After politely bidding farewell to Zhu Jingyi, Ju Li turned away, stood up briskly, and left without hesitation.
Many in the office were discreetly peeking into Zhu Jingyi’s office. No one knew exactly what had happened, but through the large glass walls, they could see that Second Senior Brother’s expression was somewhat pained.
The moment Ju Li closed the door to his office, Qiao Baitong, who had come to the administrative department to collect film reels for a TV series, spotted her.
It had only been two or three days since he last saw her, but the young woman’s aura seemed to have elevated yet again. Her composed expression was even steadier.
In public relations, such an aura was crucial, neither arrogant nor servile, yet calm and warm. It made interactions with leaders and media much smoother, easily earning their trust and goodwill.
Just one glance, and Qiao Baitong’s previous thoughts resurfaced, this young woman was truly suited for public relations. He was in dire need of a capable and trustworthy assistant, and Ju Li had immense potential.
“Qiao zong,” Ju Li greeted him first, her expression respectful.
She was sincerely grateful for Mr. Qiao’s help in drafting the conclusion of her speech. Without the magical pen’s assistance, she wouldn’t have been able to complete it within the required time frame.
“You’re back from your business trip, Ju Li?” Qiao Baitong deliberately paused, adopting a serious demeanor as he spoke with her.
Ju Li was momentarily surprised, she hadn’t expected him to remember her name.
“Yes, I just got back this afternoon,” she responded with a bright smile, feeling a bit elated at being remembered.
Nearby administrative colleagues immediately perked up their ears, so this newcomer, Ju Li, actually knew the company’s most senior vice president, Qiao Baitong?
“Ju Li, are you interested in joining the Public Relations Department?” Qiao Baitong asked while holding the film reels, walking alongside her.
This area housed the administrative department’s workstations, and all the surrounding employees were from the same department.
Those seated nearby overheard his words and exchanged shocked expressions.
Some even made eye contact with their deskmates, silently conveying their astonishment.
Everyone knew that aside from procurement, which might offer some perks, or secretaries who could advance if they followed the right leaders, most administrative work was merely menial tasks.
Low pay, low status.
But the Public Relations Department was entirely different. They liaised with the government, platforms, and business partners, traveling across the country, wining and dining while getting the job done.
It was practically a corporate paradise!
Even in marketing or promotions, which were highly skilled and respected positions, salaries and bonuses were significantly better.
Getting transferred to PR was like a dream come true for administrative staff.
And if the legendary Mr. Qiao personally handpicked someone, wasn’t that an instant career boost?
To everyone’s surprise, Ju Li didn’t immediately accept the offer. Instead, she asked, “Is there a specific task in PR that requires my assistance?”
Qiao Baitong couldn’t help but chuckle. Shaking his head, he confidently clarified, “I’m asking if you’d like to transfer to PR and work with me.”
Inside his office, Zhu Jingyi had noticed Qiao Baitong speaking with Ju Li. His curiosity got the best of him, so he picked up his cup and walked out, pretending to get some water.
The moment he heard Qiao Baitong’s words, he was stunned.
Joining the PR Department under Qiao Baitong? That meant she had caught the old man’s eye!
Qiao Baitong controlled the company’s most enviable network of contacts, an indispensable figure in the firm.
If Ju Li became his protégé, even the smallest crumbs of those connections would be enough to guarantee her a solid career anywhere.
Especially since Qiao Baitong was aging, he might retire in a few years. If Ju Li learned well under him and inherited his network, she could potentially secure a top position in PR.
This was the PR Department of Zhanyun Culture!
If she gained the trust of the high-profile clients Qiao Baitong worked with, she might even become the youngest head of PR…
That would be an enormous career breakthrough!
Zhu Jingyi was so excited that even he felt envious. He couldn’t help but joke, “Old Qiao, why are you poaching talent from my territory?”
Qiao Baitong was waiting for Ju Li’s answer when Zhu Jingyi suddenly interjected. He didn’t take it seriously.
After all, he was a vice president, ranking higher than Zhu Jingyi. So, he retorted, “Your person? She belongs to the president.”
“Hah…” Zhu Jingyi chuckled awkwardly.
All the eavesdropping employees around them held their breath, mentally cursing Second Senior Brother for butting in.
Sitting to the right, Fang Fei quietly lowered her head, opened WeChat, and checked the administrative department’s small group chat. Seeing that people had already been discussing the matter, she chimed in, [How did Ju Li get so lucky? Qiao zong actually wants her in PR?]
