boyutpedia Chapter 2: The Landlady's Unexpected Hijacking
Chapter 2: The Landlady's Unexpected Hijacking
In the game of thrones, newcomers are merely unexpectedly useful pawns, and the players don't care whether the pawns want them or not.
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Over the next few days, Zeng Jia worked tirelessly from both inside and outside the company, and Wang Haowen finally overcame all obstacles to enter the final round. His last meeting with the big boss, Zhang Zhishan, was scheduled for 10 a.m.
Zeng Jia was sent to the social security center to handle a labor dispute early in the morning. By the time she rushed to the company, she glanced at her phone and realized it was already 11 o'clock.
She quickly sent Wang Haowen a WeChat message: "How's it going, buddy?"
Wang Haowen replied instantly: "Got it, sis, I'm filling out the onboarding form with HR right now!"
Zeng Jia felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, and her aching calves, which had been running around all morning, felt much lighter. She quickly gave Wang Haowen the location of a local authentic "dalian huoshao" (a type of fried dough) restaurant near the company, saying, "Come over when it's all settled, it's on me!"
Wang Haowen replied with a grinning "OK" emoji and sat down at an empty seat in the HR department to fill out his onboarding documents. Accustomed to casual sportswear, the collar of his suit made his neck ache. He reached into his collar with his left index finger, trying to loosen it up, while his right hand continued filling out the form without stopping.
Inside the office area, the crisp sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed, like a death knell. Yu Li emerged from her office with a slight frown; she had just hung up the phone with the wife of the CEO of HS Capital. She had invited her to a casual lunch at a private restaurant and offered to introduce her to a female boss in luxury goods investment and someone from the financial media. Yu Li knew this was a good opportunity to expand her business, but she had her doubts. Her assistant had just resigned yesterday, and she didn't even have anyone to carry her bag. It was like going to war unarmed; those shrewd wives might praise her for being "down-to-earth" to her face, but behind her back, they were probably gossiping that she was being suppressed by Zhang Zhishan.
Her eyes swept towards the administration department, wondering if she should temporarily find someone to fill in. She happened to catch a glimpse of Wang Haowen struggling with his collar in the corner: young, handsome, and well-proportioned, he looked vaguely familiar? Like some minor celebrity?
Wang Haowen felt a chill run down the back of his neck, as if he were being scrutinized by two X-ray-like gazes. He instinctively looked up sharply, meeting Yu Li's appraising gaze. The woman was dressed in a Chanel black and white checkered tweed suit, so crisp it could cut paper, and a Van Cleef & Arpels four-leaf clover brooch on her chest gleamed with a cold, eerie light. She carried a large Birkin bag, her aura so powerful it could create a protective barrier. Wang Haowen didn't recognize the brand, but her seasoned sharpness and scrutinizing gaze, especially the subtle calculation hidden in the fine lines around her eyes, instantly made him feel like a prisoner being interrogated.
"New here? What's your name?" Yu Li's voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of nonchalant condescension.
Wang Haowen stood up abruptly. "Hello, Ms. Yu, my name is Wang Haowen." This aura could only belong to Yu Li.
Yu Li didn't even lift her eyelids, and directly shoved the heavy Hermes Birkin in front of him, saying, "Come out with me for a while, I'll temporarily fill in for you."
Before Wang Haowen could even process what was happening, his hand had already reflexively caught the bag. By the time he came to his senses, Yu Li's high heels were already a long way off. His heart skipped a beat. He hadn't even finished filling out the job application, and he'd already been given this job out of nowhere? But given the situation, did he dare say "no"?
He quickly whispered to Dong Miaomiao, a young woman in the HR department, "I'll fill out the form when I get back," and then jogged after her, frantically texting Zeng Jia on his phone as he ran: "Sorry, honey, we can't have any 'huoshao' (a type of flatbread), the boss's wife conscripted me!"
Zeng Jia was sitting in the dalian huoshao (a type of baked bun) shop, completely unaware of Wang Haowen's message. Two trays of beef huoshao were sizzling in front of her, but she had no appetite for them. Just moments before, an old woman at the next table had been leisurely sipping her millet porridge, chewing on half a huoshao with her other hand. After only a couple of bites, her face turned bright red, like a purple eggplant, and she clutched her neck tightly, making a hoarse, bellowing sound. Zeng Jia immediately exclaimed, "That old lady is choking!"
The shop erupted in chaos. The staff immediately dialed 120 (emergency services), and the guests kept their distance. Zeng Jia was also apprehensive; she wanted to help but was afraid of being scammed. Ultimately, she couldn't bear to just stand by and watch. She rushed over, wrapped her arms around the old woman's waist from behind, and, using the Heimlich maneuver, thrust once, twice, three times with all her might…
With a "poof," a hard, burning sesame seed finally burst out, and the old lady caught her breath.
