No need

"President Yuan, our new colleague officially started today. It's Chen Haoyu, the one I mentioned to you before."

"I saw him just now."

"Should I bring him in to say hello?"

"No need." Yuan Chen's tone was mild, with little interest.

Shen Yi muttered inwardly, You were the one who signed off on hiring him, and now you're acting like it has nothing to do with you.

True, Yuan Chen hadn't participated in the interviews. He had only glanced at the list at the end. The actual screening, evaluation, and decision to put Chen Haoyu on the final shortlist had all been handled by Shen Yi and his team of secretaries.

"He'll be joining Team Leader Che from the Training Team for part of the schedule."

"Just don't let him cause any trouble."

"Understood."

As they spoke, Yuan Chen had already sat down to begin the morning's work. Only after carefully checking that every detail was in place did Shen Yi leave the office.

The moment he came out, the secretaries all poked their heads up from behind their desks. Shen Yi smiled knowingly and called everyone into the meeting room.

"Welcome, Secretary Chen. I'm Shen Yi, head of the Secretary Department. We met at your final interview. You remember, right?" Shen Yi shook the newcomer's hand, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"How does your first day feel?"

"Great! I'll do my best!" Secretary Chen sounded a little tense. His back was ramrod straight and his hands were clenched into fists, making him look like a fresh recruit.

"Good enthusiasm, but you don't have to be so nervous. I'm sure you've heard that things here are... a little different."

Unlike other departments, the secretarial office had its own way of working. Here, mutual respect mattered more than a rigid hierarchy, colleagues routinely supported one another, and all their work revolved around a single goal: keeping Chairman Yuan Chen operating efficiently.

Building an egalitarian team culture was a principle Shen Yi had always upheld. He believed that handling so many complicated tasks required breaking down barriers so everyone could communicate freely.

That was precisely why Yuan Chen's Secretary Department was both highly flexible and exceptionally good at working together, setting it apart from the rest of the group. In short, throwing your weight around wasn't how things worked here.

"The others will gradually show you the specifics of the job. Ask whenever you have questions. Getting into the habit of taking notes as you go will help a lot."

"Yes!"

"Have you introduced yourself to everyone?"

"I said a quick hello. I've been waiting for you to arrive."

Even so, proper introductions couldn't be skipped. Before the meeting began, Shen Yi introduced each member of the secretarial office.

"Everyone has different responsibilities. This is Secretary Li Na. She handles all of President Yuan's expense reimbursements. If you need to make any expenditures, speak to her."

The secretary smiled at the newcomer. She was polished and efficient, with a good eye for style. Aside from Shen Yi, she was the most senior person in the office, and an easy composure showed in her expression.

"Secretary Pang Zhimei primarily handles overseas communications and external business. You can ask her for advice on email and telephone etiquette."

Petite and cute, Secretary Pang gave a modest smile. The newcomer nervously exchanged a glance with her.

Finally, Shen Yi pointed to the colleague beside him, whose face practically shouted, "Introduce me already."

"Secretary Chi Ziheng handles guest reception and monitors media coverage and public sentiment. He's the company's walking encyclopedia. There's nothing he doesn't know. Stick with him, and you'll know your way around the company within a week."

"Boss! Why am I the only one getting such a weird introduction?" Secretary Chi protested.

"Was I wrong?"

"Well, no... but couldn't you make me sound cooler?"

Half joking, he pushed the armrest of Shen Yi's swivel chair, turning it halfway around. Shen Yi let him fool around and couldn't help laughing.

"Of course our Secretary Chi is cool. He used to be a flight attendant, so he's well-presented and highly capable. Secretary Chen, you're new here. You should learn from him."

The introduction left Secretary Chi a little embarrassed. In truth, everyone in the secretarial office had both looks and talent. Even Chen Haoyu, who had been fairly confident in his appearance, couldn't help feeling a little inadequate.

"And then there's me." Shen Yi turned his chair back around and continued with his own introduction.

