’Is the System finally kicking into gear?’

Lin Shen didn’t have time to ponder why. Now that the company was successfully registered, there was still a lot to do.

He had to pick up the business license, get the official seals made, open a bank account, and register for taxes.

It was all a huge hassle.

Lin Shen pulled some clothes from his closet, dressed neatly in front of the full-length mirror, then grabbed his car keys and left the house.

DING—!

He took the elevator down to the underground parking garage. Every time he saw his Jaguar XFL waiting for him in its parking space, an inexplicable sense of happiness welled up inside him.

He got in, turned on the air conditioning and the stereo, and started the engine.

VROOOM—!

The roar of the engine cut through the soothing music as Lin Shen drove out of Sunac Binjiang No.1 Courtyard.

At 5 PM, in the general manager’s office at Pet Guardian Home.

Qin Yuenan had been sitting in the chair before the desk for ten minutes, yet her graceful posture remained impeccable.

Her flawless legs, peeking out from beneath the hem of her skirt, were crossed and angled to the right. Her hands were clasped gently in her lap, and her indifferent gaze held a hint of a chill.

Meanwhile, a rather portly woman was leaning back in the chair behind the desk.

She had a round face and wore silver-rimmed glasses.

Her expression was the very picture of a type of condescending, middle-aged manager that had recently become an internet meme.

This was Sun Mingli, who had been appointed as the manager of Pet Guardian Home’s Modu branch two weeks ago.

She was currently flipping idly through the August marketing report Qin Yuenan had submitted. She wasn’t reading it closely; instead, she pointed to a line of numbers on the final page, frowning as she demanded:

"Why are marketing costs up 20% compared to the last few months?"

"August is summer vacation, so students are all at home," Qin Yuenan explained softly.

"The student demographic makes up 20% of Pet Guardian Home’s customer base. Furthermore, according to research from the marketing department, parents are more willing to buy pets for their children during the summer break. That’s why marketing costs had to increase."

"How many times have I stressed this in meetings? Pet Guardian Home’s strategic target is the high-end client base! Not low-end users!" Sun Mingli rapped her knuckles on the desk, her accusation blunt.

"Were you even listening? The student demographic is outside our target range! You’re the marketing director; shouldn’t you know that?"

"My marketing plan was a rational one based on the data submitted by the marketing department," Not to be outdone, Qin Yuenan replied in an equally cold tone.

"If you’re not satisfied, Manager Sun, you’re free to replace me at any time."

"You really think I wouldn’t dare?"

Seeing Qin Yuenan talk back, Sun Mingli flew into a rage, slamming the desk as she shot to her feet.

"Let me tell you something, Qin Yuenan, your position as marketing director is completely dispensable! Anyone could replace you! And they’d do a better job!"

"A good product sells itself! Marketing is the most useless link in the chain! Marketing costs should be cut, not increased! The money we save on marketing should be spent on product development and market expansion! *That* is Pet Guardian Home’s strategy for moving upmarket!"

"Product development?"

Faced with Sun Mingli’s tirade, Qin Yuenan remained impassive. She almost wanted to laugh. Instead, she retorted with cutting sarcasm,

"I remember the ’product development’ directions you mentioned in the meeting perfectly well. Things like adding different flavors to the pet food, or changing its shape... Heh."

"If you can’t come up with any real ideas, I suggest you don’t bother. Do you really think pet food needs that kind of ’innovative R&D’? The market for pet food improvements is already saturated. Every company’s formula is more or less the same, differing only in their nutritional ratios." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"If you want to get a piece of the high-end market, the main focus has to be on marketing and market presence. What we should be doing now is optimizing our marketing strategy based on customer feedback to steal market share from our competitors."

"Only an item that’s been sold can be called a product. Items piling up in a warehouse are just inventory."

"Selling ten thousand units of a product with a 90% approval rating is far better for the company’s long-term health than selling one hundred units of a product with a 100% approval rating."

"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"

Perhaps realizing Qin Yuenan had a point and seeing she couldn’t win the argument, Sun Mingli’s eyes widened and she resorted to pulling rank.

"I’m the General Manager of the East China Region! I have the final say on all plans and strategies!"

"By next month, I want to see your marketing department cut costs by at least 20%. If you can’t do it, then you can pack your bags!"

"Then by all means."

Qin Yuenan couldn’t be bothered to waste another word on Sun Mingli. She stood up and walked out without a backward glance.

The moment the door closed, the distinct sound of papers being slammed onto a desk and a furious tirade could be heard from inside the office.

It made Qin Yuenan’s narrowed eyes turn icy. The desire to leave Pet Guardian Home was growing stronger by the second.

’Maybe it’s time to resign and go find Lin Shen.’

’I remember he rented some office space on the 14th floor, right?’

After stepping into the elevator, Qin Yuenan reached out and pressed the button for the 14th floor.

When the doors opened, she found that the once-empty 14th floor was already under renovation.

The hallway was piled with all kinds of construction materials, and the walls were covered in dust sheets.

Everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly fashion.

’Lin Shen already paid for it?’

Qin Yuenan was stunned for a moment, then she felt a surge of surprise and admiration for Lin Shen’s decisiveness.

’His execution is incredible!’

’He says he’ll do something, and he just does it!’

Perhaps because she was falling in love, Qin Yuenan wasn’t the least bit worried that Lin Shen would squander her one million. On the contrary, she had complete confidence in him.

’Looks like he’s all set to start his company.’

’Then it’s time for me to go help him.’