At that moment, Lin Chu was struck by the sheer genetic diversity of the human species.

He Meng was a completely different breed from the nightclub girls, the green tea bitches, the little teases, the sugar babies clinging to their men, and even women like Gu Jiayan.

She had an air about her that was a mix between a Daoist nun and a powerful career woman.

It was a refreshing change.

Besides...

Lin Chu also thought it would be a good thing for the company to foster some internal competition.

It was a boss’s instinct.

Of course, he had to consider Zhang Peng’s feelings in the matter—whether he’d feel slighted.

"She’s your pick, so you interview her. Have a good long talk. Focus on her specific approach if she were to take charge. What’s her projected success rate? What’s the ROI?"

"I have to step out for a bit."

"Report back to me tonight."

After a moment’s thought, Lin Chu said with a smile and headed for the door.

Zhang Peng watched Lin Chu leave and let out a soft sigh.

He understood what Lin Chu meant.

’I trust you, so you can decide whether she stays or goes. But you’d better be worthy of that trust. Make your decision impartially.’

Zhang Peng knew, of course, that if the girl was truly exceptional and a great fit for the company—to the point where he felt his own position was threatened—he could easily eliminate her during the interview.

But doing so would definitely cost him points with Brother Chu.

"Come with me. Let’s talk in more detail."

Zhang Peng glanced at her, his expression calm as he spoke.

The business was important.

The company was important, too.

But what mattered most were the people and the relationships between them.

’To be honest,’ he thought, ’I’m a bit out of my depth as general manager right now.’

’But Brother Chu gave me a chance to grow.’

’It was all because of his trust.’

’You can develop skills, but trust... that’s hard to build and easy to break.’

He Meng, looking thoughtful, watched Lin Chu’s back for a few seconds before quickly following Zhang Peng into the meeting room.

...

After leaving the office, Lin Chu headed to the gym to get his daily workout in.

When he got to the gym, he was surprised to find Lin Xiwan there. She was focused on her squats like any other member, her glutes looking incredible.

’What the...’

’She didn’t even tell me she’d secretly gotten a membership?’

’Unbelievable.’

’This woman is something else. So hard to read.’

’The average guy wouldn’t stand a chance against her.’

Even after they slept together, she remained reserved. She wasn’t clingy and didn’t initiate contact, making sure they both had plenty of space.

"What are you doing here?"

Lin Chu took the water bottle Wang Lei handed him and walked over, greeting her casually.

"I was missing you, but I was afraid you were busy and didn’t want to bother you. Figured I’d work out instead."

"See? When two people are on the same wavelength, they’re bound to run into each other."

She finished her squats and wiped the sweat from her forehead, her smile brilliant.

Lin Chu... Tsk.

’She was obviously here waiting for me, but she had to make it sound so romantic.’

"Yep, just got out of the office. Came to get my daily workout in," Lin Chu said casually.

The more she acted like this, the more vigilant Lin Chu became.

’I can see right through all these feminine wiles now.’

"Alright then, you go get started... Need any help?"

Lin Chu smiled and waved a hand. "No thanks. You do your thing. I’m not as advanced as you are. Besides, the trainer’s right there."

She pouted. "Alright, I’ll go swimming later."

Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh. "Sounds good."

He walked over to Wang Lei and started hammering out his leg day workout with a CLANG.

Wang Lei glanced over, mentally filing away the woman’s face. He was amazed. ’The boss is never with a woman who isn’t gorgeous!’

’And every single one of them has her own unique charm.’

’What kind of heavenly life is this?’

As usual, after his strength training and stretching, Lin Chu headed for the pool, changing into his trunks in the locker room.

She was the only one in the shimmering blue pool, a perfectly shaped peach bobbing rapidly across the water’s surface.

Lin Chu was suddenly reminded of the white bikini at the Wanhao Hotel pool. He’d only caught a fleeting glimpse of it and had never seen it again.

He was lost in thought when a sudden chill hit him as she splashed him with water.

"Hurry up and get in... let’s race."

She wiped the water from her face and leaned forward slightly. Her bikini top strained under the immense pressure, looking like it was about to give way.

Lin Chu’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He dove in with a huge SPLASH.

’Damn it! How is a man supposed to resist a test like this?’

...

She was an expert diver, so swimming was second nature to her.

After swimming a few laps, Lin Chu leaned against the side to rest.

She quickly swam over. Her eyes scanned Lin Chu’s chest before she suddenly reached out and poked him.

Lin Chu said, "Don’t get handsy. This is a public pool, not a private resort."

"There are security cameras up there."

’Holy crap,’ Lin Chu suddenly realized, ’this pool doesn’t even have a lifeguard. It would definitely fail an inspection. Then again, I’ve only been in charge for less than a month, and we haven’t had any inspections or complaints yet.’

’Still, I should hire one. No point asking for trouble.’

"I didn’t do anything... How about I go underwater?"

She licked her lips, her voice seductive.

Lin Chu: ?

True to her word, she took a deep breath and dove under.

For a freediver, holding one’s breath was a basic skill.

About a minute later.

Lin Chu had to admit... ugh... her fundamentals were truly solid.

...

Surfacing, her face was flushed, and she was panting heavily.

Once her breathing steadied, she pursed her lips in a smile. "Too bad this isn’t my place."

"Hey, Boss, can I talk to you about something?"

Hearing this, Lin Chu’s heart skipped a beat. ’Here it comes,’ he thought, ’the pillow talk.’

’Even though we’re in a pool, it’s still pillow talk.’

’It’s a man’s timeless weakness.’

’When certain parts get hard, the heart gets soft. When those same parts get soft, the heart gets hard.’

"Go ahead."

She wrapped her arms around his and whined, "Boss, I lost so much money in the stock market this year, it breaks my heart. You’re so good at making money, won’t you teach a girl how to invest...?"

She snuggled closer, rubbing against him.

Lin Chu chuckled. "A girl your size is hardly a child... Besides, I don’t know anything about it. I wouldn’t dare touch stocks."

’Still, there’s no doubt she’s a smart woman.’

’Look how she phrased that so nicely—’teach me how to invest.’’

"I’m thinking of pulling all my money out of the market. It’s probably a little over two million, maybe almost three? It’s my whole life’s savings..."

She continued, her voice wavering, her eyes glistening as she gazed at him.

Lin Chu couldn’t resist reaching out and tilting her chin up. "Well, now. With all that money, why don’t you keep me as your boy toy...?"

’She really understands the principle of ’to take, one must first give.’’

But what annoyed Lin Chu a little was the thought—’Are you really so sure I’m a good guy? What if this is a romance scam?’

’Fuck.’

"Please, I’m begging you... save me... Let me in on one of your projects. Any project is fine. Even if I lose it all, I won’t blame you, Boss~"

She said, looking more pitifully endearing by the second.

Lin Chu: ...

Seeing her like this, Lin Chu actually felt a stir of temptation.

It wasn’t that he was touched; it was admiration.

He admired her transactional thinking—she stated exactly what she wanted and what she was willing to give in return.

It was strangely reassuring.

"Fine, transfer the money to me. When a suitable project comes up, I’ll cut you in. Should we sign a loan agreement or an investment contract?"

Lin Chu said with a nonchalant smile, testing her one more time.

She gave him a coquettish smile, her eyes shimmering. "Let’s sign the contract in bed."

Lin Chu: ...

’Damn, when it comes to being shameless, she really takes the cake.’

...

...