The two men, one pushing from below and the other pulling from above, managed to bring the terrified woman, who was full of river water, ashore. As soon as Shang Kun put her down, she collapsed to the ground, seemingly paralyzed. Shang Kun didn't even bother to look at her; he rushed back to pull Lin Weiping up, only to find her clinging tightly to the riverbank, her wet head resting on her arms, her eyes weakly closed. Shang Kun immediately said, "Xiao Lin, let me pull you up." Lin Weiping, without even opening her eyes, said, "Let me rest a bit; my limbs are weak." Shang Kun figured she must be overly tense and exerted too much, so he ignored her and, while holding Lin Weiping's arm, said, "If you need to rest, come up here. The river water is still cold; don't catch a cold." Lin Weiping, dragged ashore, was in no less disheveled than the woman who had fallen into the water. Shang Kun knew that if he let go, Lin Weiping would collapse to the ground like that woman. With a great effort, Shang Kun carried Lin Weiping into the car. As he put her down and turned on the heater, Shang Kun noticed that the once sharp and shrewd woman before him was now pale, her eyes slightly closed, looking incredibly frail. Her wet white shirt clung to her body, outlining the graceful curves of a young woman. Only her lips remained tightly pressed together, maintaining her defiant attitude. Shang Kun was stunned for a moment, then quickly composed himself, closed the car door, and went to the riverbank to collect Lin Weiping's clothes and shoes that she had left there. Upon seeing him, the woman struggled to her feet and said, "Brother, please have mercy, my car is still in the river, please help..."
Shang Kun was both amused and exasperated, wondering what Lin Weiping would think if he knew that the first thing the rescued woman said after waking up was this.
Just then, Shang Kun's friend arrived in a car. Seeing Lin Weiping, soaking wet and feigning sleep under her coat, and then looking at Shang Kun, whose suit jacket was half-soaked, his face full of smiles, Shang Kun knew what he was thinking. He gestured towards the riverbank and said, "We've saved someone! She's still lying in the hay. Go see for yourself, so you won't doubt my story." Shang Kun wasn't worried about what his friend might say; they'd been friends for years and had shared all sorts of dirty jokes. He was just worried that his friend would act so shamelessly in front of Lin Weiping, and that an unmarried girl like her might not be able to handle it. However, Shang Kun also honestly admitted that before today, he wouldn't have considered this for the domineering Lin Weiping. But just now, seeing her delicate face, he suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness.
After the police officers finished their questioning, one of them even went to Lin Weiping to praise and offer a few words of comfort. Shang Kun watched the young policeman's serious face as he addressed Lin Weiping, who simply smiled broadly and repeatedly said, "It's my duty, it's my duty." He thought to himself that besides those three words, "It's my duty," she must have other things on her mind. Sure enough, after the police car left, Lin Weiping's first words to him upon entering made him smile knowingly: "Was the first thing that girl said to you wanting us to retrieve her bicycle?"
Shang Kun's friend leaned in and interjected, "Wouldn't she be that heartless? At least she should say thank you." Shang Kun didn't dare look at Lin Weiping anymore, his eyes nervously fixed on his friend, "If she had that kind of emergency response ability, she wouldn't have been fighting with the dump truck to cross the bridge. Okay, you wait here, I'll take Xiao Lin home to change her clothes and then come back." Lin Weiping immediately straightened up and said, "No need, I always keep a suitcase in the back, I'll change my clothes at the temporary housing on the construction site later." Shang Kun's friend was considerate, leaning out the window and asking, "Are you sure you can manage? Why don't you just go home and rest?" Lin Weiping smiled and said, "Didn't you see that President Shang said he'd come back after taking me to change my clothes? I think it's better to save the trouble of going back and forth, I can get things done quickly so I can go home and rest early." As soon as she said it, she immediately realized that her tone was very abnormal, as if it contained a hint of ambiguous anger. Based on her interactions with Shang Kun, everything had always been business-like, and they didn't seem to have reached that level of familiarity yet. But knowing that the words had already been spoken and could not be taken back, she could only shrink back and pretend to be tired, not looking at the two men's reactions. She knew that with their shrewdness, they would not be completely oblivious, and she felt a great sense of regret.
When Lin Weiping reappeared, she was wearing a relatively casual black and white striped cardigan and jeans. Her hair, though not dry, was already tied in a ponytail. She hesitated for a moment while tying it, but considering the ambiguous words she had just uttered, she decided it was better to be more serious and less feminine now to avoid misunderstandings. Fortunately, Shang Kun's friend wasn't a petty person. Upon seeing Lin Weiping, he immediately stepped forward, handed her his business card, and introduced himself, saying, "Just call me Lao Zhou. It'll be nauseating for everyone around us to see us flattering each other like that, since I call you President Lin and you call me President Zhou. We're different from A-Kun; we have no superior-subordinate relationship, just friends."
From Lao Zhou's words, Lin Weiping could tell that the two of them had already discussed her matter while she was changing clothes. Judging from Lao Zhou's attitude, Shang Kun must have praised her highly in his words, otherwise, given Lao Zhou's power and status, he would not be so polite to an ordinary person. He smiled and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony, Lao Zhou. The reason I invited you out is to let you see the site and get a firsthand feel for it. You see, the line where our two companies meet isn't short, it's about seventy meters long. My idea is for each of us to set back two meters, leaving a four-meter pedestrian walkway in the middle. We won't need walls on either side, but rather create a continuous row of street-front buildings. These street-front buildings can be named Canteen One, Canteen Two, Canteen Three, etc., and leased to small businesses like snack shops and fast food restaurants. We won't need to build our own canteens. Look at our current factory layout plan. The current office building and dormitory building are two meters away from the wall, and those two meters require landscaping and maintenance—it's an investment with no return. So, although we're setting back two meters, it won't affect the actual use of the land. Besides, we can still build office buildings and dormitories on top of the street-front buildings. The biggest difference isn't just that we get an extra lease fee; what I value most is that we save a lot of logistical work. I didn't know what your factory's plan was, so I asked General Manager Shang to invite you out to take a look."
Upon hearing this, Lao Zhou slapped the blueprints and said, "I wholeheartedly support this! Our company's union even set up a small employee mutual aid shop where the female workers buy snacks every day. We can move it to a street-front shop later, using our own space. As long as we install two doors at both ends, and say it's a shared service area for our two companies, no one can find fault with us. I think this development zone is so far from the city center, and even the nearest town isn't close. Opening a pedestrian street like this will definitely have a market. Great, Ah Kun, do you have any objections? Let's just go with it then. Anyway, we're from the same architectural design institute. I'll go over with Xiao Lin later to coordinate the style of the two buildings. I think we can start building as soon as we get the blueprints. Our site staff are always complaining about not having food. Solving this problem will make them feel more at ease staying here."
Lin Weiping knew that anyone who had experienced the agonizing pain of logistics would agree with this win-win idea. Sure enough, judging from Lao Zhou's decisive attitude, he was incredibly fond of the idea. With Lao Zhou's support, Shang Kun would undoubtedly gain a deeper appreciation for Lin Weiping's shrewdness. Moreover, this income would be quite flexible in the future. Now that Shang Kun's friend had joined, Shang Kun would have a clear understanding of whether the income was high or low, preventing future suspicions of favoritism. Suspicion regarding money is the easiest way to have negative consequences; everything you do in the future will be viewed negatively, and you'll never have a clean record again.
