Jiang Yuxi took a deep breath as she stepped out of the sleek black car, tilting her head back to take in the towering glass structure of Gu Corporation.
Even though she had made up her mind, a lingering sense of apprehension twisted in her stomach.
This was the world Gu Zeyan ruled—a ruthless, fast-paced environment filled with people who had fought tooth and nail to earn their place. She wasn't just walking into any office; she was stepping into a lion's den, where every move she made would be scrutinized.
She adjusted the strap of her handbag, squared her shoulders, and walked toward the grand entrance.
As soon as she entered, she felt the shift.
The hushed whispers. The lingering stares. The way some employees subtly elbowed their colleagues, exchanging looks as if they had spotted an exotic creature in their midst.
"So it's true. She's actually coming to work here."
"I wonder how long she'll last?"
"Mrs. Gu, working? What a joke."
Yuxi ignored them. She had expected this reaction.
It didn't matter what they thought. She wasn't here to prove herself to them—she was here to prove something to herself.
As she walked toward the front desk, a familiar voice called out her name.
"Mrs. Gu."
Yuxi turned to see Zhao Liying, Gu Zeyan's personal secretary, standing near the executive elevators.
Dressed in an elegant yet sharp-cut suit, Zhao Liying exuded confidence and authority, her expression as unreadable as ever.
"Secretary Zhao," Yuxi greeted, keeping her voice even.
Zhao Liying's lips curved into the faintest semblance of a smile. "You're early. That's good. Punctuality is a necessity here."
Yuxi wasn't sure if that was meant to be praise or a reminder that she was under scrutiny.
Zhao Liying's gaze swept over her before she turned on her heel. "Follow me."
Without waiting for a response, she led Yuxi through the office corridors, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.
As they passed by, employees cast lingering glances at them, some openly whispering.
Yuxi didn't let it show, but she could feel their judgment like a weight pressing against her back.
Mrs. Gu.
No one saw her as Jiang Yuxi.
To them, she was just Gu Zeyan's wife—someone who had walked into this company with connections rather than competence.
Zhao Liying led her into a private office, where a neatly stacked pile of documents and an employee badge were already waiting.
"You'll be working in the Public Relations Department as an assistant," Zhao Liying stated coolly, sliding the badge across the desk toward her.
Yuxi reached for it, running her fingers over the engraved letters of her name. Jiang Yuxi—Public Relations Assistant.
A low-level position.
She had expected this.
Gu Zeyan could have easily placed her in an executive role, given her a private office, or even made her a department head. But he hadn't.
This wasn't going to be easy.
And maybe, in a twisted way, he had done this on purpose.
"You'll report to Liu Wen, the head of Public Relations," Zhao Liying continued. "He's strict, efficient, and doesn't tolerate incompetence. You'll find your responsibilities listed in the documents."
Yuxi nodded. "Understood."
For a brief moment, Zhao Liying studied her, as if searching for hesitation, for any sign of weakness. Then, with a cool smile, she said, "Good luck, Mrs. Gu. You'll need it."
Without another word, she turned and left, leaving Yuxi alone in the office.
Yuxi let out a slow breath, gripping the badge in her palm.
This is it. This is the start.
The Public Relations Department was a sharp contrast to the pristine executive floors. While Gu Zeyan's office had been quiet and commanding, this space was alive with the constant hum of ringing phones, rapid keystrokes, and hushed conversations.
As soon as she stepped inside, she felt a dozen pairs of eyes land on her.
For a moment, the entire office seemed to pause.
She could almost hear the unspoken words forming in their minds.
"So she's really working here."
"How long until she quits?"
"Does she even know what she's doing?"
A tall man in his late 40s, with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor, stepped forward.
Liu Wen.
Her new boss.
"Jiang Yuxi?" His voice was clipped, professional.
Yuxi straightened. "Yes."
He glanced at her badge and then at her, his expression unreadable. "Follow me."
Without waiting for her response, he strode toward a row of desks at the far end of the room.
Yuxi hurried to keep up.
"This is your workstation," he said, gesturing to a simple desk cluttered with folders and sticky notes. "Your job is to assist with scheduling, reports, and documentation. You're at the bottom of the department hierarchy, which means you do whatever needs to be done. Understood?"
Yuxi met his gaze. "Understood."
Liu Wen studied her for a long moment, then nodded briskly. "Good. Your first task—organize these reports and update the department schedule. The deadlines are tight, so don't waste time."
With that, he walked away, leaving her alone.
Yuxi exhaled and rolled up her sleeves.
She could do this.
She sat down, scanning the files in front of her. The task seemed simple enough—sort the documents, update the schedules, and send the necessary files to the correct departments.
But as she started working, small things began to feel... off.
Some files were missing pages.
Others had conflicting information, with numbers that didn't match the previous reports.
She double-checked the scheduling system and noticed that some meetings had been rescheduled at the last minute—but no one had informed her.
Her fingers tightened around the mouse.
Sabotage.
It was subtle, almost unnoticeable.
But it was there.
Someone wanted her to fail.
Yuxi took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
Fine. If this is how they want to play, then let's play.
She wasn't going to let them win.
Without hesitation, she began cross-checking every document, making sure every number matched. She called different departments to confirm schedule changes instead of relying on the faulty system.
If they were trying to test her, she would make sure they saw exactly what she was capable of.
By the end of the day, Yuxi leaned back in her chair, exhaustion creeping into her bones.
It had been a grueling first day.
But she had survived it.
As she packed her things, she caught sight of a few employees whispering in the corner, sneaking glances at her.
They had been waiting for her to crumble.
To fail.
But she hadn't.
And she wouldn't.
With a quiet smirk, Yuxi picked up her bag and walked out of the office with her head held high.
The battle had just begun.