Chapter 2 (Part 1).

I closed the webpage out of boredom and decided to climb stairs to burn calories and lose weight.

Is this person omnipresent?

Thinking about the responsibilities of the administrative department, I should check it. Without much thought, I casually pushed open the door.

By chance, I caught a glimpse of the door leading to the rooftop between the two floors of the hallway, and it was unlocked.

I put on my sunglasses and looked up at the sky. "Don't worry, I won't fall in the same place twice."

At that time, Mu Yan was even more sharp and imposing than he is now.

When was this door opened by someone, and the whereabouts of the chain are also unknown.

More than a year ago, I had an interview with Mu Yan in an office just a wall away.

As soon as Fang Yunxiao arrived, she couldn't wait to share with me the sweet and fresh cohabitation life, and she kept talking non-stop.

These women are really gossipy.

She was yelled back by me.

"Did you go in person?" I blurted out, asking a stupid question, with my tongue reacting half a beat faster than my brain.

Back at the computer, I poured myself a cup of coffee to refresh my mind, and surfed the internet to read entertainment gossip. As I scrolled through the pages, my mind wandered. On Tianya, a group of fans were still arguing about whether a certain female celebrity was a third party in a relationship or not.

One more floor to go. Usually only go up to the 35th floor, today let's just climb to the top.

Work is work, no one is as obsessed with love all day long as you are. I sternly refuted her.

He completely failed to notice that someone pushed open the door. A person leaned against the railing of the rooftop, standing still without moving.

Oh, I... I came to your office after the morning meeting, but you were not there. I awkwardly covered it up.

Fang Yunxiao comforted me and said, "You are steady and methodical, taking each step on your own path."

He asked sensitively in response, "How?"

I also smiled, exchanged a few words casually, and left after ordering coffee.

Mu Yan gave me a four-word evaluation of my performance and internship qualifications: "All talk, no action."

This used to be my first office desk.

Still speaking up for him, don't you ever learn from your losses? I knew you were shameless and ignorant...

After working here for half a year, I was transferred to the sales department by Mu Yan without any clear indication.

The bright sunshine came upon me, and I instinctively squinted my eyes, seeing Mu Yan in the halo of light.

I went down to the 30th floor and climbed up in one breath, feeling extremely exhausted.

There is still some time before work. I held a cup and went to the pantry. I met the people from the HR department who were gathered around the coffee table whispering something. When they saw me coming in, they immediately stopped talking and smiled at me as if nothing had happened.

I buried my head and ordered a plate of pineapple chicken rice. As I lifted my head to take a sip of water, I saw a slender figure in a white shirt passing by through the glass. Was it Mu Yan...?... The grains of pineapple rice in my spoon fell onto the table as my gaze followed, only to realize that I had mistaken.

Fang Yunxiao frowned, "You've been out of it all day."

The noon sunlight shines on the snow-white shirt, making it exceptionally dazzling.

After finishing the meal in silence, they parted ways at the entrance of the restaurant. Fang Yunxiao finally asked, "Do you still like that Mu Yan?"

Fang Yunxiao doesn't talk, he lowers his head and drinks iced tea.

At the final stage, unexpected difficulties were encountered.

Good morning, it's hard to say who has a swollen and bruised face. I took a deep sip of iced tea, feeling a bit down.

Is this personal? Do I need to do it myself when I eat? He teased me, speaking in a usual tone, seemingly without any grudges.

This back view in front of me gives me a strong feeling - he must not know that he could be discovered, to be so unrestrained and expose his loneliness so openly behind him. Perhaps this rooftop is his self-proclaimed hidden corner.

But I understand, this is just a kind of consolation victory method for losers.

I stared at him blankly for a long time, then left the room and tiptoed downstairs.

The man under the sunshine resembles him, with long legs and broad shoulders, but not as tall and graceful as him.

He worked overtime until three or four in the morning, and I also worked overtime until three or four in the morning; he didn't take a vacation for half a year, and I completely lost my weekends.

I took a sip of iced black tea, "It's nothing, I mistook the person."

Fang Yunxiao's music is irresistible, "I told you earlier, don't think that those surnamed Mu are invincible, they will fall flat on their faces one day."

On the phone, Mu Yan seemed to have chuckled, and this nonchalant laughter is all too familiar to me.

Over there, it quieted down for a moment, and a steady voice came through, "I am Mu Yan."

In the morning, I met him in the elevator. He was still full of energy and enthusiasm. However, his figure a few hours later appeared so desolate and lonely.

Originally, I was going to resign, but Mu Yan gave me the option to transfer to the administrative department.

I no longer mention Muyan, nor do I expect any resonance from her.

That was the most struggling six months, from the beginning full of confidence, thriving, to later being in a sorry state. Several times I had the thought of resigning, only to persist out of a stubborn refusal to admit defeat. In the end, I had to admit my mistake in choosing this career path.

At noon, I made an appointment with Fang Yunxiao to have lunch at a Yunnan cuisine restaurant downstairs across the street from our company.

Fang Yunxiao looked at me with slanted eyes.

The three departments of the marketing system are well-organized, and everyone is busy with their own tasks. People passing by still have a smile on their faces. The atmosphere here is completely different from the 35th floor - maintaining a professional attitude and not bringing personal emotions into work are the basic requirements that Mu Yan has for each subordinate. Although everyone is aware that a big storm is coming, this is still a stable and sturdy ship that sails forward undisturbed.

