Part 3
First week, generosity, calmness and closeness..
From the next day, Chi started following Ms. Ha, observing each task, paying attention to Mr. Danh’s habits and preferences.
– The boss is not difficult, but he doesn’t talk much either. He also doesn’t have any overly sophisticated or aristocratic hobbies. Only when he’s free or has something very happy will he reward himself with a pot of West Lake lotus tea brewed in a more sophisticated way. At that time, sit next to him and you will learn a lot from his wealth of life experience.
Chi carefully wrote these things down in a notebook. Seeing that Chi was a good listener, she was interested and shared more.
– When he has a lot of work, the boss often sleeps here. His bedroom is on the other side, next to the bathroom. If he has a lot of work, you have to be careful to change his soap and shower gel. He doesn’t like things that are too fragrant, and he doesn’t need imported products. It’s easy.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Ha turned to Chi and emphasized everything she had just said.
– There is one more thing you need to pay attention to, which is to limit asking about your boss’s family if he/she does not take the initiative to tell you. Today, just remember these things for now, and when I remember anything else, I will remind you to write it down. Now, take out that notebook and write down the things your boss wants to pay attention to during the day or the schedule that needs to be reminded.
Chi did as she was told, holding the notebook close to Mr. Danh to listen to what he said to take notes. The second time standing in front of him, however, she was still nervous, but she pretended to concentrate to hide her emotions. And he was still perceptive, to help her relax with a caring question.
– You weren’t too nervous to sleep last night, were you? Working with me requires 100% alertness and concentration. Remember to eat and sleep regularly.
The question made her pause for a few seconds. Last night, she had been tossing and turning, thinking about this position, keeping her awake all night. He realized that it was because her face was haggard and tired. She unconsciously raised her hand to touch her face. He smiled brightly again, and his next words seemed to comfort her, making her feel much better.
– Still very pretty, not because of your face, I guessed it was because of your nervousness. It’s okay, everyone who tries a new position has to be a little nervous. The important thing is to regain confidence by learning and improving every day, then your spirit will gradually relax, everything will be back to normal.
Yes, I know. Now, can you tell me if there are any unexpected events or other things that need attention today?
Understanding brought her calm back, she regained her concentration and the professional demeanor of a private secretary. She even stood diagonally to the side of the table, close to him, so he didn’t have to speak loudly for her to hear clearly.
The first week passed like a continuous cycle, but thanks to Ha’s dedicated teaching, Chi gradually got used to it in just a few days. She was closely followed the daily schedule, learned how to schedule appointments, organize documents, and respond to departments. Sometimes, she even skillfully handled delicate situations, such as a personal call in the middle of a meeting, or an unexpected meeting with a guest that was not in the plan. Ha was very pleased with Chi’s eagerness to learn and her focus, so she also devoted all her heart to teaching her, hoping that she would progress faster. She also often told her.
– I can only guide you through the simplest tasks, but later when you work beside him and are taught by him, you will progress very quickly. He has many things worth following.
And indeed, just by paying attention, Chi saw many admirable things about him. For example, his amazing composure. Even though his schedule was packed with meetings and paperwork piled up, he never raised his voice or rushed. Even when Chi accidentally left out an important file of documents on Wednesday, he only spoke softly.
– Next time, remember to check twice before leaving the room, if it is important, 3 or 4 times is better. Make neatness a habit even in the smallest tasks, that is the key to success, or at least when we fail, we do not have to blame ourselves.
Instead of blaming her to make her feel guilty, he gave her a gentle reminder and useful instructions for her whole life. She did not have to apologize profusely but bowed her head in gratitude. His generosity made Chi admire him from the bottom of her heart.
The more days she worked, the more she realized that he did not maintain a cold distance like many high-ranking people. On the contrary, he was strangely close, as if he had known her for a long time.
On Thursday, after hearing good news about the company’s financial situation, she and Ms. Ha were invited by him to enjoy his favorite tea.
In the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, Mr. Danh, wearing a light blue shirt with rolled up sleeves, busily warmed a pot of fragrant tea and poured it over a set of earthenware cups. His hair was dotted with silver threads, and his glasses were fogged up, but they could not hide his focused gaze at this moment.
Both Ha and Chi were absorbed in the rare peaceful scene. For Chi, it was perhaps a novelty when the new Boss shed his busy, pensive look at work, revealing a different, unfamiliar yet closer expression. As for Ha, this was like a habit of enjoying every West Lake Lotus season, but when she was about to say goodbye, she realized how much she missed this image.
