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[Tsk, the wind isn't strong enough. Turn it up.]

Zero-Zero-Zero increased the blower's power. The breeze brushing against Shi Jihan's face turned into a biting gale and slapped him squarely across the face.

Shi Jihan: [...I didn't tell you to turn it to the highest setting!]

With one hand, he held down his wildly flapping suit jacket; with the other, he pressed down his bangs, defending his hairline to the death.

Zero-Zero-Zero busied himself unstrapping the softbox, camera, blower, and speakers from his body, asking excitedly, [Host, wasn't our entrance cool enough?]

Shi Jihan: [There was definitely enough wind. It was certainly quite a drag.]

Scruffy Puppy.JPG

People really couldn't reconcile with their past selves. He couldn't understand why, half an hour ago, he had suggested making a dazzling entrance and even spent Malice Points on temporary props, worsening his debt.

But it had certainly worked. Everyone in the first-floor lobby was looking his way.

What, was the front door leaking wind? Why was it blowing this hard?

Someone even came running over.

He grabbed him.

"Young Master Shi, you're finally here! Hurry this way, the board meeting is about to start!"

Shi Jihan was dragged toward the elevator lobby. "Slow down, slow down!"

Zero-Zero-Zero: [This is one of the employees you won over. He's also a pattern maker on Shen Qinghuai's project team, Yan Bo.]

Shi Jihan immediately noticed the man's enormous eye bags and puffy eyelids. He clearly hadn't been getting enough sleep. [Huh? You're saying this Sad Frog is one of my people? Why did he defect to me?]

Zero-Zero-Zero marveled at his talent for nicknames. [Because Shen Qinghuai is a workaholic by nature, and the entire project team has been forced into the grind. Yan Bo, who has been ground into a thousand-layer pancake, took one look at your useless, lying-flat qualities and picked you. He's the one person on the whole project team who most wants you to take over and squeeze Shen Qinghuai out.]

o.O? That sounded a little like an insult.

Yan Bo told him, "Young Master Shi, I heard long ago about what happened at the previous banquet. You've already done very well. Leave the rest to me. I'll make sure you get what you deserve!"

He patted his chest, full of conviction.

Shi Jihan was bewildered. "What? What do I deserve?"

Before he could finish asking, the crowd pushed him into the meeting room.

Only Yan Bo remained at the door, looking back with resolute eyes.

Ever since learning that Shi Jihan had faced off against Shen Qinghuai before President Wang and firmly secured the investment, he had understood one thing.

—Shi Jihan had finally pulled himself together and was preparing to seize power!

As one of Third Young Master's great generals, Yan Bo would help Third Young Master achieve every dream.

He had long prepared for this board meeting. All he needed was one word from Shi Jihan, and he would snatch all of Shen Qinghuai's workload and hollow him out!

What? Who would do the work afterward? Of course Young Master Shi would take it all on himself.

Yan Bo strode proudly into the meeting room and took his seat.

He even gave Shi Jihan an "I understand you" look.

Shi Jihan tried to smile and nod at him.

[I don't understand what he means, but he's an extremely loyal underling,] Shi Jihan lavishly praised. [I'll reward him with half my debt.]

People entered the meeting room in twos and threes, and the spacious room quickly filled up.

The meeting began, and Shi Bochuan gave a brief opening statement.

Before he had even said much, Shi Jihan let out a huge yawn as sleepiness surged over him.

A high-energy man's day ended with the morning meeting.

The speaker had already changed to Shen Qinghuai. "This collaboration is intended to break through market barriers, integrate resources upward, and pursue greater development for Shi Corporation."

"So this project should strengthen its publicity efforts. We need it to become a massive hit."

"Why not make it massively flooded?" Shi Jihan forced his eyelids open. "That way, if I bring out my thesis, no one will be able to compete with it."

Invincible!

Xu Zhiman, who was on the same team, secretly glared at him. "Brother Huai is speaking. Don't interrupt."

Shi Jihan pursed his lips and muttered about him. [Fire-breathing baboon.]

Shen Qinghuai noticed the commotion on this side. "Shi Jihan also contributed quite a bit this time. In front of President Wang, he used some, um..." He paused, unwilling to recall that night's experience, then glossed over it. "He used top-tier business negotiation tactics to establish a positive image in front of President Wang."

[Oh my god, Shen Qinghuai has improved so quickly,] Shi Jihan said to Zero-Zero-Zero with a grin. [He's already learned how to be sarcastic.]

Shen Qinghuai said, "We couldn't have partnered with President Wang again without his help."

Shi Jihan's smile dropped by one pixel. [So stubborn. Is he forging steel with his mouth?]

Shen Qinghuai took the lead in applauding. "Let's thank President Wang for his discerning eye. On top of this partnership, he added another five million in investment and became our angel investor!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Huh?

Huh????

Shi Jihan clenched Lurdan and shook him hard. [How could this happen?! Is he speaking Chinese? What exactly did President Wang see in us? Can't he eat something better?!]

Zero-Zero-Zero was shaken into a trembling voice. [You bastard~~ Let go of me!!]

