over them with you one by one, just handle them yourself. I’ll check in on the production later, then head straight back to Jianghai. Keep up the good work.”
Maybe it was because he was in a good mood, or maybe because another major problem had just been resolved, but Zhong Liyan seemed particularly pleasant today.
“…” Qiu Fang looked up in disbelief. The Zhong Liyan she remembered wasn’t like this.
Last time, when she merely cried in front of him, he had mocked and scolded her so harshly that she couldn’t lift her head.
The time before that, when she failed to attend a script reading, he publicly called her out and berated her in a senior executive meeting.
The time before that, when she was ten minutes late to a meeting due to filming issues, he docked her pay by 1,000 yuan without even asking for an explanation.
And before that, during their previous drama, when she couldn’t resolve a conflict between the lead actors, he yelled at her right in front of them on set. The two leads were so shocked they froze, and she was so humiliated she burst into tears. She had even considered quitting as a producer…
But now… Boss Zhong! The infamous Zhong Liyan, known for his ruthless scoldings!
Not only had he not reprimanded her, but he had also praised her?
Could it be… that Ju Li hadn’t reported her?
Or maybe… the reason for Zhong Liyan’s unusual behavior was that Ju Li had spoken up for her?
If she had to find a difference between this time and her past mistakes, the only thing that stood out was Ju Li’s presence.
Thinking this way, she suddenly felt a mix of guilt, gratitude, and complex emotions.
Standing up, she gave Zhong Liyan a small bow. “Thank you, Boss. This was my responsibility to begin with. Rest assured, I will handle everything properly moving forward.”
Zhong Liyan nodded and waved his hand to dismiss her.
As Qiu Fang left, her eyes were slightly red, not out of grievance or pretense, but purely out of deep emotion.
When she reached the lobby, she saw Ju Li sitting in the waiting area, drinking tea with Qiu Xianyue. Without hesitation, she turned and walked toward Ju Li.
Ju Li noticed her as well and stood up with Qiu Xianyue to greet her.
However, Qiu Fang walked straight up to Ju Li, spread her arms, and pulled her into a hug.
“……” Ju Li was stunned, completely caught off guard by the sudden embrace.
What was going on?
“Fang jie?” She patted Qiu Fang’s back, exchanging confused glances with Qiu Xianyue, who stood to the side, equally perplexed.
They were both unsure how to react to the producer’s unexpected enthusiasm.
Qiu Xianyue felt even more awkward, standing there watching while the other two hugged…
Qiu Fang, still overwhelmed with emotion, gave Ju Li another firm squeeze before letting go. “Ju Li, thank you. I won’t say much else, but if you ever need anything, just come to me. If I can help, I absolutely will.”
“What are you talking about, Fang jie? I didn’t do anything.” Ju Li blinked, still a bit puzzled as she stepped out of Qiu Fang’s embrace.
Not only was Qiu Fang not upset that she had bypassed her to report directly to the boss, but she was actually grateful?
“I was helping the boss organize some documents last night, and we happened to chat. I casually mentioned Qiu Xianyue’s situation. You’re not mad at me, are you?”
“What are you saying! There’s no need to explain anything between us. You don’t even have to say it, I understand!” Qiu Fang said warmly.
“Ah…” Huh? Understand what? Ju Li was utterly confused.
“I saw that PowerPoint presentation you made. I thought it was great and planned to bring it up with the boss this morning, but you already handled it for me. I should be thanking you, not blaming you.” Qiu Fang pursed her lips and nodded at Ju Li, looking almost apologetic.
Then she turned to Qiu Xianyue.
“You passed the interview. Come with me to the set so we can discuss the contract. This is for the lead actress role, and it’s all thanks to Ju Li. You should really thank her.”
Qiu Xianyue immediately expressed her gratitude to both of them.
Meanwhile, Ju Li stood there, feeling increasingly bewildered.
What was going on?
Did Boss Zhong say something to Qiu Fang?
Before leaving with Qiu Xianyue, Qiu Fang hugged Ju Li tightly again. This time, she didn’t say anything, just looked at Ju Li with eyes full of emotion, as if words were unnecessary.
After sending them off, Ju Li stood there, utterly baffled.
