My minimum living allowance is credited to my account every day with 1000 million yuan

Zhang Han's expression changed.
puff--!
Zhang Han felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart again! His face instantly turned from red to white!
Did I fucking mess with the landlord?!

Although Jiangzhou Pedestrian Street is long, there are only a few shops that meet his requirements: over 200 square meters, with a regular layout, and in a prime location. Besides Xie Xiaoxiao's shop and the 1007 and 1016 that Zhang Ziqian just mentioned, there is only one left!

1028!

He has to win! There's no turning back!

A surge of intense energy rushed to Zhang Han's head, his face flushed crimson, and his breathing became heavy. As if bolstering his courage, or perhaps in a final act of madness, he abruptly raised his voice, almost shouting:
"So what?!"

He pointed into the air, as if that were Shop 1028:

"Shop 1028 is better! It's bigger! It's 300 square meters! It's more suitable for a flagship store!"

He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with a desperate, mad glint in his eyes:

"So what if the rent is a little higher?! So what?!"

He pounded his chest forcefully, making a loud thud, his voice hoarse and arrogant:
"Money! To me! Is that even a problem?! Huh?!"

His roar echoed throughout the private room.

Zhang Ziqian watched his hysterical performance quietly, as if she were watching an absurd farce.

After he finished yelling, she sighed softly, shook her head, and said in an almost pitying tone:

"I can see that money... is really not a problem for you."

She paused, her gaze piercing Zhang Han's last pretense like the sharpest ice blade:

"But... why do you always forget something else?"

What did you forget?!
Zhang Han was taken aback by the sudden question, his mind going blank. What could he have forgotten? Wasn't money everything?!

Zhang Ziqian parted her red lips slightly, as if issuing a final judgment:

"I'm sorry..."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly shattered all of Zhang Han's illusions:

"This shop... is still mine."

boom!
Zhang Han felt as if the whole world was collapsing before his eyes!

He stood frozen in place, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably, his expression frozen into an extremely bizarre, desperate, and unbelievable pose.

It's mine! It's mine! It's still mine!

1007! 1016! 1028!

His last three options were all Zhang Ziqian's?!
God! ! !

Where the hell can I complain to?!
"I'm so rich! So much money!" He seemed to see piles of banknotes flying before his eyes, but he couldn't find a single door through which he could spend them!
Still can't spend the money?!
A profound sense of absurdity and unprecedented frustration overwhelmed him like a cold tide. Watching Zhang Ziqian and the others leave the private room, he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He didn't know how to explain this to his partner. Who would have thought he was so amazing that he could offend all the landlords of the target shops on Jiangzhou Pedestrian Street in just over ten minutes?

"Xiaoxiao, we're going to Mr. He's place later. We'll have dinner upstairs tonight!"

They all knew He Qing; Shen Yun had hosted Feng Ting's family upstairs last time. The "upstairs" Zhang Ziqian referred to was the rooftop garden of the Yunfeng Building, which everyone except Qiu Qiaoqiao had visited.

Xie Xiaoxiao really liked He Qing's personality; that fashionable and radiant woman was also extremely intelligent and kind. She could sense that President He held a very special position with Chen Xiao, being one of his most favored.

Qin Ning is now very much looking forward to being able to interact with the favored women around Chen Xiao.

Besides, Zhang Ziqian rarely leaves Chen Xiao's side for long. The reason she goes to He Qing's for dinner in the evening is most likely because Chen Xiao is there.

While secretly pleased, she glanced at Qiu Qiaoqiao. A strange feeling suddenly welled up inside her. She too was a beauty admired by thousands, but after arriving in Jiangzhou these past few days, she realized there were far too many women here who could easily outshine her. It was almost making her lose her confidence—

Junxiao Charity Foundation

The reception area exudes a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Sunlight streams through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow on the off-white marble floor. A subtle aroma of fragrance mingles with the rich scent of freshly ground coffee. Several well-tailored receptionists, taking advantage of a break, chat quietly, their faces radiating genuine satisfaction and ease.

Working here is less like a job and more like having a golden opportunity.

Income far exceeds the industry average, the environment is comparable to a five-star hotel, and more importantly—Junxiao Group's astonishing welfare system!

Medical care is completely free! Education for children from kindergarten to university is completely free! This is enough to make countless people envious.

Even more exciting news is that the group is rumored to be collaborating deeply with Guo's Properties to develop exclusive high-end employee apartments! As long as the required years of service are met, employees can obtain a high-quality apartment for a nominal rent or even for free! This is not some remote, low-rent housing, but a high-end residence comparable to top-tier communities!
These combined benefits make every position at Junxiao Group a "holy grail" in the eyes of job seekers in Jiangzhou and even across the country, with everyone scrambling to get in.

"Hey—Xiaomin, have you heard?" Yanyan, the most lively girl at the front desk, lowered her voice and mysteriously shared the latest gossip, "The other day the administration department was hiring a few cleaners, right? Guess what?"

She deliberately kept everyone in suspense, only revealing the answer triumphantly when she saw Xiaomin curiously approaching:

"The result! Several PhDs actually submitted their resumes and came for interviews!"

"Huh?!" Xiaomin's beautiful eyes widened instantly, her face full of disbelief. "A PhD?! Can't a PhD find a job? He's doing cleaning?" This completely overturned her understanding.

