Luo Zheng had always held a certain expectation when it came to the position of a private secretary.
The reason was simple.
In his previous life, when he had been the owner of a small film and television company, he had already experienced the "benefits" that came with having one.
Back then, every secretary around him had been nothing short of exceptional.
Elegant, capable, attractive, and above all, able to understand what the boss needed without being told twice.
So naturally, this time, he hoped Zhang Hui would not disappoint him.
A knock sounded at the office door.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Zhang Hui walked in first, followed by a young woman.
The moment Luo Zheng saw her face, his eyes narrowed slightly.
For a second, even he was genuinely surprised.
It was actually her.
Liu Yan.
For a brief moment, his expression froze.
Even with all his experience, he had not expected Zhang Hui to bring in someone like this.
Zhang Hui immediately noticed the subtle shift in Luo Zheng's expression and inwardly celebrated.
He knew he had chosen correctly.
After all, it took a man to understand another man.
When Luo Zheng had previously explained what kind of secretary he wanted, Zhang Hui had only remembered one very important keyword.
Big.
And based on that single criterion, he had carefully selected candidates.
Clearly, he had hit the mark perfectly.
"President Luo," Zhang Hui said with a smile, "this is Liu Yan. She stood out after several rounds of company interviews and has been selected as one of our most outstanding candidates."
Luo Zheng looked at Liu Yan again.
This was none other than the woman who, in the future, would become one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry.
A woman known for her beauty, figure, and the courage to stand against capital when necessary.
Whether the later rumors about her were true or false didn't matter to Luo Zheng.
He wasn't looking for a saint.
He simply appreciated beauty.
And Liu Yan undeniably possessed that in abundance.
"Hello, President Luo."
Liu Yan stepped forward nervously and bowed slightly.
"My name is Liu Yan. I previously worked as a host at Yangcheng Radio and Television Station."
The motion caused the fitted black secretary outfit to accentuate every curve of her body.
The black silk skirt hugged her waist and hips perfectly, while the crisp white blouse strained slightly across her chest.
For a brief second, even Luo Zheng's gaze lingered.
Then he coughed lightly and regained his composure.
"Your image is very good," he said calmly.
"Let's begin with a one-month probation period."
The moment those words fell, Zhang Hui's smile widened.
He knew the matter was settled.
"Quick, thank the boss," Zhang Hui said happily.
"Thank you, Boss!"
Liu Yan bowed again, this time unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
After a brief work report, Zhang Hui tactfully left the office, closing the door behind him.
Now only the two of them remained.
Luo Zheng leaned back on the sofa and gestured for her to sit.
After a short conversation, he gradually understood why Liu Yan had left Yangcheng and come all the way to Beijing.
She had resigned from the television station at the end of last year.
Originally, she had planned to return to her hometown and develop her career there.
But by chance, she came across Blue Whale Entertainment's recruitment notice.
What truly caught her attention, however, was not the company name.
It was The Man from Earth.
After watching the film, she had been deeply impressed.
The idea that such a low-budget movie could create such an extraordinary effect completely overturned her understanding of filmmaking.
She had even gone back to watch it a second time with friends.
Because of that, when she learned that Blue Whale Entertainment had been founded by the same young director and investor behind the film, she became interested immediately.
A company with strong capital.
A young and talented boss.
And most importantly—
a position that could keep her away from the endless harassment she had faced from certain superiors in her previous workplace.
At the very least, here she would only need to guard against one person.
And that person happened to be young, handsome, and incredibly successful.
Compared to the rest, that hardly felt like a loss.
"So," Luo Zheng asked, watching her carefully, "are you planning to move behind the scenes permanently?"
Liu Yan was slightly startled.
She hadn't really thought that far.
After a moment of hesitation, she answered honestly.
"I haven't decided yet."
"If there's an opportunity… I still want to stand in the spotlight again someday."
Luo Zheng nodded slowly.
That answer was exactly what he expected.
This woman was never meant to remain behind a desk forever.
"Don't be nervous," he said with a faint smile.
"I was only asking."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"As a private secretary, HR should have already explained your responsibilities clearly."
Liu Yan nodded quickly.
"Yes, I understand."
"Good."
Luo Zheng smiled.
"I'm a little tired."
The moment he said that, Liu Yan immediately stood up.
"Please wait, Boss. I'll arrange a massage service for you right away."
She turned and started walking toward the door while already taking out her phone.
"Wait."
Luo Zheng almost laughed.
"Come back."
Liu Yan turned around, confused.
"What is it, Boss?"
Luo Zheng looked at her with amusement.
"Are you serious?"
Her expression became even more innocent.
"Of course."
For a moment, Luo Zheng was speechless.
This secretary was unexpectedly… adorable.
Meanwhile, across Hong Kong, the entertainment industry was still in an uproar over Luo Zheng's recent success in Hollywood.
Inside the Infernal Affairs film set, the atmosphere during lunch break was unusually lively.
A crowd had gathered around Nicholas Tse.
"Ting-fung, what's it like filming in Hollywood?"
"I heard they never work overtime there. Is that true?"
Nicholas Tse shook his head.
"It's good."
"President Luo's people took very good care of me, and communication was smooth."
He paused.
"It's just…"
The surrounding actors immediately leaned closer.
Eric Tsang, sitting nearby, frowned impatiently.
"Just what? Stop dragging it out."
Nicholas hesitated before speaking.
"They work like madmen."
The crowd fell silent.
He continued.
"The efficiency there is terrifying. It feels like an assembly line."
"I remember one scene where the male lead had to wake up in water."
"To make it look completely realistic, the director made him do it over thirty times before finally approving it."
The people around him sucked in cold breaths.
Nicholas lowered his voice.
"There was another actor who starved himself for an entire week and only drank water just to look weak enough for a scene."
His expression turned complicated.
"They're really desperate when it comes to acting."
That single sentence was enough to shock everyone present.
No wonder Hollywood stood at the top.
Their success was built on obsession.
Immediately, voices of envy rose around him.
"Ting-fung, you're going international now!"
"When the movie becomes a hit, don't forget us brothers."
Nicholas smiled modestly.
"I'm only the third male lead."
"If it becomes successful, it's because President Luo's script is brilliant."
Even so, everyone could see the excitement in his eyes.
The lunch break ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Soon, only Nicholas Tse, Ah Sa, and Ah Jiao remained seated nearby.
After a long silence, Nicholas finally asked softly,
"How has Sister Wenxi been?"
The two girls exchanged glances.
Ah Sa answered first.
"She's doing well."
"She's managing artists there now and seems much happier."
Nicholas lowered his eyes slightly.
"That's good."
A moment later, he stood up.
"I'm going out for a while."
"Where?"
Ah Jiao asked instinctively.
"I don't have scenes this afternoon."
"I'm going to see Edison."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Not long after, his motorcycle stopped outside an old, run-down apartment building.
The corridor smelled faintly of alcohol and cigarette smoke.
The place looked miserable.
He walked to the door and knocked several times.
No response.
Just as he was about to leave, footsteps came from the staircase.
Yao Zhongren appeared carrying a box of char siu rice.
The moment he saw Nicholas, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Hey."
"Nicholas."
"Long time no see."