Chapter 13
See you tomorrow! What was he thinking? “See you tomorrow” was such a casual, inappropriate way to address the CEO!
That was the CEO of Guangyu Group! Not Mu Haoqiong, not Chi Yu!
The moment he closed the car door, Murong Cheng regretted his words, wishing he could bite his tongue.
As the taillights of the Rolls-Royce disappeared into the night, he ran a hand through his hair and slowly walked back to his apartment.
Whether due to his careless “See you tomorrow” or as a reward for working overtime on his first day as CEO’s assistant, Murong Cheng didn’t see the CEO, or Duan Shao, for the next few days.
He briefly returned to his previous state of leisure, but things were different now.
On his second day on the 28th floor, news of his transfer from Brand Marketing to the CEO’s office spread throughout the company.
[PoorPoor: You’re CEO Murong’s assistant now???]
[PoorPoor: Seriously? Tell me! I heard it from someone else! Are we even friends?]
Murong Cheng was in the elevator, pondering how to reply, when the doors opened on the R&D floor, and Mu Haoqiong stepped inside.
“Murong Cheng! What a coincidence!” The crowded elevator wasn’t the place for a lengthy conversation. Mu Haoqiong waited until they reached the cafeteria in the basement. Stepping out, he threw an arm around Murong Cheng’s neck. “Come on, confess. How did you snag the CEO?”
Murong Cheng quickly covered his mouth. “Snag? We’re at the company! Watch your language!”
The company wasn’t the place for gossip. After lunch, they walked across the street to a shopping mall.
Having experienced the emotional rollercoaster of almost being fired and then being reinstated, Murong Cheng recounted everything to Mu Haoqiong, who listened with disbelief.
“Why would CEO Murong care about a newbie’s probationary review?”
Murong Cheng tilted his head, thinking. “Maybe firing a new graduate during their probationary period looks bad? He didn’t want to damage the company’s reputation?”
“Then why transfer you to his office as his assistant?” Mu Haoqiong scoffed.
That was a question Murong Cheng himself couldn’t answer.
In the past few months, apart from bringing in Chi Yu, he hadn’t done anything remarkable. And even with the Chi Yu situation, the CEO could have easily found another artist.
They wandered through the cosmetics section of the mall. Murong Cheng stopped at a perfume counter.
He remembered the CEO’s pleasant scent from last night.
“Do you have men’s cologne?” he asked the sales assistant. “Something subtle, not too overpowering.”
“Yes, sir. What kind of scent are you looking for? Oriental, woody, leathery? Do you have any preferences?”
“I… I don’t really know.”
He knew nothing about perfume and couldn’t identify the scent he had smelled last night.
He went from counter to counter, sniffing various colognes.
“Something’s up, isn’t there?” Mu Haoqiong looked at him knowingly.
He had never seen Murong Cheng this interested in his appearance. Searching the entire mall for cologne could only mean one thing.
“Tell me, did you get caught with a girl from Brand Marketing, and that’s why they transferred you to the 28th floor?”
Based on the available information, Mu Haoqiong had reached a completely inaccurate conclusion.
But he was convinced of his brilliant deduction.
Murong Cheng rolled his eyes.
“Of course not.”
“Then why the sudden interest in cologne? Something’s fishy.”
Murong Cheng licked his lips. “I work on the 28th floor now, close to the CEO. I need to look presentable.”
Mu Haoqiong’s expression clearly said, Keep lying. He crossed his arms, waiting for more.
“Seriously!” Murong Cheng’s ears turned red. He turned back to the perfumes, avoiding Mu Haoqiong’s gaze.
The sales assistant, overhearing their conversation, chimed in, “Sir, how about our couples’ set? This cologne has a warm, gentle scent that suits you perfectly. The matching perfume has a floral, romantic fragrance. They complement each other beautifully.”
Murong Cheng shook his head. “Thank you, but I don’t need the perfume.”
He was looking for the CEO’s cologne, not a matching set.
By the time he reached the last store, having smelled countless fragrances, he was dizzy and couldn’t recall the CEO’s scent.
The perfumes in this store were the most expensive in the mall, a single bottle costing a week’s salary.
But the more expensive it was, the more likely it was something the CEO would wear.
He picked up a brown bottle.
The sales assistant handed him a test strip.
A woody scent filled the air.
Sophisticated, cool, with a hint of warmth after the initial notes faded. Mysterious and elegant.
Just like Murong Yan.
Startled by the thought, he shook his head, focusing on the perfume.
