The CEO's office of EK Group.
Chen Ling knocked and entered, reporting to the man who was working: "CEO Shang, the investigation results for the yacht are out."
"Speak," Shang Sheng put down the document in his hand.
"It's the same as what Young Master Liu the second said. It was indeed an accident. The old wiring, combined with the strong wind that night, caused the fire. There are no human factors involved."
The Liu family's yacht was over a decade old. Coupled with their poor management, their subordinates were quite lax and generally unreliable.
The yacht looked fine on the surface, and no one had ever paid attention to the safety hazards on board.
The office was quiet for a moment. Shang Sheng spoke expressionlessly, "Give the order. We will no longer cooperate with Liu Group."
Chen Ling was startled and quickly advised, "CEO Shang, Young Master Liu the second did not do it intentionally, and Madam wasn't injured. If you do this... you'll be blacklisting Mr. Liu. CEO Shang, it will be said that you're using your position for personal revenge."
"You have always kept personal and professional matters separate, but now for Qin Yige..."
Her remaining words were silenced by the man's sharp gaze.
"Secretary Chen, do I need to discuss my decisions with you before making them?"
"No, CEO Shang, I'm sorry!"
"Since you're not, then do as I've instructed!"
"Yes." Chen Ling took a deep breath and said softly, "CEO Shang, as your secretary, I will be bold enough to offer my opinion just once. Why should Qin Yige marry you? If it were Miss Mu, I would accept it, but Qin Yige doesn't have a high education, nor does she have talent. She's only half-hearted in everything she learns. Besides her good family background and good looks... but CEO Shang, you are not such a superficial person in my heart."
Neither of the two people in the office noticed a hand with pale-colored nail polish, wearing a large tourmaline diamond ring, clinging to the solid wood door.
Shang Sheng slammed the pen in his hand on the desk. "Secretary Chen, I will answer your question clearly. I, Shang Sheng, am not a god, I am a person, and a very superficial person as you described!"
His cold tone sent a shiver down the woman's spine, but she was not ready to give up. She choked out, "CEO Shang, then I'll ask one last question. What do I... mean to you? Just a secretary?"
This time, before she could get an answer, the fair hand at the door disappeared.
Facing Chen Ling's unusual gaze, Shang Sheng showed her his cruelty.
Not only did he show no emotion, but he coldly ordered, "Chen Ling, go and print your resignation letter now, and then come and find me to sign it!"
Chen Ling: "..."
Her heart shattered in an instant.
The office was quiet for a long time. The woman looked at the man who continued to work, wiped her tears, "I'm sorry, CEO Shang, I lost my composure just now."
"Please forgive me this once, CEO Shang. I will never do it again."
"Get out!" he replied with just two words.
Before Chen Ling could respond, the intercom in the office rang.
Shang Sheng picked up the phone and put it to his ear: "It's me."
He narrowed his eyes at whatever was said on the other end. "When?"
"CEO Shang, just now. I felt it was best to tell you."
"Okay, I understand."
The call ended. Shang Sheng stood up from his chair and strode out the door.
As he passed the secretary area, he scanned the assistants who were still busy and asked, "Where is Madam?"
A male assistant stood up and looked in a certain direction.
Shang Sheng walked over and, from a distance, saw a girl standing with her back to them by the floor-to-ceiling window in the hallway, tapping on the glass.
After a moment, he stopped. "If you break the glass again, you'll have to pay for it."
Hearing his voice, Qin Yige suddenly turned around, gritted her teeth, and cursed, "Shang Sheng, you scoundrel, what do you mean? Is my strength greater than bullets?"
If she wasn't mistaken, all this glass was bulletproof.
"Not quite."
"Then what are you talking about!" Her eyes were red, and her tone was sharp.
Ignoring her anger, he asked, "Are you here to see me for something?"
"Who's here to see you!" she denied.
She didn't care about Chen Ling's feelings for him. It was just that she was furious thinking about a secretary daring to belittle her, and she wished she could punch Shang Sheng's dog head.
"If you're not here to see me, what are you doing here..."
"As the mistress of the company, can't I come to inspect the company?" She straightened her chest, her words sounding very righteous.
A smile flashed in the man's eyes, and he nodded. "Of course, you can. So, how is Madam's inspection of the company?"
"Not very good. How can you be a leader? You've let such a fine group become so chaotic that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come in as an employee!" She was a master of speaking contrary to her feelings, without blushing or skipping a beat.
Shang Sheng was stunned for a moment, then said softly, "Please, Madam, instruct me."
Instruct?
Qin Yige was a bit dumbfounded.
She had no experience managing a company, so how could she possibly guide Shang Sheng, who had at least ten years of senior management experience?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Shang Sheng hid his smile. "Shall we talk in the office?"
"I absolutely won't—" she started to refuse, but at the last moment, she made a sharp U-turn. "I will!"
"Mm."
Shang Sheng turned to lead the way, but Qin Yige called him back. "Wait a minute!"
He turned around.
Qin Yige trotted to his side, proactively linked her arm with his, and whispered, "Remember to give me face later. If you don't, I'll never come to see you again!"
Looking at her small gesture, Shang Sheng raised an eyebrow, then nodded under her threatening gaze.
The two appeared intimately in the secretary area. Although the secretaries had their eyes on their computers, their minds had long drifted to their boss and his wife.
They weren't unused to seeing them. When Qin Yige had stormed in to find Shang Sheng before, her hair had almost stood up like an antenna.
Such intimate behavior as this was truly rare.
As they passed Chen Ling, Qin Yige said with a smile, "Secretary Chen, please bring two cups of coffee in, thank you!"
Chen Ling looked at her with a strange expression. "Madam, CEO Shang doesn't drink coffee in the evening. It will affect his routine."
Qin Yige's smile froze slightly. She cursed inwardly, this scoundrel really wasn't helpful.
However, the next moment, Shang Sheng stepped in to rescue her. "A little won't hurt."
This time, Chen Ling had no choice but to agree. "Yes, CEO Shang!"
The man and woman walked into the office. Qin Yige immediately let go of Shang Sheng and still peeked out the door.
Seeing that no one was following them, Qin Yige playfully ran to catch up with the man. "Shang Sheng, Shang Sheng."
He glanced at her, gesturing for her to speak.
She smiled first, then spoke. "Is she unhappy? Should I apologize?"
"Who?"
"Secretary Chen."
Shang Sheng stopped and stood face to face with her. "What does her happiness have to do with you?"
"Of course it does. After all, I ordered her around in front of everyone. She's your personal secretary, so what I did just now might not have been appropriate!" Her tone and expression were so exaggerated that it was hard to look at.
"Why can't a secretary serve coffee? And when did it become your turn to apologize to her?"
Qin Yige thought for a moment, bit her lower lip, and said weakly, "But she's your personal assistant."