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Han Ling stayed at the hotel for three days.

For the past three days, she did nothing but eat, sleep, and watch TV.

I sometimes think of Xiao Ran, and all the little things from those years, and my heart still aches.

But Han Ling told herself: It hurts, it will be over soon.

On the morning of the fourth day, Su Ning called Han Ling.

"Have you rested enough?" Su Ning asked calmly on the other end of the phone, as always.

"That's enough," Han Ling said.

"Come to the company, I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay! I'll be right there."

Half an hour later, Han Ling sat in Su Ning's office.

I put on makeup and wore a proper business suit today, which made me look much more energetic.

"You look good." Su Ning glanced at her and took a document out of the drawer. "Take a look at this."

Han Ling took it and saw that it was a photocopy of a business license.

The company is called "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Lingyun Song and Dance Troupe", and her name is prominently listed as the legal representative.

"This is……"

"I registered you. Don't you like dancing? You were a dance major in college. Now you can do what you love."

Han Ling was stunned, her hand holding the document trembling slightly. "For me? You really want me to manage the dance troupe?"

“Yes.” Su Ning nodded. “The registered capital is five million, which I have already transferred. I have also found a venue. There is an art district in Futian District that has been converted from an old factory. I have rented 800 square meters, which is enough for your rehearsals. There are also supporting dormitories for the members and security. Once our Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group headquarters is completed, the dance troupe will move here and will become a calling card for Shenzhen-Hong Kong.”

"But...but I don't know what to do..." Although Han Ling was mentally prepared, Cheng Zhen was still a little flustered.

“If you don’t know how, you can learn,” Su Ning said simply. “I’ve assigned you several assistants, all of them professionals. They will help you.”

As he spoke, he pressed the call button on the table.

The office door opened, and three people walked in: two men and one woman.

They were all dressed in formal attire and looked very professional.

"This is Teacher Wang, a dance choreography expert, a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, and has fifteen years of professional experience," Su Ning introduced.

The middle-aged man wearing glasses nodded to Han Ling, "Hello, Commander Han."

"This is Teacher Li, a vocal coach, with a master's degree in vocal music from the Central Conservatory of Music."

The elegant female teacher smiled and said, "Commander Han, please give me your guidance."

"This is Manager Zhang. He is fully responsible for administrative and financial matters."

The young and capable man handed over his business card, saying, "Commander Han, please take care of me in the future."

Han Ling was a little confused, and shook hands with them one by one, saying, "Hello... I'll be troubling you all from now on."

After the three left, Han Ling turned to Su Ning, her face full of confusion, "President Su, where did you get these... these experts from? How much did it cost?"

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Su Ning waved his hand. “You just need to know that they are all real experts, not just charlatans. Teacher Wang’s choreography has won national awards, Teacher Li’s students have been admitted to the Central Opera House, and Manager Zhang used to work in administration at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre, so he has a lot of experience.”

"But……"

“No buts.” Su Ning interrupted her. “Han Ling, since I’ve given you this opportunity, I’ll give you the best resources. What you need to do is build this dance troupe up, make it famous, and achieve success.”

Looking at the business license in her hand, Han Ling thought of the three professional teachers from earlier, and a surge of warmth welled up in her heart.

I suddenly realized that I haven't felt this way in a long time...

The feeling of being valued, trusted, and given opportunities.

"President Su, thank you." Han Ling looked at Su Ning very earnestly and said, "I will definitely do my best and live up to your trust."

"Okay." Su Ning nodded. "Your next task is to select team members nationwide. You set the standards yourself, but there are only two requirements: first, excellent professional skills, and second, good character. The rest is up to you. But preferably, you'd be fair-skinned, beautiful, and have long legs."

"Great!" Han Ling's eyes lit up. "I'll start preparing right away!"

"Don't rush," Su Ning smiled. "Let's familiarize ourselves with the environment first and talk to the teachers. I've already had the recruitment notice sent out, and the interviews will officially begin next Monday."

"Ok!"

