SFL Chapter 26

Nan Jinchen immediately instructed his secretary to prepare several thoughtful gifts.

The gifts from Nan’s parents were fine, but when the secretary heard Nan Jinchen specifically order a gift tailored for a girl, the smile on her face visibly faded.

What does this mean, Mr. Nan? Is there a woman he cares about?

Does she still have a chance?

Lin Mi’s thoughts were in turmoil.

“Secretary Lin, Secretary Lin.” Nan Jinchen tapped the table with his finger bones, bringing the seemingly perfect secretary back to reality.

Lin Mi instinctively looked up, seeing Nan Jinchen’s cold gaze without a hint of emotion. Startled, she quickly said, “I’ll prepare it right away.”

Only after Lin Mi left did Nan Jinchen lower his eyes. He didn’t care about the subordinates’ little schemes. He only cared about their competence.

If the work is done well, everything will be fine. If not, then no amount of pleading will help.

Later, Nan Jinchen immersed himself in work. In his view, turning the cards of success into a love affair with subordinates was a waste of time. Expanding his business multiple times over was more worthwhile.

As the busy time passed, the appointed time arrived.

The secretary, with a sour feeling, had prepared a gift for another woman. She watched helplessly as Nan Jinchen took the gift away to give it to its intended recipient, her eyes turning red.

Back at the Nan family mansion, when Nan Jinchen returned, the Gu family had already arrived. Gu Zhenzhen, wearing a lotus pink dress, elegantly accompanied Nan’s mother. During their interaction, Nan’s mother’s lips curled upwards, showing her satisfaction with the chosen daughter-in-law.

When Nan Jinchen returned, whether they were talking or not, near or far, everyone stopped and looked at him.

As the male lead, he possessed an attention-grabbing aura.

However, the firsthand experience made Nan Jinchen subtly uneasy.

He always believed that the so-called domineering CEO should be about inner strength, referring to the strength of character. Yet, in this fictional world, the image of a domineering CEO became externalized, and everyone’s reaction seemed to be the best interpretation of this identity.

This left Nan Jinchen feeling a bit overwhelmed, having never experienced this before.

“Jinchen, come over here.” Nan’s mother waved gently to her son.

Being a mother, she naturally wasn’t trying to impress her son but rather wanted him to take a good look at the people around her.

Beside Nan’s mother stood Gu Zhenzhen. Nan Jinchen’s gaze inevitably fell on Gu Zhenzhen, causing her usually confident cheeks to blush. However, she didn’t shy away, instead, she stared directly at Nan Jinchen’s face and physique, thinking how handsome he was. This was her future husband, and he looked really handsome.

Nan Jinchen didn’t show any particular reaction to Gu Zhenzhen’s infatuation. After all, as a domineering CEO, having a good appearance was basic. As a male lead, he was one of the absolute protagonists, and very few could surpass him in terms of looks.

“Dad, Mom.” Nan Jinchen greeted them, “Uncle Gu, Aunt Gu, Zhenzhen.”

There were quite a few guests at home today, but none exceeded the wealth of both the Nan and Gu families. After all, the two families had tacitly agreed to the marriage, and it was essential not to overshadow the hosts.

As parents from both sides, they didn’t immediately push Nan Jinchen and Gu Zhenzhen together but gave them some relative freedom.

With both sets of parents intentionally or unintentionally allowing it, Nan Jinchen and Gu Zhenzhen found themselves walking together, gradually moving out of the public’s view.

It wasn’t until this moment that Gu Zhenzhen slightly lowered her head, blushing. She asked Nan Jinchen, “Jinchen ge, I wonder what you think about our marriage?”

“You’re a good girl,” Nan Jincheng replied to Gu Zhenzhen. These were the words the original host owed this girl.

Since they were already engaged, what was wrong with her exercising her rightful privileges?

In the end, it was because the original host didn’t provide Gu Zhenzhen with enough security. Otherwise, why would a daughter of a wealthy family willingly lower her status to confront her fiancé’s secretary in the company, only to lose face in the end?

Upon hearing Nan Jinchen’s words, Gu Zhenzhen’s face turned slightly pale. She thought Nan Jinchen was politely rejecting her. Still, she couldn’t let go and asked, “Jinchen ge, will you marry me?”

“As long as you’re willing to marry me, I’ll be honored,” Nan Jinchen replied to Gu Zhenzhen.

Bang!

Gu Zhenzhen seemed to hear the sound of flowers blooming in her heart. Stars filled the sky, but at this moment, the girl could only focus on the man’s eyes that shone like stars.

[Ding, the favorability of the target towards the host is currently 60%.]

[Rapid, simply rapid! It seems that choosing the path of wooing the stubborn supporting female character was the right one. You single dogs are about to escape singleness! Bravo!]

Nan Jinchen ignored the system. Even if he was straightforward, he knew that at this moment, he needed to take care of Gu Zhenzhen, not a tool.

When the two returned from outside, Gu Zhenzhen had already affectionately linked her arm with Nan Jinchen’s. This was a signal that the two had become more intimate, and in an instant, everyone in the hall could sense it.

A few young girls of similar age to Gu Zhenzhen sat in the corner, watching their intimate posture. Sourness filled their hearts, and one of them sarcastically remarked, “Wasn’t Nan Jinchen supposed to be aloof? How did he easily fall for Gu Zhenzhen?”

“Aiya, another Mr. Perfect is taken. There goes another dream house collapse. Sob, sob.”

Apart from them, the young boys with a crush on Gu Zhenzhen were not without heartbreak.

