Hong Yi stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. The cityscape sprawled before him, a glittering kaleidoscope of lights against the night sky. Beautiful, yes, but it did nothing to soothe the churning in his gut. 'What have I gotten myself into?' he thought with a sigh, leaning his forehead against the cool glass.
A knock on the door startled him. "Come in," he called out, his voice betraying a hint of his internal turmoil.
The door opened and Jing Hao entered, his posture stiff and formal. He stopped a few paces away from Hong Yi, waiting for further instructions."
Jing Hao, good of you to come in," Hong Yi said, forcing a smile. He moved towards the plush sofa and sank down, gesturing for Jing Hao to take a seat opposite him. "Ling Wei must have seen something special in you to appoint a fresh graduate as my PA," he continued, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "But I trust her judgment."Jing Hao, who had initially tensed up at the first part of Hong Yi's statement, visibly relaxed. Relief washed over him as he realized Hong Yi wasn't questioning his qualifications.
"Now, tell me, what do you know about Zenith Media in general?" Hong Yi asked, unbuttoning his coat.
Jing Hao sat down, his nervousness momentarily forgotten. He cleared his throat and began, "Zenith Media was established around 30 years ago, starting as a television channel. Over time, they expanded into film production and distribution, while continuing their work in television. Currently, Zenith Media operates in five different countries and boasts a turnover of 512.4 million. Their headquarters alone house about 500 artists, and they consistently produce over 40 films and dramas every year."
A genuine smile, different from the tight one Jing Hao had witnessed in the meeting, spread across Hong Yi's face. It was like a dam breaking, releasing a warmth that instantly soothed Jing Hao's nerves. As Hong Yi spoke, praising his preparation, Jing Hao couldn't help but steal a glance at him. His nervousness, momentarily forgotten, morphed into something else entirely. Jing Hao found himself captivated, his gaze lingering a beat too long on the curve of Hong Yi's lips.
"Looks like you've done your homework," Hong Yi said, the words laced with a subtle playfulness that sent another shiver down Jing Hao's spine. He cleared his throat, forcing his eyes to meet Hong Yi's.
"Y-yes, sir," he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. He hadn't anticipated finding his new boss so...attractive. Jing Hao quickly schooled his expression, reminding himself of his professional role. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. "I wanted to be prepared for the first day." His voice, usually steady, held a slight tremor, betraying the effect Hong Yi's smile, and perhaps Hong Yi himself, had on him.
Hong Yi chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "No need to be so formal, relax a bit. Now, tell me, are you much of a reader?"Jing Hao blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation.
"Actually, yes, sir - I enjoy reading quite a bit," he admitted, a hint of his earlier nervousness returning."Excellent! What kind of books do you prefer?" Hong Yi leaned back in his chair, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Thrillers keep me on the edge of my seat, but I also enjoy historical fiction and the occasional well-written romance." "Interesting" Hong Yi nodded thoughtfully. "I don't read much but Do you have any interesting recommendations?"
"Absolutely!" Jing Hao said, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his face. "There's this novel called 'Whispers in the Silk Pavilion,' a captivating story about a courtesan seeking revenge. Then there's 'Prime Minister,' a historical fiction piece about the rise of the country's wisest man, who clawed his way from humble beginnings to become Prime Minister." Hong Yi took a note of the books mentioned by Jing Hao.
"Now speaking of novels how do audiences typically respond for novel adaptations? What do they prefer more like a translation or creative approach?""It depends, some audiences prefer scene - by - scene translation while others might like a new approach but it mostly depends on the vision of the director and the cast the way of showing it makes the adaptation a fail or success."
"Speaking of captivating stories, novel adaptations are a strong possibility, but..." Hong Yi trailed off, his voice laced with concern. "Zenith needs a project that grabs the audience's attention right now. While a novel adaptation could be a good choice, I feel we need something more...something with a guaranteed spark."