Zhong Liyan had no idea that his unusually good mood had led to such a profound and beautiful misunderstanding between two exceptionally perceptive women.
…
On the way back to the set, Qiu Xianyue saw the PowerPoint presentation Ju Li had made for her.
It praised her to the skies.
Even she hadn’t realized she was this outstanding.
She didn’t even know Ju Li, so why did Ju Li believe she was capable of handling this role? Why had she gone out of her way to recommend her so strongly?
Qiu Xianyue had no answer.
Every aspiring star dreams of finding a mentor who recognizes their potential. But she had never imagined that something so miraculous would actually happen to her, that she would meet someone so genuinely supportive.
Sitting in the car, she was overwhelmed with emotions for a long time before finally settling down to listen as Qiu Fang explained the contract and the work ahead.
…
Meanwhile, someone else in the same car as Qiu Fang was also deep in thought.
Qiu Fang’s executive producer had always admired her, but today, she had finally encountered someone even more impressive.
That person was Ju Li, who was only 23 years old.
Life was tough. Comparing oneself to others… was simply unbearable.
…
After breakfast, Zhong Liyan took Ju Li to the film set again.
On the way, he instructed Ju Li to send an email to the head of the management department, issuing an order in his name, sign Qiu Xianyue.
The driver, Old Liu, couldn’t help but glance sideways. This little secretary had been on the job for less than a week, and the boss was already letting her issue orders on his behalf?
Old Liu had been with Zhong Liyan for many years and had seen many things about his boss firsthand.
He knew that Zhong Liyan’s former secretary in Beijing had only gained enough trust to issue orders after working closely with him for over a month.
Yet Ju Li had already earned the boss’s recognition so quickly and had started handling the real work of a president’s secretary.
That was truly impressive.
When they arrived at the film set, Zhong Liyan chatted with the director and a few other key crew members.
Qiu Xianyue had already signed the contract and was at the set reading the script.
Qiu Fang had specifically called in a planner to accompany Qiu Xianyue, helping her get familiar with the script while doing a table read.
After confirming with the driver, Old Liu, about their departure time back to Jianghai City, Ju Li was about to help her boss carry some things when she was suddenly pulled into an embrace.
Startled, she let out a small gasp, only to realize that the person hugging her was soft, it was a woman.
Qiu Xianyue stepped back, looking at the girl before her, who was about the same age as herself but a thousand times smarter. Sincerely, she said, “Thank you, Ju Li. You might have changed my life.”
“Ah… No need to thank me, really. It’s because you’re talented and have great acting skills.” Ju Li waved her hands in embarrassment. Faced with such a heartfelt expression of gratitude, her cheeks flushed red, and she felt awkward.
Hearing her humility, refusing to take credit and even complimenting her in return, Qiu Xianyue was even more touched.
Honestly, how could someone be so capable, so smart, and yet so humble and kind?
She gave Ju Li a deep 90-degree bow and thanked her again before running off, leaving behind the words, “I will never forget the kindness of your recognition.”
Ju Li stood there in a daze, watching Qiu Xianyue’s retreating figure, her emotions a tangled mess.
Even as she carried Zhong Liyan’s laptop and the big and small gift bags from the crew, following behind him as they left, she was still a little distracted.
The warmth in her heart refused to settle.
Qiu Fang personally escorted them out, helping her carry several items while making casual conversation.
Just as they were about to leave the set, a crew member up ahead was struggling to navigate through the crowd, holding a massive gift box as tall as a person.
The package was oddly shaped, clearly, something (or someone) was inside.
Ju Li curiously watched.
Noticing her gaze, Qiu Fang leaned in with a sly smile and whispered in her ear, “A gift from Boss Zhong for the director’s son.”
“Huh?” Ju Li was still confused.
Qiu Fang added mysteriously, “A life-sized Ultraman.”
Then, she winked at Ju Li.
“…” Ju Li was speechless.
Uh…
She glanced at Zhong Liyan, who was walking ahead with his hands in his pockets, tall and imposing.
For some reason…
She had the strange feeling that she had made a mistake, and her fatherly boss had bought a gift to smooth things over on her behalf.
A mix of emotions swirled inside her, and her face flushed inexplicably.
It was just…
So freaking embarrassing!
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