Zhong Sheng said firmly, “No way. The HR manager personally informed me.”
Gu Shinan still couldn’t believe it. Peng Kai was just a high school graduate—what right did he have to receive a personal notice from the HR manager?
Peng Kai frowned tightly. “Manager Zhong, can someone else take me to complete the onboarding procedures? Or I can go by myself. I don’t want any interaction with Shinan.”
He didn’t want anything to do with Gu Shinan.
Gu Shinan was infuriated. She hadn’t even looked down on him yet, and he was already rejecting her! Just as she was about to scold him, Zhong Sheng gave her a sharp glare, signaling her to shut up.
Then he smiled at Peng Kai and said, “Peng Kai, I know Gu Shinan has some misunderstandings about you, which has made you uncomfortable.”
“But her work ability is unquestionable—she is outstanding in the Project Department. I plan to have you learn from her going forward.”
“The reason I’m having her take you to handle the onboarding is to help you get to know each other quickly, so you can get into the work rhythm as soon as possible.”
Gu Shinan was shocked. The master was actually making her mentor Peng Kai? What on earth was he thinking!
Peng Kai furrowed his brow even more. “Manager Zhong, isn’t there anyone else competent? I want a male colleague to teach me.”
His words stunned everyone in the Project Department.
Who was this guy to repeatedly contradict the manager?
Zhong Sheng, showing his patience, explained, “Gu Shinan is the most outstanding backbone of the Project Department.”
“If you want to learn something and get familiar with the department quickly, being by her side is the most suitable.”
“Peng Kai, our country promotes gender equality. Women hold up half the sky. We do not tolerate any belittling of women here.”
Peng Kai shook his head. “I’m not belittling women.”
Zhong Sheng laughed. “That’s good. Peng Kai, I’m the manager, and I’m doing this for your own good. I hope you can understand!”
“How about this: you first learn alongside Gu Shinan for a while. If you truly find it hard to adapt, then come to me to discuss switching mentors, alright?”
“If you insist on switching now in public, how do you think a girl would face that? As men, we need to have gentlemanly manners. Don’t you think so?”
With the matter put this plainly, what else could Peng Kai say? He frowned and replied, “Alright, I’ll do as Manager Zhong says.”
“Good, good. Then that’s settled,” Zhong Sheng smiled.
Gu Shinan was about to speak, but Zhong Sheng shot her a look, telling her to be quiet.
At that moment, Peng Kai’s phone rang—it was a message from his girlfriend.
“Brother Kai, are you at the company? How’s the new environment?”
Peng Kai’s gloomy mood lifted slightly, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He said to Zhong Sheng, “Manager Zhong, I want to use the restroom first. Can I complete the onboarding procedures in five minutes?”
He didn’t want to stand here any longer, enduring Gu Shinan’s suspicion. Instead of wasting time, he’d rather call his girlfriend.
Originally, he wanted to keep a low profile, not wanting anyone to know his true identity.
But judging by how attentive Zhong Sheng was toward him in the Project Manager’s office, it seemed the manager already knew.
Zhong Sheng smiled kindly. “Sure, no problem.”
Peng Kai strode straight toward the restroom. As soon as he left, Zhong Sheng’s expression changed, and he whispered to Gu Shinan, “Come in with me.”
Gu Shinan was inexplicably scolded and followed him into the office with a gloomy expression.
Zhong Sheng shut the door and immediately started berating her, “Do you know what his identity is? You just questioned him in public like that? You really don’t know what ‘disaster’ means!”
Gu Shinan lowered her head. “Master, I already knew him before. He’s just a high school graduate. How could he possibly get into Chen Group?”
Zhong Sheng was frustrated.
“You really are hopeless! I don’t even know what to say to you! He is the chairman’s long-lost son, the Taiziye of Chen Group. Even if he only graduated high school, this Chen Group will be his in the future.”
“Since you already knew him before, you should have used that relationship to your advantage, not publicly doubt him and embarrass him!”
“If you weren’t my own student, do you think you’d have gotten such a great opportunity to complete onboarding today?”
Gu Shinan was thunderstruck. She was completely stunned.
“Master, that can’t be true. How could he be the chairman’s long-lost son? Could there be some mistake?”
Zhong Sheng was speechless. His student usually had good emotional intelligence, so how did she turn into an idiot when it came to Peng Kai?
“I have some connections with the chairman’s driver. I called him out for dinner last night and personally extracted this information. Do you think he’d lie?”
Gu Shinan’s face turned pale.
She had abandoned him so harshly before.
Now that he had transformed into the Taiziye of Chen Group, would he take revenge on her?
Zhong Sheng saw her pale complexion and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Gu Shinan didn’t dare hide it and confessed that she and Peng Kai had once been lovers.
Zhong Sheng sighed. After a moment, he said, “Don’t worry. First love is the hardest to forget. Since he once cared so much for you, he definitely still has feelings in his heart.
If you treat him well in the company, perhaps old feelings will rekindle. Then you might become the lady of Chen Group.”
Gu Shinan’s eyes brightened.
***
Peng Kai found a quiet spot and quickly called his girlfriend.
Lan Hui was free for the moment. The moment she saw his call, she answered immediately. “Brother Kai, aren’t you at work right now? How do you have time to call me?”
Peng Kai smiled. “Girlfriend comes first.”
Lan Hui beamed. “You’re such a smooth talker.”