Shang Kun laughed, "If it weren't a good idea, why would I dare ask someone as busy as you to come out here and get dusty? Since our two bigwigs have decided this way, we'll issue a revised notice tomorrow and have our respective civil engineering managers go to the design institute. Old Zhou, you can't shake your impatient temper. Have your subordinates handle some small matters; don't do everything yourself." Lin Weiping thought this made sense, and she thought the same thing. To be honest, she really didn't want to schedule a time to go to the design institute with Old Zhou, because that was a responsibility she had assigned to the civil engineering department, and she didn't want to break the rules. But since Shang Kun was so willing to let go, why did he insist on personally handling the business license? If there wasn't anything underhanded, something that could be explained in a few words shouldn't have been handled by Shang Kun himself at the government office. Thinking of this, Lin Weiping became slightly suspicious. Fortunately, the 10% equity stake, or the 3 million IOU, hadn't been issued to him yet, so she was still free and had a way out.
Before parting, Lao Zhou earnestly invited her to dinner, but Lin Weiping declined, saying she had plans with her boyfriend. She watched as Shang Kun got into Lao Zhou's car and they drove off together. On her way home, Lin Weiping vaguely felt that using this excuse seemed to be a declaration of something, not only to them but also to her own feelings. She quickly called Gong Chao, asking him to wait for her at his workplace after get off work so they could have dinner together.
First, they went into a Brazilian barbecue restaurant, but the overwhelming smell of cooking oil made them back away in a panic. Next, they went to KTV, which was already packed, with several people waiting behind each table with plates. Finally, they listened to Gong Chao and went to an open-air food stall by the river. The late spring night was no longer chilly; sitting outdoors, they could smell the flowers, see the bright moon, and occasionally a motorboat would clatter by, drowning out the singing of a little girl busking along the tables. After ordering, before the food even arrived, Gong Chao had already poured two glasses of beer and looked at Lin Weiping with a beaming smile, saying, "Weiping, you have to congratulate me; my resort design won an award."
Lin Weiping was startled and couldn't help but say, "Didn't you say there was no hope? You didn't even try to pull any strings. It seems your abilities are truly undeniable. Hmm, I'll drink this all, to share the joy with you." Lin Weiping knew that Gong Chao's work was submitted along with their dean's, originally intended as a substitute to help the dean secure a prize. Now that he had won, he wondered how the dean felt. If the dean had failed, Gong Chao's future would be difficult. After downing a glass, he immediately asked, "So, how is your dean? What was his attitude?"
Gong Chao smiled and said, "The dean didn't win the award and stayed in his office all day. So everyone was hesitant to make too much noise. I was just thinking of sharing this news with you as soon as possible. But when I called your office after hearing the news, you weren't there. I figured you were probably busy, so I was going to contact you again tonight. And then you called. Don't worry about the dean. In our line of work, we rely on our skills. With this big award, other design institutes will start trying to poach me starting tomorrow. I won't have to put up with their attitudes; they'll have to put in some effort to win me over." It turns out every profession has its own rules.
Lin Weiping hummed in agreement. Talking to Gong Chao felt like talking to an old friend; he didn't need to think and there was no pressure. While pouring Gong Chao a drink, he thought for a moment and then spoke up, "You should also congratulate me. I rescued a woman on my way to the construction site today and got praised by the police. I've received more praise than all the times I handed over pennies to the police when I was a kid. But after rescuing her, I was so scared I didn't have the strength to climb ashore myself. I had to be pulled up with great effort. My heroic image doesn't seem very impressive."
Gong Chao was shocked. He grabbed Lin Weiping's hand holding the chopsticks, looked her over for a moment, and said, "No wonder you looked so tired earlier. It's all because of that. In the future, you should be more careful with these kinds of things. You're a girl, you're not strong enough, and you weren't prepared. If someone had gotten entangled in the water, no one would have dared to rescue you. You... never mind, I'll take you home after dinner, get some sleep to recover, and don't drink any alcohol today." He took Lin Weiping's wine glass and placed it in front of him, still holding Lin Weiping's hand tightly with his other hand, and said somewhat dejectedly, "I knew it. If you called me, something must have happened. You're talking about it so casually now, but you must have been on the verge of death. It's a pity you have your own personality and your own life, and I can't help you. But Weiping, I like people with your independent personality. I may not have much else, but I've achieved some success in my career. You just do what you love, and I'm willing to be your safe haven."
Lin Weiping knew in her heart that she had called Gong Chao to escape something or to prove something. Now, after hearing Gong Chao's honest confession, she knew he was sincere. She felt a pang of guilt, which was quickly overshadowed by gratitude. Thinking of Gong Chao's support when she had a falling out with the second wife not long ago, and his companionship during her lowest point, she felt a mix of emotions. She couldn't help but reach out her other hand to cover Gong Chao's hand, and said softly, slightly shyly, "Okay, I'll remember your words." Lin Weiping knew that these words implied a promise, but now she felt that being with Gong Chao was something worth looking forward to, and a promise was necessary.
Gong Chao was overjoyed. He knew Lin Weiping was a bit shy, but he hadn't expected her to be so straightforward. He was truly delighted. In addition, he had won a major award, making it a double celebration. He was so happy that he danced with joy. Throughout the meal, he was the only one who could be heard laughing and talking loudly. What was rare was that he kept making witty remarks, which impressed Lin Weiping.
eight
Driving to work this morning, seeing the company's business license on the back seat made me feel uneasy. I really couldn't understand Shang Kun's intentions. Lin Weiping could think of two possibilities. One was that the major shareholder, the American company Carlton, might be Shang Kun's company in the US, and the chairman and directors listed might be fictitious, or even if they were, they would be Shang Kun's puppets. The other possibility was that Shang Kun had decided to withdraw from the SWS project and had already transferred his share to Carlton. But judging from his active participation yesterday, the possibility of him giving up was relatively small. Besides, if he had really transferred his shares and had already produced the business license, Carlton would have sent a team to conduct an on-site inspection. It's not like they would invest tens of millions of yuan and not even bother to take a look. So, the former possibility was more likely.
Upon entering the company, Lin Weiping first checked the tasks assigned, then immediately closed the door and continued reviewing the articles of association. If we consider the fact that Shang Kun owns Yikelton Company, one thing is very easy to understand: he must want to take advantage of the tax benefits for foreign-invested enterprises. Given the export volume of Shang Kun's companies, manipulating prices, transferring funds abroad to open a company, and then reinvesting back in China to enjoy the policy benefits would be very simple. However, this is certainly not the most complete reason; otherwise, Shang Kun should have legally and explicitly declared his ownership by placing his name in the chairman's position. But after thoroughly reviewing the articles of association, agreements, and original and duplicate copies of the business license, Shang Kun's name was nowhere to be found, and even the difficult-to-pronounce director names didn't seem like direct translations from Chinese. What exactly was his purpose in doing so? What impact would this have on Lin Weiping's 10% shareholding?
