Looking out the window, Jiang Chen noted that it was getting late. He glanced at the wall clock by the door — it was exactly midnight.
And yet, something suddenly crossed his mind, leaving him puzzled.
In his memory, Xia Shiyu had always had a close best friend. The two of them ate, lived, and talked about everything together. But now, there was no trace of her?
"You not going to call your bestie?" Jiang Chen asked casually with a smile, but immediately noticed the shadow that passed over Xia Shiyu's face.
In that moment, Jiang Chen instantly understood most of what probably happened.
A smart woman like Xia Shiyu wouldn't have borrowed money from shady people on her own. That left only one possibility: after Xia Shiyu lost her job, that so-called friend had abandoned her — and that debt was probably taken out in Xia Shiyu's name.
That would explain why she was now living alone in this run-down apartment.
"Some friend you had," Jiang Chen muttered, unable to stop himself.
"She's not my friend." Xia Shiyu replied flatly, her voice cold as ice.
"…Why not go back home?" Jiang Chen asked to steer the conversation away from something clearly painful.
"I don't want to bring trouble to my family." Her face was firm, determined — it moved Jiang Chen just a little.
This former boss of his really did have her strengths. Jiang Chen had once fantasized that perhaps someone high up in the company had taken a liking to her beauty, but now he realized that was just his dirty mind talking. A company with stores nationwide wouldn't be run by someone who thought with their lower half.
"…Honestly, I really admire you." Jiang Chen looked into her eyes, his voice tinged with emotion.
"Do you?" Her bitter smile was full of self-mockery.
For some reason, as soon as she spoke, Jiang Chen caught a glimpse of something in her eyes — not quite sadness, but exhaustion.
As a woman, to withstand such a drastic fall from grace and still carry on, strong and unyielding…
"…" Jiang Chen didn't know what to say. He wasn't good at comforting women — if he were, he wouldn't have been single for over twenty years.
Silence fell again.
"Want to hear my story?" Xia Shiyu finally spoke, her soft lips barely moving.
Jiang Chen nodded.
Xia Shiyu poured everything out — how after firing Jiang Chen, her store performance declined, how headquarters lost faith in her, how anonymous complaints flooded in, and how she was finally dismissed. Then came the betrayal by her friend, the threats from loan sharks, and the desperation that forced her to leave her apartment and work at a flower shop.
But what broke her most was lying to her elderly parents over the phone. Hearing their proud voices, she could only smile and say, "I'm doing well. Don't worry about me…"
Jiang Chen had felt that same bitterness back when he lost his job.
She wasn't trying to win sympathy. She was just tired. She needed someone to talk to, and that someone had only now appeared.
"You're strong… If you ever need help, you can call me…"
"Thanks, but I don't need pity," Xia Shiyu said with a small smile, wiping the moisture from the corner of her eye.
She smiled?
She!?
Jiang Chen was momentarily dumbfounded.
"Do I have something on my face?" Xia Shiyu touched her cheek, self-conscious under his intense gaze.
"No… It's just… I think this is the first time I've seen you smile," Jiang Chen said, stunned. He knew he must look like an idiot right now.
"Pfft…" Xia Shiyu suddenly laughed — a true, carefree laugh. Then she froze, surprised at herself.
She had laughed. Really laughed.
"I didn't think I was that funny…" Jiang Chen scratched his head in embarrassment.
"…You're kind of… amusing?" she said with a questioning tone.
"…Why the question mark?" Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.
"I told you my story. Can I hear yours now?" Her expression softened beautifully, like ice melting in spring.
Such a cute face… why was she always so cold before? Jiang Chen grumbled inwardly.
"Me? Nothing much. Just made some money from business lately." Jiang Chen awkwardly avoided the truth and made up a casual excuse.
Xia Shiyu raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
Even she didn't realize how feminine and adorable her expression looked.
"Oh? I don't believe it."
"Can't help you there." Jiang Chen shrugged. "But I do believe you'd make a great manager. Interested?"
This was Jiang Chen's "other plan" all along:
Start a company — and have Xia Shiyu work for him.
Relying on selling gold forever wasn't sustainable. Sooner or later, someone would question the source of his wealth. If the government caught wind of it, he might have to flee the country.
The best solution was to start a company. He already had the name: Futureman Technology. Using all the "junk" from the post-apocalyptic world, he'd launch revolutionary high-tech products.
iPhone? Microsoft? Samsung? Please. Could they beat 200 years in the future? Could they even create a holographic computer screen?
Those futuristic gadgets that only existed in sci-fi would drive consumers crazy worldwide.
And that was just the electronics side.
Blizzard, EA, SEGA? They could kneel too. One virtual reality system would wipe the floor with them. Who'd want to play games with a mouse or controller once VR matured?
Then there's home appliances, cars… even military tech… space exploration!
cough Okay, getting ahead of himself. Gotta take it one step at a time.
