What to Do When Mistaken for the CEO’s Brother? 3

Chapter 3

“Is the car here?” Murong Yan frowned slightly, checking the time on his computer screen after finishing his emails.

“It’s waiting at the entrance of Building II,” his secretary, Duan Shao, quickly replied.

“Just arrived?” Murong Yan’s eyes sharpened.

Duan Shao nervously licked his lips. “It’s been waiting for a while.”

Before the new employee orientation, HR had informed him that a particularly outstanding new hire had been chosen to speak as a representative.

Although HR hadn’t elaborated, Duan Shao understood the implied request for Murong Yan to stay and listen to the speech. He inquired about the representative’s name and had a hunch.

A new employee surnamed Murong. HR clearly assumed he was related to the CEO and wanted to gauge Murong Yan’s reaction.

Although Duan Shao hadn’t explicitly stated this, Murong Yan understood his secretary’s apprehension. Glancing at the screen displaying the name “Murong Cheng” as the outstanding new employee representative, Murong Yan stood up. While the young man with the youthful face was still on stage awaiting the emcee’s introduction, Murong Yan slipped out the side door of the auditorium.

His black Rolls-Royce was waiting at the entrance.

The driver opened the door. Murong Yan settled into the back seat, closed the black curtains on the windows, and closed his eyes.

Duan Shao got into the front passenger seat, told the driver their next destination, and then hesitated, glancing at Murong Yan in the rearview mirror.

“Speak,” Murong Yan commanded, his eyes still closed, somehow aware of Duan Shao’s gaze.

“CEO Murong, the new employee representative who just spoke—”

Murong Yan interrupted before Duan Shao could finish.

“I don’t know him.”

Anticipating the question, he answered directly.

Duan Shao hesitated. “HR might have misunderstood…”

“Don’t worry about it.” Murong Yan opened his eyes, giving Duan Shao a brief glance.

Many in the company, especially in upper management, tried to use his family name to their advantage. HR, particularly adept at navigating the political landscape, was always trying to glean information.

However, Murong Yan never responded to such trivial matters.

Although this particular misunderstanding seemed to stem solely from a shared surname, rather than any deliberate attempt by the young man to mislead anyone, it was ultimately inconsequential. Whether the young man was treated as an ordinary employee or as a member of the Murong family made no difference to him.

“Understood, CEO Murong,” Duan Shao acknowledged, accepting the directive.

“The documents for the meeting later?” Murong Yan’s gaze remained fixed on him.

“Oh, right!” Duan Shao hurriedly pulled out a tablet from his bag, unlocked it, brought up the required documents, and handed it to the back seat. “Here, everything’s prepared.”

Back in the auditorium, the emcee’s introduction was lengthy, summarizing the previous speeches, praising the new employee representative, and expressing expectations for all new hires.

Murong Cheng stood awkwardly on stage as a backdrop until the emcee finally finished and moved on to the next segment, where department heads would introduce their respective departments. He then seized the opportunity to leave the stage with the emcee and slipped back into the audience through a side door.

Mu Haoqiong had arrived early and secured a good spot in the second-to-last row, saving a seat near the aisle for Murong Cheng.

When Murong Cheng sat down, Mu Haoqiong was engrossed in coding. Lacking a mouse, he occasionally used the laptop’s touchpad, grimacing when its lack of sensitivity caused him to click the wrong areas.

“You guys are that busy?” Murong Cheng glanced curiously at Mu Haoqiong’s screen.

Mu Haoqiong, still focused on his code, replied slowly, “Yeah, the company’s new product launch is coming up.”

“New product launch? When?”

“September. Guangyu has two new product releases every year, in September and March,” Mu Haoqiong replied matter-of-factly, glancing up.

This reminded Murong Cheng that during the department’s monthly meeting a few days prior, Manager Xu Yayun had indeed mentioned the upcoming product launch and the department’s intense preparations for the promotional campaign.