The other girls immediately started discussing:
[Even if President Qiao wanted to keep a girl as a mistress, he wouldn’t choose Ju Li, right? Our company has plenty of pretty girls.]
[Could it be that he values her work ability? She’s only been here for two or three days, what ability could she have?]
[This is really strange. Could she have just gotten lucky?]
[That would be harder than winning the lottery.]
[I’m going crazy with jealousy, I’m so jealous I’m turning hideous.]
[Jealousy makes you ugly.]
[Ugh, I actually want to ask Ju Li how she did it. This is seriously impressive, I want to learn.]
But Ju Li simply smiled and said, “Thank you for your kindness, Qiao zong. I don’t really understand public relations work, so I’d rather not trouble you.”
“…” Zhu Jingyi was dumbfounded. He rubbed his ear, thinking he must have misheard.
Qiao Baitong also froze, his self-satisfied smile still on his face, completely unable to process the fact that… he had just been rejected?
The onlookers were even more shocked, their eyes widening in disbelief. Fang Fei rapidly typed on her phone: [Is Ju Li crazy?!]
The others also lost their minds:
[Does she not understand what the PR department does? Someone slap her awake!]
[Damn! These young people nowadays are too annoying! How could she turn down an opportunity like this?!]
[She’ll regret it! Hahaha! Once she realizes what she’s done, she’ll be kicking herself!]
[I feel like cursing! Qiao zong, I volunteer! I’m willing to join the PR department!]
[Are young people these days really this dumb? Does she even know what the PR department is? The boss personally picked her! And she rejected it?! For real???]
“Ju Li, what are you saying?” Zhu Jingyi finally snapped out of it and quickly nudged her shoulder before turning to Qiao Baitong. “Old Qiao, I think this girl doesn’t even understand what the PR department does. Let her go back and think it over before giving you an answer.”
He spoke hastily, afraid that Qiao Baitong might change his mind and decide he didn’t want Ju Li anymore.
As the head of the administration department, he should have been reprimanding Qiao Baitong for poaching people from his team. But at the same time, he considered himself Ju Li’s friend, or maybe even someone she secretly admired. He couldn’t let this clueless girl make such a huge mistake, missing out on such an incredible opportunity.
Qiao Baitong chuckled and was just about to agree when Ju Li suddenly spoke first.
“Second Senior Brother, I know exactly what the PR department does. I’ve thought it through seriously, and I really don’t think I’m suited for public relations. Thank you very much, Qiao zong, but I’d prefer to stay in the administration department and do my current job well.”
“……” Zhu Jingyi turned to stare at Ju Li in disbelief.
How could she refuse?!
That was absolutely not okay.
The onlookers were even more stunned, nearly fainting from shock.
She seriously didn’t want to go?!
What kind of world was this? She would rather stay in the administration department doing menial work than go to the PR department, where she could enjoy all the perks?
They all grew up receiving the same nine years of compulsory education, so how was Ju Li this outstanding?!
Administration Department Gossip Group Chat:
[She’s crazy.]
[She’s completely crazy.]
[She’s absolutely crazy, beyond saving.]
[I wish I could go crazy like that.]
[There’s no way I can be envious, but I’m definitely jealous. I hate this. I want to go.]
[This is so bizarre. Why would she refuse? Does anyone here know her well? Can someone ask her?]
[I’ll find out.] Fang Fei replied.
[Sisters, we’ll wait for your update.]
Qiao Baitong smiled and asked, “You’ve made up your mind?”
“I have,” Ju Li nodded seriously, her eyes clear.
Having his goodwill rejected, Qiao Baitong was at a rare loss. He had finally found a promising candidate, but he couldn’t persuade her to come over.
The confidence on his face faded, replaced by a wry smile.
“Having your own plans and sticking to them, that’s good. Keep it up.” He let out a long sigh and shook his head.
Honestly, seeing Ju Li’s determination and commitment to her career path only made him respect her even more.
Unfortunately, her chosen path had nothing to do with him, so he could only let it go.
After nodding at Zhu Jingyi, Qiao Baitong left the administration office and returned downstairs to his own office.
Zhu Jingyi licked his lips and tilted his head, staring at Ju Li.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at Ju Li’s calm and cheerful expression, he knew that no matter what he said, she wouldn’t change her mind.
She had already made her decision, there was no need for others to worry about her.
With a sigh, he patted Ju Li’s shoulder and said, “Well, alright then.” Shaking his head, he walked off to pour himself some water.
Ju Li puffed her cheeks, took a deep breath, and turned to walk back to her desk on the other side of the floor.
But before she could leave, Zhu Jingyi, still unable to understand, asked again, “You’re not suited for public relations?”