They exchanged a few light words.
Peng Kai said, “Maybe because I’m in a new environment, I just want to hear Fu Fu’s familiar voice—it comforts me.”
Lan Hui understood. Anyone starting a new job would feel out of place.
“Tonight after work, let’s go out for a big feast to celebrate your new job.”
Peng Kai smiled. “Sounds good. You pick the place, I’ll pick you up after work.”
Lan Hui nodded. “Okay, I won’t keep you. You should get back to work; it’s not appropriate to keep calling during work hours. See you tonight.”
Peng Kai replied with a hum and hung up. He slipped his phone into his pocket and returned to the Project Department.
Gu Shinan was already waiting there. When she saw Peng Kai return, the questioning look had vanished, replaced by a complete change of attitude.
“Peng Kai, this is your desk. Put your bag here first, I’ll take you to complete your onboarding now.”
Peng Kai nodded.
They walked in silence. Peng Kai became the embodiment of an ice-cold man. Gu Shinan wanted to speak, but he barely responded, except when the topic turned to work—then he asked more questions.
Peng Kai went to the HR department. The colleagues in the Project Department instantly exploded with speculation. Everyone was guessing about Peng Kai’s true identity.
He had just butted heads with Zhong Sheng and still got so much special treatment. His background must be extraordinary.
Some guessed he was the son of a high-ranking executive; others thought he was some rich second-generation heir…
In short, he was someone they couldn’t afford to offend.
***
At 5 p.m., Peng Kai clocked out right on time.
Gu Shinan spoke, “Peng Kai, since it’s your first day in the Project Department, everyone wants to gather to get to know each other better. The manager also wants this.”
Peng Kai frowned. “I have something today, no time. I’ll explain to the manager later by message.”
With that, he grabbed his bag and strode out.
Gu Shinan wanted to say more, but Peng Kai was already far ahead.
Lan Hui waited in the shop for half an hour before Peng Kai finally arrived.
Once she got into the car, Peng Kai hurried to explain, “Fu Fu, there was a traffic jam today. I made you wait a long time, right?”
Lan Hui smiled. “It’s okay, it’s rush hour after work. Drive slowly, don’t rush. Safety first.”
Peng Kai felt warm inside. “Okay.”
After driving for over ten minutes, Lan Hui glanced in the rearview mirror. “Brother Kai, I feel like there’s a car following us.”
Peng Kai laughed dryly. “Did you forget the bodyguards from yesterday who helped us move? Whenever I go out, they follow.”
Lan Hui suddenly understood. “That explains it.”
Peng Kai added, “My parents were scared out of their wits too. Last night when I went home to eat, they told me stories about my childhood.”
“I was taken away by enemies, but luckily, someone found me and left me at the orphanage’s door. Otherwise, I’d be dead long ago.”
Lan Hui shivered just hearing it. Even being a rich heir wasn’t easy.
“Fu Fu, what should we eat tonight?”
Lan Hui thought for a moment. “I remember there’s a local stew chicken restaurant near the school. Let’s go there.”
Peng Kai couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s your idea of a big feast?”
Lan Hui laughed back. “Of course! It’s an old establishment with great flavors.”
“Hmm.” Peng Kai smiled. “Next time I’ll take you to try steak.”
“Sure, once you get paid, we’ll go.”
Lan Hui curiously asked, “By the way, Brother Kai, how much is your monthly salary now that you’re working in the Project Department?”
Although Peng Kai was the Taiziye of Chen Group, status was one thing; salary was another.
Peng Kai hadn’t asked his parents about his salary, but when he signed the contract this morning, it stated an annual salary of 700,000 yuan.
“Converted to monthly, it should be a bit over 60,000 yuan.”
Lan Hui was stunned, then happily said, “So rich! Following you means I’ll eat well.”
Peng Kai looked at her with affection, her money-minded look was adorable.
His eyes full of tenderness, he said, “I’ll work hard to adapt. Besides the salary, there will be commissions on projects, so I’ll make sure you have meat to eat every day.”
Lan Hui giggled. “Alright, big brother.”
At the dinner table, they had just ordered chicken when Peng Kai’s phone kept buzzing.
Peng Kai awkwardly explained, “It’s from colleagues in the Project Department, about some work details.”
Lan Hui nodded. “Got it.”
The messages kept coming nonstop, even while they were eating.
Lan Hui trusted Peng Kai and didn’t think much of it, but Peng Kai couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Fu Fu, I have to tell you something. I hope you won’t get angry after hearing it.”
Lan Hui looked up at him. “What is it?”
Peng Kai took a deep breath. “I saw my ex-girlfriend today at the Project Department. Didn’t expect she’s also working at Chen Group!”
Lan Hui nodded. “I thought it would be something serious, but it’s nothing. Just keep your distance. I believe you can handle it well.”
Peng Kai sighed. “She’s in charge of mentoring me. In a way, she’s my master now, so there probably won’t be less contact.”
“Fu Fu, I hope you can understand. I really have let her go. My heart is full of you. Even if I work with her, I won’t glance her way.”
Lan Hui smiled and fed him a piece of chicken. “Of course I believe you. Just keep appropriate boundaries, and that’s enough.”
Peng Kai looked at her in surprise. “You really believe me? You’re not angry at all?”
Lan Hui shook her head smiling. “I’m not angry.”