No. I vehemently deny.

The assistant's small cubicle is a comfortable corner, where one can see the morning sun and overlook the night outside the window.

I know that in their eyes, I have been Mu Yan's assistant, a person who came out of the marketing department, with a face that seems to have the Mu family emblem on it. Ridiculously, they never really considered me as a member of his team.

It seems as if a white patch is still lingering before my eyes. His shirt is reflecting the sunlight, and that patch of white is shining brilliantly.

Mu Yan does not hide his disdain for newcomers. To be frank, he does not like fresh graduates with zero experience. If you want to join his marketing team, you have to start from the most basic assistant position and work your way up to the front-line sales position step by step.

What are you saying! I became angry with embarrassment.

Others think that I yearn for the glittering name of this company, willing to give up my own expertise, willing to start from a low point, and even willing to squeeze my head in. But I know that to a large extent, it's because I took a gamble.

Thinking about this possibility, my heart was in a panic for no reason.

I casually replied, standing beside the assistant's desk, separated by a glass wall and a screen of Brazilian trees, looking towards the office of the marketing director behind me. I saw the blinds pulled halfway up, an empty swivel chair facing to one side, and the desk piled up like a mountain, squeezing the small photo frame to the edge of the table.

I have accepted this job and started working as Mu Yan's assistant.

Mu Yan's assistant, however, grabbed me and complained about some trivial matters in the administrative department.

I silently recite the calories that can be burned with each step up the stairs, gritting my teeth and persevering.

The logbook is always meticulously filled in every day, the office desk is covered with layers of sticky notes, the phone is on 24 hours a day, and even those who are not workaholics are forced to become workaholics. At that time, going to work every day felt like being injected with chicken blood, and working overtime until midnight for a whole week was done without any complaints.

He leaned against the railing, holding a cigarette in his hand, facing the thin clouds floating in the gray-blue sky outside the rooftop. He lowered his head and looked at the undulating concrete forest in the distance, his hair lifted by the wind.

I couldn't help but let out a "Ah".

Since it is a welcoming event, everyone who should be there should be there. I will accompany you to the airport this afternoon to pick up the person.

Remembering the time when I once leaned on this office desk and fell asleep in a flash, I couldn't help but laugh.

Mu Yan's office is empty. I don't know where he went. It seems he has forgotten about asking me to come find him this morning.

Everything was impeccable, the marketing department's performance was outstanding, and I have never heard of any dissatisfaction from the higher-ups towards Mu Yan...? Why did baseless suppression occur? Was it because Mu Yan did something wrong, or did the higher-ups have other intentions?

This building is a company-owned property. The 35th and 36th floors have been internally connected to create an office area. A stylish steel-framed glass spiral staircase has been installed in the center of the lobby. The original fire escape staircase is no longer in use, so it is conveniently used for exercise and weight loss during lunch break.

After the meeting, I went to the 36th floor. The entire office area was unusually calm, and there was nothing different from usual.

Back at the desk, my heart was pounding, as if I had stumbled upon a huge secret.

As soon as I started, half a year has passed. I am both a secretary and a general assistant, handling all sorts of miscellaneous tasks. I have completed a basket full of miscellaneous matters.

Next to the railing is a coffee cup, and the cigarette ash casually flicks into the cup.

Fang Yunxiao knocked on the table and said, "What's the big deal?"

I don't understand.

I don't know if it's fatigue or something else. I couldn't concentrate on work all afternoon, and before I knew it, it was already three o'clock. The internal line on the desk kept ringing incessantly, and I felt inexplicably irritable. Even when I answered the phone, my voice didn't sound good, "Hello?"

I sighed and relayed to her the news of the headquarters parachuting into the sky to become immortals. She was stunned for two seconds and asked, "Isn't Mu Yan being played a big joke?" I nodded, and she immediately burst into a gloating laughter, attracting the attention of people around us.

Between every two floors of this building, there is a small terrace. For safety reasons, the company has locked the doors to the small terraces between the 35th and 36th floors.

I stood there blankly, unsure whether to call out to him or not.

I am applying for the position of Planning Specialist. Although I am a fresh graduate, my academic achievements and internship experience at a 4A advertising company have impressed the HR department, and I have successfully passed all the written tests and interviews.

The cigarette has only burned halfway, and the ash is still long and hasn't fallen yet. It has been a long time since I took a puff.

Will he resign in anger and leave the company due to his arrogance?

What is the reason for not being able to make the decision to leave? Why am I willing to transfer to administrative work that I have no interest in? I no longer want to dwell on this issue. In any case, I stayed in the company and did ordinary work meticulously and step by step. After six months, I was promoted to an administrative supervisor. Meanwhile, my former competitor, Meng Qi, is about to be promoted to deputy manager of the sales department.

In the past, it was very rare to see him smoke. In my impression, he dislikes others smoking.

He nodded and didn't mention why he wanted to see me in the morning, but asked about the arrangements for hosting Cheng Yi in the evening. I told him that the hotel and airport pickup were all arranged. We have reserved a private room in the Hunan restaurant in the hotel. As for who will be attending the dinner, it depends on his preference.