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"There's no need." Wenren Yan said, "If they dared call you, they won't be afraid of you fishing for information. Besides, one phone call won't reveal much. If you're interested, you might as well accept their invitation directly."

"Boss, I—" Zhao Zhao stared blankly at Wenren Yan, suddenly feeling a chill run through his entire body.

Steven hurriedly explained on Zhao Zhao's behalf, "Boss, you can't seriously suspect Jack of betraying you, can you? I can vouch for him. Jack is absolutely not that kind of person."

"I know exactly what kind of person Jack is." Wenren Yan cut Steven off and said calmly, "I've known him for more than twenty years. Of course I understand his character. Others might not. But that's fine. It gives Jack a chance to collect two paychecks."

At this point, Wenren Yan looked at the suddenly enlightened Zhao Zhao and said gently, "Of course, the other side is being this unscrupulous. There will be risks involved—"

"Do I look like I'm afraid of that?" Zhao Zhao eagerly cut Wenren Yan off, practically itching for a fight. "Fine. They want to play, then we'll play along to the end. Let's see who gets the last laugh, and who destroys whom."

After making his fierce declaration, Zhao Zhao impatiently added, "Then the next time they contact me, I'll agree—"

"Reject them!" Wenren Yan poured himself a cup of Biluochun. The tea had gone somewhat cold. After taking half a sip, Wenren Yan set the cup down in distaste. "No one cherishes something obtained too easily. Nor will they value or trust someone who comes too easily. For people who are calculating and fond of tricks, a retainer who walks right up to their door can never compare to the sense of accomplishment from digging up an adviser themselves."

Zhao Zhao understood. "Then I should?"

"Take it slow." Wenren Yan idly flipped through the renovation blueprints, where every listening device had already been marked. "At the very least, give them an opportunity to sow discord."

Steven and Zhao Zhao exchanged looks. Zhao Zhao continued, "What about the listening devices?"

"Call the police," Wenren Yan said. "We're civilized people. We obey the law. If something happens, naturally we ask the police for help."

Boss wanted to make this a big deal?

Steven and Zhao Zhao looked at each other. Based on their understanding of Wenren Yan, both could tell that he was planning something. Unfortunately, Wenren Yan had always been deeply inscrutable. Even after staying by his side for so many years, neither of them could figure out what he was trying to accomplish.

Wenren Yan looked at the baffled Steven and Zhao Zhao. "I like playing cards, and I'm happy to follow the rules. I hate people who peek at other players' cards at the table. But since they've already decided to cheat—"

Wenren Yan's long fingers tapped the tabletop. "Then both sides should break the rules. That's fair."

Fair?

Steven and Zhao Zhao exchanged another glance. Wenren Yan had been called "the most vicious barbarian" by all of Wall Street, which spoke for itself regarding his methods and scheming. Especially against the backdrop of Chinese concept stocks being widely distrusted in the United States market, relevant American agencies had never stopped investigating and monitoring Yan Feng Capital.

As Yan Feng Capital's founder, everyone who had dealt with Wenren Yan had to admit that although his methods were ruthless, he respected contracts and followed the rules of the game. Judging by his words and actions, he could barely be considered "a gentleman among barbarians."

Only confidants like Steven and Zhao Zhao knew that Wenren Yan's willingness to follow the rules had nothing to do with some "obsession with honoring contracts." It was simply because, as long as he wanted to, he could easily achieve his goals within the rules.

And once Wenren Yan chose to break those rules, Steven and Zhao Zhao had no idea what consequences would follow. They only knew that if Wenren Yan was willing to expend this much effort, what he wanted definitely was not merely fruit that could be harvested within the rules.

Zhao Zhao licked his lips. "Then after we call the police, what do I need to do?"

Steven frowned in irritation as well. "We're being watched too closely right now. Even if we report the bugging incident this time, there's no guarantee they won't use other methods. Boss, you said it yourself—they're the kind of people who peek at others' cards at the table. I'm worried they'll keep stealing the core secrets of the investment and trading departments, watching every move we make."

"When I was in school, I hated bad students the most," Wenren Yan suddenly said.

For a moment, Steven and Zhao Zhao could not understand what Wenren Yan meant. Then they heard him continue, "Bad students always think they can fool the teacher by copying their classmates' homework. They never realize that the only people they're fooling are themselves."

Wenren Yan frowned with some disgust. "I hate idiots who deceive themselves."

Steven and Zhao Zhao looked at each other.

"But I soon discovered that idiots have their advantages too." Wenren Yan curled his lips, as though he had genuinely thought of something amusing. "At least compared to people who think they're clever, idiots can peacefully recognize their own stupidity."

Boss was really pissed off!

Steven and Zhao Zhao raised their brows and wisely chose not to provoke Wenren Yan. Zhao Zhao cautiously changed the subject. "So what do we do next?"

Wenren Yan fell silent for a moment. "Next... how about we go act in a show?"

Steven: "..."

Zhao Zhao: "???"

Wenren Yan continued, "Yan Donglin tricked me into signing an acting contract after I got drunk. Out of respect for the spirit of contracts, I've decided to fulfill it."

So, after discovering that someone had installed bugs in Yan Feng Capital's newly rented office building, the boss's only response was to call the police and then go act?

What kind of logic was that?

Steven and Zhao Zhao, their heads full of question marks, stared at each other in silence for a long while. After thinking it over, the only logical chain they could come up with was probably that Wenren Yan wanted to do it.

—This damn man was not someone who could be understood through logic!

Author's Note:

Thank you to all the little angels who threw support tickets or watered me with nutrient solution between 2020-05-13 10:31:13 and 2020-05-14 12:46:58!