Volume One, Chapter 16: Becoming My Secretary

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Fang Li quickly withdrew his gaze and nodded.
“She’s back. The boss is probably still resting in his room. Miss Lin, perhaps you should...”
Before Fang Li could finish, Shen Du’s door was opened from the inside.
The man’s eyes were still a little sleepy but he immediately noticed Lin Zhiyu standing not far away.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he calmly withdrew it without changing expression.
“Well, I’ll go change clothes first.”
Lin Zhiyu sensed an odd atmosphere. After saying this, she turned and walked into the room.
Shen Du raised his hand to rub his brow before heading downstairs.
“Boss, about the company matters...” Fang Li was about to report on today’s schedule.
But the man waved him off.
“We’ll talk later,” Shen Du said coolly, taking another sip of his bitter coffee.
Fang Li stood still and nodded obediently. He had already realized it—his boss was clearly waiting for Miss Lin to finish changing before going downstairs.
But this wasn’t like his boss at all. When did he suddenly become so patient?
As suspicion lingered, footsteps sounded again at the stairway.
Lin Zhiyu came before Shen Du, looking somewhat reserved.
“Sorry, I promised to wait for you here last night, but I accidentally fell asleep.”
“Have a seat,” the man said calmly, placing a contract that had long been prepared in front of Lin Zhiyu.
“What’s this?”
Lin Zhiyu opened the document with some confusion, reading its contents.
“I’m still missing a personal secretary, and since you also need money, during our collaboration you’ll need to be on call at all times. It’s no different from being a secretary, so you’re qualified for the position.”
Shen Du tapped his fingers lightly on the table, the faint sound causing a slight chill.
Before Lin Zhiyu could speak, he explained further.
“The salary for the secretary position is two hundred thousand per month, paid at the beginning of each month. Your job is to follow my instructions. Aside from major matters, you must be available at all times and work alongside Fang Li.”
“So, that means I have to go to the office too?” Lin Zhiyu listened carefully, but the amount made her pause.
Such a salary was quite high for a secretary.
“Yes.”

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As Shen Du spoke, a maid brought a prepared ginseng soup to Lin Zhiyu’s side.
“Miss Lin, this is the ginseng soup the master asked us to prepare for you.”
Lin Zhiyu looked up in slight confusion, but before she could ask, meeting Shen Du’s gaze, she obediently started drinking the soup, waiting for his next words.
Seeing her comportment, a barely perceptible expression flickered in Shen Du’s eyes.
“As for the experiment’s payment, it will be settled after it concludes. You will receive everything you are owed. In the meantime, use the secondary card for daily expenses. Fang Li will make adjustments later if needed.”
Lin Zhiyu nodded without objection.
Soon, the fragrant soup in the bowl was finished.
“How does it taste?” Shen Du suddenly changed the subject.
Lin Zhiyu was caught off guard, uncertain how to respond.
“It’s... quite good.”
“You’ll have to drink it every day. The doctor said your body is greatly depleted, which affects the experiment. Understand what I mean?”
Shen Du’s tone was serious, not open for discussion.
“Understood, Mr. Shen. Rest assured, I will obey.”
Lin Zhiyu responded, then set down the bowl.
Just as she thought he would arrange her entry into the company, Shen Du’s phone suddenly rang.
He answered and listened silently to the person on the other end, then replied,
“Got it. We’re on our way now.”
After hanging up, he casually put on the coat Fang Li handed him, then looked down at Lin Zhiyu.
“First, we’re going to the lab. You’ll need to cooperate with blood sample collection.”
Hearing “lab,” Lin Zhiyu’s scalp tingled involuntarily.
But thinking of the outstanding debts of the Lin family, she clenched her fists and smiled as she rose from her chair.
“Alright, Mr. Shen. I’ll go with you.”
The car was silent.
Lin Zhiyu stared out the window, lost in thought.
“This time it’s just a blood sample from your body. It won’t harm you. Our cooperation involves no harmful acts, so you don’t need to be so nervous.”
The man’s voice was deep, unusually soothing.
“Mr. Shen, you joke. I understand what you mean, so I’m not too nervous. Don’t worry.”

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If there were a mirror now, Lin Zhiyu could see how forced her smile truly was.
Shen Du’s gaze fell on her clenched fists, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.
“If you’re not nervous, why the trembling hands?”
Fang Li, still driving ahead, almost laughed aloud at the remark.
As usual, the boss was sharp-tongued, giving no face even in front of a beauty.
Lin Zhiyu awkwardly raised a hand to cover the corner of her mouth and coughed softly.
“Cough, cough. I-I’m just a little cold.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Lin. You’ll be warm once we get to the lab,” Fang Li chuckled, easing the awkward atmosphere.
Lin Zhiyu silently cast him a grateful glance.
Meanwhile, inside the hospital,
Lin Yihuan looked at Lu Zhaochuan sitting beside her, his face etched with worry.
“Zhaochuan, why do you still look so down? Haven’t we found a way to solve this?”
She affectionately shook Lu Zhaochuan’s arm, her face full of unhidden concern.
“It’s nothing. I called Zhiyu yesterday but got no answer. I’m worried. She’s not with the Lin family now, and she doesn’t have much money. How will she get by during this time?”
As he spoke, the image of Lin Zhiyu being taken into a car involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Who were those people inside that car?
Why did they feel so familiar?
“Zhaochuan, sister’s always been smart. She wouldn’t let herself be wronged. Don’t worry. It would be bad if you stressed yourself out. I’d worry about you too.”
Lin Yihuan lowered her eyes, looking at the hand she held in Lu Zhaochuan’s.
Seemingly inspired, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of their intertwined fingers.
“Huanhuan, what are you doing?”
Lu Zhaochuan frowned, puzzled.
“Don’t you remember our agreement yesterday? We said we’d pretend to be together to make sister jealous, right?”
Lin Yihuan said playfully, shaking their tightly clasped hands.
“Now’s the perfect chance. You say you’re here taking care of me and see if sister gets angry. If she does, that means she still cares about you.”