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The conference room at the headquarters of Winsea Group was full of people.

The accident at the affordable housing project was too big a deal, the media followed it for so many days, and the higher-ups were keeping a close eye on it. As the parent company of Tianke, Yinghai couldn't possibly stay out of it.

Just imagining that scene sends chills down my spine: a group of leaders standing in front of a wall for a group photo, and suddenly the entire wall collapses, burying the leaders from the Housing and Construction Bureau below. It's truly an unspeakable irony.

Zhao Xiankun sat at the head of the conference table, his expression revealing nothing.

Wang Mingyu was reporting the situation. He projected a loss assessment report onto the large screen and said in a heavy tone, "President Zhao, according to preliminary calculations, the direct economic loss from this accident in the affordable housing project exceeds 20 million yuan. This does not include the loss of brand reputation. If the subsequent impact is taken into account, the figure will only be larger. The direct cause of this accident was that Tianke Construction used substandard cement during the construction process, which led to the collapse of the temporary buildings."

After he finished speaking, he gave Huang Lilin a special look, and the meaning in his eyes was clear: this mess is yours, Tianke.

Upon hearing this, Huang Lilin became agitated and slammed his hand on the table, saying, "Vice President Wang, what you're saying is wrong! Cement is procured centrally by the group. Tianke gets its cement from the group's materials department at a price eight percent higher than the market price. You're saying I'm using substandard cement? Then I'd like to ask, who sold me this cement?"

"..." Wang Mingyu's expression changed slightly, and he was about to speak in rebuttal when Xia Ming stood up.

Xia Ming, holding a bound report in his hand, calmly walked to the front of the conference room and placed the report on the table.

The cover features the words "Cement Procurement Material Survey Report" printed in large characters.

"General Manager Zhao, distinguished leaders," Xia Ming's voice was calm and measured, displaying the demeanor of a seasoned general, "This report is a detailed survey I've conducted on the group's material procurement system over the past period. As a subsidiary of Yinghai, Tianke doesn't have independent material procurement rights; all building materials must be allocated through the group's materials department. However, the problem is that the prices the group's materials department charges Tianke are 8% higher than the market average. This applies to cement, steel bars, and sand and gravel."

He paused, glanced at everyone present, and continued, “Tianke is required to hand over profits to the group every year; that’s the rule, and we accept it. But procurement costs have been artificially inflated by eight percentage points, directly eating up a large portion of the profit margin, naturally straining the accounts. When the accounts are tight, workers’ wages can’t be paid, material payments can’t be made, and how can the project not have problems? On the surface, this accident seems to be Tianke’s responsibility, but where does the root of the problem lie? The root of the problem lies in the group’s preferential treatment of the general contracting company and its subsidiaries. What price does the general contracting company pay for materials? What price do the subsidiaries pay for materials? They’re not children born of the same mother, so why are they divided into different classes? This probably doesn’t align with the collective spirit that the group has always emphasized, does it?”

After Xia Ming finished speaking, the conference room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Mingyu's expression changed several times, and he swallowed back what he wanted to say.

Huang Lilin nodded vigorously beside him, muttering, "That's right, that's right."

Zhao Xiankun looked at Xia Ming without saying a word, just staring at him silently for several seconds.

Zhao Xiankun realized that this young man was not simple, and thought to himself that the extremely foolish Huang Lilin actually had a good nephew.

In front of so many people, she remained calm and composed, speaking with data and facts, effectively neutralizing Wang Mingyu's carefully prepared offensive and even shifting the focus to the group's internal management issues.

This courage and shrewdness reminded Zhao Xiankun of his younger days.

However, Zhao Xiankun did not comment on Xia Ming's speech at the meeting. He simply said, "Let's end the meeting here for today. Everyone, go back and organize your materials. We'll continue tomorrow."

After saying that, he got up and left, leaving everyone in the conference room.

……

After the meeting, Wang Mingyu followed Zhao Xiankun into the office.

He closed the door first, then lowered his voice and said, "President Zhao, Huang Lilin can't be kept around any longer. Tianke is getting worse and worse under his management. This time he's caused such a huge mess, and he's increasingly disregarding the group."

Zhao Xiankun sat down behind his desk, glanced at him, but didn't respond to the question. Instead, he asked, "Why is the supply price from the materials department to the subsidiary eight percent higher than the market price?"

