Chapter 104: Would You Like Me? (32/52)

In the evening, one by one, the office lights in the company went out.

Liu Anran locked the door to his office and finished the last tasks he needed to do.

He glanced over at Liu Xie beside him, who was already starting to yawn.

“Sorry, I didn’t expect something like this to happen today,” Liu Anran said with a frown.

“It’s not a big deal. You don’t need to apologize to me. You’re the one who should be really worried, right?” Liu Xie could still see it clearly. After the three who had taken her to complete the onboarding process, her good brother had been constantly frowning, making calls and sending messages nonstop.

It really seemed like he had started a thorough investigation into the three interviewers who had handled those cases, just as he had said.

“I didn’t expect this either. When I took over this branch from the family, I kept most of the employees as the framework. The rest I reviewed personally. Business was booming recently, but I didn’t think there would be such a loose end.”

Liu Anran rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Thankfully, it seemed like those others hadn’t been tampering with the other employees; it was only this female assistant he had handed over to HR—someone who didn’t have to do any work—who started causing trouble.

Perhaps they thought this wouldn’t affect the company, so they began scheming for their own benefit.

They were clever enough to think about notifying many who wanted to climb up the ladder and become a “phoenix on the branch,” letting them bid against each other and choosing the highest bidder.

But when Liu Anran created this position, he never intended for HR to find him a real female assistant.

He didn’t expect these people to act on their own like that.

More than their lack of work ethics, Liu Anran believed they simply didn’t respect him.

After all, he was a parachuted-in CEO who hadn’t spent years running this company. It was normal that he didn’t have authority or prestige.

Maybe this assistant was just viewed by them as part of some concubine selection process—an arbitrary “harem” event where the “emperor” was to pick his concubine, and the candidates all got in through connections.

He had business talent and had provided many plans to help the company rise. According to those plans, the company was indeed flourishing.

But judging from today’s situation, there were still people who looked down on him, thinking he was just a relative who got in through connections at the headquarters.

The prime examples were those employees he had retained as the old framework.

He had kept them initially because he wanted to bring in fresh blood. No framework could stand if it was just a loose collection of people. Now the company had stabilized completely, and even if those old framework people were removed, the company could continue to grow.

He hadn’t intended to be so ruthless, but some people just didn’t want to give him face.

No matter, he could handle it. This kind of thing was nothing compared to the trouble of looking after Liu Xie.

“So, you really did intend to get a personal female assistant from the start?” Liu Xie finally asked the question that had been on her mind all along.

She’d wanted to ask earlier, but seeing Liu Anran so busy, she held back.

“Yes, that was the original plan.”

“The original plan?” Liu Xie tilted her head.

It was dark, and she couldn’t see the way clearly, so Liu Anran took her hand, guiding her to walk beside him so she wouldn’t stumble in the darkness.

“Yes, that was the plan at first, but I’ve already found someone now,” Liu Anran said.

Most places Liu Xie walked through had their lights off, though a few departments were brightly lit, bustling with activity.

But Liu Xie never criticized Liu Anran’s work, and some issues even if explained to her, she might not fully understand.

“Don’t tell me you only pinned me to this assistant position after you found out about me? Honestly, just tell me—are you trying to pick a concubine?”

Liu Xie clearly remembered how Liu Anran had pinned her into the female assistant role today—duties being nothing at all, with the corresponding salary only the minimum standard.

“No way. Why would you think I’m picking a concubine?” Liu Anran was a little surprised, but still held her hand tightly.

“When people get money and power, they start to forget humanity. That’s what TV dramas show. You’re a young CEO like those on TV, so stay away from TV drama clichés,” Liu Xie said seriously.

“That’s different. Even young CEOs on TV have absolute authority in their companies. It’s not like me, still being walked over by employees.”

Once the topic shifted to this, Liu Anran seemed more relaxed than before, more willing to talk.

At least, that’s what Liu Xie thought.

“Then why did you still want to get a female assistant?” Liu Xie asked again.

“That position was originally reserved for you. I was just too naive—I thought this place was already like a finished piece of art you could come see. But now I realize it’s just a half-finished product,” Liu Anran said, his tone unusually heavy with a hint of frustration.

It was like spending all his effort building a sandcastle on the beach, proud to show it to the person he cared about most—only to realize he hadn’t built a sandcastle at all, just a pile of scattered sand.

Liu Xie seemed to be seeing a side of Liu Anran for the first time—somewhat downhearted, weary, and defeated.

Not the image she had of him, someone who succeeded at everything, but rather a little like herself, often unsuccessful.

Somehow, she felt a pang of sympathy.

“You’ve actually done really well. Any one of these tasks, if I had to do it alone, I definitely couldn’t. Let alone having all of this piled on you. You’re already way better than me.”

Liu Xie looked down at the hand Liu Anran was holding and placed her other hand over his, wrapping his hand in both of hers.

“You think I’m very capable in your heart, don’t you?” Liu Anran suddenly asked.

“Yes.”

“Am I the most capable in your heart?”

In the darkness, Liu Xie couldn’t see Liu Anran’s expression, only felt the warmth of his hand and the slight dampness of his palm lines.

Her good brother was nervous.

She sensed the unease in his heart—perhaps because of what had just happened at the company.

She spoke softly, “Of course. I’ve always thought you’re the most capable.”

A faint smile appeared on Liu Xie’s face, just as they passed through a shaft of light. The crescent curve at the corner of her eye looked like the grand wings of an angel unfolding.

“Sis.”

They stepped back into the darkness.

“What is it?”

“Would you like a guy like me?”