Chapter 25: Take My Supplementary Card, Swipe Whatever You Want
Fu Yue placed a draft of the system architecture for the integrated optimization of the group’s future information flow before Ji Hanmo.
“How is it, Boss?” Fu Yue’s lips curled up high.
Ji Hanmo finished reading it seriously before looking up from the document, giving a four-word evaluation: “Exceeds expectations.”
Fu Yue was delighted to hear this. Since he had completed the agreed tasks ahead of schedule, he could rightfully slack off starting tomorrow. Furthermore, he had heard from Monica that Chen Bai was coming back to work tomorrow. He planned to slack off with Chen Bai. Finding a slacking partner was practically double the happiness.
“Fu Yue, come here and look at this South City planning.” Ji Hanmo signaled for him to come over.
Seeing this, Fu Yue walked over carefully. He didn’t dare be careless; the “social death” scene where he had tripped on the carpet as a “Bunny Boy” and fallen straight into Ji Hanmo’s arms had left him with a severe psychological shadow.
Walking cautiously to the desk, he leaned down slightly and turned his gaze to the computer screen. To see the dense text on the screen clearly, he leaned very close to Ji Hanmo.
Fu Yue was grumbling a bit in his heart. The Chairman of the grand Ji Group couldn’t even be bothered to print out a document and insisted he lean in to look. What Fu Yue didn’t know was that while his attention was entirely focused on the screen, the man beside him was looking at his face from start to finish. He watched his thick eyelashes, the bridge of his straight nose, and his pale pink lips.
“How about I let you do the top-level planning for this smart medical project?” Ji Hanmo asked.
Fu Yue finished scanning the content and had an idea. He slowly stood up straight and shook his head: “This exceeds our previous agreement.”
Only then did Ji Hanmo withdraw his gaze from his face and look at him: “Not doing it?”
“It’s not that.” Fu Yue’s lips curled. “This is extra work; you’ll have to pay more.”
Ji Hanmo smiled upon hearing this, as if he had been waiting for those words. “Okay.”
Ji Hanmo agreed so readily that it actually made Fu Yue pause.
“You haven’t asked how much I want yet,” Fu Yue arched an eyebrow. “What if I ask for an astronomical amount?”
Ji Hanmo’s expression was hidden deep, making it impossible to see his emotions. He spoke: “I will offer you a reasonable price. Monica will provide you with a supplementary agreement in writing.” After saying this, Ji Hanmo changed the subject and added unhurriedly: “But the salary will only be settled after the first phase of the project concludes.”
Hearing this, Fu Yue’s face fell. End of the project? For a strategic project of this scale, it would take at least a year or two to see results. By the time the project ended, the opportunity would be long gone!
“Chairman Ji…”
“What?” Ji Hanmo arched an eyebrow.
Fu Yue cursed him a thousand times in his heart. This damn businessman clearly knew what he wanted to say but was still playing along. A single penny could stump a hero, so Fu Yue could only lower himself.
“Chairman Ji, can you advance a bit of the salary first?” Fu Yue asked humbly.
Ji Hanmo didn’t answer immediately. He lightly tapped the desk with his fingertips, making a tap-tap sound, as if weighing the pros and cons of some multi-billion dollar deal. That contemplative posture made Fu Yue’s teeth itch with hatred.
Just as Fu Yue was about to turn and leave, Ji Hanmo finally spoke:
“I’ll give you one of my supplementary cards. Swipe it however you want.”
Fu Yue’s eyes lit up instantly. However, before he could be happy, he was cast into the abyss by Ji Hanmo’s next words.
“But this is an extra service. Therefore…” He looked at Fu Yue, announcing the price clearly word by word: “Our contract duration will be doubled.”
Fu Yue’s face turned from red to white and then to green—truly a spectacle. Finally, he squeezed out one word from between his teeth:
“Okay.”
The next day, the Ji Group executive canteen.
Eating with Chen Bai, Fu Yue felt that even the canteen food had become much more fragrant. Though, the Ji Group canteen food was already very fragrant to begin with.
“How is your body? I haven’t seen you for several days,” Fu Yue asked with concern. “Also, how are you and Ji Linyue progressing?”
At the mention of Ji Linyue, Chen Bai’s cheeks turned slightly red. He instinctively lowered his head, poking the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks: “I’m fine now; I’ve recovered. After I was discharged, he went to Italy on a business trip and won’t be back for another two days.”
“Then you two…” Fu Yue pressed.
“It’s alright, I guess.” Chen Bai’s voice grew even smaller, sounding like a summary yet also like he was cheering himself on.
Fu Yue could tell that “alright” meant “not very good.” Although the scandal had been cleared, the knot in the couple’s hearts hadn’t been untied. Since Ji Linyue was in a foreign country, it would have to wait until he returned.
“By the way, Young Master Fu, the medical fees you helped me with…” Chen Bai looked a bit embarrassed. “Can I… wait until I get my salary next month to pay you back? I just sent this month’s money back home.”
“No problem, pay me back when you have money.” Fu Yue waved his hand. He was secretly relieved; he had obtained an unlimited black supplementary card, even if the condition was selling himself for an extra 7 days.
After finishing the meal, Fu Yue hurried back to the office. Since he had taken on the system planning for the Smart Medical Project on the South City plot, he had to get to work quickly.
Two days later.
The meeting hall of the White Sand Island Yuedu Hotel, Haicheng.
