Chapter 11: My Heart Beats For You (II)

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Chapter 11: My Heart Beats For You (II)

Shang Ke stood energetically in front of the mirror. A light-colored shirt paired with a black suit and no tie made him look relaxed without sacrificing an air of composure. Jiang Yumo resembled Shang Ke by eight or nine parts out of ten, and even their builds were fairly similar. Jiang Yumo’s features were simply more delicate, while Shang Ke himself looked somewhat more mature.

Today was Shang Ke’s first day working at Jian Group, so he was fully prepared and alert. Beforehand, he had even gone out of his way to collect information on Jian Chenfeng. He had begun participating in company affairs at eighteen and formally taken over the Jian Group at twenty-three. Within five years, he had increased the company’s performance by seventy percent, demonstrating astonishing business talent. Mature, steady, rigorous, self-disciplined, shrewd, capable… In short, there was no shortage of praise for him. He was also a famously eligible bachelor within their social circle.

Logically speaking, a man like that ought to have been surrounded by beautiful women, yet not a single romantic scandal had ever been attached to his name. His love life was as ascetic and desireless as a monk’s.

Of course, it was also possible that he was simply very good at keeping things private.

Unfortunately, Shang Ke’s first formal meeting with this supposedly perfect man was anything but pleasant.

“Jiang Yumo, since you’re interning at my company, drop your rich-young-master airs and do your job properly. I won’t give you any special treatment. If I catch you slacking off or trying to shirk your work, you can get out immediately.” Jian Chenfeng swept Shang Ke from head to toe with a sharp gaze. “For now, you’ll work as my assistant. Secretary Cui will tell you what to do. Start with the basics, and ask him if you have any questions. That’s all. You can leave.”

Shang Ke hadn’t even managed to say a single word before Jian Chenfeng unceremoniously dismissed him. Both the man’s gaze and tone were overflowing with disdain, as though Shang Ke’s very presence at the company were a stain on its image.

Shang Ke took a deep breath and did his best to calm himself down. Jian Chenfeng was mainly so critical of him because Jiang Yumo had designs on his younger sister. Shang Ke ought to be understanding.

Secretary Cui was rather surprised to see that Shang Ke hadn’t lost his temper. Rumor had it that this young master had a terrible disposition, yet he had actually endured President Jian dressing him down to his face without making a scene. It really made Secretary Cui see him in a new light.

He had expected Shang Ke to storm out on the spot. President Jian had probably been counting on that too…

Secretary Cui assigned Shang Ke a desk and handed him a stack of documents. “For today, organize these materials and familiarize yourself with the general situation.”

“All right. Thank you, Secretary Cui.”

Shang Ke’s anger came quickly and disappeared just as quickly. Within a few dozen seconds, his mood had already cleared completely.

Secretary Cui had formed a fairly good impression of Shang Ke. After giving him a few more instructions, he returned to his own work.

Shang Ke sat down and began going through the documents.

“Hm?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Shang Ke’s eyes. There wasn’t anything wrong with the documents. Rather, he had just realized that his memory had improved.

He only had to read through the thick stack once to remember it. When he closed his eyes and reviewed the contents mentally, he found that he could accurately recall ninety-five percent of everything he had read. The remaining five percent consisted mainly of minor details he hadn’t paid much attention to.

His memory had already been excellent to begin with. After the System’s enhancement, it had practically reached the level of photographic recall.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Shang Ke’s lips, and his mood brightened considerably.

Just then, the internal phone on the desk rang. Shang Ke looked up and saw that Secretary Cui wasn’t in the office, so he answered it.

Immediately, Jian Chenfeng’s damned voice came through the receiver.

“Secretary Cui. A cup of coffee.”

Then he hung up.

Shang Ke rolled his eyes, got up, and headed to the break room to make the coffee.

Just as Shang Ke emerged carrying the coffee, he ran into Secretary Cui returning from the restroom. He handed the cup over.

“Secretary Cui, the president called just now and asked you to bring him a cup of coffee.”

Secretary Cui accepted the coffee and hesitated briefly before thanking him and carrying it into the office.

Shang Ke knew perfectly well what he had been hesitating over. Wasn’t he simply worried that Shang Ke’s coffee might taste terrible and anger Jian Chenfeng?

Shang Ke couldn’t be bothered lowering himself to the level of these shallow mortals.

As a magnificent man who professionally challenged death itself, what could possibly frighten him now?

At noon, Secretary Cui invited Shang Ke to the company cafeteria for lunch.

Shang Ke asked, “What about President Jian?”

“Unless President Jian gives other instructions, I usually bring him a boxed lunch,” Secretary Cui replied. “Most days of the month, he eats at the company.”

The two carried their trays to an empty table. As they ate, Secretary Cui introduced Shang Ke to some of the other employees in the cafeteria.

“Hi, Secretary Cui. Who’s this handsome guy?”

A fashionably dressed office woman walked over and greeted them warmly.

“Hello, Laura. I’m Jiang Yumo.” Shang Ke stood, politely extended a hand, and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Let’s go out for a meal sometime when you’re free.”

Laura was outgoing, but not in an unpleasant way.

“I’d be delighted.”

After Laura left, Secretary Cui smiled. “I was worried you might have trouble adjusting, but it looks like I worried for nothing.”

“Why would I?” Shang Ke replied. “Don’t you know I’m all looks and no substance?”

It was the first time Secretary Cui had heard anyone so confidently declare himself all looks and no substance.

