Dream come true.
This was He Lan Tingmei's most direct feeling on the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, when she suddenly received a summons from General Manager Zhao.
He Lan Tingmei thought—
With the unremitting efforts of the He Lan and Lu families, and more importantly, Su Nan Yin being unable to extricate herself from the scandal, General Manager Zhao, who had originally admired her, had finally decided to cast her aside!
General Manager Zhao had also decided that on the day Su Nan Yin opened her office, He Lan Tingmei would replace her as the head of a certain mysterious department.
Therefore.
He Lan Tingmei, with the utmost speed and the most proper attitude, went to meet General Manager Zhao.
But the result left her very disappointed!
General Manager Zhao summoned He Lan Tingmei merely to seek her opinion on whether she was willing to take on the position of Second Deputy Director in the newly established "Eastern Land Human Resources Eighth Bureau."
What was the Human Resources Eighth Bureau?
He Lan Tingmei didn't care about the name of this unit.
Looking across the East and West worlds.
Many special units had low-key names that went unnoticed, but their energy and authority were immense.
She only cared about who the Director of the Eighth Bureau was, and who the Executive Deputy Director was.
As well as the authority of the Eighth Bureau, its subordinate departments, and its main tasks.
General Manager Zhao told He Lan Tingmei that the Eighth Bureau had great authority.
Its subordinate departments, in addition to the familiar ones like the Secretariat and Logistics, also included the Operations Department and the Training Department.
The main task of the Eighth Bureau was to clear out the dark web that had infiltrated the East for many years!
Upon hearing General Manager Zhao state the main task of the Eighth Bureau, He Lan Tingmei's spirits immediately lifted.
Her disappointment at only being appointed Second Deputy Director vanished in an instant, her whole body radiating a vigorous fighting spirit.
Her mental change greatly pleased General Manager Zhao.
He then informed her that there were four main leaders in the Eighth Bureau.
They were the Director, two Deputy Directors, and the Head of the Operations Department.
He Lan Tingmei was the Second Deputy Director, and the Executive Deputy Director was none other than the female lead in the scandal, Su Nan Yin!
Only then did she realize that Su Nan Yin, whom many had mistakenly believed to be the Director of the Eighth Bureau, was in fact only a deputy.
So who was the Director?
The name General Manager Zhao uttered made He Lan Tingmei gasp in surprise!
The Director of the Eighth Bureau was none other than Li Nan Fang, the infamous scumbag who had gained renown decades ago!!
Her subconsciousness immediately elevated her perception of the Eighth Bureau's importance by several notches.
After all, even a fool would know that any unit personally led by Li Nan Fang was extremely, extremely formidable.
Crucially.
General Manager Zhao also indirectly informed her that Li Nan Fang's position as Director was only temporary.
He Lan Tingmei's eyes brightened by several more levels.
It made sense.
Given Li Nan Fang's status as a formidable figure, his willingness to come out of retirement to lead a new unit was already a great favor to General Manager Zhao.
How could he possibly serve as the Director of the Eighth Bureau on a long-term basis?
Once Li Nan Fang had guided the Eighth Bureau onto the right track, he would undoubtedly retire with honor.
Who would then succeed him as the Director of the Eighth Bureau?
Su Nan Yin, the Executive Deputy Director, He Lan Tingmei, the Second Deputy Director, and the Head of the Operations Department all had equal opportunities.
As long as He Lan Tingmei performed exceptionally well.
It wouldn't be too difficult to step over the Head of the Operations Department and surpass Su Nan Yin to ascend to the position of Director.
However.
When General Manager Zhao subsequently informed her that the Head of the Operations Department was Su Nan Yin's younger daughter, Du Jun Lin, He Lan Tingmei immediately felt a sense of crisis.
The Eighth Bureau had a total of four main leaders.
Among them, the Director, the Executive Deputy Director, and the Head of the Operations Department were all closely related.
To put it bluntly, this was akin to a family business.
If Li Nan Fang retired with honor, he and Su Nan Yin would undoubtedly strongly recommend Du Jun Lin to take his place.
Of course.
He Lan Tingmei would never reveal this thought on her face.
Having mastered such matters, she clearly understood why she was being transferred to the Eighth Bureau to be the third-in-command.
General Manager Zhao, out of concern that certain individuals might collude and deceive their superiors, had followed protocol by "adding sand" to the mix.
Whether Du Jun Lin could ultimately reach the pinnacle would depend on He Lan Tingmei's performance!
After understanding these matters, He Lan Tingmei felt relieved.
Before she left, General Manager Zhao once again urged her to keep everything she had been told strictly confidential!
He Lan Tingmei readily agreed.
Upon returning home after meeting General Manager Zhao, members of the Lu and He Lan families inquired about her with great concern, but she rebuffed them all with a simple "no comment."
In reality.
He Lan Tingmei was unaware that General Manager Zhao had originally planned for her to be Li Wu Jiang's secretary.
Due to Li Wu Jiang being summoned to Long Xu by Yang Xiao and being unable to return in the short term, his father, Li Nan Fang, had taken his place.
Given Li Nan Fang's tendency to become infatuated whenever he saw a beautiful woman, General Manager Zhao was concerned that assigning He Lan Tingmei to be his secretary might lead to undesirable incidents, so he had a private discussion with him.
