**Chapter 14: Would It Kill You to Be Less Narcissistic?**
After seeing off the security guards, Lin Siyi was tangled up inside, trying to figure out how to explain everything that just happened to her boss.
“Boss, what you just saw was all an illusion?”
But no, Cheng Yixiu is just a bit nearsighted, not actually blind.
She needed a Plan B.
While she was pondering Plan B, Cheng Yixiu broke the awkward silence, “Did you set the kitchen on fire just now?”
Lin Siyi waved her hands to deny it, but quickly admitted, “It’s not that serious. I just forgot the time while making a tonic for you, and it got overcooked… that’s all.”
“Since it was specially made for me, can I go in and see your masterpiece?”
“That’s not a good idea. How about I make it again for you next time?”
Cheng Yixiu joked, “In investment, we always need to do a thorough evaluation before deciding to buy. If you don’t let me see the historical performance, how can I judge the potential future returns?”
Lin Siyi thought to herself, “Wow, has my boss become so obsessed with investment that he’s talking about return on investment while freeloading a meal?”
“But boss, past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns!”
Cheng Yixiu got serious, “So, are you going to let me or not?”
“Ha~ I wouldn’t dare, please come in.”
The smoke from the kitchen hadn’t completely dissipated yet, and there was still a faint smoky smell in the living room as they entered.
“Boss, the kitchen is over there.” Lin Siyi pointed with her left hand, “Actually, my cooking skills are usually okay, even though I don’t cook often. Today was just a bit off.”
To emphasize the difference between today and her usual skills, Lin Siyi rubbed her thumb and fingers together in front of Cheng Yixiu.
It was better not to look, but once he saw it, Cheng Yixiu felt like he was in trouble.
The sight was so eye-burning that even high-concentration disinfectant couldn’t clean it away!
His assistant might not have shown any other skills yet, but her ability to lie with a straight face was top-notch. “What you made doesn’t look like a tonic, more like poison.”
Lin Siyi couldn’t keep up the act anymore and scratched her head in embarrassment, “It’s not as bad as you say, just a little lacking in presentation.”
“Miss Lin Siyi, does this unrecognizable thing in your eyes have any semblance of presentation?”
Cheng Yixiu took a comprehensive look at Lin Siyi’s kitchen. The range hood was almost new, some appliances still had their packaging, and the trash can had plastic wrap from seasoning bottles. No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t seem like a frequently used kitchen.
“You’re not really good at cooking, are you?”
“Today, you just felt like making something for me, using me as practice?”
“But I have no grudge against you. Poisoning your boss won’t let you inherit my fortune, you know?”
Cheng Yixiu’s series of questions left Lin Siyi with no choice but to confess.
“I just wanted to thank you for saving me today, and I followed the salesman’s instructions strictly. I was just one step away from success.” Lin Siyi’s voice got smaller and smaller, “And boss, I haven’t paid you back for the ingredients yet.”
“No need, consider this pot of good stuff a tribute to your trash can.”
Lin Siyi: “…”
The trash can, quietly sitting in the corner, thought, “I’m not human, I don’t deserve this.”
Cheng Yixiu, taking on the role of a mentor, advised her, “It’s good for young people to recognize their limits early. They say the harder you work, the luckier you get, but the premise is to choose the right path. For example, since you have no talent in cooking, there’s no need to waste time on it. Do things within your capabilities to achieve more with less effort.”
Lin Siyi couldn’t help but retort, “But how can you know if you have talent if you don’t try?”
“Questioning me is like questioning your paycheck, you know? I remember a saying from the Bible: when God closes a door, He opens another.”
“Boss, I didn’t know you were a Christian?”
Cheng Yixiu denied it, “No, I’m an atheist. I only believe in myself.”
Lin Siyi was speechless, “Then why did you quote the Bible like a devout believer?”
“I just think it’s a good saying. Look, your cooking is bad enough to poison someone, but as long as you don’t cook, you can keep the kitchen safe.”
Lin Siyi, expressionless, thought, “Thanks for the twisted logic, but as your subordinate, I don’t feel comforted.”
“Boss, were you always this excellent since you were a kid?”
