Zhao Pingchuan's intentions were clear: he wanted Ji Ran transferred to work directly under him.
Jiang Ping had been with him all along, and there was no question about his ability. But the company's business was growing, and Zhao Pingchuan needed someone to help share the workload. Besides, Jiang Ping wasn't a computer technology specialist and struggled to handle certain problems. If someone else could fill that gap, they would be much more efficient.
They could all see that Ji Ran had potential. He was young and a quick learner, too. Given enough time and opportunity, he could certainly be entrusted with important responsibilities.
Before long, Ji Ran was transferred out of the technical department and sent straight to work on the fifteenth floor.
He had an office of his own, clean and spacious, right next to Jiang Ping's. A door connected the two rooms, making it easy for them to communicate whenever they needed to.
For now, Jiang Ping was training him, starting with the simplest tasks and teaching him how to be a competent assistant.
Ji Ran had heard that being an executive assistant was one of the hardest jobs around. Now he understood why. He had to learn and know how to do absolutely everything; even splitting his brain into eight parts wouldn't be enough.
Fortunately, Jiang Ping was a good teacher. He was patient and held nothing back, teaching Ji Ran everything he knew. He didn't see Ji Ran as a threat, because he knew how much work a good partner could save him. The sooner he trained Ji Ran, the sooner he could have an easier time himself.
Zhao Pingchuan was a good boss, too. Though he had high standards at work, he allowed his subordinates to make mistakes, never berated them harshly, and was generous with his guidance.
Ji Ran threw himself into absorbing knowledge with a hundred times the usual drive. An opportunity like this wouldn't always be available, so he had to make the most of it.
And although the work was hard, he spent more time with Zhao Pingchuan. Gradually, he was even able to go out on business with Zhao Pingchuan and Jiang Ping. He was truly happy to be able to help Zhao Pingchuan.
People both inside and outside the company now called him "Assistant Ji," unconsciously treating him with a measure of respect. Ji Ran wasn't used to it at first, so Jiang Ping told him, "You're President Zhao's assistant now. The way people treat you also reflects how they regard President Zhao. You'll get used to it in time."
Zhao Pingchuan saw how much Ji Ran was growing. Since Ji Ran was about the same age as his younger sister, Zhao Pingchuan always felt that he was still a kid and treated him with even more tolerance and indulgence than he did Jiang Ping.
Jiang Ping wasn't jealous, because he also regarded Ji Ran as a younger brother. The kid was so endearing, well-behaved, and considerate. Who could help liking him?
On Zhao Pingchuan's birthday, Jiang Ping told Ji Ran, "As usual, President Zhao will spend the afternoon celebrating his birthday with Miss Xiaoran. We both get the time off, too."
Ji Ran knew when Zhao Pingchuan's birthday was and had kept it in mind all along, so he had wished him a happy birthday first thing that morning.
The kid's eyes always sparkled with admiration when he looked at him. Zhao Pingchuan smiled and thanked him, sorely tempted to touch his hair, which looked so soft.
Ji Ran had actually wanted to give Zhao Pingchuan a birthday present, but he didn't know what to get. With Zhao Pingchuan's status, he lacked for nothing, and he might not think much of anything Ji Ran bought him. Besides, Ji Ran knew from the book that Zhao Xiaoran would personally make her brother a birthday cake, so he couldn't give him a cake either.
After agonizing over it for more than half a month, all he gave him in the end was a dry "Happy birthday."
Fortunately, Jiang Ping hadn't given him a present either. Apparently, Zhao Pingchuan had ordered his subordinates not to give him gifts of any kind.
At noon, Zhao Xiaoran came straight to the company. She had just come from school and stopped by to go home with her brother.
She was already very familiar with Jiang Ping, but this was her first time meeting Ji Ran.
Zhao Xiaoran blinked in surprise. "Brother, did you hire a new assistant? He looks so young."
Zhao Pingchuan introduced him to her. "Ji Ran. He's your senior at school."
Zhao Xiaoran was delighted. "Really? What a coincidence, Senior! What year were you in?"
"Two years above you," Ji Ran answered straightforwardly.
