Chapter 324 It Won’t Be Easy to Understand Her

Chapter 324: Getting to Know Her Might Not Be So Simple

The overall progress of the new factory was only about one-fifth complete. The first phase, including the canteen and dormitories, was just barely usable.

Plenty of details still needed work.

They parked close to the temporary meeting room. With limited time, that was all the useful info Xiao Lu had.

Though Su Taotao hadn’t met him yet, combined with Secretary Zhao’s phone call, she already had a clear picture of this Secretary Zhang.

Young, handsome, good-natured, capable, got along with her, skilled at cooking… and even willing to stoop to transfer to their uncertain future factory as secretary.

It wasn't that Su Taotao was imagining things, but based on her years of reading novels, this seemed like the perfect supporting male lead tailored for the female protagonist—no other reason for such a character setup.

However, due to her choices differing from the original protagonist’s, the current plot had deviated significantly from the original book. She still hadn’t met the fated partner who was supposed to end up with the original protagonist, but he didn’t seem to have the surname Zhang.

She'd read too carelessly—she genuinely had no recollection whatsoever of this "Secretary Zhang."

But did it even matter? She’d handle whatever came her way and carry on as usual.

Su Taotao put Chenchen down and gave him a firm kiss.

The little boy, absorbed in his blocks, widened his eyes at her: "Mama, what's wrong?"

Su Taotao kissed him again, mimicking his tone: "Love Chenchen so much."

Finally cheered up, the child closed his eyes and kissed her back: "I love Mama too."

"But Mama thinks you might love Daddy a little more." Su Taotao put on a slightly hurt expression.

Chenchen quickly shook his head, his carefully practiced Mandarin slipping back into his childish accent:

"Nooo, Chenchen loves Daddy and Mama same much."

Su Taotao laughed. "Mama knows, just teasing you."

"Sis Su, Secretary Zhang's arrived," Xiao Lu whispered as a reminder.

Su Taotao stopped teasing Chenchen and followed Xiao Lu’s gaze.

The man before her looked vaguely familiar, as if she’d seen him somewhere before. Suddenly she remembered—

That officer who'd come to Qinglian Village with Ming Lang to arrest the criminal!

But what was his name again?

Zhang Jingan looked at the mother and son with a gentle smile. "Hello, Director Su. Do you remember me? I’m Zhang Jingan."

Zhang Jingan.

Su Taotao finally recalled—he was the Zhang Jingan who had come to Qinglian Village with Ming Lang.

She put Chenchen down and extended her hand. "'Absence makes the heart grow fonder,' as they say. Should I address you as Officer Zhang or Secretary Zhang?"

Zhang Jingan glanced at her hand, hesitated briefly, then shook it lightly before letting go.

"Whichever you prefer."

Xiao Lu realized, looking back and forth between them. "You two know each other?"

Before Su Taotao could answer, Zhang Jingan said, "We were neighbors years ago. It's understandable if Director Su doesn't remember me after so long."

Now it was Su Taotao's turn to be surprised. "Neighbors?"

Zhang Jingan replied, "We grew up in the same neighborhood as kids, but I was several years older than you. You mostly played with Xu Jiadong and his sister back then, so we rarely interacted."

Xu Jiadong? Su Taotao paused—that name rang even more familiar.

Ah, right. Xu Jiadong—that was the name of the original host's childhood sweetheart!

Su Taotao was completely at a loss. If this childhood sweetheart counted as the second male lead, then this Zhang Jingan before her… was he some sort of connection between her and the second male lead?

"Are you still in touch with Xu Jiadong?" Zhang Jingan continued.

Su Taotao thought with a mental sigh. See? Just as expected. What was bound to come had arrived.

"No. I’d almost forgotten about him until you mentioned him. Xiao Lu!"

At Su Taotao's sudden call, Xiao Lu snapped to attention, almost saluting. "Here!"