"As President Yuan's special assistant, I'm primarily responsible for managing his entire schedule and accompanying him on trips. Secretary Chen, I hope you'll get up to speed with everyone soon. Communicate whenever something comes up."

"Yes!"

"You're new, so mistakes are inevitable. We all went through that. I only have one requirement: be especially mindful of everything you say and do around President Yuan."

"Understood."

At the mention of Yuan Chen, the newcomer's voice noticeably lost some of its confidence, and his nerves returned. They had only crossed paths briefly, but the boss who could make the air freeze in an instant had left a powerful first impression.

Seeing this, Secretary Chi gave the newcomer's shoulder a firm pat. "Don't worry! Besides, even if you really mess up, it's fine. Our boss here will cover for you!"

"Secretary Chi." Shen Yi sounded resigned.

"Was I wrong?"

"Oh, you..." Shen Yi rubbed his temples and sighed, pretending to have a headache.

Everyone laughed, and the newcomer relaxed a little too, the stiffness easing from the corners of his mouth. Fortunately, his colleagues in the Secretary Department were all quite friendly.

Especially Shen Yi, their department head. He was steady and approachable, and everyone looked at him with complete trust. Chen Haoyu thought he should be able to keep pace with him too.

"I'll work hard!" the newcomer declared again, his gaze much firmer than before.

Shen Yi's gaze softened further. "Good. Shall we start our morning meeting, then?"

Chen Haoyu was assigned to take the minutes. Some might have thought that was difficult for a newcomer, but he had a stenography certification. It was precisely that skill that had made him stand out.

To help him settle in, they first had him organize the minutes from the previous day's video conference before introducing him to the core work. His keyboard rattled crisply. Beside him, Secretary Chi looked down at his flying fingers and asked in surprise:

"Whoa, how fast do you type?"

"Around six hundred characters a minute."

"Wow!" Secretary Chi's amazement was genuine. Not only was he fast, his accuracy was over ninety percent.

"That stenography certification really means something."

"Would someone our boss picked be anything less?"

"From now on, Haoyu gets all the typing jobs!" Before he knew it, the secretaries had gathered around the newcomer, marveling at his smooth, effortless work. Under all that pressure, he finally finished the minutes.

"Oh? You've already finished?" Passing by just then, Shen Yi walked over, his hand casually tucked into his trouser pocket as his gaze fell on the screen.

Chen Haoyu let out a nervous breath and wiped away the beads of sweat that had belatedly formed at his temple. Glancing sideways, he saw Shen Yi's profile up close, intent and serious.

"There's still plenty of room for improvement. Could you see if this is all right...?"

"This is already very good. Nice work." After reading it, Shen Yi straightened up.

He looked at the newcomer's still-tense, inexperienced face and gave a faint smile. Then his gaze lowered as he carefully examined the other man's clothes.

"Secretary Chen."

"Yes."

"Did you buy this suit... specifically for work?"

The newcomer instinctively touched his suit. Was it unsuitable? It was a brand-name outfit he had carefully chosen for his new job. Not only the suit but even the shoes were new, and everything he wore had a brand-new sheen.

"Yes... to commemorate starting the job, I suppose."

"It looks sharp, but it might be better to save this outfit for more important occasions. It's not that we have a dress code... there are just a lot of details to keep in mind in this line of work."

Shen Yi wrinkled his nose slightly, rested an arm on the partition, and settled into a sideways lean. His posture looked relaxed, but his gaze was calm and direct.

"For suits, stick to basic colors like black, gray, and blue. Well-fitting ready-to-wear looks more professional than elaborate designs. You don't need to deliberately dress to impress, but your clothes shouldn't look too cheap either. At least choose something midrange with decent fabric. Matte leather is best for shoes, and avoid heels that click."

"Oh..."

"Try not to wear cologne. After going out or eating, remember to freshen up your jacket in the garment-care machine regularly. Just in case, it's best to keep an extra set of formal clothes at the office."

