Chapter 66: More Than Meets the Eye

"We went to the 4S dealership!"
"What for?" Could she have bought a car? Buying a car worth 630,000 was indeed possible.
"Uncle, Auntie usually takes taxis when getting around back home, which I thought wasn't very convenient. Since I still have a few million in hand and nothing to spend it on, I figured I'd buy them a car to use!"
"At first, I was worried whether Uncle, given his age, would be okay driving, but after testing it out these past two days, I found this smart driving system to be extremely user-friendly and reliable!"
"So, Auntie and I went and ordered an Aito M9, but we'll have to wait a little while before taking delivery!"
Chen Xiao was dumbfounded. "How on earth did my mom agree to let you buy them such an expensive gift?"
"She firmly refused at first, but later I told her this was all just pocket money you gave me—several million of it—and that if I ran out, I'd just ask you for more. That's when she agreed!"
She really knew how to spin a tale. Shen Jun had indeed been persuaded by this reasoning, thinking to herself that since it was her son's money anyway, she might as well reluctantly accept.
Not only did she agree, but she also told Zhao Xiangjun not to mention it to them so she could surprise the old man when the time came.
While agreeing, Zhao Xiangjun couldn't help muttering inwardly that she had finally found the source of Chen Xiao's low-key acting habits; genetic traits were indeed powerful.

By Monday, Chen Xiao didn't arrive at the company until ten o'clock.
These past few days, he had truly come to understand why ancient emperors would occasionally skip morning court—they must have been exhausted from the morning workouts!
There was no help for it; the woman at home was simply too seductive. Fortunately, he was young, or his body really wouldn't have been able to take it.
Zhao Xiangjun was also spoiling him, only begging for mercy when she truly couldn't take any more.
Yet clearly, begging for mercy only aroused Chen Xiao's interest all the more.

Upon reaching the office, before he could even finish a game, he received a message from Bai Lu. Regarding the strategic cooperation on the water conservancy project discussed last week, the Jiangzhou Design Institute had approved it, and they were already drafting the contract, ready to complete the signing in the next couple of days.
The 4 million in research funding could be paid in advance, while subsequent procurement would depend on the needs of each order. A rough estimate put the annual procurement amount at no less than 50 million, allowing them to sign an initial procurement agreement with a contract value of 20 million!

"Ding! Task completed: Facilitate deep cooperation between Dr. Feng's Robot Co., Ltd. and the Jiangzhou Design Institute. Completion progress is subject to the initial payment!"
"Ding! Task completion rate 480%. Unlocking random reward package!"
[Task Reward 1: Physique +5, Stamina +5, Health +5, Charm +3]
[Task Reward 2: Dedication Value +5]

[Task Reward 3: Office space on the 28th floor of Yunfeng Building, 1080 square meters]
[Task Reward 4: Inuo Group Investment Fund of 2 billion RMB]
"Ding! Host's Dedication Value has reached 20 points, basic living allowance level upgraded to LV3."

Opening the character panel:
[Host: Chen Xiao (Dedication Value: 20)]
[Occupation: Dr. Feng's Robot - Business Specialist]
[Height: 178 cm, Weight: 75 kg]
[Physique: 85, Stamina: 90, Health: 85, Charm: 86]

Basic Allowance LV3: 24,000 RMB/day
Dedication Bonus: Bonus × Dedication Value

[Asset Status:
Balance: 13.71 million
Real Estate: Hairun Mansion (50-sq-m apartment), Floors 22 and 28 of Yunfeng Building, a detached townhouse in Bihu Shuangxi
Vehicles: Mercedes-Benz CLS 300, Luxeed R7]

This was practically an absolute jackpot. He hadn't expected a completion rate of 480% to yield such bountiful rewards.
For the first time, his physique, stamina, health, and charm had all experienced massive overall boosts. He felt a slight pang of worry about whether Zhao Xiangjun's petite frame could handle it, seeing as she was already begging for mercy every day!
His basic living allowance had upgraded to LV3, netting him 24,000 per day. However, to Chen Xiao, this was mere pocket money now.
Most importantly, with his Dedication Value reaching 20 points, the bonuses would be terrifyingly large; from now on, his bonuses would surpass the contract signing amounts.
Additionally, the system had rewarded him with 1080 square meters of office space on the 28th floor of Yunfeng Building. He remembered that the 28th floor was the top floor, which also came with a rooftop garden, making it presumably the most expensive floor in the entire office building, having remained vacant after being fully renovated.
And what on earth was this reward of a 2 billion RMB investment fund for the Inuo Group? Why was the system obsessed with retail enterprises?
Was it trying to make him acquire the Inuo Group? The Inuo Group was currently valued at around 6 billion; pouring 2 billion in, combined with Zhao Xiangjun's previous 10% equity, would give him a 32.5% stake, making him undisputed as the largest shareholder.

"Please confirm the beneficiary of the equity for the 2 billion RMB capital injection into the Inuo Group. Eligible options: The Host or Zhao Xiangjun!"
Why even choose? It definitely had to go to Zhao Xiangjun. Did they expect two people to attend a shareholder meeting side by side? There was no need for that; her holding the controlling shares alone would make things much more convenient.

What he didn't know was that the moment he made his choice, the Inuo Group had exploded into chaos!
Zhang Shijie had been temporarily notified to attend a group board meeting, where it was unanimously voted and passed that Ms. Zhao Xiangjun, the original third-largest shareholder, would make a further investment of 2 billion RMB into the Inuo Group, to be used for brand expansion, product research, and technological development.
Following the 2 billion capital injection, the equity proportions shifted, diluting the existing shareholders' stakes. After dilution, Zhao Xiangjun's equity share rose to 32.5%, making her the absolute largest shareholder of the group.
The bizarre part was that the largest shareholder remained a non-executive director, and only Zhang Shijie knew that this esteemed young lady was still working as a store shopping guide to experience life.

This news was a blessing for Zhang Shijie. He must have left a relatively good impression on Chairperson Zhao when he went to Jiangzhou. Moreover, as Chief Executive Officer, having 2 billion in cash flow suddenly injected into the company's books instantly made him feel financially confident and powerful.
Going forward, areas that used to make him hesitate—such as the company's store expansion, the research and development of new brands, or mergers and acquisitions—could now be pursued aggressively and decisively!
He thought to himself secretly that it seemed he would need to frequently visit Jiangzhou to inspect work from now on, using the opportunity to report and exchange more of his own thoughts with Chairperson Zhao.

Dialing the external line, he called Wu Ting in.
"Have you been in contact with Chairperson Zhao recently?"
As Zhang Shijie's assistant and a trusted confidante, Wu Ting immediately replied, "On Saturday, Chairperson Zhao even asked me to arrange for someone to work in the logistics department of the Jiangzhou branch. I've already coordinated with General Manager Haoran!"
"Oh? Who is it?" Zhang Shijie grew interested. Matters arranged by Chairperson Zhao had to be handled impeccably; this was far easier to earn extra credit for than simply doing a good job at work.
"Judging by the name and information, it should be a relative or family member of Chairperson Zhao!"
"Chairperson Zhao's family really keeps a low profile in all respects," he sighed meaningfully.

Wu Ting then reported the details of her interaction with Zhao Xiangjun the previous day.
After listening to the report, Zhang Shijie said, "I'll call Liu Haoran myself in a moment!"
Wu Ting's jaw dropped in shock. Was that really necessary? For a minor employee in a branch's logistics department, her calling as a general manager's assistant was already enough to throw the branch into a tizzy.
If a CEO called directly, weren't they afraid Liu Haoran would worship this Zhao Hui like an emperor in reserve?