Su Taotao took Chenchen's hand and headed toward the meeting room. "Have you filled Secretary Zhang in on our factory’s situation yet?"

She had no interest in reminiscing, much less in second male leads or connections.

Xiao Lu nodded earnestly. "Yes, I’ve walked him through the basics, he’s reviewed the materials, and we’ve done a quick walkthrough."

Su Taotao nodded. "Good."

She turned to glance at Zhang Jingan, only to lock eyes with his searching look.

Su Taotao hesitated momentarily. Why was he looking at her like that?

After so many years apart, he shouldn’t know who she is now, right?

But whatever. Even if God himself came down, she was still Su Taotao.

"Secretary Zhang, is there anything else you’d like to know?"

Zhang Jingan was indeed studying her. The Su Taotao before him was completely different from the one in his memories—complete opposites.

She still had the same siren-like beauty, but her eyes no longer held that seductive charm. Instead, they shone with honest resolve, making her appear both polished and competent—a far cry from the Su Taotao who once used her looks to get what she wanted.

In truth, he’d felt this way the first time he saw her on the bus leaving Qinglian Village.

Now, that impression was even more pronounced.

How could a person change so much?

"Secretary Zhang?" Xiao Lu nudged his arm lightly.

Zhang Jingan gave a slight nod. "Apologies. I didn’t sleep well last night, so my mind wandered."

"Is there anything else you’d like to learn about?" Su Taotao asked again.

Once everyone was seated, Zhang Jingan asked some industry-specific questions.

Su Taotao responded to each in kind.

"Once staffing is in place and the factory committee is established, the production and sales operations will be handled by myself and the two Deputy Factory Managers."

"The Party affairs and trade union matters will be handed over to you. The disciplinary inspection work is equally important and requires your supervision and guidance."

Su Taotao’s words practically sidelined him.

She might as well have spelled it out: supervision and guidance were fine, but participation in production, sales, and internal management was unnecessary—just focus on handling Party affairs and the trade union properly.

Su Taotao expected Zhang Jingan to argue, but to her surprise, he merely smiled faintly and said, "I’ll follow Director Su’s arrangements. ‘Supervision and guidance’ is a bit much—let’s just work together and figure things out."

What kind of impression did Zhang Jingan give Su Taotao?

Too calm, almost unnervingly detached, like he was above it all.

No matter how easygoing someone is, they wouldn’t be entirely devoid of emotions. Su Taotao noticed that apart from his brief moment of distraction earlier, Zhang Jingan’s mood remained remarkably stable.

Honestly, he was perfect secretary material.

Su Taotao checked her watch and asked, "Xiao Lu, anything else to add?"

Xiao Lu shook his head. "Nothing, Sis Su."

Su Taotao nodded. "Let’s end here for today. We’ve got time—feel free to communicate anytime. If there are difficulties, look for Xiao Lu. If he can’t resolve them, go to Secretary Zhao."

The subtext was clear: Don’t expect favors just because we’re from the same hometown—I won’t bail you out.

Su Taotao wanted nothing to do with anyone connected to that so-called childhood friend.

Xiao Lu chuckled. "No worries, Sis Su. I’ve got Secretary Zhang covered. Got any plans after this? How about lunch together?"

Su Taotao shook her head. "I need to take half a day off. I won’t be eating here."

"Sis Su actually taking time off? That’s new," Xiao Lu remarked.

Su Taotao ignored his comment. "You’ve got this. You know where to find me. Excuse me."

She gave Zhang Jingan a polite but distant nod.

"’Kay, Mama~"

The kid, still stacking blocks, looked up at Zhang Jingan, then at Su Taotao. "Okay, Mama~"

……

Maybe Zhang Jingan imagined it, but after mentioning Xu Jiadong, Su Taotao shut him out even harder.

This version of Su Taotao was so decisive it threw him for a loop.

Zhang Jingan watched the mother and son walk away and smiled faintly. Figuring her out wouldn’t be simple.