The Ceo Of The Company Next Door Seems To Have A Crush On Me Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Willful Answer and the Scum

Hooves Sweep the Battlefield was one of Juefei Media’s key investment projects. Although few people were optimistic about it initially—a historical ensemble film didn’t sound like it had much market appeal—after reading the script, Lu Zhijian pushed the project forward against all opposition and assigned Mo Pai to direct it.

Now it was time to examine the results.

Lu Zhijian calmly watched the producer passionately discuss the continuously rising line graph on the projection screen. They had clearly made money, yet some people around him were beaming while others looked serious.

This was unavoidable; the adult world was like this, where one move affected the whole situation, and success often couldn’t be measured by simple numbers.

During the head of the department’s impassioned speech, Lu Zhijian’s thoughts gradually drifted elsewhere.

Lu Ming, his father, had mentioned taking over the family business the last time Lu Zhijian went home. Lu Zhijian hadn’t agreed immediately, only saying, “Wait a little longer, wait a little longer.” In truth, he didn’t know exactly what he was waiting for or when he would stop waiting.

Lu Zhijian’s gaze lightly swept over Vice President Sun’s face.

He knew why Vice President Sun looked unhappy. Sun had been the strongest opponent of this project because it conflicted with a project his father-in-law was backing. Lu Zhijian also knew that Vice President Sun and his father-in-law had secretly planned how to skim money during the film’s production.

Lu Zhijian moved his eyes away from the lengthy PowerPoint presentation and, using the file in front of him as cover, let out a discreet yawn.

The revenue report for this project had already been written and placed on his desk.

Rather than reviewing the fruits of victory he had already harvested, he was more concerned with accurately finding the biggest and sweetest fruit among the many unripe ones on the tree.

Other people’s eyes intentionally or unintentionally lingered on Lu Zhijian at the end of the conference table. Today, Lu Zhijian looked no different than any other day. He didn’t smile when he made money, nor did he cry when he lost it, maintaining a detached indifference, as if none of this concerned him.

How composed!

Seeing his demeanor, Vice President Sun felt as though he had been slapped in public, his face burning.

Vice President Sun’s state didn’t improve until the discussion shifted to the funding allocation for new projects. The chair in the conference room felt particularly uncomfortable today.

After the meeting, Lu Zhijian left first, taking Mo Hui with him.

As Lu Zhijian’s Chief Secretary and the younger sister of the director of the film Hooves Sweep the Battlefield, she knew more insider details than others. Precisely because she knew more, she was more confused than anyone else: why wasn’t Lu Zhijian happy?

Since she was confused, she naturally asked. Although Lu Zhijian wasn’t the type of boss who mingled with employees, his temper was actually quite good. As long as his bottom line wasn’t crossed, he could turn a blind eye to most things.

Lu Zhijian’s expression finally shifted when he heard her question, showing a bit of surprise and annoyance.

“I didn’t expect you to be the one to ask this. Hmm… how should I put this,” Lu Zhijian habitually sighed. The act of sighing made him feel more comfortable. “I’m not unhappy. Or rather, I was happy already.”

Lu Zhijian was usually a listener, and even when offering opinions or giving orders, he was concise. Mo Hui had been his secretary for three years and rarely heard him speak so much at once. Most of the time, Lu Zhijian sat there quietly, like a silent dark cloud.

“Did your sister tell you why I chose this script?”

Mo Hui answered formally, “No, President Lu.”

“It’s simply because I like the story. As for making money, I suppose it’s because I’m very lucky.”

What a willful answer.

Mo Hui brought up another matter: “After today, Vice President Sun will probably be in a bad mood.”

Lu Zhijian finally showed a subtle smile. “Then we need to be more careful. By the way, I heard there might be a random tax audit. Has our company paid all its taxes?”

Mo Hui nodded. “I’ve asked the Capital Flow Department to double-check.”

He brought up another point, “Did you see the new watch Vice President Sun was wearing on his wrist today?”

“I saw it.” They say the poor play with cars and the rich play with watches. Sun Hui himself loved collecting watches from major brands, and his collection was astonishingly rich. The ones Mo Hui had seen alone added up to a considerable sum, which didn’t quite match his expected income.

Speaking of which, Lu Zhijian, despite his family being very wealthy, had surprisingly low material desires—ridiculously low. He didn’t buy cars, didn’t buy watches, and while the circle was full of people keeping young celebrities, Lu Zhijian wasn’t interested. He came and went alone every day, looking solitary.

So what did he make money for? Just to look at it?

Lu Zhijian gave Mo Hui a questioning look. “Hmm?”

He felt Mo Hui was thinking something very rude.

Mo Hui snapped back to attention and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, President Lu, I was distracted just now.”

“…It’s fine.” Lu Zhijian was a little curious about what Mo Hui was thinking, but he didn’t know how to ask, so he let it go.

