I Woke Up and Became an Alpha (GL) - Chapter 10
“President Huo, here’s the latest issue of the magazine.” The secretary walked into the President’s office with a small stack of newly received magazines.
“Put them on the desk.”
Huo Qingzhi was Browse her emails, her eyes never leaving the screen as she spoke.
“Understood.” The secretary placed the magazines on the desk, turned to leave, but remembered something a few steps away and turned back.
“President Huo, of the two candidates who interviewed this morning, were there any you found suitable?”
This question successfully shifted Huo Qingzhi’s attention from the screen. She released the mouse, thought for a moment, and replied, “Let’s keep recruiting.”
As she spoke, she noticed the secretary’s slightly troubled expression and glanced at the time at the bottom of the screen.
The secretary’s departure date was next week—only a week left.
After a brief silence, the secretary didn’t complain but chose a compromise. “President Huo, if we really can’t find a suitable candidate, would an internal transfer from another department work?”
“Transfer?” Huo Qingzhi raised an eyebrow, seemingly finding it a good idea.
“Yes, transferring from another department means no time spent familiarizing themselves with a new company. I’ll personally vet them, so you don’t have to worry about their business capabilities.”
Huo Qingzhi nodded, accepting the secretary’s suggestion. She clearly felt the secretary relax, and then she quickly returned to her post to screen suitable internal candidates.
Even though finding a suitable Beta to be a secretary was difficult, this remained Huo Qingzhi’s firm and unwavering bottom line.
Although the Betas interviewed this morning had good business skills, Huo Qingzhi felt very uncomfortable with their gazes constantly fixed on her during the conversation.
After checking her emails, Huo Qingzhi turned to pick up the magazine on her desk. As the owner of a fashion company, it was crucial to keep abreast of current trends. In addition to following some fashion bloggers online, she subscribed to almost all fashion-related magazines.
After subscribing for a few months, Huo Qingzhi was left with only two or three magazines she regularly read.
Among them, Fashion Bazer was one Huo Qingzhi paid particular attention to. Not only was it a top-selling magazine, but Huo Qingzhi greatly appreciated some of the styles it featured.
The secretary knew her preferences, so Fashion Bazer was placed on top of the stack of magazines, easily accessible.
Huo Qingzhi flipped through the first few pages, merely glancing at them, until her finger stopped on the street style column.
Fashion Bazer was known for its unique street photography. Generally, outfits featured in their published photos would become popular. While some magazines tried to imitate them, they often only copied the superficial elements without understanding the underlying reasons for their success.
The first street photo had an exaggerated and vibrant style overall. The slightly gaudy colors made Huo Qingzhi involuntarily frown, and she quickly turned the page without a second look.
Upon seeing the second photo, her amber eyes filled with surprise. The top in the photo was incredibly familiar to her.
And the model in the photo was even more familiar.
“Song, Yuran…”
“Achoo!” Song Yuran in the office let out a loud sneeze. She rubbed her nose. Am I catching a cold?
Ding-dong—
The WeChat icon in the bottom right corner of the screen began to jump. Song Yuran moved her mouse over the icon; it showed a message from Li Tianming.
[Li Tianming]: Sister Ran, the photo I took of you was approved by the editorial department. The latest issue of the magazine was released yesterday, and I saved a copy. Should I send it to you?
[Li Tianming]: My judgment was indeed correct. Everyone is praising your outfit for its unique style, and the editorial department is also saying it’s very likely to become a hit this summer. I just heard the editor-in-chief say that a brand has already reached out, hoping we’ll promote their brand. The collaboration is being discussed.
“…” A huge question mark appeared in Song Yuran’s mind.
[Song Yuran]: Huh?
[Song Yuran]: What brand?
[Li Tianming]: Looden, the clothing you were wearing.
Soon, Li Tianming sent her Looden’s official website. Song Yuran clicked in and almost fainted from anger when she saw the top headline on the homepage.
It clearly read: “Summer New Arrivals.” The V-neck top worn by the model in the accompanying picture was not just similar to Huo Qingzhi’s design; it was identical!
Isn’t this just piggybacking on popularity and plagiarism?! The most infuriating thing was that this item on their official website already had hundreds of sales!
“Damn it, this old scumbag!” Song Yuran couldn’t help but curse at such shameless behavior.
She had originally thought that if it became popular, she could go persuade Huo Qingzhi, hopefully to secure her resignation freedom. Now, it was all for someone else’s benefit.
Then she thought about what if Huo Qingzhi, the person involved, found out that her design was plagiarized by another company because of her, and even profited from it…
Song Yuran shivered, then quickly bolted out of the office in three steps, two, and anxiously called Li Tianming.
As soon as he answered, she cut straight to the chase: “The clothes I’m wearing are not Looden’s; they’re piggybacking on popularity and plagiarizing!”