The adults, however, were unaware of the lamentations among the young guests. They only knew that the alliance between the Nan and Gu families was solid.

Especially the parents of Gu Zhenzhen and Nan Jinchen, they were naturally even happier.

Although the two families were in an arranged marriage, if the two children could genuinely like each other, it would be the icing on the cake, adding warmth to the marriage.

Both parties had no objections, and soon the two families began preparations for the engagement ceremony.

Once the news spread, it caused ripples in their social circles.

Gu Zhenzhen was okay, but Nan Jinchen was recognized in the circle as a rising star. Not only did he come from a good background, but he was also successful at a young age. However, who could have expected that such a diamond bachelor would step into the marriage grave so quickly?

Many ambitious girls regretted missing out.

Closer to Nan Jinchen, Lin Mi felt as if the sky were falling. She became absent-minded at work, making frequent mistakes.

“Secretary Lin, if you’re not feeling well, you can take a few days off at home,” Nan Jinchen frowned.

“I’m fine, Sir… It’s just, are you really getting engaged?” Lin Mi asked with a hint of unwillingness.

Even though she knew she couldn’t become Nan Jinchen’s wife, it didn’t stop her from fantasizing and hoping. The news of Nan Jinchen’s engagement undoubtedly burst the bubble of her fantasies.

Nan Jinchen didn’t give Lin Mi any hope and straightforwardly admitted, “Yes, help me clear some time within the next three days. I want to go with my fiancée to choose an engagement ring.”

No more skipping the engagement and wedding rings when it comes to proposing.

“Well… congratulations, Sir.” Lin Mi forced a smile and offered her blessings.

Nan Jinchen, acting as if he couldn’t read people’s expressions, accepted the congratulations with a smile and said, “I’ll give you a big red envelope on that day.”

You guys… Lin Mi felt a bitter taste in her heart. It seemed that she wasn’t special in the president’s eyes.

But no one would refuse money, and at least it consoled her wounded heart.

At that moment, Nan Jinchen’s phone rang, displaying the simple words ‘Gu Zhenzhen.’ Lin Mi subconsciously felt a twinge in her eyebrows and handed the phone to Nan Jinchen. “Mr. Nan, should I answer Miss Gu Zhenzhen’s call for you?”

“No, I’ll answer it,” Nan Jinchen said, then picked up the call.

Sensing that Nan Jinchen wanted some private space, even if Lin Mi didn’t want to leave, she had to leave the office.

Gu Zhenzhen’s voice came from the other end of the phone, sweet and lively. She shared her experience of buying clothes and mentioned several nearby jewelry stores. They could come together to choose rings. She asked Nan Jinchen when he would be available.

Nan Jinchen listened more than he spoke, showing no impatience. When Gu Zhenzhen invited him, he checked his schedule and said, “I’m available tomorrow afternoon.”

“Will this delay your work?” Gu Zhenzhen hesitated after hearing his response. Her family also had a significant business, and she knew that there was hardly any free time when things got busy.

“No, after all, it’s a few rare memories in a lifetime. Can anything else compare to this?” Nan Jinchen said with a smile.

He liked his work, but he could distinguish priorities. Previously, he could work tirelessly as a bachelor, but now, with a wife, he couldn’t act the same way.

Moreover, compared to his workload before, his current work hours were quite lenient.

After ending the call, Lin Mi brought in a cup of coffee for him. Nan Jinchen, without lifting his head, said, “Secretary Lin, inform the HR department and find me a few more professional secretaries and assistants.”

Clack.

The documents in Lin Mi’s arms scattered to the ground. She hurriedly squatted down to pick up the documents, lowering her head to conceal her anxious heart. “Sir, are you thinking of dismissing me?”

“No, I just want to have a few more people to help me,” Nan Jinchen replied.

Being a CEO’s secretary was different from being a CEO’s assistant. As Nan Jinchen’s secretary, Lin Mi handled both personal and professional matters.

In the past, Nan Jinchen actually quite enjoyed Lin Mi’s gentle gestures, but the present Nan Jinchen wouldn’t be so easily swayed by such charm.

They were of the opposite sex. Allowing someone of the opposite sex to interfere in one’s life, how would it be perceived by each other’s significant others?

Why did Gu Zhenzhen tear into Lin Mi? It was because Lin Mi was someone with intentions.

Knowing that the CEO had no intention of firing her, Lin Mi felt a mix of disappointment and sweetness. Nevertheless, she could only assist Nan Jinchen in contacting the HR department.

In a university dormitory, a girl refreshed her computer. Suddenly, a new job opening appeared on the official website of the Nan Family Group.

After carefully reading it, she screamed, “Yi Yi, come and see. The Nan Family Group’s headquarters is recruiting a secretary and assistant for the president. Our chance has come.”

They were approaching graduation and were worried about their direction after leaving school. Compared to other companies, the Nan Family Group’s recruitment undoubtedly ranked at the top in terms of scale and benefits.

However, the competition was correspondingly intense.

“Nan Family Group, it’s the company owned by Senior Nan’s family,” Shen Baiyi’s eyes lit up. Her heart instinctively accelerated, quickly leaning in to look at the screen.

President’s secretary… if she remembered correctly, Senior Nan took over the family business after graduation, and his position is the President/CEO.

In other words, this position is for Senior’s secretary.

Shen Baiyi’s heart pounded, feeling for the first time that her idol was so close.

Her roommate exclaimed, “Quick, let’s send our resumes. The spots are limited, and we might not all get a chance.”

Shen Baiyi snapped back to reality, quickly submitted her resume, and even after submitting it, her emotions couldn’t calm down for a long time.