Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Are You Interested?
A Mercedes-Benz CLS sped down the road.
"Chen Xiao, where are you taking me?"
"Yunfeng Building!"
"What for? Are we going to Central Inspection to talk business?"
"Nope. Miss Xu, I honestly don’t think you’re cut out for sales."
She wasn’t willing to go all out, which made it hard to land big clients. It was a hurdle Xu Wu clearly couldn’t overcome.
"I know. But what can I do? It’d be the same for me anywhere. At least here, President Cha is a good person," Xu Wu said listlessly.
And just like that, Cha Lan, who wasn’t even present, had been branded a "nice guy."
"During dinner just now, I got the feeling you’re very interested in capital management."
"Yeah, that was my dream back in school. But the dream is beautiful, and reality is harsh."
"So if an opportunity like that came up, you’d consider it?"
"Chen Xiao, why are you saying all these strange things today? Let’s just talk about orders. We have more common ground there."
"Have I ever really ’talked’ orders with you? Haven’t I just been handing them to you?" Chen Xiao said with a laugh.
Xu Wu laughed too. It was true; Chen Xiao had been feeding her orders nonstop. How long had they even known each other? He had already helped her close a seven-million-yuan deal and negotiate a major strategic project.
If it weren’t for him, she’d probably be in a really tough spot right now. And Cha Lan wouldn’t be treating her with his current attitude, either.
Without him, today’s class reunion would have probably been a humiliating disaster.
As all this ran through her mind, she suddenly turned her head to look at him, her gaze serious.
"What is it? If you keep looking at me with those lovey-dovey eyes, I won’t be able to drive properly!"
"Chen Xiao, if you ever get beaten to death, it’ll definitely be because of that mouth of yours!"
’He’s so infuriating!’
’He completely ruined the mood she had tried so hard to create!’
The car came to a stop. After they entered the elevator lobby, Xu Wu watched Chen Xiao press the button for the 28th floor and quickly reminded him, "Chen Xiao, you pressed the wrong floor! Central Inspection is on the 22nd."
"We’re not going to the 22nd floor today."
"Is there business to discuss on the 28th floor, too?" Xu Wu asked, curious.
Chen Xiao didn’t answer. The elevator had already arrived at the 28th floor.
"Come on in. What do you think of this office space?"
Xu Wu stepped out of the elevator with a confused look. She glanced at the office area and was stunned. The decor was so luxurious!
It wasn’t the minimalist style common in most office buildings, but an opulent, classic Chinese design. This place was clearly built with a mountain of cash. ’What kind of company is this extravagant?’
’Hmm? There’s no sign on the door.’
"Chen Xiao, no one’s working here. How did you get in?"
He didn’t answer, simply walking ahead and leading the bewildered Xu Wu on a tour of the entire office.
"What do you think about working here?"
Xu Wu was even more bewildered. "Is Dr. Feng’s Robot moving its offices here?"
She shook her head. ’This style of decor doesn’t really fit a tech company. It has such a gaudy, new-money vibe.’
"A capital management firm is going to be established here. I want you to run it. Are you interested?"
Xu Wu’s mind went completely blank. After a long moment, she managed to say, "Are you kidding me?"
She assumed that because Chen Xiao had learned about her dream of working in capital management over dinner, he was now playing a cruel joke on her.
"Do you think just anyone can walk in and out of this office?"
Xu Wu remembered that he had used his phone to unlock the main door. Without authorization, an outsider wouldn’t have been able to get in.
"Are you serious? A capital management firm is really going to be established here?"
Chen Xiao laughed. "Do you think I’m that unreliable? When have I ever deceived anyone?"
’That’s true,’ she thought. ’Aside from his sharp tongue, he’s always been very reliable.’
Chen Xiao continued walking and pushed open a door to a room reserved for the general manager. The office was nearly 100 square meters, furnished with a complete set of mahogany furniture, a decorative screen, and a tea table. The whole effect was classic and grand.
He pointed to the executive chair. "Go on, try it out."
As if in a trance, Xu Wu followed his suggestion and sat down in the executive chair. Suddenly, she felt as if she were on top of the world, looking down on everything below. From this position, it seemed she could oversee all of creation.
Just then, Chen Xiao said, "Junxiao Capital Management Company. Registered capital of 800 million, fully paid-in. More funds will be injected in the future. I am now inviting you to serve as general manager. Are you interested?"
His words seemed to possess a magical quality. Xu Wu trembled, hoping this beautiful dream would never end, yet terrified it would suddenly shatter, making the return to reality unbearable.
"Xu Wu, being a sales director doesn’t really suit you. This is where your dream should begin. Are you interested?"
"I can’t believe this is real. Chen Xiao, you’re tricking me, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice like someone talking in their sleep.
"What do you have that’s worth me tricking you for? Money? You have any? Sex? You think you’re worth the trouble?"
She was finally sure this wasn’t a dream. The Chen Xiao in her dreams would never be this infuriating.
"Why choose me? And do you even have the authority to make this decision?"
This was an 800-million-yuan company. She had never imagined Chen Xiao wielded this much power.
"I chose you because you’re highly ambitious. You can grow with the company—it’ll be a mutual journey. Plus, I’m not worried about any major mistakes, because I’ll be here to provide oversight."
"As for your second question, your boss’s name is Zhao Xiangjun. And I have her full authority to make decisions on her behalf."
Xu Wu gradually emerged from her state of shock and confusion, her usual astuteness returning.
"Chen Xiao, I trust you. If you think I’m the right person for the job, then I’m willing to try, and I’ll give it my absolute all. I won’t let you down!"
"Good. Then it’s settled. Your starting salary will be 100,000 yuan a month. You’ll get the best possible social insurance and housing fund package, a company car for business use, and a year-end bonus based on performance."
For Xu Wu, this salary was a life-changing leap. She asked uncertainly, "Don’t you need to confirm this with President Zhao?"
"President Zhao has other businesses to attend to. I have full authority in this matter. You can rest 120 percent assured. Just focus on doing your job well."
Xu Wu nodded. "To run such a massive enterprise, President Zhao must be incredibly busy, handling negotiations for projects worth tens, or even hundreds, of millions. Interviewing a general manager must be a trivial matter for her."
Chen Xiao laughed to himself. ’You couldn’t be more wrong. The "businesses" President Zhao is busy with are worth a few hundred, maybe a thousand, yuan at most.’
"Oh, right. If it’s awkward for you to talk to Cha Lan, I can handle it. As long as I’m around, Zhi Fei Aerospace’s business won’t suffer."
’That would be for the best,’ Xu Wu thought. She had been at her job for less than two months, and Cha Lan had treated her well. Resigning so suddenly would indeed be a bit unfair to him.
"President Xu! The company registration is being processed over the next couple of days and will definitely be complete within three. The paid-in capital will also be transferred promptly. So, you can start working on personnel recruitment, organizational structure, and all that right away."
’That makes sense,’ she thought. ’It’s a startup. There’s so much to do!’
"Neither President Zhao nor I will interfere with the company’s daily operations and management. I will only keep myself informed about the projects you invest in and offer advice where appropriate. Everything else is yours to handle with full authority."
Xu Wu took a deep breath. ’Eight hundred million yuan, entrusted to me with full authority, just like that. The amount of trust... it’s staggering!’
Comments