[ Ding. Task issued: Mock Shen Qinghuai mercilessly as he falls into self-doubt after the collaboration fails, then seize his position. Task reward: Malice Points +40. ]

[Your tasks have delays too?] Shi Jihan shouted. [Unsubscribe, unsubscribe!]

He didn't want forty thousand deducted from him!

[Is the host sure you wish to cancel the task?]

Of course he was sure!

Shi Jihan nodded desperately up and down, nearly shaking his brain into a smoothie.

[Task canceled.]

He let out a long sigh of relief, looked up, and met the approving gazes of Shen Qinghuai and Shi Bochuan.

Shi Bochuan was full of praise. "Third Brother knows how to contribute to the company now."

Shi Jihan: ...

If I said I only did it to vent, would you believe me?

He wanted to take a breath and calm down, but accidentally choked on it and coughed loudly.

Yan Bo took it as a signal to charge. He shot to his feet and spoke with resounding force. "Since that's the case, should President Shi and Team Leader Shen consider handing more work to Shi Jihan? Let him get more experience and grow quickly."

The approval in Shi Bochuan's eyes deepened. That was exactly what he meant. He hadn't expected Yan Bo to be so perceptive and so good at picking up the thread. "I was thinking the same thing."

I was not thinking that!

Shi Jihan held a breath in his throat.

[I want to go home!] he cried in frustration. [Why did I come here to work? I might as well hang myself!]

Shi Bochuan made the final decision. "There's a concept theme that has yet to be finalized. Let Third Brother take responsibility for this season's collection."

Shi Jihan refused. "I don't—"

[ Ding. Long-term task issued: Use improper means to help Shi Corporation get on the trending searches through this concept design. Malice Points +80. ]

Zero-Zero-Zero: [An important task for striking at the protagonist has appeared! Once you get Shi Corporation onto the negative trending searches, it will directly impact the protagonist's career, forcing him to decide to resign, leave the male lead, and begin the crematorium arc!]

Shi Bochuan said, "Hmm?"

Shi Jihan said through tears, "I won't fail my mission."

Making money wasn't embarrassing.

After the meeting, Shi Bochuan had the secretary transfer all the relevant materials to Shi Jihan.

Shi Jihan stared blankly at the thick stack of documents on his desk.

If he sold this as scrap paper, he could probably get himself a cup of Mixue Bingcheng.

Yan Bo came before him to claim credit. "Young Master Shi, I got it for you! Although we're still some distance from our ultimate goal, I believe victory is in sight!"

Shi Jihan: ...

Those weren't ellipses. They were bullet holes life had left in him.

[Wait, Sad Frog helped me rise to power because he doesn't want to work, right?]

Shi Jihan patted Yan Bo on the shoulder. "Thank you for securing this opportunity for me."

He watched Yan Bo's eyes light up at once and said, "So when the secretary just asked who I wanted to collaborate with, I immediately gave her your name. Don't worry, half of this workload is yours."

Yan Bo had a bad feeling. His lips trembled. "Then... Young Master Shi, whose name else did you give?"

"Listen to yourself. If I gave someone else's name, how would that show how important you are?" Shi Jihan slapped his shoulder with all his strength and smiled through gritted teeth. "Just us two. Are you happy?"

Sad Frog looked even sadder.

-

Because of President Wang's generous additional investment, the company held a celebration banquet.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Jun, the boss of a rival company, was questioning an industry peer who had attended the banquet.

"Why exactly didn't we secure the partnership?"

The peer said bitterly, "Because I still had too much shame."

Xia Jun: ?

Xia Jun thought for a moment. "President Wang is definitely a dead end now. But we can do something on Zhou Jingcheng's side and let Shi Corporation know the consequences of blocking our path to wealth."

He made a grabbing motion, hinting at the peer.

"I heard President Zhou likes collecting imported red wine. I happen to have a bottle. How about we find time to arrange a dinner?"

The peer understood. "No wonder you're the boss."

They were going to intercept the deal midway!

That shameless drive really could make money.

Secretary Sun quickly learned of the news and asked Zhou Jingcheng what he thought.

"Boss, should we go?"

Zhou Jingcheng thought for a long time. "I like collecting red wine? Do I have such a pretentious hobby?"

Secretary Sun said deeply, "It's part of your persona. We'll package you up and put you out there so the company can create a free IP. It saves a lot on publicity costs."

Zhou Jingcheng: ..

"Boss, are you going or not?"

Zhou Jingcheng said, "Going. Of course I'm going."

The Shi brothers had acted as middlemen at his banquet to poach people, then tried to kill him on the tennis court.

What was wrong with him going to the dinner and putting a little pressure on those two brothers?

Not only did Zhou Jingcheng go, he also had Secretary Sun keep the news completely under wraps and only reveal it to Shi Bochuan on the day of the dinner.

After Shi Bochuan learned of it, he immediately informed Shen Qinghuai. After thinking it over, he roped in Shi Jihan as well.

Third Brother had managed to persuade President Wang, so he surely had something exceptional about him.

Shen Qinghuai frowned and asked, "Could Zhou Jingcheng be planning to breach the contract with us?"