Zhang Leshi
The weather was sweltering, like a sauna. You Jiale sat in his office, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, but beads of sweat still streamed down his forehead. His eyes were fixed on the cost budget table on the table, and he muttered to himself, "In this world, there really is no such thing as 'easy'..."
The business plan was finished, and the boss, Zhang Xiande, had finally given his approval, but there was a world of difference between "we can give it a try" and "it's officially approved." Thinking about this, You Jiale realized that the sweat on her forehead wasn't just from the heat.
"Assistant You, Boss Zhang wants to see you." There was a light knock on the office door; it was Secretary Li's voice.
"Here I am!" You Jiale jumped up from his chair as if he had been electrocuted, grabbed the folder on the table, and carried it out the door along with his enthusiasm and sweat-soaked thoughts.
Zhang Xiande's office remained quiet. Sunlight streamed through the gaps, casting a bright, golden line on the carpet. Zhang Xiande leaned back in his large chair, slowly lighting a cigarette. The swirling smoke obscured half of his face, making his expression unreadable.
"Come in." His voice was deep and carried an unquestionable tone.
"Boss!" As soon as You Jiale entered, she was like a completely different person, her face beaming with a smile as bright as a little sun. "You wanted to see me?"
Zhang Xiande took a drag of his cigarette, the cigarette butt between his fingers glowing and fading. Then he casually tossed the leather-bound notebook with its brass clasp onto the edge of the table with a "thud," and the notebook slid right into You Jiale's hands.
"Budget, manpower, site selection, suppliers... submit the first draft of the implementation report to me in a month. Then we can discuss the next steps."
"...A month?" You Jiale's voice suddenly rose half an octave, carrying a hint of disbelief. "That's impossible! You're just trying to make things difficult for me."
“Didn’t you say you could?” Zhang Xiande raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone tinged with coldness. “If you can’t, then just consider those novel ideas in your head as hallucinations caused by heatstroke.”
"...What a tyrannical ruler who only cares about himself." You Jiale muttered to himself, but dared not show it on his face. He sighed inwardly: In the Republican era, even if he were an original shareholder of Meituan from modern times, he would still have to start from the bottom by putting up posters.
"What did you say?" Zhang Xiande suddenly looked up at him again, his tone neither too loud nor too soft, "You're not convinced?"
"No!" You Jiale quickly straightened her face and looked at Zhang Xiande seriously. "Boss, I was just thinking that performing is too tiring, so how about... selling myself?"
Zhang Xiande raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Then you'll have to see if the Military Intelligence Bureau will take it in."
"Just kidding." You Jiale patted his chest, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.
"Alright...get out." Zhang Xiande waved his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Okay!" You Jiale turned and left, her feet moving quickly. Before leaving, she winked at Zhang Xiande, a hint of smugness in her eyes.
The moment the door closed, Zhang Xiande's lips curled slightly, and the smile in his eyes became even more pronounced. Only then did he slowly stub out his cigarette in the ashtray.
—
Not long after, Zhang Xiande had just finished approving a document and hadn't even lifted his eyelids when he saw You Jiale's figure loitering at the office door again.
"What's up?"
"I'm thinking about a name for our delivery brand." She walked a few steps to Zhang Xiande's desk, slammed two sheets of paper on the surface, and said, "Please decide from the following two candidates—"
He declared emphatically: "First, 'Zhang Leshi's Outbound Delivery'; second, 'Leji Outbound Delivery'!"
Zhang Xiande then raised his head, glanced at the two pieces of paper, and asked with a hint of doubt, "What's the difference between these two?"
"One is that we are a large, well-known joint venture group, which sounds impressive and has the feel of a powerful alliance. The other is that I am a small person saving the country through industry, which is down-to-earth and practical." You Jiale explained in a very logical way, almost to the point of gesturing. "The former is us, the latter is me. Boss, do you want to cooperate with me to create brilliance together, or do you want me to be remembered in history and admired by all?"
Zhang Xiande: "..." What kind of nonsense is this kid thinking about all day long?
