At ho, Zhang Sujuan sat alone on her bed, staring at the so-called luxury clothes and bags spread across it.
She was silent for a long ti.
She wasn’t happy that the clothes were expensive.
She knew how much money her son had. It was impossible for him to afford sothing so pricey.
She was worried he might have gone down the wrong path.
After thinking it over and over, she decided to ask him about it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink tonight.
Picking up her phone, Zhang Sujuan called her son.
After a few seconds, the call connected.
"Hello, Mom."
Zhang Sujuan asked with a smile, "I’m not bothering you at work, am I?"
"No."
"I received the clothes you mailed ."
Zhang Sujuan hesitated for a mont before asking, "How much did you spend this ti?"
"A little over 1,000."
Over the phone, Xu Yun laughed. "What, do you want the rest of the money you transferred last ti back? I’m not giving it to you. I deserve a fee for my troubles."
"That’s not it."
Zhang Sujuan had wanted to talk about the money, but the words caught in her throat.
"I just wanted to tell you that if we don’t have money, we can earn it slowly."
She urged him, "But every penny we earn must be clean. You absolutely cannot do anything illegal, you understand?"
"Mom, what’s wrong? Did sothing happen?"
Xu Yun replied, confused, "Of course I wouldn’t do anything illegal. I’m a model citizen."
"As long as you’re not doing anything illegal."
Zhang Sujuan said aningfully, "I just saw a news story today about a young man who suddenly beca very rich and started buying all sorts of luxury goods.
It wasn’t until he was arrested a few years later that everyone found out all his money ca from illicit activities. It really left an impression on , so I wanted to tell you about it and remind you to never go down the wrong path."
Back at the office, Xu Yun was stunned by his mother’s words.
He’d have to be a complete idiot not to understand his mother’s implication.
’No way, does Mom know the real price of the clothes?’
’But how could she have found out?’
It was a sha he had just left Chen Xin’s group chat. If he had seen her descriptions, he would have known exactly what happened.
But since his mother hadn’t called him out directly or asked for the reason, Xu Yun decided to keep playing dumb.
After all, he didn’t have a good explanation that could convince her right now.
But to put his mother’s mind at ease, he said in a very serious tone, "Yes, I’ll rember that. Don’t worry, Mom. Your son is a model citizen. Every cent I earn is clean, so you can use it without worry.
I have to provide for you in your old age, so I would never do anything illegal or break the law."
"Alright, as long as you know."
Hearing this, Zhang Sujuan smiled. "You’re my son. As long as you say it, I’ll believe you."
Xu Yun: "Thanks, Mom."
After ending the call, Xu Yun fell into a brief, deep thought back at the office.
He had managed to brush it off for today, but it wasn’t a long-term solution.
To make his newfound wealth seem plausible, he had to make a change before he went to celebrate his mother’s birthday.
After all, there was no way a regular office worker could earn this much money.
No matter how well he reassured her or how much she believed him, doubts would inevitably creep into her mind over ti.
To solve this problem, he could either pretend to start his own company—then how much he earned would be whatever he said it was.
His mom wouldn’t know any better!
Or, he could work hard to get promoted at his current company and beco a high-level employee, at least manager-level, and then tell his mother he was making over a million a year.
Comparing the two options, the first was simpler. It was just for show, to put his mom’s mind at ease.
The second option, however, was a bit more difficult.
It required not only ability but also the right connections to pull off.
Xu Yun suddenly thought of the Pechoin project he was handling.
Su Mu was right; he couldn’t possibly finish it all by himself.
He had to find an outside team to work with.
Coincidentally, he had just such a resource group.
Nowadays, many employees at big companies use their after-work hours to do freelance work on the side.
He had done it before, taking on small projects that others sent his way.
’Hmm, when I have ti, I’ll ask in the group and see if it’s feasible.’
’If one person isn’t enough, I’ll find a few more people to work on it together.’
’The more difficult the project, the more impressive it’ll be if I complete it by myself and do a good job...’
’Combined with my past contributions to the company, I can just directly ask the boss for a promotion.’
If the boss refused, he wouldn’t let the company off easy.
Ti to play hardball!
’I’ll take the Pechoin campaign proposal, get a severance package, and leave the company.’
’Then I’ll start a dia-related shell company, take my proposal to the Pechoin branch office, and sell it.’
’I’ll sell it for whatever I can get.’
’I would never take a loss on a deal.’
’That way, I’ll have my own company and my first business deal.’
’When I go ho, I can show Mom the visuals from my company’s Pechoin campaign as physical evidence!’
’I can push forward or fall back. The plan is perfect!’
As he thought about it, Xu Yun couldn’t help but give himself a ntal pat on the back.
Suddenly, he got a WeChat ssage on his phone. It was from Jiang Peiyao, the manager of the Chow Taifook store.
[Jiang Peiyao: Are you there? There are so event details I’d like to discuss with you in person. Can you co over?]
[Xu Yun: Now? It’s almost lunchti. Why don’t you just tell over the phone? I can make the changes and send them over.]
[Jiang Peiyao: I think it would be better to discuss it in person. I can also treat you to lunch.]
Xu Yun looked at the ssage and thought for a mont. That sounded fine.
’Perfect. After lunch with her, I can contact a real estate agent and go look at houses.’
[Xu Yun: Okay, I’ll be right over.]
[Jiang Peiyao: Thanks. Sorry for the trouble.]
Once it was settled, Xu Yun said to Xiaopang next to him, "I need to go handle sothing for the Chow Taifook project. If anyone asks, please cover for ."
"Sure, no problem."
After giving him a heads-up, Xu Yun got up and left.
Seeing this from a short distance away, Song Xiaowei walked over to Xiaopang and asked curiously, "Where did Brother Xu go?"
"He needed to go handle sothing for the Chow Taifook anniversary event project."
Song Xiaowei asked, "But why didn’t he take ? I rember he told before that he’d take along next ti sothing ca up with the Chow Taifook project."
"He probably didn’t think it was necessary this ti."
Xiaopang replied with a smile, "Once the event details are finalized, he’ll probably take you before the opening to get you familiar with the procedures. After all, you’re the host for the day."
"..." Song Xiaowei was speechless.
’Is he unhappy with for tattling on him this morning?’
’Is that why he deliberately didn’t take with him?’
Su Mu, who was also keeping an eye on Xu Yun whenever she had a free mont, saw him slip away again before lunch and sent him a ssage.
[Su Mu: It’s almost lunchti. Where are you running off to again?]
Soon, Xu Yun’s reply ca.
[Xu Yun: Going out for an in-depth exchange with a beauty, and then we’re having lunch together.]
Su Mu frowned after reading the ssage.
’Is that Ning Qian really that captivating?’
’He just went last night, and now he’s going again today. Isn’t he worried about wearing himself out?!’
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