[Host, you still have the nerve to go out for dinner? Why don't you get on the scale and see how much junk food you ate tonight!]
Ji Hanxing said, "Calm down, System."
"It was just one evening. It's fine. Besides, you have to eat your fill before you can lose weight. I'm too hungry to manage it."
The system snorted.
[Host, weigh yourself when you get back. If you exceed the limit, please control your eating tomorrow.] [Please also maintain your domineering CEO persona.] [Otherwise... heh heh.]
"Otherwise, you'll decide I'm slacking off."
Ji Hanxing lazily added that last remark, looking utterly unafraid of the consequences.
Over the past few days, he had been testing the system's limits, seeking as much freedom as possible.
"Got it. I'll watch myself."
Ji Hanxing was not really so greedy for food that he could not control himself. Back when he had no money, there had been plenty of things he could not afford to eat. Hadn't he gotten through that just fine?
He merely felt an urge to make up for what he had missed by trying things. He was also somewhat frustrated that his workouts had yet to achieve their goal and wanted to experience the joy of carbs. He had experienced it today, and that was enough.
Starting tomorrow, he would maintain his domineering CEO persona in front of everyone, and he would have to go slog away-ah, no, go to work at the Ji Group.
The next day, Ji Hanxing once again sat in the president's office on the top floor of the Ji Group, looking at all the documents Assistant Xue had organized and listening to Assistant Xue's methodical report.
Ji Hanxing could not help marveling inwardly. This is the ace special assistant at a domineering CEO's side. In those CEO romance novels, the CEOs never go to work, yet their companies don't go under, and most even double in market value. It's all thanks to versatile, top-notch employees like Assistant Xue.
"President Ji, Deputy General Manager Wang has been looking for you for days. After learning that you were coming to the office today, he arrived early and has been waiting outside."
Ji Hanxing tapped the desk. "Did Director Zhang close that project deal?"
Xue Hui immediately handed Ji Hanxing a document. "Here's the contract."
Ji Hanxing took it and flipped through it. Seeing the terms and prices, he sighed inwardly. Domestic suppliers really do offer good value. Minister Huang must have pocketed quite a bit from our previous dealings with Aston. Then Deputy General Manager Wang, who backs him...
He put the contract away and looked at Xue Hui. "Please ask Deputy General Manager Wang to come in now."
Xue Hui went out and returned shortly afterward, followed by a middle-aged man. He had taken good care of himself and looked refined, without the potbelly other middle-aged men developed.
He laughed heartily. "How is your recovery going, President Ji?"
Behind his glasses, Deputy General Manager Wang's eyes discreetly sized up Ji Hanxing, a flicker of surprise passing through them.
He had not expected Ji Hanxing to have visibly lost weight.
This President Ji had started going after his people while he was away on a business trip, catching him off guard, then used illness as an excuse to stay away from the office and avoid him.
He had originally thought Ji Hanxing was deliberately keeping him dangling. But seeing him now, he had indeed lost considerable weight and did look as though he had just recovered from an illness.
"You look quite a bit thinner, President Ji."
"Mm." Ji Hanxing stood and raised a hand. "Please sit, Uncle Wang."
Xue Hui immediately pulled out a chair for Deputy General Manager Wang.
Deputy General Manager Wang had more or less watched Ji Hanxing grow up, and Ji Hanxing generally called him "Uncle Wang" in private.
That form of address, coupled with Ji Hanxing's manner, finally brought a broad smile to Deputy General Manager Wang's face. His tense shoulders relaxed, and he sat down casually, reaching up to tug at the tie around his neck.
Xue Hui brought Deputy General Manager Wang a cup of tea, and Ji Hanxing gestured again.
"Hahaha, no need to stand on ceremony, Hanxing."
After all that, Deputy General Manager Wang completely relaxed. He believed Ji Hanxing was making a friendly overture. After daring to go after his people, shouldn't Ji Hanxing apologize to him?
He had thought as much. Ji Hanxing had only joined the company a few years ago and had yet to establish himself. Wasn't he out of his mind to take him on already?
"What brings you here, Uncle Wang?"
Ji Hanxing picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
Deputy General Manager Wang glanced sideways at Ji Hanxing and gently shook his head.