“Mm, not suited,” Ju Li nodded, repeating her answer.
“Then what are you suited for?” He really couldn’t bear to see this opportunity wasted. If the PR department people, who were all eager to take advantage of Qiao Baitong’s connections, knew that he had personally chosen a girl as his assistant, ready to pass down all his experience, only to be turned down, they’d probably be spitting blood in rage.
“I think being a secretary suits me well,” Ju Li said earnestly. She actually felt she was pretty good at taking care of people.
For example, after following Zhong Liyan around for two or three days, she could already tell from his facial expressions when his stomach was hurting.
She was also meticulous, she even remembered to warm his milk for him.
She felt like she was doing a great job as a secretary.
And from the bonus that Boss Zhong had just given her, he probably thought so too…
“……” Qiao Baitong tilted his head, furrowed his brows, and stared at her for a while. Then he let out a long sigh, waved his hand, and gestured for her to leave.
She was driving him crazy.
Ju Li nodded in greeting and left with a cheerful smile.
Watching her walk away, her steps were light, showing no sign of regret despite giving up such a great opportunity.
Zhu Jingyi thought that if he sighed again, it would be too dramatic.
“Everyone has their own aspirations.”
Everyone has their own aspirations…
…
Ju Li didn’t feel it was a pity. When Qiao Baitong asked if she wanted to learn from him, her first thought wasn’t about how her “magic pen” for writing had run dry, or whether she would mess up if she had to write a PR copy again.
Nor was it that she didn’t know anything about PR work now but could surely learn if she followed Mr. Qiao.
Instead, she thought about the life-sized Ultraman figure that the production crew had moved onto the set of Warm Summer Sweet Tea, the one Zhong Liyan had bought for the director’s son.
For some reason, a different kind of emotion stirred in her heart.
A rare, unfamiliar feeling of being touched.
Being a secretary wasn’t bad. Though the title often got associated with being a “flower vase” or shady office politics, leading to all kinds of unfavorable assumptions.
It didn’t sound impressive or prestigious.
But… if she were to be Zhong Liyan’s secretary, she actually didn’t mind.
…
Back at her desk, Zhang Beibei immediately leaned over with excitement, eager to gossip.
“Why didn’t you go to the PR department?” she asked, eyes shining with curiosity.
“I don’t know how to do PR,” Ju Li replied with a smile.
News sure spread fast, she had barely walked back, and the whole office already knew.
Zhang Beibei was not satisfied with that answer. She tugged on Ju Li’s arm, refusing to let it go.
“You just don’t know yet! Learning PR is the whole point of following Qiao zong, isn’t it? That department is amazing, how could you turn it down? If it were me, I’d be jumping up and down with excitement!”
“Pfft.” Ju Li couldn’t help but laugh at her exaggeration. Just as she was about to speak, she caught a glimpse of Zhong Liyan standing up in the large office behind her. He looked like he was about to step out.
She quickly gave Zhang Beibei a knowing look.
Zhang Beibei wasn’t stupid, she straightened up instantly and put on a serious face.
“Understood, I’ll process this file accordingly.”
She then walked back to her desk with a stiff, professional air, as if she and Ju Li had really been discussing work all along.
Ju Li pressed her lips together in amusement before clicking on her email.
She noticed that Zhong Liyan had forwarded several emails to her, asking her to review them before reporting back.
She opened the documents, carefully reading through emails from various department heads while summarizing key points and marking any questionable details.
As Zhong Liyan passed her desk, he suddenly paused mid-step.
Turning back, he stared at Ju Li, who was focused on her computer.
With a seemingly casual tone, he asked, “I heard you turned down Qiao Baitong’s offer?”
“Mm.” Ju Li looked up into his deep, dark eyes and nodded seriously.
“…” Zhong Liyan studied her face, as if searching for some hidden clue.
“Mm.” In the end, he just gave a simple response and walked away.
Ju Li had no idea if he had found anything in her expression. She simply watched his retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner, then turned back to her work.
…
That evening, as Qiao Baitong was about to finish for the day, he opened his email and workflow one last time before shutting down his computer.
But suddenly, he noticed that all the emails he had sent to Zhong Liyan had been flagged with issues, requiring him to resubmit them.
Even the workflows he had applied for were rejected due to various company policies that had never been enforced before.
“???”
Standing in front of his computer, realization dawned, he wouldn’t be going home on time. Instead, he had to rewrite every email and redo every workflow.
His face twisted in frustration.
What the hell was Zhong Liyan’s problem?!
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