Princess Syndrome - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Dazzling

As the only person in the entire company whose position had changed, Su Lingyue was like a piece of meat sizzling over a fire, drawing all the attention. Those who couldn’t understand it asked curiously, “Why was she transferred up there?”

Not even on her first day at the company had she received so much attention.

“What else could it be? She must have offended President Ji.”

“Don't you know she bullied President Ji back in school?”

“She subjected President Ji to campus violence.”

“I heard she beat and berated President Ji, making her her little lackey.”

“She even forced President Ji to drop out.”

Su Lingyue hadn't realized she had so many grievances with Ji Zhiyi.

“Well, she’s done for now.”

“Definitely. President Ji is obviously transferring her up there to torture her.”

“If someone had forced me to drop out and subjected me to campus violence, I would definitely stab them to death!”

Should she bring a knife for Ji Zhiyi when she went upstairs?

Su Lingyue seriously pondered the question, then thought herself an idiot. If Ji Zhiyi wanted revenge, there were plenty of people willing to do the dirty work for her. Why would Ji Zhiyi need to do it herself?

Chen Zhiyao sashayed over to her. The decision not to lay off staff had eased the office atmosphere, but the topic of Su Lingyue’s transfer continued to dominate. From her forcing Ji Zhiyi to drop out of school, to how Ji Zhiyi would torture her, the office had come up with dozens of scenarios. Su Lingyue stared at her computer screen as Chen Zhiyao said, “You should pack your things and head upstairs soon.”

Su Lingyue lowered her head, stuffing her things into her bag, and said, “Okay.”

She didn’t have much to pack, and there was no handover needed, so she finished in ten minutes. As she walked towards the elevators, bag in hand, everyone’s eyes were glued to her. Su Lingyue calmly pressed the button, entered, and watched her reflection in the elevator mirror. She felt a familiar sense of estrangement.

The tenth floor arrived.

She stepped out of the elevator. A hallway stretched before her, HR on the right, Administration on the left, and the President's office at the end. It was the same layout as the headquarters. She had thrown the door of the Chairman’s office at headquarters countless times, but this was her first time seeing the one here. Su Lingyue walked to the secretary’s office. Even the reception assistant was gone, likely in a meeting. She walked forward, stood silently in front of the President's office for a few seconds, then knocked.

A voice came from inside: “Come in.”

The voice was crisp and decisive, revealing a capable nature. Su Lingyue opened the door and went in. Ji Zhiyi was hunched over documents, frowning slightly. The office had floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, filling the space with light. Behind Ji Zhiyi was a small white bookshelf, above which hung a landscape painting. The room was predominantly white. Ji Zhiyi, dressed in a cream-white suit, blended seamlessly into the space, creating a bright and imposing aura.

Su Lingyue entered and called out, "President Ji."

Ji Zhiyi didn't respond.

She continued to read the documents, occasionally glancing at the computer and typing. When the phone rang, she answered it, holding it to her ear. She didn't speak until the other party had finished, then she spoke in fluent English, discussing a collaboration. Su Lingyue had heard that she frequently communicated with her former company in America, and it seemed the rumors were true.

But what did she want her to do here? Watch Ji Zhiyi work? If it were in the past, she would have already asked, but now she just stood silently to the side, like a statue.

After Ji Zhiyi finished the call, she looked up at Su Lingyue. “Have you been to HR yet?”

Su Lingyue paused for a few seconds. In the past, she’d only needed to show up; everything else was handled for her. She hadn't even spoken with HR before. She'd come straight here. She lowered her head, “Not yet.”

Ji Zhiyi said, “Go to HR for handover first.”

Her tone was neither friendly nor harsh. It didn’t seem like she hated her as much as everyone said. Why would she bring her close as her assistant? Su Lingyue couldn’t quite understand. It would make more sense if Ji Zhiyi were to pick a fight or scold her now, not act so official.

But she obeyed.

Su Lingyue turned and left the office. She received a call from Chu Yi the moment she walked out. Chu Yi’s tone was panicky: “What happened? Is it true that you’ve been transferred to be Ji Zhiyi’s assistant?” She glanced at her WeChat. Chu Yi had sent many messages. She’d been busy and hadn’t replied. She said, “Yes. I’m going to HR for handover now.”

“Hiss—” Chu Yi gasped, “You’re done for!”

Thank you.

Su Lingyue replied calmly, “Thanks for the reminder.”

Chu Yi bit her tongue. “Hey, that's not what I meant...”

Su Lingyue chuckled, interrupting her, “I’ll talk to you tonight.”

How could she still laugh?

Chu Yi was shocked by her carefreeness, her throat tight, unable to utter a sound. Su Lingyue hung up. She hadn’t even entered HR when she heard her name.

“Su Lingyue, huh? Isn’t she being kicked out of the Su family?”

“Not only that, her name isn’t even in the will.”

“Her dad must have hated her so much that he didn’t leave her a single penny.”

“Being this bad at being a person, she should just die. If I were her, I wouldn’t want to live anymore.”

Su Lingyue walked in. The office, which had been filled with chatter, suddenly fell silent. Her expression was calm as she said, "I’m here for handover.”

A woman in a plaid shirt sitting next to her stood up. “This way.” She stole glances at Su Lingyue.

It was unlikely anyone didn’t know Su Lingyue. The chairman’s daughter, with her exceptional looks. Despite her arrogance and spoiled attitude, she had a constant stream of suitors. She, who had been pampered from a young age, was a perfect embodiment of a princess. It was said that at school, she received piles and piles of love letters and gifts and even had a special room to store them. Her face had been coveted by many directors, wanting to sign her as an actress and cast her in movies. Although she wasn't a celebrity, her name would appear in the news every so often.

