Is This Boss Out of His Mind?

A raise was only right, but such a massive increase was terrifying.

As Executive Vice President, Li Meiqin was essentially in charge of managing the entire Great Sage Group. Lu Chengwen was only responsible for overall decision-making.

In short, whenever the boss wanted to spend money, she had to step forward and play the villain.

If the boss wanted to raise salaries, she had to oppose it!

That was Li Meiqin's management experience from years of work, as well as her personal strategy.

First, she had to make her stance clear at all times: I'm on your side, Boss. I have to save you money.

Second, if the boss insisted on raising salaries, then her obstruction would better highlight his noble character and his great, fatherly concern for his employees.

That was why Li Meiqin's reputation within the company was not particularly good. All the employees said she and the boss were cut from the same cloth.

Nonsense. The boss was the one paying her annual salary of over ten million. If she did not side with him and instead helped the employees demand benefits and raises every day... why would he keep her around?

She was the boss's dirty glove. He was responsible for playing the good guy; naturally, she handled the bad guy role and the dirty work.

But Lu Chengwen had not discussed this with her beforehand. He had brought it up directly during the meeting, catching her completely off guard.

Li Meiqin stood and adjusted her glasses. "CEO Lu, I'm the group's Vice President. It puts me in a difficult position when you announce something like this without discussing it with me first. How about you give me some time? I'll meet with the Finance Department, the actuarial department, and cost accounting to discuss it and come up with a detailed plan before—"

"You do need to hold a meeting," Lu Chengwen said. "The topic should be how to implement my decision as soon as possible. Notify the Publicity Department and announce this to every employee in the group. It must be put into effect before the end of this month."

Everyone looked at Li Meiqin.

You're the biggest shot here besides him. Go on, then. Let's see how long you can keep licking his boots.

"But the exact scale of the raises can't just be decided on the spot. It needs to go through—"

Lu Chengwen smiled. "Meiqin, you've worked too hard these past two years."

"It's no hardship serving CEO Lu and Great Sage Group."

"Mm." Lu Chengwen said, "Then let's do this. Double your annual salary. Keep up the good work."

Li Meiqin's eyes widened in shock. She could not believe her boss was being so generous.

Lu Chengwen continued, "As for how much the other senior executives' annual salaries should increase, you decide."

Lu Chengwen walked up to her and lightly patted her shoulder. "Don't save me money."

Li Meiqin was left dizzy by Lu Chengwen's string of blows. "CEO Lu, such a major matter should still be considered more carefully..."

One executive immediately rose to his feet and began applauding. "Everyone, give CEO Lu a round of applause!"

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the conference room, accompanied by wave after wave of praise.

"CEO Lu is powerful and majestic!"

"We swear to share Great Sage Group's glory and disgrace, its fate and fortune!"

"From now on, I will be utterly loyal and never harbor a second thought!"

"CEO Lu is truly a conscientious boss and a benevolent leader!"

Li Meiqin frowned tightly. She understood that these people did not want to let her speak. They were immediately using applause and praise to nail this decision in place.

She narrowed her eyes at Lu Chengwen, who was basking in everyone's adoration, while her mind raced.

What exactly is this man trying to do!?

This is far too abnormal!

Did I overlook something? Is he preparing for a major reshuffle?

Win people's hearts first, use high salaries to stabilize me, then choose a new Vice President?

I had planned to take a group of people away and start my own operation, but with this move, my plans have been completely strangled in the cradle.

I kept everything airtight! There's no way he could have gotten wind of it!

He wouldn't take out this much money for no reason. Something must have happened!

Li Meiqin wailed inwardly.

She had already spoken privately with several vice presidents and senior managers, and over the past few years, she had built an excellent team of her own.

She had originally planned to take them all away with her and establish her own faction.

But after this, she had instantly become a lone commander.

Everyone who had agreed to leave with her now did not dare meet her eyes. It was obvious what they were thinking: I can stay at Great Sage, rule over this vast domain, and earn a high salary, so why would I follow you out to start some peasant rebellion? Am I insane?

But... Lu Chengwen had actually handed her the authority to decide how much all the senior executives' salaries would increase.

What did that mean!?

Li Meiqin had a guilty conscience, and at that moment, more than a hundred thoughts churned through her mind.

Her palms sweated as she vaguely sensed a massive storm brewing within Great Sage Group. No, it had already begun!

Lu Chengwen accepted handshakes, hugs, and thanks from the various executives as they came over one after another.

He smiled on the outside, but inwardly he was annoyed to death.

Are you all this excited over such a little money?

Damn it, are you done yet? Men, stop coming over! You barely have any hair left. Why not just shave it all off?

Fuck, all these handshakes and hugs with men are disgusting. I like Beauties!

Jiang Shihan suddenly burst out laughing beside him.

Lu Chengwen turned to glance at her. "What are you laughing at? You don't get a raise."

Jiang Shihan pouted coquettishly. "CEO Lu is bullying me."

Li Meiqin was even more shocked.

Jiang Shihan was actually acting coquettishly toward Lu Chengwen?! Hadn't she always tried her hardest to avoid him, at least on the surface? What was wrong with everyone today?

Could Jiang Shihan have been Lu Chengwen's confidante all along? If so, this young woman was terrifying. She had endured so much workplace gossip, yet it turned out she was the one truly in league with Lu Chengwen.

