Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Never Forget the Original Intention

After hanging up, Hou Chengjin was completely stumped. He toyed with the watch, his brow furrowed slightly.

He wasn’t the type to get carried away over a watch, even if this particular one was worth ten million.

He was actively trying to figure out Lin Chu’s motive.

He even thought it was possible that Lin Chu just found it too troublesome and simply didn’t want to come get it.

It was like that one tycoon who once abandoned his sports car on Shennan Avenue. After getting a minor scrape with another car, he found the hassle of repairs too much, so he just ditched it and let it rot.

’Or maybe President Lin just wanted to show off.’

That wasn’t impossible, either.

’These rich people really are wired differently. They’ve been completely reconfigured by money. Their tolerance for trouble is incredibly low, but their need to flex is incredibly high.’

"President Hou, what’s going on? Did he really give you the watch?"

A tall, handsome male streamer asked, both confused and curious.

Hou Chengjin glanced at him and lit a cigarette. "You all saw what happened. Come on, you analyze it. Why do you think he did it? He said on the phone that the watch is mine. Give me some ideas, quick."

He was used to brainstorming with others.

Many of the streamers under him had a strange way of thinking. ’Maybe one of them will be on the right wavelength?’

"Is he trying to suck up to you?"

The male streamer said with a smile.

Hou Chengjin glared at him. "If your head isn’t clear, go outside and get some cold air. What kind of bullshit are you spouting?!"

The male streamer lowered his head, instantly embarrassed, and fell silent.

He was just trying to kiss some ass, but he’d completely put his foot in his mouth.

Moon blinked and suddenly spoke up. "Can I say something? I want to, but you can’t yell at me, and you can’t criticize me in front of others later."

After getting an earful at the golf course during the day, she was taking precautions.

’It’s not that big of a deal, though.’

’Getting yelled at by the boss means you’re one of his trusted people. It might sting a little, but the perks are great.’

"Speak."

"You have my immunity,"

Hou Chengjin said with a smile.

Moon thought for a moment, then began, "Two possibilities just popped into my head. They’re both pretty out there..."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked to a spot farther away from Hou Chengjin, as if to dodge in advance.

Hou Chengjin: ...

Seeing her movement, he just smiled and waited for her to continue.

"First, maybe there’s some kind of surveillance device in the watch. He’s a voyeur and wants to spy on your private life this way."

Hou Chengjin: ...

"Why don’t you go flush your brain down the toilet? Get lost!"

"Are you insane? Giving away ten million just to spy on someone? Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a private investigator?"

"Besides, I’m a damn man. What’s there to spy on?"

"Why don’t you just say he’s a secret agent?! Get out, get out, get out!"

When he first heard this theory, he was actually startled for a second. But then he thought about it—impossible. That’s not how things work. It was like that classic, simple question: with so many counterfeit goods out there, why doesn’t anyone make fake plastic rice?

Cost is one of the fundamental principles of economics and human nature.

If Lin Chu really wanted to spy on him, there were far too many other ways.

’This Moon girl... she has a wild imagination, a really wild one. And her head is full of crap. First the disability fetish, now voyeurism... her mind is a filthy place.’

Moon, having been yelled at, was glad she’d moved away. She stuck out her tongue. "So, that brings me to my second theory. President Hou, have you ever considered that maybe... uh, he’s developed special feelings for you?"

"Think about it. When we girls want to flirt with a guy we’re really interested in, we might ’accidentally’ leave a jacket in his car after the first meeting, just to create an excuse to see him again."

"It’s the same principle, just a different method."

PFFT!

Hearing this, a male streamer nearby burst out laughing, nearly spitting out his drink.

Another female streamer, however, chimed in with an excited smile, "It’s true, it’s true! I’ve used that trick. I left my lipstick in the car of a guy I had a crush on. He returned it to me, and just like that, I won him over."

Hou Chengjin: ...

His gaze swept over her, but this time he didn’t curse. His sharp Adam’s apple bobbed. Deep down, a sense of panic began to stir.

’Damn it. Objectively speaking, that’s a real possibility.’

