Lu Chengwen sat with his head bowed, deep in thought, trying to find a solution.
Jiang Shihan was utterly bewildered.
What is wrong with this guy? I'm losing my mind!
He's actually trying to figure out how to help me? How to cure my mother's illness?
And he seems to know the future or something!
What's going on? Is he just overthinking nonsense?
After much deliberation, Lu Chengwen decided to hold off for now.
As long as I don't make a move, Long Aotian, as the protagonist, should still have a chance to get close to Jiang Shihan. Once they connect, they'll talk, and her mother's illness will come up.
Yes! Exactly!
Even if I don't do anything beastly to her, Long Aotian will cure her mom. Then when he comes for me, I'll just let him take her away.
I'm a damn genius!
With that thought, Lu Chengwen let out a relieved breath and smiled at Jiang Shihan. "Shihan."
"Y-yes? President Lu," she stammered.
"Don't be nervous. Uh… I… well… before, you know… I feel kind of bad about it…"
Jiang Shihan's mind reeled. What the hell?
Why does he seem more nervous than me? This isn't the style of the Lu family's young master!
What's wrong with him today? He's terrifying!
Lu Chengwen kept recalling the things "he" had done before, overwhelmed with guilt and embarrassment. His face flushed, and his words stumbled.
Jiang Shihan quickly said, "President Lu, did I do something wrong? If I did, just scold me."
"What? No, no, no…" Lu Chengwen hurried to clarify. "You're an amazing secretary, top-notch in every way. It's just… ugh, I'll be straight with you."
He continued, "The old me was a jerk, treated you terribly. Please don't be mad—no, wait, you should be mad. That's better for everyone. I mean, I'm asking for your forgiveness… no, that's not right either. You shouldn't forgive me, or the plot will collapse."
Lu Chengwen cursed himself internally. Why can't I get this right?
"Anyway, it's fine if you hate me. You should hate me."
Jiang Shihan forced a smile. "President Lu, you're joking. How could I hate you? I'm so grateful for the job opportunity and your years of support."
Yeah, right. Only an idiot would believe that. You're probably cursing me to get hit by a car, Lu Chengwen thought with a wry smile. "Look, I know you've got your own struggles. Otherwise, you'd have quit working for me long ago…"
Now, neither Jiang Shihan nor Lu Chengwen trusted a word the other said.
Jiang Shihan nervously insisted, "I'm completely loyal to you, President Lu. No ulterior motives."
Lu Chengwen was beyond frustrated.
She was one of Long Aotian's harem members. He couldn't afford to offend her, but he also couldn't get too close.
"Alright, starting today, you're on paid leave."
Jiang Shihan was stunned, immediately pleading, "President Lu, I was wrong! Please, please don't fire me. I… I really need this job."
Tears welled up in her eyes. Lu Chengwen quickly clarified, "Your salary will be doubled, and you don't have to do anything. How's that?"
"President Lu, please, don't do this. I'll work harder, I promise…"
"No, listen to me! I'm saying you'll get paid without working, and your salary will double…"
Jiang Shihan dropped to her knees, clutching Lu Chengwen's sleeve, sobbing, "President Lu, my mother's illness is serious. I can't lose this job. I'll do my best, please don't fire me…"
Why can't I explain this clearly!? Lu Chengwen thought, exasperated.
At that moment, Xu Xuejiao pushed the door open. Zhao Gang stood at the entrance, giving an apologetic look, signaling he couldn't stop her.
Lu Chengwen and Xu Xuejiao locked eyes.
Seeing the scene, Xu Xuejiao's face turned cold.
Of course. A dog can't change its ways.
Lu Chengwen was pulling his workplace PUA nonsense again, bullying a pretty female employee.
And to this extent?
"Brother Chengwen, having fun, huh?" Xu Xuejiao said with a smile, but her sweet expression hid a razor-sharp edge, glinting with icy menace.
In that instant, a brilliant, strategic idea flashed through Lu Chengwen's mind.
Perfect timing!
I used you to get rid of Leng Qingqiu, and now I'll use Xu Xuejiao to get rid of you!
Yes! Exactly!
Best case, you get mad, buy her freedom, and take her away. Then when Long Aotian comes to save her, he'll have to deal with you, and my legs stay intact!
Both women were stunned.
What the hell!?
Xu Xuejiao frowned. What kind of nonsense is this guy scheming now?
So he was flirting with me on the phone on purpose, with Leng Qingqiu sitting next to him?
Wasn't he obsessed with Leng Qingqiu? Isn't their engagement ceremony next month?
Why's he using me to "get rid" of Leng Qingqiu?
And now he wants to use this secretary to "get rid" of me?
Xu Xuejiao felt the mysteries surrounding Lu Chengwen growing thicker.
Jiang Shihan was equally baffled.
Hearing her boss's inner thoughts was both eerie and terrifying.
But… he was actually trying to help her?
Why?
Lu Chengwen took a deep breath, brimming with confidence.
