Chapter 0013: A Trap Laid

The Golden Jade Hall wasn't massive, but as a multimillion-yuan entertainment venue, it employed over seventy staff—two-thirds of them women. This ratio delighted Chen Liuhe and Huang Million, though their grins leaned more toward "creepy uncles at a playground" than "charming executives."

In his new vice general manager's office, Chen sprawled in a leather chair, feet propped on the mahogany desk like a mob boss auditioning for a low-budget gangster flick. "Starting today," he declared to the empty room, "I'm corporate royalty."

A knock interrupted his reverie. Chen hastily straightened his posture. "Enter!"

Qin Ruohan strode in, her designer dress clinging to curves that made Chen's toes wiggle in his hole-riddled socks. She surveyed the man whose idea of "office decor" involved using an Italian leather chair as a footrest. "Settling in?"

"It'll do," Chen drawled, thumb poking through his sock's latest ventilation hole. "For peasants like me, any roof's a palace."

Qin's eye twitched. "Your responsibilities are simple: Do nothing. Managers handle operations. Just... exist here."

Chen smirked. "So I'm your overpaid mascot?"

"You wanted a high-paying, low-effort job!" Qin snapped. Then, softer: "And... protection. From them."

Leaning forward, Chen's breath brushed her ear. "What's my reward? A night with the boss?"

Qin recoiled, cheeks flaming. "You're disgusting!"

"Relax," Chen laughed. "I take my 'mascot' duties seriously. No pay, no play—that's my code."

A phone shrilled. Qin paled at Zhou Yunkang's caller ID. "It's him!"

Chen snatched the device. "Zhou! Miss me already?"

The color drained from Qin's face as Chen grunted affirmative replies. Hanging up, he tossed the phone back. "Zhang Yongfu invites me to dinner."

"Dinner?!" Qin's knuckles whitened on the desk. "It's a trap! They'll kill you!"

Chen spun his chair lazily. "Or... they're curious about the cockroach who outsmarted their lapdog."

"You can't go!"

"And let them think I'm scared?" Chen's grin turned feral. "Zhang wants to play host? Let's see if his banquet hall can handle uninvited guests."