DLRAS Chapter 102

Chapter 102: At least these people admitted he was “charming.”

“Chen-ge.”

“Hm, morning.”

Xiao Gao was caught in the act and felt a bit embarrassed. He defended himself: “I… I worked overtime yesterday, so I left late.”

Chen Wengang smiled gently, didn’t expose him, and turned to return to his office.

In the morning, Xiao Li organized the foundation’s bylaws and management regulations for him, and he spent the entire morning going through these documents.

Chen Wengang listened to the activity outside; Huo Lingchong didn’t arrive at the office for another hour.

It wasn’t until past eleven that the 19th floor finally started to get lively. Three or four handsome men and beautiful women came in, bickering and laughing—covered in glittering luxury brands—they entered the company only to immediately report to the cafeteria.

When Chen Wengang and his colleagues went to eat, he headed toward the regular employee dining area.

Xiao Gao hurriedly stopped him: “Chen-ge, didn’t you eat in the private room yesterday?”

“Hm, what about it?”

“Then… aren’t you going today?”

“I don’t need to.” Chen Wengang was humble. “Those are all high-ranking leaders; it’s more appropriate for us to eat outside.”

Xiao Gao still hadn’t gauged what kind of status he held.

Fang Qin was Xiao Gao’s superior, and she didn’t usually work in the office either. Since she had brought Chen Wengang personally yesterday, he had assumed it was just a formality. Most of these young royal relatives would play for another week or two before leisurely reporting to work.

As for meals, when Fang Qin came to the foundation for business, she naturally dined in the private room with her husband and father-in-law.

As for the relative she brought along, who was also holding the position of Acting Board Member—theoretically, shouldn’t he be doing the same?

Looking at it now, Xiao Gao judged that their relationship didn’t seem that close after all.

He still rushed to get the food for Chen Wengang: “Let’s just eat in the management dining area.”

Chen Wengang could see that this young man was somewhat of a snob. He poked at the kourou (braised pork belly) on his tray; it was too greasy, and he had no appetite. He settled for a few light stir-fried dishes and finished the meal hastily. “Thank you, I can do it myself next time.”

Xiao Gao watched his expression and acknowledged him.

After the lunch hour came a long afternoon break.

Chen Wengang had already read through the basic materials of the Huo Foundation. In recent years, the planning for charitable projects had been concentrated in the field of culture and the arts, promoting and popularizing art to audiences of all ages. Last year, Fang Qin’s main work had been to provide grants for art exhibitions and conservation training programs. On the surface, it didn’t look like a very proactively managed public welfare organization, but that couldn’t be blamed solely on the Board Chairwoman.

Above the Board Chairwoman, the Foundation Chairman was Third Uncle Huo, the Chairman of the Board. The capital flows involved came from the group company and the different balance sheets of various subsidiaries—money coming in and going out. Those youngsters who came to work aimlessly every day probably didn’t even understand how deep the waters were.

When Xiao Gao came in, he saw Chen Wengang resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought, twirling a ballpoint pen. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

But Chen Wengang had been constantly assigning him tasks.

That afternoon, he sent Xiao Gao to find the Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, Huo Lingchong, to ask for the business reports and financial settlement statements for the first half of the year.

Xiao Gao’s face paled, showing hesitation. “Is this appropriate? I don’t think he’ll agree.”

Chen Wengang looked at him with an irrefutable, dignified authority: “Go ask first, then we’ll talk.”

Xiao Gao went over stammering and returned empty-handed two minutes later.

Chen Wengang called Fang Qin, and after ten minutes, Huo Lingchong arrived at his office. With a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, he placed a file box on the desk before him: “Do you need me to explain it to you?”

Chen Wengang raised his eyes coolly: “No need, I’ll familiarize myself with it. If I have any questions, I’ll consult you.”

During his tea break, he went to make coffee. Passing through the lounge, Huo Lingchong and his group had ordered afternoon tea, and a luxurious spread covered the table.

The people inside were laughing and chatting loudly, when Chen Wengang suddenly heard his own name—

“Hey, he is pretty good-looking; no wonder he’s got Niansheng-ge so obsessed. Actually, when I first heard Ivy say it, I was terrified. A reformed rake is worth more than gold, but who could have that kind of talent? Not only to get into his bed but to live with him?”

“Maybe he’s just manipulative? I heard that when Sister-in-law stumbled yesterday, he rushed over to steady her—so sycophantic.”

“He’s average. Is he good-looking? I don’t see it. ‘Hello,’ ‘Please,’ ‘Thank you’—he sounds more like a sissy.”

“You men are just too stubborn; you can’t bring yourselves to admit that someone else is more handsome than you. I actually think he’s alright. He’d be good enough to debut as a star, especially when he smiles—he has a certain charm. Now that I see him, I understand; who wouldn’t be smitten?”

“Exaggerated. Don’t glorify him too much. Which gigolo doesn’t have charm? It’s just professional etiquette. Don’t forget he used to let men screw him for money; just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I wonder if he has any diseases—I hope he doesn’t touch me.”

“Maybe he’s always liked getting screwed by men,” Huo Lingchong let out a cold, icy laugh, “Making money is just a bonus, right?”

The lounge erupted into a chorus of giggles and chatter.

Suddenly, one by one, they stopped.

Chen Wengang stood leaning against the doorframe, holding his cup: “Excuse me. I was standing too close and wanted to listen, and I accidentally pressed the door open.”

He looked into the room: one girl, two men, and Huo Lingchong.

The people in the lounge had varied expressions—some disdainful, some embarrassed—only Huo Lingchong remained unfazed, his expression contemptuous.