Wang Mingyu's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered and said with a smile, "President Zhao, there's a historical reason for this. The materials department signed a long-term framework agreement with the supplier, and the price was set a few years ago. Market prices have fluctuated a lot in recent years, so there have been some discrepancies. I'll have someone check it again later."

Zhao Xiankun hummed in agreement, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He simply lowered his head and began flipping through the documents on the table, indicating that the conversation was over.

Standing there, seeing Zhao Xiankun's lukewarm attitude, Wang Mingyu felt even more uncertain.

Having followed Zhao Xiankun for so many years, he knew the man all too well.

The more expressionless Zhao Xiankun appeared, the more ideas he had in mind.

Wang Mingyu couldn't figure out whether Zhao Xiankun believed what he said, nor did he know Zhao Xiankun's attitude towards Tianke.

This feeling of not being able to figure things out made Wang Mingyu very uncomfortable, but he couldn't say anything more and could only awkwardly leave the office.

……

As Zhao Xiankun's secretary, Tang Ning's daily workload is something that most people couldn't handle.

Zhao Xiankun's schedule was so packed it was like a net. She had to arrange everything, from what time the meeting was in the morning, to who she had lunch with, whether she flew out of town in the afternoon, and whether she had social engagements in the evening.

When Zhao Xiankun calls, she has to respond immediately, no matter what she's doing.

I dare not turn off my mobile phone 24 hours a day, and I am always on standby even on holidays.

While others were still sleeping in bed, Tang Ning arrived at the company full of energy.

We made all the preparations in advance and waited for our boss, Zhao Xiankun, to come to work.

It's true that high-level positions offer high salaries, but the costs behind those positions are also real.

Tang Ning is 24 years old this year, which should be the age for dating and making friends, but her private time is basically completely taken up by this job.

Tang Ning was invited to dinner by her friend, but she declined countless times until eventually the friend simply stopped inviting her altogether.

Tang Ning's family had introduced her to several blind dates, but the relationships all fell through after only a couple of days, for the same reason...

This girl is too busy; I never see her.

However, although Tang Ning would occasionally feel depressed about these things, they were not unbearable.

What truly disgusted Tang Ning was another person: Zhao Xiankun's driver, Chang Wei.

Chang Wei had been driving for Zhao Xiankun for many years and was a very senior driver, considered one of Zhao Xiankun's most trusted confidants.

In front of Zhao Xiankun, Chang Wei was incredibly diligent and respectful, his words as sweet as honey. He addressed Zhao Xiankun as "General Manager Zhao" and took care of everything from opening car doors to carrying luggage, serving him meticulously in every detail.

Zhao Xiankun had always had a good impression of Chang Wei, thinking that he was honest, hardworking and diligent.

But when Zhao Xiankun wasn't around, Chang Wei was a completely different person.

Tang Ning noticed the way Chang Wei looked at her more than once.

That look wasn't just a normal up-and-down sizing; it was the kind of look that sent chills down your spine.

Every time Tang Ning walked past Chang Wei, Chang Wei's gaze would sweep over her without any attempt to hide it, and sometimes he would stare at her back for a long time.

Once, the two bumped into each other in the elevator. Chang Wei actually moved very close to her, his arm brushing against her intentionally or unintentionally, and said with a grin, "Secretary Tang looks great today."

Tang Ning held back her temper at the time, after all, Chang Wei was Zhao Xiankun's dog, and she walked away quickly after getting out of the elevator.

She usually avoids Chang Wei whenever possible, since finding a job isn't easy, and besides, she's quite comfortable working alongside Zhao Xiankun.

However, this kind of thing might be tolerated once or twice, but Chang Wei became increasingly outrageous.

Sometimes, when no one is around, their words carry a slightly inappropriate tone.

Tang Ning felt incredibly annoyed, but this person was, after all, Zhao Xiankun's driver. He had been with Zhao Xiankun for so many years. If you went to Zhao Xiankun to complain without any real evidence, how would Zhao Xiankun handle it?

At most, she could say a few words to Chang Wei, but after being spoken to, Chang Wei would only hate her more and try to trip her up later.
If a driver wants to annoy a secretary, there are plenty of ways.

If the two of them fall out, Zhao Xiankun will be the most annoyed. In the end, either she or Chang Wei will leave.

So Tang Ning kept thinking about how to get rid of Chang Wei.

However, Zhao Xiankun is just too shrewd; he can see through any little tricks you make right under his nose.

