Chapter 18: A New Secretary’s Bewildering Start

The atmosphere within the secretarial office seemed to subtly shift with Bai Mengqi’s arrival.

Bai Mengqi felt a wave of surprise after hearing Zi Yanran’s words. However, her reaction was swift. She quickly leaned closer to Zi Yanran’s ear, deliberately lowering her voice.

“Hey, I don’t understand anything! You want me to be their superior?”

Zi Yanran, however, maintained her calm demeanor, as if everything was perfectly within her control.

She subtly raised her chin, turning her head as she slowly whispered, “You can learn if you don’t understand. This vast corporation will be yours and mine eventually; how can you manage if you don’t know anything?”

In a sense, this was indeed true, though Bai Mengqi had yet to realize it.

At that moment, she was still lost in the confusion surrounding her future work, never even considering such profound implications.

Thus, the moment Zi Yanran’s words left her lips, Bai Mengqi was instantly startled.

Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, her face a mask of astonishment, as if she had just heard some fantastical tale.

Zi Yanran, however, showed no intention of elaborating further. Instead, she elegantly gestured towards Zhou Xiaodie and the others, stating, “Secretary Bai is new and isn’t yet familiar with the company’s procedures or her tasks. You all must actively cooperate with her. I have other matters to attend to, so you can speak with her.”

With that, she took light steps and walked directly into her office.

Bai Mengqi was just about to speak, intending to ask for clarification on the situation, but Zi Yanran had already deftly closed the door.

The resounding ‘thud’ of the door closing sealed away all the questions in Bai Mengqi’s mind.

She gazed at the closed door, sighing helplessly, and muttered to herself, ‘No, I… this is far too simple and crude.’

Zhou Xiaodie and the others watched Bai Mengqi standing blankly by the door, each of them secretly wondering about the relationship between this young woman and their boss.

They exchanged meaningful glances, and while they maintained polite and professional facades, their underlying curiosity was utterly irrepressible.

****

Back in her office, the moment Zi Yanran stepped inside, her face involuntarily brightened with a joyous and relaxed smile.

She walked to the window, gazing out at the bustling city view, her mood exceptionally cheerful. She softly murmured, “Oh! Finally, there’s something to look forward to in the days ahead. Hehe.”

Afterward, she settled into her comfortable office chair, chuckled softly, and began to tackle the tasks that had accumulated during her few hours away.

Outside, Bai Mengqi could only steel herself, turn around, and face Zhou Xiaodie and the others. She forced a slight, somewhat reserved smile as she greeted everyone, “Um, hello everyone, I’m Bai Mengqi. I hope you’ll all guide me well in my work from now on.”

Though her voice was clear, a hint of nervousness was discernible within it.

The moment her words faded, everyone immediately bowed respectfully to Bai Mengqi, saying in unison, “Please guide us as well, Secretary Bai.”

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their attitudes exceptionally deferential, yet this excessive politeness made Bai Mengqi quite uncomfortable.

She instantly flustered, responding with a hurried wave of her hands, “No, no, no, there’s no need for such formality, everyone.”

In truth, they were merely offering a polite greeting to their superior.

Before the arrival of a dedicated secretary, they had all reported directly to Zi Yanran, making the workflow relatively simple and straightforward.

Now, with a dedicated secretary, that secretary became their direct superior.

This implied that future work reports would first go to Bai Mengqi, who would then forward them to Zi Yanran, thus complicating the entire reporting chain.

“Secretary Bai, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything you don’t understand. My name is Han Li, it’s a pleasure to work with you.”

A slightly older female secretary was the first to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere, introducing herself with a gentle smile and a warm demeanor.

Seeing this, the other secretaries also began to introduce themselves, each one appearing enthusiastic and friendly. Only Zhou Xiaodie remained somewhat aloof.

“Secretary Bai, we’ve already met, so there’s no need for further introductions. Our CEO’s secretarial office comprises eight people, responsible for communicating with subordinate departments, with each person handling different areas. Previously, we reported directly to President Zi. Now that you’re here, we will first report to you, and then you will communicate with President Zi.”

Zhou Xiaodie went straight to the point, speaking with crisp efficiency and no unnecessary preamble. While her words appeared to explain Bai Mengqi’s duties, they contained no specific details, instead resembling a broad outline of the work process.

“Oh! So what exactly should I be doing? Could you explain it?”

Bai Mengqi remained utterly bewildered, her clear, wide eyes gazing blankly at Zhou Xiaodie and the others. She urgently wished to understand the specific tasks she would be responsible for.

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s question, Zhou Xiaodie and the others couldn’t help but exchange glances, expressions of puzzlement dawning on their faces.

In their view, the position of dedicated Executive CEO Secretary was not one that just anyone could hold; it required at least an experienced industry elite.

This role was far too crucial, differing vastly from that of a regular secretary. It was a position close to the core of power, playing a vital part in the group’s operations.

How could a fresh university graduate possibly be competent enough? Moreover, her age didn’t meet the requirements; one needed at least five years of experience in a related position within a large corporation to qualify.

“Huh? Secretary Bai, have you never held a relevant position before?”

Zhou Xiaodie asked, feigning ignorance. A hint of barely concealed surprise flickered in her eyes, and though she had likely already guessed the answer, she couldn’t resist confirming it once more.

Bai Mengqi helplessly spread her hands, a wry smile on her face, and said, “I just graduated from university; I’m a fresh graduate.”

Her voice carried a touch of self-deprecation, as she knew how unbelievable her current situation must appear to these seasoned professionals.

At her words, everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

Their eyes widened, mouths agape, as if they had just received incredibly shocking news.

“This? A complete newcomer?”

Someone couldn’t help but whisper.

Bai Mengqi could discern their thoughts, and she understood that her current predicament was indeed quite preposterous.

Standing there, she felt like a child who had stumbled into the adult world, where everything around her was so unfamiliar and overwhelming.

After a brief moment of astonishment, Zhou Xiaodie and the others began to re-evaluate Bai Mengqi.

Though many doubts lingered in their minds, they also knew that since President Zi had made the arrangement, there must be a reason behind it.

Meanwhile, Bai Mengqi was also striving to compose herself. She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and looking at Zhou Xiaodie and the others, offered another slightly forced smile, saying, “I know I might not understand anything right now, but I will work hard to learn. Please take good care of me.”

Zhou Xiaodie nodded slightly and said, “Secretary Bai, since you possess such determination, we will naturally cooperate with you fully. However, the work of a dedicated Executive CEO Secretary is not simple; you must be mentally prepared.”

Her tone clearly carried a certain emotion.

The other secretaries also chimed in, echoing Zhou Xiaodie’s words and promising to do their best to help Bai Mengqi quickly familiarize herself with the work.

In the time that followed, Zhou Xiaodie and the others began to give Bai Mengqi a general overview of the basic work procedures and important considerations.

They started with the daily sending and receiving of documents, instructing Bai Mengqi on how to categorize and organize different types of files. They also explained how to mark their importance, ensuring President Zi could quickly and accurately access the necessary documents.

They then discussed the key points of communicating with various subordinate departments, such as carefully managing one’s tone and promptly relaying departmental issues and needs.

Bai Mengqi listened with exceptional diligence, holding a small notebook in her hand and continuously jotting down the key points everyone mentioned.

Soon, Bai Mengqi gradually gained a preliminary understanding of her job responsibilities.