As he listened, the newcomer watched Shen Yi with a slightly distracted gaze. Indeed, the department head's own clothes were more neat and understated than his. It was a standard ready-to-wear suit, cut just a little loose, with exactly the right fit.

But he already had an upright figure and good proportions, so even an ordinary suit looked expensive on him. Shen Yi's clean-cut, handsome features also did plenty to complement his appropriate attire.

"Pretty fussy requirements, aren't they? Even telling you how to dress."

"No, not at all!"

"Please understand. We work closely with senior management, so we tend to draw scrutiny. But don't worry. The company reimburses all wardrobe expenses."

"Huh?"

"What, nobody told you? Our department's benefits are pretty decent." Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers. "Secretary Chi! Haven't you told the newcomer about the benefits?"

Chair wheels rattled across from them, and Secretary Chi came over holding a tablet.

"I was planning to tell him after lunch."

"You're keeping the one benefit we can brag about under wraps?" Shen Yi shook his head with a smile, left the rest to him, and returned to his desk.

While the newcomer was still standing, Secretary Li took the spot Shen Yi had just vacated and copied his pose.

"Haoyu, see if there are any styles you like. Start by choosing ten business suits." The tablet she handed him already had a curated menswear website open. They had called it midrange, but even a casual glance showed that every suit cost far more than he had expected.

"T-ten suits?"

"Yes. Let's start with twenty basic shirts. Around six ties should be enough, right? I'll send you the shoe website later. Jacket size 100, waist 34, right? Shoe size... 270?" Secretary Li had a sharp eye. A few quick looks were enough for her to give his exact measurements.

"Does... the company pay for all of this?"

"To be precise, President Yuan reimburses it." Secretary Li smiled faintly. "President Yuan himself has exceptionally good taste, so those of us who work with him naturally have to maintain a corresponding standard. But don't worry about the expense. His expectations are high, but he's especially generous about these things."

"You'll get an initial wardrobe during your first month. Once you finish your probation, you'll also receive a fixed monthly clothing allowance. If you see something you like, put it in the cart. Everything is paid for together on the fifteenth of each month. Also, if you visit a beauty salon or dermatologist, keep your receipts and upload them for reimbursement at the end of the month. As for exercise and fitness... we know everyone might not have the time, but if you need it, those expenses can be covered too. There's no spending limit."

The benefits kept coming, one after another.

"Do you have a driver's license?"

"Yes."

Secretary Li jingled the car keys in her hand. They bore a luxury-car emblem that even Chen Haoyu recognized.

"You can drive this car to and from work. It's the same model as President Yuan's. Getting used to driving it will help you stay calm in an emergency."

"I... need to drive too?"

"There's always a driver available, and sometimes our department head drives himself. But you never know. In an emergency, you might have to step in, Secretary Chen. Familiarizing yourself with the car beforehand keeps you from getting flustered and delaying important business."

Their preparations were astonishingly thorough. For a moment, Chen Haoyu didn't know what to say. Secretary Li chuckled and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Welcome to President Yuan's secretarial office. Enjoy the experience."

"...I look forward to working with you."

The benefits were so good that he couldn't help wondering whether the work was exceptionally demanding too.

"Don't be scared. I'd say you won't find a better job anywhere."

"Agreed."

"I think so too." Voices chimed in from all around.

"Oh, right. Chen Haoyu's onboarding paperwork is still missing one document. Remember to submit your Trait Confirmation Form this week."

"Oh, okay."

"And everyone else, remember to complete your annual physical this month. That includes you, boss!"

From a distance, Shen Yi made an "OK" gesture.

Although everyone in the Secretary Department was a Beta, annual physicals were mandatory. If someone suddenly differentiated into an Omega, they would have to leave this enviable position from that day on.

The rule sounded a little heartless, but there was no way around it. The nature of the job-assisting an Alpha superior and frequently receiving all kinds of people-did make it difficult for an Omega to serve as a secretary.