Chapter 1
“Mr. Fu, here are the documents needed for the afternoon meeting,” the secretary said.
“Alright, thank you,” Fu Yu took the documents handed to him by the secretary and began to flip through them. After a while, he noticed that the secretary was still standing there and hadn’t left. “What’s the matter?”
The new secretary, Jiang Xiaowen, looked hesitant and unsure how to speak. After a moment of hesitation, she finally said, “Um… Mr. Fu, my mother has been sick these past two days, and I would like to take a day off to accompany her to the hospital.”
Fu Yu pursed his lips in contemplation.
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Xiaowen hurriedly added, “It’s okay if I can’t take the leave! I know you have a lot of work to handle these days, and everyone is very busy. It’s really…”
“I’ll give you two days off, but without pay, is that okay?” Fu Yu interrupted.
“Ah?” Jiang Xiaowen widened her eyes in surprise.
Fu Yu repeated his offer, and she nodded quickly in agreement, but with a hint of worry, she asked, “What about the tasks I’m responsible for…”
“I’ll take care of them,” Fu Yu said, lowering his head to focus on the documents, signaling that the topic was over. His tone remained as cold as usual.
Jiang Xiaowen quietly left the room and closed the door behind her, making an “OK” gesture to her colleagues outside the door.
“I knew it! Mr. Fu would definitely approve the leave!”
“Thank you, Sister Zhang. If it weren’t for your encouragement, I wouldn’t have dared to request time off,” Jiang Xiaowen sighed with relief. “I never expected Mr. Fu to be so accommodating. I’ve been so cautious for the past two months, fearing criticism.”
“It’s alright. Once you’ve been with the company for a while, you’ll realize that Mr. Fu may seem aloof, but he’s actually a good person!”
…
The afternoon meeting mainly focused on wrapping up a project that had kept them busy for several months, and they finally settled on the final plan. After Fu Yu put down the documents, he leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his temples to relieve the tension, and stretched his stiff shoulders and neck.
Tonight, he could probably go to his parents’ house to have dinner with them.
While work was important, in his heart, family always came first. Although his parents had handed over their large company to him right after he graduated from college, they had gone on their own path. Fortunately, he had an interest in architectural design, so he didn’t find it too burdensome.
After the meeting went smoothly as planned, Vice President Liu Kun stopped Fu Yu.
“I’ve heard recent news that the Xiao Group plans to build a five-star hotel in the city center, and they seem to be interested in hiring an external team for the design. Our company is on the candidate list.”
Fu Yu, who was usually composed, showed a hint of interest. “Xiao Group?”
“Yes, I’m old friends with their planning manager in City A. He asked me to prepare in advance,” Liu Kun said, excitement barely concealed. It was understandable; the Xiao Group was a well-known national conglomerate that had its roots in City A. They were involved in various industries, and their countless hotels included luxurious entertainment centers. This new project, however, was different since Xiao Group had always had an internal design team, making it difficult for external firms to get involved. This opportunity to bid externally was an excellent chance to raise the company’s profile further.
However, Fu Yu didn’t seem particularly thrilled. “Who’s in charge of this project?”
“He didn’t say, but I assume it’s Xiao Yongqing, the eldest grandson of the Xiao family. He’s been overseeing the hotel sector for the past two years.”
“Hmm,” Fu Yu nodded slightly.
As long as it’s not that person, he thought.
Liu Kun’s information proved accurate. A little over a week later, the Xiao Group disclosed the list of design companies they were considering for the hotel project. Aside from Dongjian, several well-known domestic firms and foreign design agencies were in the competition. The pressure was significant, but Dongjian had the advantage of being a local company with easy access to resources, giving them a good chance at securing the project.
According to Xiao Group’s requirements, the initial design draft was due in a month. Dongjian had experience in hotel design, but designing a massive five-star complex with various entertainment facilities, especially in the prime location of City A, was a rare and valuable opportunity. If done well, it could become a permanent landmark.
This project was undoubtedly the most significant one Fu Yu had handled since taking over the company. As a result, the entire company was once again in a state of intense work, even after the recent hectic period. Fortunately, they had received advance notice, allowing them to complete the initial draft in about three days.
At 9:00 PM, most of the employees had already gone home. Fu Yu leaned back in his office chair, massaging his temples to relieve the tension and fatigue. He took a sip of his now-cold coffee to stay alert while reviewing the design drafts for any potential flaws.
“Ding!” The computer chimed to signal a new email. Fu Yu moved the mouse and opened his inbox, seeing the subject line, “List of Attendees for Meeting with Xiao Group on XXth of Month X.”
His slender fingers scrolled down with the mouse wheel, and the first line caught his eye:
Xiao Group Representative: Xiao Yi.
Fu Yu’s coffee cup froze at his lips as he stared at those two words, lost in thought.
Xiao Yi… It had been over two years since they last met. Fu Yu thought Xiao Yi had given up the chase, but apparently, he hadn’t let go.
Once he snapped back to reality, he immediately called Liu Kun.
“Have you received the email with the list of attendees?”
“Huh? I haven’t checked it yet. What’s wrong?” Liu Kun was taken aback by Fu Yu’s unusual call, thinking something significant had happened. He quickly checked his email but didn’t see any issues.
“Why is Xiao Group’s representative Xiao Yi?”
Although Fu Yu’s focus seemed odd to Liu Kun, he answered honestly, “Xiao Yi is the youngest grandson of the Xiao family.”
“I know,” Fu Yu said, rubbing his temples, feeling a slight headache. “Why isn’t it Xiao Yongqing?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard that Xiao Yi has gradually taken on some responsibilities over the past two years, probably to help his older brother share the workload. It’s not surprising that he’s in charge this time.”
The call ended, leaving Liu Kun puzzled.