Lu Chengwen, it's time to test your acting skills. If you pull this off, you can deal with two women at once, getting Xu Xuejiao to take Jiang Shihan away.
Not only do I need to nail this performance, but I have to secure at least a hundred thousand monthly salary for Jiang Shihan. Her mother needs treatment.
Now, watch a true villain mastermind at work!
With his plan set, Lu Chengwen leaned back in his chair like an arrogant lord.
Crossing his legs, he used the tip of his high-end Italian Oxford shoe to lightly lift Jiang Shihan's chin, smirking cockily. "Women, to me, are just playthings."
He shot a smug glance at Xu Xuejiao. "To be my subordinate, you have to meet all my demands."
"Oh, is that so?" Xu Xuejiao replied.
She was like Lu Chengwen's kryptonite.
Now that she'd glimpsed his true intentions, she wasn't about to follow his script obediently.
Instead, she was thrilled, eager to see how this villain would try to manipulate her into saving this girl.
You want to bully her so I'll step up as the good guy?
Heh, if this was before yesterday, your script might've worked.
I'd have thought you were the scum of scum, the worst of the worst. But today… sorry, buddy, I've seen right through to your heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys.
Xu Xuejiao grinned. "Wow, Brother Chengwen, so commanding! Xuejiao loves it!"
Lu Chengwen's brain short-circuited.
What the hell is wrong with the female leads in this novel!?
What are you all playing at!?
Why aren't you following the script!?
Gritting his teeth, Lu Chengwen kept acting. He leaned closer to the dazed Jiang Shihan, flashing a wicked grin and pinching her chin. "Tonight, come to my private villa. I have lots of work to discuss with you. Heh, and… we need to be completely open, no barriers, no obstacles… you get my meaning, right?"
Jiang Shihan's brain shut down.
In a daze, she nodded instinctively.
Xu Xuejiao giggled. "Well, Brother Chengwen, you better bring your A-game!"
Lu Chengwen turned to her. "I'm going to cross the line with her tonight."
"Mm-hmm, totally, go for it," Xu Xuejiao nodded enthusiastically.
Go for it, my foot! Lu Chengwen screamed internally.
Big sister, aren't you supposed to have a sense of justice? Shouldn't you be chewing me out and demanding I name a price to set her free?
This way… my act's falling apart! Do I keep going or not?
Xu Xuejiao was barely holding back laughter.
Keep acting, I'm loving this. It's too good.
Jiang Shihan struggled to regain her clarity.
What is this man doing? Trying to force President Xu to buy my freedom?
Lu Chengwen stood, thought for a moment, and pressed on with his performance. Pointing at Xu Xuejiao, he boasted, "Xuejiao, dear, do you know why she puts up with my crap, no matter how I treat her?"
Xu Xuejiao played along. "No idea."
"Because her mother's sick. Medical bills run about a million a year. So, haha, no matter what I do to her, she has to take it. She has to obey. She doesn't dare defy me or make me mad. She's powerless to resist!"
Xu Xuejiao nodded. "Wow, impressive, impressive."
Lu Chengwen suppressed the urge to vomit blood and continued, "That's the thing about people's weaknesses. I'm the best at exploiting them to bully others. Right?"
Xu Xuejiao nodded vigorously. "Yup, yup."
Lu Chengwen's face twitched.
"But!" he declared, "If someone came along and offered her the same salary as me—say, a hundred thousand or so a month—they could save her from this misery."
Xu Xuejiao tilted her head. "Oh, like that?"
Lu Chengwen smirked triumphantly. "Xuejiao, dear, who do you think that person could be?"
Xu Xuejiao blinked, all innocence and confusion. "No clue."
Lu Chengwen thought, Are you messing with me on purpose?
"Could it be… you?" He pointed at her dramatically. "Yes, you! Offer her a hundred twenty thousand a month, and you can save her from this hell, give her a new life! She'd never have to deal with a rotten boss again, and she could live happily with her mom!"
Xu Xuejiao pointed at herself. "Me?"
Then shook her head. "Not interested."
Lu Chengwen felt like the female leads in this novel were broken. Not even doing the bare minimum good deed?
How are you supposed to be a female lead like this? How do you win over readers?
You're a toxic heroine!
He put an arm around Xu Xuejiao. "Look at her. Isn't she pitiful?"
"Pitiful," Xu Xuejiao agreed.
"Tragic, right?"
"Tragic."
"So, will you save her?"
"Not interested."
Lu Chengwen was losing it. "Xu Xuejiao, how can you not want to save her? You're the compassionate doctor, Xu Xuejiao! You feel patients' pain as if it's your own. You want to save the world, make it a better place—that's why you studied medicine! There's a suffering person right in front of you. How can you not want to help her? Give me an answer!"
He was shouting now.
This heroine was infuriating!
"I want a perfect explanation!"
Xu Xuejiao thought for a moment. "Too expensive. Spending a million a year plus hundreds of thousands in bonuses just to ogle legs and grope butts? Only you'd do something like that."
Lu Chengwen was stunned.
It's about the money!?