Before leaving the office, Han Ling hesitated for a moment, then turned around and asked, "President Su, I...I have a question."

"explain."

"You've done so much for me, how can I ever repay you?" Han Ling's voice softened. "How about... how about tonight I..."

The words were not finished, but the meaning was already very clear.

Su Ning looked at Han Ling and shook her head. "Han Ling, I'm helping you not for that reason."

"But……"

Su Ning said very seriously, "Your most important task right now is to build up the dance troupe and achieve some success. As for our relationship, there's plenty of time later, no need to rush. The main thing is that I don't want to turn the most wonderful thing into something forced."

Han Ling was stunned. She thought Su Ning would go along with it, since she was now "voluntary".

did not expect……

"You...you really don't mind?" Han Ling asked tentatively.

“What do I mind?” Su Ning retorted. “Do you mind if I let you build your career first? Do you mind if I let you find your own value first? Han Ling, let me tell you, a woman’s most charming moment is not when she is lying in a man’s bed, but when she is shining on stage.”

These words, though blunt, sent a jolt through Han Ling's heart.

“Go ahead.” Su Ning waved her hand. “Do a good job. We’ll talk about other things after you’ve made your first performance a success. Or rather, only when you’ve rediscovered your former self will you be worthy of being my confidante, Su Ning.”

"Okay!" Han Ling nodded vigorously, turned around and walked out of the office.

This time, her steps were firm and powerful.

……

Back at the hotel, Han Ling immediately started working.

I opened my laptop and began drafting recruitment criteria and interview procedures.

The three "teachers" were also very efficient, sending her a detailed professional assessment plan in the afternoon.

Looking at those professional forms and scoring criteria, Han Ling felt more confident.

That evening, Han Ling sent a text message to Su Ning, "President Su, I have drafted a preliminary recruitment plan. Would you like to take a look?"

The reply came quickly: "You are the team leader, so you make the decisions. I'm only responsible for providing the funds; I don't handle the specific details."

Han Ling looked at the text message and smiled.

This is both trust and a test.

She knew that Suning was giving her space and autonomy.

What Su Ning wants to see is not a woman who depends on him, but a team leader who can stand on his own.

"Su Ning, I will prove it to you, and I will make you fall in love with me again," Han Ling murmured to herself.

……

For the next two weeks, Han Ling was extremely busy.

She personally oversaw everything from setting up the interview venue and arranging judges to publicity, promotion, and reception.

The three "teachers" were indeed professional and gave her a lot of advice, but the final decision was in her hands.

More than two hundred people came to the first day of the interviews.

Han Ling sat in the examiner's seat, watching the young faces showcasing their talents on stage, and felt a mix of emotions.

A few months ago, she was a 9-to-5 office worker whose biggest worry every day was when Xiao Ran would come home.

Now, she sits in the interviewer's seat, deciding who stays and who goes.

This change made Han Ling both nervous and excited.

By the third day of the interview, Han Ling had gradually gotten into the swing of things.

They can tell at a glance who has real ability and who is just all show and no substance.

They became increasingly confident and professional when giving feedback.

Back at the hotel that evening, Han Ling was so exhausted she almost collapsed, but her heart was full.

This sense of fulfillment is completely different from the emptiness I felt when waiting for Xiao Ran to come home.

On the fourth night, Suning called.

"How are you? Can you still hold on?"

"I can manage!" Han Ling's voice was tired, but even more excited. "I interviewed eighty people today, and there were a few really good ones! There was a girl from Sichuan who danced folk dances absolutely amazingly! And there was a guy who just graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy who had a great feel for modern dance!"

"You sound very happy," Su Ning laughed on the other end of the phone.

"Yes!" Han Ling nodded vigorously. "President Su, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Really, I've never felt that life has been so meaningful before."

"This is just the beginning. It will be even more tiring once the members are selected and rehearsals begin."

"I'm not afraid of being tired! I'm just afraid of being idle and having nothing to do."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Han Ling, you've changed."

"Has it gotten better or worse?"

