Shang Zhitao handled her emotions well, but when it came time for work, she grew anxious. After getting off the bus, she looked around—no Luan Nian, thankfully. She ran into the office building.

No one had taught her what to do after having a one-night stand with her boss. She had secretly searched online yesterday, which said: act as if nothing happened, and neither of you will feel awkward.

Shang Zhitao remained uneasy until the afternoon. During the weekly meeting, she heard Alex telling Lu Mi, “Later, we need to have an online meeting with Luke to align on the Q4 budget. You and Flora will attend.”

“We’re not meeting in person?” Lu Mi felt Luan Nian was somewhat easier to communicate with face-to-face; in remote meetings, he would always raise various questions to prevent you from zoning out.

“He’s away on a business trip. Advertising industry summit.”

“Alright then.”

Shang Zhitao breathed a sigh of relief from the side, took Lu Mi’s form, and began writing formulas to calculate the budget. Lu Mi sat beside her, watching her write Excel formulas without hesitation, patted her shoulder, and gave her a thumbs up: “Taotao, you’re amazing.”

“Huh?” Shang Zhitao was confused.

“I dare say your Excel skills would rank fifth in the company. The top four are those wizards in business analytics.”

Shang Zhitao’s face reddened slightly.

She had put in the effort. Initially, she only knew simple formulas, which were enough to handle her work, but she felt it wasn’t good enough. So she began systematically learning. Sun Yuanzhu recommended books to her, and sometimes would hold late-night classes for her and Sun Yu. Shang Zhitao even considered studying data visualization.

“I just feel that being proficient can improve efficiency.”

“You’re right.”

Lu Mi sat beside her, helping organize the data. Shang Zhitao didn’t need much guidance anymore; she had more or less gone through all the basic work in the marketing department. She was very diligent, carefully organizing all the work she had done, keeping everything clear in her mind. Lu Mi trusted her.

Neither of them had time to go out for lunch. They finally sorted out the materials and sent them to Alex just before the afternoon communication meeting.

Usually in budget meetings, only the boss and project managers needed to communicate, with others just sitting in. Shang Zhitao heard Luan Nian say: “Sorry, my previous schedule just ended, I’m late.”

“No problem, we just finished organizing everything. Is Hong Kong hot?” Alex asked Luan Nian.

“It’s okay. A bit hotter than Beijing. Who are the attendees today?” Luan Nian asked.

The planning and marketing departments each introduced their attendees, and the meeting officially began.

Shang Zhitao opened her notebook to take meeting minutes. Everyone present had more seniority than her, so this task didn’t need to be specifically assigned; she would take initiative. Besides, taking meeting minutes helped her learn a lot, especially in meetings with Luan Nian. He was clear-minded, spoke concisely, and always addressed issues directly without beating around the bush. Shang Zhitao was quietly learning.

Sometimes she would think, how nice it would be if she could become someone like Luke?

Today’s budget discussion meeting was a bit intense. From the first project, Luan Nian started asking about ROI estimates. The first project was the Sales Department’s industry exchange conference, held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Chongqing, and Xiamen, inviting clients from different industries for symposiums. The purpose was client relationship maintenance. The total budget was 17 million yuan.

“Do you have the list of invited clients?” Luan Nian asked.

Apollo from the Sales Department replied: “Yes, I’ll share it.” The invited clients were all top industry clients.

After a few seconds of silence, Luan Nian said, “There’s an issue with the project goal. If it’s for client relationship maintenance, just taking them out for drinks and meals would be enough. 500,000 yuan would be sufficient for these clients, and could even do better. Why should we spend 17 million yuan on something that could achieve the same goal with 500,000?”

Everyone in the meeting room looked at each other. The industry exchange salon was a must-do annual project for Lingmei, aimed at building industry influence. No one expected Luan Nian to first attack this project.

“So what adjustments does Luke suggest?”

“My suggestion is: if you can’t think it through clearly, just cut it.”

Selkie from Finance shrugged towards them. She had given them a warning before the meeting, having attended a risk control meeting with Luan Nian and knowing how strict he was. But the executives present didn’t believe it, thinking that having risen to his position at such a young age, he wouldn’t have such resolve. They had underestimated this young man; although he was younger than they, his thunderous methods were not to be taken lightly.

“How about this?” Alex mediated. “Apollo, take your team and recommunicate about this project. Client relationship maintenance is just a small aspect; building industry influence is still necessary.”

“If it’s about building industry influence, then I want to see what reports might be released, and what conclusions there will be. Which experts can be invited, and how many potential clients can be brought in? In the last meeting, we talked about the company’s business transformation, and that we could also take on short, frequent, and quick projects from medium-sized clients. We should include these clients in the invitation list as well.” Luan Nian directly put forward his requirements: “Think these through first, then consider whether to proceed. Next project.”

Shang Zhitao saw that Apollo, the Sales Department boss, was not happy. She was curious—if Luan Nian were face to face with them in such a setting, what would their reactions be? She agreed with the issues Luan Nian raised. Having worked in marketing for a few months, she gradually developed a feel for budgets. That was real money being spent; shouldn’t every penny spent produce results?

“Shall we discuss the next budget item?” Alex asked.