The Ji Group’s project would turn the plot south of White Sand Island into a “Smart Medical Community.” Today, the first multi-party meeting for the project was being held here. Ji Hanmo had a meeting in North City in the morning, so Fu Yue drove here himself in Ji Hanmo’s limited edition Porsche 918.
He parked the car in the underground garage. Just as he was about to take the hotel elevator, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. Not far away, Pei Luomian was leaning against a white Land Rover.
Naturally, he wouldn’t wear a white coat outside the hospital. He wore a gray cashmere coat and a blue-and-white checkered scarf, which made his temperament appear gentle yet maintained a strong sense of distance. Fu Yue hesitated. Pei Luomian was standing on the inevitable path to the elevator. Since Fu Yue had already been seen, it would be awkward to take a detour, so he took the initiative to walk over and greet him.
“Dean Pei.”
Hearing this, Pei Luomian nodded to him. Many people in Haicheng recognized the 918 Fu Yue was driving. Pei Luomian had clearly seen it, and his gaze was a bit complex.
“Fu Yue.” He called his name instead of “Young Master Fu.” Then, he spoke, his voice remaining cold: “Are your injuries better?”
Fu Yue was stunned: “How did you know?”
Pei Luomian explained calmly: “In the Haicheng circle, let alone such a big matter, even if an extra flower blooms in someone’s garden, within half a day, everyone who shouldn’t know will know.”
Hearing this, Fu Yue’s ears turned red. He had been beaten by his father and kicked out like trash. This matter had actually become dinner table talk for the upper class. Fu Yue only felt that being a young master came with a full sense of shame.
Pei Luomian looked at his lowered eyelashes, and his voice carried a trace of apology.
“I heard it at the hospital that day. You said the injuries were from a fight.” A trace of regret actually flashed across Pei Luomian’s icy face: “As a doctor, I should have realized then that ordinary fighting wouldn’t result in injuries like that.”
Fu Yue was stunned and quickly said, “I’m already fine.”
“Rumors in Haicheng travel faster than the truth,” Pei Luomian added another sentence. “I told you before that you could find me if your family encountered difficulties… regarding this matter, I owe you an apology.”
No, please! Fu Yue hadn’t expected Pei Luomian to pull something like this. He was terrified of the men in this world and wanted to avoid them. If Pei Luomian had a bad impression of him, Fu Yue would be more than happy. But now Pei Luomian was expressing apology, looking as if he was extremely guilty for his coldness that day—Fu Yue didn’t want that at all.
The two entered the elevator with their own thoughts.
…
By now, many people had already arrived in the meeting room. Ji Hanmo sat at the head of the table, expressionless. Shen Junnian had arrived particularly early today. The Shen and Pei families were both partners for this South City plot.
When he saw Fu Yue’s name on the meeting agenda, he was beyond angry with himself. When Fu Yue was kicked out, it was the perfect opportunity to win him over, but he had used the wrong strategy in a moment of panic. As a result, the meat at his lips had been snatched away by Ji Hanmo using “business.” Just the thought of these two having the chance to talk business together every day made Shen Junnian’s heart ache.
Today, Ji Hanmo was looking at him with a face full of defensiveness; he must have some design on Fu Yue. Shen Junnian adjusted his high-end suit, deciding to perform well today. He scanned the room, his gaze landing across the table.
Hmph, I didn’t expect the Ji Group to invite—that person.
Fu Yue pushed open the door to the meeting room and heard a hearty and pleasant male voice.
“Fu Yue, come and sit.”
Shen Junnian naturally pulled out a chair to the right of the head seat. At the same time, he shot a “dagger” look at Pei Luomian, who had walked in with Fu Yue.
Fu Yue had already anticipated meeting him today and didn’t react much. After Fu Yue sat down, Shen Junnian naturally sat in the chair beside him, forming a “pincer” state with Ji Hanmo on either side. Pei Luomian still had a flat expression, sitting diagonally across from Fu Yue, looking so quiet it didn’t seem like he was there for a meeting.
The assistants and secretaries in the room, who had been checking materials in low voices, fell silent all at once, even flipping documents carefully. It seemed that after the two figures entered, the atmosphere in the room felt a bit off. But no one could say exactly why.
Just as Fu Yue settled in and scanned the room, his gaze froze. Sitting beside Pei Luomian was someone else. In a light gray casual suit with excellent texture, his temperament was cold and distant, like an artist who didn’t eat the food of mortals.
When he saw Fu Yue, his light brown eyes clearly turned cold, and then he looked away as if nothing had happened, not sparing Fu Yue another glance. It was Jiang Ying.
Fu Yue’s heart sank. Why was he here?
The last suit-clad tycoon entered the meeting room, and Ji Hanmo spoke: “Alright, everyone is here. Let’s begin.”
Monica first introduced the overall situation of the project in a few sentences. Those present were all at the top of Haicheng’s pyramid. Besides the core decision-makers, the table also included the Vice President of the Ji Group, the project lead from the Shen Group, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Pei Medical, Pei Zhen, and representatives from banking syndicates. There were even two investment tycoons who had flown in specifically from North City.
Next, it was Fu Yue’s turn to present as the core smart system architect for the project. In an instant, all eyes were focused on him. The pressure brought by a room full of suit-clad superiors was undeniably strong. Yet within this pressure, something else was faintly mixed—it was as if there was an invisible attraction on this youth that made people want to look a bit more.
Fu Yue adjusted his breathing and began his presentation. His fingertips unconsciously adjusted his tie clip. But this subtle action caused the representative from the Fudong Syndicate sitting on the right to suddenly sit up straight, his gaze burning as he stared at Fu Yue’s hand.
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