Guangyu’s new model for this year was an upgrade of their best-selling Light City series. The Light City series was a city coupe with a minimalist design, futuristic color scheme, and the internationally acclaimed Pilot intelligent driving assistance system. This year’s upgrade was an SUV model more suitable for families. The new Light City Go series featured an upgraded intelligent driving assistance system with improved sensitivity, faster response times, and higher navigation accuracy. It also boasted increased battery capacity for a longer driving range, catering to customer travel needs.

However, it was already August—

Murong Cheng glanced at the incomprehensible code on Mu Haoqiong’s screen. “The new product isn’t finished yet? It’s launching in September?”

“You overestimate me,” Mu Haoqiong said, running a hand through his hair. “The core team is working on the intelligent driving system. I’m helping with the company’s promotional system.”

Oh? Also related to promotion?

Murong Cheng: “So your team frequently interacts with our department?”

“Yeah,” Mu Haoqiong nodded. “Your Manager Xu is our main client. We work for you guys.”

Mentioning their superiors, Murong Cheng suddenly remembered something. “Were you there when CEO Murong spoke earlier? Did you see what he looks like?”

“I did,” Mu Haoqiong looked up. “Imposing and distinguished, a true leader who has driven our company’s success.”

“Did you take any pictures?” Murong Cheng’s eyes sparkled with interest. “I was backstage and missed it.”

Mu Haoqiong shook his head. “No, CEO Murong doesn’t seem to like being photographed. But he really has that CEO aura, incredibly handsome. Even I couldn’t help but stare.”

CEO aura?

For some reason, the face of the General Manager of Legal Affairs from the orientation flashed through Murong Cheng’s mind.

That Cheng Geng fellow.

He was quite handsome too.

“What’s up? Regretting missing your ‘brother’?” Mu Haoqiong teased, seeing Murong Cheng lost in thought.

“Hey… Mu Haoqiong! Don’t say that!” Murong Cheng glanced around nervously and glared at his roommate.

“Don’t worry,” Mu Haoqiong stopped teasing him, returning his attention to his screen. “The product launch is in two weeks. There will be company-wide meetings.”

The biannual product launch was a major event. Company-wide meetings were a given, and the company’s leadership would travel across the country for roadshows to boost sales.

“So?” Murong Cheng didn’t follow.

“Product launch, company meetings… you’ll definitely see CEO Murong then.”

As the product launch approached, the Sales and Promotion Department bore the brunt of the increased workload. Developing sales strategies, planning roadshows, and organizing promotional activities all fell under their purview. The second most stressed department was Murong Cheng’s Brand Marketing, responsible for executing the sales strategies. With tight deadlines and a heavy workload for the promotional and PR campaigns, not only General Manager Xu Yayun but also the team leaders disappeared, attending meetings and negotiating partnerships.

After the new employee orientation, Murong Cheng found himself idle once again, his daily task reduced to following Zou Xun around, requesting materials about the upcoming product launch.

Friday morning, after breakfast in the downstairs cafeteria, Murong Cheng stepped out of the elevator on the 8th floor and sensed something amiss.

The entire floor was eerily quiet.

Usually, five minutes before the official start of work at 9 am, everyone would be at their workstations, busy. But today, from the elevator to his desk, he didn’t see a single familiar colleague.

Zou Xun wasn’t at her desk, neither was Team Leader Pan Yueyi, nor any other member of their team.

What was going on? Had everyone been sent on a business trip overnight?

Murong Cheng pulled out his phone, puzzled.

[Cheng: Xun-jie, are you in a meeting? Where is everyone?]

With no reply, he turned to his computer, restlessly refreshing his inbox and checking his phone every minute.

Still no reply from Zou Xun, but a message popped up from Mu Haoqiong.

[PoorPoor: Did something happen in your department?]

Murong Cheng grabbed his phone.

[Cheng: ?]

[Cheng: What happened?]

[PoorPoor: I’m asking you! I heard there’s a problem with a contract for a promotional image for the new product?]

Murong Cheng froze.

[Cheng: Why is a contract issue our department’s problem?]

[PoorPoor: It’s apparently about the contract for the promotional poster. Your department and the Legal Department are both involved.]

The Legal Department?

The words on the screen blurred, except for “Legal Department,” which seemed to glow.

