Watching Jiang Nan Fang's figure disappear into the company building, Zhan Bei Jue got back into the car.
He started the engine and shifted gears, noticing his phone. He remembered he had posted on Moments.
He reached for his phone, opened it, and tapped to see the Moments entrance. The updates displayed 99+.
He knew announcing his marriage would cause a stir. Zhan Bei Jue casually scanned the updates, and both acquaintances and strangers had liked his post.
Zhou Jin Bei and Lu Ming Zhe, in particular, had even started a thread in the comments section.
They went back and forth, their messages filled with playful barbs, all urging him to treat them.
After looking for a while, he didn't reply to any messages. He turned off his phone and drove to the company.
His sudden appearance, his sudden return home, and his sudden announcement of his marriage spread like wildfire. Before he even entered the building, the news had already circulated throughout the company.
Everyone waited for him to enter with curious and gossipy expressions.
Zhan Bei Jue was in a good mood. From the moment he stepped through the main entrance, he nodded to everyone with a smile.
He walked ahead, and the others followed, discussing amongst themselves.
“It seems the rumors are true. President Zhan is in such a good mood today, so radiant. You can tell something good has happened.”
“Who is it, so lucky to marry him? I’m so envious!”
“Wasn’t it rumored before that he and his assistant, Zhou Jin Bei, were very close? They even flirted openly in the company…”
“Oh, someone like her, it’s just for fun, how could it be serious? With his looks, his family background, such a rich and handsome man wouldn’t settle for anyone less than a perfect match, right?”
“That’s true. In Nan Cheng, there aren’t many elite daughters who can match him. Who do you think is so lucky?”
Hu Jia Sheng had also heard the news of Zhan Bei Jue getting married.
He had been at the company for over half a year. Although he was humble and treated employees well,
people had a preconceived notion that Zhan Bei Jue was the true president, and they had always treated him with polite distance.
Now that Zhan Bei Jue had returned, it had caused an unprecedented wave of discussion.
As he walked along, he could easily hear everyone discussing his return and his marriage.
It was impossible not to feel a sense of loss.
Even though Zhan Bei Jue hadn’t entered the president’s office for over half a year, the receptionist, upon seeing him, warmly opened the office door for him.
When Hu Jia Sheng entered, Zhan Bei Jue was already sitting in his old seat.
As their eyes met, although both brothers had smiles on their faces,
the palpable difference in their status was evident to anyone.
However, Hu Jia Sheng acted very magnanimous.
“Yesterday, I heard Grandpa say you were back. I was busy with work and didn’t get to see you.”
“It’s great. With you back, the child and Nan Fang can rest easy. Welcome back to the team.”
Zhan Bei Jue stood up and walked out from behind the desk.
He reached out to shake Hu Jia Sheng’s hand, his expression unreadable.
“Thank you for your hard work while I was away.”
“I heard Grandpa and Nan Fang say you managed both work and family well, taking good care of them. Thank you.”
Hu Jia Sheng shook his hand.
“That’s too kind of them. It was my duty. You managed for so many years alone, you did better than me.”
They smiled at each other. Zhan Bei Jue patted his shoulder and let go.
“Alright, you carry on with your work. I haven’t been to the company in a long time, so I don’t know how things have developed. I just came to take a look. You focus on your work, I’ll go for a stroll.”
He bore no ill will towards Hu Jia Sheng.
After all, he was his elder brother by blood. Since he had said he would step down, he had handed over the reins and wouldn’t encroach on his territory.
Zhan Bei Jue had that resolve.
However, Hu Jia Sheng felt a bit uneasy.
He didn’t know if Zhan Bei Jue was genuinely magnanimous or just pretending.
Zhan Bei Jue hadn’t asked a single question about the company’s affairs and had even yielded his position back to him. If he was truly magnanimous, Hu Jia Sheng didn’t believe anyone could achieve that.
If he was pretending…
Hadn’t his sincere efforts over the past half year, and his thirty-one years of hard work and patience, gone to waste?
Zhan Bei Jue left the president’s office and toured each department.
Finance, sales, technology, marketing… Seeing him in their respective departments, and in such good spirits, made everyone very excited.
Especially the department heads, who vied to introduce him to the achievements of each department during his absence.
They were basically the same projects as before. Those that needed to be wrapped up were completed, and those that were expanding to phase two or three had already begun, all progressing smoothly.
Zhan Bei Jue was pleased. He encouraged them to do their best, assuring them that the company would not mistreat them, and then prepared to leave.
However, before he left each department, everyone would stop him to ask a question.
“When are you coming back to work?”
“Having worked under you for so many years, I feel particularly secure. Honestly, when you first left, we were all quite lost…”
In Zhan Bei Jue’s eyes, his subordinates saying this was merely an expression of respect.
After all, his surname was Zhan, and the company’s surname was Zhan.
Making him happy would ensure their careers went smoothly.
Therefore, he didn’t take their words too seriously, no matter what they said.
“President Hu is a very capable person with a strong sense of responsibility. It’s normal to feel a bit distant when you first meet someone; with time, I believe you will like him very much.”
“Security is earned, not given by me. I wouldn’t dare to accept such praise.”
He seemed to have made a joke, indicating his intention to step down.
Everyone was immediately confused again.
What was this person named Hu’s background?
He had managed to make Zhan Bei Jue willingly step down from his trusted position?
By all accounts, Hu Jia Sheng wasn't bad.
His looks, physique, work ability, personality, and even because he was new, he was much easier to get along with than Zhan Bei Jue.
But, somehow, they just couldn’t warm up to him.
The phrase "preconceived notion" was too powerful.
After touring all the departments, it was lunchtime.
Zhou Jin Bei asked Zhan Bei Jue to join her for lunch in the cafeteria.
“I don’t have much work to do, and I won’t be here this afternoon. What should I eat?”
Zhou Jin Bei said.
“To quickly establish myself in the company, I deliberately created a rumor with you. Now that you’ve gotten married, and the bride isn’t me, everyone is mocking me.”
“I don’t care. One way or another, you have to save face for me.”
And so, Zhan Bei Jue was dragged by her into the staff cafeteria.
It was the peak lunch hour, and the cafeteria was full of people.
The moment Zhou Jin Bei linked her arm with his and stepped inside, all eyes were drawn to them.
Zhou Jin Bei deliberately raised her voice.
“Second Brother, what do you want to eat? The chefs have developed a few new dishes recently. Can you let our admin staff help taste them and see if they’re worth promoting? Shall we try them together?”
Zhan Bei Jue’s voice was also quite loud.
“This is the company. During working hours, call me President Zhan. You are not allowed to call me Second Brother.”
“……”
“And your hands, take them off. What is this behavior, holding onto someone during working hours?”
They got their food and sat in a corner.
Zhan Bei Jue kicked Zhou Jin Bei under the table.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve played an actor, acting in front of the public, and I’m dedicating it to you. Remember my great kindness.”