I was forced to start the second round because I was raised in poverty

Chapter 407 Ye Li Meets Her Stepmother

Go to Shanghai.

Chestnut Capital.

With Ye Li's help, the old employees of the two acquired companies moved in one after another, and Su Cheng was no longer a "lone commander".

Su Cheng chose a great location with a high ceiling, allowing sunlight to stream through the huge windows and offering a magnificent view of Shanghai's CBD skyline.
Almost everything else was designed by Ye Li herself.

Instead of using a traditional, bulky wooden reception desk, she used a single, streamlined white Corian counter.

The background wall is a deep matte black, with only one line of text, "Chestnut Capital," emitting a soft white light.

All office areas are separated by transparent glass instead of solid walls.

The fragrances used throughout the rooms are a blend of light white tea and citrus, creating a fresh and sophisticated feel.

That was the end of the design process, Su Cheng told Ye Li not to take it too seriously, as they might quit at any time.

Even with such a simple design, the first impression of the group of veteran microloan employees who came in these days was still surprise, and they kept exclaiming and discussing it in private.

Most of them are experienced credit review, risk control and collection personnel, accustomed to cubicles, KPI boards and a slightly tense work atmosphere.

As for the employees of those payment companies, most of them are tech geeks and product managers.

They were more familiar with the atmosphere of internet companies, but were also impressed by the "top-notch" environment before them.

Their curiosity was more focused on the details, and they began to whisper about the internet speed, the brand of the monitors, and whether the new workstations were ergonomic.

The two acquired companies actually have completely different styles of dress.

Most of the colleagues at the microfinance company wore neatly pressed business shirts, and some even wore ties.

The tech colleagues at QuickPay were a bit better off, but their plaid shirts and windbreakers looked rather plain compared to the hoodies with niche designer logos that were common in large companies.

dong dong dong~
There was a knock on Su Cheng's office door.

Ye Li pushed open the door and entered.

"Sister Chestnut, how's it going outside?"

"pretty good."

"Quickly, come and sit down."

Su Cheng knew that Ye Li had been extremely busy these past few days, so she quickly ushered her to her seat.

It's the same old stuff: assigning senior employees, dividing them into zones, and grouping them into teams.

I need to recruit new employees while also handling HR reviews and approvals.

Without any help, she had to do everything herself.

Ye Li also brought over two of her company's junior assistants to help with errands.

Ye Li didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly in the president's chair, even crossing her legs.

"You'd better pay those two little girls I brought, and they'd have to be well paid!"

"OK, no problem!"

Su Cheng hasn't been idle these past two days; he's mainly in charge of offshore holding company matters.

The Xu and Yin families have both agreed, and the three of them have established a holding company in the Cayman Islands as the beginning of their Trident Project.

"By the way, I met a young lady the other day. I think she's pretty good. You could hire her as your secretary."

Su Cheng was still somewhat resistant to the idea of ​​becoming a secretary...

"Sister Chestnut, I think I'll pass on the secretary position. I'm not used to being waited on."

"If you want a secretary, give me a male one."

Ye Li couldn't help but glare at Su Cheng.

"What nonsense are you talking about? What kind of CEO brings a male secretary? Do you think you're some high-ranking official? Stop with the empty talk."

"Just use the secretary I'm assigned. Why are you making so much noise?"

"Okay, okay, I'll use it, as long as you think it's okay, Sister Chestnut."

Su Cheng stood next to the desk, looking more like Ye Li's subordinate.

"What, you think I'd be jealous?"

"No, I really didn't think that way this time."

Ye Li snorted coldly: "Want me to bring him over so you can take a look first?"

“No need to look, I trust Sister Chestnut’s eye for talent.” Su Cheng then added, “No matter how stupid you pick someone, I’ll use them.”

Ye Li: ???
The first half of the sentence is quite good.

This kid just had to add another sarcastic remark, didn't he!
"If we weren't at the company right now, I would have tied you up and hung you from the roof beam."

"oh oh."

Ye Li didn't have time to pay attention to Su Cheng; she took out her phone and sent a text message.

soon.

There was another knock on the office door.

Upon hearing the voice, Ye Li slowly stood up from Su Cheng's seat and gently raised her chin: "Come in."

A woman who looked young, but not particularly young, walked in.

If this were a Japanese workplace, she would be considered a young person.

In the domestic workplace, this cannot be considered young.

She turned to Su Cheng and said, "Let me introduce you, this is Song Ya."

