The Novelist Forced to Become Famous

Dai An had been Kang Mu Cheng's secretary for three years before being gloriously transferred to the film and television department, a promotion.

Before changing positions, she needed to hand over to the new secretary and teach her some things to note: "Julie, is that your real name? Nice, saves having to choose an English name."

Julie had already been doing odd jobs with other secretaries for two months and was basically familiar with the people in the CEO's office and the heads of other departments.

But even so, she was still nervous: "Sister Dai, can I do this?"

"You need to have confidence in yourself," Dai An encouraged her. "I can't speak for other departments, but in our department, the work isn't really difficult. You just need to remember one thing--"

Julie: "?"

Dai An: "The boss is a workaholic."

Julie: "..."

"I'm not joking," Dai An explained patiently. "This tells you that the boss doesn't have time to harass you, flirt with you or chat you up, and he won't particularly target you. You just need to work hard and you can get promotions and raises. But it also means you have to be very diligent, keep your computer on after work hours, and be ready to work at any time."

Julie: "..."

Dai An: "Don't worry, the workload isn't heavy, it's just that tasks can come at any time. If you can accept that, you can keep doing this job. If not, you can also apply for a transfer."

Julie adjusted her mindset: "I can do it."

"That's good. I can tell you in advance, the base salary for the secretary position isn't high, there's a 20% raise each year, and it mainly depends on bonuses," Dai An was being quite frank. "Mr. Kang is very generous. The workload is big, but he doesn't skimp on compensation."

Julie felt reassured.

After discussing the bonuses, Dai An began to impart the key points of the work: "The normal schedule is simple. For department meetings, you need to notify everyone, preferably a day in advance so people can arrange their work. If it's an impromptu meeting, remember not just to send emails, but also to call to confirm, in case someone doesn't see it..."

Julie noted everything down.

Dai An guided her for half a day. In the afternoon, they entered the crucial part - the boss's personal preferences.

"Being a secretary isn't hard, what's hard is being a good secretary," Dai An said. "You need to understand the boss and think ahead of him on many things."

Julie nodded.

Dai An: "Let me test you. If Mr. Kang asks you to pour coffee, what would you choose?"

Julie answered without hesitation: "Iced Americano."

Dai An: "Fail! In the morning with sandwiches, it's hot Americano. Starting from the second cup of coffee, if he's had a normal meal, then iced Americano is correct. But if he hasn't eaten, it's best to serve a hot caramel macchiato."

Julie: "...Mr. Kang's tastes are so variable?"

"Variable? No." Dai An was exasperated. "Sandwiches are cold, so they need hot Americano, otherwise it might upset his stomach. Drinking iced Americano after lunch is to refresh and stimulate the mind. If he hasn't eaten, he needs sugar, so caramel macchiato is most suitable - understand?"

Julie: "I-I understand."

Dai An: "Good. Let's say today he's going out for a meeting, hasn't eaten, and the shop doesn't have chocolate syrup to make a macchiato. What should you do?"

Julie: "Switch to a latte and buy some food?"

Dai An: "OK, you've got it. Mr. Kang doesn't have special requirements for food, but note, he actually doesn't like sweet things. Donuts, NO. Jam bread, NO. Croissants and cream toast are best."

Julie: "Doesn't he like Chinese food?"

Dai An: "Wrong. If you had carefully looked at the meal ordering records, you'd find that Mr. Kang always has Chinese food for formal meals. He only considers other cuisines when treating others."

Julie hurriedly noted this down.

"You must look at the meal ordering records," Dai An instructed. "When Mr. Kang invites people to eat, he always chooses what they like. You must remember clearly which restaurant is for which client."

Julie said, "Alright, Sister Dai."

"Then let me test you. If eating with Teacher Wang, where would you book?"

"Japanese cuisine."

"How about President Chen?"

"French cuisine."

"What about Teacher Jian?"

Julie hesitated, stammering: "The places for eating with Teacher Jian don't seem to have much of a pattern."

