I'm back in 1990

Chapter 695: Unfathomable Background

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The tranquility of the day at the Huaxia Bank Shanghai branch office building on the Bund was shattered by an internal email. The personnel department's notice of job adjustments, sent out early that morning, was almost abruptly concise, announcing the changes in a single line:

"Fei Song, a financial analyst in the Risk Management Department, has been transferred to the position of Assistant President of Huaxia Bank's Shanghai Branch, effective immediately!"

This email went directly to the inboxes of department managers and supervisors.

As the saying goes, the fewer the words, the bigger the story. This personnel appointment, made without warning, was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating a huge uproar at Huaxia Bank's Shanghai branch. From frontline employees to middle managers, everyone was shocked and bewildered. Even the branch's senior management was completely bewildered. Although, according to their authority, the branch manager had the right to appoint assistants without holding a special personnel meeting, they would usually give a heads-up beforehand to allow relevant personnel to prepare. But this time, there wasn't even a hint of warning!

Even more unbelievable is that the person who was promoted so swiftly was Fei Song, an ordinary financial analyst, which was unprecedented in the history of the Shanghai branch.

Fei Song, the protagonist of this incident, was completely unaware of it. Because there was no prior conversation or hint, he arrived at work on time as usual. However, he could sense that the atmosphere in the bank seemed a bit abnormal today.

Along the way, his colleagues, who were usually just nodding acquaintances and only had working relationships with him, all showed him unusually friendly smiles and even took the initiative to greet him warmly. Fei Song was a little confused by this sudden enthusiasm and could only nod blankly in response while hurrying towards the elevator. He was about to be late because the bus was too crowded today and he missed a bus.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, the person inside saw him and quickly reached out to press the open button: "Hey, Fei Song! Come in quickly!" His voice was filled with an unprecedented warmth.

"Thank you!" Fei Song said politely and squeezed into the elevator.

"You're welcome!" the other person said with a smile.

At that moment, someone greeted him: "Hello, Assistant Fei?"

Fei Song was taken aback and subconsciously looked around, completely unaware that the address was directed at him. It wasn't until he reached the seventh floor that he walked out, filled with suspicion.

As the time was about to expire, he hurried toward the Risk Management Department, preparing to return to his workstation. However, an even stranger scene unfolded: Tao, the head of the Risk Management Department, who was usually stern and unsmiling, greeted him with a beaming smile and stretched out his hands to him from a distance!

Fei Song was stunned. He subconsciously looked back to see if anyone was behind him.

Minister Tao, without waiting for a reply, firmly grasped his hand and shook it vigorously, his tone exaggeratedly excited: "Assistant Fei! I really didn't expect this! What a joyous occasion!" Then, he feigned reproach, chiding him: "Assistant Fei, you're too modest! It's always hard for us to get close to you. Don't be like that in the future; now that you're a leader, don't forget your old colleagues!"

Fei Song was completely bewildered: "Minister Tao, what's going on?"

Seeing Fei Song's reaction, Minister Tao immediately understood that this "lucky guy" was unaware that he had already risen to a high position! He was happy to do Fei Song a favor, so he lowered his voice and explained with a hint of mystery and ingratiation, "You don't know? The HR department sent out a notice early this morning! Our bank president has a keen eye and has specifically requested that you be transferred to the president's office as his assistant!"

Minister Tao enthusiastically invited Fei Song to his office to wait for the personnel department to come and complete the handover, but Fei Song insisted on refusing, wanting only to return to his familiar workstation. Seeing this, Minister Tao had no choice but to give up, but his enthusiasm remained undiminished.

When Fei Song returned to his workstation, he could feel the entire ventilation department's gaze focused on him. There was envy, curiosity, and disbelief among his colleagues, who gathered in twos and threes, whispering and glancing at him. They clearly couldn't understand why the bank manager's "unconventional" gaze would fall on this man.

Before Fei Song could even settle in, Shui Ziqin, who was sitting behind him, skillfully slid over in her computer chair, her eyes scanning him up and down like searchlights.

"Tell me the truth!" She leaned closer, her voice low but barely concealing her gossipy excitement. "What exactly is your relationship with the bank manager?"