Chen Wengang smiled gently, his eyes fixed on Huo Lingchong: “Look, either speak loudly enough so I can hear you clearly even when I’m outside, or just close the door and speak softly so you don’t interfere with the normal work of your colleagues.”

After saying this, he closed the door for them and turned to walk back to his office.

Before the latch could even click, whispering started up again inside—

Vaguely, someone asked if he would go complain to Huo Niansheng.

They dared to roast Chen Wengang, but no one dared to say anything excessive about Huo Niansheng—his methods and his temper were not to be trifled with. It was delicate and subtle.

But Chen Wengang hadn’t thought about reporting this kind of complaint.

In his life experience, this level of discussion didn’t even qualify as harmful. The paparazzi and onlookers in his past life had only said much worse. They would have been shocked speechless, questioning what had happened to Young Master Huo over these years to make him have such unique taste and be so indiscriminate—how could he sleep at night hugging an “ugly monster”? At least these kids had honestly admitted he had “charm.”

Within two weeks, Chen Wengang had quickly adjusted to his new work environment.

Although the “boiling frog” pace of work and the “step on the lowly, flatter the noble” interpersonal relationships were completely different from the special education school, Chen Wengang could clearly feel Xiao Gao observing him over the past half-month.

In the first week, Xiao Gao had realized that Chen Wengang was someone the young masters and mistresses looked down upon, so his attitude took a nosedive; he performed his duties with a gloomy face every day. By the second week, Huo Niansheng had visited the foundation once. Xiao Gao heard the gossip about their relationship, and he immediately started fighting to get food for Chen Wengang again.

In fact, the day Huo Niansheng visited, Xiao Gao didn’t know he was in trouble: “How does a little assistant dare to give you attitude?”

Chen Wengang smiled mysteriously at him: “It’s only natural he doesn’t like me. Who likes someone who is always bossing them around?”

Huo Niansheng sat on his desk: “Oh, so are you going to deal with him yourself?”

Chen Wengang found it interesting: “Sister-in-law’s two assistants are both very easy to see through. This Xiao Gao is slicker and likes to show off, while the girl named Xiao Li is too honest and only knows how to bury her head in work. Xiao Gao always pushes his own duties onto her. A quiet child like that suffers in the workplace; since I’m here, I’ll help her settle the score.”

Huo Niansheng looked down at his crafty face, charming whether he was annoyed or happy, and couldn’t help but laugh, leaning down to kiss him.

Chen Wengang put on a stern face and pushed him away: “There’s surveillance.”

Huo Niansheng jumped off the desk: “I’m going to go have a chat with Huo Lingchong and the others.”

The following workday, Huo Lingchong went to Chen Wengang’s office and, with his usual elitist demeanor, expressed his surrender.

Chen Wengang acknowledged him and asked if there was anything else.

Huo Lingchong pursed his lips and complimented him: “Your ‘pillow talk’ works quite well.”

Xiao Gao still didn’t know he was being targeted, nor could he see through what Chen Wengang was trying to do. At the foundation, Chen Wengang kept sending Xiao Gao to find this and that—not just this year’s business plans, but past years’ financial reports, property inventories, and audit reports. If Fang Qin didn’t have them here, he’d ask Huo Lingchong; if Huo Lingchong didn’t give them, he’d report him to higher-ups. In short, whatever he thought of, he had to see it.

Xiao Gao had seen for the first time someone actually coming to work seriously, and if one had to call it ambitious, it was beyond ambitious.

Even so, he still had much more personal time than before.

Chen Wengang shifted his focus to his studies, polishing his graduation thesis and preparing for future graduate school applications.

In his spare time, he still volunteered at the welfare home. Tongtong and Diandian had already accepted Huo Niansheng to a certain degree. A popular movie had recently been released, and they had taken the girls to the cinema once again with the volunteer, Sister Huang. The two little ones had apparently watched some family ethics dramas recently; they made him promise several times: “Even if you get married, you must still like us just as much as before.”

The news of the engagement between the Zheng and He families was published on schedule.

The anger of being failed and the humiliation of betrayal from his past life had been washed away by time. When he saw the newspaper, Chen Wengang only had one thought: it was positive news for both companies’ stock prices.

The engagement ceremony was still held at the Crown Hotel.

Although it was only an engagement, the ceremony was quite grand, with many media outlets, entertainment celebrities, and relatives and friends from both sides in attendance.

However, given their social standing, it wasn’t quite at the level of “gathering of the elite.”

Because of this, Chen Wengang still went, handing that creased invitation to the usher.

The usher let him into the banquet hall.

Chen Wengang saw Zheng Bingyi from a distance, with Huo Meijie elegant and luxurious beside him. Zheng Bingyi also saw his foster son and nodded at him; he wasn’t displeased, but he didn’t specifically come over to greet him either. Zheng Baoqiu and Zheng Maoxun were happy, pulling Chen Wengang aside to talk.

Looking around, Mu Qing was there too—this was her first appearance in public after the farce he had witnessed earlier.

Zheng Baoqiu pouted: “It’s just that Father is soft-hearted. Thinking that his late aunt only had this one son, he still invited him.”

Chen Wengang stood in a corner and whispered to her: “Don’t make a scene. I’m not welcome here either. I’ll just stay here and leave after a while.”

After a short while, the protagonists of the engagement appeared—He Wanxin and Zheng Yucheng, a pair of golden youths, appeared before everyone.

Huo Niansheng was in mourning, and no matter how eager he was, Chen Wengang hadn’t agreed to let him accompany him. Besides, given his relationship with He Wanjun, people wouldn’t know if he was there to observe the ceremony or to smash the place up; he truly lacked any self-awareness.

After finishing a cross-border video conference at the company, Huo Niansheng looked down at his phone and discovered a dozen missed calls.

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