When it came to matters involving huge sums of money, Lin Weiping didn't dare to be lazy. She took out a piece of paper and clearly marked each possibility and the corresponding possible consequences based on conventional reasoning. Then she compared these to Shang Kun's recent behavior, removing anything that seemed unreasonable to Shang Kun. After scribbles and marks for a while, it wasn't until lunchtime that she finally managed to find the most likely clue from the dense circled red and black lines on the paper: Shang Kun had secretly transferred funds abroad and then invested them back in China under an assumed name. There were three possible reasons for doing everything so secretly: first, to enjoy the tax benefits of foreign-invested companies, which Lin Weiping found understandable and supported; second, to be able to manipulate Lin Weiping's situation, and if that didn't work, to find a foreigner to remove her as a major shareholder without having to worry about Shang Kun's previous promises. This isn't impossible. When the company is under construction and in trial production, Shang Kun truly can't do without her, so he can let Lin Weiping do whatever she wants. But once the company is on track and starting to make a profit, things are hard to say. The practice of "crossing the river and burning the bridge" and "the rabbit dies, the hound is cooked" is all too common; didn't she just encounter it herself? Thirdly, Shang Kun might have some unavoidable trouble, needing to transfer assets under various pretexts, like a cunning rabbit with multiple burrows, to avoid being wiped out if something goes wrong. This third possibility doesn't seem to have much to do with Lin Weiping at the moment. If Shang Kun really had this intention, he certainly wouldn't frequently interfere with the SWS project, and he might even consciously avoid contact with Lin Weiping and the company. For Lin Weiping, in the short term, it's just not bad. Thinking about Shang Kun walking out of the company yesterday, avoiding everyone's attention to get into Lin Weiping's car, this third possibility is quite telling.
Considering Shang Kun's worldliness and ability, Lin Weiping was more inclined to believe that Shang Kun had considered all three points, and there might be others she hadn't yet considered. If we only consider these three points, Lin Weiping believed that Shang Kun currently feared her more than she feared him. As long as she didn't sign the three million IOU, Shang Kun had no means to control her. But once she signed, it would be like falling into Shang Kun's trap, forced to share his hardships and independently support the company's development until Shang Kun eliminated her. The business world is like a battlefield; nothing is impossible. One shouldn't harbor malicious intent, but one must always be wary. Therefore, Lin Weiping decided to delay signing the IOU as long as possible, avoiding it altogether if possible. Taking advantage of this chaos, she would first gain exclusive control of the company's most crucial resources as a safety net, preparing for any potential problems that might arise later.
So, starting that afternoon after the conclusion was reached, Lin Weiping became busy. She began to handle many things personally, solving the problems her subordinates encountered. Her subordinates breathed a sigh of relief, finally no longer having to worry about dealing with unfamiliar issues every day. Only Lin Weiping herself knew that she was putting Shang Kun to her own devices, believing that Shang Kun would sit back and wait for her to come to him with the business license and demand an explanation. If she couldn't resist and confront him, then the initiative would be in Shang Kun's hands, and she would be at his mercy. No. Her lack of reaction only made Shang Kun more anxious. Whoever was more anxious would lose the initiative.
However, for some reason, Shangkun called the next afternoon to invite me to dinner that evening. Since he was already there, I figured I might as well go. I wasn't worried about what he might do; I was prepared to improvise.
This time, Lin Weiping insisted on making the reservation herself, arriving first to order. She then sat there, glancing around as Shang Kun approached. Logically, even without immense wealth, such a man would be an outstanding individual—a university graduate from a time when university graduates were extremely scarce after the Cultural Revolution, from a cadre family, over 1.75 meters tall, with regular features and an imposing presence. She believed many women would be interested in him. Lin Weiping, recalling her awkwardness at the construction site that day, felt a chill run down her spine. Dealing with this kind of person was difficult to understand, exhausting, and men of his age usually had families, wives, and children; getting involved in such a complicated situation would likely end badly.
Shang Kun sat down and got straight to the point, saying very directly, "I gave you the business license the day before yesterday, and I gave you a day to consider it yesterday. Today I want to hear your thoughts." His tone was blunt and self-righteous, giving Lin Weiping the feeling that he was the one crying wolf. He wanted to hear his thoughts? What thoughts? Did he not know? Why bother asking?
Lin Weiping gave him a puzzled look and laughed, "Oh right, I just remembered, the name 'General Manager Shang' wasn't in there. But I had dinner with friends very late that day, and the next day I gave the documents to them for tax registration. I really didn't look at it carefully. What, General Manager Shang personally came to our aid, do I still have any questions?" The best way to avoid a direct answer is to pass the buck back to the other party. In the past, when clients tried every means to find out the bottom price of her products, she always used a Tai Chi-like approach to deflect them, even asking them to state their target price first.
Just as Shang Kun was about to speak, a woman's hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. A middle-aged woman pressed down on Shang Kun, seemingly asserting her dominance, but her eyes defiantly fixed on Lin Weiping. After sizing her up for a while, she said, "Hmm, a white-collar worker, dreaming of leaping over the dragon gate with that?" This woman was probably Shang Kun's wife. Middle-aged women, unless they're sophisticated and have some money, are often adorned with jewelry from head to toe, and this woman was no exception; she could be described as a glittering Christmas tree. Lin Weiping remained silent. She knew this kind of woman would love for her to argue, so she could have a legitimate reason to slap the vixen in her mind. She'd seen too many like this; they all behaved the same way. If Shang Kun was a sensible person, he would handle it. However, Lin Weiping hoped Shang Kun wouldn't be so quick-witted; she could simply excuse herself and avoid the conflict before her.
Shang Kun showed no anger or annoyance, but said calmly, "You're here too? Perfect, let's have dinner together, have a seat." As the woman sat down, he said to Lin Weiping, "Xiao Lin, this is my wife, her surname is Pan." Lin Weiping simply gave a slight bow, a polite smile, and a "hello." Since Shang Kun was so meticulous in his actions, personally altering the business license—a clear indication of his avoidance—he certainly didn't want his wife involved in company affairs, so there was no need to cultivate that relationship. Besides, Lin Weiping disliked dealing with such arrogant rich women. Shang Kun's next words made Lin Weiping secretly suspicious: "This is Miss Lin, currently in charge of the SWS project's preparation. I just transferred my shares to Carlton Company, and Miss Lin is now in charge. She is the vice chairman and general manager of the new company."
Shang Kun's wife didn't seem entirely convinced. She gave Lin Weiping a meaningful look, then turned to Shang Kun and said, "Xiao Liao said you were very optimistic about this project. Why did you withdraw without a word?" Lin Weiping thought to herself, "That's right. Judging from this situation, there's no communication between Shang Kun and his wife. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked that question. However, it's also possible that they're putting on an act for her, to show her, an outsider, that even his wife doesn't know, and that Shang Kun isn't intentionally keeping it from her." Regardless, it seems Liao Huizheng was being nosy. Why should the boss's wife know about his business? If they want to communicate, they can do it themselves at home behind closed doors. Why should Liao Huizheng, an outsider, interfere? What if it's something Shang Kun doesn't want his wife to know?
Shang Kun didn't look at Lin Weiping or his wife. Instead, he watched the waitress serve the cold dishes and said, "The company is currently facing a funding gap. Several processing orders didn't go well, resulting in significant losses. I think it's more important to protect the main base. New projects are a bottomless pit. The company can come up with funds when things are going well, but it's better to sell when things aren't. Fortunately, land in this industrial park is in high demand, and the project is good. Carlton Company will take over immediately, otherwise I would really be stuck with it. By the way, the finance department said you submitted over ten thousand yuan for catering expenses last month, plus your monthly allowance of five thousand yuan. Where do you spend so much in a month? What's going on?" Lin Weiping heard Shang Kun's tone, which sounded like he was scolding a child. She wanted to make an excuse to leave, but then realized this was Shang Kun's way of getting rid of his wife. She couldn't help but want to see how she would react, so she continued to watch silently. However, she still thought that what Shang Kun said to his wife wasn't entirely true. The preparatory office had plenty of funds now, and the Carlton Company was actually all funded by Shang Kun himself. It's likely that the few processing orders he mentioned that didn't perform well were actually export processing orders used to transfer funds abroad. If what he's saying is true, then his biggest purpose in transferring funds is obvious: he's planning a divorce.