"Of course there is, you just haven't studied carefully." Dai An started to worry - wouldn't such a successor get scolded by Mr. Kang?

She had to pass on more experience: "Teacher Jian doesn't have a particularly fixed taste, but she likes new things. So, you need to pay attention to newly opened restaurants and keep note of well-reviewed ones."

Julie nodded vigorously: "I understand."

Dai An was very doubtful, but after thinking, she said: "I think Teacher Jian is coming today. Follow me for the day and pay close attention. She's definitely a heavyweight figure you need to note."

At three o'clock, the receptionist sent a message to the group chat.

[Teacher Jian is here]

Dai An: [Understood]

She asked Julie to go to the café downstairs to get coffee and desserts: "I ordered them twenty minutes ago, they should be just right now."

Julie hurried off.

At the elevator, she bumped into Jian Jing.

Julie recognized her identity almost instantly and couldn't help but look at her several times, thinking, no wonder everyone says Teacher Jian is the face of Golden Crow, she's really too beautiful.

"Are you the new secretary?" Jian Jing winked at her.

Julie's cheeks flushed: "Mm."

"There seems to be a new pastry shop next to the coffee shop, could you bring me a portion of matcha squares?" she asked.

Julie nodded instinctively.

"Thanks. Oh, and I want my coffee completely iced, the weather is just too hot." She waved her hand and walked gracefully into the office. "Dai An? You're leaving - oh, you're getting promoted? Congratulations."

Julie walked into the elevator, her mind still a bit confused.

How did she know I was going down to get coffee?

But Dai An was used to it.

She first reported Kang Mu Cheng's status: "Mr. Kang is talking with President Nie, it should be over soon."

Jian Jing didn't mind, wandering through the cubicles, chatting and gossiping with everyone.

"Teacher Jian, did XX Teacher really get married?" Another assistant came to deliver documents and, seeing her, immediately seized the chance to ask for details.

Jian Jing: "Yes, I received the invitation. They're planning to get married abroad."

"Oh~~"

Someone else asked: "Teacher Jian, I think my husband is cheating."

Jian Jing: "I don't investigate extramarital affairs."

"If you think he's cheating, he definitely is," a experienced person said coldly. "Just get a divorce."

"What if I'm overthinking?" The person was still conflicted. "I need evidence."

"Evidence?" Jian Jing picked up the flower tea canister on her desk. "Is this something he gave you?"

The person was startled: "Yes, why? Is it poisonous?"

Jian Jing said: "The ingredient list says rose, chrysanthemum, roselle, and lily. But I counted, and there seems to be five types. The extra one looks like oleander."

Anyone who has read palace intrigue or family drama novels would be familiar with oleander, a common but poisonous plant. This sister's face immediately darkened, and the cubicle was filled with a suppressed murderous aura.

Everyone tactfully lowered their heads to work.

At this moment, the glass door of the office opened.

Kang Mu Cheng was seeing President Nie out. Both of their expressions were calm, showing no signs of anything unusual. But President Nie, who usually loved to joke with people, didn't talk to anyone today and left on his own.

"Sister Dai, the coffee..." Julie came in, frightened by the quiet atmosphere.

Jian Jing smiled and said: "Give it to me, thank you." She took the two cups of coffee and the desserts. "Mu Cheng?"

Kang Mu Cheng only then noticed her: "You're here? Come in."

Jian Jing brought the afternoon tea in and asked curiously: "What were you talking about?"

"My mother is preparing to retire," Kang Mu Cheng dropped the bombshell. "The company has been quite busy lately."

Jian Jing was surprised: "The President is willing to retire?"

Kang President wasn't someone who enjoyed leisure life. She was passionate about her career, and pursuing her career was where she found joy in life. And she wasn't even sixty yet, talking about retirement seemed a bit too early.

Sure enough, her son confirmed: "She just doesn't want to manage the company anymore."

"So you're taking over?" she asked.

Kang Mu Cheng nodded, then reassured her: "It's not a big issue, just routine business adjustments. There are some small troubles, but they can all be resolved."

