Find a property, check for existing loans, mortgages, or leases, pay the deposit, sign the purchase and sale agreement, complete the online registration, transfer the purchase funds into an escrow account, pay taxes, transfer the title, and complete the handover.

This was the home-buying process for the pre-owned property Wang Zhefei had his eye on.

Lin Chu had also called a lawyer to consult, and there were no issues.

Neither party had a loan, so there was no need to wait for a bank’s mortgage approval process. As long as they had enough money to afford it, they could buy it outright.

Wang Zhefei went with Mr. Liu to handle the paperwork.

Lin Chu didn’t go. He just needed to wait to pay.

There was another matter waiting for him to handle this morning.

「Noon.」

When Lin Chu arrived at a pig stomach and chicken pot restaurant in South Mountain, he found Li Haohong, Zhang Peng, Liang Mo, and Gao Haitao already seated. They had ordered food but hadn’t touched their chopsticks yet, clearly waiting for him.

Seeing Lin Chu walk in, all four of them stood up.

"What’s the situation? Is it settled?"

Lin Chu asked casually as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

’I didn’t even have to show up for this. It was only fifty thousand yuan; it really wasn’t worth my time.’

Of course, while it wasn’t a big deal to him, it was a huge sum for Liang Mo.

’How much is a month’s salary anyway?’

’If I can help, I might as well help.’

Lin Chu had been a wage worker before. He knew how awful it felt to have your pay withheld. ’It’s one thing to be worked like an animal, but to not even get paid for it? Is there any justice in the world?’

"We got it! Thank you, President Lin!"

Liang Mo stood up again and gave Lin Chu a sincere bow, his face full of gratitude.

Zhang Peng smiled. "The main thanks should go to the lawyer. Lawyer Li is truly skilled. He convinced the guy in just a few words."

Hearing this, Li Haohong waved his hand humbly. "It was nothing, really, not worth mentioning. The guy’s just a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong. I just had a little chat with him, and that was that. He knew he was in the wrong. If we were to really make a scene regardless of the cost, it wouldn’t be worth it for him either."

"Besides, we made quite an entrance, leading the way in a big Benz and bringing bodyguards. He’s just a small-time boss. The sight of us probably scared him to death."

The men couldn’t help but laugh.

Lin Chu smiled and nodded. "Alright, let’s eat then."

’That went a little more smoothly than I expected.’

’But it really proves the old saying: there’s strength in numbers.’

If Liang Mo had tried to handle this alone, with no money or power, it would have ended up costing him more.

Lin Chu hadn’t eaten pig stomach and chicken pot in a long time. This place was good, though—the ingredients were plentiful and the flavor wasn’t bad.

Liang Mo wanted to order alcohol to toast everyone, but since they all had to work in the afternoon, they decided against it for now.

Liang Mo was now in a bit of a dilemma. ’Should I show my gratitude in some way?’

’But how?’

’President Lin obviously doesn’t lack for anything.’

He considered his options: ’Buy him a carton of cigarettes? A gas card? Or maybe something else?’ But none of those felt quite right.

In the end, he decided, ’I’ll just work hard. That’s probably the best way to repay my boss.’

During the meal, Zhang Peng kept glancing at his phone, seemingly chatting with someone. As they were finishing up, he said with a smile, "Brother Chu, there’s an interview this afternoon that you might have to handle personally."

"What kind of interview requires my personal attention?"

Lin Chu asked with a laugh.

Zhang Peng just gave a slight, mysterious smile without saying anything more.

Lin Chu paused for a moment, then it dawned on him... ’A secretary!’

’Of course I’d have to handle that myself.’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Alright. What time?"

"One is scheduled for two p.m. and another for three. I’ll send you their résumés in a bit so you can take a look."

"Okay."

Lin Chu put down his chopsticks, finished with his meal. He lit a cigarette and let out a contented puff of smoke, a flicker of anticipation in his heart.

’Leaving the nightlife scene?’

’Returning to the corporate world?’

’Tsk.’

After lunch, Lin Chu returned to the company with the others.

In just a few short days, the office’s various furnishings had already taken shape.

Two large money trees at the entrance, the company’s gilded sign, the front desk, the work area, the conference room, the break room, the pantry... everything was neat and orderly. Even the small, miscellaneous decorations were tastefully placed.

This office environment was far better than the one at his previous job.

Sitting on the sofa in his office, Lin Chu looked at the two résumés Zhang Peng had sent over.

The position was listed as: Administrative Staff, Office of the President.

Lin Chu was speechless.

He couldn’t help but roast it internally: ’Damn, that sounds so high-class. The company has a grand total of four people right now. What ’Office of the President’ is there to speak of?’

But this was an old recruiting trick—an arms race of fancy-sounding words and descriptions.

Monthly Salary: 20K–30K (Base salary of 20K, non-negotiable)

Lin Chu pursed his lips.

’That’s even higher than my previous salary. Not bad.’

However, Zhang Peng had already discussed this with him. The requirements were high, so the salary naturally had to match. Besides, he had agreed on the pay for someone who would be working so closely with the boss.

Money wasn’t an issue.

Job Requirements:

1. Good image, excellent temperament, strong interpersonal skills, emotionally stable.

2. Bachelor’s degree or higher. GPA in the top 10% during university. Bonus points for having received scholarships.

3. Recent graduates preferred.

4. Disciplined lifestyle. Bonus points for a fitness habit. Progressive mindset. Bonus points for a long-term reading habit.

5. Upright, kind, diligent, with proper values. Bonus points for a good family upbringing.

Just these five requirements.

Lin Chu was once again at a loss for words. ’This... I can’t even meet these standards myself.’ Still, the thought of a girl like that made the corners of his mouth lift into a slight smile.

’Zhang Peng, you really know what I like.’

He had to admit, Zhang Peng understood his aesthetic. If he could really hire a secretary who met these basic qualifications, it would be absolutely amazing.

To put it bluntly, the core idea behind these five criteria could be summed up in three words: "a good girl."

Did he need to recruit a "bad girl"? You could meet those anywhere. But this type was much harder to come by.

Of course, they definitely existed.

"Brother Chu, I’ve already screened these two résumés from nearly a hundred applications. I’ve spoken with both of them, and they seem pretty good. Take a look."

Below were two attached résumés.

Lin Chu casually opened the first one.

Name: Gu Jiayan.

’Whoa, that name. Sounds like her parents are pretty cultured.’

Gender: Female.

Age: 21.

Graduated from: Harbin Institute of Technology, Peng City Campus.

Major: Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.

Second Major: Psychology.

Lin Chu’s mouth twitched again. ’She has a fucking second major?’

’Kids these days are really in a rat race.’

But, to be fair, her major wasn’t exactly in high demand. ’Teaching Chinese and Psychology... seems like the most suitable path would be to become a teacher.’

However, it was incredibly difficult to get a teaching position in Peng City these days. Students from Qingbei and the Ivy League were all competing for those spots, and the salaries had dropped significantly.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

He hadn’t even finished reading the first résumé when a knock came at his office door.

"Come in!"

Zhang Peng pushed the door open a crack and smiled. "President Lin, the first interviewee is here. Gu Jiayan. She’s twenty minutes early, very punctual."

He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and lowered his voice. "Brother Chu, she’s gorgeous. Way better looking than her photo. I’m almost tempted to ask her to be a streamer—she’d definitely blow up. Want to take a look?"

Hearing him say that, Lin Chu’s curiosity was piqued.

’Just how gorgeous could she be?’

...

...