Without a plan, Ji Yan took out his computer, gathered big data, created charts, and spoke eloquently to Su Xiang’s Father.
He began by carefully outlining the initial requirements. As he continued, he grew more excited and spoke more smoothly, sketching out a grand vision of the future for Su Xiang’s Father. His confidence made it seem as though doing business were an instinct he had been born with.
Meanwhile, Su Xiang’s Father went from tightly furrowing his brows to deep, absorbed thought, and finally slapped the table in approval.
Su xiang’s father had never imagined that his future son-in-law, Ji Yan, possessed such abilities.
The Su Family already occupied the home-appliance market, while the Ji Family was developing the digital industry. They had planned to combine forces and seize a share of the internet’s benefits, but now smart home technology seemed a better fit.
They could begin by promoting smart home appliances, then recruit talent on a large scale, restructure their mobile-phone and computer industry lines, and eventually create an interconnected ecosystem. In time, they could even promote automobiles and drones and develop their own chips...
The process would be difficult, but the future was bright.
The light in Ji Yan’s eyes grew brighter. “Uncle, at the previous congress, the country clearly began promoting new energy. This will be the greatest market trend of the coming decades. Development can succeed only by following the pace of policy.”
“You’re right!” Su Xiang’s Father affirmed his words, and satisfaction deepened in his gaze.
Who said his future son-in-law was inferior to Shang Xu? Ji Yan was clearly more well-rounded. Those people lacked vision. His daughter was the clever one; she had secured the best match early.
Su Xiang’s Father patted Ji Yan firmly on the shoulder, his face full of admiration. “Go ahead and do it. The Su Corporation will cooperate fully.”
“Don’t worry, uncle. I will never take even a fraction of an unfair advantage from the Su Corporation. I want to give my half of the equity to Xiangxiang as betrothal gifts.”
Su Xiang’s Father froze and studied him. “Are you truly willing?”
After many years in the business world, the old fox had developed his own way of judging people. Having risen from nothing to immense wealth, Su Xiang’s Father believed that few people in the world could escape his scrutiny.
Yet in Ji Yan, who stood before him, he saw only sincerity and anticipation for the future; he could detect no hint of evasiveness or concealment.
Ji Yan smiled faintly and explained, “Uncle, I know that most people in this world place great importance on money, but I already possess more than I could spend in a lifetime. I want the sense of achievement that comes from conquering the market and security in my future life. Xiangxiang is not good at business, so the equity would be better placed in her hands. I only want absolute control over the new project.”
After so many years in the Endless Wasteland, he cared little for worldly possessions. He was also confident that he could earn money whenever he wanted.
Su Xiang’s Father understood: Xiangxiang would receive the shares, while Ji Yan would hold the power. That would give both sides security and provide greater protection for the marriage.
From a darker perspective, Ji Yan would certainly find ways to gradually swallow up the shares once he gained power and influence. On the other hand, Su Xiang’s Father was not easy to fool, and a Prenuptial Agreement could prevent all of this.
Besides, even without this promise, his analysis had already convinced him to support the new project. No matter how he looked at it, Ji Yan’s sincerity was genuine.
Rarely, he actually felt somewhat moved.
“Good. Then we’ll do as you say.”
Su Xiang’s Father grew more satisfied as he looked at Ji Yan and laughed heartily. Everyone said that, after spending half his life building his business with only one daughter who did not understand business, all his efforts would ultimately come to nothing. Who could have imagined that he had secured the finest son-in-law long ago?
A son-in-law was half a son. Why had he struggled for half his life? Was it not so that his wife and daughter could live well and be envied by others? He had worried about his daughter’s future before, but now all his troubles had vanished like smoke.
What use was it for those business rivals to have so many sons? Could they compare with one Ji Yan?
Once the new project began, Ji Yan was so busy that his feet barely touched the ground. He had not expected to meet the Female Protagonist again so soon—or at Shang Xu’s company.
Once again, she collided with Shang Xu while hurrying along, sending the documents scattering across the floor.
The surroundings fell silent at once. The employees of the Shang Corporation held their breath, afraid that the matter would involve them.
Everyone knew Shang Xu’s temper. Who could say how great a fit of rage he might fly into? What he hated most in his daily work was people who were careless and negligent.
This new Intern was doomed.
“President Shang, I’m sorry.” Lin Ranran hurriedly apologized, pressing her lips together. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I was carrying too many documents, and the Team Leader needed them urgently, so I wasn’t paying enough attention. I’ll be careful next time.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, but she was bold enough to force herself to remain calm. “You wouldn’t abuse your authority for personal revenge and fire me just because I spilled a whole glass of wine on you last time, would you?”
“Hiss!”
A chorus of sharp breaths rose around them. She had spilled wine all over President Shang before? And she had still been hired?
The more Lin Ranran spoke, the more justified she felt. “I already said I would compensate you, and I’m the one at a disadvantage here. Even if I accidentally spilled wine on you, that doesn’t mean the clothes had to be discarded, right? Normally, I would only need to pay the dry-cleaning fee.”
Shang Xu let out a cold snort. “Are you saying I should keep wearing clothes stained with wine?”
His voice was oppressive, and he curled his lips mockingly, as though anger had made him laugh.
“Who knows whether rich people like you are as wasteful in private as you appear to be? What if you’re all bluster on the outside but weak within, or completely different behind closed doors? But I promised to compensate you, and I won’t welsh on the debt. Don’t worry—Lin Ranran always keeps her word.”
Shang Xu seemed not to have expected anyone to dare speak to him this way, and his expression grew even colder. “Oh? Then tell me, how do you intend to compensate me?”
He took two steps forward and, under everyone’s astonished gaze, flipped over the name badge on Lin Ranran’s chest. “An Intern in the Planning Department. An internship salary shouldn’t exceed eight thousand. How long will you take to repay me? Or do you have another high-paying source of income at Yunqi? Then I’ve underestimated Miss Lin.”
Anger flushed Lin Ranran’s face, and she argued, “Stop looking down on people! I’m not that kind of person.”
“What kind?”
Ji Yan watched with a frown. As expected of the Female Protagonist, she could stir the male protagonist’s emotions with ease.
Many women had deliberately approached Shang Xu in the past. With his family background and appearance, beautiful women and colorful schemes had appeared one after another. In his memories, this was the first time Shang Xu had shown such malicious amusement.
“You... I...” Lin Ranran was on the verge of tears from anger and could not think of how to argue back.
“Shang Xu, He Chan and Su Xiang are still waiting downstairs.” Ji Yan stepped forward and interrupted their almost flirtatious argument. He did not want them to grow any closer.
However, Lin Ranran saw his action as an attempt to help her out of trouble. Her favorable impression of him soared, and she gave him a friendly, grateful smile.
Ji Yan ignored her and turned away.
Yet his gentle, refined air made it impossible to see him as cold toward others. Lin Ranran even felt that he was trying to take this tyrannosaurus away quickly to keep her safe.
She muttered, “Hmph, the difference between people can be enormous.”
Shang Xu’s expression grew even colder. “I’ll settle accounts with you next time.”
The personnel staff member who hurried over privately pondered the meaning. Did it mean Lin Ranran could not be dismissed for the time being?
This Intern was something else. She had been there only three days, yet she had already made the President remember her. After provoking him, she had not been fired on the spot. She was clearly no ordinary person. He would have to consider this carefully.
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