Chapter 18: I Want to Be Your Secretary

Yang Chen had not yet left the investment department when Sun Changying, Chairman of the Changhui Group, called him.

"Hello, Chairman Yang. We accept your proposal. We will treat our 30 billion investment as debt to the Sihai Group at a twenty percent discount. However, we need a supplementary agreement: if the Sihai Group goes bankrupt and enters liquidation, the entire stake in this project will be transferred to us as debt repayment. Is that acceptable?" Sun Changying asked.

Yang Chen was confident he could bring the massive Sihai Group under his control; there was no possibility of it ever facing bankruptcy and liquidation, so he could safely sign the supplementary agreement.

"That's fine. Come over and sign the agreement," Yang Chen replied.

Sun Changying immediately responded, "Very well. At three o'clock this afternoon, I will bring my team to the Sihai Group to sign the papers."

Yang Chen went to the real estate department and arrived at the office of Vice President Zhang Jinsong, who was in charge of real estate operations.

Zhang Jinsong hurriedly stood up to greet Yang Chen and even offered his own seat to him.

Yang Chen waved his hand and said, "I won't sit. I'm leaving as soon as I finish talking to you. At three o'clock this afternoon, the Chairman of Changhui Group will bring a team over to sign an agreement. They are handing over their stake in the Riverside Garden City project to us, calculated as debt at an eighty percent valuation."

"Ah? Chairman Yang, this... this is unwise. The project is stalled, and both sides have failed in their investment. If you take it over in the form of debt, we will be shouldering all the pressure and consequences," Zhang Jinsong analyzed.

Yang Chen smiled and replied, "Making 6 billion off them directly is a good deal. This is called 'bottom-fishing,' not an investment failure. One must take things one step at a time; don't be anxious. How do you know if the next turn won't reveal a brighter path? Besides, we are already carrying three trillion in debt; what's another 24 billion? Oh, right, the condition from Changhui is that if the Sihai Group goes bankrupt and liquidates, the entire project goes to them as debt repayment. Write that into the agreement. Do as I say. I am the one ultimately responsible; as long as you follow my instructions, you will never be the scapegoat."

Zhang Jinsong nodded and replied, "Understood, Chairman Yang. I know what to do."

Yang Chen nodded and left for the day.

At three o'clock, Yang Chen and Sun Changying signed the transfer agreement.

The Sihai Group acquired the 49% stake in the Riverside Garden City project held by the Changhui Group, valued at 24 billion in the form of debt.

Yang Chen smiled and said, "Chairman Sun, congratulations to your company for escaping this sea of misery."

"Escaping? Like hell I am. Who knows when you'll ever be able to pay back the debt? Sigh... just manage the Sihai Group well and make some money so you can pay us back that 24 billion sooner," Sun Changying said helplessly.

Sun Liansheng, standing nearby, finally understood why those creditors were so tolerant of Yang Chen. He now also hoped that Yang Chen could earn money quickly to pay back the Changhui Group.

Yang Chen was in a great mood—the more debt you have, the less it weighs on you.

"Haha... certainly, certainly. I won't see you out, Chairman Sun. Take care," Yang Chen said with a smile.

Sun Changying nodded and left with his team.

Easily swindling 6 billion—it felt wonderful. You can't go anywhere without money; he couldn't just mooch off others every day.

Yang Chen went to the finance department and drew 30,000 in advance from his monthly salary.

He sent Chen Xi a message, asking to meet so he could pay her back.

At eight o'clock that evening, Yang Chen met Chen Xi at the entrance of the Menlong Bar.

Yang Chen smiled and returned the money Chen Xi had lent him. He had actually considered waiting for her to ask for it so he could trigger a reward, but thinking of how difficult her life was, he decided to just return it voluntarily.

"Actually, you didn't have to pay me back so quickly. I get paid daily for singing, so I can support myself. You should have kept it for your own expenses. You're a man; it won't do to have no money on you," Chen Xi said thoughtfully.

Yang Chen smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, but I drew an advance on my salary today, so I have enough for food. You go on in; I won't keep you from your work."

Chen Xi nodded and waved at Yang Chen.

As Yang Chen turned to leave, Chen Xi hurried after him and asked, "I saw a job posting from the Sihai Group for a secretary to the Chairman. Is that for you?"

Yang Chen nodded and said, "Yes! I'm in urgent need of a secretary. Why, are you interested?"

Chen Xi nodded slightly, looking insecure, and said, "I... I do have an interest. I want to be your secretary, but I'm afraid I won't do a good job..."

"There's nothing difficult about it. Usually, it's just making me a cup of tea, answering calls, and doing the tasks I assign you," Yang Chen said with a smile.

The Sihai Group's reputation was currently rotten, and no one was applying for the job postings. Chen Xi was a legitimate graduate with a degree in secretarial studies, so giving her a try wouldn't hurt. If it worked out, she could stay; if not, he could replace her.