Tang Ning had worked for Zhao Xiankun for several years and knew all too well how sharp this boss's mind was.

Zhao Xiankun can guess seven or eight parts of the cause and effect of a matter just by paying attention to it.

Therefore, we cannot rush into dealing with Chang Wei, nor can we be too deliberate in our actions.

We must wait for the right opportunity, and do it naturally and without leaving a trace.

However, Tang Ning had already started making plans in his mind.

Immediately afterwards, a person suddenly popped into Tang Ning's mind: Su Ning, the one who had bravely helped her in Jing'an that day.

Tang Ning recalled what happened that day. Su Ning chased the thief with great speed and agility, subduing him in no time, which clearly showed that she was in good physical condition.

Moreover, this person speaks steadily and calmly, appearing to be a reliable individual.

In addition, Tang Ning sensed a unique quality in Suning, which was not the domineering nature of real estate tycoon Zhao Xiankun.

Therefore, Tang Ning was immediately attracted to Su Ning and couldn't help but feel an inexplicable curiosity.

Tang Ning suddenly had an idea: If he could find a way to kick Chang Wei out of the game and then arrange for Su Ning to be Zhao Xiankun's driver, wouldn't that be perfect?

Tang Ning thought about it more and more and felt that this idea was feasible, so he found Su Ning's phone number and dialed it directly.

I answered the phone after it rang a few times.

"Hello, this is Su Ning." Su Ning's voice immediately came through the receiver. Tang Ning smiled and said, "Su Ning, this is Tang Ning! You said last time you were looking for a job, right? I wanted to ask you something, do you know how to drive?"

Suning said, "Yes!"

Do you have a driver's license?

"Have."

Tang Ning was secretly delighted and asked, "Is it C1 or C2?"

Suning said: "A1".

Tang Ning was stunned for a moment, almost thinking she had misheard: "A1? You got an A1 driver's license?"

Su Ning's voice was casual: "Yeah, I took the test before, I can drive buses and trucks."

"How did you come up with the idea of ​​applying for A1?"

"It's kind of funny! It was during the summer after my college entrance exam. My mom registered me for the exam, but she didn't know the details and registered me for an A license instead."

Tang Ning was overjoyed, but she quickly suppressed her emotions and said with great restraint, "Well then, are you free today? Would it be convenient for you to come out? I'd like to invite you to a Volkswagen 4S store so I can test your driving skills in person."

Suning seemed to think for half a second before saying, "Okay! Send me the address."

After agreeing on a time, Tang Ning hung up the phone, already planning the next steps in her mind.

Working for Zhao Xiankun for so long has also made Tang Ning develop a suspicious personality.

Even though Su Ning had helped her before, Tang Ning still couldn't easily trust him.

There are some situations that must be clearly understood, otherwise, a slight mistake could lead to serious trouble.

……

Around 2 PM, Tang Ning and Suning met in front of a FAW-Volkswagen 4S store.

Tang Ning wore casual clothes today, and looked much more plain than when she wore business attire.

Su Ning remained unhurried, with her hands in her pockets. When she saw Tang Ning walking over, she nodded to her.

"Secretary Tang, are you buying a car?" Su Ning asked.

Tang Ning smiled and said, "It's not that I want to buy it, it's that I want to test your driving skills. Let's go! Let's go inside and take a look."

The two entered the 4S store, and Tang Ning directly told the salesperson that he wanted to test drive the top-of-the-line FAW-Volkswagen Range Rover.

Seeing this, the salesperson quickly went to complete the formalities and get the keys.

After Tang Ning signed the test drive agreement, he handed the keys to Suning.

“You drive,” Tang Ning said.

Suning took the keys, asked no questions, and got into the driver's seat.

Tang Ning sat in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and kept an eye on Su Ning's movements out of the corner of her eye.

Suning adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, started the car, shifted gears, and released the handbrake in one smooth motion.

When the car drove out of the 4S store parking lot, the start was so smooth that you could hardly feel the jerkiness when shifting gears.

Once on the main road, Suning drove very smoothly, maintaining a perfect following distance. When changing lanes, he signaled in advance and checked his rearview mirror and blind spots. His entire maneuver was clean and efficient, clearly showing he was an experienced driver.

Tang Ning sat in the passenger seat, becoming more and more satisfied with what she saw.