“Yes.” Shang Zhitao heard the sound of Luan Nian drinking water, a gulping sound that reminded her of his Adam’s apple bobbing when he kissed. Would Luan Nian, like her, occasionally think of what happened that day?

This meeting was too intense. Lu Mi kicked Shang Zhitao’s foot under the table, then sent her a message: “He’s cutting everything hahaha, not spending a penny next.”

“I’m so scared.”

The pressure in the meeting room was very low; no one was happy except for the laughing Lu Mi. Lu Mi didn’t care; it wasn’t her money being spent, and saving it wouldn’t benefit her. She just found it satisfying. In her street slang: “These old guys needed some straightening out.” Lu Mi had often been angry with these big bosses over money, loose with spending, but evasive during internal audits, friendly to your face but bad-mouthing you behind your back. With Luan Nian’s approach, everyone would be more restrained.

Luan Nian wasn’t stupid; he knew that after today’s meeting, he would face a lot of criticism. But he didn’t care. Nevertheless, he sent a message to Alex: “Your department will have to work overtime to control the budget, which might be tough, but you need to understand that in this matter, I’m helping you.”

“I know, thank you.” Alex wasn’t stupid either; with Luan Nian doing this, his job would be much easier.

“The marketing department is the company’s money-maker; if you control the budget well, no one can pick on you. The headquarters’ internal audit is stricter this year. If thoroughly audited, how many of those present could pass? Minor cases result in circulars, serious ones in dismissal, and the most serious could even lead to imprisonment.”

“I’ve heard about this too. Thank you, Luke, for playing the bad guy.” Alex understood Luan Nian’s good intentions. He probably realized that although he managed the marketing department, he couldn’t handle those people. So Luan Nian jumped in today to regulate the budget—not to assert dominance, but simply to make a stand.

Lu Mi sent another message to Shang Zhitao: “Luke is so sexy. Every time he’s this sharp, I want to tear off his clothes and see what makes him different from other men?”

Don’t bother, I’ve seen it, he is different. Shang Zhitao said to herself. As if she had seen many men—she only had shallow experience with Xin Zhaozhou.

“Kitty said this morning that our internal chats are monitored,” Shang Zhitao replied to Lu Mi, worried that their discussion about Luan Nian would be seen.

Lu Mi laughed: “Don’t worry, they can’t monitor us, and there are people who say much worse.”

“Oh, okay.”

The meeting was difficult to endure. Luan Nian kept firing, and everyone was overwhelmed. Shang Zhitao suddenly felt that what she had experienced in the past few months couldn’t be called a workplace; today was the real deal. Sharp confrontations yet deliberately restrained, seeming agreement yet undercurrents flowing. Finally enduring to the end of the meeting, Luan Nian suddenly asked: “Who took the meeting minutes?”

Alex glanced at Shang Zhitao: “Flora did.”

“Send the minutes to all participants after the meeting and copy me. I have a banquet later, so that’s it for today. Thanks everyone for your hard work.” Luan Nian hung up.

Shang Zhitao closed her computer and left the meeting room. She saw a message pop up on her phone. Opening it, it was from Luan Nian: “Confirm the next reporting points with them and include it in the meeting minutes.”

“Okay.”

No more words.

Luan Nian’s strictly professional manner made Shang Zhitao relieved. This way, things wouldn’t be awkward in the future, right? She suddenly wondered: is acting as if nothing happened the way to appear dignified? Probably so. Look at Luke, acting as if nothing had happened. His handling of this matter was so skillful, clearly showing his high level of experience.

She went to confirm the next reporting time with the various bosses, but everyone was clearly in a bad mood, brushing Shang Zhitao off: “I need to discuss this in depth with my team. This isn’t a small change; it’s practically a new project. Let me discuss it first.” They simply wouldn’t say when they could finish.

Shang Zhitao was a bit troubled. She sat at her desk, choosing her words, feeling that this task was too hot to handle. After about half an hour, Luan Nian, who had already finished his first glass of wine at the banquet, hadn’t received Shang Zhitao’s meeting minutes, so he asked her: “Why haven’t you sent it yet?”

“The bosses haven’t confirmed the next reporting time,” Shang Zhitao said as tactfully as possible.

Luan Nian probably understood; Shang Zhitao was being manipulated by them. Where had her courage gone—the courage she showed when truthfully writing down Luke’s advice for her to resign? Luan Nian frowned, then said in the executive group: “I’ve been thinking, despite the major changes, the budget must be finalized this week. Please have your secretary schedule a meeting for Wednesday afternoon. Teams without new plans by then will be considered as forfeiting their budget.” Then he continued: “Alex, have your department’s colleague who took the meeting minutes send out the content just now. I need to review it again.”

“Okay.” Alex replied quickly, then told Shang Zhitao: “Just send it as is.”

Shang Zhitao nodded and sent out the meeting minutes. Looking up, she saw Lu Mi giving her a meaningful look. Both of them looked towards the corridor, where a stunningly beautiful woman was walking beside Tracy, entering Tracy’s office.

“Who?” Shang Zhitao mouthed to Lu Mi.

Lu Mi took out her phone and messaged her: “You couldn’t tell? Luke’s ex-girlfriend, the one from the email.”

“Even more beautiful than in the photo,” Shang Zhitao replied.

“Heard her family background is also very good.”

“Oh.”