"Then... then I'll go apply tomorrow," Chen Xi said.

"I won't be at the office tomorrow. Let's interview you now. Tell me, between me and Daniel Wu, who is more handsome?" Yang Chen asked.

Chen Xi covered her mouth and giggled, then said with a straight face, "You are definitely more handsome."

"OK! A boss needs a secretary like you. Congratulations, you're hired. You can start tomorrow. Oh, right, I'm not going to the office tomorrow, so come directly to the villa to find me. OK?" Yang Chen said, smiling.

Chen Xi asked in surprise, "Is it that simple to get hired?"

"It was simple to begin with; you were the one overthinking it. I'm going to get something to eat; you go inside and work," Yang Chen said with a laugh.

Chen Xi nodded happily and waved goodbye to Yang Chen.

As luck would have it, this scene was witnessed by Sun Liansheng and his group.

Zhang Lei laughed and said, "Brother, did you see that? Someone collecting money. You should give up on her now, right?"

Guo Hai added fuel to the fire, saying, "Zhang Tao, it’s a pity you treated her like a goddess. I never expected her to be a cheap hooker."

Zhang Tao gritted his teeth and said nothing.

Sun Liansheng smiled, pulled out a stack of cash, and handed it to Zhang Tao. Putting on a look of righteous indignation, he said, "Brother, take this money and go fulfill your dreams. Since she's a hooker, just give her the money."

Zhang Lei chimed in, "You've seen the nature of these women while hanging out with us these past few days. All they want is money. Chen Xi is a prostitute anyway; if you give her enough, she'll definitely be willing to sleep with you."

Sun Liansheng patted Zhang Tao on the shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, enough talk. Let's go in and drink. I'm heading back to Northern Xinjiang tomorrow, so we have to drink to our hearts' content tonight."

The four men walked into the bar and opened a booth to start drinking.

Before long, Chen Xi took the stage to sing.

When she finished her song, the guests gave her a round of applause.

Zhang Tao stood up, waved the cash in his hand, and shouted, "I want to request a song! Play 'Eight Consecutive Kills'! This money is all yours!"

Chen Xi gritted her teeth and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know that one!"

Zhang Tao rushed to the stage with the money and threw it at Chen Xi.

"I have plenty of money, and it's all yours! Aren't you a hooker? What's with the high and mighty act? Do you think it's not enough? Don't worry, I can borrow more from my boss to satisfy your price," Zhang Tao said with a sneer.

They say love can turn into hate; this must be what that looks like.

The manager, Liu Rui, rushed over, but before he could speak, Zhang Lei shouted, "Manager Liu, why does your Menlong Bar hire a prostitute as a resident singer? Look, everyone, I accidentally filmed her trading with someone just now."

Zhang Lei pulled up the video he had secretly recorded of Yang Chen giving money to Chen Xi and showed it to the surrounding crowd. The onlookers immediately began to jeer.

"Whoa, it really is true! So they had a date set up, and they're going to a hotel after her shift?"

"Damn! Look at the thickness of that stack, at least two or three thousand. Isn't this guy driving up the market price?"

"Damn! I thought she looked like Liu Tianxian and was just as unworldly, but it turns out she's just someone who will do anything for money. Two thousand is two thousand, I want a turn too."

"Get in line, one by one."

"Haha..."

Chen Xi was so angry that tears began to stream down her face. She shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! I'm calling the police!"

"Go ahead and call the police! A hooker like you dares to call the police? I don't believe that for a second!" Zhang Tao yelled.

Chen Xi's sobbing was broadcast through the microphone throughout the entire bar.

"What do you people want? This is too much bullying. Boohoo..."

Just then, Yang Chen and the bar owner, Liu Hui, walked in laughing, only to hear Chen Xi’s crying.

Yang Chen had run into Liu Hui earlier while out for dinner, and Liu Hui had insisted that Yang Chen come over for a drink. He never expected to witness Chen Xi being bullied to the point of a breakdown.

Liu Hui glanced at Yang Chen and immediately shouted, "What's going on? Who is making trouble here?"

Everyone looked over; the music in the bar was cut, and the lights were turned on.

Seeing Yang Chen, Chen Xi burst into loud sobs.

Yang Chen looked at Sun Liansheng. Sun Liansheng immediately put on an innocent expression and said with a smile, "Don't look at me, it wasn't me."

Yang Chen casually picked up a bottle of alcohol from a nearby table and walked toward Sun Liansheng with a smile.

Sun Liansheng panicked, backing away as he said, "What are you doing? It really wasn't me! Don't get too cocky! I let you off the hook last time; if you dare hit me again, I promise I'll have you thrown in jail, and no amount of pleading will help!"

Zhang Tao immediately stood in front of Yang Chen and said, "I did it! If you've got guts, come at me!"