He chose Xia Shiyu simply because he had no one else he could trust — and she was capable. Though she had wronged him before, after everything, he realized he wasn't all that vengeful. Maybe it was her nature, or maybe he just sympathized with her fall from grace.
So when he saw her down on her luck, he helped — and decided to pull her in.
"Interested?" Xia Shiyu blinked, confused.
"You'd need years at the flower shop to pay me back. Plus you're unemployed now. I'm offering you a job," Jiang Chen said.
"You're starting a company?" Xia Shiyu looked skeptical.
"I told you I do business, didn't I? See? You still don't believe me," Jiang Chen feigned exasperation.
"Oh? So I'll be working under you now?" she teased.
"What, is that a problem? I'm quite looking forward to seeing my former boss toiling away under me." Jiang Chen grinned, but his tone was sincere.
Xia Shiyu closed her eyes and thought for a moment.
The offer was tempting. She had no job, owed money… and she had no reason to refuse.
"I accept."
"Awesome!" Jiang Chen laughed and stood, reaching out his hand. "Then welcome aboard, Manager Xia. You've been hired by Futureman Technology. Monthly salary: ten thousand."
Ten thousand a month. Almost the same as her previous job. Xia Shiyu looked complicated — her former subordinate had grown so much.
As her hand met his, a warm, calloused feeling made her tremble slightly.
"That much? Just so we're clear—I don't do 'unspoken rules'," she joked, surprising even herself.
Jiang Chen was stunned.
Did the ice queen just make a dirty joke?
"Haha, don't worry. But our company doesn't prohibit seducing the CEO either," he said smugly.
At the word seduce, Xia Shiyu's face turned crimson with shame and anger.
Yet strangely, beneath the anger… was that a flutter in her heart?
"I can at least get some info about this company, right?" she quickly recovered, returning to her businesslike demeanor. "Futureman Technology sounds like a high-tech company. Am I overseeing sales? Or R&D? I have no R&D experience, but I'm confident I could—"
"Whoa, slow down," Jiang Chen raised a hand, stopping her. "To keep it simple — you're CEO. Do everything."
Have a secretary when there's work, and flirt with her when there's not. That's the dream.
Xia Shiyu's expression turned strange.
No wonder she hadn't heard of Futureman Tech… it probably didn't even exist yet.
"At the moment, the company only exists as an idea," Jiang Chen admitted cheerfully. "Isn't that exciting? You'll be China's Steve Ballmer, and I'll be China's Bill Gates!"
He said it with such passion — like he'd waited forever for this moment.
"…"
"Wait, what are you doing with your phone?"
"Booking you a hospital bed," her expression said it all.
"Damn it—!"
It took all Jiang Chen's effort to snatch her phone and explain himself seriously.
"Five years from now, if you don't join now, you'll regret it. Just like people who doubted Jack Ma—wait, stop, don't take out your phone again…"
Okay, stop with the MLM motivational talk, he thought. Time to speak human again.
"Long story short: you'll be CEO and also general manager for now since there's not much business yet. I'll pay you ten thousand a month. Don't rush to pay me back — I don't care about that money. One day, your monthly salary might be worth way more. Now here's your first task: I'll transfer 500k to you. Use it to register the company. That's it. In about two months, you'll be swamped."
Xia Shiyu looked at him, completely unconvinced.
She sighed.
"What if I just run off with your money?" she asked, teasing.
"You're not that type," Jiang Chen shook his head. "And even if you were, spending 500k to see someone's true colors isn't a loss. Not compared to my future company's valuation."
Still jobless and deep in debt, Xia Shiyu silently nodded.
…
Years later, when asked in an interview whether she ever regretted almost refusing Jiang Chen, Xia Shiyu just sighed.
"Sometimes, the difference between being a billionaire and being broke really is just one decision."
…
"It's late. I should go."
It was more than late — it was nearly 1 a.m.
"Mm…" Xia Shiyu stood and saw him to the door.
"Text me your bank info later. I'll send July's pay in advance. Future payments will come at month-end. And please… find a safer place. A woman like you shouldn't live here. Especially one as beautiful as you." Jiang Chen smirked.
Hearing him call her beautiful made Xia Shiyu blush. Others had said it before, but this was the first time it made her heart race. Still, she just nodded coolly.
"Got it."
"Okay then. I'll be away in a few days — might be unreachable."
Jiang Chen turned to leave.
"Wait…"
"Yeah?" Jiang Chen turned back, surprised.
"…Thank you… You were… really cool back then."
She shut the door quickly with a loud bang.
That girl… is she falling for me? Jiang Chen wondered smugly, touching his nose.
Or maybe… it was just gratitude.
Either way, he headed downstairs, humming.
…
Leaning against the back of the door, Xia Shiyu slowly slid to the floor, breathing heavily. The cold tiles against her bare thighs cooled her turbulent emotions.
What the hell did I just say…
Covering her flushed cheeks, her fingers trembled.
So embarrassing… I wanna die… ahhhhh!
Burying her face in her arms, curled up on the floor, Xia Shiyu let out a strangled, muffled wail.