The image of the strikingly handsome General Manager of Legal Affairs from the orientation flashed through his mind.

A strange urge to see that captivating man again washed over him.

[Cheng: What floor is the Legal Department on?]

[PoorPoor: 10th floor, I think. Why?]

Murong Cheng abruptly stood up, grabbed his phone, and started towards the elevators. Halfway there, he turned back and grabbed his laptop.

Just as he reached the 10th floor, he received a message from Zou Xun, telling him they were in meeting room 1001.

He pushed the door open just as Pan Yueyi was arguing with an unfamiliar woman, both looking furious.

Zou Xun waved him over. Murong Cheng quietly made his way to a corner seat.

“Jiang Xiaoyu, a fierce negotiator under Cheng Geng, the General Manager of Legal. Heard she used to be a lawyer.” Zou Xun noticed Murong Cheng’s confused expression and nodded towards the woman arguing with Pan Yueyi.

Murong Cheng nodded and looked around. He didn’t see Cheng Geng or Manager Xu Yayun. Judging by the intensity of the argument between Yueyi and Jiang Xiaoyu, there were probably no higher-ranking executives present.

“Your Legal Department approved the contract. Now that there’s a problem, instead of finding a solution, you’re reporting us to Secretary Duan. What’s the meaning of this?” Pan Yueyi’s usually gentle tone was sharp.

The legal team leader retorted, “The contracts are standard, reviewed annually by Legal. There’s nothing wrong with the contract itself. The problem is with the person, the person who signed it! Your Brand Marketing Department communicated with them and chose them. Are you trying to shift the blame to us?”

Pan Yueyi: “We had a perfectly good working relationship with them! I heard your Legal Department withheld their final payment over some clause, which is why they backed out. And now you’re saying it has nothing to do with you?”

Jiang Xiaoyu: “The contract was clear. They knew the terms when they signed. The important thing now is to find a solution! Doesn’t your Brand Marketing Department have a backup plan?”

The argument escalated, daggers flying between them.

Murong Cheng instinctively shrank back.

“Both general managers have been called upstairs,” Zou Xun pointed upwards with her index finger. “28th floor, CEO Murong’s office.”

“So what exactly happened?” Murong Cheng whispered.

The main promotional image for the new product launch had encountered a problem. The contracted artist, due to a dispute with the Legal Department, had withdrawn from the project.

“The product launch is imminent, and the main promotional image isn’t ready?” Murong Cheng was bewildered.

Zou Xun explained, “Most of the promotional images are done, except for the concept art. Because it requires the artist to create an illustration based on the new product’s concept, we usually wait until the last few weeks to avoid leaking trade secrets.”

Murong Cheng didn’t understand. “Then just find another artist from a different company, right?”

Zou Xun shook her head. “Our company has high standards for artists, and the requirements were discussed and agreed upon long ago. Finding a replacement with availability on such short notice is difficult.”

Although there were many artists available, Guangyu was known for its meticulous attention to detail, and this was the main promotional image for a new product launch. Not only CEO Murong, but even Manager Xu’s discerning eye meant that most artists wouldn’t be able to capture the essence of the new product in the concept art.

However, since the original partnership had dissolved, they had to find a new artist, no matter how difficult.

Zou Xun sighed and started scrolling through her contacts.

“If only I had an artist friend who could help… or a professor from the Academy of Fine Arts! I need recommendations.”

Murong Cheng didn’t know any professors, but as for artist friends, he happened to have one. An exceptionally talented artist, his childhood friend, who had won numerous creative awards at a young age. And most importantly, they were incredibly close.

The argument between Pan Yueyi and Jiang Xiaoyu seemed to have run its course, and the room gradually quieted down.

Murong Cheng licked his lips and hesitantly spoke, “I do know an artist…”

Constantly being treated as a freeloading relative wasn’t ideal; he needed to contribute something to the company. And—thinking of the handsome General Manager of Legal, Murong Cheng swallowed hard.

Wouldn’t this also be helping the Legal Department?

“He’s a friend of mine, very capable. I can contact him to come in for a trial.”