Ye Jin was also rapidly running through the novel's plot in her mind.
The novel's male and female leads were naturally Xu Chen and Lu Xiaoye, whom they had just seen. It was a story about a domineering CEO and his clumsy little secretary.
A graduate of an ordinary college with unremarkable abilities and looks, Lu Xiaoye had struck the jackpot by getting into the Xu Group, then happened to become one of the secretaries in the CEO's office.
Lu Xiaoye was like a lamb that had fallen into a pack of wolves. Her lack of ability left her ostracized, and she had messed up at work several times, such as spilling coffee on Xu Chen's clothes, accidentally putting documents meant for him into the shredder, mistaking the head of a partner company for a lecher, and so on.
As the CEO's senior assistant, Lu Qinan saw that Lu Xiaoye had made too many mistakes and decided to fire her. What she did not know, however, was that Xu Chen found Lu Xiaoye's clumsy behavior adorable, and he insisted on keeping her.
Seeing Lu Xiaoye affect more and more of Xu Chen's work, Lu Qinan naturally could not stand by and suggested transferring her to another position. Yet Xu Chen took this as an attempt to suppress Lu Xiaoye and instead removed Lu Qinan from her position as his assistant, replacing her with Lu Xiaoye.
Even after becoming his assistant, Lu Xiaoye continued to cause problems, but Xu Chen felt this was part of the fun between them. Even if Lu Xiaoye had a few little problems, he could cover for her.
Poor Lu Qinan, utterly loyal to Xu Chen, became both cannon fodder and the vicious female supporting character in their romance. In the end, disheartened, she resigned and returned to her hometown.
If an ordinary assistant had encountered this situation, Xu Yan could naturally have poached her. Unfortunately, Lu Qinan was not one!
She came from a small town and had earned her way into the country's best university through her own hard work. After entering university, her efforts had kept her at the top of her year.
Unfortunately, she had been rather unlucky. The runner-up in her class came from a very powerful family and was intensely jealous, so she had been subjected to relentless bullying.
During one instance of bullying, Xu Chen had saved her like a god descending from the heavens, and so she had
fallen secretly
in love with Xu Chen.
After graduation, she joined the Xu Group and worked her way up step by step to become the CEO's senior assistant.
But she felt she was not good enough for Xu Chen and only dared to keep her love in her heart, taking meticulous care of every aspect of his life.
After recalling the plot, Ye Jin did not hold out much hope for Xu Yan's poaching plan.
But she felt she should not discourage Xu Yan too much either. After some thought, she said, "There are so many talented people in the world. We don't need that particular one."
Xu Yan immediately understood what Ye Jin was implying. Just as she was about to speak, a tall, slender woman in a fitted black evening gown came up to them.
She wore a perfectly practiced smile. "Miss Xu, Mr. Xu asked me to confirm the project with the Fu Group with you. I've already organized the general details. All you need to do is give your final confirmation. It shouldn't take more than five minutes of your time."
Xu Yan's spirits, which had just sunk, rose again. Boohoo, how had Cao Cao arrived the moment they mentioned him? And she had gotten to witness Secretary Lu's badass work skills again!
She had never liked making things difficult for workers, even those working for her opponent. So, in a completely different attitude from the impatience she had shown Xu Chen earlier, she said patiently, "Secretary Lu, of course. But standing here in the middle of the hall, we're probably blocking the way. Let's sit on the sofas over there and talk."
With that, they walked over to the sofas in the corner together, and Ye Jin learned from their conversation that the newcomer was Lu Qinan.
Seeing Lu Qinan still working so hard for Xu Chen, she could not help sighing repeatedly to herself.
[Lu Qinan is far too loyal. Even now, she's still cleaning up Xu Chen's messes. Sadly, the goddess dreams, but the king has no heart for her. No matter how much you do for him, he won't appreciate you. His heart only has room for his little troublemaker, Lu Xiaoya.]
[Come to think of it, Xu Chen only helped her back then because he lost a bet with his buddies. Normally, he would never have been that kindhearted. Unfortunately, Lu Qinan sees him as her hero.]
[What kind of hero is Xu Chen? Even back in school, he led the bullying of other students, treating those from poor families like toys.]
Beside them, Lu Qinan was still explaining things to Xu Yan. Though her expression remained composed, a light sweat had involuntarily broken out on her forehead.
Why could she hear this long stream of words? And they were about her and Xu Chen! Could she be hallucinating from too many sleepless nights lately?
If that was the case, should she really give up on Xu Chen, listen to her parents, and go home to live an ordinary life?
As an outstanding worker, Lu Qinan had long since mastered the ability to work normally even if she was about to collapse the moment she stepped outside. One little voice naturally could not affect her.
Without any change in expression, she finished reporting to Xu Yan, then stood and left as though nothing was amiss, as if she had heard nothing at all.
Yet as Xu Yan watched Lu Qinan's retreating figure, her heart leaped with joy. Beneath Lu Qinan's seemingly calm expression, she had seen the shock hidden underneath.
If she was right, Lu Qinan must have heard Ye Jin's thoughts. If those scathing words could wake her up, Xu Yan's grand poaching endeavor would have a chance.
And without Lu Qinan, Xu Chen would be nothing to fear, and she could reclaim the Xu Group. In the past, though she had spoken nonchalantly about it, even if her parents did not give her the Xu Group, she could build a business every bit its equal on her own.
But no one would turn down more money. Besides, if the Xu Group went to Xu Chen, it would not be far from bankruptcy. She might as well seize it for herself.
After this little interlude, Xu Yan took Ye Jin around to meet more people.
But perhaps there was something wrong with the feng shui tonight, because Ye Jin ran into another batch of "familiar faces." She actually saw Xie Haoyu, who had brought Su Yinan to the banquet!
Xie Haoyu was clearly very good at disguising himself. His smile made people feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze, and he looked exceedingly gentle.
As for Su Yinan beside him, she wore a short red formal dress and followed his every step, a shy smile appearing on her face from time to time.