Once they were outside.

Lin Chu and Liu Junfeng went off to the side to smoke. They chatted for a bit, and Lin Chu noticed his friend looked dejected, as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant.

"What’s wrong? Feeling depressed?"

Lin Chu asked casually.

Liu Junfeng took a deep drag from his cigarette and forced a smile. "It’s nothing. That was just a little intense. I just need a minute to recover."

"Do you have any kids?"

Lin Chu asked with a smile. He’d heard about his friend’s personal situation before but had never discussed it with him face-to-face.

Liu Junfeng looked away. "Nah. Fuck, if I had kids, you think I could live like this? I... heh. Must be karma for all the shit I’ve done. Maybe I’m destined to have my family line die with me."

Lin Chu: "..."

"Bullshit. Look at Li Kai. He listens to good advice. I told him to find a steady woman to build a life with, have a kid, and enjoy a happy family life. Isn’t that great? And he actually listened."

Hearing this, Liu Junfeng shot him a meaningful look. "Alright, enough about us. You’re still playing the field yourself. How about a bet? Brother Chu, the day you get married and willingly walk into the grave of matrimony, I’ll find someone and get married the very next day. No questions asked."

Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Get lost."

Ridiculous. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

But it was true. The pot shouldn’t call the kettle black. They were both the fucking same.

"I’m heading out. We’re going diving in a couple of days. You should go home and get ready, too. Clear your head."

Lin Chu patted his shoulder and said with a smile.

Liu Junfeng nodded.

...

Lin Chu got into his car. Gu Jiayan, sitting in the passenger seat, seemed to be in a rather good mood, practically radiating happiness.

"President Lin, in my eyes, you’re suddenly glowing. A brilliant, golden light."

It was high praise, delivered with a hint of flattery.

Lin Chu remained nonchalant and calm. He just gave a slight smile, not wanting to respond.

"What’s wrong?"

"Are you unhappy?"

Sensing something was off, she watched his expression cautiously and asked in a low voice.

"I just witnessed a human tragedy. It’s not exactly easy to feel happy right now. What are you so happy about?"

"I... uh..."

She stammered for a moment, then quickly understood. "You haven’t been here enough. When I first started coming, I was the same way when I left. But over time, that started to change."

"They aren’t one single, collective tragedy. They’re individuals. I’m happy because twenty more children are going to regain some of their hearing. And those books, toys, and musical instruments will bring those kids a lot of joy for a long time."

"Life is so bitter for them. Even a little bit of sweetness is incredibly sweet."

Lin Chu glanced at her and licked his lips. "You’re right."

"Alright, enough of this talk. Let’s get down to business. Aunt Li will put together a list and send it to you. You’ll be in charge of implementation. I’ll provide the money, but it must go to the specific individuals."

"Also, can a private individual open a welfare home?"

Lin Chu wasn’t very knowledgeable about these things, so he was gathering information.

"Okay, the list is no problem."

"I’ve looked into this before. An individual can do it, but you have to apply with the civil affairs department, and you’ll be subject to supervision. The procedures are quite complicated. The main thing is having the financial strength for long-term investment. After all, it’s a non-profit organization."

"President Lin, uh... don’t be impulsive. Please think it through. It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to nurture a person. Raising a child to adulthood is really not easy."

Lin Chu nodded.

’As long as the policy doesn’t forbid it,’ he thought.

As for it "not being easy"...

This "not easy" was exactly what he was looking for.

A four-legged, gold-devouring beast, after all.

Let it devour all it wants.

In any case, Lin Chu wasn’t in a hurry. This was a long-term plan. Once his business empire expanded and his wealth accumulated further, it would be much easier to execute.

By then, the title of "philanthropist" might just become his primary identity.

...

"You’re coming on a business trip with me next week. Do you have a passport?"

Lin Chu suddenly changed the subject, asking her as if it were nothing.

"Okay, I have a passport. I got it done when I went back to my hometown a while ago. Where are we going?"

Gu Jiayan agreed at once, asking a perfectly normal question.

She had now completely accepted her role as an assistant. A sense of trust had been forged by money—and even though the money wasn’t spent on her, she was happier than if it had been.

She had already decided that Lin Chu was a good person.

Even though Lin Chu had a roguish, almost wicked way of speaking, she was sure that deep down, he was righteous.

"We’re going to Southeast Asia. Scared you’ll get your kidneys harvested?"

Lin Chu teased with a grin.

Her: "Huh?"

She was dumbfounded once again.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked weakly, "What are we going to Southeast Asia for?"

The situation over there was quite complicated now; it would be a lie to say she wasn’t worried.

"Don’t ask so many questions. You don’t need to worry about safety. I’ve chartered a plane, and I’ve even hired a thirty-man security team from back home. We’re going over there to become warlords."

Lin Chu said with a laugh, wanting to see her reaction.

Gu Jiayan: "..."

She suddenly realized Lin Chu was joking.

Then another thought struck her—’My boss is taking me on a business trip. He doesn’t want to... does he?’

"Are you only taking me? Or is He Meng going too?"

She pursed her lips, her question tinged with conflict.

"She has other work. It’s just you. Also, I’m not asking for your opinion. I’m informing you. Business trip next week. The specific time will depend on the chartered flight’s schedule."

Lin Chu said, his tone calm and unyielding.

’To be honest, her status as a "welfare home volunteer" puts a halo around her in my eyes. It’s quite noble. It’s a human instinct to respect nobility of character.’

’But,’ Lin Chu forcibly shattered that halo in his mind. ’Because that’s not appropriate between a man and a woman.’

’Put her on such a high pedestal?’

’Wouldn’t that make me a bootlicker?’

’A boss being a bootlicker for his assistant?’

’What kind of person does that?’

’Let her be the one who’s conflicted. I, for one, am not.’

Gu Jiayan looked at Lin Chu’s expression and now sensed a faint trace of authority from him. Thinking about everything that had just happened at the welfare home, she bit her lip, her heart still in turmoil. But right now, Lin Chu—no, President Lin—was waiting for her answer.

"O-Okay."

she said, her breathing slightly ragged as she looked out the window.

Lin Chu grunted in acknowledgment.

Only then did he continue, "It’s a chartered flight, so you don’t need to book tickets. We will need hotel rooms, though. I’ll tally up the numbers and send you the list later."

"Your tasks are: to coordinate logistics, accommodations, and meals; to take roll; and, when I’m not around, to manage the group. There will be quite a few people."

"Safety is the number one priority. After all, we’ll be in a foreign country. I’m taking them out, so I have to bring every single one of them back. I’ll assign two bodyguards to you. You need to keep things under control and not embarrass me."

Hearing this, Gu Jiayan suddenly let out a long sigh of relief.

’So I’m being given a job!’

’I thought...’

She shot Lin Chu a look of slight exasperation. He had a way of speaking—never saying everything at once, squeezing out information bit by bit—that was designed to make one’s heart pound with anxiety.

"Yes, President Lin. I understand."

"I guarantee I’ll complete the mission."

she said, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

...

...