Chuan Jin dragged Xu Mianchuan to the study and barged in without knocking.
Xu Anguo had just ended a phone call and was in a good mood, so he didn’t comment on his daughter’s rude and unruly behavior.
“Xiao Jin, perfect timing. Dad has settled it with the Dongzhou Project Team—you’ll be the person in charge of PT from now on,” Xu Anguo chuckled.
Chuan Jin was so angry her head spun, her fair cheeks flushing slightly. “Am I not smart, or are you just dumb? After causing a scene at the signing event, how could Dongzhou possibly let me take charge of the project! They might not know my capabilities, but you do. How could you agree to this??”
“Watch your tone with your father,” Xu Anguo chided softly before smiling again. “I know this isn’t your strong suit, but since they agreed to sign tomorrow with the only condition being that you serve as the person in charge, why wouldn’t I go along with it?”
Xu Mianchuan patted Chuan Jin’s back to calm her down and asked her father, “Dad, are you thinking of having Xiao Jin be a nominal manager?”
Xu Anguo glanced at his adopted daughter and nodded. “That’s the only way.”
Chuan Jin puffed out her cheeks, her eyes full of resentment. “Dad, what kind of look was that!”
Xu Anguo chuckled vaguely and changed the subject. “Xiao Jin, what did you do at Dongzhou during the day? Why would they ask you to take charge of the project?”
Xu Mianchuan was also curious and looked at her sister suspiciously.
“How should I know?”
She had been too busy acting during the day and hadn’t even managed to speak with Zhou Lincan. Who knew what nonsense Dongzhou was thinking, letting an absolute amateur like her manage a billion-dollar project.
Chuan Jin turned her head, gazing at a corner of the study as she recalled the day’s events. A strand of hair fell by her ear, blurring her delicate and beautiful jawline.
Seeing his daughter’s bright and lovely face, Xu Anguo had an idea. “Did Second Young Master Zhou see you today?”
“He did.”
Xu Anguo’s expression shifted slightly, and he smiled. “Could it be that Zhou Lincan has taken a liking to you?”
Chuan Jin remained expressionless. “Dad, that joke isn’t funny at all.”
Xu Anguo scratched his head and clicked his tongue. “You’re right. Someone like Zhou Lincan, an elite, should be matched with a proper lady. You… don’t really fit with him.”
The remark was a bit harsh, and Xu Mianchuan frowned, giving her father a meaningful look.
But Chuan Jin didn’t seem to mind. She eagerly leaned in to add, “Right? You think so too, Dad? Actually, I think the same. Looking at the entire elite circle of Shen Shi, only Big Sister is a match for Zhou Lincan. Why don’t you consider having Big Sister take charge of PT?”
“Mianchuan?” Xu Anguo was taken aback and immediately said, “Mianchuan is managing Xuri. How could she take over PT?”
Chuan Jin fumed, “Why can’t she! Xuri’s trivial matters could be handled by hiring a professional manager. Does Big Sister really need to oversee it personally? That’s a waste of her talent. Even Wang Yujiang can manage PT. Big Sister graduated from Stanford—in what way is she inferior to him? I don’t care. If you make me the nominal manager and Dongzhou contacts me, I’ll just pass everything to Big Sister. I don’t care who you appoint as the actual person in charge.”
“…”
Xu Anguo realized that ever since she had been driven away once, his adopted daughter’s temper had grown increasingly fierce. He sighed helplessly, “You’re being unreasonable.”
“If I were being unreasonable, would I still be here discussing it with you? I could just cause another scene at tomorrow’s signing, and everything would be resolved.”
“Chuan Jin!” Xu Mianchuan tugged at her younger sister’s sleeve and said to Xu Anguo, “Dad, Chuan Jin isn’t familiar with PT operations. I’ll accompany her to the signing tomorrow.”
Once again, the elder daughter helped steer the conversation away from trouble. Xu Anguo nodded inwardly and replied, “Alright, you two sisters go together. Help her assess the situation.”
The discussion ended there as Xu Anguo declared he needed rest and shooed them out of the study.
Back in her room, Chuan Jin still fumed with indignation: “Sis, why didn’t you back me up earlier? I could tell you really want PT.”
Removing her makeup, Xu Mianchuan said, “Even if I want it, would it matter? Dong Zhou specifically requested you as the person in charge. What would my presence signify?”
