Intimate Trial Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Today was Shen Silin’s first day on the job. Dressed in a beige blouse and a knee-length straight skirt, she was waiting for the elevator on the ground floor. With twenty minutes remaining until the start of the workday, she had no concerns about being late.

The elevator arrived. Shen Silin stepped in and pressed the 12th floor button. She was alone until the doors were about to close, when a long, fair hand slipped between them. The doors opened again, and Shen Silin’s gaze met a pair of deep eyes—it was Ye Chang.

Ye Chang entered the elevator. Today, she wore a charcoal gray plaid suit skirt, impeccably tailored to outline a sharp, upright silhouette. The collar of her silk inner blouse was crisp, and a delicately designed pearl brooch was pinned to the lapel, simultaneously tempering her imposing aura and adding a subtle touch of elegance. Her long hair was pulled back into a smooth, low bun, and two simple diamond studs on her earlobes occasionally flashed with a faint, cool light as she moved.

“Good morning, CEO Ye,” Shen Silin said, instinctively standing a little straighter as she greeted her politely.

Ye Chang’s eyes lingered on her for a moment before she gave a slight nod. “Morning.” Her voice was clear and steady as always, revealing no emotion. She then looked down at her watch—today she was wearing a PATEK PHILIPPE AQUANAUT series.

“You’re here early?”

Shen Silin paused briefly, then answered candidly, “It’s my first day. I wanted to come early to familiarize myself with the environment and leave a good impression on my colleagues.”

Ye Chang raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. Her gaze returned to Shen Silin’s face, this time resting there a little longer, as if re-evaluating. “That’s a good habit.” Her tone remained flat, but the scrutinizing quality quietly faded, seemingly accepting the reason.

Just then, the dial of Ye Chang’s Patek Philippe Aquanaut reflected a flash of the overhead light. The combination of the stainless steel bezel and the rubber strap introduced a hint of subtle sportiness and unconventionality beneath her rigorous attire. This detail made Shen Silin realize that the female CEO’s taste might be more complex and layered than her outward appearance suggested.

The elevator continued its smooth ascent. A brief silence descended again, but the atmosphere seemed slightly more relaxed than before.

Finally, they reached the 12th floor. The elevator doors opened, and Ye Chang stepped out. Shen Silin followed Ye Chang to the CEO’s Office. Ye Chang sat in her executive chair, and Shen Silin stood before the desk.

“How many languages are you fluent in?”

Standing before the large desk, Shen Silin could more clearly sense the atmosphere of the space. The decor was minimalist, dominated by cool tones, and the massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the city’s morning skyline. The air held a faint scent of coffee and paper. Ye Chang had already removed her suit jacket, draping it over the back of her chair. She wore only the silk blouse, the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, revealing her smooth wrists and the Patek Philippe watch. She leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed yet completely in control, her gaze calmly fixed on Shen Silin, awaiting her answer.

The question was direct, even abrupt, skipping all pleasantries and preamble. But Shen Silin did not panic. She met Ye Chang’s gaze and answered clearly, “Seven.”

“Does that include Spanish?”

Shen Silin met Ye Chang’s gaze and answered clearly, “Yes, it does. I have DELE C1 proficiency in Spanish and am competent in business negotiation and cross-cultural communication.”

“C1.” Ye Chang repeated the level, tapping her index finger lightly on the desk again. This time the rhythm was slightly different, as if weighing the significance of the word.

“I need to go to Spain the day after tomorrow. There’s an issue with the branch company there. You will come with me.”

Shen Silin’s heart gave a sudden leap. The day after tomorrow? Spain? With Ye Chang?

This sudden directive completely exceeded all her expectations for her first week on the job. There was no transition, no discussion, and no mention of the specific problem—just a concise, almost abrupt statement that carried undeniable weight.

She quickly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, knowing that any hesitation or question now would be unprofessional. Ye Chang wanted execution, not discussion.

“Yes, CEO Ye.” Shen Silin’s reply was without hesitation, her voice steady and firm. “What specific preparations do I need to make? For example, trip duration, meeting nature, background of the personnel involved, and the general direction of the branch company’s issue, so I can prepare the corresponding materials and contingency plans in advance.”

She did not ask ineffective questions like “Why me?” or “Is the problem serious?” Instead, she immediately cut to the preparations needed to solve the problem. This reaction clearly caused a faint flicker of approval in Ye Chang’s eyes.

Ye Chang pulled a thin file, its cover printed with Spanish text, from a folder and pushed it to the edge of the desk. “The basic situation and emergency contacts are inside. The core issue is a severe deviation between local management and headquarters strategy execution, leading to a significant drop in quarterly performance, damaged team morale, and potentially internal management disputes.” Her speaking pace was steady, but every word landed like a bead of ice—clear and hard. “We need to ascertain the true situation within three days, evaluate the management team’s retention, and propose a stop-loss plan. We are not going to negotiate; we are going to diagnose, and if necessary, perform surgery.”

She used a medical metaphor, cold and precise.

“Understood. I will thoroughly review all materials before departure and organize the key information points and possible angles for addressing the problem.” Shen Silin took the file, feeling the sharp edge of the paper.

Ye Chang had already lowered her head, beginning to review another document, as if the instruction she had just given was merely a routine business trip notice. “Flight information will be sent to you shortly. You don’t need to come to the office tomorrow; use the time to pack and prepare. I’ll see you at the airport the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes.” Shen Silin knew the conversation was over. She gripped the file in her hand, turned, and left.