"Of course it's gotten better. It's become more vibrant, more purposeful, and more radiant."

Han Ling laughed, "That's all thanks to the platform you provided."

“I provided the platform, but you have to walk the path yourself,” Su Ning said. “Work hard, and I’ll be waiting to see your debut.”

"Suning, I will definitely not let you down!"

Has Xiao Ran contacted you yet?

“I have changed my contact information, and he can’t reach me.”

"Alright! I look forward to your phoenix-like rebirth."

After hanging up the phone, Han Ling lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

She knew this path wouldn't be easy.

Competition among song and dance troupes is fierce, and the market is brutal; whether they can succeed remains to be seen.

This is a world unknown to the general public, where every character wants to shine, but most of them are lost in the crowd.

Of course, Han Ling was also very afraid, afraid that she would let down Su Ning's trust and that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Lingyun Dance Troupe would remain unknown.

Therefore, Han Ling knew she needed to work even harder and absolutely could not allow herself to remain unknown.

Looking at the dazzling lights outside the window, Han Ling felt this time that among those lights, there was one that belonged to her.

She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. In her dream, she stood in the center of the stage, bathed in spotlights, with thunderous applause from the audience.

She herself was all smiles.

……

After Han Ling left, Xiao Ran indulged in a life of debauchery in the mansion for a whole week.

Bottles of liquor were piled up in the corner, takeout boxes smelled rancid, and the man was unshaven with sunken eyes.

But on the morning of the eighth day, he staggered into the bathroom, took a cold shower, shaved, and put on the only suit that wasn't wrinkled.

Looking at the haggard but refocused man in the mirror, Xiao Ran said to himself, "Even without a woman, you still have your career."

When Xiao Ran returned to Yu Xueqing Company, the employees were all surprised...

Everyone knew that President Xiao was having relationship problems, and everyone thought he would be depressed for a while.

"What are you looking at?" Xiao Ran glanced at the office area. "Get back to work. Manager Li, have you compiled last month's sales data? Director Wang, the expansion plan for the East China market must be sent to my email before the end of the day."

"Yes, Mr. Xiao."

From that day on, Xiao Ran was like a different person.

I'm always the first to arrive at the company and the last to leave.

They hold stricter meetings, make more decisive decisions, and react more quickly to the market.

Some employees whispered among themselves, "President Xiao is channeling all the energy he felt from his breakup into his work."

But only Xiao Ran himself knew that it wasn't just for his career.

He was also proving... proving to Han Ling, proving to Su Ning, and even more so, proving to himself: that he, Xiao Ran, was not a piece of trash, not a loser, and that he could carve out a place for himself on the battlefield of Shenzhen.

……

Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics Headquarters, Suning Office.

Afu placed a report on the table. "Master, this is Yu Xueqing's operating data for the past month. Since Xiao Ran's return, sales have increased by 40% month-on-month. Three new directly operated stores have been opened, and agreements have been reached with two chain supermarkets to enter the market."

Su Ning flipped through the report and nodded. "It seems the breakup really affected him."

“However…” Afu hesitated for a moment, “Xiao Ran has been very aggressive lately. His marketing expenses have doubled compared to last month, and he’s even planning to mortgage company shares to get a bank loan, saying he wants to expand the production line. Isn’t this too risky?”

“There are definitely risks,” Su Ning said, closing the report. “But they are within a reasonable range. Xiao Ran is currently very determined to grow rapidly and prove himself. This mentality can be a driving force if used well, but a hidden danger if used poorly.”

"However, I'm worried he'll drain Yu Xueqing dry."

After thinking about it, Su Ning realized that Afu's concerns were quite reasonable.

So he picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.

"Mr. Zhou, it's me, Su Ning. Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together."

……

It was 7 p.m. in a private room at a restaurant in Xiangmihu.

Zhou Zhenxing arrived ten minutes earlier than the agreed time, a habit he had developed over many years in the business world.

Upon seeing Su Ning enter, Zhou Zhenxing immediately stood up. "President Su, you've arrived."

