Jiang Jiajia, the Settlement Assistant

Jiang Jiajia’s delicate, fair hands paused ever so slightly.

She blinked her eyes, the corners of her lips curling into a lovely arc.

“Anything?”

Xu Mo nodded earnestly in response. “Anything.”

Jiang Jiajia was actually someone Su Ting, Xu Mo’s mother, had personally recruited.

Su Ting had an incredibly sharp eye for talent.

Back when Jiang Jiajia was still a top student at a prestigious university, before she had even graduated,

Su Ting had spotted her potential at a glance.

And signed her on the spot.

When Xu Mo first came to the company, Su Ting had assigned Jiang Jiajia to be his secretary.

Across two lifetimes,

Xu Mo had always been the hands-off type.

Leaving all manner of tasks for Jiang Jiajia to handle.

Xu Mo had no doubt at all.

If Jiang Jiajia ever left her job as a secretary,

and struck out on her own to start a business,

within twenty years,

she’d become a businesswoman worth billions.

Her years as Xu Mo’s secretary weren’t for nothing.

Exposure to countless people and situations had honed her connections and insight.

Combined with her own savings,

it was undeniable that Jiang Jiajia would rise to become someone most people could only envy.

“Oh? Anything?”

Jiang Jiajia’s tone suddenly shifted,

laced with delight, a hint of mischief, and a playful tease.

Counting the previous life,

she’d been his secretary for roughly over a decade now.

Did Xu Mo not know exactly what was going through her mind?

She was daydreaming again.

“Except me,” Xu Mo added calmly.

Behind him, Jiang Jiajia pouted in dissatisfaction, her fingers pressing down harder on his shoulders as she retorted sarcastically, “Oh, Mr. Xu, don’t flatter yourself.”

Xu Mo chuckled but didn’t respond.

This pressure was just right.

As someone trained in ancient martial arts,

how could he not handle a little extra force?

Please.

He could take even more.

The office fell into silence again.

Usually around this time,

after an awkward pause,

the quiet would be broken by the rustling sounds of the Dragon Lady snacking on chips.

But now,

there was only silence.

Since Xu Mo wasn’t speaking,

Jiang Jiajia naturally kept quiet too.

After years of working together,

his little secretary knew him inside out.

Not that she was worried about angering him or anything.

But after so many minutes of silence,

someone had to say something.

Xu Mo finally spoke, his tone gentle.

“Have you ever thought about leaving? Being a secretary for a playboy like me doesn’t exactly have a bright future.”

Jiang Jiajia’s body stiffened, her hands freezing mid-motion.

Her plush red lips trembled slightly.

“M-Mr. Xu… are you firing me?”

Xu Mo took a deep breath and shook his head.

“No. I just think you’re wasting your talent here. You could have a much brighter future.”

“While you’re still young, you could build your own empire in Shanghai.”

“I’ve always wondered—back when my mother headhunted you with that high salary, you must’ve been furious. Someone as brilliant as you, reduced to being a secretary?”

“You were the top student in your university. Big companies were fighting over you. But you came here because your family needed the money.”

“Later, you convinced yourself that staying here temporarily would let you network and gain experience.”

“Something to serve as a foundation for when you eventually started your own business.”

“At first, you were cautious, afraid I’d fire you. Then you grew bolder.”

“Because you thought I’d replace you at any moment with someone prettier, more capable, more efficient.”

“After all, I’m the playboy everyone gossips about, the regular headline in tabloids and news clips.”

He paused, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

“You figured swapping out secretaries was just something I’d do on a whim.”

“Enough… enough.”

Jiang Jiajia’s eyes reddened slightly, her voice trembling.

Xu Mo was taken aback.

Before he could react, she pulled her hands away,

her body shaking lightly as she sniffled.

“Mr. Xu, what exactly are you trying to say? That you’re letting me go? You don’t have to sugarcoat it. Just send a resignation letter—I’ll leave without a word.”

Xu Mo blinked, quickly standing up with a wry smile.

“Jiajia, you’ve got it all wrong.”

“Haven’t I?”

Jiang Jiajia wiped her tears away.

Years of working side by side—

even if it were just a dog or some other animal,

you’d still grow attached.

(Well, except for roaches and mosquitoes.

Those things are heartless.)

Xu Mo exhaled, speaking seriously.

“I just think you’re too talented, too skilled, to stay here forever. I’m thinking about your long-term future.”

“Would you ever fire me?”

Jiang Jiajia met his gaze.

Xu Mo shook his head.

“If you never resign, I’ll keep you as my secretary for life.”

Seeing Jiang Jiajia now—like a tearful little kitten,

pitiful, fragile, in need of comfort

(okay, maybe not the last one, but still)—

he added softly,

“I’m not stupid. Why would I let a beautiful, brilliant secretary like you slip away?”

At that,

Jiang Jiajia burst into laughter, a tiny snot bubble popping out.

“Don’t look! Don’t look!!!”

Flustered, she spun around,

not wanting him to see her in such a state.

She hurriedly grabbed tissues to wipe her face.

Xu Mo chuckled and turned away.

Girls could be sensitive about these things.

He understood.

Nobody wanted to be seen at their most embarrassing moment.

“O-Okay, Mr. Xu, you can turn back now.”

Her voice carried a hint of sulkiness.

Only then did Xu Mo face her again.

His secretary continued,

“What if I get old and lose my looks? Will you fire me then?”

Xu Mo met her eyes, speaking deliberately.

“No. We can sign a lifetime contract right now, with a hundredfold penalty for breach.”

Jiang Jiajia shook her head, her lips curving into a dazzling smile.

“I don’t trust words on paper. Only actions.”

She might not be the female lead,

but her looks and figure were only a hair’s breadth behind.

Out in the real world,

she’d still be a bombshell that men would fight over!

To marry a capable, understanding wife,

then sit back and let her handle everything—

wasn’t that every man’s dream?

Xu Mo grinned. “Fine, fine. Stay as my secretary if you want.”

“But I do have a small company…”

“Huh??? Mr. Xu, you’re still trying to get rid of me?”

“No, no, let me finish.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“I just started this little company. We’ve got all the staff we need, and the project has great potential. The only thing missing is a general manager—advisor. I was hoping you could spare some time to help out.”

“Can I say no?”

“Nope. Mandatory.”

“…What about my secretary job?”

“Easy. You can keep being my secretary while advising the company. Won’t take up much time.”

“….”

-------------------------------------------------