The office door closed softly. Ye Chang’s pen paused, and her gaze drifted toward the distant sky outside the window—a direction that roughly corresponded to the Iberian Peninsula. The branch company’s problem was tricky and sudden. Taking a newcomer with no overseas business experience was a risky move.

Ye Chang withdrew her gaze and refocused on the report in front of her.

The day after tomorrow, inside the airport.

The international departure hall in the early morning was already bustling with travelers. The air was mixed with various languages and the sound of rolling luggage wheels. Ye Chang arrived early, as she habitually allowed ample time before a long-haul flight. Today, she had traded her severe suit skirt for a high-quality gray cashmere coat over an off-white turtleneck sweater, paired with fitted black narrow-leg trousers and a pair of Ferragamo flats. Her long hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, lending her less of the office’s sharpness and more of a simple, efficient travel look. She carried only a carry-on suitcase and a briefcase. She was currently sitting by the window in the VIP lounge, with a black coffee and a milk tea beside her, her gaze calmly sweeping over the planes taking off and landing outside the window.

With twenty minutes left until the agreed time, she saw Shen Silin.

Shen Silin was walking in from the entrance, her steps quick but not flustered. She was pulling a standard checked-size suitcase, carrying a seemingly heavy backpack, and holding a laptop bag. Compared to Ye Chang’s light packing, her gear was significantly more “substantial.”

Ye Chang’s eyes lingered on the large suitcase for a moment, her eyebrow twitching almost imperceptibly, but she said nothing. She watched as Shen Silin scanned the lounge, quickly located her, adjusted her breathing, and walked toward the table.

“Good morning, CEO Ye.” Shen Silin stopped at the table, slightly breathless from the quick walk, but her voice was steady.

“Morning,” Ye Chang replied, gesturing to the seat opposite her. “Sit. Milk tea.”

Shen Silin took the milk tea. It was the Boya Jue Xian she liked, the warmth of the paper cup comforting her palm, and a familiar, sweet tea fragrance wafted out. She was slightly stunned and instinctively looked up at Ye Chang.

Ye Chang was picking up her black coffee, her eyes briefly meeting Shen Silin’s, her expression still flat and unperturbed, as if she had merely handed over the most ordinary cup of water. “This is the only decent one at the airport,” she explained lightly, more a statement of fact than an expression of care.

“Thank you, CEO Ye.” Shen Silin thanked her and took a sip. The sweetness was just right, the tea rich, and the foam delicate—it was indeed her preferred flavor. She was surprised Ye Chang knew her preference; it was unexpected, but welcome.

“Have you reviewed all the materials?” Ye Chang cut straight to the chase, just as she had in the office, without any unnecessary small talk.

Shen Silin put down the milk tea, took the prepared folder from her laptop bag, and pushed it toward Ye Chang. “Yes, I have. The financial reports for the past two years, management profiles, quarterly reports, and relevant internal communication records have all been analyzed, summarized, and categorized by problem dimension. The electronic version has been synchronized and can be reviewed at any time during the flight.”

Ye Chang opened the folder, her eyes quickly scanning the clearly organized summaries and colored mind maps. Her fingertip paused briefly on the labels “Cultural Conflict” and “Communication Loss,” then she closed the folder and handed it back to Shen Silin.

“Good efficiency.” She gave the same evaluation as before, but her tone seemed infinitesimally softer. Her gaze swept over the conspicuous large suitcase again. “For a three-day business trip, you are very well prepared with luggage.”

Shen Silin concisely explained her preparation strategy: attire for different occasions, small items that might be used for breaking the ice, and practical items considering the local conditions.

Ye Chang listened without speaking, slowly sipping her coffee. When Shen Silin finished, she put down the cup, the bottom gently tapping the porcelain saucer.

“Being well prepared is good,” Ye Chang’s voice was steady, “but remember, the core of solving problems is always people and issues, not objects. Your observation skills, judgment, and communication ability are the most important luggage.”

“Yes, CEO Ye.”

The airport announcement sounded just then, indicating that their flight was beginning to board.

Ye Chang rose efficiently, picking up her light luggage. “Let’s go.”

Shen Silin followed closely. They walked through the concourse to the boarding gate, crossed the jet bridge, and entered the cabin. Ye Chang’s seat was by the window, and Shen Silin’s was next to her on the aisle. After stowing her luggage and sitting down, Shen Silin placed her tablet with the prepared materials on the tray table. Ye Chang took a thick, entirely English industry report from her briefcase, put on her silver-rimmed glasses, and quickly entered a state of reading, isolating herself from the surroundings.

The plane taxied slowly, accelerated, and finally broke free of gravity, soaring into the sky. Outside the window, the city gradually shrank into a grid, then was covered by a sea of clouds.

Shen Silin also opened her materials, preparing to use the flight time for a final review. The cabin lights were soft, and the engine noise was a low, continuous hum. Occasionally, she looked up and could see Ye Chang’s calm profile, the lenses of her glasses reflecting the faint light of the report’s text, focused as if she were in a private study.

This flight was not only a geographical crossing but also a good opportunity to get closer to Ye Chang. She took a deep breath, refocusing her attention on the documents before her and the challenges that awaited.

Spain, Madrid. Problems, and opportunities, were waiting ahead.