His wife, upon hearing this, became uneasy and said with a forced smile, "Isn't it because they've been nagging me to treat them? It wasn't easy for our son to get into No. 1 High School. They all say he got in based on his own merit, and he's the first among my siblings and children. I'm happy too. Alright, I won't bother you any longer. Xiao Liu is treating us here today, so I'll head over." Shang Kun remained silent, watching her leave and enter a private room before picking up his chopsticks to eat.
Lin Weiping remained silent. When someone is caught in an awkward situation, they usually need time to adjust. He figured Shang Kun would just have to suffer in silence for a while. With this backdrop, he believed Shang Kun's momentum wouldn't be as strong as when he arrived; at least his carefully laid plans had already been somewhat undermined by his wife. However, her wishful thinking quickly backfired. Shang Kun complained, "Xiao Lin, are all the dishes you ordered these annoying things like small fish and clams? No way, this meal is on me. I want meat." He then beckoned a waitress over and ordered braised pork with preserved vegetables. He added, "A dish without meat is simply unappetizing. Xiao Lin, after seeing what just happened, you should already understand my purpose in creating the Carlton Company, right?" He then glared sharply at Lin Weiping.
Lin Weiping was caught off guard by his words. She hadn't expected him to be talking about meat one minute and then so directly laying the issue on the table the next, completely ignoring his wife's harassment and turning a disadvantage into an advantage. He was truly a seasoned veteran, even if she was a vixen, her cultivation was still five hundred years longer than Lin Weiping's. Lin Weiping understood that she couldn't avoid the issue any longer. Under Shang Kun's aggressive questioning, she had no choice but to fight back and state her position. Of course, she wouldn't obediently answer everything he said; Shang Kun certainly didn't expect that. "Uh, Mr. Shang, this is your family matter, and I'm afraid I shouldn't interfere." Since Shang Kun hadn't stated that he was transferring assets to get a divorce, she couldn't point it out, but the phrase "family matter" already indicated that she knew the truth.
Seeing that Lin Weiping's expression remained unchanged, Shang Kun secretly praised her. Most women liked to act feminine in front of him, reacting with surprise and irritability, but Lin Weiping was a refreshing sight. However, he intentionally dispelled the tense atmosphere between them, and said with a smile, "I really didn't know how to explain this to you. You should know this is a very awkward matter." In just a few words, he lowered his stance to avoid making Lin Weiping too tense.
Lin Weiping could only force a smile and say, "I'm an outsider, and I have no connection with President Shang's past, so some things are really hard to understand. But it's good, at least my stance is easier to maintain, and I won't be prone to making a fuss." Liao Huizheng's dismissal, besides his incompetence, must also be due to his deep involvement in Shang Kun's circle and his inability to control his loose tongue. Therefore, Lin Weiping felt she should make a proper statement. "However, in such a sensitive period, I think I should still issue the IOU for 10% of the shares to the chairman of Carlton Company, hoping to discuss and sign it in person with the chairman." Since simply avoiding the issue was no longer possible, she had to take the initiative. Lin Weiping believed that the so-called chairman of Carlton might not actually show up, but she had to set this price. Otherwise, she would be completely controlled by Shang Kun, and she would definitely suffer losses when she cooperated in bargaining.
Shang Kun was well aware of Lin Weiping's cunning intentions, but he wasn't offended. Instead, he admired her wit. Since Lin Weiping had made things clear upfront, it meant she wasn't the type to resort to underhanded tactics later. On the contrary, experience told Shang Kun that those who made grand promises to his face were often unreliable. So he smiled gently and said, "You don't need to make things difficult for me, knowing full well that this is impossible. However, I understand your concerns. I've already considered this beforehand, which is why I've only agreed to give you a share of the phantom stock. Because when cooperating with a competitor with an unclear background, anyone with a modicum of sense would hesitate, but I have no choice but to do this, so I have to ask you to compromise. But the conditions I promised you before remain unchanged: 10% of the phantom stock is what's stated in the articles of association as yours, and for the remaining 5%, I won't treat you unfairly. We can sign the agreement today, binding all of these terms together, so everyone understands the situation."
The situation had come full circle, seemingly back to square one. After all that had happened, Lin Weiping had no choice but to willingly accept Shang Kun's offer of a 15% stake. Lin Weiping felt a bit helpless. Although he felt it was much better than signing a three million IOU, the thought that everything was under Shang Kun's control—his efforts were like watching Sun Wukong somersault in his palm—made him admire Shang Kun's superior skills, but he could only sigh that he was ultimately at a disadvantage due to his youth and inexperience. He had been too naive when he agreed, not considering the underlying issues. He immediately asked the young lady for paper and drafted the agreement on the spot. A 15% stake wasn't low; without the previous turmoil, it would have been a good price. Now that things had come to this, he had to mend the fence after the sheep were lost and resolve the agreement quickly. But while the 10% stake could be resolved, the source of the remaining 5% was unclear. "Mr. Shang, how do you plan to guarantee that 5%? Will you provide a guarantee or something?"
Shang Kun said readily, "You can write it clearly that this five percent will be paid by me, Shang Kun, personally based on the company's profits. Only by writing it this way, without linking it to Carlton Company, can your interests be guaranteed."
Lin Weiping pondered for a moment, and indeed, this was the only way to protect her interests. Frankly, this agreement was a gentleman's agreement; if it went to court, considering the illegitimacy of the reason for signing it, the court might not recognize its validity. However, in the future, Shang Kun would have a large portion of his assets in her hands (Q). As long as it remained within a few years before and after his divorce, he probably wouldn't dare to do anything to Lin Weiping. Otherwise, Lin Weiping could easily fight to the death, letting his wife benefit. Shang Kun now had no choice but to try and win her over, and he was being generous, offering to add the five percent himself, leaving Lin Weiping with no reason to object.
Shang Kun only looked up at Lin Weiping with satisfaction after signing the two duplicate copies of the agreement, saying, "To be honest, I never thought of using a woman as the manager of the new company before, but you have a manly and assertive style, and you also have a good reputation in the industry, so I'm officially considering using you. But what made me decide to tell you the truth tonight is your act of saving someone from drowning. I should have come to you yesterday, but I was torn because what I was about to say would have given you leverage, allowing you to take advantage of my limited reach in the coming years. But your selfless act of saving someone has eased my concerns. I believe you are a person with a conscience, and I won't treat you unfairly, and I believe you won't treat me unfairly either. As for my asset transfer, I know it's not exactly aboveboard, but I have other reasons. However, I won't mistreat my wife; I will give her a reasonable amount."
Lin Weiping initially found everything to be true, thinking that it was good that everyone was speaking frankly, avoiding any backstabbing or ulterior motives, which actually made her feel better. However, she felt that what followed was a bit inappropriate and quickly interrupted gently, saying, "President Shang, every family has its own problems. I believe that President Shang is not the kind of person who would make things difficult for women."
