The double doors swung open. Fyren, clad in a trench coat and sunglasses, strode in. All the senior and middle managers sprang to their feet at once, breaking into applause.
Fyren smiled as he made his way to his seat, settling down with a flourish and leaning back slightly, swaying gently from side to side. "Well? How do you all feel about this month's salaries?"
One executive chimed in excitedly, "Not even our own parents could compare to Fyren!"
Another added, "We've gotten the highest pay in company history—everyone in the group is singing your praises, Fyren!"
A third nodded vigorously. "Now the whole team's talking about your generosity, sir. Employees are even eager to work overtime! Our stock price is rock-solid!"
Maggie felt a twinge of awkwardness but still spoke up, her tone upbeat: "Fyren, the 20% raise did push up expenses, but it's also fostered unprecedented unity in the group! Congratulations—you've been voted the world's most handsome boss by our female employees!"
Fyren threw back his head and laughed, slapping the table. "I don't have much else going for me, but I've got money to burn!"
The meeting adjourned.
Fyren lounged back in his two-million-dollar recliner as Chloe massaged his temples. Maggie, dressed in sleek black stockings, stood before him and launched into her report:
"This month, the group posted a gross profit of 33.3459 billion. Internal operating expenses totaled 4.36 billion; bank debt repayments came to 5.7396 billion; investment outlays hit 895.21 million… After deducting initial costs for various projects and historical debts, this month's net profit stands at 281.154 million, with an actual cash inflow of 14 billion…"
"That's enough."
Fyren sat up sharply. "I only made a few billion this month!?"
Maggie replied, "We've invested nearly ten billion in new projects—those will generate returns down the line. Plus, we repaid almost six billion to the bank. The finance department has reviewed the numbers, and our income and expenditures are well-balanced."
She kept her tone steady, but inwardly she seethed. Capitalists really are something—raking in nearly twenty-eight billion in a month and still grumbling.
At this rate, Dasheng Group's annual profits would hit around 300 billion. Even so, the challenges were real: outflows were massive, with roughly ten billion disbursed each month, plus regular bank repayments.
What truly weighed on her, though, was the shantytown project. None of the figures she'd just cited included it. The shantytown project had to be accounted for separately as an independent initiative—that was Maggie's hard line. Otherwise, Dasheng Group would appear to be hemorrhaging money, making the financial statements look disastrous. Not even Fyren, she suspected, would feel comfortable seeing such numbers—let alone herself, as an employee.
"Have you looked into the finance department's funds?"
Maggie blinked in surprise. I'm talking about the group's overall profits, and he's fixated on that piddling one or two billion corruption case?
But a boss's question demanded an answer.
"It's odd. My team checked that account too, and the numbers have been matching up perfectly these past few days. No discrepancies."
Fyren smiled. "Let's set up a new internal department."
He began issuing orders: "Put Deputy Minister Zane in charge. Have him oversee the shantytown project's accounts and finances exclusively."
"Yes, sir!"
"Draft the group's approval document. Effective immediately, Zane is officially appointed as Chairman of the Integrity Oversight Commission, primarily responsible for supervising the progress and financial expenditures of the shantytown project. He shall hold supervisory authority and special approval powers over all financial, investment, procurement, and property oversight matters within the group. All issues may be reported directly to me."
Maggie hadn't expected Fyren to act so decisively. Once this department was established, the entire group would understand he was hunting for internal traitors. Zane's power would instantly rise to second only to the chairman, making him Dasheng Group's third-in-command.
Maggie asked, "What about his team..."
"Let him handle that himself," Fyren said. "As for the personnel he needs, you can decide at your discretion. Give him whoever isn't indispensable, and meet his expenses as much as possible."
Maggie left, puzzled that Fyren hadn't asked a single question about the shantytown project. That money-burning machine seemed to have slipped his mind entirely. A typical capitalist, faced with a project draining their own funds, would be on tenterhooks, demanding constant updates. But Fyren appeared utterly indifferent, more focused on internal group affairs and basic profitability.
What on earth is going on?
If this kept up, the group's internal funds wouldn't keep pace with the shantytown project's spending. And this was still the early stage. By the mid-stage, the profits here might have to be immediately funneled to plug the gaps there—and it still wouldn't be enough. If Fyren couldn't secure massive cash injections—hundreds of billions—from elsewhere, this project could drag the entire Dasheng Group into bankruptcy.
Everyone was happy, of course. Salaries had gone up; her own annual pay now hit 20 million, plus internal dividends. At this rate, she might even hit a small financial target by year's end. But... could Dasheng Group survive another year?
Maggie walked out, her heart heavy, and happened to bump into Eliza. She straightened up and offered a faint smile: "Hello, Eliza."
"Hmm." Eliza was equally polite. "Maggie, you look like you've lost weight."
"Huh? Really?"
Workplace pleasantries were common enough, but when Eliza—chairman and CEO of the prestigious Qingfeng Group—exchanged them, the meaning shifted entirely. Maggie felt a flutter of excitement. "Actually, not that much."
Eliza said, "Don't overwork yourself. Fyren just loves pushing his subordinates. I know the shantytown project has been draining you."
