Chapter 122: Betting Everything

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Just as I was about to explain to Qian Xiaolei why I wanted to hire her, my phone rang. I pulled it out and saw that it was Fan Yunting calling.

“Hello, Tang Qian, have you had lunch yet?”

“I’m eating right now!”

“Good. I have something that might delay me a bit. Here’s the plan: you go ahead first. The place will be empty, so you can just walk right in. Wait for me there a little while—I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay, but you have to tell me the address, or how would I find it?”

“Huh? Haha! Didn’t I already tell you?”

“...”

“All right, maybe I was too excited and forgot. The address is at Neutral Building on Jiefang West Road, fourteenth floor. When you get off the elevator, turn right—the entire floor is our company’s. Got it?”

“Got it!”

“Great! See you soon!”

“Bye!” I hung up and looked at the puzzled Qian Xiaolei. “So, recently a boss and I are setting up a beverage company and really need staff. If you don’t mind that it’s a small company, why don’t you come help us manage the finances?”

Qian Xiaolei was surprised. “You’re starting a company? I never expected that!”

I smiled. “Actually, it’s not really my company—I’m working for someone else. The boss is too busy alone, so he asked me to recruit new employees.”

Qian Xiaolei looked doubtful. “What’s the new company called? And if I come to work, what kind of salary would I get?”

I said, “The company isn’t registered yet. For now, the tentative name is Leaf Tip Fragrance Beverage Co., Ltd. I don’t have authority over salaries, so I can’t answer that. How about this: if you’re free this afternoon, come with me to the office building. Our boss will be there, and I’ll introduce you. You can discuss the details with her.”

Qian Xiaolei thought it over carefully. “Okay! I’ll go with you. It’s really hard to find a job these days, so if this works out, I’ll owe you a big thanks, old classmate!”

I smiled. “If you really want to thank me, just promise me one thing.”

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“What is it?”

“Don’t ever mention Qiu Jiexin in front of me, okay?”

I took Qian Xiaolei to the Neutral Building and took the elevator to the fourteenth floor. Perhaps because of the unlucky number, the entire floor was empty. To the left of the elevator, a trading company used to operate here, but judging by its dilapidated state, it had moved out a long time ago. To the right, the floor retained its original look.

Qian Xiaolei and I glanced around; the right side had eight rooms of varying sizes. I counted: one general manager’s office, one deputy general manager’s office, one finance office, one planning office, one administrative office, and three rooms left for sales or other uses. The space wasn’t big, but sufficient. After all, it was a new small company, no need for grandeur.

We inspected each room, and I started calculating renovation costs and essential office supplies. I hadn’t realized before that even being frugal, building a company from scratch with some semblance of professionalism would cost at least hundreds of thousands of yuan. My God! Hundreds of thousands!

Half an hour later, Fan Yunting rushed in. I introduced Qian Xiaolei to her. Fan Yunting asked her a few questions, and since Qian Xiaolei was quite knowledgeable about finance and also my classmate, she nodded in approval.

Thus, Qian Xiaolei became the third official member of Leaf Tip Fragrance. Because Fan Yunting hadn’t signed a formal contract with her, she couldn’t determine exact benefits but verbally promised a minimum monthly income of two thousand yuan, plus bonuses depending on performance. Qian Xiaolei was very happy, repeatedly thanking Fan Yunting and me.

Fan Yunting then threw herself into work. The most urgent task was renovating the office. She asked me to immediately find an affordable and reputable decoration company for design and renovation. She detailed her layout preferences room by room. I couldn’t remember so many details at once, but Qian Xiaolei’s role shone through as she smartly pulled out a small notebook and pen, jotting down everything Fan Yunting said.

I still had many tasks: purchasing office supplies, advertising, and recruiting talent. Honestly, doing everything alone would have exhausted me. Now with Qian Xiaolei as my assistant, it was much easier. Since the company wasn’t officially established yet, there were no financial matters to handle, so her current job was assisting me with company setup.