She had a point.
The problem still lay with the other party.
Sinking into the burgundy leather sofa, Chuan Jin couldn’t resist complaining about the person who assigned her PT responsibilities: “Do you think Zhou Lincan would fire that person in anger upon learning I’m managing such a major project? So incompetent and tactless, just leaching off Dong Zhou’s payroll.”
“If Zhou Lincan didn’t approve it, who would dare spread that message? Be careful—if you end up criticizing President Zhou himself, you’ll be the one embarrassed during tomorrow’s meeting.” The maid had prepared the bathwater, so Xu Mianchuan stood up and headed toward the bathroom. “It’s late. Go back and rest properly. Remember to dress formally for the signing tomorrow.”
Chuan Jin rubbed her nose and mumbled in response, “Okay.”
…
The next day at 9:50 AM, the two sisters arrived at Dong Zhou headquarters ten minutes early.
The accompanying team was exceptionally lean—aside from two of Xu Mianchuan’s assistants, there was only one driver. Rumor had it Dong Zhou had also only sent its core team. Due to the small number of attendees, the signing venue was moved from the conference floor to a small meeting room on the executive office level.
As soon as they entered the building, Chuan Jin spotted a familiar face.
Manager Du Qiu from the Dongzhou Project Team.
Having witnessed Chuan Jin’s formidable presence yesterday, Manager Du was still in a state of profound admiration, his attitude exceedingly friendly and respectful: “Miss Xu, welcome, welcome. And this must be… President Xu from Xuri Media? Here today specifically to assist your sister? Ah, welcome, welcome.”
After exchanging greetings, Du Qiu led the group via elevator to the executive office level.
In the quiet corridor, Chuan Jin looked him up and down and couldn’t resist asking, “Was it you who decided to put me in charge?”
[That incompetent and tactless person.]
Du Qiu promptly replied, “How could it be me? Without the team leader’s approval, I wouldn’t dare make such a decision.”
[Team leader? Manager Du actually has a team leader above him?]
Chuan Jin grumbled inwardly, displeased. What kind of tasteless team leader is this? Are their eyes even functional? Can they not tell people apart? It’s not like the Xu family is short on capable individuals—ignoring Xu Mianchuan, who’s on the same level as Zhou Lincan, and choosing me? They must have their head screwed on backward.
Our own hiring process includes background checks, yet they’re this careless in selecting partners? Wang Yujiang had to scheme to embezzle five billion—don’t they believe I could squander ten billion effortlessly? Aren’t they afraid Zhou Lincan would skin them alive upon finding out?
And just when I was about to convince Xu Anguo to let my elder sister take over PT, someone had to jump out at the critical moment to steal the spotlight. Where did this extra come from with so many lines?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Chuan Jin opened her mouth to ask who that incompetent and tactless team leader was.
Manager Du tactfully added, “By the way, our team leader is President Zhou.”
Chuan Jin: “…”
Hello?
“Miss Xu may not be aware, but having senior executives serve as nominal team leaders is a tradition here in Dong Zhou. Moreover, our President Zhou has been personally involved in PT’s implementation from the start—he’s the genuine project team lead,” Du Qiu explained with a smile.
Chuan Jin: “…………”
Xu Mianchuan glanced at her younger sister, a faint curve lifting the corner of her mouth.
That expression—like she’d swallowed a fly—made it clear the young mistress was cursing someone in her heart again. And she’d guessed right: the curses had reached the very person they were about.
Chuan Jin wore a look of utter despair.
If those rebellious remarks had reached Zhou Lincan’s ears, today’s contract signing would likely have fallen through again. Thank goodness she’d only vented about Zhou Lincan at home and in her thoughts.
Clutching at straws, Chuan Jin mentally reviewed her complaints.
Well, perhaps they weren’t so treasonous after all—she had only spoken the truth.
Whatever. Zhou Lincan would never know.
Sigh—
In the conference room just a wall away, the second young master of the Zhou family reviewed the project proposal, his long legs crossed. His slender, elegant fingers tapped a steady rhythm against his knee.
When he reached a certain section, the man raised one sharp eyebrow, his index finger pausing momentarily—the rhythm faltering for a brief instant.
Hm? At home?
So Miss Xu had been cursing him since yesterday?