"I want to know too!" Fei Song blurted out, his tone genuinely confused and bewildered.

Shui Ziqin stared at him for a few seconds. Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, she frowned and said, "You really don't know? Then is the bank manager out of his mind? He couldn't have just randomly picked someone from the roster and it just so happens to be you, could he?" Although she said that, she knew that the possibility was extremely slim.

Before they could figure it out, Yu Jie, the head of the branch's human resources department, personally led a human resources specialist into the risk management department.

"Oh, Minister Yu! How could you go to all this trouble for such a small matter?" Minister Tao immediately went up to greet him, his attitude extremely polite.

Yu Jie smiled and glanced around the office: "How could I dare to neglect something the bank president personally instructed me to do over the phone?" Her tone was relaxed, but the weight in her words made Minister Tao's heart suddenly tighten.

"Is that Fei Song?" Yu Jie asked.

"This way! I'll take you there, it's over there, just over the third pillar." Minister Tao hurriedly led the way.

"Oh, Minister Tao, you're too kind. We can go by ourselves," Yu Jie said politely, but she didn't stop walking.

"Of course, of course!" Minister Tao said with a smile.

The three of them quickly arrived at Fei Song's workstation. Fei Song had already stood up, but he looked flustered.

With a friendly smile, Yu Jie extended her hand, "Assistant Fei, I'm sure you've already heard about the personnel adjustment notice? The bank manager specifically asked me to inform you." She paused, then added gently, "The bank manager is in a meeting at the Beijing headquarters these days, so you don't need to rush. I'll give you a few more days to properly hand over your work. If there's anything at home that needs to be taken care of, you can also arrange it these next few days."

"Thank you, Minister Yu! Nothing's wrong at home!" Fei Song quickly waved his hand, trying to calm his inner unease.

Yu Jie's smile deepened: "If there's nothing else, it would be good to rest at home for a couple of days after the handover and adjust. The bank manager specifically instructed that you shouldn't feel pressured, and that you can talk to me anytime if you encounter any difficulties at work or in life." She took out her phone and took the initiative to exchange contact information with Fei Song.

Minister Tao, standing to the side, was practically wide-eyed with astonishment. This wasn't just hiring an assistant; the way they were taking care of him was like arranging a job for their own nephew! But something still didn't seem right. Fei Song had been here for so long; if they had this connection, why was Cao Ping the one who got the professional title this time?

After exchanging numbers, Yu Jie offered Fei Song a few more words of encouragement before leaving with the specialist.

Fei Song stood there dumbfounded. What had happened today was so surreal that he hadn't recovered yet.

Shui Ziqin slid over again, tugged at his sleeve, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Hey! Fei Song, oh no, I should say Assistant Fei! If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me! You'll have to look after me when you're promoted!"

Fei Song didn't reply, but sat back down heavily in his chair. This whole thing was strange from beginning to end, and he needed to sort it out carefully. The first person he thought of was his senior sister, Sheng Lei! Thinking of this, he suddenly stood up again, grabbed his phone, and hurried to the stairwell of this floor.

Meanwhile, on another floor of the branch building, Cao Ping stormed into the office of her uncle, Vice President Cao Zhenguo, looking indignant.

"Uncle!" She didn't even knock on the door, her voice filled with obvious grievance and dissatisfaction, "That Fei Song! What makes him qualified to be the bank manager's assistant?!"

Cao Zhenguo was looking at documents when his niece's sudden intrusion and questioning made him frown. He looked up, his face stern, and said, "This is working hours! Remember your place! Is this something you should be concerned about or asking about? Do your job well! Don't pry into things you shouldn't be asking, understand?"

Cao Ping was taken aback by Cao Zhenguo's attitude, but her jealousy and worry did not subside. She could not bear to see Fei Song rise so quickly, and she was even more afraid that he would find an opportunity to retaliate against her after becoming the bank's assistant.

Seeing his niece's unconvinced expression, Cao Zhenguo shook his head inwardly. Having been in the workplace for many years, he knew that the more illogical and unexpected an appointment seemed, the more unfathomable the background might be. That was why he had to sternly rebuke Cao Ping for her ignorance.