Upon hearing this, Shang Kun smiled, tilted his head back, and downed the glass of red wine in one gulp. He said, "Good, I'm much relieved that you understand. What I fear most is that you, being a strong-willed woman, might hold a grudge against me over this matter, or even punish me slightly. Haha, all my possessions are now in your hands, and I can't afford such a minor punishment."
Everyone loves to hear nice words. Although Lin Weiping believed that Shang Kun was shrewd enough not to place all his bets on the SWS project, handing her a huge sum of 30 million yuan was still a sign of his high regard for her character. Thinking of this, Lin Weiping's remaining antagonism towards Shang Kun dissipated, and she only thought about how to repay Shang Kun's kindness and support.
Nine
Time always flies when things are hectic, and it was already mid-September. This year, the weather was kind to them; there wasn't much rain throughout the summer, and the civil engineering work went smoothly. The company had entered the full equipment installation phase. As usual, Lin Weiping had dinner with Shang Kun on the weekend evening, but this time Lao Zhou was also at the table. However, Lin Weiping knew that Lao Zhou was one of the insiders, so he didn't hold back and spoke frankly.
"This year there's been little rain, so the equipment didn't need much covering after delivery, and we also saved a lot of manpower for varnishing and maintenance, making our manpower very efficient. The basic equipment has been mostly hoisted into the site this week. My plan is to expedite the installation of the gantry crane first, so we won't have to borrow cranes from the installation company for equipment coming in and out anymore. Each crane costs several thousand yuan, which is a huge expense for me. Of course, we also need to get the overhead cranes ready. I've contracted the installation of these to a local equipment installation company; they have ample experience in this area, and I don't think the cost difference will be significant. Having them install it will be at least twice as fast as us. We'll start installing the rear frame ourselves; that part doesn't require a foundation, so we can use this time to allow the machine head foundation more time for curing. This is our newly arranged plan. Regarding this plan, I discussed next month's funding forecast with Lao Jin from the finance department. This copy is for General Manager Shang. The major infrastructure and equipment funding has already passed its peak recently, so General Manager Shang can breathe a sigh of relief in the coming months. However, I remind General Manager Shang that working capital needs to be prepared as soon as possible; it should be in place by the end of the year."
Watching Shang Kun take the funding forecast sheet and flip through it, Lin Weiping knew perfectly well that he was just putting on an act; he should have seen the sheet yesterday. In her first few days at the new company, Lin Weiping had already discerned that the finance manager and cashier were Shang Kun's confidants. If Lin Weiping and Liao Huizheng were like soldiers coming and going, these two were an integral part of the company, judging from their composed demeanor and common sense. Lin Weiping knew she had to use them, so she was careful with her methods. As long as there was no intention to embezzle public funds, she could ignore the cashier, but her relationship with the finance manager was more important. Since it was clearly stated that the funds belonged to Shang Kun, Lin Weiping didn't try to win him over or corrupt him into becoming her confidant, nor was she afraid he would cause any major trouble, because even if trouble did occur, it would be Shang Kun's responsibility. Her only concern was how to use Lao Jin to ensure the smooth flow of funds held by Shang Kun. So she came up with a clever plan: normally, the finance department didn't need to participate in the preparatory work... Lin Weiping was in charge of the meetings, but she always had Lao Jin attend, letting him experience the progress of the construction work and even feel the enthusiasm. Then, during the monthly after-tax free time, she would meet with Wang Gong and Lao Jin to accurately predict the next month's funding needs. She had ulterior motives, while Wang Gong was only focused on the construction progress. Their combined efforts easily convinced the finance manager of the urgency of the funding need. He also witnessed how Lin Weiping outwitted the contractors, saving or delaying payments. Over time, his trust in her grew significantly. So now, as soon as the funding forecast was released, he would immediately do everything he could to get it to Shang Kun, because he believed Lin Weiping genuinely needed the funds. Therefore, two months later, Lin Weiping quickly realized that she no longer needed to chase after Shang Kun for the funds. It seemed that Shang Kun was voluntarily paying the investment funds according to the form, but Lin Weiping knew best that Lao Jin was secretly contacting Shang Kun to urge him to pay.
But everyone in the room knows it's all just an act. Given Shang Kun's shrewdness, he might be aware that Lao Jin was being used against him, but as long as Lao Jin fulfilled his duty of overseeing the funds, he could simply pretend not to know. Even though he was influenced by Lin Weiping, he maintained a perfect facade in front of Lin Weiping, avoiding any conflict. Who would dare to expose the truth? Lin Weiping also considered this, so he patiently and cooperatively gave an opening introduction. Since they were already cooperating, they should know the rules: know when to back down, and know when to fight for what they want. There was no need to lose face over trivial matters and make the meeting unpleasant.
While Shang Kun was reviewing the financial statements, Lao Zhou and Lin Weiping discussed the operation of the small street adjacent to their two businesses. Human psychology is sometimes truly strange; it seems that two pairs of eyes agree on what has been discussed, while phone calls, emails, and faxes are merely last resorts. Therefore, the booming transportation industry and the thriving restaurants are truly a testament to this human psychology.
After looking through it once, Shang Kun asked, "Do you have a specific amount for the working capital you mentioned?" It seemed that he had asked Lao Jin everything he needed to know last night, so his focus today wouldn't be the same as what was written on the table.
Lin Weiping confidently stated, "According to the forecasts in the articles of association and feasibility report, the working capital for the trial production phase will be three million." Lin Weiping didn't elaborate further, wanting to gauge Shang Kun's reaction to this amount. This three million was a prediction made by Liao Huizheng under duress; she wondered if Shang Kun still held onto it. If he still insisted on the original figure, she hoped her earlier statement would have some effect in negating it. Everyone knew that funds wouldn't be plentiful at the start of a new company's operation, and with no credit history and no access to loans, if Shang Kun could provide sufficient working capital, the future would be very promising. Otherwise, she needed to make plans now to avoid financial hardship later. Lin Weiping intended to use this three million as a benchmark to negotiate with Shang Kun and secure a better future for herself.
Shang Kun laughed and said, "I don't think you, Xiao Lin, would take this number seriously. Why don't you tell me your plans?"
Lin Weiping was also pleased that Shang Kun was a sensible person, and laughed, "I was really afraid that President Shang would take that number seriously. Now I can only surrender. Based on the current design and production capacity, I estimate that the monthly production volume will translate to about 20 million in capital. However, considering that it's impossible to operate three shifts continuously during the trial production phase, one shift at full capacity is enough, so I've lowered the figure to about 7 million. Starting from the second month, we'll have to consider the issues of inventory and accounts receivable. Normally, for companies like ours, inventory is about one-third of the monthly working capital, and accounts receivable are roughly the same amount, so we'll need to supplement about 4 million in capital in the second month. If I dare to ask President Shang for money again after that, I'll probably get a dismissal letter from him."
Shang Kun chuckled and scolded, "You're really asking for the moon, more than three times the price for a single liter. But that's just the surface. At least I know that materials can be bought on credit, and you can do processing with supplied materials to get through the trial production stage. If all else fails, with such a large fixed asset, you can get a mortgage loan from the bank. As long as you produce products, the bank loan will come through quickly. No doubt about it, I think three million should be enough."
