Chapter 26: A Fortune from Heaven

Having just escaped the romantic snare of Xie Xiaoya, Zhang Jun found it difficult to remain composed when faced with a stunner like Shen Xue.

He managed to restrain himself, however, and gave Shen Xue’s hand a light shake, saying in a calm tone, "Hello, Miss Shen."

Shen Xue smiled enchantingly, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. Her voice was as melodious and graceful as an oriole emerging from a valley: "Secretary Zhang, I hope you will look after me in the future."

In the course of their conversation, he learned that Shen Xue was a new host at the television station. Because she was a newcomer, she was currently hosting a late-night program on the metropolitan channel. Due to the late broadcast time, the ratings were not particularly high. Zhang Jun rarely watched that program, so he had not recognized her.

He understood a simple truth: those who are wealthy in the mountains have distant relatives, while the poor living in the bustling city are ignored by all. These people were cozying up to him now for no other reason than to get closer to Ma Hongqi. He was merely their stepping stone to rubbing shoulders with the powerful.

"Shen Xue, have a drink with my brother," Liu Zhengjie shouted. Once she picked up her glass, he clamored, "Make it a cross-armed toast!"

Zhang Jun waved his hand and laughed, "Please, don't do that. I have a wife at home!"

Shen Xue pursed her lips and smiled, "Secretary Zhang is truly a good, family-oriented man."

The two tapped their glasses together lightly. Shen Xue took a small sip and set hers down. Zhang Jun only took a tiny taste.

Liu Zhengjie watched from the side, anxious. "How are you two drinking? If a woman doesn't get drunk, a man doesn't get a chance! Shen Xue, you aren't trying to deny my brother a chance, are you?"

Shen Xue’s pretty face flushed, vibrant as peach blossoms. Zhang Jun smoothed things over for her, saying, "It’s not good for a woman to get drunk; it's bad for her health."

Shen Xue stood up to take the microphone and said, "The song I requested is here. Secretary Zhang, this song, 'Ping Ju' (Meeting by Chance), is for you."

"Regardless of how things end in the future,
At least we have met once before.
There is no need to painstakingly constrain each other,
And even less need for verbal promises."

The lyrics were provocative. Shen Xue’s voice was beautiful and intoxicating. When it was the male lead's turn, she handed the microphone to Zhang Jun. He had no choice but to take it and sing along:

"As long as we have possessed this moment,
For you and me, that is enough.
There are many memories in a person’s life,
I only hope that in your recollections, there is a place for me."

As they sang, the two exchanged a meaningful look.

Shen Xue had "peach blossom" eyes—large, bright, and brimming with liquid charm, framed by beautiful, distinct lower lids. Zhang Jun thought to himself, *Such a beautiful woman, I wonder what kind of man will end up being the lucky one?*

As the party was winding down, Liu Zhengjie draped his arm over Zhang Jun’s shoulder and whispered in his ear, "What do you think of Shen Xue?"

"A stunner! Even Xi Shi would be no match for her."

"How about we introduce her to the boss?"

"What do you mean?"

"The boss doesn't have a family here."

Zhang Jun understood immediately, grasping Liu Zhengjie’s true intentions. This man would stop at nothing to climb the social ladder! He found it hard to fathom Liu Zhengjie’s character anymore.

"How would we introduce them?" Zhang Jun asked, keeping his expression neutral.

"You have to be the one to bridge the gap. You need to create an opportunity."

"Let me think about it."

Zhang Jun neither refused nor agreed. To "think about it" was just a way to shelve the idea; in principle, there would be no follow-up. Liu Zhengjie, however, took it seriously: "If this works out, both of us will be set."

Zhang Jun’s body jolted. A honey trap! Used for thousands of years, yet it remained a perennial classic.

After they parted ways, Shen Xue shook hands with Zhang Jun again, and they exchanged contact information. When Zhang Jun returned home, he saw his wife was already asleep. After a cold shower, just as he was about to rest, his phone chimed. He picked it up to see it was a message from Shen Xue.