Cheng Yixiu: “Not really. I was quite naughty as a kid, rebellious when transitioning from elementary to middle school. My mom’s passing hit me hard, and it was only after that I had an epiphany and worked hard to get into the youth class.”
“It’s like some stocks, you buy and hold them long-term because they’re consistently excellent, while others you buy waiting for a performance turnaround. It’s the process from value discovery to value realization. The buying logic for these two types of stocks is different.”
Lin Siyi was puzzled, “Wait, weren’t we gossiping about your life? How did we end up talking about stocks?”
Cheng Yixiu sighed slightly, glancing at his assistant, “I used you as an example. I hired you for your growth potential, not for immediate profit.”
Lin Siyi felt delighted inside and flattered him, “Thank you, boss, for the opportunity!”
Then she heard Cheng Yixiu correct his tone, “You see, you’re relying on me, your boss, to feed you, while I’m being fed by the heavens.”
Lin Siyi: “…”
Boss Cheng, would it kill you to be less narcissistic?
After not hearing from Lin Siyi for a while, Cheng Yixiu cleared his thoughts, “By the way, my sister mentioned on the phone yesterday that my niece was having someone follow me. You must have heard it too.”
“Yeah, so what should we do now?”
“Stay calm and wait. Since we live so close, you shouldn’t ride your electric scooter to work for the time being. Just ride with me. If we act too deliberately, it’ll be easy to slip up.”
Lin Siyi: “Do we have to be so realistic? This is practically inseparable. With such high-intensity, around-the-clock overtime, boss, you really should give me a raise!”
“I haven’t even seen your acting skills yet, so let’s hold off on discussing a pay raise.”
“Stingy capitalist,” Lin Siyi muttered under her breath.
“I’m not deaf, you know? I can hear you from this close.”
“But boss, how long do we have to pretend to be a couple? What if, and I mean what if, I get a boyfriend?”
In a flash of insight, Cheng Yixiu realized, “I never asked if you had a boyfriend. You don’t actually have one, do you? If so, this charade would end before it even starts.”
“Not at the moment. But Cindy said girls in the company quickly find someone because there are more men than women, and the competition is fierce.”
For some reason, hearing Lin Siyi say she might soon find someone made Cheng Yixiu feel a bit strange, but it was fleeting.
“Let’s set a three-month period. I’ll resolve this matter and try not to cause you too much trouble. If it takes longer than three months, I’ll pay you triple the original amount as compensation.”
“Thank you, boss, for the business. Wishing you prosperity!”
“But boss, since the tonic I made for you was ruined, let me give you the medicated patch instead. It’s foolproof, lasts 24 hours, and just keep the affected area dry while bathing.”
“With such a strong recommendation, how can I refuse? It’s definitely safer than your tonic, right?”
Having just heard a promise of a potential pay raise from a certain capitalist, Lin Siyi was eager to show her sincerity, “I’ll honor you with my cooking once I’ve honed my skills.”
Cheng Yixiu, using his height advantage, looked down at his assistant, “Please remove the last three words, thank you!”
Lin Siyi teased him, “Got it, young and handsome guy.”
Cheng Yixiu: “…”
Lin Siyi seized the opportunity, pushing her luck, “But boss, I’m really curious. It’s said that in the fund industry, hair volume is a measure of strength, and ‘starting from the head’ has been proven. How do you maintain your hair?”
“Given the current asset shortage in the country, both public and private funds will step up. I have a bold idea: if I start a business now and write a plan to research anti-hair loss products, I could probably attract venture capital and easily raise tens of millions.”
Cheng Yixiu: “You have quite the imagination. Wanting to be the pig on the wind, you should weigh your capabilities.”
“Although it’s generally believed that a fund manager’s earning ability is proportional to their hairline, I’m an exception.”
“Are you indirectly admitting your earning ability isn’t great?”
Cheng Yixiu gave a look that said, “Do you think that’s possible?” “Maybe it’s because I inherited my parents’ excellent genes, having a smart head along with a forward hairline.”
“You don’t know me yet, but once you do, you’ll see I’m not just someone with a few tricks up my sleeve; I might be covered in them.”
Lin Siyi: “…”
It’s really the first time I’ve met someone who can describe themselves so creatively, and this person is actually my boss…