– Lotus tea is like people, if you want to keep its soul, you have to be patient in brewing and waiting. And to show gratitude to the efforts of the person who makes this elegant and rich drink, you have to be even more meticulous.
It was not a sermon, but a light conversation between three companions, without any hierarchy. Then he poured each small cup of tea, his hands skillful, his eyes kind, and pushed the cup towards Chi first.
– West Lake lotus soaked with Shan Tuyet tea from over 300 years old, this is a perfect combination, try it. Don’t be shy, the tea is light and refreshing.
Chi took the cup of tea with both hands, softly thanked but did not drink it right away, waiting for Mr. Danh and Ms. Ha to raise their cups before drinking. The bitter taste at first did not make her like it very much, but in return the faint fragrance caressing around the palate of Sen and the tea was very pleasant, gentle, to her liking.
– West Lake Lotus Tea is brewed in the old way. Each lotus flower must be selected at dawn, when the scent is still tightly sealed in the petals. Cover tightly, then change the lotus rice 5 to 7 times, each time it is brewed for a whole day. That is why the lotus scent penetrates deeply, tightly intertwined with the tea leaves. Each sip has the feeling of the lotus scent wafting around the palate, combined with the sweet aftertaste of the carefully selected tea buds. So refreshing, khá…
His words guided the two girls’ tea to a more intense taste. Chi nodded, and Ha smiled, but her eyes were filled with sadness.
– Boss like that, who can bear to leave.
The atmosphere was a bit quiet until Mr. Danh changed the subject.
– It’s not like I’m leaving, I’m still accompanying you and supporting you but with a heavier responsibility, commensurate with my abilities. But let’s talk more closely, just a few days and I see that Chi has become more confident, the response letters from the departments are very detailed, answering directly to the point. If possible, let her take charge of more areas, spend time reading reports in the new workshop, then make a detailed plan for you. The situation there is still too chaotic, I’m not confident yet.
Ha regained her composure and nodded firmly. She knew he must have trusted her a lot to entrust her with such a great responsibility in a place that was considered the heart of the whole company. So to repay his trust, she had to try many times harder than before.
In the following days, Chi shared more tasks with Ha, sometimes she even brought the work home to do. Ha was also more enthusiastic in instructing, there were things that took her a long time to summarize, but whenever Chi had questions, she would use all her knowledge to teach her. Or there were days when she knew Chi brought work home late, she would still call at 1 or 2 am to ask, if she had any questions, she would not hesitate to answer until Chi understood clearly.
Chi was very grateful for her sister’s enthusiasm to help, but she also knew that she did not do those things for her. All the things she did were for Mr. Danh, perhaps she did not want her departure to leave such a big hole that his work would be difficult. Chi saw that her dedication went beyond that of a diligent employee, sometimes Chi saw that she considered him as a teacher. Her eyes were full of respect and admiration, sometimes sparkling with something more special that she had not yet defined.
Luckily, Chi also proved that she was worthy of her sister’s trust and did not spare the effort to teach. After the first week of being unsteady, in the following days, Ha only needed to assign tasks and Chi would complete them. The tasks also gradually increased in difficulty, from the beginning, only being responsible for arranging Mr. Danh’s work schedule, answering phone calls and letters, preparing meeting documents… etc. Now, Chi has more contact with monitoring the progress of departments to report back or more deeply, acting as a bridge between Mr. Danh and his subordinates, or supporting the drafting of notices and official documents.
Diligent, intelligent, not afraid of difficulties and supported by good teachers, Chi improved day by day. From the initial reply letters, both the sentences and words had to be edited to be gentle enough without appearing to be servile. Now, even the official documents she wrote had to be praised by Mr. Danh.
– Very good, you wrote very clearly and concisely, directly but not abruptly. Keep it up.
– Thank you, uncle. Ms. Ha just showed me this, I just followed.
– The new employee being able to keep up with Ms. Ha is enough to earn my praise. Let’s continue to work together better.
– Yes.
He left an encouraging smile with a fatherly gaze and turned away, and she was filled with joy. Being recognized by someone who was like a legend in the company was the surest confirmation that she was growing up day by day. Moreover, the feeling that welled up at that moment, she didn’t know what to call it, but she just wanted to see it again and again. Was it the feeling of finding a guide, or was it just because she was infatuated with smiles and eyes?