Young Master Jiang was much more amusing than he had imagined.

Then his expression abruptly froze.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t introduced Laura to Shang Ke at all.

How did he know who she was?

So he asked.

Shang Ke replied, “Laura is a business manager. She’s worked here for ten years. It was all listed in the employee records on the computer.”

“There are more than five hundred employees listed for headquarters alone.”

“Laura’s beautiful, so she left a stronger impression on me.”

Secretary Cui looked at him suspiciously. Laura was certainly attractive, but she was already in her forties. She had aged very well, but hardly to the point of being unforgettable at a glance.

Could it be that Second Young Master Jiang had a special fondness for mature beauties past their first youth?

“You’re not eating anymore?” Secretary Cui couldn’t help asking when he saw that more than half the food on Shang Ke’s tray was still untouched.

“I’m not very hungry today.”

Ever since spending ten years studying cooking in the Hundred Training Space, Shang Ke had become increasingly particular about food. Unless he was especially hungry, he had little interest in eating anything that didn’t suit his tastes.

The food in the company cafeteria was actually quite good, but mass-produced meals inevitably tended to be a little underseasoned, overly oily, and roughly prepared, lacking finesse.

After trying it once, Shang Ke decided that from tomorrow onward, he would bring his own lunch.

That afternoon, when Secretary Cui brought in Jian Chenfeng’s coffee, Jian Chenfeng asked, “How is he doing?”

“Good-tempered, adapts quickly, and gets along well with people,” Secretary Cui answered truthfully.

“Oh?” Jian Chenfeng raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

Secretary Cui continued, “I haven’t known him for very long, but he seems completely different from the rumors. President Jian, perhaps you could consider letting him and Miss Jian see how things go.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Jian Chenfeng lifted his coffee and took a sip. His brows immediately drew together.

“I was about to praise you this morning for finally improving your coffee. Why has it gone back to normal this afternoon?”

Secretary Cui froze, then realization dawned on him.

“Sorry, President Jian. Young Master Jiang made the coffee this morning.”

“Him?”

Jian Chenfeng was silent for a moment.

“That’s probably his only redeeming quality. Have him make my coffee from now on.”

President Jian, in your eyes, is Young Master Jiang’s entire value really limited to making coffee for you?

Secretary Cui suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of sympathy for Jiang Yumo…

The next day, Shang Ke arrived at the company on time. Secretary Cui happened to be walking behind him and watched in astonishment as Shang Ke greeted employee after employee by name with effortless familiarity.

He actually memorized all the employee records?!

An ordinary person might work there for ten days or half a month and still be unable to accurately name all their coworkers. Yet this guy had needed only a day—perhaps only half a day—to become completely familiar with his surroundings.

That kind of memory and adaptability was astonishing.

The outside world’s assessments of Jiang Donglin and Jiang Yumo had always been worlds apart. One was a favored son of Heaven; the other was considered hopeless.

But now it seemed that Second Young Master Jiang might simply have been hiding his abilities all along.

His curiosity piqued, Secretary Cui began paying closer attention to Shang Ke.

He soon discovered that whatever work he assigned was usually completed very quickly. Yet unless Secretary Cui asked about it, Shang Ke never volunteered the fact that he was finished. His performance was proper and unobtrusive, his manner relaxed and at ease, as though he weren’t working at all but simply enjoying his time.

At noon, Secretary Cui called him to lunch, but Shang Ke pulled out his own lunchbox.

“I brought my own. You go ahead.”

“Oh? Did your family’s chef prepare it?”

Secretary Cui looked at the lunch on Shang Ke’s desk. Everything looked fresh, vibrant, and exquisitely arranged.

“That looks amazing.”

Shang Ke smiled. “I live alone now.”

For convenience while working, he had rented a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment in the city.

It took Secretary Cui a moment to process that.

“You mean… you made this yourself?”

Second Young Master Jiang knows how to cook?

Shang Ke nodded, then got up and took his lunch to the break room to heat it in the microwave.

Secretary Cui felt as though Second Young Master Jiang was overturning his expectations of him every single day.

Before the end of the workday, Secretary Cui gave Jian Chenfeng his usual work summary and casually mentioned what he had discovered.

After listening, Jian Chenfeng thought for a moment before saying, “Starting tomorrow, he can take care of my lunch too.”

“That… doesn’t seem very appropriate, does it?”

Jian Chenfeng said coldly, “If he wants to pursue my younger sister, he has to get past me first.”

President Jian, are you sure you’re not abusing your authority for personal gain…?

When Secretary Cui informed Shang Ke that Lord Boss had promoted him from coffee lackey to personal chef, Shang Ke didn’t have much of a reaction.

In fact, he was in an excellent mood.

The hospital had sent him his compatibility results.

He was a match.

That meant he could finally begin putting the rest of his plan into action.

In such a good mood, Shang Ke got up the next morning and prepared Jian Chenfeng an enormous, extravagantly elaborate deluxe lunch.

When Jian Chenfeng opened the lunchbox, he was nearly blinded by its artistic presentation and positively royal grandeur.

It gave him a profound understanding of just how terrifyingly far Second Young Master Jiang was willing to go in flattering his prospective brother-in-law for the sake of pursuing his younger sister…

Still, the food he made was unexpectedly delicious.

Even Jian Chenfeng, who had sampled all kinds of fine cuisine, had to admit that this guy’s cooking had already reached master-level skill.

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