“Huh?” Li Tianming was confused. “Then what should we do? I just heard the editor-in-chief has already finalized the collaboration…”
As an intern, Li Tianming clearly had no say in the magazine. At this point, Song Yuran could only go to Huo Qingzhi herself. It was better to confess proactively than for Huo Qingzhi to find out later and settle scores, especially since Niohuru Huo Qingzhi was so petty!
Standing in the elevator, Song Yuran silently wept internally. She had hoped to earn credit and redeem herself, but instead, she had stirred up a whole mess.
The elevator doors just opened. Before Song Yuran could step out, she saw Huo Qingzhi standing at the entrance.
She blurted out, “Ra!…” The “chel” part of “Rachel” was forcibly stopped, nearly biting her tongue. She shouted, “President Huo!”
The surroundings were very quiet, amplifying her voice to an infinite degree, so much so that it startled Huo Qingzhi slightly.
She asked, bewildered, “Why are you shouting so loudly?”
Before the confrontation, to mitigate her crime, Song Yuran decided to first declare her loyalty: “Wuwuwu, President Huo, believe me! I am absolutely loyal to you and the company! No second thoughts!”
Huo Qingzhi, who had received a resignation letter not long ago: “…”
The silent atmosphere was broken by hurried footsteps. Song Yuran glanced to the side and saw the secretary scurrying over, carrying a bag, looking very flustered.
“President Huo!” Disregarding the third person present, the secretary, who had just finished a phone call, had a visibly flustered and anxious expression: “President Huo, something came up at home, and I have to go back now…”
Huo Qingzhi nodded, calmly saying, “If something’s come up, then go.”
The secretary was still a bit worried. She clutched her car keys, conflicted. “But I need to go to the factory now…”
Huo Qingzhi pointed her chin towards Song Yuran. “Let her come with me.”
Song Yuran: “?!”
“That’s great!” The secretary looked relieved. Before Song Yuran could react, a set of car keys was pressed into her hand.
The secretary left like a gust of wind.
Leaving Song Yuran and Huo Qingzhi looking at each other. Song Yuran gripped the car keys, unsure whether to leave or stay.
“Um… I…” She tried to find an excuse to slip away, but Huo Qingzhi seemed to read her mind. She shot Song Yuran a glance and said flatly, “Loyal and devoted?”
“…”
The “loyal and devoted” Song Yuran followed President Huo out.
Huo Qingzhi sat in the passenger seat. Song Yuran, in the driver’s seat, drove with extreme caution, occasionally stealing glances at the person beside her through the rearview mirror.
The car was very quiet, the atmosphere dead silent.
Huo Qingzhi, after replying to a message, looked up from her screen and turned it off. As she looked up, she caught someone glancing at her again. After their eyes met, the person shifted their gaze like a startled little rabbit.
Usually, a stolen glance carries a hint of inquiry, but Song Yuran was different. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy, with a touch of guilt.
Huo Qingzhi asked, “Is there a needle poking you in the seat?”
“N-no,” Song Yuran chuckled awkwardly.
Huo Qingzhi looked at her through the rearview mirror, her expression calm as she asked, “What do you want with me?”
“How did you know I…” Before she could finish “wanted to see you,” Song Yuran suddenly remembered that the 12th floor was mainly the President’s office.
Just then, the light turned red. Song Yuran pulled the handbrake, intending to discuss her resignation with President Huo.
Before getting to the main point, she decided to beat around the bush. “My resignation letter…?”
Then, she saw a hint of a smile appear on Huo Qingzhi’s cold and beautiful face. She pulled out a cool smile, resting one hand on the side of her face, tilting her head to look at Song Yuran, and said word for word, “Who just said… ‘loyal and devoted, no second thoughts’?”
Though her face was smiling, those amber eyes held no trace of amusement.
Song Yuran suddenly felt a stinging sensation on her face. She should have known not to steal the lackey’s lines.
In the silent atmosphere, Huo Qingzhi shifted her gaze to the windshield, gently exhaling with her arms crossed. She stopped teasing her and said, “Do you really want to resign?”
“Mm-hmm-hmm!” Song Yuran nodded like a pecking chick, her eagerness practically overflowing.
“Alright, I’ll give you my answer now.”
Huo Qingzhi’s amber eyes settled back on Song Yuran’s face, a clear smile playing on her lips, but her words were unfeeling.
“I won’t approve it.”
Although it was common for company employees to resign, Huo Qingzhi, as the boss, wouldn’t personally inquire. But Song Yuran had practically thrown herself in front of her eyes.
The reason she gave for resigning was completely unrelated to the reason HR had conveyed. Huo Qingzhi didn’t think there was anything to hide about a resignation reason, and she wanted to know what Song Yuran was really up to.
This was the first time President Huo had developed an interest in someone.
But it was only a slight interest.