Chen Xiao, of course... wouldn't refuse.
With an accomplice, he was no longer the sole maverick!
That morning, he received a message from Zhao Xiangjun: "Great. You just had to make me use such an expensive computer. Now the gossip about me is even worse!"
"What kind of gossip?"
"Everyone at the company is saying I'm a kept woman. And that I'm being kept by more than one person."
"..."
"Do you believe it?"
"I don't!"
"But it is! Why don't you believe me?"
'Am I an idiot? Of course I don't believe it! With that fiery temper of yours, you were never the type to be kept. Besides, what kind of kept woman lives such a simple, ordinary life?'
"Now, if they said *you* were keeping someone, I'd believe that. I could even be your living proof!"
"Hahaha, that's right! And I'm keeping you!" she replied, laughing.
"So, should this kept man of yours come over and show some devotion?"
"Just focus on your work. I'm fine. I've gotten used to it after all these years. There are all kinds of versions of the rumors about me!"
She knew Chen Xiao was worried about her. She was an incredibly perceptive person; not caring about something was a world away from not understanding it.
Xu Wu sent a message as well: "Chen Xiao, did Central Inspection sign with you guys?"
"Your nose is pretty sharp, isn't it? Such a quick reaction!"
"Chen Xiao, are you a man or not? Have a little class, will you? You're always trying to get one over on me with your words!"
"I'm a man, but I'm not *your* man. Why should I be a gentleman around you? The contract's signed. It's not for much, only nine million."
"Only" nine million. Xu Wu was so furious her chest ached, her 35Cs practically swelling into 35Ds.
'That bastard! That rotten man! Flirting with me one second, stealing my clients the next!'
Xu Wu viciously stabbed a small doll on her desk ornament with her pen, as if that little figure was Chen Xiao. That's right, Chen Xiao was a despicable little man!
At 3:00 PM, every department in the company was hard at work.
Having landed several large orders in the past few days, every department was putting in overtime.
"Where's Chen Xiao?" Feng Feifei asked as she walked over.
Yuan Kai replied, "President Feng, he left at noon. Didn't say where he was going."
Ma Jing blinked, unsure how to speak up for Chen Xiao. He knew a few of Chen Xiao's high school classmates had invited him out for tea, and since he had nothing on his plate, he had slipped out.
'Does this count as playing truant? Is he going to be punished?'
"Oh, that's alright. I'll just look for him when he gets back."
'That's it? She's not even going to ask if he's just out goofing off?' Yuan Kai felt a surge of indignation, but there was nothing to be done. 'This is the kind of treatment the top salesman gets.'
The Spring Radiance Clubhouse was an establishment that catered to tea ceremonies, business, and leisure.
Business was booming. By the time Chen Xiao arrived, only the very last parking spot was available.
Today, his high school classmates Tao Yong, Liu Bo, and Meng Jianshu had invited him out for a chat. Liu Bo had come from their hometown; he worked at Huaxia Mobile and was very popular and well-regarded among their classmates.
Tao Yong was in insurance, and Meng Jianshu handled earthwork engineering projects.
The men rarely kept in touch. After graduation, they'd all gone their separate ways, and with their busy lives, opportunities to get together were few and far between.
Since he and Chen Xiao had been on decent terms in high school, Chen Xiao had come out this afternoon for Liu Bo's visit.
Tao Yong and Liu Bo were already there. When they saw Chen Xiao arrive, they stood up and gave him a hug.
Liu Bo was in Jiangzhou for company training. Thinking it had been a long time since he'd seen his old classmates, he decided to reach out.
They exchanged updates on their lives. Liu Bo was now a junior manager, and with the low cost of living in their hometown, his monthly income of over 20,000 was quite substantial.
Tao Yong, in turn, claimed his annual salary was nearly 400,000, which drew a stream of praise from Liu Bo.
Chen Xiao simply said that he worked in sales at a tech company, explaining that his base salary was low and he relied mainly on commission.
That was how it was for all salesmen, so everyone found it perfectly normal.
Just then, Meng Jianshu arrived. Everyone stood up to greet him again. He hadn't come alone; he had a flashy woman on his arm.
He wasn't old, but he was already getting portly. He walked with his feet splayed outwards, and that, combined with his potbelly, gave him the distinct feel of a sleazy, middle-aged man.
The woman he brought was caked in heavy makeup, and a pungent cloud of her perfume preceded her. She wore a miniskirt that barely covered her backside and wide-mesh fishnet stockings, giving her a very worldly, almost tawdry, air.
Upon closer inspection after she sat down, it became clear her nose and eyes had been surgically altered, and her face showed obvious signs of "face-slimming" injections.
One could only imagine that without all that makeup, she wouldn't dare step outside.
Meng Jianshu, acting very much the big shot, told the beauty named Lili to greet President Liu, President Tao, and President Chen.
Lili obediently greeted them. After they sat down and everyone had finished introducing themselves, she was clearly more courteous to Liu Bo.
She was far more distant toward Tao Yong and Chen Xiao. After all, Chen Xiao was just a salesman, and while Tao Yong claimed an annual salary of 400,000, his clothes and demeanor suggested he was full of hot air.
Meng Jianshu was also very enthusiastic toward Liu Bo, insisting his old classmate stay for a few days so he could take some time off to show him around.
He then mentioned a country estate in the Jiangzhou Suburbs, recommended by a senior official, suggesting they should all go for a visit.
He also instructed Tao Yong and Chen Xiao to be sure to bring their girlfriends, not even bothering to ask if they had any.
As he spoke, he wrapped his arm around Lili's waist, as if having a girlfriend was another symbol of his prowess.
Tao Yong, also a salesman in the insurance business, sensed Meng Jianshu's "power" and kept the focus of the conversation on him.
He even said fawningly, "Among all our classmates, President Meng is definitely the most successful. To have such a huge business at your age, you must have a house and a car in Jiangzhou, right?"
Meng Jianshu replied arrogantly, "I'm already looking at houses. I wouldn't consider anything subpar. It has to be at least 120 square meters, a four-bedroom. The car, I've already bought."
Tao Yong then asked what kind of car. Upon learning that Meng Jianshu had bought a BMW 3 Series, he launched into another round of praise.
At the same time, he added, "I'm planning to buy a car soon, too. I've already picked it out and negotiated the price. I'm going to pay for it in the next couple of days."
Liu Bo asked, "So what kind of car are you planning to get, Tao Yong?"
"An Audi A4. Around 400,000. Not too expensive!"
'What the hell? What kind of Audi A4 sells for around 400,000? Anyone who'd ever looked at a car website wouldn't be that ignorant.'
The others froze for a moment. Lili said mockingly, "President Tao's car must have a lot of custom additions. My friend just got one, and the final price was less than 250,000."
Tao Yong quickly tried to explain, "It's a different version. Mine is the PLUS."
This sent Liu Bo and Meng Jianshu into peals of laughter. An Audi A4 with a "PLUS" version? Could he be a little more careful with his bragging?
Chen Xiao didn't say anything, and no one asked him. For a salesman in Jiangzhou, buying a car or a house was an extravagant dream. With an unstable income, the pressure of loan repayments would be too great.
He had a quiet personality and was glad no one was bothering him. That was why he felt most comfortable with Zhao Xiangjun. She was also a quiet person who wouldn't say a single word more than necessary.
Only when the two of them were together did they bicker and banter. It was a side of themselves they reserved only for each other, never for outsiders.