’Me...’

’Me?’

For a moment, his mind even considered the possibility of gaining more benefits through that... route. But he took a deep breath and quickly banished the thought.

’It can’t be.’

’It really can’t be.’

’This is just so fucking absurd.’

’Totally absurd!’

"Moon, you should change your name to ’Pervert’ from now on. Or maybe ’Crimson Moon.’ Just looking at you is giving me a headache,"

he sighed.

Moon threw up her hands, shrugged, and pouted innocently. "You told me to say it... Besides, I can’t break character. I’m supposed to be a sweet, cute, lively, and innocent anime girl."

"Cute my ass! Get out, get out, get out!"

...

Sitting in the car on the way home, after hanging up with Hou Chengjin, Lin Chu rolled down the window. As the cool night breeze washed over his face, a smile couldn’t help but tug at the corners of his lips.

His thought process on the matter went like this:

’If I just give him the watch as a welcome gift, it makes me seem too subservient. That’s unacceptable. Why should I?’

’That’s giving him both the substance and the face.’

’On what grounds?’

’Reward him for putting on that act?’

’Then, inspiration struck. I’ll leave the watch in the bathroom, pretend I forgot it, and when he finds it, I’ll casually "bestow" it upon him.’

The feeling is completely different.

Tsk.

Dealing with these people really took a lot of brainpower, but Lin Chu also found great pleasure in it—the pleasure of not playing by the rules, the pleasure of shaping his own persona, and even a bit of mischievous fun.

Even when interacting with people of this social class, his principles remained unchanged.

—In this dazzling world, happiness is all that matters!

...

"President Lin, could you drop me off at the subway station? Line 1 is just up ahead. I can still make it home in time."

Just as Lin Chu was reveling in his thoughts, he suddenly heard Gu Jiayan speak softly from the front passenger seat.

It was already ten o’clock at night.

She had very strong personal boundaries.

’Accompanying the boss to golf and attending dinners is part of my job. I have to do it.’

’But it’s past ten now, I have to go home.’

President Zhang had informed her that a dormitory near the company had been rented, but she had been busy all day and hadn’t had a chance to move yet. She still had to go back to her rental apartment in the urban village in Longgang.

The seating arrangement in the car was: Jin Jiaying driving, Gu Jiayan in the passenger seat, and Lin Chu enjoying the entire back seat to himself.

At that moment, hearing this, Jin Jiaying glanced nonchalantly at the passenger seat. ’This little assistant has a lot of principles,’ she realized. ’It seems President Lin hasn’t conquered her yet.’

She had just been wondering about that very issue—the sleeping arrangements for the night.

’If... President Lin insists... uh, then there’s nothing to be done.’

’A threesome with another man? I couldn’t accept that.’

’But a threesome with another woman... that seemed to be no problem. I wasn’t really against the idea.’

"It’s too late, it’s not safe. Don’t go back. The company has a spare room at the hotel. We’ll just have one set aside for you,"

Lin Chu said casually.

Gu Jiayan paused, biting her lip. "I... I don’t have my ID with me."

Lin Chu: "It’s a presidential suite the company has booked for the year. Why would you need an ID? Just remember to bring it next time; there will be more occasions like this in the future. Have you gotten your driver’s license? If not, go get one. The company will reimburse the fees. After you get it, the company will buy a car for you to drive, registered under your name."

She: ...

She was once again moved. After a moment of silence, she nodded lightly. "Okay."

This kind of life sometimes filled her with a sliver of "fear," a worry that she might lose herself in it. But... this refined and luxurious feeling, to be honest, was actually quite nice.

Her own nature was in a daily struggle, a constant game, against her rationality.

It was actually quite draining and took a lot of effort.

But the feeling this job gave her was also unparalleled, whether it was going to the orphanage or accompanying President Lin to various events.

Especially when she was watching Lin Chu match wits with these people.

Although there were many things President Lin said and did that she didn’t quite understand yet, she felt she learned a lot just by reviewing them later. She was like a sponge, soaking everything in and rapidly absorbing the essence of growth.

...

...