Thanks to Sophie's diligence, her willingness to work hard, and her proactive attitude despite colleagues' exclusion and work pressure, the entire office gradually began to accept her. She never complained about tedious tasks, handled every assignment with meticulous care, and for those scapegoat-prone jobs, she learned to prepare thoroughly in advance. She also politely sought advice from the company's senior colleagues.
Many seasoned veterans were willing to offer her tips during breaks and started engaging with her more.
"Finish it in three days. Detailed, accurate, no mistakes allowed." Ned suddenly tossed a partnership proposal onto Sophie's desk without explaining its purpose. His icy, arrogant tone made her shiver involuntarily.
Staring at the report, she felt her brain wasn't enough. The document was packed with jargon—obscure and hard to grasp. She had no idea where to start and could only grit her teeth, poring over it word by word. In her mind, she grumbled, He's a work machine—no, a devil.
"The client's info and demands are so complicated—I'm getting dizzy. And these figures… are they even right? One wrong move and I'm screwed." Frowning, she muttered to herself.
The sheer volume of data shattered her expectations. She never imagined C&C's clients had such bizarre, intricate requirements. What seemed like a simple partnership case kept her swamped—computer files, archived documents, and special conditions only the veterans knew about. She worked overtime until 11:30 p.m. and still only finished a third of the data.
Ned, also staying late, grabbed his car keys, turned off the office lights, and prepared to head home. Passing the employee area, he noticed a dim yellow glow. Approaching, he saw Sophie still buried in a mountain of files.
"It's late. Get home safely." As the boss, he offered a reasonable parting remark, then left the office.
After three straight days of overtime, Sophie finally completed the task, double-checked everything, and had Hebe submit it to the boss for review. This was the first formal assignment the GM had personally given her. Full of hope, she longed for his approval.
When Ned received the report and flipped through it, he immediately sensed how detailed it was. Every detail was spot-on, and most importantly, she had woven in her own summaries and suggestions—practical and highly feasible. Recalling the dim yellow light glowing at her desk for three straight nights, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Using the report alongside the market department's PPT presentation model, Ned promptly convened a C&C executive meeting to set the next quarter's priorities and market focus.
After the meeting, Ned was in an unusually good mood. When colleagues jokingly proposed a team-building outing, he actually approved it, citing "a celebration for Sophie."
The moment the news was announced, the entire company erupted in excitement. Colleagues' attitudes toward Sophie shifted dramatically—from exclusion and disdain to admiration and envy.
If the partnership plan rolled out smoothly, it would bring C&C substantial profits, and next quarter's bonuses would surely double.
Watching the now-confident Sophie in the office area, Ned couldn't help but see her in a new light. He hadn't expected this once-overlooked rookie to make such remarkable progress in such a short time. Picking up the internal phone, he summoned her to his office.
"Sophie, this report is thorough and excellent." He looked at her, a rare glint of approval in his eyes.
Sophie was stunned and flustered. "Boss, thank you for giving me this chance. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help."
"No need to be modest. I've seen your effort and growth." Ned fixed his gaze on her. "From now on, you're officially my assistant. No more miscellaneous tasks from the office pool. Starting tomorrow, your desk moves next to Hebe's."
Sophie's heart soared. She hadn't expected her hard work to finally be recognized. Overjoyed, she said, "Boss, thank you! I'll keep giving my best."
The day of the C&C team-building event finally arrived, with the theme "Everyone Climb the Mountain Together."
Sophie wore a pink athletic skirt and tied her hair into two bouncy ponytails, looking youthful and lively.
"Ned, Sophie, wait for me! You two heartless people didn't even tell me about the team-building. How could something this fun happen without Archibald?" Dressed in a gray-blue hoodie, Archibald hurried out of his sports car. Lately, he'd been dropping by C&C whenever he had nothing to do, claiming he was catching up with his buddy Ned, but really he was there to tease Sophie. He'd toss playful remarks at the girls in the office to liven things up, so it was no surprise he always knew what was going on at C&C.
During the hike, Sophie stayed at the front, with Archibald and Ned trailing behind at an easy pace. She kept shouting, "Come on! We're almost at the top—it's just ahead!"
But before long, she was panting heavily, her steps slowing.
Seeing her like this, Archibald quickened his pace and teased, "Sophie, you holding up? Don't give up now—we're not even at the summit."
Sophie pouted. "Archibald, don't underestimate me. I will make it to the top."
With that, she sped up again. But after just a few steps, she misstepped and nearly tumbled. Ned, quick as a flash, grabbed her arm and said with concern, "Careful—don't fall."
Archibald rushed over, but Ned had beaten him to it. He hesitated, unsure whether to reach out.
Sophie looked into Ned's worried eyes, her heart suddenly racing. Her face flushed, and she quickly said, "Thank you, boss. I'm fine."
From that moment on, Ned's care for Sophie grew. At work, he patiently guided her. At lunch, he'd deliberately wait to go with her. When they worked late, he'd drive her home, saying, "I'm a gentleman—it's the least I can do to see a lady home at night."
Sophie gradually sensed that Ned treated her differently, and tiny flutters stirred in her heart.
Meanwhile, Archibald, who often popped into the office, would bring Sophie little snacks and tease her playfully. He was slowly falling for the bubbly, soft-spoken girl. But seeing Ned and Sophie grow closer left him a bit dejected. Deep down, he couldn't believe that Ned—who seemed to almost dislike women—could actually fall for Sophie.