Because there were other live streamers and Mu Xiaoxiao around, he put on an ugly look for a second before quickly acting as if nothing had happened, greeting everyone enthusiastically.
Turning his head back, he saw Qin Zhen impatiently brushing at his shoulder, appearing utterly disgusted that foundation from his face had gotten onto his shirt.
Yang Xiaoliang gritted his teeth fiercely, yet due to the crowd, he had no choice but to sit down in his seat as if nothing were wrong.
Qin Zhen glanced at General Manager Zhu Chen, who was sitting at the very front, and went up an extra floor to a corner restroom that was rarely used.
Who would have guessed that the moment he stepped out of the restroom, their squeaky, womanish General Manager Zhu Chen was standing right by the sink, wearing a pair of thin-framed glasses, his hair combed meticulously, and his face heavily caked with white foundation. In his mid-thirties, he spent the whole day looking all greasy and made up.
It turned out that running into him in the previous life hadn’t been a coincidence; Zhu Chen had purposely followed him up here to block his path.
Qin Zhen unlocked his phone, tapped to start the recording, and slipped it back into his pocket. He casually gave a greeting, “General Manager Zhu.”
Zhu Chen felt an itch in his heart as he looked at him. He had been harboring secret desires for Qin Zhen for a long time, but Qin Zhen rarely came to the company, and during live streams he never showed his face, making it extremely difficult to find an opportunity for privacy.
He sidled up close to Qin Zhen, the pungent scent of his heavy perfume instantly assaulting Qin Zhen’s nasal passages.
“Little Qin, you’ve been at the company for quite a while now. I’ve noticed the live streaming performance across various sectors hasn’t been very good. What is going on? Have you explored the real reasons behind it?”
Qin Zhen maintained his composure, quietly putting some distance between himself and Zhu Chen. “Indeed, perhaps I’m not very suited for this industry? So, does General Manager Zhu have any good suggestions?”
Today was a major company meeting after all, so Qin Zhen had worn his most expensive shirt and suit trousers. His solid muscles seemed almost visible beneath the dark gray shirt, making Zhu Chen’s eyes pop straight out.
His hand reached out restlessly, touching Qin Zhen’s long, powerful arm.
“Next month the company has two traffic-support events. As long as you seize this event, gaining a few hundred thousand followers is the least of it.”
“In fact, many times, what those big streamers can get, you can get too. Given your conditions, you will only obtain more than others; it just depends on whether you know how to seize the opportunity.”
As Zhu Chen spoke, he patted a nonexistent speck of dust very gently on Qin Zhen’s chest, his pinky finger lingering near his chest with heavy, suggestive undertones.
“Especially me, since I happen to be in charge of this sector, I can also send you virtual gifts and tips.”
Qin Zhen crossed his arms, leaning against the wall and curving his eyes with a seductive smile, looking every bit like a male fox spirit.
“Is General Manager Zhu trying to develop some sort of relationship with me? I don’t quite understand. It’s just the two of us here, there is no need to speak so ambiguously.”
“Do you really have to make me spell it out so clearly?”
Thinking that Qin Zhen was catching on, Zhu Chen glanced back at the restroom entrance to make sure no one was coming in before wearing a satisfied smile. Emboldened, he reached out again, his voice softening a notch.
“Follow me, fifty thousand a month, all expenses paid. I see that car of yours has been driven for a long time, do you want to change cars? I have three cars, just pick one.”
“Such great perks?” Qin Zhen clicked his tongue. In his past life, he certainly hadn’t heard about so many benefits.
Pity for his poor little car with the dented rear.
He massaged his temples with a headache, feeling that the terms were indeed tempting, though the person in front of him made him vaguely want to vomit.
“Unfortunately, I’m not interested. Please step aside, General Manager Zhu. The smell on you is just too overwhelming.”
Zhu Chen was caught completely off guard by his sudden change in attitude. He instinctively retreated a step toward the sink, his face turning a mix of green and white once he processed what happened.
“You, what did you say? This perfume was specially…”
“I am not interested in where you specially brought it from. It stinks to high heaven, so hurry up and move aside. I’m still in a hurry to go downstairs and watch the show.”
