boyutpedia Chapter 33 Money is a woman's sense of security
Chapter 33 Money is a woman's sense of security
You chase after profits, while I'm busy making a living. Coincidences in this world are always carefully orchestrated accidents.
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The next morning, Zeng Jia arrived at the company on time, while Wang Haowen rushed off to the hospital to see his father.
Neither Zhang Zhishan nor Yu Li, those two troublemakers, showed up. The company was full of familiar faces; the two top operations executives chosen yesterday were nowhere to be seen today.
Zeng Jia was momentarily dazed. Was yesterday's farcical scene with Wang Haowen, which led her to the South Heaven Gate, real, or just a bizarre dream? Before she could figure it out, Dong Miaomiao fluttered over like a butterfly, her eyes burning with gossip: "I heard Assistant Wang has a thing for you? Really? Girl, you're not being fair! I tell you everything, but you're keeping it so secret!"
"Do you believe it?" Zeng Jia was doused with cold water and kicked the ball back.
"Whether I believe it or not is irrelevant, everyone else does!" Dong Miaomiao pouted. "Actually, Assistant Wang is handsome and well-built, and he's a real man from Beijing. You wouldn't lose out by dating him. Most importantly, his mother passed away early, so the family relationship is clean and there are no mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflicts."
"If it weren't for the fact that he's always surrounded by women, like a Jia Baoyu (a character from a classic Chinese novel), I would have snatched him away!"
Zeng Jia felt like she had a lump of pickled cabbage stuck in her throat, a mix of all sorts of flavors. Even the best relationships, when broken down and weighed under a microscope, would have a sour smell. "Don't talk nonsense, it's not true. Did President Yu's two big shots run a failed business? I haven't seen them." Zeng Jia steered the conversation back to the main topic.
Dong Miaomiao said with a hint of schadenfreude, "It's all over. One of them is still embroiled in a lawsuit with his former employer, and last night, General Manager Zhang sent the person's background check information directly to the HR group. Another one's onboarding has been delayed, and Director Wang got a severe scolding from General Manager Yu."
Zeng Jia suddenly realized that Zhang Zhishan was really serious. She casually pulled a limited-edition CHANEL lipstick from her bag and gave it to Dong Miaomiao: "This color makes me look like I just finished biting a dead child, it's horrible. But your skin is fair, it suits you perfectly."
Dong Miaomiao accepted it with a smile. She and Zeng Jia had a fairly good relationship, so this small favor was nothing to her.
Zeng Jia quickly buried herself in her work. Zhang Zhishan was going to Aranya the next day to attend an e-commerce industry summit, and she needed to arrange the accompanying personnel and vehicles, and coordinate the itinerary with the hotel. She ignored the winking and gossiping of her colleagues. Everything they said yesterday was meaningless, except for one sentence she remembered—money is a woman's only sense of security.
Wang Haowen has already left the hospital and is rushing to Anaya. Yu Li isn't going to attend an industry summit; she's suddenly organizing a glittering luxury salon there, and she wants it to be as grand as possible!
There's only one reason for choosing this place: a top-tier celebrity is filming here and staying on set. Chairman Zhao and that celebrity are close friends, and the celebrity agreed to come to the salon to show his support.
Things were urgent, and Wang Haowen was so busy he was practically running himself ragged. He was mobilizing resources, arranging materials, and getting everything ready – stage setup and security personnel all had to be in place. He wished he could do everything in his own hands. By the time everything was finally somewhat organized, it was already dawn. Watching the stage lights being adjusted, he suddenly slapped his forehead – he'd forgotten to inform Zeng Jia!
But looking at the time, it was already 4:30 in the morning. Sending a message and waking her up wouldn't be good, would it? Wang Haowen curled his lip. This girl was heartless enough; he wasn't home, and she didn't even bother to ask if he still cared about her.
When Zeng Jia woke up the next day, she reached out and touched the side; it was cold and empty.
Wang Haowen didn't come back all night?
The sheets weren't perfectly smooth, but she herself was a restless sleeper, tossing and turning like a pancake. She couldn't tell whether he hadn't come back at all, or had come back and left again.
But Zeng Jia didn't have time to think about it. She pulled out her suitcase and haphazardly stuffed a few presentable clothes into it. She was going to the summit in Anaya with Zhang Zhishan. It would take at least two hours to drive there from Beijing, and time was running out like squeezing toothpaste.
After a chaotic day, by the time Zeng Jianeng could catch his breath, the sun was already setting. The main forum of the summit had long since ended, and Zhang Zhishan and several directors were leisurely "brewing tea and discussing heroes" in the Garden Hotel, arguing about how to divide the big cake that had been raised.
Zeng Jia pricked up her ears, hoping to learn some valuable tips, when her phone rang. She glanced at it furtively and, sure enough, it was Wang Haowen: "I'm preparing for a salon event in Anaya. I can't go to the old man's place. Could you spare some time to go to the hospital tomorrow? The attending physician just called to have a chat."
Zeng Jia was taken aback. Anaya? She quickly tapped the screen with her finger and sent a location.
Wang Haowen's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he looked at his phone. How could they bump into each other like this? Was this some kind of idol drama? Without a second thought, he shared his real-time location. Their icons were only a hundred meters apart—could their luck get any worse?!
The two of them furtively followed the little arrow on their phones, slowly moving towards the center. Once they finally met, they quickly exchanged glances and found a quiet corner to whisper in each other's ears.
"Why didn't you say anything before you came? I thought you were performing a public service announcement!"