"President Zhou, please sit down, don't be so polite." Su Ning waved his hand, and the two sat down.

After all the dishes were served, Zhou Zhenxing took the initiative to speak, "President Su, you called me here today because of Yu Xueqing, right?"

“President Zhou is smart.” Su Ning didn’t mince words. “You should know more about Xiao Ran’s recent situation than I do.”

“I understand.” Zhou Zhenxing nodded. “They’re very motivated, but a bit too much. We’ve already had three senior management meetings this month, and each time we’ve adjusted the sales targets, and each one is higher than the last. The marketing department is under a lot of pressure.”

What do you think?

Zhou Zhenxing pondered for a moment, "To be honest, I understand Xiao Ran. Men, when they're hurt, it's normal to want to make up for it in their careers. But the way he's playing now is a bit like gambling... betting everything on the market to go according to his expectations. If he wins, Yu Xueqing can move up a level; if he loses, he might not even have a chance to turn things around."

"So, what do you think you should do as a company shareholder and executive?"

Zhou Zhenxing was taken aback for a moment, then understood what Su Ning meant.

"Mr. Su, do you mean... I should keep a closer eye on things?"

“It’s not about keeping an eye on him, it’s about assisting him,” Su Ning corrected. “It’s good that Xiao Ran is driven, but he needs someone to help him keep things in check. You’re a company veteran and an important shareholder, so he’ll listen to what you say.”

Zhou Zhenxing silently took a sip of tea.

He understood Suning's unspoken message...

Xiao Ran is currently in an unstable state and is prone to making radical decisions, so he needs someone to check and balance him.

And this person, Zhou Zhenxing, was chosen by Suning.

"President Su," Zhou Zhenxing put down his teacup, "may I ask you a question?"

"You said."

"What exactly are your plans for Yu Xueqing?" Zhou Zhenxing looked at Su Ning. "If it's just about making money through investment, you don't need to be so concerned. The profits from pagers and mobile phones at Shengang Electronics are many times higher than those from Yu Xueqing."

Su Ning smiled and said, "President Zhou has hit the nail on the head."

"..."

“I invested in Yuxueqing not to earn dividends. I want to support a domestic daily chemical brand, a brand that can compete with Procter & Gamble and Unilever.”

Zhou Zhenxing's eyes lit up.

“Look at the current daily chemical market,” Suning continued, “Shampoo is Head & Shoulders and Pantene, soap is Safeguard, toothpaste is Crest and Colgate. They’re all foreign brands. And what about domestic brands? They’re either barely surviving or being acquired and shelved. I’m not convinced by this.”

"So you want to use Yuxueqing..."

“Yes.” Su Ning nodded. “Yu Xueqing has the foundation and the team now. What it lacks is funding, technology and strategic vision. I can provide those. But I need Yu Xueqing to develop steadily and surely. We can’t let Xiao Ran’s personal emotions lead the company astray.”

Zhou Zhenxing understood and thought for a moment, "President Su, I understand what you mean. I will pay more attention to the company's operations. If Xiao Ran makes any overly radical decisions, I will remind him in time, and if necessary... I will also stop him."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Zhou." Su Ning raised his glass. "Don't worry, as Yu Xue Qing grows bigger, you, as a major shareholder, will benefit greatly. I, Su Ning, never shortchange my partners."

The two clinked glasses.

Zhou Zhenxing drank the glass of wine, already having made up his mind...

Working for Suning is more promising than working for the emotional Xiao Ran.

Moreover, Suning has promised that Yuxueqing will become a leading domestic daily chemical brand, which has a much brighter future than it does now.

……

The next day, at a meeting of Yuxueqing Company's senior executives.

Xiao Ran was passionately outlining his expansion plans: "Next quarter, we're going to add fifty new sales outlets in South China, and increase our marketing budget by another three million! We'll also expand our production lines; I plan to..."

“Mr. Xiao, may I say something?” Zhou Zhenxing raised his hand to interrupt.