Jing Hao pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Reality shows," he finally ventured, "that could be an interesting option. They're fast-paced, generate a lot of buzz, and have the potential to keep audiences hooked." Hong Yi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Reality TV wasn't exactly Zenith Media's forte, but the spark of excitement in Jing Hao's eyes intrigued him. "A reality show, you say? Interesting proposition. But what kind of reality show would keep audiences hooked?"
The lively conversation was interrupted by the shrill ring of Hong Yi's phone. He frowned, glancing at the screen before moving towards the floor-to-ceiling windows to take the call."Hello, Hong Yi," came Pei Xin's voice, not bothering with pleasantries. "I found something interesting about your uncles.
"Hong Yi's posture tensed. "What is it?"
"I pulled call records for your Uncle Li and Uncle Lin, along with their PAs. There's a common number they've all been calling frequently this past month. Guess who it belongs to?" Pei Xin paused for dramatic effect. "Doctor Lee. The same Dr. Lee who coincidentally handled your father's case."
Hong Yi's face hardened as he listened, the easy smile from his conversation with Jing Hao evaporating completely. Jing Hao, from his vantage point, watched the entire exchange unfold. The relaxed, jovial Hong Yi vanished, replaced by a man with a steely glint in his eyes, his features etched with a dangerous intensity.
A shiver ran down Jing Hao's spine as Hong Yi ended the call with a sharp click. He clenched his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white, a silent storm brewing beneath his composed exterior. If Hong Yi didn't have his scent patches on Jing Hao would highly doubt that he would be on his knees. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the mask slipped back into place. Hong Yi smoothed out his expression and walked back towards Jing Hao.
"Where were we?" he asked, his voice calm and collected, as if the phone call hadn't fazed him. Jing Hao, however, wasn't fooled. He'd seen the glimpse of a man on the verge of exploding."About... reality shows," Jing Hao stammered, his confidence slightly shaken.
"Right," Hong Yi said, his tone switching back to business mode. "Here's what I want you to do. Gather the art and creative team. Brainstorm some fresh reality show concepts. I need a pitch on my desk in two days."
"Yes, sir," Jing Hao replied, scrambling to regain his composure."And one more thing," Hong Yi added. "Arrange for a different office for me. My father's space doesn't suit me. Also, clear my schedule for tomorrow evening."
"Consider it done," Jing Hao said, nodding efficiently.
"You're dismissed for now, Jing Hao," Hong Yi concluded, his voice devoid of the earlier warmth
.As Jing Hao prepared to leave, Hong Yi's voice stopped him. "It's getting late, Jing Hao. How are you planning to get home?" Concern flickered in Hong Yi's eyes as he glanced at the clock nearing 9:30 pm."My sister is still working late, sir," Jing Hao explained. "I'll catch a ride with her."
"Good. Be safe," Hong Yi said, his voice surprisingly gentle. The unexpected concern warmed something in Jing Hao's chest. Bosses rarely bothered with such things, yet here was Hong Yi showing a sliver of care.
With a small bow of gratitude, Jing Hao exited the office. His heart hammered in his chest, a chaotic echo of the day's events. He'd never imagined his first day would be such a whirlwind.Reaching the restroom, Jing Hao splashed water on his face, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The day had been an emotional rollercoaster. He stared into the mirror, catching a glimpse of his reflection – slightly flushed cheeks and flushed ears betraying his internal turmoil.
Taking a deep breath, he recomposed himself. "Focus, Jing Hao," he muttered, his voice firm. "Why are you grinning like a lovesick fool? Just because an Alpha showed you a little kindness? He may be handsome, but remember, Jing Hao, he's your boss. You have a job to do, and that's your priority."
Despite his stern self-talk, a stray thought of Hong Yi's smile wormed its way into his mind, momentarily breaking his concentration. His eyes softened, and a tremor of excitement, distinctly Omega in nature, ran through him.
"No, no, Jing Hao," he chided himself, slapping his cheeks lightly. "Snap out of it! He's your boss, that's all. Just your boss." He repeated the mantra, trying to banish the image of Hong Yi's smile that threatened to distract him.