The next day, the long holiday ended.

Luo Qi didn’t know until she arrived at the company that morning that Jiang Yueru was hospitalized again during the holiday. During her lunch break, she went to the hospital.

Jiang Yueru was staying in the same ward on the same VIP floor, with bodyguards on duty at the door. Like before, they let her go in immediately once they saw her.

When Luo Qi opened the door, Jiang Yueru was leaning back on the bed reading a book. She immediately said, “Director Jiang, why didn’t you tell me? I had nothing to do at home these past few days, I could have come here and kept you company.”

Jiang Yueru placed the bookmark in and put the book aside. “The ward smells like disinfectant. It’s enough that I bear it alone.”

Before coming here, Luo Qi learned about the situation from Jiang Yueru’s driver. Jiang Yueru had not recovered well and kept working hard at the company.

“My unfilial son has given me an ultimatum—to retire now and go abroad to recuperate.” Jiang Yueru pointed to the chair beside the bed and asked Luo Qi to sit on it. “You are here just in time. Let me talk to you about your future plans.”

Now that her boss planned to retire early, as her Assistant, Luo Qi’s position has become an urgent problem that needed to be solved. Luo Qi was seriously considering this matter when she went on that business trip to Haicheng, but before she could figure out a feasible solution, her boss already planned to quit.

“Xiao Ju has been promoted, have you heard?”

Luo Qi nodded, “We were talking about this in the group chat this morning.”

In addition to Secretary Ju, another senior executive was also promoted.

For the sake of her nephew, Jiang Yueru began to weave truths with falsehoods endlessly, “I wanted to fight for the position that Xiao Ju was promoted to for you, but it turned out that Chief Jiang agreed to it in advance and gave it to Xiaoju. It’s not good for me to step in and affect your friendship with Xiaoju.”

She also talked about why Secretary Ju was transferred, “Xiao Ju’s son’s grades are a mess, and he keeps getting in trouble at school. She needs to go on business trips with Chief Jiang from time to time and has no time to take care of the child. If she continues to be this busy, the child will grow up useless. So I thought, even if I fought for that position first, you would probably still give it to Xiao Ju.”

Luo Qi smiled. “You still understand me best. I’m single, and it doesn’t matter if I go on a business trip. In Yuanwei, the two people closest to me are you and Secretary Ju.”

She knew something about Secretary Ju’s son’s grades. Secretary Ju was particularly troubled by this. She had specifically asked Lu Baisheng for advice and even added his WeChat account.

Jiang Yueru said, “There are two options available for you now. You can become Vice President in the Operations Department. The other option is to transfer as Assistant to Chief Jiang since he will now be short of people. It’s up to you.”

Luo Qi did not express her preference immediately. Both jobs would be difficult to do. 

For the first option, there would be many trivial and thankless matters to wade through. The head of the Operations Department was also notoriously difficult to get along with. This position was also far away from the center of power and was really not within her range of consideration.

The second position was to be Jiang Shenghe’s Assistant. One must have a strong ability to withstand stress during working hours.

But if she stayed with the big boss, she would gain knowledge of different projects and expand her vision. It could be a good springboard in the future. Once a more suitable position opened in the company, she would have a greater chance of promotion.

Luo Qi thought about it again and again, “Then I’ll take the challenging one.”

Jiang Yueru deliberately misinterpreted, “Decided to become the Vice President of the Operations Department? Okay.”

“… No, I meant the challenge of being Chief Jiang’s Assistant.”

“Why do you think it’s a challenge? Your professional ability is enough.” Jiang Yueru joked again, “I am not happy to hear you say that. You can handle it fine as my assistant, but you think it’s a challenge to work as my nephew’s Assistant. You seem to be implying that he is better than me.”

Luo Qi smiled, “Chief Jiang is very strict. Your requirements for me are too low. You take care of everything for me and I have become dependent on you. Chief Jiang is different. I have to get used to things slowly and I am worried that I will not do well.”

“No need to belittle yourself.” 

Jiang Yueru asked Luo Qi to meet with Jiang Shenghe in the afternoon. The specific matters of this transfer should be discussed in person.

Luo Qi stayed in the ward for half an hour, and she didn’t go back to the company until Jiang Yueru shooed her away so she could eat her lunch.

Secretary Ju was doing the handover and was probably very busy.

She contacted Xiao Jiang instead and asked if Chief Jiang would be at the company in the afternoon and if it was possible to make an appointment.

Xiao Jiang: [Chief Jiang is in the office right now. I will answer your question after I ask.]

Luo Qi waited for Xiao Jiang’s reply, but Jiang Shenghe himself called her in person.

“What do you need from me?” Feeling that his voice was a bit too gentle, Jiang Shenghe added, “Does Director Jiang have something to say?”

“No, it’s my own business. I want to apply for the position of your Assistant. I wonder if it’s convenient to meet with you this afternoon?”

Jiang Shenghe had already walked to the door of the office. He actually had something to do and was on his way out. 

After hearing Luo Qi’s words, he turned around and said to Luo Qi, “It’s convenient. I’m here any time.”

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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