Hong Yi strode optimistically into the bustling organization headquarters, a retinue of assistants flanking him. Jing Hao, his new and barely bewildered secretary, trailed a few steps in the back of. Today was the professional welcome rite for Hong Yi as the newly appointed CEO.
The air crackled with worried pleasure. As they approached the main foyer, a hush fell over the accumulated personnel. Heads swiveled, eyes widening in a combination of awe and interest. A chorus of greetings erupted: "Welcome, Mr. Hong Yi!"
A senior supervisor, her face etched with both trepidation and compelled cheer, stepped forward. She held out a extraordinary bouquet of lilies, their pristine white petals a stark comparison to Hong Yi's sharp black suit. "Welcome, Mr. Hong Yi," she stated, her voice trembling slightly. "We're all pleased to have you on board."
Hong Yi received the bouquet with a gracious smile, his sharp features softening slightly. He cast his
"Thank you," she began, her voice surprisingly warm and inviting. "I know this is a new chapter for all of us, and maybe a little unsettling. Change can be scary, that's for sure." He paused, letting his words sink.
"But," he continued, a tinge of steel returning to his voice, "I believe in the power of this company. I believe in each and every one of you. If we do great things together. But for that we need mutual trust and communication." it's obvious." My door is always open, so with concerns or suggestions." Don't hesitate to reach out."
A wave of strange murmurs ran through the crowd. The CEO's "open door policy" was virtually unheard of. However, Hong Yi seemed genuine in his offer.
Hong Yi gestured to Jing Hao, who stood awkwardly beside him. "This is my new Executive Assistant, Jing Hao. He will be your point of contact with any questions or concerns you may have in the coming weeks."
Jing Hao acknowledged everyone with a respectful bow and professional smile. "Please take care of me," he greeted.
Warm smiles returned his greeting. Hong Yi noticed a senior supervisor's ID badge - Wu Jinyan. "Ms. Wu," he addressed her, catching her attention.
"Let's have lunch on me," Hong Yi declared, handing her his card. Cheers erupted from the grateful employees.
Hong Yi then headed to Hong Shan's office, Jing Hao trailing behind with flower bouquets. "What about my new office?" Hong Yi inquired.
"Ready by this afternoon," Jing Hao assured him, juggling the bouquets. Hong Yi took some to lighten his load as they exited the elevator. "Send me a report on Zenith Media's artists," Hong Yi instructed.
"Yes, sir," Jing Hao replied, following him into the office.
"Put the flowers here. You can go." Hong Yi settled at the desk and attempted to log in to his father's computer, but encountered repeated errors. Frustrated, he closed it and checked his phone for messages.
Scrolling through his phone, he found the news article he requested about the inheritance struggle. The post had generated various responses:
lively_bird: What's happening at Zenith Media?
LiuKeyin's_cat: What will become of Brother Liu and the artists?
XiaoXiao: @LiuKeyin's_cat Shutting down and changing management are different things.
gossip_lover: Did you guys know the current heir was kicked out before? Now that Mr. Hong is dead, he's back!
SLVI: @gossip_lover Seriously? Source?
gossip_lover: 100% true. My sister's friend works there.
maria's_red_hair: I heard he left on his own accord.
xiaoxiao: We're missing the point. Mr. Hong's brothers are trying to steal the company from Hong Shan's sons.
Lou_min: This is crazy! I hope Hong Shan's children gets what's rightfully theirs.
Hong Yi stared at the phone comments, his head pounding. He set it down, trying to strategize his next move. A crucial piece of the puzzle was missing: how were his uncles, Hong Li and Hong Lin, reacting to the news? What were their plans?
The urge to make a public statement from his official account gnawed at him. However, the hidden secrets surrounding the company and his family urged caution. Every move could impact the situation.
Taking a deep breath, Hong Yi dialed Pei Xin's number. "Pei Xin, any updates on my uncles and aunts?"
"I gathered information about them," Pei Xin replied, "and I have a surprise for you. How about we meet at Halo this evening?"
"Sounds good," Hong Yi agreed. "Actually, I have some information to share as well."
"Perfect," Pei Xin said. "See you then."
