To outsiders, her hiring seemed to follow all normal procedures, as Xie Zhendong had even specifically arranged for Xie Group to hold a large recruitment fair.
She was the one who stood out from the recruitment fair. After officially joining, she discovered that Xie Zhendong already had two male assistants, and she was the third assistant, primarily responsible for logistics and secretarial work.
"You've truly found your footing by Xie Zong's side." Zhao Jianhua appeared beside her at some point, as if by chance.
Zhao Jianhua was naturally indispensable at today's launch ceremony. Nominally, he was the contractor for this project, but in reality, his group was investing and handling the actual operations.
When she first understood this, she couldn't believe Zhao Jianhua would do something so unprofitable. But on second thought, this was probably why he wanted to send her away.
"Xie Zong favors me," Zhan Jiayi looked up at him. The angle was against the light, making his face appear even more hideous.
"It's good that he's satisfied with you," Zhao Jianhua said, reaching out to pinch her waist. "I've really missed how you are in bed."
Zhan Jiayi cursed him for being shameless in her heart, but outwardly smiled and said, "Director Zhao, you're touching Xie Zong's woman now. Aren't you afraid of failing?"
Zhao Jianhua quickly distanced himself from her and said, "I'm just kidding. By the way, you seem to be doing a good job as an assistant. What kind of work did you do before? Have you done similar work?"
"I worked as a general clerk in a company," Zhan Jiayi said dismissively. "I'm working at Xie's not just to help you more. Having a job like this is better than passively waiting for Xie Zong to remember me."
Zhao Jianhua praised her, "Smart. You're indeed different from those women. Remember to let me know if you find out anything good from Xie Zong."
"I understand. The stock price of Renhe Department Store under Xie's will rise recently. You should buy more shares," Zhan Jiayi said, wanting to end the conversation and giving him a small, immediate benefit.
"Okay, I'll listen to you," Zhao Jianhua said. As he was about to turn and go elsewhere, he cautioned her again, "I heard your brother is about to graduate from university and is having trouble finding a job. I'll recruit him into my group and take good care of him, so you don't have to worry."
"Thank you for your concern, Director Zhao," Zhan Jiayi watched him walk away, feeling even worse.
He wanted to use her brother as leverage. She would rather her brother find any ordinary job than go to Zhao Jianhua's real estate group.
But she couldn't intervene. Her brother wouldn't understand and would definitely prefer to join a large group and hold a good position.
Moreover, even if she succeeded in intervening, Zhao Jianhua would find other ways to control her. For now, she could only endure.
Currently, neither Xie Zhendong nor Zhao Jianhua knew that she had previously worked as an assistant at Shu's. At that time, Shu Zhongze, to guard against her, had destroyed her previous work records.
At the time, she had felt Shu Zhongze was too heartless. Now, it seemed to be a good thing for her to achieve her plan.
...
In the evening, Tianyi only sent a message to Susu saying he had to work overtime, without mentioning when he would be back.
Around ten o'clock, Susu lay in bed alone, thinking about various things and drifting off to sleep. She felt someone enter the bedroom and woke up.
She squinted and looked. Seeing the back, she knew it was Tianyi who had returned. She closed her eyes again, pretending to be asleep.
Until Tianyi took a shower and lay down beside her, she thought he would fall asleep quickly after a day's hard work. But she felt he seemed to have something on his mind and couldn't sleep.
Susu couldn't help but turn over and look at him. She saw his hair was half wet and messy, his eyes were tired but not sleepy.
"Did I wake you up?" Tianyi whispered in her ear.
Susu hummed and asked, "Is something wrong at the group that's keeping you from sleeping?"
"A project has encountered some difficulties," Tianyi hugged her, leaning towards her, like a spoiled child seeking warmth.
Susu rubbed his still slightly wet hair and smiled, "No one would know that the usually meticulous, perfect, and serious President Qin can also look so disheveled and cute."
Tianyi blew air into her ear and also smiled, "I want to be like the children and have you hug and kiss me."
Susu hugged his head and gave a big kiss to the place on his head that had been injured before, asking, "Does it still hurt here?"
"The stitches have been removed, it doesn't hurt anymore," Tianyi buried his head in her arms, acting like a child and continuing to act spoiled.
Susu dodged him with a smile, "You're so old, you're annoying."
Tianyi, however, held her tightly and said in a childish voice, "No, wifey, hug me."
Susu was amused and helpless, and they joked for a while, feeling much better.
But they became more energetic and still couldn't sleep. Susu thought of the news she had seen during the day and said, "Tianyi, I saw a video online today. Guess who I saw in the video?"
"Can't guess," Tianyi replied lazily.
"Zhan Jiayi." Susu, fearing he might not remember this person, added, "She was my father's female assistant before, and then she got involved with my father."
"I know. Didn't you say she was pregnant and your father sent her abroad to give birth?" Tianyi asked casually.
He remembered being a little worried at the time that Zhan Jiayi, pregnant, might compete with Susu for the inheritance of Shu's. But later, after hearing she was pregnant, he never saw her again, and Shu Zhongze never mentioned her again.
He guessed that Shu Zhongze had handled the matter very well.
Shu Zhongze had met countless women, and dealing with a young female assistant should have been more than enough.
Susu said, "I don't know what's going on. I saw her once last time, and she didn't have a child with her. But I checked the news video about the public welfare project to be launched, and it turns out to be a project of Xie Group. It seems she's working at Xie's."
"So you're talking about the cultural wall project?" Tianyi also found it too coincidental.
"Yes, you know that too," Susu looked at him.
He sighed, "Of course I know. We are currently competing with Xie's for a city construction project, so we are paying close attention to their every move."
"Are you worried that you won't be able to win the bid against Xie Group?" Susu guessed his thoughts and asked.
Tianyi said, "The end of the year is approaching. If we don't get this project, it's uncertain whether the group will make a profit or a loss this year. In any case, it will have some impact on the group."
"Is Xie Zhendong deliberately targeting you because of his son's matter, wanting to snatch the project from you?" Susu asked.
Tianyi smiled and said objectively, "Not necessarily. Everyone is a businessman and pursues profit. Regardless of whether he wants to avenge his son, getting this project would also be very beneficial to their Xie's."
Susu immediately realized something and asked, "His cultural wall public welfare project is related to the city construction project you mentioned, right? Establishing a good image with the city construction leaders first will give him extra points during the bidding."