"You didn't say anything beforehand! I was dragged here at the last minute to attend the summit!"
"I came here last night. I stayed up all night, and it was too late when I wanted to text you." Wang Haowen pointed to his panda-like dark circles. He had just thought about giving her some eye drops last night when two workers got into an argument, and he rushed over to mediate.
"A salon? So urgent? Who has the audacity to ask?" Zeng Jia caught the key point.
"A top-tier celebrity, Wang Xiaoye. He has a huge fanbase, like a hornet's nest has been stirred up, so you don't even need to pay for headcount." Wang Haowen curled his lip.
Zeng Jia was speechless for a moment. Seeing his wilted appearance, she felt sorry for him. "Zhang Zhishan's schedule is uncertain. I probably won't be able to get back tomorrow. I can't go to your dad's place."
"Never mind, I'll call the doctor later and we'll talk about it when I get back." Wang Haowen had no choice; none of the other relatives were reliable, so he figured it was better to let the old man stay at the hospital for a couple more days of injections.
As the two were whispering to each other, a sudden commotion came from afar, and the noise sounded somewhat familiar.
They suddenly locked eyes. Seriously?! Two sworn enemies have run into each other?!
Yu Li never expected to run into Zhang Zhishan here. Yesterday, he ruined the two top operations staff she had selected, and she was still angry about it. Fortunately, she had signed the letter of intent for financing first, which was a way of turning the tables.
Upon seeing her "darling husband," she flashed a perfectly genuine smile and greeted him: "Oh my, you said you'd come to support me! You were keeping it a secret; this is such a surprise!"
Zhang Zhishan also put on a loving expression, his voice so sweet it could kill: "How could I miss my wife's event? The financing on both sides is secured, it's double happiness, we have to celebrate properly!"
"Of course we have to celebrate!" Yu Li smiled sweetly, with a hint of coquettishness. "I was planning to schedule a time after I got back from Anaya, but who knew we'd all end up here by chance?" She then changed the subject, adding a subtle barb, "But...didn't you hate fancy afternoon tea the most? Now you've changed your mind and are doing it too?"
"I should always learn to appreciate what you like; that's called loving the house because of its inhabitants." Zhang Zhishan replied smoothly, his eyes practically sticky with affection.
The two exchanged words, putting on a show of unwavering love. Yet, the struggle in their eyes never ceased, and both could tell that there was no "love" in the other's smile.
Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen had already quietly slipped back into the crowd behind their respective bosses, watching the show in silence.
At some point, Zeng Jia was no longer the invisible person next to Zhang Zhishan, and Yu Li noticed her at a glance.
"Secretary Zeng is here too? Today is for relaxation and entertainment, so don't hang out with these men. Join us women." Without waiting for Zeng Jia's nod, she looked directly at Zhang Zhishan. "I'm taking Secretary Zeng away from you today. You'll agree, won't you?"
Zeng Jia's head buzzed. This had nothing to do with her at all, so why did this out of nowhere start attacking her?
She was trying to figure out how to get rid of this hot potato when Zhang Zhishan agreed so readily, nodding his head as he made the decision. He even pulled Wang Haowen closer to him, saying, "You're right. Today, Secretary Zeng is with you, and Assistant Wang is with me. He's a guy who's always hanging out with you women; he must be getting really annoyed. He's better off hanging out with us men!"
Wang Haowen glanced at Zeng Jia with a sense of despair. Weren't they just like Peking ducks from Quanjude? Skin glistening, meat tender, and shiny with oil, but their fate was beyond their control.
Yu Li gave a forced smile, having guessed Zhang Zhishan's little scheme, and said, "Then Assistant Wang should learn more from President Zhang and seek advice from these senior colleagues."
"Zeng Jia, you should also learn how to hype up luxury goods. Let's learn and apply what we've learned right away," Zhang Zhishan earnestly advised.
Yu Li still had a smile on her face, didn't say a word of nonsense, and dragged Zeng Jia to the next table. Zeng Jia had no choice but to accept her fate and go over there to serve them.
She was used to being rough around the edges, and seeing Yu Li's place decorated with flowers and lush greenery, she was a little taken aback. The delicate pastries were arranged like miniature landscapes, the fruits were cut into exquisite pieces, and they were surrounded by a circle of bright and colorful flowers.
Then look at Zhang Zhishan's side, where they are brewing tea around a stove, the smoke is swirling around them, like a fairyland. On the table are loose melon seeds, ashtrays, and a few dishes of crumpled peanuts.
The contrast between the two is like comparing a wealthy lady's afternoon tea to an old man's card and chess room in a hutong—they're not even from the same level!
These two are actually a couple? How did they manage to get together?
Zeng Jia inwardly grumbled, but obediently stood in Wang Haowen's usual spot, listening to his orders. Although Yu Li had her by her side, she treated her like air, not even glancing at her. Yu Li continued discussing the future arrangements for the luxury goods line with several female directors; with the financing funds in hand, every penny had to be used to its fullest potential.
Zeng Jia stood there hoping to learn something valuable, but when she listened, she realized that "traffic," "super high premium," "identity label," "electronic collectibles," and "metaverse" were all just empty talk.
She initially thought Zhang Zhishan's "cut anyone he sees" approach was as slippery as an eel, like an old fox. Compared to that, Yu Li's side seemed even less reliable. Her words were sweeter than a lark's song, her flattery more dazzling than rainbow-colored praise, but it was all underhanded tricks. Zhang Zhishan's approach, while crude, was straightforward; he didn't do things in secret, and his desire for money was written all over his face!