Although Lu Zhijian was part of the entertainment industry, he disliked the typical practices of others and didn’t allow employees to bring those practices into the company. The logic was simple: just because everyone does it, does that make it right?

He didn’t like it, and since the top set the example, Juefei Media was known for its excellent atmosphere. Furthermore, because Juefei Media covered almost the entire entertainment industry chain, they weren’t constrained by others, giving everyone more confidence.

He asked Mo Hui to keep a close eye on Sun Hui, and sure enough, in less than a day, Sun Hui started causing trouble. He took a liking to a newly signed male artist and demanded the artist accompany him to a drinking session.

When Mo Hui reported this, Lu Zhijian showed a rare, clear expression of disgust. “Truly a social scum. Go handle this matter. If he’s unhappy, tell him to come find me.”

“Yes, President Lu.” Mo Hui took the executive elevator down immediately.

The agent who had been struggling to deal with Sun Hui instantly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Mo Hui. Mo Hui represented the President’s orders, and with support from the top, the matter would be easier to resolve.

Mo Hui strode forward in her high heels, blocking the trembling young man hiding behind the sofa. “Vice President Sun, what are you doing here?”

When Sun Hui put on a serious front, he still had a semblance of a respectable scoundrel, but since the people in front of him were ordinary employees, he didn’t bother to pretend. He impatiently pushed out his cheek, looking extremely greasy. “I’m just here to have a heart-to-heart with our company’s new employee. Secretary Mo, do you have to manage this too?”

Mo Hui’s face was cold. “Vice President Sun, during work hours, please stay in your office for non-official reasons.”

Sun Hui laughed in anger. He straightened his sleeves, exposing the green-gold Daytona on his wrist, and shoved it in front of Mo Hui. “Look, 5:23. It’s after work hours now.”

Mo Hui wasn’t interested in watches; no matter how expensive or rare, they had nothing to do with her. “Since it’s after work, please go home. If you want overtime pay, please work overtime.”

She emphasized the word “work.”

“Who cares about that meager salary?!”

Mo Hui spoke like an AI/Robot. “If you are dissatisfied with your salary, please go to the President’s office to discuss it with President Lu.”

“You!” Sun Hui left angrily. “I’m not talking to you, I’ll go find your master!”

Mo Hui ignored his impotent rage and turned to speak to the agent. “If this happens again, you must notify me. Don’t worry, this is President Lu’s order. If you’re still afraid, you can have him participate in a few activities first.”

While she spoke to the agent, the young man stood quietly on the side like a wall decoration.

After Mo Hui left, the young man leaned toward the agent. “Brother, who was that? She has such presence!”

“That’s President Lu’s Chief Secretary, Mo Hui.”

“President Lu?”

“That’s my boss’s boss’s boss.”

“More powerful than this Vice President?”

“Much more powerful—”

In the end, Sun Hui didn’t dare to go find Lu Zhijian.

Lu Zhijian was simply too difficult to deal with—unmotivated by desire, impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Previously, Sun Hui had finally managed to find out that Lu Zhijian was dating the eldest young master of the Ye family, but just as he planned to use Young Master Ye as an entry point, they broke up.

After traveling abroad and returning, Lu Zhijian became even more unyielding, quiet and solitary. No one knew what he thought about all day.

Just as poor students fear excellent students, scoundrels fear decent people. Sun Hui figured he could avoid Lu Zhijian if he couldn’t provoke him.

Lu Zhijian returned home at seven o’clock. The kitchen hadn’t been used yet, and Lu Zhijian suddenly felt a wave of loneliness.

He lost the desire to cook. He would just eat something simple when he got hungry.

Lu Zhijian’s home wasn’t decorated in the popular minimalist style of black, white, and gray. On the contrary, it was very cozy: cream-colored carpets, cute little ornaments on the bookshelves, and neatly arranged succulents on the balcony. One might easily believe it was the home of a sweet girl.

The warm lighting couldn’t warm Lu Zhijian now. Perhaps because he hadn’t managed to cook for himself today, his heart felt heavy, like a large stone pressing down, pulling him straight down.

This descent was different from reality. In the real world, no matter how high one falls from, one always lands. But this spiritual descent seemed endless. The dark night gradually crept up like a deep sea, covering Lu Zhijian’s body as he lay sprawled on the sofa, slowly enveloping him.

Lu Zhijian’s eyelids grew heavier, yet his consciousness was terrifyingly clear.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang. A long, slender hand suddenly pulled him out of the water.

Lu Zhijian’s face still held a look of confusion. He opened the door, and a vibrant, leaping, fiery, sun-warm figure appeared before him.

Yan Xucheng stood in front of him wearing soft loungewear. The bright and generous beauty smiled like a rose without thorns, leaving only rich fragrance.

Lu Zhijian watched those red lips open and close, uttering a fresh invitation: “Hey, Lu Zhijian, want to come over to my place for dinner?”