Have we all been played?

Lu Chengwen walked over to Li Meiqin, who immediately broke into a smile.

"Not going to give me a hug?"

Li Meiqin immediately opened her arms and hugged her boss with a radiant smile, shouting inwardly: Please don't grope my butt in front of so many people!

But Lu Chengwen stopped at just the right point. It was an entirely polite, respectful, appropriate hug, limited to expressing the closeness between colleagues.

That made Li Meiqin panic even more.

Oh no! He's no longer interested in me? He didn't even take the chance to grope my butt!

That's a bad sign!

It means he's already sick of me. He knows I'm a traitor, so he's only being warm on the surface!

Li Meiqin smiled awkwardly and applauded along with everyone else.

Lu Chengwen returned to his seat and sat in his boss's chair, feeling as smug as an emperor.

"Alright, everyone, return to your seats. I have another bombshell announcement to make."

Everyone returned to their seats, still unable to hide their excitement.

Lu Chengwen gestured to Jiang Shihan, and she began playing a slideshow.

"On the screen is the shantytown project in our southern district. The project is currently less than thirty percent complete, but the previous consortiums all ran away. I intend to take it over and keep it going."

Li Meiqin turned to stare at Lu Chengwen as though she were looking at a ghost.

She was completely lost.

What the hell is wrong with this man today!?

The Shantytown Renovation Project!? The government had come to discuss it many times. Their side had always received them politely, complained about their difficulties, and pleaded their case. In short, they would rather die than touch it.

But today, her boss actually wanted to get involved in this project!?

It was a money-burning project with an extremely complicated situation. One misstep and they could lose everything.

Li Meiqin hurriedly said, "CEO Lu, this project is a minefield. The risks are far too great. It takes too long, consumes too much, has too many interested parties, and it's basically already an unfinished project. No one would touch it even without a detailed assessment. Xue City's Four Great Families have all repeatedly declined the government's proposal to take it over. We—"

"I know. I know all of that."

Lu Chengwen dragged out his words, still immersed in the vanity of being an "emperor," and said with great flair:

"Fortune comes from danger! If you can't bear to part with the bait, you can't catch the wolf. If you can't bear to part with your wife, you can't catch a hooligan. If you can't bear to... right?"

The executives looked at one another, utterly bewildered.

From a professional standpoint, this was a question that barely required any thought.

Anyone sane and rational would never take on this project. It was like shoveling money into a fire pit, with no way out.

But Lu Chengwen seemed extremely determined.

Seeing that no one spoke, Lu Chengwen slapped the table. "It's settled! Don't worry, this time I'm making the decision alone. You're only responsible for carrying it out. If something goes wrong, it's on me. If we lose money, I'll bear it myself. Shihan!"

"CEO Lu."

"Record and archive today's meeting. If there are problems in the future and I take my anger out on anyone, every one of you can bring today's record to me."

"Yes."

Lu Chengwen smiled faintly. "Now you can all rest easy, right?"

"CEO Lu makes decisions with the authority of an emperor!"

"CEO Lu has eyes like torches and can see business opportunities that we cannot! We will carry out your orders with all our strength!"

"CEO Lu is farsighted and decisive. Our wisdom is shallow; we can only gaze up at your greatness from afar!"

"CEO Lu is awesome!"

"CEO Lu is fucking awesome!"

Lu Chengwen spun contentedly in his chair, then noticed that Li Meiqin had remained silent.

"Meiqin, why aren't you saying anything?"

Li Meiqin felt as though she were being roasted over a fire.

"CEO Lu, did I do something wrong? If you... have something to say, please say it directly."

Li Meiqin was certain that Lu Chengwen already knew about her plans. This project was clearly meant to torment her.

But as for exactly how he planned to torment her, given Lu Chengwen's character, she did not know. She did not even dare think about it.

Lu Chengwen had no idea what was weighing on her mind. Looking around, he could tell that everyone was supporting him only because he had just raised their salaries and told them they would not be held responsible.

Lu Chengwen smiled. "I know I didn't leave you with a good impression before."

"No, no, CEO Lu is a very good person. We're all very grateful."

"Yes, yes."

"Stop trying to fool me." Lu Chengwen stood up.

"I have a few hobbies."

Lu Chengwen began his speech.

"My first love is shiny silver. I can never earn enough money. I'd love to stuff all the money in the world into my own pocket."

Everyone laughed. That was the honest truth.

"My second love is pretty girls. Heh, whether they're young or mature, sexy or cute, I love them all!"

Everyone smiled knowingly, feeling that Lu Chengwen was especially entertaining today.

Lu Chengwen continued, "The third thing I love is family."

Lu Chengwen slapped the table. "So put yourselves in my shoes. I want you to make money. I want all of you to be able to afford to chase girls. I want all of you to be able to take good care of your families! So, higher salaries and big undertakings! Any objections?"

Everyone roared in unison, "We will follow CEO Lu's lead! We will resolutely carry out CEO Lu's great decisions!"

Lu Chengwen smiled and pointed at Li Meiqin. "Meiqin, you'll personally take charge of this matter. I have only one requirement: the contract must be signed within a week!"

Under the table, Li Meiqin clenched her fists and stared at Lu Chengwen, now completely unable to make sense of anything.