Financial Independence through Cracked Apps

Chapter 416: Chapter 208: Secretary Interview

Huh?

When Xu Lei heard Qin Yuenan’s interview question, she froze on the spot. She had never expected this kind of test.

’My boss is cheating. As his secretary, what should I do?’

’Of course, I should join in...’

’No!’

’I can’t answer like that!’

’If I answer that way, President Qin will definitely show me the door!’

Xu Lei sat bolt upright, her hands clenched tightly on her thighs as her mind raced to find a proper and reasonable answer.

Meanwhile, Lin Shen, beside Qin Yuenan, was getting restless. He stared at her, his face full of astonishment.

The two of them had agreed on a plan beforehand, dividing up the interview responsibilities.

Qin Yuenan was supposed to ask about professional knowledge, while Lin Shen was meant to assess the candidate’s character and social skills.

So why, when it came to Xu Lei’s turn, had it suddenly become a question of "ethics and morals"?

’What does this have to do with the pet industry?’

"Um..."

Lin Shen started to say something, but Qin Yuenan raised a hand to silence him, even shooting him a brief, chilly glance.

Clearly, she was testing Xu Lei.

Lin Shen understood this perfectly well, and he sighed helplessly to himself.

’Nan really is terrifying when she gets jealous!’

’Why are you getting so worked up over my former subordinate?’

’Even if she managed to climb the ladder, she’d just be a "Consort." Could she really threaten your status as the "Main Palace"?’

"President Qin, President Lin, may I answer now?"

"You may."

After getting a nod of permission from Qin Yuenan, Xu Lei took a deep breath and eloquently presented the solution she had formulated.

"A secretary’s core responsibility is to handle work-related matters, not to get involved in their boss’s personal life. If a private issue like this hasn’t yet publicly affected the company’s operations or brand reputation, the first principle is to respect the boss’s privacy. I would not spread or discuss it. I would focus on my duties and prevent personal affairs from disrupting the work environment."

"However, if the matter became public and began to harm the company’s image, I would proceed with the following steps."

"First, I would assess the scope and nature of the impact. Then, I would report it according to protocol and cooperate with the professional team to execute the established plan. Lastly, I would uphold my professional ethics..."

As Qin Yuenan listened to Xu Lei’s measured response, she found herself quite satisfied with the answer, nodding frequently in approval.

She believed a secretary’s most crucial skill was the ability to adapt to any situation, which is why she had posed a question no one would expect to test Xu Lei.

But Xu Lei’s answer was watertight, her proposed solution methodical and well-organized.

It might not have been the absolute best response, but it was certainly the quickest and most effective approach to crisis management.

Of course, there was a personal motive behind Qin Yuenan’s question as well.

Just as Lin Shen suspected, she did indeed want to test Xu Lei and see what kind of attitude she had toward him.

But Xu Lei was smart. She consistently framed her answer in professional terms of a secretary and a boss, rather than inserting herself and Lin Shen into the scenario.

She knew her place.

Qin Yuenan decided Xu Lei was a good candidate for the secretary position. Even if she and Lin Shen were to get together in the future, it wouldn’t affect her own status in the slightest.

She could even serve as a spy by Lin Shen’s side, keeping an eye on him to make sure he wasn’t getting too friendly with other women!

"...And that concludes my proposed public relations response to the incident."

After finishing her answer, Xu Lei licked her dry lips. A fine layer of sweat had beaded on her forehead.

After all, the question was practically riddled with pitfalls and traps.

The slightest misstep could have landed her in a trap, earning Qin Yuenan’s dissatisfaction.

If she didn’t approve, Xu Lei doubted Lin Shen would insist on keeping her as his secretary.

Fortunately, however, Qin Yuenan showed no obvious signs of displeasure. Her expression remained as coolly indifferent as ever.

"Alright. Now it’s Lin Shen’s turn to ask you some questions."

After Qin Yuenan lightly stepped on his foot with her high heel under the table, Lin Shen snapped back to his senses. He steepled his fingers, rested his chin on them with his elbows on the desk, and gazed intently at Xu Lei. In a soft voice, he asked a few questions he had prepared beforehand.

Unlike the professional questions from her first interview, these were geared more toward social etiquette.

For instance, how to act when attending certain meetings, what to wear for specific occasions, and so on.

And once again, Xu Lei’s answers were excellent.

Lin Shen nodded in satisfaction, then raised his eyes to glance at Qin Yuenan beside him.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. After a light cough, she spoke in a cold tone.

"This concludes the interview. Go home and await our notification."

"Understood."

Xu Lei hurriedly stood up, bowing to Qin Yuenan and Lin Shen to express her thanks.

"Thank you, President Qin and President Lin, for giving me the opportunity to interview. Thank you!"

After Xu Lei left, the interviews were all finished.

"So?"

Lin Shen asked with a soft laugh.

"Is Xu Lei a good fit for the secretary position?"

"Yes. She lacks experience, but her attitude is earnest and her skills are decent. She can be trained."

Qin Yuenan’s agreement was unexpected, and Lin Shen looked slightly surprised.

"You’re agreeing to it?"

"Wasn’t she your handpicked choice for secretary from the very beginning?"

Qin Yuenan shot Lin Shen a cold, sidelong glance. She crossed her arms over her chest and her long legs under the table, letting out a soft huff.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to."

"Nan, don’t make me out to be such a scumbag!"

Lin Shen gave a helpless smile, then wrapped his arms around Qin Yuenan’s toned, slender waist. He leaned close to her ear and thanked her softly in a deep voice.

"Thank you for taking the time to come up and help me with the interviews. I appreciate it."

"I’ve had a lot of free time recently, so it wasn’t really a big deal."

At his words, Qin Yuenan’s heart instantly softened. Her tone, which had been laced with resentment and jealousy, now grew much gentler.