Hong Yi hung up the phone with Pei Xin, his mind racing with possibilities. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he called out.
Jing Hao entered, carrying a steaming cup and a flash drive. "Your coffee, sir," he said, placing them on the desk. "As requested, I've compiled all the artist information onto this drive."
"Excellent," Hong Yi acknowledged. "Any news on my office?"
"It will be ready by lunchtime," Jing Hao informed him. "I also spoke with the art and creation department about your reality show idea. They'll have some initial proposals ready for you tomorrow."
"And finally, Madam Yun requested to have lunch with you in her office.
"Hong Yi processed the information. "Thank you, Jing Hao. If that's all, you're excused. Tell Madam Yun I've got a plan for lunch."
"Of course, sir," Jing Hao replied before exiting the room.
Jing Hao exited the room, letting out a sigh of relief. He headed back to his desk and settled in. As he sat down, a voice startled him.
"Hello," a woman greeted from beside him.
Jing Hao turned with a smile. "Oh, hello! I'm Jing Hao, Mr. Hong's assistant. Nice to meet you."
"Qi Yimo," the woman replied. "I'm from the Art Department. I actually saw you with Mr. Hong earlier today.
"A playful glint entered Qi Yimo's eyes. "So, tell me," she leaned in conspiratorially, "what's he like? This new Mr. Hong?"
Jing Hao hesitated, caught off guard by her boldness. He felt a familiar flutter in his chest, a mixture of nervousness and something more. He admired Hong Yi. There was no denying it. The man was undeniably attractive, and the way he carried himself exuded an air of quiet confidence that Jing Hao found captivating. But his position as Mr. Hong's assistant made things complicated. There was a professional line he shouldn't cross, and besides, Hong Yi seemed completely focused on the challenges at hand. Still, Jing Hao couldn't help but harbor a slight crush, a secret yearning that he pushed down deep inside.
"Well," he stammered, forcing himself to focus on Qi Yimo's question, "he seems... decisive. And focused on getting things done." He wasn't sure how much he could reveal, especially since Hong Yi was still a bit of an enigma himself.
Qi Yimo chuckled. "Decisive, huh? That's intriguing. Is he always this serious, or does he loosen up sometimes?"
Jing Hao considered this. "Honestly," he admitted, lowering his voice, "I haven't seen much of his personality yet. I just met him yesterday, and there's a lot going on with the company takeover situation."
Qi Yimo's expression turned thoughtful. "Ah, right. The inheritance mess. Must be a stressful time for him."
"Definitely," Jing Hao agreed, glancing towards Hong Yi's closed office door. "But he seems to be handling it well."A sly smile crept onto Qi Yimo's face. "Well, if he needs any... artistic stress relief, tell him the Art Department is always happy to help." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "We know how to get creative around here."
Jing Hao raised his eyebrows, unsure how to respond. Was she flirting? Or hinting at something more? The comment hung in the air as a knock sounded at Qi Yimo's desk.
"Qi Yimo? You needed to see me?" a young man asked, peering around the corner.
Qi Yimo turned, a bright smile replacing her earlier mischievousness. "Just discussing a few ideas, Ming. Come in, come in!" "This is Ming Yandi," Qi Yimo introduced, gesturing towards the newcomer. "He's from the Management Department. Ming, meet Jing Hao, the new CEO's assistant."
"Nice to meet you," Jing Hao greeted, offering a polite smile.
Ming Yandi returned the smile, though his gaze lingered on Jing Hao for a beat longer than necessary. "Nice to meet you too. Yimo can be a bit... enthusiastic sometimes," he added with a pointed look at Qi Yimo. "Don't mind her."
"Oh," Qi Yimo chuckled, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "My break's actually over anyway. Back to the drawing board for those reality show concepts, I suppose." She winked at Jing Hao before turning to Ming. "See you around, Ming."
Ming nodded curtly. "You too, Yimo."As Qi Yimo sashayed away, Ming leaned closer to Jing Hao, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Be careful around her, alright? She's got a way of getting under your skin."
Jing Hao felt a prickle of unease at Ming's words. Qi Yimo's bold flirting had been unexpected, but this subtle warning from Ming added another layer of intrigue. "Thanks for the heads-up," he murmured.