Tan You gave an objective assessment: "It’s decent at best. Sixty points, max. Not a single point more."

Lu Wen was also decisive. "Then I’m done with acting. I can’t write scripts either, so I’ll just focus on running the company well."

Her eyes narrowed as she spoke. "I need to snap up all the artists who are going to get famous... Oh, right, and any scripts that are guaranteed to be blockbusters, I need to get my hands on those early, too..."

Tan You wasn’t surprised by Lu Wen’s choice. In fact, Lu Wen had chosen the path that suited her best and would maximize her profits. After all, Lu Wen had only gotten into the entertainment industry to make more money, and being the boss of artists was far more lucrative than being an artist herself.

Hearing Lu Wen’s calculations, Tan You smiled. "It’s good that you have a plan. If you need anything, just let me know."

Lu Wen replied, "Don’t worry, I’m counting on you to guide me. All I knew how to do before was act. I have to learn everything else from scratch."

Tan You thought for a moment. "What are you going to do about Hu Yize and Qi Yu? They used to pop up all the time, but I’ve barely heard anything about them lately."

Lu Wen was unconcerned. "I don’t need to deal with them. If I remember correctly, around this time, Qi Yu should be meeting some rich heir through her manager, right? Hu Yize is about to get dumped. Why should I get involved now? I don’t need to dirty my hands."

"What if people think I still have lingering feelings for Hu Yize? How disgusting would that be?"

Tan You completely agreed with Lu Wen’s thinking. "As long as you have a plan. Now, to make sure you don’t blow your cover, we’re starting a boot camp today."

A chill crept up Lu Wen’s spine. She hesitated. "How... how hellish are we talking?"

Tan You pondered for a bit. "Let’s start with you learning to understand financial statements."

Lu Wen’s head thudded onto the desk. "I was an arts major! I’ve never touched this stuff before..."

"But don’t worry, I’ll definitely work hard! I promise I won’t tarnish your great name, Youyou!"

Tan You was amused by Lu Wen’s flattery. "What great name? In everyone else’s eyes, I *am* you. If your behavior is too different, it’ll make people suspicious."

Lu Wen vowed, "Don’t worry. It’s true my acting isn’t as good as Hu Yi’s, but I can’t even play *you*? It’s a good thing you’re not usually that close with your employees. As long as I keep a straight face and don’t talk much, it’ll be hard for anyone to notice."

Tan You asked, "Is that what I’m usually like? I always thought I was quite gentle."

Lu Wen let out a laugh but ultimately didn’t dare to press her luck. Instead, she changed the subject. "Youyou, shall we start?"

The corners of Tan You’s mouth quirked up slightly. "Alright. Let’s start with the opening balance..."

It was Lu Wen who had suggested the lesson, but less than ten minutes in, her mind was already a million miles away. She recognized the individual words in the technical jargon, but when they were put together, she could barely understand them.

Seeing the desperate ’save me, what on earth is this’ look in Lu Wen’s eyes, Tan You had no choice but to stop the lesson.

Sighing silently, Tan You offered a suggestion. "Why don’t you get some rest for today? I’ll hold down the fort at the company for now. I’ll draw up a detailed plan for you, and we’ll start from the very basics."

Lu Wen immediately shot to her feet. "Yes, yes, yes! I need to learn the fundamentals first. I definitely can’t handle something this difficult right off the bat. I’m going back to my room to rest. Tomorrow! I’ll definitely work hard tomorrow!"

Watching Lu Wen scurry away, Tan You shook her head. She could already tell that Lu Wen clearly wasn’t cut out for running a company. But if you’re not good at something, you have to learn. If the boss is incompetent, employees will easily take advantage of them.

This was a business she had painstakingly built, after all; Tan You naturally couldn’t bear to watch it get swallowed up by someone else. ’Speaking of which, maybe I could find a good professional manager for Lu Wen? Or groom a successor for her?’

Lu Wen had been back in her room for less than three seconds, just starting to relax, when she heard Tan You’s question in her mind.

’A successor?’ Lu Wen rolled over. ’I’d love to have one of my own, but I don’t even have a partner. And I’m worried... what if my future kid is as mediocre as I am?’

’Do you think I should find a really smart man? If he’s smart enough, do you think he could balance out my genes?’

Tan You replied with exasperation, ’I never said your successor had to be your own child. You could always adopt; you’re over thirty, after all. As for finding a man, aren’t you afraid that if he’s too smart, he’ll end up controlling you? You’re a golden goose, after all, and you don’t exactly look like the sharpest tool in the shed.’

’If you don’t want to adopt, that’s fine too. Just having a child without a man is also an option.’

Lu Wen sighed. ’Oh, right. I forgot about that. I may be rich now, but I have to protect all of it. This is what you worked so hard to build.’

’As for a child, I’ll just let fate decide. But I have to say, I’m a little surprised. That idea of yours is very... unconventional.’

Tan You responded, ’It’s just a difference in personal opinion. Times have changed. Women can do so many things now; it’s not like the old days where you had to hold your hand out and rely on a man for support.’

’And it’s been proven time and again: what others have will never be as reliable as what you have for yourself.’

Lu Wen conceded, ’You’re right. Thinking about it, that method is best for me. It’s just... I really have no desire to have a baby right now. Even if I do have one in the future, I’d definitely want to choose someone who fits my aesthetic. I can’t just find some ugly guy and end up with an ugly kid, right?’

’Ugly genes are powerful, after all.’

’And at the end of the day, I still want a complete family. You know my mom died young, and after my dad had a new child, he barely cared about me anymore.’

’I want to have a complete family, with a partner and a child.’

Tan You didn’t try to persuade Lu Wen to adopt her way of thinking. As long as Lu Wen had her own plans, what more was there to say? Besides, this was something she hadn’t considered. Generally, people who grow up lacking the warmth of a family tend to go in one of two directions.

One is to no longer yearn for those things, and the other is to desire them with a special intensity. Lu Wen happened to be the latter. Of course, that didn’t mean Lu Wen was wrong. After all, everyone has the right to pursue the life they want.

’Speaking of which, I have to thank you for keeping my dad in line. He used to hit me up for money all the time for his younger daughter, but I’m surprised he’s been so well-behaved these past few years.’

Lu Wen changed the subject to her family. She was surprised that Tan You had managed to get Old Lu so completely under control. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Tan You shrugged. ’Old Lu cares a lot about his pride. As long as you target that, he can’t cause any trouble. And your stepmom, she doesn’t dare pull any tricks behind your back. She loves her daughter more than life itself, and I’m the one who got your stepsister, Lu Yao, her job.’

’If I’m the least bit unhappy, Lu Yao can forget about having a good life. After all, she bullied you plenty back in the day, and I can be very petty.’