The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 209 Willful

After Fang Xichen's repeated persuasion, Chu Fanqing finally agreed to cancel the afternoon meeting and the evening social engagement, and prepared to go home with Fang Xichen to get some rest.

The family walked out of the restaurant happily. Shang Yibo accompanied his parents out of the hotel lobby, where their driver, Lao Zhang, was already waiting in front of the car.

Shang Yibo saw his parents off to the car, and Fang Xichen rolled down the car window and said to Shang Yibo, "Remember to call home often and take good care of yourself."

"I know, so do you."

On his way back to the office, Shang Yibo couldn't wait to send Zhou Yanruo a message: "I'm done here and I'm about to go back to the office. Where are you?"

Zhou Yanruo replied almost instantly: "I'll wait for you in my office."

Shang Yibo pushed open the door and entered the office, where he saw Zhou Yanruo already sitting on the sofa waiting for him.

Zhou Yanruo stood up to greet him, "Chairman Chu just canceled the afternoon meeting, which gives us two hours free this afternoon. Perfect timing, I can go over the upcoming projects with you."

Shang Yibo chuckled and teased, "You really know how to seize every opportunity, you don't even give me a moment to catch my breath."

Zhou Yanruo followed up on his words and teased, "Looks like you're in a good mood. You must have received praise from the chairman and his wife."

Shang Yibo sat down on the sofa with a carefree attitude, tilted his head back, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Are you very tired? Or do you feel stressed talking to Chairman Chu about work?" Zhou Yanruo asked with concern as she stood in front of Shang Yibo.

Shang Yibo swayed his shoulders and neck as he replied, "I wouldn't call it pressure, but it's the first time I've had a meeting with my dad to discuss company matters, and I have a feeling I can't quite describe."

"Your performance truly exceeded everyone's expectations," Zhou Yanruo exclaimed sincerely.

Shang Yibo smiled confidently, "I think so too. Luckily, I've been reading books on business management all along, otherwise I might have made a fool of myself today."

Zhou Yanruo couldn't help but scoff, "You're getting all worked up just because I called you fat. Can't you be a little more humble?"

Shang Yibo shrugged. "I'm just telling the truth."

"Did you find it hard to hold back, being dragged to this meeting by us? It must have been tough on you," Zhou Yanruo asked with a hint of apology.

Shang Yibo shook his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "No, I actually really like this job."

"Oh?" Zhou Yanruo looked puzzled, her gaze fixed on Shang Yibo. "You don't need to pretend with me. I've always felt that you don't really like being involved in the company's work."

Shang Yibo smiled slightly, "Your feeling is wrong. I have always been very interested in investing."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanruo stared in surprise, "But you entered the entertainment industry and became a big star? I always thought you gave up the family business to become an actress."

Shang Yibo shrugged helplessly. "That's what everyone says. I'm too lazy to refute it. Besides, everyone is willing to accept this kind of story. As long as they're happy, I don't care."

Zhou Yanruo was even more confused. She frowned and said in bewilderment, "Now you've really confused me. You're giving up such excellent conditions to try your luck in the entertainment industry? I thought you were a very inspiring role model, but you're telling me that you don't actually like being an actress. Are all rich people this capricious?"

Shang Yibo murmured softly, "Actually, it's not because I'm being willful, but because of someone."

"What did you say?" Zhou Yanruo didn't hear clearly and pressed for an answer.

Shang Yibo smiled slightly and shook his head gently, "It's nothing, becoming an actor was just an accident."

Zhou Yanruo pretended to be angry, "You're really annoying. Some people try their best but still can't achieve what you did, and you became a popular star just by 'accident'."

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

Shang Yibo asked, "Who's coming?"

"I just ordered coffee, and it should have been brought over by the front desk staff."

Shang Yibo raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is someone coming?"

Zhou Yanruo replied, "I just had someone bring me some coffee; it should have been delivered from the front desk."

Shang Yibo said loudly towards the door, "Come in."

The door opened with a sound, and Secretary Chen walked in, followed by a female receptionist carrying a tray with two cups of coffee and a small dish of delicate cookies.

Shang Yibo was sitting on the sofa, facing the door. He immediately saw Secretary Chen enter. Secretary Chen was a senior colleague who had always worked with his father. He quickly and politely stood up. "Secretary Chen? Is there something you need from me?"

Hearing Shang Yibo address her, Zhou Yanruo turned around and greeted him with surprise, "Secretary Chen, what brings you here?"

Secretary Chen smiled and nodded, then gestured to the receptionist to put down the coffee and said, "Mr. Shang, from now on, I will be in charge of your secretarial work when you are in the company."

Shang Yibo was somewhat surprised. "Thank you, but there's no need to go to so much trouble. I won't be at the company for very long anyway."

Secretary Chen smiled and explained, "This was specifically instructed by Chairman Chu. He said that you and he share a secretariat, and as the head of the secretariat, it is natural for me to be primarily responsible for your work. Don't mention it, it's all I should do."

Shang Yibo didn't want to dwell on this matter, so he nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll contact you again if I need anything."

Secretary Chen tactfully turned and left with the receptionist, saying, "Yes, Mr. Shang, I'm ready at any time."

Watching Secretary Chen and the receptionist walk out of the office, Shang Yibo pointed at Secretary Chen, who had already left, and asked in confusion, "What's going on? How can Rushang Group be so outdated?" Zhou Yanruo couldn't help but laugh and replied, "Aren't you used to it? You'll get used to it over time." Before anyone knew it, she had an iPad in her hand. She sat down next to Shang Yibo, propped the iPad up on the coffee table, and opened the project documents. "Let me introduce you to the situation of these projects."

Shang Yibo sat up straight and said, "Let's get started. Let's finish quickly so we can go back early. Didn't we agree to have a get-together at the professor's house tonight?"

When he mentioned going home early, he suddenly remembered that Jian Zheng had just invited him to a gathering that evening, so he added, "Oh right, Jian Zheng invited me to get together tonight, I haven't replied to him yet."

Zhou Yanruo tentatively asked, "Do you want to invite Jian Zheng to the party at Zihang's house tonight?"

Shang Yibo replied, "Is that okay? I haven't decided yet, and I'd like to hear your opinion. After all, he has a somewhat delicate relationship with our company right now."

Zhou Yanruo said, "Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters. I can keep them separate. You and Jian Zheng haven't known each other for long, and your relationship isn't deep, so what could possibly happen? But you should decide for yourself."

When Zhou Yanruo mentioned that she hadn't known Jian Zheng for long and their relationship wasn't deep, Shang Yibo felt a little awkward. He secretly glanced at Zhou Yanruo and realized that she was serious.

After hesitating for a moment, Shang Yibo said, "Then let him come too, it'll be more lively with more people."

“I’ll listen to you,” Zhou Yanruo replied.