Li, the scumbag, was quite self-aware.
He stated that he didn't need a secretary!
In any case, he was merely an honorary Director. When he had time, he would visit the Eighth Bureau, read newspapers, drink tea, listen to reports, and chat.
Unless there were major incidents, Li Nan Fang was disinclined to participate in the normal operations of the Eighth Bureau.
After all, Deputy Director Su was very capable.
Thus.
After the discussion between General Manager Zhao and Li Nan Fang, He Lan Tingmei was appointed Second Director.
As for who would serve as her secretary upon Li Wu Jiang's return, that would be decided later.
Originally.
According to the initial plan, the Eighth Bureau was supposed to officially open yesterday.
He Lan Tingmei had woken up early and made full preparations.
But as a result—
Due to Su Nan Yin having personal matters to attend to, the opening time was delayed by a full day!
The opening of the Eighth Bureau was such an important event.
Yet, because of someone's personal affairs, it was postponed by a day. This would never happen in other organizations.
But in the Eighth Bureau—
He Lan Tingmei could only suppress all her dissatisfaction.
Because General Manager Zhao had truthfully told her that Su Nan Yin was the one who had built up the Eighth Bureau.
This morning.
He Lan Tingmei drove her car again and arrived in front of this inconspicuous alley.
Both Su Nan Yin and He Lan Tingmei found it normal that the office of the mysteriously low-key Eighth Bureau was located in an inconspicuous place.
Dark Blade, after all.
It was a special unit that specialized in covert operations, so how could it not be low-key?
Just as He Lan Tingmei was about to get out of the car, she saw Li Qian Fan step out of a blue car parked across the alley.
He Lan Tingmei had absolutely no good feelings towards this male lead of the scandal!
Li Qian Fan's divine beast of a mother's actions on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, stepping on the He Lan family, was still a sore spot for the He Lan family.
He Lan Tingmei was not surprised in the least that Li Qian Fan had also come here.
But after casually meeting his gaze for a moment, she noticed that he seemed much more mature than when she had seen him on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
"This must be an illusion."
As He Lan Tingmei secretly told herself this, she saw Su Nan Yin subsequently step out from the passenger seat.
Her eyes immediately lit up—
She exclaimed in her heart: "How is it possible that this woman has become so much younger than when I saw her on the first day of the Lunar New Year!?"
Adhering to the immutable rule of the animal kingdom: "Beautiful females are natural enemies," He Lan Tingmei instinctively scrutinized Su Nan Yin with a critical gaze.
Her gaze now seemed to have become a penetrating X-ray.
Peeking through the superficial appearance, she saw the essence of things.
Su Nan Yin's physique was completely exposed under He Lan Tingmei's gaze.
Her legs were round, straight, and long; her waist was full without a trace of excess fat, and even softer.
Her full, round, and high-profile breasts bounced rhythmically as she walked gracefully, imbuing her with a special charm.
Especially her fair, pinkish face, which was full of collagen.
He Lan Tingmei even suspected that if she merely puffed out her cheeks and blew a breath at Su Nan Yin's face, it would cause her fair skin to be injured.
Her jet-black, smooth hair was styled into a dignified bun, making her swan-like neck appear exceptionally long.
He Lan Tingmei, who had seen through the essence of things—
Felt an inexplicable sense of inadequacy!
"Tingmei."
Su Nan Yin walked over with a smile, extending her small hand: "Welcome to the Eighth Bureau."
He Lan Tingmei bowed slightly before extending her hand to grasp hers: "Deputy Director Su, I hope you will guide and mentor my work in the future."
Despite the scandal and the most important reason.
He Lan Tingmei disdained Su Nan Yin and harbored hostility towards her, yet she still met Su Nan Yin formally with a proper posture of bowing and shaking hands.
"Tingmei, let me introduce you."
After retracting her hand, Su Nan Yin said with an elegant demeanor: "This is Li Qian Fan, my secretary at the Eighth Bureau."
Li Qian Fan then walked over, bowed slightly, and extended his right hand: "Deputy Director He Lan, hello."
"Secretary Li, hello."
As He Lan Tingmei shook hands with Li Qian Fan, her back was already straight, her head held high, and her expression calm.
No matter how glorious Li Qian Fan might be, at the Eighth Bureau, he was merely Su Nan Yin's secretary.
In terms of position and power, the secretary of a deputy director was naturally no match for He Lan Tingmei, the Second Deputy Director.
He Lan Tingmei, who clearly understood that her arrival at the Eighth Bureau was to counterbalance Su Nan Yin, saw no need to be overly polite to Li Qian Fan.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Su Nan Yin and He Lan Tingmei chatted casually as they walked side-by-side into the alley, which was fifty meters deep with walls on both sides.
Li Qian Fan, carrying Deputy Director Su's red thermos, acted quite obsequiously, trailing about two meters behind them.
"Deputy Director Su."
He Lan Tingmei finally couldn't help but ask: "How is it that I find you at least ten years younger than when I saw you on the first day of the Lunar New Year? Not only has your spirit and energy undergone a qualitative change, but your figure also seems to have been remolded."
"Heh heh. Actually, I've also noticed my astonishing transformation. However."
Su Nan Yin chuckled lightly, glancing back at Li Qian Fan: "You'll have to ask Secretary Li for the answer to this question."