After finishing his business at the bank, Chen Zhe went to Linglong Club again. He learned that many fans in the live broadcast room had been asking about Xu Renshan, wondering why he wasn't coming to the live broadcast. He also heard Wu Yuanyuan say that some people had started imitating Xu Renshan, and she was worried that his traffic would be stolen by others. Chen Zhe told her not to worry, that he had already arranged things, and that Xu Renshan wouldn't be coming during this period. He told them that they just needed to do their jobs.
After giving his instructions, he rushed to Silin Group and stayed there until evening. Only after everyone had left work did he pack up and leave.
By this time, the moon had risen high in the sky, and the barbecue street nearby was already bustling with people leaving get off work.
They've started enjoying the nightlife.
Zhang turned on the car lights, and after Chen Zhe got in, he said, "Mr. Chen, why do I feel like you, as a CEO, are busier than those office workers?"
As Chen Zhe's driver, Zhang Kai knew best how hard Chen Zhe worked. Every time he went to pick him up for work, Chen Zhe would always get up earlier than him and wait for him downstairs. Zhang Kai never had to urge him once. But when he picked Chen Zhe up from get off work, the situation was reversed. Chen Zhe was always the last one to get off work. Zhang Kai didn't understand why Chen Zhe, who had already reached such a position, was still working like a workaholic. Shouldn't he be able to relax a bit now that he had money?
“Brother Zhang, you’ve worked hard following me. It’s really not appropriate to ask you to accommodate my off-get off work hours.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Kai quickly shook his head. "No, no, Mr. Chen, please don't misunderstand. I don't mean to say I feel tired. I just see you working hard and I'm worried about you. I'm afraid your body can't take it."
"Haha, it's okay, I'm used to it."
When Chen Zhe was the manager of Linglong Club in the North District, he only slept three or four hours a day. At first, he couldn't keep up, but he gradually got used to it, so much so that he doesn't feel very tired even with his current workload.
"Mr. Chen, I really don't understand. I've met some big bosses before, but none of them work as hard as you. They all relax after work, but I've never seen you have such a hobby."
People say that work and rest should be balanced.
But Zhang Kai only saw hard work and no rest in Chen Zhe's life. He was like a tireless spinning top, constantly turning without ever taking a break.
“Brother Zhang, I’m different from them. I climbed up from the bottom. To tell you the truth, I’m more afraid of going back to my old way of life than of physical exhaustion.”
Because of his hard work, he won the favor of the client and gained Hu Ling's approval, thus gaining some value. Since he had no background, he could only make himself more and more important. When Hu Ling wanted to find someone to replace him, he had to hesitate.
Therefore, Chen Zhe dared not slack off, fearing that if he did, he would become someone who could be replaced at any time.
Zhang Kai couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at Chen Zhe; "President Chen, you are truly remarkable. When I was learning to drive, I already felt that I was working very hard, but compared to your current state, I feel that I am still far behind."
"Brother Zhang, you're amazing too, I admire you a lot..."
The two genuinely admired each other, and time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Chen Zhe had returned to his apartment.
...
As Chen Zhe expected, Hu Ling indeed asked about Xu Renshan.
"Why did you bring Xu Renshan to the bank? Didn't I tell you to give him up?"
“Sister Hu, I originally planned to give up on him, but then I thought that if we let him go, we would be at a disadvantage when other companies try to poach him. So after thinking it over, I decided to do him a favor and help him get an investment from the bank so that he can start his own company.”
"Um?"
Hu Ling put down her book and looked at Chen Zhe.
"You're letting him start a company? You're supporting his entrepreneurial endeavors?"
“Sister Hu, I’m just doing him a favor, not supporting him. There are two benefits to doing this. One is that he will be grateful to me, which means he will be grateful to Linglong Club. The other is that compared to him going to other established companies to be a live streamer, he will pose less of a threat to us in a newly opened company.”
Hu Ling quickly understood the reasoning behind it and couldn't help but nod.
"This approach works too..."
"And this, take a look."
Chen Zhe took out a document from his bag and placed it in front of Hu Ling.
Hu Ling picked it up and took a look;
"Mountain and Dream Network Technology Co., Ltd...shares? Hmm? 5%? What's that?"
“This was a gift from Xu Renshan. I helped him establish connections with Donghai Bank, and he was very grateful to me, so he gifted me 5% of the shares, which I put under the name of Linglong Club.”
Hu Ling looked at Chen Zhe with some surprise; "You mean, this is for me?"
Chen Zhe nodded; "I work for Sister Hu, so this thing naturally belongs to Sister Hu."
Hu Ling held the share transfer agreement in her hand, her eyes fixed on Chen Zhe, her admiration almost overflowing.
[This kid has changed so much. I didn't even ask, and he took the things out on his own. Maybe I shouldn't doubt him like this anymore, and should give him more trust.]
Thinking of this, Hu Ling put down what she was holding, stood up and went back to her room, then took out a thick stack of documents and placed them in front of Chen Zhe.
