Teasing the Icy President

An Shaochen’s scheme had been uncovered, though he remained oblivious. Early in the morning, An Shaochen stood at the door of the president’s office, calmly awaiting his arrival.

“Here you are-something on your mind?” Ye Ziqian turned the key and walked into his office.

“The door wasn’t locked, why didn’t you come in and sit?”

“I saw you weren’t here, so I waited outside for a bit. Just a moment, President Ye. I have some issues to report regarding the annual investment in electronic technology products. Do you think we could allocate more funds? This sector has been developing rapidly over the past two years. The company should leverage its strengths and avoid fiercely competitive areas, going all-in in this field. I estimate that if the group invests one-fifth of its shares, we could secure a foothold in the national electronic technology products market.” After finishing his speech, An Shaochen locked eyes with Ye Ziqian.

A calm, silent stare-off ensued-a battle between masters.

Ye Ziqian was gauging the depth of An Shaochen’s confidence, while An Shaochen was trying to fathom the extent of Ye Ziqian’s shrewdness. Both were sizing each other up.

“You’re optimistic about this industry, but do you have any guarantees of success?” Ye Ziqian asked coldly.

“Yes, I do. The key figure in the leading electronic technology company is a good friend from my university days. If the company offers double the salary, I’m certain he would come and help us. His name is Zhang Jian, and his arrival would allow us to penetrate the market deeply, making our plan to become the industry leader much more effective,” An Shaochen asserted confidently.

“Any risks? Like financially-” Ye Ziqian inquired, lighting a cigar and taking a puff.

“Absolutely none, except for a significant amount of cash flow. Expanding production in electronic technology requires a substantial investment. The investment would need to draw on the company’s fixed assets-” An Shaochen explained earnestly.

“Go ahead and handle it. I want to see results within three months,” Ye Ziqian said, lowering his head and no longer looking at him. An Shaochen took the hint and left.

“Nan Yan, Qing Shan, go check out the casino and see if there’s anything new. Report back to me. Uncle Zhong, when are we going to find a suitable housekeeper for the house? I’m tired of eating out every day; it’s getting old!” Ye Ziqian called out to three of his attendants and issued a series of orders.

“President Ye, maybe I could cook tonight-”

“You? Stir-fry? Forget it, it’d be even greasier than eating out!” Ye Ziqian actually cracked a joke.

Lu Zizhong stood solemnly by his side.

“Alright, you can go now. Make sure to handle the tasks I’ve assigned promptly.”

“President Ye, as you know, we can’t just hire any housekeeper. It’s crucial to know their background. It’s hard to find a reliable and competent housekeeper these days. Maybe we could look for a part-time housekeeper through an agency and pay by the hour?” Lu Zizhong suggested.

“Preferably a full-time housekeeper. Go and get on with it,” Ye Ziqian picked up the phone, and Lu Zizhong exited.

Nie Shuangshuang and Mu Qingtian slept in until 9 a.m. Mu Qingtian suddenly sat up in bed like a carp leaping out of water. “Oh no, I’m late!”

She quickly got ready, finishing her morning routine in three minutes flat, as if someone were pushing her, and rushed out the door in a frenzy.

“Going to see a man? Why the hurry?” Nie Shuangshuang mumbled, still half-asleep.

“Bang-” The only response was the sound of the door slamming shut.

Mu Qingtian stormed into the company building, dashed into the elevator, and collided head-on with Ye Ziqian, who was just stepping out.

“Ugh, why do I keep bumping into you, Uncle!”

“You’re late,” Ye Ziqian said coldly.

“I-I-” Mu Qingtian tried to explain, but no words came out.

Lu Zizhong stood beside Ye Ziqian, offering her a slight smile. Mu Qingtian looked at him pleadingly.

“Foolish woman, you’d better not let me see you again. And if you’re late for work one more time, I’ll deduct half a month’s salary!” Ye Ziqian snapped.

“How much is half a month’s salary?”

“Eight thousand,” Lu Zizhong blurted out.

“Ah-” Mu Qingtian’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Oh my, are there any other part-time jobs at the company? This job is practically printing money!” A wide grin spread across her chubby face.

Ye Ziqian straightened his clothes, which had been wrinkled from the collision.

“Can you cook?” he asked.

“Yes, at a chef’s level. Besides eating, cooking is my only hobby,” she replied, her naivety practically written all over her face.

“Uncle Zhong, give her the housekeeper’s duties. That way, she won’t be late anymore!” A cold glint flashed in Ye Ziqian’s eyes.

“Why should I do it? How much does it pay? I won’t do servant work!” Mu Qingtian said firmly.

“Twenty-four hours a day, will you do it? Besides your regular job, you’ll just be responsible for cooking. Cleaning is handled by Uncle Zhong and the janitorial staff,” Ye Ziqian said coldly.

“Is there a ‘no peeking’ rule?”

“What-”

“Never mind-” Mu Qingtian covered her mouth and laughed.

