"Good morning, Boss."
When Jiang Chen appeared at the company once again, it drew the attention of quite a few people.
He nodded in acknowledgment.
His first order of business was to summon the vice president to get an update on what had happened with the company during this period.
"There are no issues with the company's production capacity and supply chain, but the distributors are hoping to delay payment on their shipments."
"For now, none of our competitors have the capacity to catch up with us."
"We are currently researching whether we can make a breakthrough with foreign chips and find a viable substitute. Xiaomi is currently in talks with us; they hope to provide us with financing."
"..."
The company's current development was looking quite good.
While it couldn't be described as booming just yet, there were no major flaws either.
If it were the old Jiang Chen, he probably would have pushed himself harder.
But nowadays, he preferred to play it safe.
After a moment of thought, he said, "In a while, the company might have a team of auditors coming in to review the assets."
However, no sooner had his voice trailed off than he noticed the vice president turning pale.
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.
He instantly knew what was going on.
"You're on your own."
"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, I was wrong."
The vice president dropped straight to his knees, weeping bitterly before Jiang Chen. "I really didn't embezzle that much. I only took ten million, just ten million."
"I'll pay the money back, just don't send me to the police."
Jiang Chen's eyes were cold, but there wasn't much real anger in his heart.
Naturally, he understood the principle that clear water breeds no fish; as long as these people did their jobs honestly, he could tolerate a certain amount of skimming.
However, this didn't mean he would let them run wild.
With a stern expression, Jiang Chen said, "Doing business requires business rules. Since you reap the rewards, you must bear the equivalent risks."
...
"Tell me, what's going on with that company of yours? I went to great lengths to negotiate a few buyers for you, and you turn around and send your vice president straight to the police station?"
That evening, Liang Hao invited Jiang Chen out for a late-night snack.
These two wealthy men didn't choose a high-end restaurant or an indulgent KTV for their supper, but rather a roadside barbecue stall.
Unlike Jiang Chen, Liang Hao was not a self-made entrepreneur.
He simply inherited a massive family business.
The two had known each other for quite a while and had by now become steadfast friends.
Liang Hao grumbled, "Sending him straight to the police station like that—I thought something had gone wrong with the company. If anything happens to you at a time like this, won't it make me look bad?"
Jiang Chen raised his glass in a gesture of apology.
He said, "Those people have absolutely no bottom line in how they do things. I'm just doing this to clean up the company so I can sell it."
Liang Hao raised an eyebrow. "You're really set on this?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who jokes around with you?"
Liang Hao clicked his tongue. "Fair enough. Once you sell the company, you'll be financially free. Why don't you come and help out at my company?"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "I don't want to lose a brother."
Between brothers, a sense of boundaries was necessary.
If he really went to work at Liang Hao's company, conflicts were bound to arise between them sooner or later.
Liang Hao clicked his tongue. "I really don't like this about you."
The two chatted casually for a bit.
At that moment, Liang Hao suddenly began winking and making faces at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen froze for a second, and then heard a familiar voice.
"Jiang Chen!"
It was Su Zhi, striding over in a rage. "Why aren't you replying to my messages?"
Looking at the pretty woman before him, Jiang Chen's eyes turned cold. "Give me one reason why I should reply to your messages."
For now, he hadn't deleted Su Zhi.
He wasn't that childish yet.
Instead of answering Su Zhi, Jiang Chen looked at Liang Hao. "Did you tell her to come?"
Liang Hao shrugged. "Has nothing to do with me."
Su Zhi looked at Jiang Chen, somewhat indignant.
"And what's the deal with the woman on your WeChat Moments?"
"Cut ties with her immediately—right now!"
Impatiently, Jiang Chen said, "Miss Su, what right do you have to tell me what to do?"
"Because I am your girlfriend."
"We've already broken up."
"I didn't agree to it!" she screamed hysterically, drawing the gazes of quite a few passersby.
Seeing a pretty girl trying to win Jiang Chen back, many of the men couldn't help but feel a heartfelt sympathy for her.
Of course, the majority were simply there to watch the show.
Looking at Su Zhi, Jiang Chen felt a rising wave of irritation. "You didn't agree? When you stood me up, I didn't agree to that either."
"I can explain."
"Great, I'm listening to your explanation right now."
Jiang Chen's words left Su Zhi momentarily stunned.
She found herself stammering, completely unable to form a coherent sentence.
Seeing this, Liang Hao couldn't help but admire Jiang Chen in his heart: this buddy of his really knew how to hold on and let go.
If it were anyone else who had hooked up with the eldest daughter of the Su Family, let alone just being stood up, even if she had actually cheated on them, they probably would have clung to her shamelessly and refused to break up.
After all, the Su Family's background was simply too illustrious.
Jiang Chen, however, was different.
Gazing coldly at Su Zhi, Jiang Chen said, "Three years ago, you started treating me as a substitute, didn't you?"
"Right, you're the eldest daughter of the Su Family, so even deigning to be with an ordinary person like me is supposed to be my honor. But why on earth should I accept this kind of humiliation?"
"I'm a human being too, and I have my pride."
He looked at Liang Hao and said, "Sorry, I have to go."
Liang Hao clicked his tongue. "Remember to get a designated driver, don't get caught by the traffic police."
Subconsciously, Su Zhi said angrily, "I never agreed to a break up."
She stared at Jiang Chen. "If you break up with me, I'll have your factory shut down."
She had the capability to do so.
Jiang Chen left behind three cold words: "Do your worst."
Just as he was about to leave, he saw a car pull up.
Qin Yu stepped out of the vehicle, looked at Su Zhi, and feigned pleasant surprise. "Su Zhi, what a coincidence."
"Where are you heading? Let me give you a ride."
"Damn it!"
Liang Hao, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly flared up with anger.
"You motherfucking bastard, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
He made a move to step forward, but was held back by Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen glanced sideways at Qin Yu.
He noticed that Qin Yu was also looking back at him with a provocative smirk.
Clearly, this man had done it on purpose.
Yet he had to admit that Qin Yu did have some capital—he wasn't bad-looking, and though he seemed slightly shorter than Jiang Chen, the difference was negligible.
Coupled with Su Zhi's biased perspective, it seemed only natural that she would lean toward him.
Jiang Chen said, "Getting detained over a piece of trash isn't worth it."
He cast a cold glance at Su Zhi. "You really are pathetic."
Jiang Chen's words struck Su Zhi as if she had plunged into an icy abyss.
At that moment, Qin Yu put on an expression of fake concern, deliberately playing dumb as he said, "Who is that guy? So utterly lacking in manners. Su Zhi, let me teach him a lesson."
She didn't answer Qin Yu's question. Instead, staring at Jiang Chen's retreating back, she gritted her teeth in hatred. "I will make you pay for this."