Chapter 15

Cao Yan said impatiently, "Liao Chunhua, don't think that just because you're protecting Gu Chen now, you'll get anything out of him. It's true that the group's young lady recommended him, but even if Zhou Xiaoting herself were here today, she'd still have to follow the rules."

Liao Chunhua was at a loss for words. She turned back to glance at Gu Chen.

Cao Yan sneered. "I really underestimated you. You're so young, yet you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve. No wonder you managed to curry favor with Zhou Xiaoting and get her to recommend you as an intern at the sales office. There's nothing wrong with young people wanting to prove themselves and achieve results as soon as they start work. But you shouldn't violate company regulations. We're a team, and a team needs team spirit. Using underhanded tactics to steal a client—if you can steal mine today, you can steal someone else's tomorrow. Even if I don't hold Mr. Zhongli's deal against you—"

"Zhongli Sui." Facing Cao Yan's questioning, Gu Chen remained as calm as still water. He reminded him, "His surname is Zhongli."

Before Cao Yan could continue pressing the issue, Gu Chen slowly said, "The clients who come to Great Zhou World to view properties are all the most elite members of society. I was only trying to help. Seeing that Manager Cao couldn't even get the surname of a major client right, I was afraid you might say something wrong and offend him. You wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."

Something wasn't right!

In the sales office lobby, the employees all pricked up their ears and suddenly found Gu Chen's words strangely familiar. Thinking back, weren't those exactly the words Manager Cao had used to put Gu Chen in his place when he reported for work that morning? It hadn't even been that long, yet Gu Chen had already returned them word for word.

Debts incurred in June were repaid quickly indeed.

Gu Chen wore a standard smile that looked a little fake as he said righteously, "Manager Cao, please don't misunderstand. It was precisely because I have such a strong sense of team spirit that I risked being reprimanded by you to give you a reminder. I never expected Mr. Zhongli to be so easygoing that he directly asked me to introduce the available properties to him. Maybe I'm just blessed with good fortune today. When wealth comes knocking, there's no stopping it."

After a pause, Gu Chen added with heartfelt emotion, "Mr. Zhongli is truly a good man. Just because I got his surname right, he was willing to give me an opportunity to prove myself. I'm an intern who only reported for work today, yet I managed to close such a huge deal on my first day. Even I didn't expect it. It seems the most elite people in society are all especially cultured and broad-minded. No wonder the old saying goes: It's easy to meet the King of Hell, but hard to deal with his little demons."

Cao Yan had not expected Gu Chen to be waiting to ambush him with this. He nearly gave himself high blood pressure from anger.

The employees looked at one another, all delighted by Cao Yan's misfortune as they watched the show. They could all see that Gu Chen was definitely not as modest, low-key, and easygoing as he appeared. The young man was damn capable, had quite a temper, and knew exactly how to handle people.

On his very first day, he had dared to make trouble for his immediate superior. He really refused to suffer even the slightest loss.

That was what they had thought! How could a favored son of heaven who had gotten into A University—and had come through the group young lady's connections—possibly have no temper?

Noticing the employees' amused looks, Cao Yan became even more embarrassed and enraged. He was so angry he nearly spat blood. In a burst of fury, he snapped, "You brat, you did this on purpose! You actually dared to steal a client—this is a violation of company regulations. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because the young lady recommended you. Do you believe I can report this to headquarters and have you fired directly?"

"What do you mean, steal a client?" Gu Chen raised an eyebrow, his tone calm. "For it to be stealing a client, you would have had to be working on the deal and I would have had to step in halfway through. That would count as stealing. When I started talking to Mr. Zhongli, Manager Cao hadn't even figured out what his surname was. You hadn't even discussed what type of unit he wanted to see. Yet you're already pinning the label of client-stealing on me. Manager Cao, your process for closing deals is a little too casual, isn't it?"

"You—" Cao Yan was left speechless by the rebuttal.

Gu Chen said, "If you really want to complain to headquarters, that's fine. When headquarters comes to investigate, I'll answer truthfully. As the sales department manager for Great Zhou World's new development, Manager Cao didn't even know the surname of a major client and called him by the wrong surname right in front of him. More than once, too. I wonder if that sort of behavior is considered highly unprofessional?"

Cao Yan's expression changed.

Gu Chen continued, "The clients who come to view properties at Great Zhou World's new development are all the most elite members of society. This time, Mr. Zhongli was generous enough not to hold it against Manager Cao. He only asked me, the intern who got his name right, to accompany him on the viewing. But if Manager Cao mistakes another client's identity next time, will that client take out their anger on Great Zhou World because of Manager Cao's behavior?"

"By then, forget about closing deals. If a major client questions the sales department's professionalism over something like this... I wonder whether Manager Cao, given your position and status, would be able to bear the responsibility."

Beautiful!

The employees secretly applauded in their hearts. This was called using the other person's spear against their shield. What a satisfying show.

Hearing Gu Chen's blunt threat, Cao Yan, who had nearly been blinded by the 120,000 commission, immediately calmed down. He unconsciously glanced at the employees gathered around to watch the excitement, his face unable to bear the embarrassment. "What are you all standing around here for? Don't you have work to do during working hours? Get lost!"

The employees secretly curled their lips and reluctantly dispersed.

Cao Yan stared at Gu Chen and sneered. "Don't get cocky too soon. Just because Zhou Xiaoting recommended you, do you really think there's nothing I can do to you?"

"Manager Cao doesn't work during office hours and instead spends his time thinking about how to deal with new employees." Gu Chen raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you don't even know the surname of a major client. You've put all your thoughts into getting rid of anyone who doesn't obey you, haven't you?"

Cao Yan laughed in extreme anger. "You really know how to talk."

Gu Chen shook his head. "Those of us in sales make our living with this mouth. I'm still not working hard enough. I'll learn from Manager Cao."

"Fine!" Cao Yan nodded hatefully and pointed at Gu Chen. "You're determined to make things difficult for me, aren't you?"

"Not really." Gu Chen shook his head.

After pausing for a moment, Gu Chen seemed to think of something and said, "Manager Cao, please don't misunderstand. I came here to join you, not to persecute you."

Cao Yan: "..."

Chapter 15

"How was it? How was it? Are you all right? Manager Cao didn't make things difficult for you again, did he?"