Jian Tong stood restlessly in front of Shen Xiujin. Shortly after, someone knocked on the door. Shen Xiujin's calm and magnetic voice lightly said, "Come in."
Jian Tong nervously eyed the person entering — Su Meng, who had interviewed her three months ago.
"Ms. Meng," Jian Tong murmured anxiously, sneaking a glance at Shen Xiujin reclining on a single-seater sofa, and then at the suddenly-arrived Su Meng. Her heart trembled, uncertain of what schemes the unfathomable man might have in mind.
"Mr. Shen." Su Meng, dressed in a tailor-fitted white suit that did not lessen her allure, with the top two buttons tantalizingly undone, stood composedly in front of Shen Xiujin. "What instructions do you have?"
Jian Tong sensed something odd in Su Meng's demeanor towards Shen Xiujin, as if he were her big-spending boss… What Jian Tong didn't know was that Shen Xiujin was indeed Su Meng's big boss. Having been in prison for three years, she was unaware that the world had turned upside down during her absence.
"Do you recognize her?" Shen Xiujin gestured towards Jian Tong with his chin. Su Meng's expression soured as she stole a glance at the woman. She remembered Jian Tong, who had left a deep impression on her.
Straining a smile, Su Meng addressed Shen Xiujin, "Mr. Shen, did little Tong do something to offend you? Please don't be angry. I'll educate her properly."
Jian Tong, hearing the protective tone in Su Meng's voice, braced for what she thought was her imminent dismissal. However, to her surprise, Su Meng defended her in front of Shen Xiujin, evoking gratitude within her.
Su Meng glared at Jian Tong again; if it weren't for Jian Tong's competent, low-key, and trouble-free work ethic, she wouldn't risk defending her. She couldn't fathom what this inconspicuous woman could have done to offend the one person who should not be crossed.
Their subtle actions didn't escape the keen observation of the man opposite them.
Shen Xiujin, with profound eyes, focused on Su Meng, "Who interviewed her for the job?"
Su Meng turned pale, as sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Hm?" The man hummed lightly, the skepticism apparent on his face.
"It was me, Mr. Shen. I personally conducted her interview." Typically, interviews were not Su Meng's responsibility—yet, what twisted fate had led her to interview that night?
Regret filled Su Meng's heart, knowing that Jian Tong must have really angered him, and based on her years with Mr. Shen, she knew Shen Xiujin was truly upset.
"You conducted her interview? As a janitor?" Shen Xiujin raised an eyebrow as sweat dripped profusely from Su Meng's forehead, rigidly held in place, not daring to wipe it.
"With full disclosure," Su Meng continued cautiously, "during the interview, Miss Jian's qualifications didn't meet our Eastern Emperor Entertainment's standards for any position, even as a waitress." Su Meng shared with a trace of awkwardness, "But Miss Jian herself expressed the desire to work as a janitor for us."
As Su Meng finished speaking, she looked up at Shen Xiujin and said, "Mr. Shen, since working as a janitor, Jian Tong has been industrious and thorough."
Having reached Su Meng's status, she did not typically need to concern herself with the ongoings of lower-level staff. Yet, something about Jian Tong was hauntingly familiar, as if she shared something in common, though she couldn't pinpoint what.
After her bold statement, Su Meng carefully watched Shen Xiujin's reaction.
On the brown single-seater leather sofa, the man's long legs were crossed, embodying both gentlemanly poise and elegance. "Su Meng, transfer her to the PR department," he stated.
Su Meng was convinced she misheard, staring agape at Shen Xiujin: "Mr. Shen, what did you just say? I didn't catch that." PR department? Jian Tong? She must have misheard.
"I said, an employee as diligent and capable as Jian Tong should be moved to a position with a higher salary." While speaking, Shen Xiujin's long legs uncrossed and he stood up, his tall frame casting a glance over Jian Tong, who stood petrified.
His lips slowly curled into a sarcastic smile, "Su Meng, before employing someone, one must fully understand the talents of their subordinates... You probably don't know, Miss Jian here is quite talented in acting."
Jian Tong's body stiffened.
The man's voice seemed to carry suppressed anger: "The PR department is short on talent like Miss Jian Tong, proficient in both groveling and acting, and—as for pleasing men—she's also quite adept at that."
The air seemed to stand still.
Jian Tong's pale face did not gain the man's sympathy as Shen Xiujin enjoyed her look of despair... Could Jian Tong remain indifferent?
Shen Xiujin could not believe the once proud Jian Tong had become the submissive ant before him, and he wanted to witness with his own eyes if she really was as degraded as she seemed.
Everything Shen Xiujin was doing was to force Jian Tong, unaware that deep down, what he wanted was the proud woman who had once told him, "Jian Tong steers clear of you," not the groveling, pathetic creature before him.
He also failed to realize that behind all his coercion, he could not accept one fact—he was the culprit who had transformed her into this state.
Shen Xiujin made ample excuses, attributing his humiliation of Jian Tong to his hatred for her, blaming her for the death of Xia Weiming.
One can never wake someone pretending to sleep, but inevitably, they will awaken one day.
Su Meng heard clearly this time—Mr. Shen instructed her to transfer Jian Tong to the PR department.
The Eastern Emperor's PR department was a euphemism for positions like princesses, female models, male models, young masters.
"This..." Su Meng glanced at the pale-faced Jian Tong, "Understood, Mr. Shen." From years of experience, Su Meng sensed that there was something extraordinary between Jian Tong and Mr. Shen.
She had never seen Mr. Shen care about any matters within Eastern Emperor. After all, the Eastern Emperor Entertainment Club was just a tiny fraction of Shen Xiujin's empire, something he had never bothered about.
"Jian Tong, follow me," Su Meng said officially, Jian Tong's face ghostly white, suddenly looked up, pleading at Shen Xiujin, "Don't, I don't want to." PR department... Shen Xiujin wanted her to work in the PR department?
No!