Top Grade Pure Beauty CEO

Li Xiaoyao said, "You’ve been with me through so many places, and there’s still one hundred thousand left. Let’s split it, fifty thousand each."

Xiao Quan swallowed hard and said, "Boss, I can’t take this money. I hardly did anything. You’re the one who cracked the case. I was just running errands. If you really give me this much money, I won’t feel right about it."

Li Xiaoyao said, "Enough, stop the chatter, acting like a woman, all hesitant and whiny. Find a bag to put the money in and deposit it in the bank."

Xiao Quan wanted to say more, but Li Xiaoyao said, "If you don’t take it, don’t expect to be called the next time something good comes up."

Xiao Quan opened his mouth, but Li Xiaoyao’s tactic was just too effective. Feeling helpless and with a slightly resentful look towards Li Xiaoyao, he said, "Boss, that’s really not cool to bully me like this."

Xiao Quan took the money and left. Li Xiaoyao glanced at the remaining one hundred thousand Xuan Country Currency in his bag, thinking that now he had the initial capital, it was time to figure out a way to make money.

But Li Xiaoyao thought long and hard and still wasn’t sure what to do. Starting a business now wasn’t as simple as it was ten years ago. Plus, no matter what you do, you definitely need to invest a substantial amount at the beginning, but the returns in the later stage are not guaranteed.

For Li Xiaoyao, killing people and setting fires was definitely simple, but asking him to invest and start a business, that really put him in a difficult position.

Around noon, Li Xiaoyao received a call from Zhao Si, his lips curling into a smile. This Zhao Si really seemed to value him quite a bit; it had only been one day, and he was already eager to call.

"Hello, Brother Si."

"Little brother, are you free for lunch? Let’s have a meal together," Zhao Si said cheerfully.

Li Xiaoyao thought for a moment and said with a smile, "If Brother Si is treating, I have to go even if I’m busy."

"Haha, little brother is truly cultured, way better at talking than this uncouth person like me. Alright then, I’ll send you the address."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Si’s text message quickly came through, the location being a five-star hotel.

Close to the end of the workday, Zhuo Yi suddenly knocked and entered. Li Xiaoyao noticed her complexion was significantly better than the day before.

"Do you have time after work today?" Zhuo Yi wore a confident smile as if she had regained her usual strong-woman persona.

"It really is unfortunate, but I don’t have time today," Li Xiaoyao said and then asked, "How are you doing with…"

Before he could finish, Zhuo Yi interrupted him, "I’m fine. I’ve put everything from yesterday behind me."

Tsk tsk, such a strong self-regulating woman.

Most women would make a big scene over such matters, and if it was serious, it would take at least a year and a half to move past the trauma.

But Zhuo Yi had completely recovered in just one night.

Whether Zhuo Yi was just pretending to be calm or had truly let go, at least her resilience was something Li Xiaoyao admired.

"Then when you have time, let me treat you to a meal," said Zhuo Yi with a smile to Li Xiaoyao, then turned and left the office.

No sooner had Zhuo Yi left than Zhang Meng followed in.

Li Xiaoyao was just heading out, and upon seeing Zhang Meng, he said, "I have an appointment at noon, we can talk about anything when I get back."

Zhang Meng now quite resembles Li Xiaoyao’s half-secretary, and in fact, that was nearly the case since they were both from the same department, and Zhang Meng’s job itself was to assist Li Xiaoyao. Therefore, she would notify Li Xiaoyao about anything at the earliest opportunity.

Upon hearing that Li Xiaoyao was leaving, Zhang Meng immediately grabbed him, pouting and saying, "Brother Xiaoyao, a marketing manager of a real estate company wants to invite you to lunch at noon. That company is an important partner of ours."

Whether it was important or not didn’t really matter to Li Xiaoyao, and he replied, "I’ve already made plans for lunch, and besides, you didn’t mention this to me earlier. How about this—you handle the lunch. Just say I’m sick and currently in the hospital, and that I’ll invite him to eat once I’m discharged."

Zhang Meng pouted unhappily, "I’m just a junior manager; I’m hardly qualified to invite their marketing manager to lunch. If I really went by myself, they’d definitely think we’re not taking them seriously."

Li Xiaoyao thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "How about this, let Zhuo Yi go with you. Zhuo Yi is the company secretary; that should be a sufficient show of consideration for them, right?"

Seeing no better solution, Zhang Meng nodded in agreement.

Li Xiaoyao called Zhuo Yi, who had left no more than a few minutes ago and hadn’t gone far. When she received Li Xiaoyao’s call, she turned back.

Li Xiaoyao briefly explained the situation to her. Zhuo Yi was clearly reluctant, but out of consideration for Li Xiaoyao, she agreed to go with Zhang Meng.

With the company’s business sorted out, Li Xiaoyao went downstairs, ready to head to the hotel for his appointment.

The hotel wasn’t too far away, so instead of taking a taxi, Li Xiaoyao chose to walk there.

…

After finishing up her work, Lan Cai’s phone that was placed on the desk happened to ring, displaying the caller ID: Lin Yuanyuan.

"Hello, Yuanyuan."

"My little Cai’er, are you done with work?" came a pleasant female voice from the other end of the line.

Lan Cai shook her head somewhat helplessly and replied, "Done, done—I’m about to head over now."

"My little Cai’er works every day, you’re really hardworking. Hurry over; I want to pamper you thoroughly, help you relax completely. I need to take good care of my little Cai’er."

"What pampering? You silly girl, just wait and see how I take care of you later." Lan Cai huffed and then hung up the phone.

Lin Yuanyuan was Lan Cai’s best friend; their relationship was even closer than sisters, but the two girls were vastly different in personality.

Lan Cai was more mature and steady, while Lin Yuanyuan was carefree and unconcerned with minor details, spouting risqué jokes that could sometimes make even men blush fiercely.

Today was Lin Yuanyuan’s birthday, and even though there might be important business at the company, Lan Cai decided to put it aside and celebrate the birthday for her dear friend Lin Yuanyuan.

The birthday gift prepared by Lan Cai was a diamond necklace, very expensive and exquisitely designed.

Lan Cai left the company and was driving towards the hotel when she suddenly noticed a flower shop on the roadside. So, she stopped the car and walked towards the flower shop with her wallet in hand.

She wanted to buy eighteen roses with the intention of gifting them to Lin Yuanyuan, the number eighteen symbolizing her wish for Lin Yuanyuan to stay forever young.

But just as Lan Cai had gotten out of the car and hadn’t walked more than a few steps, a man suddenly rushed from the right side of the road. He ran past her like the wind and snatched the wallet from her hand.

Lan Cai was startled and quickly chased after him, but after only a few steps, she twisted her ankle in her high heels. Lan Cai cried out in pain and sat down on the ground, her brows furrowed, indicating that her ankle was badly sprained.

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