Chapter 25: Anyway, whether the progress is at 0% or 99%, it’s still not good enough

Shen Yan had only come to the riverside on a whim, yet she kept running into people she knew.

She felt a little embarrassed.

She wiped the tears from her face and, following Zhou Xing’s lead, said,

“Yeah, after attending the district government meeting today, Director Fan assigned me a research report, a work proposal, and a meeting summary.”

Zhou Xing already knew about the research report and meeting summary.

“What’s the work proposal?” he asked.

Shen Yan replied,

“Director Fan said he wants to hold a networking event with Huaxin Group and asked me to draft a proposal for it.”

Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow.

“Why Huaxin?”

Shen Yan thought for a moment and guessed,

“Maybe he just happened to run into someone from Huaxin at the meeting?”

Zhou Xing clicked his tongue lightly.

“He really does just make things up as he goes.”

Shen Yan hesitated.

“So… should I actually do it?”

Zhou Xing replied,

“Do it, but don’t rush.

He might be excited about it today and completely forget about it tomorrow.

Wait until he brings it up again before you start.”

Shen Yan humbly asked for more guidance.

“What if he asks me about it next time?”

“Just tell him you’re working on it and that it’s not finished yet.

Make him wait,” Zhou Xing explained.

“Whether it’s 0% done or 99% done, as long as it’s not complete, it’s all the same.”

Shen Yan absorbed the lesson.

“Got it.”

“You…”

Zhou Xing hesitated.

He could more or less guess why Shen Yan had been crying earlier.

He had seen her talking to a guy, and then she had walked away looking upset.

Zhou Xing had never been in a relationship before, but he wasn’t clueless.

He could imagine what had happened.

He wanted to ask but worried that Shen Yan might feel awkward.

After a brief hesitation, he finally said,

“If you ever feel like work is too overwhelming, you can tell me.

Director Fan doesn’t really have that much power over you.”

Shen Yan felt a little pathetic.

She had escaped from a bad situation, yet she still couldn’t control her emotions.

And of all people, it had to be her boss who saw her crying.

She had almost thought Zhou Xing was going to ask about Zhong Cheng.

But he just assumed she was stressed about work.

So, she went along with it.

“Yeah, Sister Jian and Sister Meng already taught me how to handle Director Fan.”

Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow playfully.

“Oh?

You’re planning to fool your superior?”

Shen Yan changed her wording.

“…Manage?”

Zhou Xing questioned,

“Manage?”

Shen Yan tried again.

“…Cope?”

Zhou Xing pressed further.

“Cope?”

Suddenly, inspiration struck Shen Yan.

She combined everything she had learned and declared,

“Passive Work Management!“

Zhou Xing nodded approvingly.

“That’s right.

Passive Work Management.”

Shen Yan asked,

“Assistant Zhou, why are you here?”

Zhou Xing replied,

“I live nearby.

Just came out for a walk after dinner.”

Shen Yan was surprised.

“You just got off a plane this afternoon!”

Zhou Xing didn’t understand her surprise.

“Yeah.

I had the driver take me straight home after landing.”

Shen Yan was stunned.

“You didn’t go back to the office?”

Zhou Xing seemed a little amused by her reaction.

He chuckled.

“I just spent three exhausting days on a business trip.

Why would I go back and work overtime?”

Shen Yan: …

She had been too narrow-minded.

The moment became a little awkward.

Trying to ease the tension, she flattered her boss.

“I thought someone in your position so powerful and important would enjoy working overtime.”

She even used formal speech.

Zhou Xing: “…Thank you, but nobody likes working overtime.”

Shen Yan: “Oh.”

Zhou Xing suddenly realized something.

“You’re using Passive Work Management on me too, aren’t you?”

Shen Yan looked embarrassed.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Zhou Xing casually asked,

“Why are you here?”

The moment the question left his mouth, he regretted it.

Why was he bringing this up?

It was obvious why she was here.

She had either just broken up with that guy, or they had been on a date.

Shen Yan, however, looked calm.

“I just got off work and came here for some fresh air.”

“I see.”

Zhou Xing didn’t pry any further.

Feeling a bit awkward, he rubbed his nose and asked,

“Want to stay and enjoy the breeze, or should I take you home?”

He wasn’t just being polite his apartment was nearby, so if she needed a ride, he could easily get his car.

But Shen Yan didn’t need a ride.

She pointed to the electric bike parking area.

“No need.

I rode my e-bike here.”

Zhou Xing suddenly remembered.

The last time he saw her, she had been on an e-bike too.

“Alright.

I won’t force it, then.

But if work ever becomes too much, or if you need any help with personal matters, just let me know.”

Shen Yan nodded.

Zhou Xing continued,

“Don’t hesitate.

I’ve been President Lu’s assistant for a few years now, but our office runs itself.

Everyone in the team is experienced.

You’re the first young person we’ve hired.

If you ever need support, just ask.”

Zhou Xing’s words were both sincere and unexpected.

At most workplaces, people were told, “Don’t trust your colleagues too much.”

But after working here for a while, Shen Yan found it comforting to have coworkers to chat with and joke around with.

Even her boss seemed approachable.

“Thank you.

I will,” she replied from the heart.

Days passed in a blur.

Shen Yan worked, went home, and enjoyed her weekends.

Occasionally, when the weather was nice, she would take another walk by the river.

But she never ran into Zhong Cheng or Zhou Xing again.

The only surprise was Director Fan.

Following her coworkers’ advice, she had thrown the uniform survey task into the void.

She had even posted a questionnaire on the company intranet and then promptly forgotten about it.

Until one day, Fan Mingxu suddenly appeared at her desk.

“Xiao Shen, how’s that uniform survey coming along?”

Shen Yan was shocked.

Wasn’t he supposed to forget about tasks right after assigning them?!

Thankfully, she had at least put up the online survey.

“Uh, Director Fan, about that…”

Fan Mingxu cut her off.

“Organize the results and report to me in my office later.”

Shen Yan: ?

What kind of setup was this?

Before she could say anything, Fan Mingxu walked away.

As soon as he left the office, Shen Yan turned to Jian Hong in panic.

“Sister Jian, help me!

What do I do?!”

Jian Hong didn’t see the issue.

“What’s the problem?

Just go to his office, make something up, and tell him the report isn’t ready yet.”

Shen Yan hesitated.

“But I’m nervous.”

Jian Hong thought for a moment.

“If he hadn’t interrupted you, what would you have said?”

Shen Yan considered it.

“I would have told him that, based on the survey results, headquarters employees prefer practical uniforms.

Besides regular dress shirts and trousers, they’d like to have jackets or down coats for winter.”

Jian Hong nodded.

“That’s perfect.

Just add a few statistics like, ‘60% of employees prefer jackets’ and you’re set.”

Shen Yan: “But he asked me to report to him?”

Jian Hong: “Yeah, that’s reporting.”

Shen Yan was surprised.

“That counts?”

Jian Hong: “Of course.”

Shen Yan: “I thought I had to talk for at least 20 minutes.”

Jian Hong waved her hand.

“No, just say what you planned.

You’ll be fine.”

Seeing Shen Yan still nervous, Zhou Xing spoke up.

“If you’re really worried, write it down in a Word document and just read it to him.”

That was a great idea.

Even if she panicked, she could still read it without messing up.

Shen Yan quickly compiled the data, wrote a short summary, and printed it.

As she picked up the papers, Zhou Xing said,

“Want me to check it?”

Shen Yan handed it to him gratefully.

“Thanks, Assistant Zhou!”