Lin Weiping quickly turned to Lao Zhou and smiled, "Mr. Shang thinks he's buying clothes at a farmers' market, haggling like crazy." Lao Zhou didn't want to interrupt, so he just smiled. "But there's at least one condition that doesn't apply, and it's the most costly one. In our line of work, the suppliers are very powerful. If you don't have real money to put in, want to receive the goods? No way. Even if you do put the money in, if you're not familiar with the system, you'll be delayed compared to others, possibly by a month or two. That's standard practice. So, credit is out of the question for now. As for offsetting..." Both CEOs are experienced in securing loans; they know equipment can't be used as collateral, and banks won't accept factory buildings either. Only land is a viable option, but even after banks deduct various amounts, and it takes more than a month, the amount received won't be much more. It's like giving birth to a healthy baby boy, but then scrimping and saving on his basic needs, leaving him with deficiencies. CEO Shang certainly doesn't want to see the new company robbing Peter to pay Paul, piecemeal and barely getting off the ground. Putting everything else aside, my biggest fear is that the current vigorous momentum will be stifled during the trial production phase."
Shang Kun smiled but didn't answer. He knew his subordinates' tricks for getting money. Although he wasn't familiar with the industry rules Lin Weiping mentioned, he knew how to use people effectively and understood the methods for getting money and lowering prices. Lin Weiping had already put on a show that if he didn't pay in full, he would bear the consequences. If any problems arose during the trial production phase, Lin Weiping could shift the blame to insufficient funds, putting Shang Kun in a very passive position. Of course, he wouldn't stick his neck out and fall into that trap, but he still needed to think carefully about how to answer. So, he used the excuse of eating and drinking to buy himself some time.
Seeing this, Lin Weiping quickly made an excuse to leave. She had experienced Lao Zhou's drinking capacity firsthand; if he got her drunk, everyone present would be passed out before she could leave. Seeing her leave, Lao Zhou smiled and said to Shang Kun, "Little Lin is afraid to drink with me. The moment she hears she's drinking with me, she can come up with any excuse."
Shang Kun raised his glass and clinked it against Lao Zhou's, then poured each of them a full glass before saying, "This girl is incredibly shrewd. Her words are full of hidden meanings, making her impossible to guard against. It's good that she's gone for a while; it gives me some time to consider the issue of working capital."
Old Zhou picked up a glass teacup, filled it with red wine, and placed it in front of Shang Kun, saying, "Brother, if you drink this, I'll give you my answer." Shang Kun took the glass away and laughed, "Don't get cocky. I'll drink this. No matter how wise your words are, I'll just ignore them. Let's just down this. Don't keep me in suspense and think I can't hold my liquor." With that, he raised his glass, clinked it against Old Zhou's, and downed the wine in one gulp.
Old Zhou had no choice but to drink as well, and said helplessly, "Ah Kun, you're only really shrewd when you're bullying me. Actually, with your level of cunning and cultivation, Xiao Lin, although capable, is no match for you. It's just that you can't bear to hurt her. Before dinner, you looked so troubled about the divorce, but as soon as you saw Xiao Lin enter the private room, your eyes and the corners of your mouth curved up. When did you start showing this expression to your trusted subordinates? You're so determined to get a divorce this time because of her, right? Be careful, don't let your wife Xiao Pan find fault with you."
Shang Kun was taken aback. He looked at Lao Zhou for a while before saying, "How come I didn't think so? Is it really that obvious? I really never seriously considered Xiao Lin. You're my brother, I wouldn't hide this from you. Besides, the divorce was something I had planned for a long time, I just didn't make a fuss about it beforehand. Back then, I didn't even know what Xiao Lin was like. You know what Xiao Pan is like now, and you even advised me to stick to the divorce. My divorce is truly based on the facts, and it has nothing to do with outsiders."
Old Zhou downed a full glass, frowning as he said, "Since that's the case, you shouldn't show anything. Keep a low profile for now, otherwise you'll be left with nothing to cry about if someone gets hold of something against you. I was thinking you could easily give Xiaolin a few million in working capital to ease her financial straits, especially since she's a very capable person. But it seems better to hold off for now, lest things escalate and sparks fly that'll be impossible to cover up. Ah Kun, it seems you're a bit more cunning than me. Aside from your eyes, I really can't see anything wrong, and I doubt Xiaolin will notice either."
Shang Kun finished his drink, toying with the empty glass, and said with a wry smile, "The problem is, I didn't even realize it myself. It's not that I've been controlling myself well. If you hadn't pointed it out today, I wouldn't have realized that I've actually been indulging Xiao Lin all along. But what can I do if I envy her youth, her vitality, and her drive? She already has a good boyfriend. So I really don't dare to have any ulterior motives towards her; it's purely admiration. To be honest, sometimes I feel guilty when I see her. Given her abilities, she wouldn't care about my money, and what do I have besides money? She's not as easily fooled as some of these young beauties these days, and I don't have the guts to do anything to her."
Old Zhou put down his wine glass, frowned, and thought for a moment before saying, "Let's not talk about it anymore. We're not young anymore, spending our days eating, sleeping, and indulging in romance. It's rare that we all have time to get together today, so let's not be so serious. I'll go out and call Xiao Lin in. You can think about how to answer her." After saying that, he really pulled out a chair and left, ignoring Shang Kun's strange, thoughtful gaze as he watched his retreating figure. He believed that even if Shang Kun had a few more romantic thoughts, his principles would not waver in the slightest. At this age, he knew best what was important and what was urgent.
Old Zhou went outside and saw Lin Weiping talking to a woman by the railing in the lobby. He thought to himself, "No wonder he's been gone for so long." He walked over with a grin and greeted him, "Little Lin, if you're afraid of drinking, you don't have to hide out for so long. Just show me how you're going to drink, and I'll know. Come on, come on, I promise I won't force you to drink a drop today. Go back. Hey, isn't this Little Liang? What's the point of just standing around talking outside? Come on, come in and eat with us."
Lin Weiping bumped into Xiao Liang at the restaurant. She had planned to say a few words and then go back, but Lao Zhou came out. Lao Zhou knew Xiao Liang, and noticing a slight hint of nervousness in Xiao Liang's eyes, she pretended not to see it, keeping it in mind. She casually said, "Xiao Liang has friends over there. I've already kept her waiting for a while. Let's go back to your table. Drinking with Lao Zhou isn't fun. Lao Zhou, you promised you wouldn't drink with me, so don't go back on your word." With that, she pulled Lao Zhou away, but didn't forget to wink at Xiao Liang, clearly trying to convey that she hadn't noticed anything, that nothing had happened. She wanted to create the illusion for Xiao Liang that she, Lin Weiping, might not have noticed this detail; otherwise, she wouldn't have stood by Xiao Liang, shielding her from Lao Zhou's drinking, and wouldn't have given her that parting glance. The worst thing you can do is let someone else seize the initiative. Now that I seem to have a glimmer of opportunity, I must not reveal my plans before I can grasp it myself, lest someone else take the lead and I regret being left behind.
ten
Old Zhou said he didn't drink, but how could he resist? Seeing him scratching his head in anticipation of a drink with no one to toast him, Lin Weiping had no choice but to clink glasses with him a few times as a favor. Especially when Shang Kun promised to double the working capital to six million, Old Zhou couldn't help but egg him on and feed him a few celebratory drinks. So when Lin Weiping got home, she was slightly drunk. The slight intoxication made her not want to rest and sleep. After taking a shower and changing her clothes, she picked up her car keys and went for a drive. First, she went to check on the construction site. She saw that the site was much quieter after the infrastructure was completed. No equipment was being installed at night. Only two security guards sat around a few mosquito coils, smoking two cigarettes. Under the dim light, the smoke curled around them, giving them a somewhat ethereal look. Lin Weiping didn't get out of the car. She just rolled down the window, greeted them, and left. She believed that her visit would keep the security guards on high alert for several days, preventing them from slacking off.
