Chapter 79: Unexpected New Staff Meeting

When Chen Yang arrived at the rented house where Chen Chunmei's family lived, his cousin Zhao Qian was comfortably curled up in bed, immersed in a sweet dreamland. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she were having a lovely dream.

Chen Yang thought she often complained about lack of sleep in high school, so he didn't want to disturb her. Anyway, he had plenty of time today, so he decided to go to the supermarket to help out.

When Chen Yang arrived at the supermarket in Sunshine Garden Community, there were already many customers picking out goods. He habitually greeted the on-duty Zhao Donghai and Zhong Lin, then went to help tidy the shelves. Just as he was working hard, he suddenly heard a slightly familiar voice behind him.

"Boss?" The voice was clear and icy, with a hint of uncertainty.

Chen Yang looked up and saw that it was Luo Xue, the new HR person at his own company, Baixing Agricultural Products Trading Co., Ltd.

"Luo Xue, how did you come here?"

"Boss, didn't you say you had important matters to attend to? Is this what you called important?" Luo Xue said, surprised with a hint of dissatisfaction. The company's first high-level meeting, and as the boss Chen Yang actually missed it. The reason for his absence was actually doing odd jobs in an ordinary small supermarket.

Chen Yang was caught red-handed, feeling a bit embarrassed. He explained: "I've finished my business. I just came by to hang out with family and help out with some chores."

"Is this supermarket also yours?" Luo Xue asked, then immediately felt her question was redundant. When she arrived, Manager Liu downstairs at the company had already said this supermarket was run by Chen Yang's family. She had to change the subject: "I came with Anna and the others to check out the new dormitory."

Chen Yang was a bit surprised; he had only mentioned the rental in passing and hadn't told Shen Anna the exact address. He hadn't expected them to find it so easily.

"How did you know the address?"

"It was Manager Liu from the downstairs Sunshine Real Estate who had someone bring us here."

"Then let me show you around!" Chen Yang hadn't expected them to go look for Liu Shijie. Since they had come, as the landlord and boss he naturally had the duty to act as a guide.

"Let me buy some water first," Luo Xue said, not forgetting her purpose for coming to the supermarket. She quickly grabbed six bottles of ice mineral water from the upright freezer at the entrance. As she was about to pay, Chen Yang stopped her.

"Don't worry about the money; consider it my treat."

"Then can I also take some snacks?"

"Sure!" Faced with Luo Xue's pushy little request, Chen Yang readily agreed.

Luo Xue quickly ran to the snack aisle and grabbed a few packs of her favorite snacks.

Chen Yang greeted Zhao Donghai, asking him to tell Zhao Qian to postpone the shopping trip for a while. Then, holding the mineral water, he led Luo Xue out of the supermarket.

Shen Anna was chatting with new colleagues at the entrance of Sunshine Garden Community when she saw Chen Yang and Luo Xue walking out of the supermarket together, also looking surprised.

"Boss, what are you doing here?"

"He's doing odd jobs in the supermarket, and I caught him red-handed." Before Chen Yang could defend himself, Luo Xue answered first.

Shen Anna felt both amused and exasperated. It seemed Chen Yang really intended to be an absentee boss, preferring to stay in his family's supermarket rather than go to the company.

"Won't you introduce the new colleagues?" Chen Yang glanced at the four people beside Shen Anna—three women and one man, roughly the same age, all around thirty.

The three women were all attractive. The first woman was tall and slim, wearing a floral dress that fluttered in the breeze like a light swallow; the second woman was somewhat plump, with a chubby round face that gave off a sense of cuteness and approachability; the third woman wore glasses, was short in stature, and exuded a strong scholarly air.

As for the man, he looked like an honest and simple fellow. About 1.7 meters tall, with a square face, wearing glasses, he stood quietly beside the four female colleagues.

Shen Anna said to the four of them: "Please introduce yourselves!"

"Boss, I'm Zhao Xiao Xiao; please look after me!" The tall woman was the first to shake hands with Chen Yang.

"Boss, I'm Qin Qin; please look after me!" The somewhat plump woman also shook hands with Chen Yang.

"Boss, I'm Qian Duo Duo; please look after me!" The woman with glasses did not shake hands with Chen Yang, but politely bowed instead.

When it came to the male colleague with glasses, he merely lowered his head and softly greeted Chen Yang: "Boss, I'm Luo Hao, I work with computers."

Chen Yang wondered where Shen Anna had met such an introverted friend. But computer talent was exactly what he needed most. He patted Luo Hao on the shoulder and encouraged him: "Work hard; I hope you can become a key member of the company."

Seeing Chen Yang value only Luo Hao, Zhao Xiao Xiao felt a bit jealous. "Boss, that's unfair! Are we not important to the company?"

Chen Yang laughed: "Just by standing there, you're the company's best front‑representatives—how could you not be important?"

Zhao Xiao Xiao pouted and said: "So in the boss's eyes, we're just ornaments."

Chen Yang smiled: "I'd rather you all had outstanding abilities and together make the company grow strong."

Hearing that she would also be valued, Zhao Xiao Xiao finally satisfied, showed a smile.

Seeing everyone had finished introductions, Shen Anna urged Chen Yang to take them to view the rooms.

Chen Yang's keys were at home. However, the apartment where Chen Chunmei's family lived on the twelfth floor was under renovation, and the whole floor had no locked doors. So he brought everyone up to the twelfth floor.

The water and electricity in Chen Chunmei's three‑bedroom unit were already done, with workers laying floor tiles. Chen Yang then let everyone view his two‑bedroom unit next door.

After walking around, Shen Anna was very satisfied with the apartment's layout. "The lighting is good, the air circulates well, the outside view is nice, and it should be comfortable to live in. Let's rent this as our dormitory!"

Chen Yang gave her a sideways glance and retorted impatiently: "Anna, what are you thinking? This is the new home where I live with my wife Lin Wei. If you want to stay, go upstairs or downstairs—every floor has the same layout."

Shen Anna thought for a moment and said: "Then let's rent the eleventh floor! What do you all think?" After speaking, she looked at Luo Xue and the others.

"I have no objections; having a place to live is enough." Luo Xue said lightly, as her housing demands weren't high.

"I have no objections either. But..." Zhao Xiao Xiao whispered to Shen Anna: "Can I have a room to myself?"

Shen Anna felt a bit embarrassed. "I can't decide that; you need to ask the boss."

Zhao Xiao Xiao immediately turned to Chen Yang. "Boss, what do you think?"

Seeing everyone looking at him with expectant eyes, Chen Yang immediately nodded in agreement.

"No problem. Then we'll rent the whole eleventh floor and assign each person a room."

"Great, thank you, boss!"

"Thank you, boss!"