Zhao Xiaoran was very outgoing, and after chatting with Ji Ran a little more, they became much closer. When Zhao Pingchuan called her to leave, she waved goodbye to Ji Ran reluctantly. "Let's talk again next time, Senior. I'm off!"
Zhao Pingchuan and his sister are just as close as they were in the book, Ji Ran thought.
Jiang Ping waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Xiao Ji, what are you still daydreaming about? We've been busy for so long, and we finally have half a day off. Why aren't you heading home?"
Ji Ran smiled. "I'm going now."
Gradually, Ji Ran became capable of handling things on his own. When Jiang Ping couldn't get away, Ji Ran would accompany Zhao Pingchuan to various engagements by himself.
He looked young for his age and was a new face, so people inevitably looked down on him and made things difficult for him. During one negotiation, the man across from him raised his chin arrogantly and said, "Can you make the decisions? If not, send someone who can."
Since they were potential business partners, the good-tempered Ji Ran didn't get angry and was about to explain.
A hand settled on his shoulder from behind, drawing him partly into its owner's space in an utterly protective gesture. Zhao Pingchuan's calm voice rang out, each word landing distinctly on the other man's heart. "Ji Ran speaks for me. Who would you like to talk to, President Feng?"
The man addressed as President Feng knew he wasn't important enough to negotiate with Zhao Pingchuan in person; he had only been throwing his weight around in front of a newcomer. Now, the hairs on his back stood on end. Thoroughly alarmed, he smiled ingratiatingly. "President Zhao, I'm sorry. I was only joking with Xiao Ji."
Zhao Pingchuan gave a cold snort and gently guided Ji Ran into his seat before sitting down beside him. His gaze softened as it fell on the young man. "Let's begin."
With Zhao Pingchuan there to oversee things, Ji Ran felt much more at ease. He adopted a serious attitude toward his work, his young face stern, completely unlike the well-behaved Ji Ran who usually appeared before Zhao Pingchuan and Jiang Ping. His tone was neither servile nor arrogant, but his reasoning was meticulous, leaving the other party no room to retreat. In the end, they signed the contract.
Zhao Pingchuan watched quietly throughout, his eyes full of amusement and a hint of pride that even he hadn't noticed.
Happy to have secured the deal, Ji Ran followed Zhao Pingchuan with a spring in his step.
Once they were in the car, Ji Ran asked, "President Zhao, are we going back to the company now?"
Zhao Pingchuan glanced at the time and gave the driver a restaurant's address.
Ji Ran was a little bewildered. That wasn't on the schedule. Had he missed something? He asked cautiously, "President Zhao, do you have a lunch engagement today?"
Zhao Pingchuan saw through him at once and smiled. "No. You won your first battle, so we're celebrating."
Ji Ran's mouth fell open. He sat there stunned for several seconds before he came to his senses, his cheeks growing a little hot. "Th-that's too kind of you. Thank you, President Zhao. Then let me treat you to lunch."
"What kind of boss lets his subordinate pay?" Zhao Pingchuan said helplessly. "Call Jiang Ping. It's my treat."
Overwhelmed by the favor, Ji Ran felt his heart pounding. He called Jiang Ping, and for the first time, the three of them sat at the same table without any business partners, simply sharing a meal.
Jiang Ping was much more relaxed than Ji Ran. While Zhao Pingchuan was in the restroom, he teased him in a low voice, "Don't be nervous. Is eating with President Zhao that scary?"
Ji Ran was flustered. "It's not that President Zhao is scary. I just feel like I don't deserve this."
Zhao Pingchuan was both his boss and his idol. In front of someone he cared about, Ji Ran always wanted to do well, and then do even better. Now they were making such a fuss to celebrate because he had secured a deal that was neither particularly big nor small. How could he take it in stride?
Jiang Ping comforted him. "Actually, outside work, you can just treat President Zhao as a friend. He's very easygoing in private."
"I know." Ji Ran smiled.
Of course he knew Zhao Pingchuan was a good, easygoing person, but that didn't stop him from unconsciously getting nervous around him.
Perhaps things would get better once they knew each other better.