After his chat with Lin Chu, Zhang Peng called Gu Jiayan.

"President Lin is moving today and needs our help. Come on over. We’ll meet at the Sam’s Supermarket in Futian."

He said it with a smile. His tone wasn’t forceful; a test was a test, but one’s attitude was another matter.

In truth, this was well within an assistant’s job description.

"Huh? Right now?"

Gu Jiayan sounded a little surprised, and her tone held a hint of resistance.

’It’s already past six in the evening. The sky isn’t dark yet, but getting a request like this out of the blue is so annoying.’

Zhang Peng: "Yes. Don’t you have time?"

Gu Jiayan hesitated for a moment. "Okay, but it’ll take me at least an hour to get there. I live far away."

Zhang Peng: "Take a taxi. The company will reimburse you."

She: "Okay, I’ll get a taxi now."

After hanging up, Zhang Peng frowned slightly. ’This young woman’s compliance isn’t very high,’ he thought.

Of course, from a worker’s perspective, he would resist too. That was understandable.

But from his current position—and considering her twenty-thousand-yuan monthly salary as a recent graduate—that kind of compensation implicitly included overtime pay.

He once again felt he’d made a bad call with that "Purification" of his.

People who could be swayed by money were easy to handle.

People who couldn’t be easily swayed by money were truly difficult to handle.

In traditional culture, people who couldn’t be bought often seemed to have better moral character.

Refusing to bow for five pecks of rice had been considered a noble quality since ancient times.

Zhang Peng agreed with that point.

That had even been part of his initial considerations.

But for a company—a private enterprise, not a government job—having an employee who couldn’t be managed with money was quite a headache.

Zhang Peng: ’...Time to reflect and summarize.’

But the contract was already signed. He couldn’t just fire her.

’Well, there’s a three-month probation period. I’ll just have to wait and see,’ he thought.

...

He then called He Meng.

"President Lin is moving today and needs help. Come to the Sam’s Supermarket in Futian. Now."

He Meng: "Okay. Do I need to bring anything? I’ll head over right away, I’ll be there in half an hour at most."

Zhang Peng smiled. "No need. Just get here. I’ll wait for you."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Zhang Peng couldn’t help but sigh softly.

The contrast between the two women was stark.

’Maybe this is why Peking University is considered better than Harbin Institute of Technology?’ he grumbled inwardly, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Of course, the reasoning was a bit absurd.

The root cause lay in their differing ambitions, personalities, and priorities.

Gu Jiayan was the kind of girl who would forgo the campus recruitment season to care for an elderly family member—very filial. You could hardly call her a bad person.

He Meng, on the other hand, was extremely self-confident and much bolder, daring to approach the job interview with the mindset of a collaborator. Her sense of initiative was off the charts.

...

After Lin Chu sent out the message, the sign-up list in the group chat quickly grew to eight people.

This was an all-guys gym group. No women allowed.

’Looks like they really want to roll with me now,’ Lin Chu thought. ’They’re willing to show up even when it’s not for a night out at a club or bar.’

Li Kai: "Can I bring my girlfriend? Requesting permission."

Lin Chu: ?

He was a little stunned when he saw the message.

But he quickly replied: "Of course you can. Damn, that was fast?"

Li Kai replied: "Took your advice. I made my number one prospect official."

Lin Chu: ...

He couldn’t help but shake his head and smile.

’I’m not sure what his angle is,’ he mused. ’Maybe he’s just trying to save face, or maybe he’s trying to reassure me.’

But it didn’t matter anymore.

’Let him bring her.’

Lin Chu thought to himself, ’This time, even if she’s Liu Yifei, I won’t make a move. Even if she’s a green tea bitch, I’ll stay out of it. I’ll respect his taste and his destiny.’

Liu Junfeng: "Then I’ll bring someone too. I’ll bring girlfriend #1 and girlfriend #2 at the same time."

Lin Chu: ?

"Are you a fucking idiot? Don’t bring them. In fact, don’t you come either."

Liu Junfeng: "Hahaha, just kidding. I’ll just bring one. A flight attendant I just met. Haven’t made a move yet. I want to blow her mind with a bit of a rich-guy flex. Be my wingman, Brother Chu."

Lin Chu: "Alright, Boss Feng."

...

Lin Chu didn’t know that, at that moment, Li Kai had already sent Liu Junfeng a private message: "Holy shit! You’re really trying to set the big boss up with girls!"

Seeing the group chat, Li Kai had suddenly understood Liu Junfeng’s intentions. After all, they had DMed about this before.

Back then, he had just assumed Liu Junfeng was joking.