Xiao Ran frowned. "President Zhou, please speak."

"Fifty outlets and a budget of three million, isn't this too big a step? We just opened twenty outlets last month, and the team is still adapting. With so many new outlets at once, I'm worried that management won't be able to keep up, and it might actually affect the operation of the existing outlets."

"If management can't keep up, hire more people! You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. The daily chemical market is so competitive now! If we don't act quickly, someone else will take our market share!"

“Mr. Xiao, I understand your sense of urgency.” Zhou Zhenxing remained unhurried, after all, he now had the “authority.” “But business expansion is like running; running too fast can easily lead to a fall. My suggestion is to first improve the existing network and increase the efficiency of individual stores. Once the team is more mature, then gradually expand.”

Several department managers nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ran looked at the audience below, a surge of anger rising within him.

But he knew that Zhou Zhenxing made sense, and Zhou Zhenxing was a company veteran with considerable influence.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and asked, "Then, Mr. Zhou, how much do you think is appropriate to increase it?"

“Thirty,” Zhou Zhenxing stated, “with a budget of two million. A steady and methodical approach may yield better results.”

Xiao Ran was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded, "Okay, let's do as President Zhou says. Meeting adjourned!"

After everyone left, Xiao Ran sat alone in the conference room and lit a cigarette.

Of course, I know that Zhou Zhenxing is right.

But Xiao Ran was in a hurry, eager to prove himself and achieve something.

"Mr. Xiao." Zhou Zhenxing pushed the door open and came in again.

"Is there anything else?"

Zhou Zhenxing sat down opposite him. "President Xiao, we've known each other for so long. Let me speak from the bottom of my heart: you are the soul of the company. You can't afford to be disorganized. If you are disorganized, the company will be disorganized."

Xiao Ran looked at Zhou Zhenxing but didn't say anything.

“I know Han Ling’s situation has been a big blow to you,” Zhou Zhenxing continued. “But you have to understand that career is career, and relationships are relationships. You can’t let emotional setbacks turn into reckless pursuits in your career. That would harm the company and yourself. Besides, a man without a sense of self is not a man.”

Xiao Ran smiled wryly, "Old Zhou, you're right. I just... I just have a lot of anger inside me."

"The fire needs to be ignited in the right place." Zhou Zhenxing patted his shoulder. "Yu Xueqing is doing well right now. As long as she works steadily, she should be among the top three in South China within three years. By then, what kind of woman can't she find?"

"I'm not doing this for women..."

“I know.” Zhou Zhenxing stood up. “A person lives for pride, and I understand that you want to prove yourself. But proving yourself isn’t about brute force; it’s about solid achievements. Take it slow, don’t rush.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhenxing walked out of the conference room.

Xiao Ran sat there and finished a cigarette.

Yes! I can't afford to be reckless, nor do I have the luxury of being reckless.

Yu Xueqing was Xiao Ran's last stronghold; he couldn't afford to destroy it too.

Without Yu Xueqing, he will never have a chance to turn things around in his life.

……

That evening, Zhou Zhenxing sent a text message to Suning: "President Su, today's meeting is over. As you said, we've reduced the scale of expansion. Xiao Ran is relatively calm and has accepted the suggestion."

The reply came quickly: "Thank you for your hard work. We'll keep an eye on things and let you know if anything comes up."

Zhou Zhenxing looked at his phone and smiled.

He is now very clear about his position: he is both a senior executive of Yuxueqing and an informant for Suning.

This role is tough, but the rewards are great.

As long as Yu Xueqing develops according to Suning's plan, Zhou Zhenxing's net worth will at least increase several times.

Meanwhile, in the president's office of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group, Suning looked out the window at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong headquarters center under construction and already had a much larger, more far-reaching plan in mind.

Yu Xueqing is just a small step; what I really want to build is a business empire that covers multiple industries.

All of this requires a steady and meticulous approach, leaving no room for error.

Xiao Ran and Han Ling are both just pawns in this grand game.

What I want is to win this whole game.

...(End of this chapter)