After lunch with Zhou Ying, Jiang Cheng returned to Xingchen Investment Company.
He'd wanted to stroll around with her, but Zhou Ying—afraid he'd spend money on her—said she still had her part-time shift that afternoon and politely declined.
Jiang Cheng didn't push it.
Everyone has their pride.
In this world, any wealth earned through one's own effort deserves respect.
Money is the guts of a man.
Life offers countless moments when you need cash to defend your dignity.
Online chicken-soup essays keep claiming life isn't about money.
But at the end of the day, life needs money.
When you're powerless, you kneel first to earn it—only then can you stand and choose.
A job that looks undignified becomes respectable once you succeed at it.
Jiang Cheng wasn't the type to cage a woman he liked at home as a pretty ornament.
He thanked the heavens he'd already gained the tycoon system; kneeling for cash would never be on the table—he could lie flat and still win.
Back at Xingchen Investment, Chen Xueer, Zhao Linger and the rest had already settled their plan: once the us stock market opened after nine tonight, they would move their capital into Coca-Cola's board, borrowing as much of its stock as possible.
The so-called shorting simply meant Jiang Cheng believed Coca-Cola's share price was about to drop.
Chen Xueer's team had to post a margin, borrow Coca-Cola shares from a broker—or a third party—then sell those borrowed shares immediately.
Once Coca-Cola's price plunged, they'd buy the shares back and return them to the lender.
Plainly: sell at the peak, buy back at the trough.
It's basically the same game as property-flipping.
When Jiang Cheng walked in, Chen Xueer, Zhao Linger and several others were busy inside the conference room.
He stepped inside; the staff rose at once and greeted him respectfully: "Good afternoon, Chairman Jiang."
Before leaving earlier, Chen Xueer had already announced Jiang Cheng's identity to the firm.
Now that he'd suddenly reappeared, they all sneaked glances at him.
None had expected their boss to be such a young Handsome Guy.
They'd thought he was some fresh graduate hunting for sponsorship.
Turns out he was the boss behind the curtain.
When Chen Xueer told them, they'd thought she was joking—until Jiang Cheng stood in front of them again.
Some female employees blushed without noticing.
Chen Xueer, seeing Jiang Cheng return so soon, was a little surprised.
She noticed every woman in the room looked ready to devour him, and she batted her seductive eyes with a grin: "Chairman Jiang, couldn't stay away even a few hours? Taken a fancy to some young girl in the office?"
Jiang Cheng lifted her chin lightly. "I'm here to work. Besides, which girl here could outshine you? If I'm taking a fancy, it's to you."
His flirtatious move left Chen Xueer's fair face flushed scarlet.
Realizing she couldn't out-talk him, she pouted. "Haha, how could I match our Chairman Jiang? Go bother some fresh graduate instead."
Hearing that, Zhao Linger giggled behind her hand. "Sister Xueer, don't be so contrary—you weren't like this when you introduced him to us."
"You little imp, watch your mouth."
Given Chen Xueer's favorability value, Jiang Cheng knew to quit while he was ahead; push the joke further and he'd slide into sleaze.
He dropped the banter and asked, "How are things shaping up?"
Chen Xueer's expression turned business-like. "We've started. Don't worry—Ling-er and I will watch it personally these next few days."
Jiang Cheng nodded, reassured.
Barring surprises, the Coca-Cola incident would begin to brew after midnight; every shortable share had to be locked in tonight.
After a quick tour he returned to his own office.
It rivaled the one Yu Xiaoxiao had decorated for him—modern, bright, spotless marble underfoot.
Behind the oversized desk stood a glass liquor cabinet stocked with premium bottles.
Several evocative oil paintings hung on the walls.
Beside the liquor cabinet a door opened into his private rest-suite.
Fresh bedding, a huge LCD TV, a small sofa—all brand-new.
The bathroom held untouched toiletries, and the wardrobe even contained several pressed changes of clothes.
What delighted him most was the floor-to-ceiling window.
Dusk had fallen; the blood-red sun sat perfectly round, gilded at the edge.
The view was superb—rolling skyline, distant horizon.
Below, roads intertwined like veins, traffic streaming.
Imagine switching the lights off at night and enjoying the scene while… communicating—magnificent.
While he admired the view, Chen Xueer walked in again.
Seeing him at the window, she joined him with a gentle smile. "Well, Chairman Jiang—satisfied with the décor?"
She gazed outward, eyes soft as water.
"It's great—especially the view. Must look even better at night," Jiang Cheng praised.
"True. When we work late, glancing at the neon flood and the endless river of headlights below feels… healing."
Jiang Cheng studied her delicate profile and graceful collarbone. Now this is real therapy, he thought.
Her white blouse set off porcelain skin; the narrow waist outlined a mature woman's alluring curves.
A full chest hid beneath gauzy white fabric, the simple skirt hem showcasing long legs and a slim waist.
The cityscape outside paled beside her.
"That's nothing. When the time comes I'll show you what real healing feels like."
Chen Xueer turned, intrigued. "Oh? What might that be?"
Jiang Cheng couldn't very well explain that the best cure for a woman is a man.
Brilliant female bookworms like Chen Xueer all share one trait.
Excellence from childhood breeds pride deep in their bones.
They believe their talent and ability lose to no man's.
Hence they sometimes think men are nothing special.
The best remedy? Pin her down once with a strong, perfect physique.
Let her feel raw male hormones and awaken to what a man truly is.
Thus achieving total, body-and-soul healing.