She hadn't driven far from the company when she encountered a couple who seemed to be taking a walk. Judging from their clothes and demeanor, they looked like office workers. They waved at her car and said something, but Lin Weiping couldn't make out what they were saying. Seeing that it was dark all around and the couple didn't seem flustered or in a hurry, Lin Weiping didn't dare stop. She slightly turned the steering wheel, walked around them, and drove straight away. These days, you hear a lot about master thieves and duos, so it's impossible not to be a little wary.
Then the car drove and drove, and somehow they arrived at Gong Chao's workplace. Lin Weiping parked the car across the gate, turned off the engine, stretched, and leaned back in his chair to call Gong Chao. He didn't expect Gong Chao to have his phone on so late, but to his surprise, Gong Chao answered as soon as it rang. It turned out he was working overtime at his workplace. Lin Weiping didn't say where he was, just responded to Gong Chao's instructions with "uh-huh," then put down his phone, drove off, and looked for a late-night snack shop. Imagining the number of people in their group, he carried two large plastic bags upstairs.
Sure enough, everyone cheered, as if relieved by a sudden downpour. Some even cried out, "This saved my life!" Food that might not have initially appealed to them suddenly tasted much better because everyone was scrambling to eat it. Gong Chao, however, was initially stunned. A few days ago, he had tried to invite Lin Weiping out to dinner with his colleagues to get to know them, but Lin Weiping flatly refused, saying that work and personal life were separate, and why get so close to colleagues, especially with his girlfriend? He never expected her to show up today, so thoughtfully bringing him a late-night snack. Hearing his colleagues praising "Sister-in-law Gong" repeatedly, Gong Chao felt incredibly proud and no longer felt tired or hungry. He lightly embraced Lin Weiping from behind, whispering incredulously in her ear, "Why are you being so good to me?"
Lin Weiping couldn't understand why she had impulsively done something so sentimental; the only explanation was that she had changed her ways after drinking. But seeing everyone so happy, she was enjoying herself too. When asked, she quickly chuckled and said, "I'm giving you a lot of face in front of others. I'll make you pay a hundredfold later." Gong Chao laughed heartily, feeling that this was the first time he had felt so completely at ease since he met Lin Weiping. He didn't want to let go, and while he was busy watching others eat and drink, he was already feeling quite content. Lin Weiping was very embarrassed, noticing the increasingly furtive looks from their colleagues. She gently scolded Gong Chao to let go, but he refused. Instead, he picked her up and placed her on the sofa beside him, staring at her intently and saying, "Wait for me, I'll be done soon, let's go together." Only after Lin Weiping nodded did he reluctantly return to his work at the counter.
Since they met, their relationship had always remained respectful and platonic. Lin Weiping had always felt it wasn't like a typical romantic relationship, but she didn't find anything wrong with it; on the contrary, she felt quite comfortable. However, today, the alcohol encouraged her to take the next step, unexpectedly igniting Gong Chao's fiery passion. Although Lin Weiping was embarrassed by the stares of her colleagues, she was inexplicably delighted. Her eyes couldn't help but follow Gong Chao's focused figure as he worked. She had initially thought he was just a scholar, but she never expected his arms to be so strong, lifting her up as if it were nothing. Thinking of this, her face burned, and she subconsciously glanced at Gong Chao's arm exposed outside his T-shirt before quickly and awkwardly turning her head away, afraid of being seen. Her mind was in a daze for a long time before she came to her senses. She touched her cheeks, which seemed to have cooled down, and tried to recall the events of dinner that evening.
As soon as she thought about work, her mind strangely sharpened again. In no time, she deduced from Lao Zhou's acquaintance with Xiao Liang and Xiao Liang's embarrassed expression that Xiao Liang was very likely also an undercover agent sent by Shang Kun to the company. Because this was such a trivial matter, Shang Kun probably hadn't mentioned it to Lao Zhou, which led to the current situation. If that were the case, Xiao Liang wouldn't seem like a minor character; otherwise, she wouldn't be so familiar with Lao Zhou, nor would Shang Kun entrust her with such an important task. Her youthful appearance might just be a deception, like Xiao Chen's round, apple-like face from before. Once bitten, twice shy; others might think it's perfectly normal for the boss to send someone to keep an eye on things, but Lin Weiping didn't think that way. She quickly mentally went through the scenario and came up with a solution—not surprising at all: use and isolate.
It was the weekend, but Lin Weiping, touching her flushed face, couldn't concentrate. Last night, Gong Chao had driven her home, and the two had parted reluctantly in the underground parking lot. Lin Weiping only wanted to drown her sorrows in Gong Chao's passionate kisses, but in the end, Gong Chao maintained some composure and pulled away to say goodbye. So this was what love could be like; love was so intoxicating. "I wish I could stay drunk forever," was Lin Weiping's only thought as she lay in bed with her eyes closed this morning.
But soon someone came looking for him. The company was newly established, and security at the gate wasn't strict. The man, who looked like a migrant worker, wasn't stopped until he reached the second floor where Lin Weiping was. He didn't come down, loudly demanding to see someone, but he specifically wanted to see the person in the black sedan. Although he pointed directly to Lin Weiping, the name didn't match... After arguing for a while, Lin Weiping, annoyed, opened the door and went out. Seeing the man's unfamiliar face, he asked, "You're looking for me? What do you want?"
Upon seeing Lin Weiping, the man immediately smiled and excitedly exclaimed, "You don't know me, but you must know my wife. She fell into the river a few months ago and you saved her. We've been looking for you to thank you ever since, and last night we recognized your car's license plate. It must be you, Miss. My wife couldn't get to work today, so I came on her behalf to thank you for saving her life." He then bowed deeply. Lin Weiping was astonished. So that's what the two men meant when they waved at her car in the dark last night—they were truly thoughtful. However, he couldn't quite remember what his wife looked like, only that she had long hair and that he had pulled her with one hand when he saved her. Seeing the employees looking on curiously, Lin Weiping didn't want to publicize the rescue too much, so he invited the man into his office.
The man became awkward once inside the office, fidgeting and unsure whether to sit or stand. Lin Weiping offered him a seat, but he refused, complaining that he was dirty. Lin Weiping finally said, "It's uncomfortable for me to sit if you're standing all the time, otherwise it'll be awkward talking to you. Please sit down and have some water." The man finally sat down, but wouldn't touch the water glass. His eyes darted around a few times before he said, "I didn't mean to bother you, but I thought about it and decided to talk to you anyway." Lin Weiping thought to herself that she often heard of people who saved others only to be taken advantage of for their kindness. But she wasn't one to be easily swayed, and she doubted they would succeed in trying to take advantage of her. She decided to listen to what he had to say. So she said, "Don't be so reserved, go on."
The man hurriedly said, "It's like this, my surname is Lin, and I also drive a dump truck. I'm usually timid, so everyone calls me Lin Xiaoxiao. Last night, after my wife and I saw your truck, we remembered a topic that our fellow drivers in the team had been gossiping about. They said there's a rich woman in this industrial area who's being targeted, and a car follows her to and from get off work every day. I haven't seen her, so this morning I called a friend over to see if it was your truck. My friend looked at it and said it was your truck, but warned me not to talk about it. He said you need to catch a thief red-handed, and if we talk about it without evidence, we might get beaten up. But I thought about it for a long time and decided it's better to tell you, so you can be on guard. Especially when you come here at night like yesterday, you need to be more careful. You're a woman, and you're not strong. This place is chaotic now, and you won't even get a response when you call out."