"Secretary Zhang, are you home?"

"I am. And you?"

"I just arrived. It was very nice to meet you. Let's have a date another day."

"A date?"

"A social gathering! Is that not allowed?"

"If I have the time, I suppose so."

"Secretary Zhang, you are very refined and full of charisma. You are the most unforgettable person I have ever met."

The flattery made Zhang Jun feel a bit light-headed. He typed out a line: "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." But feeling it was too frivolous, he silently deleted it.

Liu Yujie turned over, groggily asking, "Zhang Jun, you’re back? Who are you chatting with in the middle of the night?"

Zhang Jun glanced at his wife and said, "Liu Zhengjie. We were at a gathering, it just ended. Did you return the red envelopes like I told you to?"

Liu Yujie said unhappily, "Return them? Who returns gift money? Besides, I treated them to a good meal! It cost me a lot of money! You weren't there, and they were all talking about me! Do you not care about my reputation at all?"

Zhang Jun couldn't be bothered to argue with her and collapsed into bed.

On Sunday, Zhang Jun went to the guesthouse as usual to accompany Ma Hongqi in playing Go, practicing Tai Chi, and chatting. The relationship between a secretary and their superior must never be limited to work alone, or it would remain merely superficial. Only two people with deep personal ties could truly confide in one another.

Zhang Jun used all his spare time to close the distance between himself and Ma Hongqi. Having just become the secretary, he needed to integrate into Ma’s inner circle as quickly as possible; otherwise, his position would be insecure and he could be replaced at any moment.

While playing chess, Ma Hongqi asked, "Aren't you curious about who recommended you to me?"

Zhang Jun played a stone and said, "I have wanted to ask, but I was afraid it would be presumptuous. If the boss wants to tell me something, he will do so. If the boss doesn't speak, there is naturally a reason."

Knowing one's place and understanding when to advance or retreat—these were the basic requirements for a secretary. Do not ask about what should not be asked. Do not speak about what should not be said. Knowing when to keep one’s mouth shut was far harder than knowing how to speak.

Ma Hongqi smiled slightly. "I have an old comrade who lives here. He suffers from many chronic illnesses and often needs traditional Chinese medicine to recuperate. One time, when he went to the hospital to get a prescription, he met you. You wrote him a prescription, and after taking the medicine, his illness improved significantly. He got to know you, read many of the papers you had published, and thus recommended you to me."

Zhang Jun had a sudden realization! He remembered someone from back when he had first been assigned to the hospital as an intern. There was indeed such a person, whose name seemed to be Han Yuxian. At that time, Zhang Jun had noticed the prescription Han frequently used and, finding it somewhat unorthodox, helped him adjust a few ingredients. The patient’s chronic condition had improved greatly after taking it, so he had always been grateful to Zhang Jun.

"Is it Elder Han?" Zhang Jun asked.

Ma Hongqi replied, "Yes, that’s old Han! He is the only friend I have here. If I can't trust him, who can I trust? As it turns out, he didn't misjudge you. You have been a very competent secretary."

Zhang Jun had never expected that a patient he had met years ago would bring him such immense fortune. To be kind to others is to eventually reap the rewards of kindness.

"Let's go, shall we go pay old Han a visit?" Ma Hongqi set down his chess piece and stood up.

Zhang Jun stood up immediately and said, "I haven't been to his house before. Ever since I was transferred to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute a few years ago, I haven't been in touch with him."

The two arrived at Han Zhengxian’s home. It was a building in an old neighborhood; the Han family lived on the first floor and had a small courtyard.

A bright red sun hung in the sky. Zhang Jun looked up at the sky and suddenly thought of something: *The East? This place is to the east of my home. So, the fortune the fortune-teller spoke of coming from the east meant Han Zhengxian recommending me to Ma Hongqi! That man really was a master! If I have the chance, I must go and seek his counsel.*

Ma Hongqi knocked on the door, and a delicate voice came from inside: "Coming!"