She had lived in a castle envied by all, an untroubled princess.

Unfortunately, the castle had collapsed.

She had become a drowned rat.

And one that everyone was waiting to laugh at.

Su Lingyue stood before the HR staff, holding her bag. She exchanged her name tag and work permit. HR told her the new contract was still being drafted, and she should start work first and wait for the notification. Su Lingyue put on her work permit and turned around, not saying a single extra word.

Back in the secretary's office, people had returned. The receptionist smiled professionally at her, “Assistant Su, this way please.”

She looked at the direction the receptionist had indicated. It was the office of the Head Secretary. Su Lingyue reached the door. Before she could knock, it opened. Wu Meiyan stood in the doorway, smiling at her. “Miss Su.”

Having become accustomed to ridicule, scrutiny, and mockery, the fact that someone was smiling at her surprised Su Lingyue. She paused for a few seconds, then followed Wu Meiyan into the office.

The office wasn't large, a simple square room with a desk, a bookshelf, and two potted plants. The desk was piled high with documents. Su Lingyue stood before the desk as Wu Meiyan tilted her head to look at her.

Her impression of Su Lingyue was deep. Three years ago, when she was still a secretary at headquarters, Su Lingyue had barged into the Chairman's office, demanding to work at the company. The Chairman refused, saying she was unsuitable for the company. Su Lingyue had argued with her father, sneering, "What do you mean unsuitable? Are you afraid Zhou Shiyu won't agree?"

"How dare you call Zhou Shiyu by name? She is your mother!" the chairman had roared. Su Lingyue, not to be outdone, replied, "My mother died long ago. Are you cursing her to die again?"

"You!" the chairman had fumed. After a few seconds, he said, "Yueyue, Dad is doing this for your own good. The company isn't like home. There aren't people who will coddle you. In a company, your personal abilities matter the most. The more capable you are, the more responsibility you'll have."

"If you don't give me a chance, how do you know if I have abilities?" Su Lingyue looked at her, "Is she a secretary?"

She hadn't expected Su Lingyue to ask her and was taken aback. "Yes, I am."

"If you don't give her a chance, how do you know she can't become the head secretary?"

Many times afterward, Wu Meiyan wondered if she had been transferred to the branch office to become the head secretary because of Su Lingyue's words. But there was no way to confirm. The Chairman who had transferred her was now gone. Because of that experience, she was more sympathetic towards Su Lingyue than others were.

Su Lingyue stood before her desk. Wu Meiyan was one of the few who knew she hadn’t received any of the family inheritance and still treated her kindly. She lowered her head and heard Wu Meiyan say, "Your desk is at the very end, on the right, near President Ji's office. Your job is to—" She paused for a few seconds, then looked at Su Lingyue, likely having heard the rumors circulating in the company. With a sigh, she said, "To cooperate with all of President Ji’s arrangements.”

That "cooperation" hinted at a bit of torture.

Su Lingyue nodded.

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Meiyan's desk phone rang. She immediately picked it up. After listening to the person on the other end, she looked at Su Lingyue and said, “President Ji wants to see you.”

Su Lingyue turned and placed her bag on her desk, then knocked and entered Ji Zhiyi's office.

Ji Zhiyi was hunched over, signing documents. She looked up at the sound, watching Su Lingyue enter. She said, “Here are the keys to my apartment. The formal dress is in the third row of the closet. Take the red one. The jewelry is in the next room. Put them together and bring them here.” She reached out and handed over the keys. A light gray wristwatch adorned her wrist. The band was leather, the case stainless steel, and the dial was deep blue with a delicate circular ring on the edge.

It was an Omega Blue Butterfly Series first edition collector’s piece.

Priceless.

Almost impossible to buy these days.

She had owned one several years ago. She’d donated it at a charity gala three years ago, where it was sold for the highest price of the night. The buyer had been a mystery. She hadn't even seen them before she left.

Su Lingyue came back to her senses and took the keys. Ji Zhiyi said, “Go back and change. There’s a reception at 4:30.”

After saying that, she pressed the intercom. "Xiao Li, come in."

The door was knocked on less than two minutes later. Ji Zhiyi didn't say anything. Su Lingyue stood there. Another knock came. Ji Zhiyi’s hand paused as she flipped through the documents, then she looked up at Su Lingyue, her gaze cold as ice. Su Lingyue understood. She quickly walked to the door, opened it, and Xiao Li came in. “President Ji.”

Ji Zhiyi, without lifting her head, said, “Send Assistant Su back.”

Xiao Li hurriedly nodded. “Okay.”

Su Lingyue turned around in silence, leaving the office. Silence fell over the surroundings. Ji Zhiyi’s hand stopped turning pages. The tip of her pen landed on a blank space. She didn’t sign. The black text on the white paper transformed into a scene. The scent in the air gradually faded, as if no one had been there. The office was so silent she could hear her own heartbeat.

A little faster than usual.

The pen tip finally fell on the blank space. But the delay had created a small black ink blot. On the white paper, this ink blot was especially noticeable. Like Su Lingyue, no matter where she was, no matter how many people surrounded her, she was always so dazzling.

Ji Zhiyi, motionless, clutched the pen tightly, staring at the ink blot.

After a long while, she pressed the intercom and asked her secretary to bring another copy of the contract, placing the paper with the ink blot in a separate compartment of her bag.

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