After giving instructions, Fan Yunting seemed to have something urgent and was about to leave. Before she went, she handed me a bank card with 200,000 yuan inside, instructing me on how to use the money and to keep invoices and records. I figured Qian Xiaolei would be best at that, so I accepted it.

As Fan Yunting stepped into the elevator, she glanced back at me, frowning. “Tang Qian, you’re now the company’s deputy general manager. You need to watch your image. Don’t dress like a laborer. Tonight, ask your classmates to help you pick out some tasteful clothes. That’s all.” The elevator door closed just as she finished speaking.

I looked at my clothes helplessly, then at Qian Xiaolei. She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and quickly turned away.

In the following days, Qian Xiaolei and I stayed busy. Fan Yunting was nowhere to be seen, likely caught up in other matters. She often called to give instructions, but Qian Xiaolei and I handled the hands-on work.

We visited five or six decoration companies and finally chose one that offered a low price with a good reputation. That company quickly designed renovation plans and provided computer renderings, which I immediately called Fan Yunting about, asking her to review and approve them personally.

Fan Yunting said, “I’m busy now. Why don’t you bring the plans to my house?”

After confirming her address, I went alone since Qian Xiaolei had other matters.

Fan Yunting’s home was in an upscale garden villa community on a great floor with a spacious layout, likely very comfortable to live in. But when I entered, I was shocked. The luxurious residence looked as if it had been ransacked by thieves, utterly trashed and completely bare. No large furniture or valuables remained.

Fan Yunting stood motionless by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out into the garden. I quietly called her from behind, “President Fan!”

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Fan Yunting turned around with a complex gaze but forced a faint smile. “You’re here?”

I asked curiously, “President Fan, what happened to your home?”

She scanned the house deeply from left to right, then sighed softly. “From now on, this house no longer belongs to me.”

I was stunned. “What? You mean you’ve already... sold the house?”

Fan Yunting nodded. “Yes, everything that could be sold in this house has been converted into cash.”

I was shocked. It seemed Fan Yunting had wagered all her assets on this startup. If it failed, she would be utterly destitute. Suddenly, the burden on me felt a thousand times heavier. Strictly speaking, Fan Yunting’s entire fortune was invested in Leaf Tip Fragrance, and the critical responsibility for the company’s development rested on me. Whether my research succeeded would directly decide the company’s fate. Thinking of this, how could I not feel an overwhelming weight?

I stood silent for a moment, then sighed, “President Fan, where will you live now?”

Fan Yunting replied, “I rented an apartment near the company, just to get by for now. I believe it won’t be long before I can buy a house even better than this one. Tang Qian, my fate and future are entirely in your hands. Please don’t disappoint me!”

I was silent for a moment and said, “President Fan, a true warrior dies for those who recognize him. Since you trust me so much and have the courage to stake everything, then even if I have to work myself to death, I will make sure Leaf Tip Fragrance succeeds. You can rest assured.”

Fan Yunting smiled brightly, the complexity in her eyes vanishing and replaced by crystal clarity. She beamed and extended a delicate white hand towards me. “Good! Now show me the design and renderings.”

She flipped through them and was basically satisfied, though she offered some minor suggestions, which I noted carefully. Just as I was about to return to the decoration company for revisions, Fan Yunting said, “Let’s go tomorrow. Wait a bit—I want to take you out for a meal to celebrate my... housewarming.”

Since Qian Xiaolei had to return to care for her daughter, Fan Yunting and I went alone to an upscale Western restaurant, where she treated me.

Not wanting her to overspend, I ordered a simple steak, while Fan Yunting ordered a set meal and a bottle of red wine. The restaurant’s atmosphere was elegant, with waiters all in crisp uniforms—gentlemen with perfect manners. Near us, a violinist was passionately performing a beautiful piece for the diners.

I glanced over and almost slid off my seat, startled.

Because one of the two people sitting at that table was someone I knew—Hua Jingjing!