Upon hearing this, Lin Weiping's face immediately changed color. He carefully examined Lin Xiaoxiao's facial expression and could tell she wasn't lying. Although a pang of guilt flashed through his mind for misunderstanding him, it was quickly interrupted by a flustered reaction. Seeing her dark expression and silence, Lin Xiaoxiao panicked and hurriedly said, "My friend refuses to come up; he's still downstairs. You can ask him to come up and ask. Several other people have also seen him. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to ask them one by one. I'm telling the truth, I swear to God. He also changes his car frequently; one is a black Santana, and the other is a white Fukang." Lin Weiping waved his hand and said, "I believe you. I just couldn't guess who was watching me, and why I hadn't noticed for so long. Thank you for telling me; I really need to be careful." Seeing that Lin Weiping believed her, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't hide her happiness, but he was truly a straightforward person and left without saying anything more.
After he left, Lin Weiping fell into deep thought. Who would do such a thing? To be able to monitor someone so skillfully for so long without being noticed couldn't be amateurish, and there couldn't be many people who could afford to hire someone to watch her. Her former boss? Probably not. To sabotage her, using such a surveillance tactic would be too childish. Shang Kun? But it would be more meaningful for him to have someone watching her within the company; monitoring her schedule would be unnecessary. Who else could it be? Could it be Shang Kun's wife, who's currently going through a divorce? That's unlikely too. Even if it were, wouldn't they know after watching for so many days? Gong Chao is even less likely; he wouldn't have that kind of spare money. Looking around, there seemed to be no one suspicious, which only made Lin Weiping feel more uneasy. Being in the dark while the enemy is in the light is already bad enough, but having an elusive opponent makes it even more terrifying. While it's said that those who have done nothing wrong have nothing to fear, the ancients also spoke of unforeseen calamities. Who knows if a ghost might mistakenly knock on the wrong door?
She wanted to call Shang Kun, but picked up the receiver and put it down again. What should she say? Should she bluntly ask, "Were you tailing me?" Besides, she had never encountered anyone tailing her before, and being asked that would make her look foolish. Forget it, she'd better look into it carefully when she got home today and figure things out herself first. But then she thought of her kiss with Gong Chao in the underground parking garage yesterday. If the tailer was so dedicated as to keep watching until so late, he must have seen it too. God, how could she face anyone after this? Thinking of this, her originally good mood immediately turned gloomy. She wanted to call Gong Chao, but then she remembered that he had said yesterday that today was the day to submit the design drawings and that he would be talking with the competitor until quite late. She couldn't tell her parents either; she could only swallow her anger. She slightly parted the curtains and looked outside. There were more than one or two cars parked where she could see her entering and leaving the gate. There was a white Fukang parked in a small alley across the street; if you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't notice it. Working outdoors in this sweltering heat, this money isn't easy to earn.
After get off work that evening, Lin Weiping first filled up the gas tank at the gas station, drove home, then went grocery shopping, went home again, went to a bar for a while, then drove around Shang Kun's headquarters, then around her own company, coldly watching the white Citroën Fukang car appear and disappear in the rearview mirror, thinking that she had really given him a good talking-to today, before finally going home to sleep. Thinking about how the person watching her had to rush back to write a report and would surely rack their brains analyzing her movements that day, she couldn't help but feel a little happy.
eleven
Wednesday is traditionally not a day for trouble, but some people manage to make it a chaotic mess.
Pan Yingchun sat at the desk of Yu Fengmian, one of the most powerful women in the city, her anger blazing as she glared at Yu Fengmian, who was smiling slightly. She slowly and methodically examined the photos in her hand, one by one. Suddenly, she exclaimed "Eh!" and pulled out one photo to examine closely for a long time before laughing, "I really didn't expect that Gong Chao, a mere scholar, would have such muscular arms when he carries a woman. This woman isn't thin; it's amazing he managed to lift her out of such a low car. She weighs over a hundred pounds; that's quite an achievement. Haha. I really underestimated him."
A hint of impatience flashed across Pan Yingchun's face, but she dared not show it. She was now entirely relying on Yu Fengmian for advice regarding her divorce. It was Yu Fengmian who had found a reliable spy to keep a close eye on Shang Kun and expose his mistress, Lin Weiping. Unfortunately, they were too meticulous and failed to capture any photos of their intimate affair. It was also Yu Fengmian who advised her to hire an accounting firm to thoroughly audit Shang Kun's accounts, lest he transfer funds without permission. Now, at the slightest sign of trouble, she immediately went to Yu Fengmian. This cousin, whom she had reconnected with due to Shang Kun's social influence, was incredibly loyal; no matter how busy she was, she would always make time to see her. This kind of friendship was especially precious when her usual friends avoided her upon hearing of her misfortune.
After looking through all the photos, Yu Fengmian put them away, picking up a few that featured Gong Chao and saying, "I'll keep these. I have some connections with this young man." Pan Yingchun, thinking about Yu Fengmian's long-dormant personal life, had a slight suspicion, but she was too busy dealing with her own mess to gossip. "As for the other photos, I'll have someone process them for you. Although they can't be used as evidence in a lawsuit against Shang Kun, they'll be enough to deflate his arrogance. We can humiliate him however we want now, as long as you can vent your anger. The people following that little vixen can also be withdrawn. The daily cost was considerable, and it seems Shang Kun is already on guard; following them won't do any good. You wait at home tomorrow; I'll have someone bring you the processed photos."
Pan Yingchun was taken aback for a moment, then said, "So we're just going to let that vixen go like this? No way! My brother said he'd help me beat her up, at least teach her a lesson." Yu Fengmian glared at her and snorted, "Your brother's a good-for-nothing, he failed to even get a chance to beat someone up and ended up in jail himself. Do you think it's so easy to beat someone who's just coming and going? Tell him to save his energy, save it for when you move. As for this little vixen, I have a way to deal with her. I guarantee she'll get a good meal. But, Sister Yingchun, you'll have to spend some money on this. Give me 500,000 yuan, and I'll take care of her."
Pan Yingchun was taken aback and blurted out, "Where would I get so much money?" Yu Fengmian smiled and said, "You don't have any cash right now, but you will soon. Five hundred thousand is nothing to me, and it's not much to you after the divorce either, but to make that little fox suffer, you have to spend this amount. Don't worry, I won't embezzle this money. If you can't come up with it right away, I can cover it for you. To be honest, according to my plan, even doubling the amount wouldn't be enough, but what can I do? I'm your cousin. In times of crisis, isn't it like father, son? Relatives are easier to talk to. I'll cover the rest, and I'll make sure you get your revenge."
Pan Yingchun vaguely sensed something amiss, but she couldn't quite make it out. She was currently relying on Yu Fengmian; without her help, Pan Yingchun would be completely lost and would only suffer greater losses. Although she had her doubts, she obediently wrote an IOU for 500,000 yuan. Yu Fengmian took it, flicked the thin paper, and smiled, "Don't worry, I'll give you the full bill; I won't use a single penny more than you owe. If I happen to want to do something for myself, I'll settle the bill myself." How could she not see Pan Yingchun's worries? Having seen so many people, how could a housewife escape her discerning eye?