But now, Li Kai felt a genuine sense of shock.

’He’s actually capable of this!’

Liu Junfeng: "What, want me to find one for you too? Brother Kai, you want in?"

Li Kai: "Next time."

Liu Junfeng: "The hell with you! You really think you’re in a position to be picky? Know your fucking place."

Li Kai: "...I’ve chosen a location for my maid cafe."

Liu Junfeng’s tone changed in an instant: "Master Kai, hahahaha, my bad, my bad! Your little bro was wrong. Let me kowtow to you."

Li Kai: "Good boy. Behave."

...

「Meanwhile.」

Lin Chu received a private message from Lu Ming: "Bro, is everyone bringing their girlfriend? In that case, I’ll bring Xiaolu. But how are you going to handle Du Xiaoman? Those two are practically conjoined twins."

Lin Chu chuckled at the message.

As his crew of brothers grew and they stopped meeting at nightclubs, the added romantic entanglements were making get-togethers a real test of emotional intelligence.

"Don’t you worry about it," Lin Chu replied. "You just bring your Xiaolu. I’ll get in touch with Du Xiaoman."

Lu Ming: "Okay! Who else do you have coming? This is starting to sound a little spicy."

Lin Chu: "You worry too much. Mind your own business."

After ending the chat, Lin Chu did a mental rundown. It was true; for some reason, he also felt a thrill of excitement.

Sun Yu had signed up.

’I wonder if Tangtang will come,’ he thought.

Lin Xiwan wasn’t in the group, but their relationship was complicated. Of course, it was fine not to invite her; she’d given him three million, so she wouldn’t dare to turn on him now.

Then there was Du Xiaoman. If Xiaolu was coming, she’d probably find out about the party.

And both of his female assistants were coming. He had to consider the future, as well as their moral boundaries.

Tsk.

’Since I’m already testing their obedience, I might as well go all in.’

First, Lin Chu sent a message to Tangtang: "Your boyfriend is coming to my party tonight. Are you coming?"

Tangtang replied quickly: "Of course I am. I want to see you~"

Lin Chu: "Don’t come tonight. Come over to my place tomorrow."

She: "Hmm? Why?"

Lin Chu: "Seeing the two of you in front of me, holding fucking hands and acting all lovey-dovey... it’s disgusting. It makes me sick!"

She: "...I’m sorry. (smooch) I won’t go tonight then."

Lin Chu: "Mm, good girl."

One down.

Lin Chu then messaged Lin Xiwan: "I bought a new villa and I’m having a housewarming party tonight. Brother Kai said he’s bringing his new girlfriend—something about making his ’number one prospect’ official. You shouldn’t come, save you both the awkwardness."

She: "He’s such a scumbag. That girl is one of my best friends, and she’s liked him for a long time. Maybe I should go. Let’s see how they flaunt their new love, shall we?"

Lin Chu: "Piss off. Stop being a pain. I told you not to come, so don’t come. Do you have to be so dramatic?"

She: "Fine, fine. I’ll listen to you. I won’t go."

Lin Chu: "Mm, good girl."

Another one down.

Just as Lin Chu was about to message Du Xiaoman, a message from her came in: "Brother, Xiaolu says she’s going on a date with Lu Ming tonight. What are you guys up to?"

Lin Chu: "I bought a new villa and we’re having a housewarming, but it doesn’t even have furniture yet. Don’t come tonight. Wait until I get it set up, and in a couple of days, we can have a private housewarming, just the two of us."

She: "Okay... Wow, that’s amazing! But I really wanted to see you..."

Lin Chu: "Then how about I come find you at the girls’ dorm tonight?"

She: "There are other people in the dorm."

Lin Chu: "The athletic field, then?"

She: "(blushing)(blushing)"

Lin Chu: "So it’s the athletic field, huh? It’s a plan, then. I’ll come find you after things wrap up over here."

All of them handled.

Lin Chu felt like he was walking on air. He was a master of emotional manipulation, a veritable patriarch of players.

Sigh...

’To think I was once such a pure and innocent child...’

「Just then.」

Lin Chu received another message.

It was from Wang Zhefei: "Holy shit, you bought a villa in Swan Castle? Right next to my place?"

Lin Chu: "(goofy smile)(goofy smile) Yup."

Wang Zhefei: "Wait for me, I’m coming over to take a look. Wanna swap houses? I’ve never lived in a villa before. (sarcasm)"

Lin Chu laughed. ’This bastard’s train of thought is truly bizarre,’ he thought. ’Utterly shameless.’ "Bend over."

He replied: "Danger! I’m going to weld myself an iron chastity belt first thing tomorrow."

...

...