Maggie felt an instant kinship. "Eliza, you're Fyren's confidante—could you talk to him? He doesn't seem to take the shantytown project seriously at all. I'm at my wits' end, and the project's finances are going to implode sooner or later."
"Alright, I'll talk to him."
"Thank you, Eliza."
...
Fyren was half-reclined in his chair, an attractive secretary in his arms.
"Chloe, you seem to have grown."
"Stop it, Fyren, that's not true!"
"Let me check."
"Hahaha… Fyren, you're such a pervert, doing these things in the office."
"Wow, Chloe, your stockings today are really beautiful and sexy."
"Hahaha, I think Maggie's stockings are sexier. Fyren, haven't you been staring at them the whole time?"
"Oh? You caught me?"
"Hmph, Maggie's been asking when you'll come back to the company lately. Whenever you're in the office, she keeps running over. Haven't you noticed?"
"Hmm, she's always nagging me about the shantytown project—saying there's not enough money, telling me to plan for the future."
"Hehe, that's not all! She heard you were coming to the office today, so she dressed up specially—did her hair, put on patterned stockings. Don't you get what she's hinting at?"
Fyren looked surprised. "Really?"
"Look at you, laughing. It's true! Would I lie to you?" Chloe said. "I think you've been getting more and more charming lately, Fyren. A lot of girls in the company like you. But you know, ordinary employees wouldn't dare approach you."
"Why!?" Fyren said. "I don't mind!"
"Haha, because Maggie minds!"
"She minds!? What's that about?"
"Everyone knows Maggie likes you. Anyone who dares to come curry favor with you is asking for trouble!"
"Aren't you afraid?"
"I'm not!" Chloe tugged at Fyren's tie. "I'm your favorite, so Maggie wouldn't dare cross me!"
Fyren burst into laughter. "Being the villain is so damn satisfying! Otto just doesn't get it. Why bother being the protagonist? Even building a harem makes readers complain—they'll drop the book at the slightest misstep! Look at me—being the villain lets me live the good life, wallow in the pleasures of money. Wahaha!"
"Why do you keep calling yourself the villain?"
"Because I am one!"
"Oh, Fyren, don't do that. If you keep this up, I'll scream!"
"Haha, go ahead and scream! Even if you yell until your throat's raw, no one will come to save you!"
At that moment, the door swung open. Eliza stood in the doorway, calmly watching the scene inside.
Chloe jumped to her feet, stood at attention, and bowed slightly. "Eliza."
"Hmm." Eliza replied coldly.
Fyren straightened his clothes. "Oh, heh heh… this… um… we were just talking about work."
Eliza's gaze fixed on Fyren.
Fyren cleared his throat. "Um… Chloe, as I was saying, arrange those tasks for me. Make sure they're carried out thoroughly and effectively."
"Yes, Fyren, I understand."
"Alright, you can go."
Chloe blushed, lingering instead of leaving, shooting Fyren meaningful looks.
"What's wrong?" Fyren asked softly.
"My… my bra."
"Huh? Oh." Fyren suddenly realized he was still holding Chloe's undergarment in his hand.
He whispered, "What the hell!? How could you be so careless?"
Chloe's face flushed. "You said you wanted to do that trick—unhooking my bra through my clothes with one hand!"
Chloe snatched the garment, nodded apologetically to Eliza, and ran off without looking back.
Fyren, thoroughly embarrassed, said earnestly, "Well… I've been working too hard! My employees… they're exhausted, so to… boost their morale with some extracurricular activities, I… performed a magic trick. Did you need something from me?"
Eliza had stayed silent until now. She stepped toward him and said, "I thought you'd be angry with me for not contacting you these past few days."
"I'm not angry!" Fyren quickly said. "Why would I be angry with you? You just officially took over Qianfeng—you must have a lot on your plate. I get it."
Eliza looked at him. "Do you know? The fact that you're not angry makes me even sadder."
"Why would that make you sad?"
Eliza said, "Because it means you don't care about me at all. Even if I don't contact you for days, you don't even notice."
Fyren thought for a moment. "That's not such a bad thing! Now Qianfeng's under your control, Eliza. If there's a chance to make money, don't forget to cut me in!"
"Fyren, I don't like you talking to me like this."
"What's wrong?" Fyren smiled.
"You… I liked you the way you used to be."
"The way I used to be?"
"You…" Eliza bit her lip. "You used to send me so many messages every day; bring flowers and gifts every day; wait for me outside my company every day; ask me to dinner every day…"
Fyren laughed. "Just hearing that sounds tiring. Eliza, everything's back on track now. You're the rightful leader of Qianfeng. It's all yours—you've got everything!"
"But I want you!"
"You've got Qianfeng now. What do you need me for!?" Fyren laughed. "Sis, Qianfeng! The Qianfeng Group! It's yours! You're free! Qianfeng's yours, your father's out of the picture, and I won't bother you anymore. You… you should be happy! This is your time to shine!"
"I've said it before!" Eliza suddenly snapped, anger laced with resolve. "Qianfeng is mine, but I am yours!"