"Hanxing, I don't mean to criticize you."
"But you handled this matter with Aston far too rashly and impulsively."
"After all, Aston is a major international company and a business partner we've worked with for years. What you did really showed them no consideration."
Ji Hanxing lifted his eyelids and went straight to the point.
"Are you here to call me to account, Uncle Wang?"
"Or to seek justice for Huang Wei?"
Deputy General Manager Wang waved a hand. "That's putting it too strongly."
"I've worked diligently for the Ji Group for all these years. Don't you know what sort of person I am?"
"Huang Wei was indeed in the wrong. I'm not defending him."
"You handled it correctly. This sort of thing must be stopped!"
His words rang out forcefully.
In reality, however, everything Deputy General Manager Wang said hinted at his contributions to the Ji Group over the years and emphasized his seniority. At the same time, he appeared righteous and willing to put justice above personal ties, stressing that he had not come to plead for Minister Huang.
Ji Hanxing said, "The price Aston charged us for ice was more than twice what other ice on the market cost. Why should we keep using theirs?"
"They wronged us first, so they can't blame me for being ruthless."
"The client shouldn't have to put up with this."
"Wouldn't you agree, Uncle Wang?"
Deputy General Manager Wang still acted as though he had Ji Hanxing's best interests at heart, lecturing him as an elder. He shook his head in feigned helplessness. "Young people are hotheaded and can't hold their temper. I understand that."
"But in business, harmony brings prosperity."
"Hanxing, you mustn't act on impulse. So many employees depend on the Ji Group for their livelihoods."
"Aston has worked with us for so long. Being this heartless will affect the Ji Group's reputation and image."
Deputy General Manager Wang claimed to understand, but he was still saying that Ji Hanxing was young and impatient. He was just short of pointing at Ji Hanxing's nose and declaring him too young to handle anything reliably, and he even dragged the Ji Group's ordinary employees into it.
Ji Hanxing lowered his eyes, a trace of mockery flashing through them. Minister Huang had embezzled so much that he was like a thief smuggling grain out of a warehouse, while Deputy General Manager Wang was the giant rat behind him.
Deputy General Manager Wang had concealed himself extremely well. This investigation into Huang Wei had uncovered nothing whatsoever connected to him.
"Business is about profit. If I have cheaper ice available, why wouldn't I use it?"
"If we don't switch even under these circumstances, the Ji Group will have earned its reputation as a sucker."
Deputy General Manager Wang's patronizing manipulation proved completely ineffective against Ji Hanxing, who would not budge.
"Uncle Wang, you're too conservative."
"You need to keep up with the times."
Ji Hanxing even turned the manipulation back on him.
Ji Hanxing continued, "Huang Wei brought this on himself, too."
"Since you also said he deserved his punishment, Uncle Wang, it seems you agree with my decision."
Deputy General Manager Wang could also see that Ji Hanxing was extremely confident in how he had handled this matter. He secretly gritted his teeth. He had only been paying lip service; in truth, he had come precisely because of Huang Wei. His wife had been making a scene at home for days.
She had even threatened that if he did not make proper arrangements for Huang Wei, she would expose what Huang Wei had done for Deputy General Manager Wang.
"Hanxing, Huang Wei was indeed wrong, but he's worked at the Ji Group for so long. Even if he has no achievements to his name, he's still put in hard work. Why not give him another chance?"
Ji Hanxing rubbed his fingers together. He had to admit, Deputy General Manager Wang was astonishingly naive to think he would still let Huang Wei return to the Ji Group.
"I've already done all I possibly could for Huang Wei."
"I only fired him. I didn't prosecute him for misappropriation of company property, and that was already out of consideration for you, Uncle Wang."
"Otherwise, Huang Wei wouldn't simply have lost his job. He'd be going to prison."
With things spelled out to this extent, Deputy General Manager Wang knew the matter was settled. Ji Hanxing's earlier manner had merely been a sugarcoated attack. His face turned livid as he glared at Ji Hanxing.
Ji Hanxing folded his hands and leaned back in a relaxed manner, tilting his head up slightly. "So, Deputy General Manager Wang, is there anything else?"