Ye Ziqian glared at her fiercely. This arrogant little girl who didn’t know her place! This foolish woman who didn’t spare a shred of dignity in front of the mayor’s daughter!

“Twenty thousand a month, on top of your salary,” Ye Ziqian said coldly.

“How much?” Mu Qingtian’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe her ears. The world seemed to spin around her.

Mu Qingtian muddled through her morning shift and ran into Lu Zizhong as she was leaving work.

“Uncle Zhong, can I take the afternoon off? I’ll start working full-time tomorrow!”

“Sure, little girl,” Uncle Zhong agreed without hesitation.

He knew his boss’s temperament and what Mu Qingtian was about to face. Lu Zizhong had a soft spot for this little girl. This permission felt like giving her a break-a brief one, just an afternoon and evening.

Mu Qingtian floated home as if walking on clouds. She opened the door to find Nie Shuangshuang still fast asleep. Even as she sat down on the bed, she felt like she was sleepwalking.

“Shuangshuang, wake up. Tell me if I’m dreaming,” Mu Qingtian said, shaking her friend.

“Mu Qingtian! What are you doing so early in the morning?” Nie Shuangshuang reluctantly opened her eyes.

She saw Mu Qingtian looking utterly starstruck.

“What’s wrong with you? Spit it out!” Nie Shuangshuang rubbed her sleepy eyes, gazing at Mu Qingtian with a dazed expression.

“I’ve struck gold. I’ve really struck gold. I’m making thirty thousand a month now!” Mu Qingtian said these words with a blank face.

“Mu Qingtian, what’s going on? Are you sick? Is your family short on money? I can lend you some,” Nie Shuangshuang said, reaching out to feel her forehead.

Mu Qingtian grabbed her hand. “Thirty thousand a month. I’d work myself to death for that. I never thought my hands could be so valuable. It’s just cooking! With my intelligence, there’s nothing I can’t cook! For a thirty-thousand monthly salary, I’ll give it my all. I’ll cook for you this afternoon, learning as I go from online recipes!”

Nie Shuangshuang sat up. “What? Thirty thousand a month just for cooking? Your cooking is good, but it’s not worth that much!”

Mu Qingtian smiled faintly. “I can’t believe I’m making this much either, but it’s a fact now, an undeniable fact. I have to believe it! The uncle hired me as their housekeeper for twenty thousand a month, and my job pays eight thousand!”

“You’re so chubby. They’re not planning to fatten you up and eat you, are they? Besides, you’re not a suckling pig-once you’re gone, you’re gone! What kind of business is this? They’re going to lose money! Maybe he’s into you!” Nie Shuangshuang said, half-closing her eyes as she spoke, making Mu Qingtian feel like she was the one still dreaming.

Mu Qingtian turned on her computer and searched for recipes, studying them carefully and meticulously. If she wanted to learn something, she always believed she could master it. She had always been confident in herself.

The table was set with four dishes and a soup: chilled enoki mushrooms, sweet and sour spicy shredded pork, kung pao chicken, eggplant with chili and potato, and seaweed and egg soup.

Nie Shuangshuang looked at the spread in surprise. “Girl, there’s nothing green here!”

“Oh, I forgot! I should have stir-fried some greens. Wait, I’ll go make some now!”

The kitchen soon echoed with the clatter of pots and pans.

Nie Shuangshuang absolutely hated the kitchen, her least favorite place. What she loved most was the sizzle of a steak fresh off the grill. Mu Qingtian knew this well, which was why she never forced her to endure the pre-steak rituals she herself despised. Last time, she had even accompanied her friend to a steakhouse.

Mu Qingtian was the opposite in this regard. She wasn’t afraid of the fumes in the kitchen, but she dreaded the splatter of oil from a steak and the tedious rituals before eating. She could handle anything in the kitchen, but when it came to facing food that required such a fuss before eating, she couldn’t stand it. It was her quirk.

“When are you going to learn how to make steak?” Nie Shuangshuang shouted.

“Steak, steak! Yes, I must learn how to make steak! Last time, I met him at the steakhouse. He must like steak too!” Mu Qingtian exclaimed, her chubby little face forming tiny hills of flesh. She stuffed a few bites of food into her mouth and immediately went back to her computer to study how to make steak. Since she didn’t have an oven or beef at home, Mu Qingtian decided to use pork instead. A piece of tenderloin that would normally make one’s mouth water ended up looking quite tragic under her hands.

When she finally stood in front of Nie Shuangshuang with her pork steak, her chubby little mouth grinning, Nie Shuangshuang said one thing-

“I want to die. What kind of steak is this?!”

The pork steak Mu Qingtian brought over was completely blackened.

“You want to eat this? Fine, but don’t come to me if you get diarrhea. I’m not taking care of you!”

“What do you know? This is a delicacy!” Mu Qingtian said, shoving the meat into her mouth and chewing loudly.

Nie Shuangshuang felt her expression contort in disgust. She couldn’t help but twist her face in horror.