Is My Personal Reputation That Bad

"Hm?"

Looking at the Rubik's Cube in front of him, Luo Zhikang couldn't quite believe it.

"You want me to... solve it?"

"What? Isn't that what you've been doing?"

Xu Shi smiled, "I'd really like to see the former chief engineer's skills... So, as long as old Mr. Luo can solve this drone, you can leave here."

"...It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

"Why should I believe you?"

Luo Zhikang gritted his teeth, his words still filled with suspicion.

He couldn't figure out what Xu Shi was up to.

Solving the drone wasn't difficult for him, but the recent news of "Spark" suffering repeated setbacks at the hands of "Serpent Coil" made him think more deeply.

Given his age and experience, the old man had already realized that this new director of "Serpent Coil" was far more than he appeared.

He might be morally corrupt and have a terrible personality, but he was definitely not the prodigal good-for-nothing people described!

Furthermore, having worked in a major conglomerate before, Luo Zhikang was very familiar with this kind of act of hiding one's abilities and biding one's time.

So, what did he really want?

It definitely wasn't this simple. What was his next move...

"Is my personal reputation really that bad?"

Xu Shi interrupted his thoughts, "And, old Mr. Luo, do you think you have any other options?"

"Stop thinking so much when you're just fish on a chopping board. Isn't it better to think about how to survive?"

"..."

Luo Zhikang was speechless.

Indeed.

After all was said and done, he was a prisoner now.

Even if he figured out Xu Shi's every move for the next ten years, he still couldn't get out of this room or pass on any information.

The only thing he could do now was try to complete what he hadn't finished before.

After all, if there was even a sliver of a chance that the other party would keep his word?

Although the probability was slim, it was his only remaining hope.

"...I hope Mr. Xu will keep his promise."

With that, he straightened his back, looked at Xu Shi, and said in a deep voice.

"Absolutely, absolutely."

Xu Shi clapped his hands together lightly, "Then I wish old Mr. Luo success. If you need any tools, just ask."

With that, he turned and left, closing the door of the confinement room heavily.

Someone was waiting around the corner. Seeing him approach, they hurried to meet him, "Xu, Chairman Xu..."

It was the timid Jiang Chengcheng.

"Why are you waiting here for me?"

Xu Shi was a little surprised, "Didn't I tell you to go to the office first?"

"I, I'm a little worried..."

Jiang Chengcheng said nervously, "You asked me to improve the 'Sea Crane', but time is a bit tight. I, I'm afraid I won't do a good job and will delay your business..."

Especially when she heard him say he was going to let someone else dismantle it, which made her even more uncertain.

"...No, I believe in your abilities."

Xu Shi paused, then chuckled, "You're a great contributor to the company. Don't always lack confidence in yourself."

That's right.

The "Sea Crane" he had just given to Luo Zhikang was not the version he had been researching before.

Long before arresting him, Xu Shi had found Jiang Chengcheng and asked her to upgrade the drone.

After all, in the original story, although it took some effort, "Spark" had successfully replicated the "Sea Crane," produced a large number of imitation models, and caught "Serpent Coil" off guard in subsequent operations.

So, even though he had caught Luo Zhikang in advance, he couldn't be careless if he wanted to prevent him from winning this bet.

And this kind of thing could only be entrusted to Jiang Chengcheng, as he knew nothing about it himself.

"But, but I'm just worried that if that Mr. Luo really manages to solve it, you, you'll..."

But now it seemed Jiang Chengcheng had even less confidence than him, muttering incessantly.

"That won't happen."

Xu Shi blinked and said without any burden, "Did you really think I would let him go if he succeeded in cracking it?"

It could only be said that from the beginning, the wager he set up was not to decide Luo Zhikang's fate, but for a different purpose.

My personal reputation is that bad?

"Then what is this?"

This question left Jiang Chengcheng a bit puzzled.

"You'll know when the time comes."

Xu Shi smiled and waved his hand, "Let's go, we'll discuss the rest in my office."

"...Mm."

Jiang Chengcheng paused, then followed his steps.

She didn't really care about right or wrong, nor did she think Xu Shi's scummy behavior of going back on his word was a problem.

However, the regard the other party had for her, and the special feeling it gave her, had made her more and more infatuated these past few days, and her desire to follow him had unknowingly become even more resolute.

From the bottom of her heart, she didn't want Xu Shi to lose, and even less did she want him to lose because of her.

That's why she had been so apprehensive just now, only feeling a little better after hearing Xu Shi's reassurance.

...I actually had Chairman Xu comfort me in return? Jiang Chengcheng, what are you doing?

She subconsciously lowered her head again, feeling that she was truly out of line.

Xu Shi didn't know what Jiang Chengcheng was thinking. After returning to his office, he immediately reviewed the report she had submitted.

He had called her in today not just because of Luo Zhikang, but also because she had contacted him a few days ago, saying she had completed the task he had previously assigned her.

Well then, it was a good opportunity to check the results.

Actually, Chairman Xu was completely ignorant when it came to mechanical engineering, but unexpectedly, when explaining it to him, Jiang Chengcheng was not at all hesitant like she usually was. Not only was her analysis logical, but it was also very easy to understand.

With Su Lin, who was relatively knowledgeable, present, it would be easy for anyone to understand.

The results he obtained made Xu Shi overjoyed.

More than half of the equipment Jiang Chengcheng had been tasked with analyzing came from "Shark Tooth," and the rest were self-made by "Spark."

But regardless of which it was, Jiang Chengcheng had thoroughly dismantled them and provided more optimal upgrade and redevelopment plans!

This undoubtedly proved that her personal abilities far surpassed Luo Zhikang's—after all, those self-made equipment were personally designed and encrypted by the old man.

Not to mention "Shark Tooth's"... "Spark" had limited materials, so no matter how capable Luo Zhikang was, the equipment he manufactured alone would definitely be inferior in performance and precision to the conglomerate's armaments.

But in front of Jiang Chengcheng, they were still like naked maidens, for her to toy with as she pleased.

I've struck gold, I've truly struck gold.

Xu Shi couldn't help but rub his hands together, his face unable to hide his joy.

Su Lin, standing nearby, was also surprised. She understood this area even better than Xu Shi and could naturally appreciate the ingenuity in Jiang Chengcheng's ideas.

But at the same time, she also noticed a problem.

"Miss Jiang, have we... met somewhere before?"