She often rode in Chang Wei's car. Chang Wei's driving wasn't bad, otherwise Zhao Xiankun wouldn't have been satisfied.

But Tang Ning felt something was missing, and it took her a while to realize that it was a lack of composure.

Suning's driving style was completely different; it was steady, exceptionally steady, giving Tang Ning a feeling of gentle breeze and light rain.

After the test drive, Tang Ning returned to the 4S store and said to Suning, "Suning, let me see your driver's license."

Without thinking much, Su Ning took out his driver's license from his pocket and handed it to her.

Tang Ning took it and opened it. The photo on the driver's license was indeed Su Ning herself, and the license type was A1. She had obtained her license several years earlier than she had imagined.

She silently calculated in her mind that being able to obtain an A1 driver's license at this age, and having a considerable amount of driving experience, meant that driving was a piece of cake for Su Ning.

Tang Ning returned the driver's license to Su Ning, smiling as she said, "Su Ning, let me tell you the truth! I wanted to recommend you as a driver. I asked you to come here today for a test drive to see if you could handle the job. Your driving skills are fine; you drive better than many experienced drivers I've seen. But arranging this job will take some time, so if you need the money urgently..."

Su Ning waved his hand: "No rush, I'm not under any pressure. You can take your time to arrange it."

Tang Ning felt more at ease after hearing Su Ning's words.

She originally thought Suning would urge her, after all, who doesn't want to start working as soon as possible when looking for a job?

But Su Ning's attitude made her realize that this person was indeed extraordinary and could keep his composure.

"Okay, it's settled then. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

"it is good."

Tang Ning glanced at the time; it was almost five o'clock. She then took the initiative to suggest, "You've helped me twice already. I haven't properly thanked you for catching the thief last time, and you've taken up half a day of your time again today. Let me treat you to dinner today! Don't refuse."

Su Ning smiled and said, "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."

……

Then, the two found a quiet restaurant and sat down to eat.

After ordering the food, Tang Ning started to subtly inquire about Su Ning's situation while picking up food with her chopsticks.

Clearly, Su Ning's driving skills alone were not enough to impress Tang Ning; she wanted to know more about Su Ning.

"Su Ning, you said last time that you just came to Shanghai, right? So where did you study before?" Tang Ning asked.

Su Ning didn't try to hide anything and said directly, "I studied at a third-tier university in my hometown, but I didn't finish and was expelled from school."

Tang Ning paused, her chopsticks still on her hands, and asked with some surprise, "Expelled? What happened?"

Su Ning picked up a piece of food and said casually, "I got into a fight at school. I was young and hot-blooded. We fought over something trivial and got jealous. The school dealt with it strictly and expelled me."

Tang Ning noticed that Su Ning showed no shame or embarrassment when she said those words.

Tang Ning found this attitude quite interesting.

Most people are unwilling to talk about their shameful deeds; they either hide them or sigh and complain when they do.

But Suning didn't take it to heart at all, as if being expelled from university wasn't a big deal.

"You really have a positive outlook," Tang Ning said with a smile.

Suning said, "What can you do if you can't figure it out? You've already figured it out, and life still goes on. A college degree is just a stepping stone; it's convenient to have it, but not having it doesn't mean you can't survive."

Tang Ning nodded, then asked, "How old are you this year?"

“Nineteen,” Su Ning said.

Tang Ning was genuinely shocked this time, "You're only nineteen?"

“Yeah!” Su Ning found it a little funny to see her startled expression. “What, you don’t look like it? Do you look really old?”

Tang Ning looked him up and down, shook her head and said, "No, not at all. You talk and act like you're thirty years old and I'd believe you. Do you know how old I am? I'm twenty-four this year, and I feel like I'm the younger one next to you."

“…” Su Ning chuckled but didn’t respond.

There's no need to tell Tang Ning that he's a real ancient monster with a thousand-year history.

Tang Ning took a sip of water, and her mind couldn't help but wander to other things.

This Su Ning is only nineteen years old. He didn't graduate from university and was expelled. He came to Shanghai alone to stay with relatives. He doesn't have a proper job, but he doesn't show any signs of anxiety or inferiority.

When you talk to Suning, you can't feel any flaws in him at all; on the contrary, you get the illusion that he has seen it all.

Tang Ning couldn't help but ask, "Su Ning, what does your family do?"

Suning said, "We come from an ordinary family. My parents run a small business in our hometown."

...(End of this chapter)