“Now?”

Du Zhaoqi thought Ye Xiaoqiong’s question was rather foolish.

“Now we’ll proceed according to the original plan, of course. Since my elder brother is feeling pleased with himself, let him enjoy it for now!”

On the outside, Du Zhaohui’s electronics plaza was drawing much attention.

On the inside, the Fifth Mistress was most favored.

Both internal and external situations were unfavorable to Du Zhaoqi, yet it was remarkable that at just over 20 years old, he remained calm and composed, without losing his bearings.

Following Ye Xiaoqiong’s thinking, the Second Young Master should have dealt with the Fifth Mistress, removing this support to prevent Elder Young Master Du Zhaohui from getting ahead. However, Du Zhaoqi had other plans and showed little concern about the favored Fifth Mistress:

“The Director won’t take orders from a woman. He can shower a woman with fine clothes and jewelry, but he won’t let women meddle in important matters. This woman isn’t there to compete for favor on behalf of my elder brother; her existence is merely to cause disruption.”

Now that the goal had been achieved, what use would there be in exposing the Fifth Mistress as his elder brother’s person?

The Fifth Mistress hadn’t done anything to betray the Du family’s interests. Even with evidence proving she was Du Zhaohui’s arrangement, Du Zhaohui would likely admit it with a grin, saying he saw how hard their father was working and introduced him to a charming companion… He was shameless enough to say such things.

Du Zhaoqi had other plans for handling the Fifth Mistress.

After several confrontations, even a man of clay would be angry, let alone Du Zhaoqi.

He had originally regarded Du Zhaohui as an elder brother but now saw him merely as an opponent. The business was like warfare – without the absolute certainty of victory, Du Zhaoqi wouldn’t act rashly. Let Du Zhaohui have his moment of pride; as the younger brother, he would lay low for now!

“Follow our previous discussion and stay in Shenzhen. I know you have personal matters to handle – that’s fine, but don’t let it interfere with business!”

Du Zhaoqi had never asked about Ye Xiaoqiong’s grudges with others.

Even if Ye Xiaoqiong wanted to tell him, Du Zhaoqi wouldn’t want to hear it.

But Ye Xiaoqiong felt that perhaps the Second Young Master knew everything… He was truly intelligent. Anyone who underestimated him because of his youth would surely take a hard fall.

“Second Young Master, I understand. I won’t disappoint your trust and regard!”

Without the Second Young Master, there would be no Special Assistant position.

Without his delegation of authority, by the time she could seek revenge herself, her enemies would have already lived comfortably for many years.

The position of secretary truly held unlimited possibilities.

Being a secretary to a leader could lead to external appointments and independent governance – hadn’t Tang Hongen previously been Old Song’s secretary?

Even Peng Secretary, who followed Tang Hongen, now had his career path.

Being a company boss’s secretary, like Ye Xiaoqiong, could mean jumping to Special Assistant, transforming from handling paperwork to becoming Du Zhaoqi’s capable right hand, reporting only to him, and making independent decisions in his absence – such tremendous power!

Whenever “female secretary” to a wealthy boss was mentioned, some people’s thoughts would stray, as if capable women could only achieve their positions by selling their bodies.

Ye Xiaoqiong knew best whether she had sold her body or not.

With someone like Du Zhaoqi – a young, unmarried heir from a wealthy family, handsome to boot – countless women would throw themselves at him. Why would he need to take advantage of his female secretary?

Not only had Du Zhaoqi never touched Ye Xiaoqiong, but he also kept his distance from such matters.

Once business and personal affairs mixed, endless troubles would follow – this was something Du Zhaoqi had learned from Du Chengrong. Women who could work and make money for him, Du Chengrong would never touch; women he could sleep with, he would give money, houses, and jewelry, but never power.

No matter what outsiders speculated, Du Zhaoqi and Ye Xiaoqiong knew the truth.

Though nothing had happened, rumors spread about her sleeping her way to the top… Ye Xiaoqiong had to endure it. Nothing in life was perfect – with rapid promotion came backbiting, but Ye Xiaoqiong wouldn’t lose anything from it.

Besides, no one dared say it to her face.

Precisely because they saw her as Du Zhaoqi’s woman, Ye Xiaoqiong’s words carried weight when handling external affairs, despite her youth and inexperience.

This was the trade-off – women faced challenges in the workplace, and female secretaries working for male bosses faced particular difficulties!

Conversely, female secretaries working for female bosses didn’t have to worry about such talk.

This good fortune fell to You Li.

You Li felt heaven was too kind to her!

After thick-skinedly concealing her age to meet Shao Guangrong, and through him meeting Director Xia, You Li’s hope for life was rekindled.

She was as happy as a little sparrow.

In just a few days, You Li had made all the preparations. At the clothing store where she worked, the manager had found a new employee to replace her. In Shenzhen, You Li had also contacted a Manager Ge.

Manager Ge said the company would provide employee dormitory accommodation – she needn’t worry about anything else. Once in Shenzhen, she should focus on learning secretarial skills, hoping she would have basic mastery by the time Director Xia returned to China.

You Li didn’t want to stay in the employee dormitory, feeling it wouldn’t be convenient for her mother.

She hesitantly raised her request to rent separately, and Manager Ge in Shenzhen was very accommodating, offering to help arrange it. After the probation period, those renting outside even received some allowance, while staying in the dormitory was free.

You Li insisted on living outside, so Manager Ge would help her rent a place.

Today, Manager Ge called the clothing store, saying an apartment had been secured.

You Li expressed endless gratitude.

The store manager asked when she would resign, and You Li considered: “Would it be alright if I don’t come in tomorrow? If anyone comes asking where I’m working, please keep it confidential.”

You Li seemed to be hiding from someone.

The store manager suspected she was avoiding Shao Guangrong, who often came looking for her.

She respected You Li’s choice: “I wouldn’t gossip about it, and neither will the other staff – I’ve instructed them not to talk. Our store pays well, everyone values their job. As we learned in training, we should only be talkative with customers!”

Don’t be loose-lipped in private, whether about colleagues’ personal matters or store business. Loose lips sink ships – the speaker might be careless, but who knows if the listener has ulterior motives? What if they’re trying to discover trade secrets?

You Li trusted the store manager’s assurance.

But the manager didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, so You Li emphasized: “I mean anyone – man or woman, no matter what relationship they claim with me. If they come to the store asking about my whereabouts, they’re someone I’m trying to avoid.”

This was too much – Young You’s tone suggested she was moving away never to return.

The store manager found it strange but agreed nonetheless.

You Li politely completed her resignation procedures and went to the bank to withdraw her savings. She sewed a pocket in her underwear to keep all her savings close to her body, including her final wages from resignation.

She wouldn’t be giving any of this money to her family anymore.

Now, she needed to secure two train tickets.

Due to her mother’s special condition, she needed at least one sleeper berth so her mother could sleep to Shenzhen.