Lu Chengwen lowered his head and pondered deeply, thinking of a solution.
Jiang Shihan was even more confused.
What... what was wrong with this guy? I was already... I was about to go insane!
He was trying to figure out how to help me?! How to treat my mother's illness?!
And he seemed able to predict the future!
What exactly was going on? Was this man just imagining things?
After thinking for a long time, Lu Chengwen decided to wait and see.
As long as he did nothing, Long Aotian, as the protagonist, should have a chance to get close to Jiang Shihan. Once the two of them got close and talked, they could discuss her mother's illness and all that.
Right! Right, right!
Then, even if he did not do anything beastly to Jiang Shihan, Long Aotian would still cure her mother. When he came looking for him afterward, he could just let him take Jiang Shihan away.
I really am a fucking genius!
Thinking that, Lu Chengwen let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Jiang Shihan.
"Shihan."
"Ah? Oh... CEO Lu."
"Don't be nervous. Uh... I... well, before... ah, this is pretty embarrassing..."
Jiang Shihan thought, What the hell?
Why did this guy look even more nervous than she was? This was not Young Master Lu's usual style!
What was wrong with him today? Why was he so terrifying?
Lu Chengwen kept recalling the things the "former him" had done. He felt guilty and embarrassed, his face flushing bright red as he stammered.
Jiang Shihan hurriedly said, "CEO Lu, did I do something wrong? If I did, you can just scold me."
"Huh? No, no, no..."
Lu Chengwen hurriedly said, "You're an excellent secretary. You're excellent in every way. It's just that I... ah, I'll just say it."
Lu Chengwen said, "The old me was an asshole. I treated you terribly. Please don't be angry—no! You should be angry. That would be better for everyone. I want to ask for your forgiveness... no, that's not right either. You'd better not forgive me, or the plot will fall apart."
Lu Chengwen thought, Why can't I explain this clearly?
"Anyway, it's fine if you hate me. You should hate me."
Jiang Shihan hurriedly forced out a smile. "CEO Lu, you're joking. How could I hate you? I'm very grateful that you gave me the opportunity to work here and took care of me for so many years."
Only an idiot would believe that. It would already be a blessing if she wasn't cursing him to get run over by a car in her heart.
Lu Chengwen smiled bitterly. "Anyway, I know you have your own difficulties in life. Otherwise, you would have left my side long ago..."
At that point, neither Jiang Shihan nor Lu Chengwen believed a word the other said.
Jiang Shihan quickly said nervously, "I am utterly loyal to CEO Lu and have absolutely no second thoughts."
Lu Chengwen was depressed beyond measure.
She was one of Long Aotian's harem members. He could neither offend her nor get too close to her.
"How about this? Starting today, you're on leave."
Jiang Shihan was stunned. She immediately said, "CEO Lu, CEO Lu, I was wrong, CEO Lu! CEO Lu, please, please don't fire me. I... I really need this job."
Jiang Shihan was so anxious she was about to cry. Lu Chengwen quickly said, "I'll double your salary, but you won't have to do anything. Is that okay?"
"CEO Lu, please, don't do this. I'll work even harder from now on..."
"No, did you hear what I said? I said you don't have to work and can still get paid. You don't have to see me, and your salary will even be doubled..."
Jiang Shihan dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of Lu Chengwen's clothes with both hands as tears streamed down her face. "CEO Lu, my mother's illness is very serious. I really can't lose this job. CEO Lu, I'll do my very best. Please don't fire me..."
Why was this so hard to explain!?
Lu Chengwen had not expected this matter to be so difficult to handle.
At that moment, Xu Xuejiao pushed open the door. Zhao Gang showed a troubled expression from the doorway, indicating that he could not stop her.
Lu Chengwen and Xu Xuejiao locked eyes.
When Xu Xuejiao saw the scene, her face immediately turned cold.
Sure enough, a dog couldn't stop eating shit.
Lu Chengwen was pulling Workplace PUA tricks again, bullying a pretty female employee.
He had actually bullied her to this extent.
"Brother Chengwen, you're in quite the mood!"
Xu Xuejiao was smiling, but blades flashed and icy light gleamed within that classic sweet smile.
At that instant, an ultimate strategic idea flashed through Lu Chengwen's mind!
Perfect timing!
He had used her to get rid of Leng Qingqiu before. Now he would use Xu Xuejiao to get rid of her!
Right! Right, right!
Best case, she would get angry and buy Jiang Shihan out, then take her away. That way, if Long Aotian wanted to save her, he would have to ask her for her. Then his legs would be safe!
Both girls were bewildered.
What was that supposed to mean!?
Xu Xuejiao frowned tightly. What kind of nonsense was this bastard thinking now?
So he had deliberately flirted with her over the phone earlier while Leng Qingqiu was sitting beside him?
Hadn't he always been pursuing Leng Qingqiu? Wasn't their engagement ceremony supposed to take place next month?
Why did he want to use her to "get rid of" Leng Qingqiu?
And now he wanted to use this female secretary to "get rid of" her!?
Xu Xuejiao felt that the mysteries in Lu Chengwen's mind were growing ever deeper.
Jiang Shihan was confused too.
Being able to hear her boss's inner monologue felt both strange and frightening.
But she could not understand it. He... actually wanted to help her?
Why?
Lu Chengwen took a deep breath, feeling full of confidence.
Lu Chengwen, it was time to test your acting skills. If you performed well today, you could handle both women at once and make Xu Xuejiao take Jiang Shihan away.
