“President Song, you’re bringing Miss Lin into the meeting?” Zhang Qing asked, his voice laced with hesitation. He wanted to point out how inappropriate it was, but the words died in his throat.

“I am. You’re coming too,” Song Xu replied. He picked up his laptop from the desk and handed it to Zhang Qing. “Carry this for me.”

“Understood.” Zhang Qing took the laptop, secretly wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. Thank god. For a second there, I thought I was being replaced.

The three of them took the elevator to the twentieth floor. Most of the high-level executives had already gathered in the large conference room. When Song Xu and his entourage entered, only two seats at the very head of the table remained empty—reserved for the Chairman, Song Qingshi, and his assistant.

Lin Xi sat between Song Xu and Zhang Qing, feeling a wave of nervous energy. She leaned toward Song Xu and whispered, “President Song, are the seats here assigned?”

I hope I’m not sitting in someone’s designated spot.

Song Xu scanned the room, noting one particular absence. He gave a cold snort. “No. It’s first-come, first-served.”

Lin Xi relaxed. There were several empty chairs lining the back of the room; Zhang Qing had already grabbed one of them to join the main table.

Chairman Song Qingshi arrived exactly on time. After he and his assistant settled in, he looked across the table and his eyes landed on Lin Xi. He didn’t recognize her, nor could he recall Song Xu ever having such a young girl by his side.

“Xiao Xu, who is the young lady next to you?” Song Qingshi asked. This was an internal group meeting; much of the content was confidential and not meant for outsiders.

“She’s my newly hired secretary, Xiao Lin,” Song Xu introduced her curtly. “Lin Xi, this is my father. You can call him Uncle Song, or simply Chairman Song.”

The introduction left Lin Xi mortified. Call him ‘Uncle Song’ in the middle of a corporate meeting? How is this not just ‘meeting the parents’?

She quickly stood up to introduce herself properly. “Chairman, my name is Lin Xi. I was hired by President Song today as his secretary.”

Her demeanor was poised and her voice was clear—gentle without being overly soft. She made a very favorable impression. Song Qingshi nodded. “Please, have a seat.”

Since it was someone Song Xu had personally recruited, the Chairman didn’t press further. He was generally satisfied with his son’s judgment. He looked around the room and asked his assistant, “Is everyone here? Let’s begin.”

The Chairman’s assistant whispered a reminder, “We’re still waiting for Director Shu. Should we wait?”

Just as the words left his mouth, the door swung open. A man with a prominent beer belly waddled in, offering a half-hearted apology. “Apologies, I’m late.”

Song Qingshi’s expression soured. “Take your seat. We’re starting.”

Director Shu scanned the table, only to find that his usual spot—to the right of Song Xu—was occupied. In fact, there were two people sitting there now. One was Song Xu’s assistant, but who was the girl?

He didn’t recognize her. Walking over to Lin Xi, he tapped on the table. “Excuse me, you’re in my seat.”

Lin Xi looked up at him, then looked back at the empty tabletop. “There isn’t a name written here,” she replied calmly.

Lin Xi didn’t know who this man was, but Song Xu had already told her the seating wasn’t fixed. This man was clearly trying to pick on the “weakest” person in the room to assert dominance. Since she wasn’t a permanent employee, she didn’t fear office politics and saw no reason to indulge his bullying.

Director Shu’s face darkened at being defied in front of his peers. “Which department are you from? I’ve never seen you before. Did your supervisor never teach you how things are done here?”

Lin Xi remained unfazed, her voice devoid of any aggression. “My primary school teacher taught me to handle my own business. If there isn’t a chair available, a ‘good kid’ would go fetch one himself. Stealing someone else’s seat is hardly the behavior of a good kid.”

Cough! Several people in the room suddenly developed “coughs” to hide their stifled laughter.

Song Xu hid a smirk behind his hand. His “stubborn little stone” really knew how to talk. As long as she wasn’t aiming that sharp tongue at him, it was actually quite entertaining to listen to.

Director Shu’s face turned the color of a pig’s liver. Since she was a woman, he couldn’t exactly get physical. “Who brought her? Whose person is she?”

Song Xu finally spoke up. “The person sitting next to me is naturally mine. Does Director Shu have an objection?”

Director Shu’s bravado deflated by half. “Oh, she’s with the junior President Song. No wonder… You really ought to discipline your subordinates better.”

“No wonder what?” Song Xu’s eyes turned icy. “Is Director Shu dissatisfied with my staff, or are you dissatisfied with me personally?”

Song Xu had only been with the company for a year, but his style was strictly professional. He didn’t give “face” to anyone, including senior executives. Many veterans were unhappy with his lack of deference, and Director Shu was a ringleader of that sentiment.

Song Xu knew exactly what was going on. He was going to take over this company eventually, and these old relics were the first ones he intended to clean out. Relying on seniority wouldn’t work with him; he was running a business, not a charity.

Even my own father isn’t complaining, yet these old-timers think they can jump around? They’ve got the wrong man.

Director Shu huffed, clearly irritated. “You’re joking, Xiao Song. How could I be dissatisfied with you? It’s just obvious that you have no respect for us old-timers.”

Lin Xi ignored the drama, focusing instead on her notebook. Her pen moved swiftly across the page in an elegant, semi-cursive script.

“I have always focused on the work, not the person,” Song Xu countered coldly. “As long as you act upright and perform your duties, I, Song Xu, know how to show proper etiquette.”

“You…!” Director Shu’s hand trembled with rage. What was that supposed to mean? Was he accusing him of being corrupt in front of everyone?

“Xiao Xu,” Song Qingshi barked, cutting his son off. “That’s enough. We have a meeting to get through. Let’s not waste everyone’s time.”

The Chairman’s assistant quickly brought over a spare chair and placed it near Song Qingshi. “Director Shu, please, sit here.”

Taking the offered exit, Director Shu gave a final snort and sat down.

The meeting focused on the group’s key objectives for the final quarter and several major strategic decisions. Lin Xi listened intently, recording everything. There was a lot of jargon she didn’t understand, but that didn’t stop her from transcribing it all.

Beside her, Zhang Qing was also typing furiously. He felt a sudden, sharp sense of professional crisis. Seeing Lin Xi’s pen moving so fast it almost left afterimages made him realize he had some serious competition.

Song Xu leaned back in his chair, watching his two “secretaries” work with a sense of quiet satisfaction. One needed money to stay motivated; the other just needed a little competitive pressure.

—

When the meeting finally ended, Lin Xi massaged her aching wrist. It had been a long time since she’d written that much in one sitting.

Song Xu reached over and took her notebook. He flipped to the first page and saw the very first entry Lin Xi had recorded:

【Director Shu: Small-minded and lacks grace. Disloyal to President Song and harbors ulterior motives. Not a significant threat.】