This was it.
Although he couldn’t be entirely sure, he had a feeling this was the CEO’s cologne.
“I’ll take this one, please.”
The sales assistant smiled. “Certainly, sir. That’s 2450 yuan. Please come this way to pay. How would you like to pay?”
“How much?!” Mu Haoqiong, who had been looking at his phone, looked up sharply.
“2450 yuan, sir,” the sales assistant repeated.
“Okay,” Murong Cheng said calmly, having already seen the price. He pulled out his phone to pay.
Spending a week’s salary on cologne hurt.
But placing the bottle on his desk at the office, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.
He carefully unwrapped the packaging and lightly pressed the nozzle.
He pressed too gently. Nothing came out.
He pressed again, a bit harder.
The scent from last night, Murong Yan’s scent, filled the air.
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
Secretly buying his boss’s cologne was a bit creepy, but—
He really liked the scent.
After a peaceful, uneventful week in the CEO’s office, Murong Cheng received a message from Duan Shao on Sunday evening, informing him of a last-minute business trip with the CEO the next day.
So sudden. Was this the pace of the CEO’s office? He didn’t even have time to buy more presentable clothes.
The destination and even the duration of the trip were unknown. Duan Shao simply told him to bring his luggage.
He hastily packed three outfits into his carry-on suitcase.
He knew about the business trip, but only when the driver arrived at the company the next morning did he realize it was just him and the CEO.
Yu Qi loaded their suitcases into the trunk and closed it.
He and the CEO got into the back seat. Duan Shao remained outside, talking to the CEO through the open window.
As the car drove away, Duan Shao’s usual seat in the front remained empty. Looking at Yu Qi in the driver’s seat, Murong Cheng held a sliver of hope. But when they reached the airport, Yu Qi simply escorted them to the gate and then left.
[Cheng: Xia-ge, are you coming on the business trip?]
Xia Jie’s reply, “Haven’t heard anything,” dashed his hopes.
At the security checkpoint, the CEO stopped and looked back at him expectantly.
Murong Cheng hurried to catch up.
He offered to carry the CEO’s suitcase, but was refused. The suitcase looked expensive, so he didn’t insist.
He didn’t get another chance to offer assistance, not even on the plane. They were flying first class, with dedicated flight attendants catering to their every need.
Their suitcases were stowed away, their coats taken, even their slippers laid out for them.
Murong Cheng awkwardly followed the CEO, almost tripping over his own feet in the aisle. The CEO, however, reacted quickly, catching his arm and preventing a disastrous fall before they even left A City.
The man’s hand was warm, his familiar scent surrounding him. But he quickly withdrew his hand, and before Murong Cheng could thank him, he continued walking.
Nervous and unsure, now the CEO’s sole assistant, Murong Cheng knew nothing about the purpose or destination of their trip.
Once they were settled in the spacious first-class seats, while the CEO was still awake, Murong Cheng ventured to ask, “CEO Murong, where are we going?”
“S City.”
The man’s voice was cool and concise, seemingly not understanding his question.
Murong Cheng’s lips twitched.
Of course, he knew it was S City! It was on his boarding pass! That wasn’t what he wanted to know!
The CEO looked down, as if discouraging further questions. Murong Cheng shrank back, deciding not to push it.
Wherever they were going, Duan Shao must have arranged everything. He didn’t need to worry. He was probably just there for show.
He fastened his seatbelt, adjusted his headrest, and was about to close his eyes when—
“We’re discussing the New Year’s promotional video for the Light City Go series. Meeting with Fan Hechang,” the CEO said suddenly.
Meeting… who? Fan Hechang?
His eyelashes fluttered.
Fan Hechang again?
Last time, Fan Hechang had almost cost him his job. This time…
But with the CEO present, it should be fine, right?
His worries proved unfounded.
Two hours later, they landed. As soon as he turned on his phone, he received a call from someone waiting at the gate, saying that the manager of Fan Hechang’s track and field team was already there.
Back at the training base, they received a formal welcome. Leaders from the sports bureau and the track and field team, Fan Hechang’s coach, and Fan Hechang himself were all present. The previously indifferent athlete was now respectful and cooperative.
Everyone, including Fan Hechang, greeted Murong Cheng with polite smiles and nods.
They moved to a meeting room, where the team manager personally pulled out chairs for him and the CEO.
Was this the power of authority? Murong Cheng felt both overwhelmed and strangely uneasy.