"Take a look at these things."
Chen Zhe picked up one of the documents and began to read it. Sure enough, his previous suspicions were correct. Hu Ling had many businesses, including investment companies, real estate companies, food companies, technology companies, and even energy companies...
These companies are different from those I saw in the Linglong Club office before. In the past, Hu Ling only held shares in those companies, but these companies truly belong to her. However, the name is slightly different; the name of the company is Hu Ling.
Hu Ling began to explain.
“I have two identities. My original name was Hu Ling, which is the Ling you see now. Later, when I grew up, a fortune teller came to my grandfather and said that this name was not suitable for me, so I changed it. That’s how I became Hu Ling. Although my name was changed, I can still use this identity. Most of my assets are here. Chen Zhe, I am very satisfied with your performance today. I will need your help with these companies in the future. Don’t worry, I am not a stingy person. As long as you are loyal to me, I will not treat you unfairly. You can choose one of these companies and I will transfer it to you.”
Hu Ling was serious when she said that, and Chen Zhe could tell she wasn't joking.
However, Hu Ling's unusual generosity made Chen Zhe uneasy. It was true that this woman believed him now, but he had lied to her. Xu Renshan had pledged 35% of the shares in the company to the bank, and Mu Wanzhi had transferred those 35% shares to him in a different way.
Xu Renshan and Guan Xiaomei were unaware of this, and they even gifted 5% of their shares to Chen Zhe.
Xu Renshan and Guan Xiaomei each took 30%.
To prove his loyalty to Hu Ling, he transferred the 5% equity stake to Linglong Club.
In fact, he is the largest shareholder of Mountain and Dream Company, a fact known only to him and Mu Wanzhi.
Hu Ling and Mu Wanzhi were at odds, and Mu Wanzhi believed Hu Ling was dead, so she would never reveal this information. But what if Hu Ling found out one day? Given that woman's personality, if she knew she had betrayed her, she certainly wouldn't let her off the hook.
Chen Zhe had already planned to gradually distance himself from Linglong Club and Hu Ling's side, so he hesitated for a moment and then refused Hu Ling's gift.
Hu Ling was very confused by this; "Chen Zhe! You need to think this through. My gift to you is unconditional. I'm giving it to you for free, and you don't want it?"
Hu Ling couldn't understand why Chen Zhe wouldn't accept what she was giving him for free. Was he really stupid? Even if it was loyalty, there was no need to be this loyal. It was given to him for free, without any conditions.
“Sister Hu, I really don’t want it. I’m already very satisfied to be by your side. These companies are important assets for you to fight against the government in the future. You have already given me so much. I can’t be so greedy.”
Hu Ling looked at Chen Zhe as if he were a ghost. For the first time in her life, the truth she believed in was shaken. From childhood, her grandfather and parents had instilled in her the idea that profit was paramount. What could drive a person to act was the word "profit." She had never met a person who didn't care about profit.
She believes in self-interest. When she interacts with people, she talks about self-interest. She owes her current wealth to self-interest. She doesn't believe that anyone is unmoved by self-interest; if someone is, it must be because the self-interest offered is not enough.
[He thinks I didn't give him enough?]
Hu Ling hesitated for a moment, then made a crucial decision: "Two companies! You can choose any two; if you pick one, I'll give it to you unconditionally!"
Chen Zhe shook his head. He was indeed tempted, but he was afraid that he might earn the money but not live to spend it. He didn't want to be so deeply tied to Hu Ling anymore, so he refused.
Hearing that Chen Zhe still rejected her, Hu Ling felt a surge of anger.
"Three companies!!! I'll give you three!! If you choose well from these three companies, you can easily join the ranks of billionaires. I don't believe you won't be tempted!!"
Is your heart fluttering?
Chen Zhe was really tempted. He really wanted to agree, but his remaining rationality told him that he couldn't agree, because once he did, there would be no turning back.
"Sister Hu, I really don't want it. You've already given me enough."
Chen Zhe's repeated rejections made Hu Ling feel uneasy. The people around her were all driven by self-interest, including A Bao, who had always been with her. A Bao's family was now in her hands, so she believed that A Bao would not betray her. But what about Chen Zhe?
Why does he not want anything by his side?
Why does he not want his own things?
[He'll take Chen Si's things, so why won't he take mine?]
Hu Ling felt hurt and even fell into deep self-doubt.
Chen Zhe had no idea she was thinking so much; he simply didn't want to remain so deeply involved with Hu Ling.
"Sister Hu, if there's nothing else, I'd like to go to sleep."
Hu Ling didn't say anything, and Chen Zhe took it as agreement, so he went back to his room on his own.
After Chen Zhe closed the door, Hu Ling suddenly woke up.
She looked at Chen Zhe's door.
[I couldn't possibly be worse than Chen Si. His refusal to accept my things definitely isn't because he doesn't love money; he wants more, so… he wants me??? After possessing me, everything I have will be his! Good heavens!! How greedy! I almost fell for his tricks!!]
...
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