"Hello, Mr. Su, please take care of me in the future."

"Hello."

Song Ya's appearance is not the kind that is stunning at first glance, but rather like a meticulous painting that needs to be appreciated carefully.

Song Ya was wearing a standard black, white, and gray business suit.

Her face was a soft oval shape, and her skin was fair, but not coldly pale; rather, it had a warm, jade-like luster.

Song Ya's first impression of Su Cheng could be summed up in two words: married woman.

That's why Su Cheng said she was young but not quite young.

Oh shit.

She has such a strong sense of being a wife.

When Song Ya looks at someone, her gaze is fixed on them.

The young girl's eyes sparkled or were full of desire.

Her eyes, like a warm, moist sponge, neither judge nor flatter you, but simply quietly receive all the information you convey.

Just by standing there, you can instinctively feel that she is someone who can manage both her life and work in an orderly manner.

Her smile was warm, yet she maintained a distance.

When she began to introduce herself, her voice was soft and clear, and her pace was moderate.

Su Cheng felt comfortable communicating with her.

But at the same time, one can clearly feel an invisible professional boundary.

This sense of "closeness with appropriate distance" is something many young girls lack.

Besides her composure and approachable demeanor with clear boundaries, Su Cheng discovered that Song Ya also possessed a sense of tranquility.

There was a calmness in her eyes and demeanor that came from having seen many storms.

Su Cheng guessed that her life might not have been smooth sailing, but she had learned how to digest and bear it.

This kind of temperament will prevent her from easily panicking when facing pressure and unexpected situations.

Precisely.

It is this ability that gives her this temperament, not the other way around.

Su Cheng believed that Song Ya could handle those tricky and complex interpersonal relationships and emergencies well, and become a reliable secretary.

Not bad.

Sister Chestnut has a good eye.

Before the two could have a detailed conversation, Su Cheng's phone rang.

Su Cheng glanced at the caller ID and it was... Long Ruoli?

He quickly showed Ye Li his phone screen.

Ye Li was also stunned.

Su Cheng swiped to answer the phone: "Hello? Mr. Long?"

"Ah... okay... have you arrived? Okay, sure."

After a brief call, Su Cheng hung up.

Ye Li looked at Su Cheng with a questioning gaze.

"Mr. Long, she said she's already downstairs and asked us to send someone to pick her up."

Su Cheng immediately looked at Song Ya, who was standing to the side, and instructed, "Xiao Song, go downstairs and bring her up. That long-legged girl is her." Su Cheng simply and clearly told Song Ya about Long Ruoli's characteristics, and Song Ya immediately left the office to go down and pick her up.

Ye Li asked impatiently, "What's she doing here?"

"I don't know... Maybe it's a group inspection? There's such a rule in the Progressive Project..."

“I know that’s a rule,” Ye Li interrupted Su Cheng. “Isn’t she your father’s person? Is her visit just for an inspection?”

"It's definitely not that simple. They probably want to see what I'm up to."

Su Cheng had no idea why Long Ruoli had come over.

Because Long Ruoli has two identities, or rather, three identities.

First, she is K2 in the group, and is a leader in the group.

Secondly, she was one of the participants and leaders of the poverty alleviation program.

Third, she was his own wicked stepmother.

Who knows if she was sent by the old man or if she had her own ideas?

It's also possible that both are true, using the guise of being assigned by headquarters while actually having ulterior motives.

Su Cheng definitely needs to be on guard.

damn it.

Such a long time.

Long Ruoli has gotten herself into a lot of trouble.

The old man alone treated him like a dog.

With the old man and Long Ruoli together, those two could really mess with Su Cheng.

No wonder they came from the same bed.

This world is so damn messed up!

Ye Li stated her attitude towards Long Ruoli directly: "I don't like this woman."

"I dont like it either."

Ye Li wasn't initially hostile towards Long Ruoli, but after learning the truth, she developed a strong aversion to these accomplices.

In Ye Li's view, the accomplice's crimes were even more heinous than those of Su Cheng's father, the main culprit.

Of course, you don't feel bad about messing with other people's kids.

Although Long Ruoli is Su Cheng's stepmother, they are not related by blood.

"Let me tell you first, I don't acknowledge this little mother-in-law."

puff~
Su Cheng was amused by Ye Li.

"No need to acknowledge it, no need to acknowledge it, I won't acknowledge it either."

"That's pretty much it."