Embarrassed into anger, Zhu Chen’s voice suddenly spiked several octaves higher. “Qin Zhen! If you dare walk out this door today, let’s see how you manage to survive in this company from now on!”
Survive my foot.
Qin Zhen held a grudge against this General Manager Zhu. If it hadn’t been for this manager taking the opportunity to suppress him in his past life, he wouldn’t have died of a myocardial infarction at just twenty-eight years old, suffering under a garbage boss in such a crappy little company.
“Fine, no problem.”
Before his words could fade, a voice rang out from the restroom entrance, unmistakably belonging to Yang Xiaoliang, who had harbored hostility toward him earlier. Entering the room and glaring fiercely at Qin Zhen, Yang Xiaoliang strode over and grabbed Zhu Chen’s wrist.
“Zhu Chen! What do you mean by saying those things to Qin Zhen here? Do you think I haven’t served you well enough these past two months? No wonder you haven’t been answering my calls these past two days.”
Having his rejection witnessed by his previous lover, and with Zhu Chen being a general manager to boot, his face turned livid as he shoved Yang Xiaoliang away. “Xiaoliang, let’s talk about your business tonight. Get out first.”
“I am not getting out! These past two months you’ve practically squeezed me dry, and now you want to swap me out just like that. What the hell do you take me for?”
“What are you talking about, Xiaoliang? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Putting on an act for me now, are you? Hah, still pretending you don’t understand. Do you take me for a pushover? I have your videos saved right there on my computer, several gigabytes worth. Do you want me to let the netizens circulate and appreciate them?”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Chen’s face drained of color, and he threw a punch straight into Yang Xiaoliang’s eye socket. “What did you say?!”
“I said you are shameless!”
Inside the restroom, the two of them broke into a fierce brawl. Within minutes, both had bruised and swollen faces, gripping each other by the throat. Qin Zhen showed zero intention of breaking up the fight; after watching the spectacle for a moment, he walked straight out.
Returning to his seat downstairs, the program on stage was almost ending.
Qin Zhen half-closed his eyes absentmindedly, catching Mu Xiaoxiao’s notice as she leaned over toward him, her gaze landing right on the watch strap sticking out of Qin Zhen’s pocket.
Anyone familiar with Qin Zhen knew that he was extremely thrifty with his food and daily expenses, sometimes wishing he could split a single day’s meals across two days. An external ornament like a watch didn’t fit his persona at all.
Furthermore, that watch looked like it carried a hefty price tag. Mu Xiaoxiao poked his arm. “Your stuff is about to fall out.”
“Right, let me ask you,” Qin Zhen took out the watch and weighed it in his hand. “Do you know what brand this is? Is it worth anything?”
Mu Xiaoxiao came from a middle-class family and had previously worked as an artist manager, so she recognized a few brands. Flipping it over to the back and spotting the logo, she covered her mouth in absolute disbelief and stared at Qin Zhen.
“I knew you were kept by a sugar daddy!”
Seeing that expression, Qin Zhen knew the watch was genuinely expensive. He clicked his tongue. “Keep it down. It’s fake, bought just to put on airs.”
“Tsk! I figured, otherwise it would be too exaggerated to actually give you a three-million-yuan watch.”
Mu Xiaoxiao shot him several skeptical glances, feeling deep down that Qin Zhen wasn’t the type of person who liked to put on airs, but she couldn’t be bothered to pry further, so she slumped back into her chair.
Now it was Qin Zhen’s turn to be shocked, though he masked it extremely well, taking only an imperceptible, deep breath.
In his previous life, he had known that Shen Jin’an should be quite wealthy, but he hadn’t expected him to be this rich.
Feeling a bit unbalanced inside, he called 999 out again, asking if someone this wealthy really needed him to act as redemption. With so much money, what couldn’t they buy?
999 spun around magnificently several times, rolled its eyes dramatically, and finally stopped right in front of Qin Zhen, attempting to lecture and brainwash him. [Money can’t buy everything. Every villain has a lot of money.]
Qin Zhen gave a cold scoff. “That’s easy for you to say while standing.”
999 swished its tail. [But I can’t stand, and I don’t have a waist either.]
Qin Zhen: “Right, and you don’t have a brain either.”
999: [This host is so annoying.]