Jian Jing believed him.

After returning from studying abroad, Kang Mu Cheng had entered the family company, starting as an ordinary editor. He had been in the position of vice president for five or six years and had an extraordinary grasp of the company's operations.

Kang President stepping down was actually just a procedural matter.

"Let's talk about The Demon Doctor 4. It's scheduled to launch during the October National Day holiday," Kang Mu Cheng said. "I think the response won't be bad, the ending is quite good."

Jian Jing sighed, "I suppose I took a shortcut. Both units have ancient settings, which I've never written before."

"That's still innovative. Having new elements makes it easier for readers to accept," said Kang Mu Cheng. "Do you have any plans for the second half of the year?"

Jian Jing hesitated, "I want to write a full-length novel. I've written too many short stories."

"You could give it a try. Still mystery?" he suggested cautiously. "Can your plot twists sustain a full-length novel?"

Jian Jing replied, "I want to write a setting-based mystery."

Kang Mu Cheng made a listening gesture.

"Murders by witchcraft," she had always wanted to kill Qi Tian again in her books. "The more people die, the more the conditions of the witchcraft will change."

Jian Jing didn't lack material for murder cases. Not to mention the gift package from Ji Feng, even her own experiences were enough to write several books.

But always drawing from reality was kind of boring. There are only so many ways to kill, and crime motives always revolve around interests and emotional entanglements.

Readers would get tired of these stories too.

"If I come across interesting material, I'll write it into 'The Sleepwalking Girl'. It won't be wasted," she had it all planned out. "Oh, and for this witchcraft piece, the protagonist might be the villain."

Kang Mu Cheng: "Narrative misdirection?"

"No, this is a game," Jian Jing explained. "Each player gets an ability before the game starts. The protagonist's first draw is hypnosis, which allows him to make others kill for him. So, before the story begins, readers already know who the killer is. What they don't know is who the victims are and how they're killed."

Kang Mu Cheng frowned, "Is it like this for every round?"

Jian Jing: "No, the protagonist's abilities will upgrade. If he gets a certain item, readers will know the murder weapon in advance."

He finally nodded, "That sounds a bit interesting."

However, she also warned in advance, "I might not finish it in the second half of the year."

Kang Mu Cheng smiled, "No rush."

They stopped discussing the new book and turned to talk about the release of The Demon Doctor 4. Before they knew it, night had fallen.

Dai An knocked and entered, "Mr. Kang, I've reserved a place for dinner..." She looked at them inquiringly, "Do you need to delay the time?"

"No need." The answer was completely within expectations. Kang Mu Cheng said, "Let's go eat first."

After seeing them off, Dai An stayed behind and instructed Julie, "Don't think you're off work today. Jian Jing Teacher's new book is about to be released, we need to look at magazines."

Julie was confused, "What magazines?"

"Fashion magazines," Dai An brought out several new magazine issues. "Although Jian Jing Teacher buys her own clothes, if she encounters any, um, unexpected situations, she'll completely forget about it. Mr. Kang will definitely want you to make contingency plans in advance."

Julie was embarrassed, "Sister Dai, other teachers don't have this. Is Jian Jing Teacher Mr. Kang's relative?"

Dai An: "No."

"Then is she," she gossiped in a low voice, "his girlfriend?"

"Not yet either." Dai An's biggest regret about her job transfer was this. The ship she was rooting for hadn't sailed yet, and now she couldn't be on the front lines to witness it.

Julie: "Then why..."

"No one knows what will happen in the future," Dai An said seriously. "But Jian Jing Teacher is very important to Mr. Kang. They're not just in a working relationship, it's different from other writers."

"Oh." Julie hadn't yet grasped the subtleties, but she nodded vigorously, "I'll remember that."

Dai An said approvingly, "Watch more, think more, do more." After a moment's thought, she gave the most pertinent advice, "Watch more crime movies usually. In case you encounter a dead body someday, don't panic."

Julie: "Huh?"