Murong Yan responded to their attentiveness with polite detachment. He seemed accustomed to such treatment, his usual aura of authority unchanged even in the presence of leaders from the sports bureau.
Everyone except him seemed to know the meeting’s agenda. Although the CEO hadn’t asked him to do anything, Murong Cheng opened his laptop and started taking minutes. He had done this a few times at Brand Marketing, but no one had given him proper guidance. He always sent his notes to Pan Yueyi, anxiously awaiting feedback, but she only replied with “Received” and a thumbs-up emoji.
Without knowing the meeting’s key points beforehand, he struggled to capture the essence of the discussion. The CEO hadn’t instructed him to record the meeting, and he wasn’t sure if it involved confidential information, so he hesitantly jotted down what he deemed important. However, the rapid-fire discussion was too fast for him to follow, and his notes were incomplete.
The CEO, however, handled everything effortlessly. A true entrepreneur, leading Guangyu to success. Although Murong Cheng didn’t understand everything, he could sense that Murong Yan addressed every question and concern raised by the other party with ease and confidence, proposing mutually beneficial solutions.
The man’s voice was deep and slightly husky, captivatingly so. Murong Cheng’s fingers flew across the keyboard, but his mind often wandered, mesmerized by the CEO’s voice, unable to process the content of his words.
By the time he snapped back to attention, the meeting was over.
The leaders across the table stood up and shook hands with the CEO. Murong Cheng also stood up, nodding and smiling politely.
It was still early.
“CEO Murong, shall we escort you back to your hotel? Dinner is on us tonight,” the team manager offered.
Murong Yan politely declined. “No need. Our Brand Marketing Department will handle the follow-up. We’ll be returning to A City.”
“But CEO Murong, you’ve come all this way to S City, you can’t leave without staying a night! It’s getting late, stay until tomorrow morning!”
“Yes, CEO Murong, stay until tomorrow!”
They all tried to persuade him to stay. But Murong Cheng’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it and saw that flights back to A City had already been booked for two hours later. They had just enough time to make it.
Murong Yan continued to decline their invitations, then suddenly gestured towards Murong Cheng. “If you have any questions regarding the collaboration with our Brand Marketing Department, you can contact my assistant here.”
Everyone turned to Murong Cheng.
“May I have your contact information? How should I address you?”
Caught off guard, Murong Cheng fumbled with his phone, displaying his QR code. “I’m Murong Cheng. Please add me.”
The team manager, Fan Hechang’s coach, and even Fan Hechang himself scanned his code and sent friend requests.
“We should call you Little CEO Murong!”
“Are you and CEO Murong…?”
“Just a coincidence, a coincidence,” Murong Cheng waved his hands dismissively, not daring to impersonate the CEO’s brother in front of the CEO.
“We’ll be in touch then, Little CEO Murong!” The team manager shook his hand enthusiastically.
Hours later, back in A City, Murong Cheng, still drowsy from his whirlwind business trip, landed in the first-class cabin. Murong Yan seemed much more alert, immediately connecting to the internet and replying to messages.
Duan Shao was waiting at the gate, along with Xia Jie and the black Rolls-Royce.
Before taking Murong Yan home, the car stopped at Murong Cheng’s apartment complex.
“CEO Murong, I’ll send you the meeting minutes once they’re ready,” Murong Cheng said as he opened the car door.
“No need,” the CEO said, surprisingly.
Murong Cheng froze.
He had seemingly accompanied the CEO on a business trip but hadn’t done anything useful. He had thought his note-taking would be helpful, but apparently not.
Seeing him hesitate, the CEO glanced at him. “Duan Shao will send you some templates for meeting minutes. Use those for future reference.”
“Yes, CEO Murong,” Duan Shao replied quickly from the front seat.
Murong Cheng nodded and got out of the car.
“I’ll be going then. Thank you, CEO Murong. See you tomorrow!”
See you tomorrow, again.
He mentally facepalmed.
The CEO looked at him, then at Duan Shao in the rearview mirror, who, sensing his intention, quickly interjected, “Mr. Murong, you must be tired from the trip. You don’t need to come in tomorrow morning. Just come in the afternoon. Go home and rest. See you tomorrow afternoon!”
Murong Cheng’s eyes lit up, reflecting the streetlights. He looked at the CEO, who nodded slightly. A wide smile spread across his face.
“Okay! Thank you, CEO Murong! Thank you, Duan-ge! Bye, Xia-ge!” He said goodbye to everyone in the car and then carefully closed the door, practically skipping back to his apartment.
