"Let me put it this way: Miss Huo still has two other people under her. One is called Wu Jun, a discharged soldier who once stood trial in a military court for killing a drug lord, and after being forced to leave the army worked as a porter at the docks in S City; the other is called Li Quan, who used to be a street con man and hawker, and he even swindled Miss Huo out of money once."

"These two people with such notorious backgrounds are now thriving under Miss Huo. One manages the entire Beauty Group, and the other runs, all by himself, an antique shop in the Imperial Capital’s Liulichang. Both of them are key figures in Miss Huo’s camp."

Liu Cheng looked at Zhang Chao and said:

"I’d say your background is even more miserable than ours, but so what? As they say, heroes are not judged by where they come from. Miss Huo has never measured a person’s worth by their background. She often brings up how she herself comes from the countryside, which shows she doesn’t care about that stuff at all. As long as you have ability and real skills, you don’t have to worry about not getting an opportunity."

Zhang Chao was a little stunned. He more or less understood what Liu Cheng meant now—he wanted him to go and recommend himself to Huo Sining.

But then Zhang Chao immediately became a bit embarrassed and ill at ease. "Mister Liu, you and the others have earned Miss Huo’s appreciation because you’re capable. But me...I didn’t even graduate high school. I’ve got no education, no skills. If I follow Miss Huo, I won’t be able to do anything."

Liu Cheng laughed and said, "Who says you can’t do anything? I think you’re quite meticulous when you do things, a lot more considerate than those snot-nosed kids your age. Plus you’re cautious, not easily blinded by money, you know your limits and you’re grateful. Aren’t all these your strengths?"

Being praised like that by Liu Cheng, Zhang Chao couldn’t help blushing. "Mister Liu, you’ve only known me for less than two hours. How could you possibly know what strengths I have? What you’re saying is way too exaggerated. I don’t deserve that."

Liu Cheng smiled and said, "You don’t have to be so modest. Education is indeed important, but a person’s character is something you absolutely can’t lack. As for whether you deserve this praise or not, that’s not up to me—it’s up to Miss Huo. If she thinks you deserve it, then that’s your good fortune."

"I won’t say more. The specifics still depend on how Miss Huo decides to arrange things. After your father recovers, come to the Imperial Capital to find us. I’ll send the address to your phone later."

Zhang Chao had never imagined that today he would not only receive two million, but also get a chance to follow Huo Sining. It made him feel like he was dreaming. He stared blankly at Liu Cheng, unable to snap out of it for a long while.

"What, just this little thing and you’re this shocked?"

Liu Cheng looked at Zhang Chao with a smile. Seeing the dazed reaction of the kid in front of him, it was like through this boy he was seeing his own expression from a few years back when he received Huo Sining’s private message inviting him to be her agent.

Back then, he’d also found it unbelievable, as if a giant pie had fallen from the sky and smacked him right on the head.

Back then, he never would have thought that the person he followed would one day achieve what she has now, nor would he have expected that as her agent he basically wouldn’t need to do anything—just answer a few calls and turn down a few endorsement offers, and that was about it.

This is probably the thing Liu Cheng found the most helpless yet couldn’t help but show off about. He was probably the only agent in all of Huaxia—no, maybe on all of Earth—who drew a high salary but had the easiest life.

Waiting for a patient’s surgery to finish is a long process. After more than three hours, when the doors of the operating room were finally pushed open, Zhang Chao’s whole face tensed up. He shot up from his chair, hurried a few steps forward, and stared fixedly at the chief surgeon walking out of the operating room.

"The surgery went very well, but the follow-up treatment can’t be interrupted. If the patient wants to recover, it’ll take at least half a year."

The doctor knew about Zhang Chao’s family situation. This surgery was only the first step in treatment; the follow-up costs would also be a hefty sum. Such a heavy burden was resting on the shoulders of a kid like this. Even an adult might not be able to handle it—let alone a child who wasn’t even of age yet.

If it had been Zhang Chao from a few hours ago, he might have been scared senseless by the doctor’s words. But with that check Liu Cheng had given him, he no longer had to worry about this amount of money.

At this moment, he felt even more just how timely Huo Sining’s help had been. Without this money, he truly wouldn’t have known what to do right now.

This surge of gratitude spread through his chest, and it also gave him an unprecedented courage and resolve.

When Liu Cheng had first suggested he tag along with Huo Sining, Zhang Chao had felt more anxious than happy, because he knew his own weight. If Huo Sining wanted to recruit helpers, putting out a single job ad would bring in tens of thousands of applicants. There was no way the opportunity would fall to him. The reason Liu Cheng had said all that was probably because of that suggestion he’d given Huo Sining, so he wanted to give him a chance.

So Zhang Chao had already decided that he would turn Huo Sining down. Yet now, hearing what the doctor said, he suddenly changed his mind.

Miss Huo had helped him so much; he shouldn’t just sit back and do nothing. Maybe following Miss Huo was the best way for him to repay her. Even if he could never become someone as important at Huo Sining’s side as Liu Cheng or Wu Jun or Li Quan, he was still willing to work like a horse or an ox for her.

Thinking this way, Zhang Chao made up his mind and stopped overthinking. After nodding to the doctor, he quietly watched as a few nurses wheeled his father out of the operating room and straight into the ICU ward.

Although the surgery had been successfully completed, his father still needed to be observed for a while. Zhang Chao was anxious, but he also knew that in matters like this he had to follow the doctors’ arrangements.

After receiving the doctor’s positive confirmation that Zhang Chao’s father was out of danger and that with proper care he would be able to live like a normal person in the future, Liu Cheng also relaxed. He glanced at Zhang Chao and said:

"Your father is fine now, so I won’t keep hanging around here. Take good care of him. Once you’ve handled all this, get in touch with me again."

Zhang Chao nodded. Seeing Liu Cheng stand up, grab his bag, and get ready to leave, he hurriedly said, "Mister Liu, let me walk you out."

Liu Cheng had originally planned to refuse, but after thinking it over he agreed. The two of them walked one after the other toward the hospital entrance.

They hadn’t gone far when Zhang Chao’s phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and glanced at the screen, and his expression changed instantly.