The two of them were complaining about Long Ruoli.

A dozen minutes later, Su Cheng realized something was wrong.

"Huh? Why aren't they up yet?"

"Why don't you go take a look, Sister Chestnut?"

Ye Li refused: "I'm not going. If I can't get up here, I'll just stay outside."

"Goodness, you're even more impulsive than me."

Su Cheng reminded Ye Li not to say anything carelessly later: "We can argue now, but you'd better keep it to yourself later, okay?"

“(Emphasis) I know.”

The two of them had just finished speaking.

Song Ya then brought Long Ruoli to the office.

Su Cheng's expression changed instantly, and she greeted him with a smile: "President Long."

Ye Li's expression changed as well, and she put on her usual signature smile: "President Long."

Long Ruoli still has that three-dimensional and highly recognizable face.

To Su Cheng's surprise, Long Ruoli was actually wearing makeup, which was extremely rare.

Moreover, the makeup style has changed; it's no longer the synonym for sexiness and control it used to be.

Her makeup became warmer and deeper in tone, with eyeshadow changed to a reddish-brown with delicate pearlescent shimmer, and her lips a matte maple red.

Long Ruoli was wearing a classic camel cashmere coat from Max Mara.

The cut is perfect, the length is knee-length, and the silhouette is clean but not tight.

Instead of buttoning her clothes properly, she casually tied her belt in a loose knot in front of her.

This makeup and outfit make her look sophisticated and charismatic.

Long Ruoli responded with a smile, "Eh? Xiao Ye, you're here too?"

While Long Ruoli and Ye Li were talking, Su Cheng casually waved to Song Ya, indicating that she could leave.

Song Ya left the office politely and quietly closed the door behind her.

Su Cheng turned to Long Ruoli and introduced and explained that he had hired Ye Li as the company's senior consultant.

Of course, this is just polite talk for outsiders.

In reality, Su Cheng is the boss, and Ye Li is the boss's wife.

"I see, that's good."

Long Ruoli took off her camel coat and casually draped it over the office sofa, revealing a complete black knit dress underneath.

The black color accentuated her slender figure and defined curves.

Ye Li: ???
What does it mean to take off clothes?

Does it make you look like you have a great figure?

Please.

Don't you know what your relationship with Su Cheng is? Why do you still show off your figure in front of Su Cheng?
I absolutely had to take that coat off.

Really convinced.

At this moment, Ye Li's gaze towards Long Ruoli held some ambiguous implications, such as frivolous, dissolute, promiscuous, flirtatious, and promiscuous.

“You two are both valuable talents in our group. I think it’s great that you’re starting a business together. I support you.”

Ye Li inwardly scoffed.

Oh.

Do we need your support?
Ye Li looked at Su Cheng, surprised that Su Cheng could disguise herself so well.

However, she didn't give herself away, and even played along with Su Cheng, saying, "It's all thanks to you, President Long, for taking such good care of us. We received a lot of training from you back in Jingzhou."

"Ah...hahahaha."

Long Ruoli laughed.

"Xiao Ye is so good at talking."

Su Cheng: ???
Oh my god.

Ye Li's acting was even more realistic than his.

He felt that in the future, such roles should be performed by Ye Li.

He can save a lot of effort!

But Ye Li might not be willing to perform.

Although Ye Li appeared amiable on the surface and showed Long Ruoli the respect due to an old leader.

But Su Cheng knew that she didn't really think that way.

The two of them had been cursing at Long Ruoli for a full ten minutes!
"It's like this, Mr. Su, headquarters assigned me to come and check on your progress."

Meanwhile, Long Ruoli was still complaining that Su Cheng hadn't told her in advance when he applied for the Advancement Program.

"If I write you a letter of recommendation, you'll definitely get more funding."

ha?
The letter of recommendation is still here.

Su Cheng couldn't accept that; asking Long Ruoli to write a recommendation letter was like jumping into a fire pit.

Regardless of whether the recommendation letter will be of any use, Long Ruoli will definitely interrogate him thoroughly about his business plan.

Su Cheng feigned embarrassment and apologized to Long Ruoli: "Oh, President Long, how could I dare to trouble you? My plan wasn't quite complete, so I didn't dare to ask you."

"It's okay. If you want to do something next time, you can come to me first. I'll write you a letter of recommendation, and if all else fails, I'll vouch for you."

"Ah, Mr. Long, you're so good to me!"

"Little things."

(End of this chapter)