Chapter 1: Taking on an Apprentice

It was the height of summer in July, and the heat in City A was more intense than ever. Outside the window, the sun blazed fiercely, but inside the conference room, it was refreshingly cool.

The air conditioner was gently blowing cold air, and Lu Chengrui leaned back in his chair, leisurely picking up his coffee from the table, taking a sip before casually speaking: "The company has recruited a new batch of interns, all carefully selected, as you all know, right?"

Ji Yanchen was busy texting with his head down, showing no interest in the matter and not wanting to get involved.

Zhou Jiayue noticed Lu Chengruis gaze on him and casually said, "We dont need to deal with this kind of thing, do we? You kept us here just to talk about this?"

Ruida used to be a small but well-known interior design company. Five years ago, Lu Chengrui approached Zhou Jiayue and Ji Yanchen, and the two officially joined Ruida. Over the years, theyve taken on more and more projects, their fame has grown, and their influence in the industry is second to none. The companys projects are no longer limited to design; they have gradually expanded into real estate investment projects, and Ruidas output has been growing rapidly.

Adhering to the principle of not letting talent flow out, Ruida recruits a batch of interns every two years. The company invests manpower and energy in training them and then assigns them to various grassroots positions. This indeed has its benefits; at least the employee turnover rate is relatively low.

Because of this, many graduates with relevant majors are eager to join Ruida. Not to mention the companys strength is among the best in the industry, just the fact that the company is willing to train newcomers is enough to attract ambitious and dreamy graduates.

However, the recruitment of interns has always been managed by the HR department. Newcomers applying for the design department are finally interviewed by the heads of each design group, and only those who pass the assessment can stay.

After the meeting today, Lu Chengrui let everyone else leave. Originally, he thought he was going to say something important, but now hes talking about interns. Although Zhou Jiayue couldnt figure out what he was up to, he had a faint feeling that it wasnt good.

"But there is an intern who needs your guidance," Lu Chengrui said indifferently.

Ha... (indeed)!

Zhou Jiayue glanced at Ji Yanchen, who was still texting with his head down, and then saw Lu Chengruis gaze still on him. He frowned and said, "Are you kidding? I havent guided an intern for three years, and do I, as a design director, really need to take on an apprentice? People will laugh if they hear about it."

Mainly, guiding an apprentice is too troublesome. Its best to take them everywhere, as learning on the spot is always faster. But in the past three years, Zhou Jiayue has been used to being alone, and now he has to take on a tagalong, which he really doesnt like.

"There are so many designers in the company; I dont need to take on any apprentices," Zhou Jiayue complained. Guiding apprentices has always been the job of the companys designers. Since he became the design director three years ago, he hasnt taken on any apprentices.

"Indeed, but as the design director, you have to take this job," Lu Chengrui suddenly became serious.

This was something he promised his future wife, and he had to do it, after all... Ha! He received a benefit fee last night, how could he go back on his word.

"Are you so concerned because its your lover?" Zhou Jiayue said with ill intent.

"Get out!" Lu Chengrui threw a cold glance at him.

"Our company never allows backdoor deals, and you made that rule. So are you trying to break it now?" Zhou Jiayue reminded him indifferently. There must be a problem; someone who can make Lu Chengrui so concerned must not be ordinary.

In fact, many companies are the same, fearing that some executives use their positions to bring their relatives into the company, a practice commonly known as backdoor dealing.

Zhou Jiayue remembers very clearly that year when the department manager brought his brother in, but his brother had no ability, causing the company to lose a big order. It was then that Lu Chengrui made such a new rule, and violators would be dismissed together.

"I said employees are not allowed to use backdoors, I didnt say the boss cant. Whats the problem? Cant the boss set a precedent?" Lu Chengrui said this with a completely domineering manner, lazily spreading his hands and leaning back in his chair, waiting for Zhou Jiayues answer.

Zhou Jiayue cant stand his look the most. He just has ten percent more shares than him! He looked at Ji Yanchen, who had not spoken a word, and said, "Ji Three, sell me your shares, not much, just eleven percent will do."

Ji Yanchen is the third son of the Ji family, and familiar friends call him Ji Three directly.

"Sell you shares? Then wait for you two to oppress me together? Im not stupid!" Ji Yanchen finally looked up.

The two of them are used to being oppressed by Lu Chengrui all the time, just because Lu Chengruis shares account for forty percent, while Zhou Jiayue and Ji Yanchen each account for thirty percent. At least there are people who are on the same level as him. Ji Yanchen doesnt want to be oppressed by the two in the future. If possible, he also wants that eleven percent of shares to be the big BOSS.

"What do you say it is worth to open a precedent? Dont really be your lover, I cant afford it!" Zhou Jiayue is unhappy about being oppressed by Lu Chengrui and cant speak well.

"My wifes cousin, just graduated this year, arrived in City A a few days ago, you can see the resume yourself," Lu Chengrui swiped his finger forcefully, and a thin resume slid in front of Zhou Jiayue.

"Since its a cousin, wouldnt it be better for you to take her on yourself?" Zhou Jiayue became even more unhappy when he heard that the intern was a woman.

Five years ago, the first apprentice he took was a newly graduated female college student who loved to wear high heels. Sometimes when she followed him to the construction site for inspection, he watched her walk in ten-centimeter high heels on the messy construction site and thought that women were really incredible sometimes.

Since then, he has never taken on a female apprentice, mainly because he feels that women are too delicate.

"My wife doesnt like me to be too close to other women, and I dont like it either. We three are single, no need to worry about other things, and now you are in charge of the design part," Lu Chengrui looked at him matter-of-factly.

"There are many single designers in our company. If you are looking for a single designer, there is no need for it to be me."

"Trustworthy insiders," Lu Chengrui simply replied, mainly because she said last night that if its the best designer in the company and also a single variety, that would be the best. So its already naming Zhou Jiayue, how could he let her down.

Zhou Jiayue had no choice, got it! This time he was definitely oppressed again.

Lu Chengrui looked at his appearance and couldnt help but laugh: "Come on! Shes already waiting outside, and Ill have her come to your office to apprentice later, just tell me the thanks."

"Is that so? Then I want ten percent of the shares," Zhou Jiayue glanced sideways, clearly provocative.

Lu Chengrui stood up and casually looked at Zhou Jiayue, his eyes clearly saying: Do you think thats possible?

After Lu Chengrui left, Ji Yanchen also stood up, and when he passed Zhou Jiayue, he kindly patted his shoulder and teased, "The cousin of the big sister-in-law, maybe shes as hot as the big sister-in-law, congratulations, you have great fortune! The day of breaking the place is not far away."

"Get out!" Zhou Jiayue irritably slapped his hand away. The two of them had been classmates for four years, graduated and always in the same company, and finally joined Ruida together, mixing together for more than ten years. Zhou Jiayue had never been in love and had never touched a woman, and Ji Yanchen knew it best. But being exposed like this, Zhou Jiayue still felt very embarrassed.

After Ji Yanchen left, Zhou Jiay