Zeng Jia breathed a sigh of relief, then looked down and realized she was doomed. Her Xiaomi phone was soaking in the old lady's bowl of millet porridge! She quickly fished it out, scrubbed it, turned it off, and turned it back on—black screen! Black screen! Still black screen!
Zeng Jia was so angry she was practically clicking her tongue. This phone was a gift from Wang Haowen when she first started working two years ago. Saving a life is a great act of merit, so why was she being asked to pay for it?
Clutching her soaking wet phone, she watched the ambulance take the old lady away, and could only sit idly in the flatbread shop waiting. The call ended, and she couldn't pay for the flatbread. The longer she waited, the angrier she became: Wang Haowen, you're a true Beijing alleyway hustler! The flatbread shop is just around the corner from my office building, how could you get lost on an 120-meter stretch? What are you dawdling about!
Wang Haowen had no idea that Zeng Jia was in the midst of a chaotic scene; he was busy playing the role of the "all-around straight man and devoted follower." Yu Li took him to a private club, which was clearly Yu Li's domain. She nodded to the head chef, who immediately understood. The dishes that were served, even the leafy greens, exuded an arrogant "I'm expensive" vibe. The sauce was drizzled like a work of art, shimmering with gold, and the plating and carvings were definitely worthy of an art award.
This was his first time dining with a group of women he considered "unapproachable." Seeing the CEO's wife from HS Capital chase the waiter away, he immediately understood and took her place. He had only one thought in mind: make this ambush a success, avoid any trouble, and keep his job. Fortunately, he'd spent his childhood chatting with middle-aged women from all over the country in the alleyways, and he was quite adept at flattery and sycophancy.
One wife complained that staying up late to see an exhibition had caused fine lines around her eyes, to which he immediately retorted, "These aren't wrinkles, they're wisdom lines! You can't grow them without some skill!" When one wife's glass was empty, he swiftly reached over and refilled it, his timing impeccable. When the atmosphere became slightly awkward, he immediately cracked a down-to-earth joke, managing to make all the women at the table, each with their own thoughts, burst into laughter, filling the private room with continuous cheers.
While chatting and laughing with the other ladies, Yu Li kept a close eye on Wang Haowen out of the corner of her eye. She had originally intended to find a temporary replacement to fill the void, but she hadn't expected this young man to be so perceptive. He was sweet-talking, quick-witted, perceptive, and had an exceptional ability to read people's expressions; he managed to handle the group of shrewd women flawlessly. Crucially, he didn't show any weakness and maintained a perfect sense of propriety.
On the way back, Yu Li sat in the back seat with her eyes closed, resting, while Wang Haowen huddled in the passenger seat, scanning the Bentley's luxurious interior with his eyes like a scanner.
He even secretly took out his phone and tapped it. Why hadn't Zeng Jia replied yet? He'd spent the whole afternoon serving her tea and water, smiling and running errands; surely Yu Li was satisfied by now? Would he still be able to get Zhang Zhishan's secretary position when he got back this afternoon?
As Wang Haowen was pondering this, Yu Li suddenly spoke up, her voice indifferent and devoid of emotion, "How long have you been at Tianyi? I've never seen you before."
Wang Haowen's heart skipped a beat. He quickly turned around and forced a bright smile. "Replying to President Yu, I just passed the final interview this morning. When you called me, I had only filled out half of my employment application."
Yu Li slowly opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on his face like a searchlight. The only position available for Zhang Zhishan's secretary was the final exam that morning.
Why was she brought in and used by Zhang Zhishan's man by some twist of fate? A half-smile curled at the corner of her lips, but there was no warmth in her eyes. "Perfect timing. I need a young and energetic senior assistant. You'll fill in."
Wang Haowen's mind went blank for a second, as if he'd been hit over the head with a blunt object. His boss wanted to poach him as an assistant?!
He recalled Zeng Jia saying that the couple were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds. Looking at Yu Li's eyes, he realized that this was no discussion; it was a death stare that said, "If you dare say no, you're fired immediately."
He just wanted to find a job as soon as possible, earn money, and fulfill his promise to Zeng Jia to buy her a house. Either way, it was a job offered by fate; what difference did it make which one he took?
Wang Haowen steeled his resolve, his eyes instantly switching to "loyal subordinate" mode, displaying just the right amount of flattery. "Yes, of course I'm willing! Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Yu. Don't worry, I'll definitely do my job well and won't let you down!"