"Let me tell you all about it." As You Jiale spoke, she consciously moved her chair closer to Zhang Xiande's desk, wishing she could sit next to him. "For example, 'Zhang Le's,' listen to that, doesn't it sound just like those national enterprises, with the steady and reliable spirit of an old brand, grand and with a sense of heritage? We can print your profile silhouette on the takeout packaging, the kind that's really stylish, and add a line of text—'Produced by Zhang's, Guaranteed Reliability,' guaranteed to make people feel trustworthy at first glance!"
Zhang Xiande raised an eyebrow, a strange glint in his eyes: "You want to print my image on takeout orders?"
"Absolutely! With your face on the team, our profits will definitely double! You're a living advertisement!" You Jiale was so excited, her eyes lit up. "If that's not enough, it's okay. If you think it's too high-profile, I also have 'Leji Delivery,' which focuses on being approachable and friendly. Lele delivers the food, and I guarantee it will arrive on time!"
“It sounds like a small restaurant.” Zhang Xiande’s tone remained calm, revealing no emotion.
“But it’s easy to remember!” You Jiale winked at Zhang Xiande, her face saying “you know what I mean.” “Leji, Leji, it’s so catchy, and a name that’s easy to pronounce is easier to raise a child with, don’t you think?”
Zhang Xiande leaned back in his chair, his fingers instinctively reaching for the cigarette pack. He slowly lit one, and amidst the swirling smoke, he looked at You Jiale with interest, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
Seeing that Zhang Xiande remained silent, You Jiale was a little unsure of his thoughts and couldn't help but ask cautiously, "...Boss, why aren't you saying anything?" What is this old fox thinking now?
Zhang Xiande exhaled a puff of smoke, white and hazy, as if it had tainted the air with an unfathomable meaning, and said in a calm tone, "Choose one you like."
Upon hearing this, You Jiale's eyes darted around, and she tentatively said, "Then I choose 'Zhang Le's'! Cooperation and win-win, sharing risks, it makes perfect sense, right?"
"Trying to take advantage of me?" Zhang Xiande glanced at him.
"What's wrong with taking a little something!" You Jiale shoved the business plan towards Zhang Xiande with a forceful push. "I figured out this whole model all by myself!"
Zhang Xiande leaned back, the leather chair creaking slightly. "Whatever your plans, I'll only fund this project; you'll bear the rest yourself." He paused for a few seconds, his tone still unhurried: "Choose 'Leji'."
You Jiale knew in his heart that this old fox was shrewd; he was only willing to let him mess around with this delivery business to see how it would turn out. If it succeeded, it would be entirely beneficial for Zhang Xiande; if it failed, he could simply walk away and find another way.
"Hmph," You Jiale said without hesitation, "If I really succeed in the future and become the number one food delivery brand in the country, you'd better not regret it."
Zhang Xiande gave a faint, unreadable smile and nodded casually. "We'll see."
What was Assistant You like before? Zhang Xiande wondered. He was meticulous and methodical, taciturn like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, his mind so deep you never knew what he was thinking. He was absolutely flawless in carrying out orders, but don't expect him to do anything outside his job description. In any situation, he was always impeccably proper, like someone solely there to serve others. Unlike this You Jiale, who exuded vitality and dared to challenge Zhang Xiande.
Which one is the real you? Zhang Xiande wondered to himself.
"Tsk, really not going to reconsider?" You Jiale, shameless as ever, suddenly leaned closer to Zhang Xiande as if he had no bones.
You Jiale knew very well that this man in front of him would be his protector for a long time to come. Gaining this man's trust would have to be done slowly and patiently.
"You only get one chance~ Once you submit the registration, you can't change the name. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" You Jiale said with a hint of seduction, her tone full of "thinking of you."
“No need.” Zhang Xiande glanced at him, his eyes filled with unquestionable authority, directly interrupting him.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Secretary Li stood at the door, his head almost buried in the ground, not daring to lift his eyelids. He whispered, "Boss, the time we agreed on with Director Li of the Railway Bureau is almost here. We should leave."
Secretary Li was Zhang Xiande's personal secretary, responsible for arranging his daily schedule and handling trivial matters. To Zhang Xiande, he was a capable errand boy. As for Secretary Li's fate, it was probably like an insignificant pebble thrown into the river of history, ultimately forgotten by everyone.
Ignoring Zhang Xiande's face, which was as black as ink, You Jiale slowly moved off the table, not forgetting to wink at Zhang Xiande with a smile before leaving the office with a hint of smugness.
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