"Fine. Go and run a check first, and while you're at it, get me a background report."
"Heh. It seems you're not very confident in your own background. How about you start by introducing yourself?"
"My name is Xu Wuyan. No parents, no family. I’m eighteen."
"That’s it?"
"What else do you expect?"
Suppressing the urge to kick Xu Wuyan, Yao Can took a sharp, deep breath.
"Give me your ID card. I’ll have someone look into your background properly. Once the data is cleared, we’ll sign the contract."
"No way. I’m new to Lucheng. If you take my ID, how am I supposed to work or find a place to stay?"
Yao Can gritted her teeth, responding heatedly, "I already told you, I’m paying you a salary. As for housing, do you really think I wouldn’t handle that for you?"
Xu Wuyan felt a surge of joy and his attitude shifted immediately. If his biggest headache—housing—could be solved, he really had no other demands.
"Done. I’ll follow the boss’s lead. Can I ask, what’s my monthly salary?"
This question earned him another eye-roll. He quickly clarified, "Don't get me wrong. I’m only eighteen, and I have a lot of expenses. I just need to budget reasonably, you know?"
"Five thousand a month. Once the contract is signed, I’ll put you through the Yao Family’s personnel process. You’ll get all the benefits of a Yao Family employee. That should settle it, right?"
"That works, that works. I’m satisfied. Here’s my ID."
Xu Wuyan nodded instantly, terrified that Yao Can might change her mind. Getting paid for a ghost job was the kind of luck you only saw once in a lifetime. To have it fall into his lap felt incredible.
"We’ve settled the benefits; now let’s talk about your obligations." Yao Can turned serious.
"Boss, lead the way."
"Remember, you are a live-in son-in-law. My word is absolute. If I tell you to stand, you don't sit. If I tell you to kneel, you don't stand."
"Wait, wait, wait," Xu Wuyan interrupted.
"What? Is there a problem?"
"What if you tell me to die?"
"Get lost! I’m telling you to go die right now!" Yao Can was stunned, then flared with rage. She couldn't stand his nonsense for one more second. She grabbed a flowerpot from the side, ready to hurl it at him.
"My fault, my fault! Boss, please continue."
Yao Can sighed, nursing a headache as her chest heaved violently. Seeing this, Xu Wuyan immediately stood up and helped her sit down.
"Don't get worked up, Boss. I finally found such a good gig; if you kick the bucket..."
"You..." Yao Can nearly choked on her own breath, her teeth gritted in fury.
"I’ll shut up, I’ll shut up. Please, continue."
Xu Wuyan wisely clamped his mouth shut, secretly warning himself to be more careful. It wouldn't pay to actually scare his boss to death.
"Hmph. Once the contract is formal, you will accompany me to meet the shareholders. I intend to invoke my grandfather’s will and reclaim thirty percent of the company's shares."
"That won’t be easy. Whether it’s your stepmother or your sister, they will definitely try to stop it."
Yao Can paused, her gaze sweeping over him once more. The Xu Wuyan before her now seemed less frivolous and possessed a hint of gravitas.
"You’re right. People kill for money. To get their hands on the Yao Family assets, they’ll stop at nothing. So you’d better watch your back—don't let them kill you off."
"If you put it that way, I think the salary is too low."
"You still have a chance to back out."
"Forget it. You saved my life, so I have to repay that kindness. A life-saving grace can't be measured in money. Of course, if you want to give me a raise, I wouldn’t complain."
"Heh. You really are shameless."
Yao Can scoured her vocabulary and decided that "shameless" was the only word that truly captured Xu Wuyan’s essence.
"Thank you, Boss. Let’s continue. Why are you so adamant about taking that thirty percent? Even though you’ve reached the age of majority at eighteen, from what I can see, you aren't ready to steer the Yao Family ship yet."
"Once I have those shares, I can freeze the Yao Family’s equity for four years. I’ll wait until I graduate from university to clean up the mess."
"Good plan."
Xu Wuyan nodded, privately noting that children of major families always possessed a certain grand vision. In those four years, she could manage her personal life, let her strength grow, and observe the internal infighting of the Yao Family as an outsider. It was undoubtedly the best choice she could make right now.
"That has nothing to do with you. Just do your job. At the very least, I can guarantee that in these four years, the Yao Family’s infighting won’t touch you. As for what happens after four years, once I have full control, you’re free to leave."
"Sounds like I’m the one getting the better end of the deal."
"Glad you realize it."
"By the way, you mentioned you were still in university. It wouldn't happen to be Lu University, would it?"
Yao Can nodded.
"I’m a freshman this year. I'll be a new student at Lu University soon."
"Holy shit."
"Can you not use profanity in front of a lady?"
"No, that’s not it. I’m just surprised we’re at the same school. What’s your major?"
Yao Can frowned. "You’re a freshman at Lu University too?"
Without answering, Xu Wuyan pulled his acceptance letter from his backpack.
Yao Can took the letter in surprise, scrutinized Xu Wuyan once more, and handed it back. "Being a freshman at least proves you aren't some sort of societal degenerate."
"I was a model citizen all along; you’re just looking at me through prejudiced glasses."
"This is going to be a problem. If our contract becomes public, life at school is going to get messy. How about you drop out?"
Yao Can’s sudden suggestion left the smug Xu Wuyan speechless.
"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"
"Yeah... why would you drop out? Is there any way to make sure we don't run into each other at school?"
Perhaps realizing how ridiculous she sounded, Yao Can fell into deep thought.
"Does me going to university have anything to do with our arrangement?"
Xu Wuyan choked on his words. Watching Yao Can think so seriously, he couldn't help but laugh.
"The Yao Family is deeply rooted in Lucheng. If they find out you’re at Lu University too, do you think we can survive the next four years?"
"You’re not wrong, but don’t worry too much. You’ve already taken my ID—use your resources to see if you can find my background information, then decide."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I’ve offended some people in the past, and my background might have been scrubbed. Go ahead and try. We can talk about this after you’ve investigated."
Xu Wuyan figured that the "big shot" involved must be very afraid of anyone finding him. If just anyone could track his identity to Lu University, then the guy wouldn't be much of a big shot.
"Fine. I’ll check it out and get back to you."
Yao Can gave him a meaningful look, choosing not to press him further.