Chapter 1052: Chapter 285: The Birthday Banquet Problem
"Hmm..." Li Jie felt both ashamed and pleasantly surprised; she hadn’t expected him to remember what she had said back then. Could this prove that he really cared about her?
Seeing this expression, Li Yan felt reassured. The misunderstanding was finally cleared up!
He stretched out his arms again and hugged her!
"What are you doing now?" Li Jie was caught between laughter and tears.
"Punishment! Who told you to misunderstand others and hit people randomly?"
"Didn’t you say... no punishment?"
"Uh... then it’s a reminder! A reminder for you to stay calm when things happen!"
Calm... Li Jie broke into a cold sweat. How could she stay calm like this?
"Haha, speaking of which, I remembered we had a bet."
"What bet?" Li Jie asked, then protested in a small voice, "Could you stop moving around?"
"You said not many people would come, but I said at least ninety percent would! To prove my insight, we made a bet: if less than eighty percent of the invitees come, I’ll lose, and I’ll cover all the expenses for the banquet! If I win, you’ll have to treat me to ten meals and give me a kiss, a kiss on the lips!"
With his reminder, Li Jie was embarrassed; she did remember saying that. But not long after, due to the protection task being too difficult, the ones coming to kill Julian Assange were elite agents from Si Country, far beyond what a few bodyguards could handle. When faced with potential death, she chose to experience love and what it felt like to be a woman during her final moments.
Since she had given herself to him completely, a bet that initially made her feel he had impure motives, naturally seemed insignificant to her.
Thinking back to those days, Li Jie felt like it was a different lifetime. She couldn’t help but ask, "Back then, did you intentionally say that because you heard me say I couldn’t use the company’s money and that I didn’t have enough money on my own to host the banquet, so you wanted to help me?"
Li Yan blinked, neither admitting nor denying, "Or maybe I just wanted your kiss."
Li Jie didn’t ask further; whether it was what she said or what he said, it meant the same thing. It showed he cared for her not just because they slept together, not just out of a sense of responsibility, or that it didn’t only occur to him after they slept together.
"Are you still insisting on that bet? As a consultant, you should know that none of the security or bodyguards can all have the same free time. At least a third to half of them will be on duty. Even if we send invitations to some who have left, with all current employees, we won’t reach eighty percent. You’ll definitely lose."
Li Yan laughed, "I’ve already won you over. Losing in this doesn’t matter to me."
"..."
"Alright, let me be straightforward. Back then, I wanted to help you, so I had to use such a method. But now you’re my woman, your dad is my father-in-law. If I pay for a birthday banquet for him, you won’t refuse, right?"
Li Jie was silent for a moment and had no choice but to agree. Even if she didn’t, if he asked her father, her father would be happy about it.
"Haha, don’t worry. I’ve already hinted a bit about my identity. I earn a lot, so don’t worry, I won’t be bankrupted, I will have plenty of money to support you. And if you think paying yourself is satisfying, then stop thinking about being a bodyguard. Focus on being a boss. By the end of this year, the company’s profits will definitely increase significantly."
"..."
Li Jie hesitated for a moment and said, "I have a different thought now. Holding such a large banquet... doesn’t seem quite right."
"Why?" Li Yan was a bit puzzled, but it seemed people cared more about celebrating the sixtieth birthday.
"Previously, our company Jie Rui didn’t collect any commission expenses from the security guards. Basically, all payments from clients were distributed to everyone. But after the reform, like other companies, we had to take a certain percentage for company improvement and expansion. You know, this caused a big backlash, and it’s only just started to settle down a bit now. Perhaps for many people, they still feel it’s unfair..."
Li Yan laughed, "You’re worried they’ll think you’re just using the company’s prospects as an excuse, but are really just pocketing the money? An always frugal boss having a grand party for a birthday, using money skimmed from them?"
Li Jie nodded, "And traditionally, no one comes empty-handed, right? Whether it’s buying gifts or giving money, it would leave a negative impression on everyone. Even if it doesn’t cost much, with many people attending, it would still seem like we’re out to get money."
Li Yan had only wanted to help her fulfill that wish and let Li Chengfeng have a proper birthday celebration. But now listening to her, he also thought it might not be appropriate. If the company were fully on track and had grown, and the old employees’ income restored, then naturally there wouldn’t be as much to say.
But for now, it was just the beginning, everything was still a beautiful vision. Li boss wasn’t working directly anymore, and the young Li boss wasn’t working either, just getting better at spending money, hoarding money, even making others suspect they were planning one big scheme then shutting down. That would be pointless!
"If people already have such thoughts, even if I publicly say I’m sponsoring the event, they’d think it’s company money. So let’s change our approach!"
"What approach?" Li Jie was still very interested.
