Chapter 60: Attempting Collaboration
“Hmm?”
“Did your brain short-circuit?”
Chen Jiamu’s answer was completely irrelevant to the question. Chen Cheng found him baffling.
“No.”
“I was just wondering if you wanted me to join the company.”
Chen Jiamu actually felt there wasn’t a huge problem with it; joining the company to help her would be fine.
But he had overheard the family’s thoughts. They wanted to use Chen Cheng as a sacrificial lamb for profit to consolidate the Chen family’s status.
But when did the Chen family become so weak that they needed to rely on a girl’s happiness to support them?
The company’s operations had been good these past few years, very stable even. All of this was due to Chen Cheng’s hard work, yet the family’s first thought was to kick her out…
What did she count as, then?
She was a child of the Chen family too. There were many daughters in the Chen family; why sacrifice his sister?
“Are you stupid?”
“Uncle’s daughters are fighting tooth and nail to get into the company, and you’re asking if I want you to join?”
“You enter the company, and we siblings will make it bigger and stronger. How great would that be?”
“Eventually, we’ll open a branch office and let you run it.”
The Chen family had many offspring, but Chen Jiamu was the only son in their direct line. Therefore, in the Chen family, their specific household held a slightly higher status.
Others had to watch their moods before speaking.
Chen Cheng had entered the company early because of her outstanding ability. She had been there for six years.
She had poured all her blood, sweat, and tears into the company. She firmly believed that as long as she was strong enough, those pedantic people at home would have to yield to her.
“Okay.”
“I want to be the boss of a branch office and sleep all day.”
The fog in Chen Jiamu’s heart was instantly dispersed by Chen Cheng’s words. He had been so fixated on a dead end that he got trapped by such a simple choice.
Yes, as long as he became strong, everyone would have to weigh his words carefully.
As for pushing Chen Cheng out? Impossible.
“Keep dreaming.”
“You’ve been working out of town for a year; I assume you’ve grown up a bit. You shouldn’t be too useless when you join.”
With the haze cleared, Chen Jiamu reverted to his slacker demeanor. He gave Chen Cheng a thumbs-up and lifted his chin smugly. “It’s in the bag!”
“After all, I’ve been an undercover employee for so long.”
“Hmph.” Chen Cheng chuckled at his antics, then focused on driving.
Chen Jiamu didn’t know where Chen Cheng was taking him, so he just let her drive.
But when the car stopped in front of a hotel, he frowned, leaning his head out to scrutinize the name.
“Jingcheng Hotel?”
“Since when is there one in Beicheng?”
“It’s newly opened.”
“I happen to have a contract to negotiate, so I brought you along to see.”
Chen Cheng got out, straightened her clothes, calmly opened the passenger door, and raised an eyebrow at Chen Jiamu.
“So you didn’t bring me here to eat; you brought me here for manual labor?”
Chen Jiamu nearly had a heart attack. He knew there was a catch to Chen Cheng suddenly inviting him to lunch. Turns out he was just a tool…
“What else? You have to join the company sooner or later. Isn’t it good to familiarize yourself with the process in advance?”
Chen Cheng didn’t think much of it. She grabbed the documents from the car and walked ahead. Chen Jiamu didn’t have time to feel sorry for himself and could only close the door and follow.
After a few steps, Chen Cheng remembered she hadn’t locked the car. She turned back, locked it with the remote, and then sternly lectured Chen Jiamu on the importance of details.
She also instructed him to learn how to be flexible.
Chen Cheng spoke in great detail. Chen Jiamu tried hard to listen and remember the key points.
With bits and pieces of advice repeating in his head, Chen Jiamu felt his brain swelling.
Stay calm, stabilize the opponent…
Chanting these two phrases silently, Chen Jiamu was exceptionally nervous as the elevator ascended. This was his first time joining Chen Cheng for a contract negotiation. But, well, it was the first time; being nervous was normal.
Following behind Chen Cheng, Chen Jiamu didn’t dare breathe loudly. The sound of high heels clicking echoed through the corridor.
Hearing it made Chen Jiamu even more nervous, and he kept swallowing dryly.
“Nervous?”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Chen Cheng glanced back at him with a smile, gently patting his shoulder to help him relax slightly.
“I’m fine.”
A duck’s beak stays hard even after death…
Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to call him out. Her steps slowed to a stop outside a private room. Without a hint of hesitation, she pushed the door open.
Walking into the room, Chen Cheng put on her professional smile and began greeting them. “President Bai, long time no see. I heard you recently acquired a new plot of land.”
“Planning a new development project?”
She had collaborated with this company twice before. They were easy to talk to, so Chen Cheng didn’t feel much pressure negotiating with them.
“Your news is as fast as ever.”
“We are currently considering it.”
The other party was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a beer belly, but his features were soft, making him not too repulsive.
Sitting next to him was a clean-cut, refreshing-looking boy. When the boy made eye contact with Chen Cheng, he shyly lowered his head.
Looking at the boy’s face, Chen Cheng felt he looked familiar but couldn’t recall where she had seen him.
Only after sitting down did Chen Jiamu see the two people sitting opposite. upon seeing the face of the boy next to the man, he blurted out a name that stunned everyone present.
“Holy crap, Bai Jing! What are you doing here?”
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