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Not only did he need to act well, he also had to secure at least a monthly salary of one hundred thousand for Jiang Shihan. Her mother was waiting for treatment and medicine.
Next, he would show them how a true villainous bastard was supposed to act!
Having made up his mind, Lu Chengwen leaned back in his chair like a proud old master.
Crossing one leg over the other, he lightly hooked Jiang Shihan's chin with his expensive Italian Oxford leather shoe. Tilting his head, he said frivolously, "Women are nothing more than playthings to me."
Lu Chengwen gave Xu Xuejiao a confident glance. "If you want to be my subordinate, you have to satisfy all my demands."
"Oh, is that so?"
Xu Xuejiao seemed to be Lu Chengwen's natural nemesis.
Now that Xu Xuejiao knew Lu Chengwen's true intentions, she naturally would not obediently follow his script.
Instead, she grew even more excited. She wanted to see how this bad guy would force her to follow his plan and save this girl.
You wanted to bully her so I would step forward and play the good guy?
Hehe, if this had been before yesterday, the script probably would have gone exactly as you planned.
I would have thought you were the scum of scum, the trash of trash. But today... sorry, big sister has already seen right through your heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
Xu Xuejiao said, "Wow, Brother Chengwen is so imposing. Xue Jiao likes it so much!"
Lu Chengwen's brain was no longer enough to process this.
What was wrong with the female leads in Grandma Bear's book!?
What game were you playing!?
Why weren't you following the usual script!?
Lu Chengwen forced himself to continue acting. He leaned closer to the completely stunned Jiang Shihan, who was kneeling on the floor, flashed an evil smile, and pinched her chin. "Tonight, come to my private villa. I have lots and lots of work to discuss with you. Hehe. And... we need to communicate together with complete honesty, without any barriers or obstacles between us. Hehehe, you understand what I mean, right?"
Jiang Shihan's brain had completely stopped working.
Yet she nodded as if possessed.
Xu Xuejiao chuckled. "Then Brother Chengwen, you have to work hard!"
Lu Chengwen turned back to look at Xu Xuejiao. "Tonight, I'm going to take advantage of her."
"Mhm, mhm, you should," Xu Xuejiao agreed wholeheartedly.
You should my ass!
Big sister, as a... you should have a sense of justice! Weren't you supposed to scold me, then name a price to buy her freedom?
If you act like this... it's hard for me to wrap up this little performance! Should I keep acting or not?
Xu Xuejiao was about to burst out laughing.
Keep acting, keep acting. I love watching this. It was too wonderful.
Jiang Shihan struggled to regain her composure.
What exactly was this man doing? Was he forcing President Xu to buy her freedom?
Lu Chengwen stood up, thought for a moment, then continued his performance. Pointing at Xu Xuejiao, he said proudly, "Sister Xuejiao, do you know why she puts up with everything I do? Why no matter how I make things difficult for her, she still begs me to let her keep this job?"
Xu Xuejiao said, "I don't know."
"Because her mother is sick. Her medical bills cost around a million every year, so hahaha, no matter how I treat her, she has to endure it. She has to obey me. She absolutely doesn't dare defy me even a little, much less make me angry. She can't resist me!"
Xu Xuejiao said, "Mhm, mhm, I see. Impressive, impressive."
Suppressing the urge to cough up blood, Lu Chengwen continued, "That's human weakness. I'm the best at exploiting other people's weaknesses to bully them. Right?"
Xu Xuejiao nodded wildly. "That's right, that's right."
Lu Chengwen's expression twitched.
"But!" Lu Chengwen said, "if someone appeared right now and offered her the same salary I do, just over a hundred thousand a month, they could save her from this sea of suffering."
Xu Xuejiao said, "Oh, is that so?"
Lu Chengwen said smugly, "Sister Xuejiao, tell me, where is that person?"
Xu Xuejiao looked utterly puzzled, innocent, and adorable. "I don't know."
Lu Chengwen thought, Are you doing this on purpose to piss me off?
"Could it be that you're that person?" Lu Chengwen was going crazy. He pointed at Xu Xuejiao and declared forcefully, "It's you! Give her one hundred twenty thousand a month, and you can help her escape this sea of suffering and gain a new life! She'll never have to suffer under a heartless boss again. She can walk the path of a normal life and live happily with her mother from now on!"
Xu Xuejiao pointed at herself. "Me?"
Then she shook her head. "Not interested."
Lu Chengwen felt that the female leads of this book truly were... Did they not even do the bare minimum of good deeds or casual favors?
How were you supposed to be female leads like this? How were you supposed to win over readers?
Was something wrong with you, Main Heroine!?
Lu Chengwen put an arm around Xu Xuejiao. "Look at her. Isn't she pitiful?"
"Pitiful."
"Isn't her situation tragic?"
"Tragic."
"Then will you save her?"
"Not interested."
Lu Chengwen grew anxious. "Xu Xuejiao, how can you not be interested in saving someone? You're Healer's Heart Xu Xuejiao! When a patient has so much as a headache or fever, it hurts you as if you were suffering yourself. You want to save everyone in the world and make this world a better place. That was why you studied medicine in the first place! Now there's a miserable person standing right in front of you. How could you possibly not want to save her?! Give me an answer!"
Lu Chengwen shouted.
This female lead was too infuriating!
"I want a perfect explanation from you!"
Xu Xuejiao thought for a moment. "It's too expensive. Spending a million a year in salary and hundreds of thousands in year-end bonuses just to look at thighs and grope asses is something only you could do."
Lu Chengwen was stunned.
Was it because of the money!?
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