Yan Yan gave me a "you're too naive" look and pouted:
"Hey! She's thought it through so clearly!" She counted on her fingers, "There are so many PhDs now. How long would it take to buy an apartment in Jiangzhou if you worked yourself to death with an ordinary job?"

She pointed to the smooth floor beneath her feet, then to the bustling street scene outside the window:
"But here, once you come in, we'll take away your three major obstacles: housing, healthcare, and education!"

She emphasized her words, with a hint of pride:
"Besides, the income here, even for the most basic positions, far exceeds that of the same industry outside! Those PhDs are shrewd; they're calculating the overall picture of their lives!"

Xiaomin nodded in agreement, a look of emotion on her face: "That's true..." She recalled the fierce competition during her job interview and now felt incredibly fortunate.

Yan Yan's gossip-fueled temper hadn't died down yet; she leaned even closer, lowered her voice, and let out a mischievous laugh:

"And another thing... think about it, if you join our company, and you can find someone within the company, date a colleague, and even get married..."

She made a "perfect" gesture, her eyes shining:
"Tell me, who wouldn't be incredibly envious of this kind of life?"

Xiaomin was genuinely shocked and blurted out, "What? The cleaning lady...is looking for a boyfriend at the company? Who is she looking for?" She simply couldn't imagine a cleaning lady and an office worker as a couple. "Shh—keep your voice down!" Yanyan quickly made a shushing gesture, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then said mysteriously:

"Who says cleaning staff have to be housewives?"

She blinked, giving him a "you're so out of touch" look:

"She applied for a cleaning job, but she's not even 30 years old!"

She gestured in front of her face with her hand, emphasizing:
"A proper female PhD! As for looks... definitely a 70 out of 100! Pretty and delicate!"

"..." Xiaomin was completely speechless. After a long while, she shook her head, with a touch of realistic consideration:

"Well... I'm afraid there's not much of a market for a company like ours, right?"

"Once you're in Junxiao, who cares if your partner has a PhD? You won't have to worry about food, housing, or your child's education... Who cares about that diploma? What matters more is the feeling, the initial attraction, right?"

"Oh! You didn't know this!" Yan Yan exclaimed, as if she had finally gotten the chance to unleash a bombshell. She slapped her thigh, her voice rising slightly with excitement:

Do you know which industry is currently the hottest in Jiangzhou?

Xiaomin thought for a moment: "AI (Artificial Intelligence)?"

Yan Yan shook her head.

"Then... new energy vehicles?" Xiaomin guessed again, which was also a direction in which the group was investing heavily.

Yan Yan shook her head mysteriously again.

Seeing that Xiaomin really couldn't guess, Yanyan revealed the answer with a "witnessing a miracle" expression:

"It's the marriage and dating market!"

"Ah—?!" Xiaomin's mouth instantly opened into a perfect "O" shape! It was so big you could fit an eggplant inside!
She was completely stunned!
Yan Yan was very satisfied with her reaction, her lowered voice filled with barely suppressed excitement:
"Did you know what? A lot of dating agencies and matchmakers have gone crazy!"

She held up five fingers:
"Many people looking for a partner openly declare: 'If you can successfully introduce me to a full-time employee of Junxiao Group, even a newly hired, entry-level employee, I'll give you the original agency fee in addition to the initial fee.'"

She wagged her five fingers:

"I'll also give you an extra 50,000 yuan red envelope!"

She then held up two fingers, making a "ten" shape:
"If you could introduce me to someone at the department head level..."

Her eyes widened in surprise:
"Starting at 100,000!"

She leaned close to Xiaomin's ear and whispered:
"Next up... manager, director... use your imagination!"

Xiaomin's mouth had been open the whole time! The sheer volume of information was making her brain buzz!

She suddenly remembered that her house had recently become a "matchmaker hotspot"! The threshold had practically been worn down by matchmakers!

Even though she was already living with her boyfriend, the matchmakers persisted, showing up every few days, their words implying:
"Xiaomin, your boyfriend... his conditions are just so-so, right? Auntie knows a very outstanding young man, with a salary of this much! He also owns a house! How about you consider him?"

They're so brazen about prying into each other's corners, they're having a blast!

She had only found it annoying before, but now she suddenly understands the logic behind it!

If male employees at Junxiao are this sought after... then what about female employees like myself, who are fair-skinned, beautiful, and have a secure job at Junxiao...?

She instantly understood why her boyfriend had suddenly become such a "simp"! He used to occasionally put on airs of chauvinism, but now? If she told him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west! If she told him to beat a dog, he wouldn't dare chase a chicken! He was serving her with utmost care!
"Stepping into Junxiao's door is like embarking on a life of happiness!" Yan Yan exclaimed, her tone revealing both a keen understanding of reality and a deep sense of relief. She was a founding member of the foundation, joining when it was first established. In today's hellish recruitment season, she might not have been able to squeeze in. Right now, every vacancy in the group is being eyed by countless hungry eyes!
Just as the two were still immersed in their感慨 (feelings of deep emotion) and the lingering afterglow of gossip about "Jun Xiao's golden rice bowl"—

"Ding--"

The elevator on the 28th floor emitted a crisp beep, and the heavy metal doors slowly slid open to both sides.

Those who emerged from inside were not dressed visitors or powerful business partners.

Instead, she was a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her fifties, dressed simply and even somewhat worn-outly, with a weathered and uneasy expression on her face. Behind her followed a young man in his early thirties, with dark skin, a thin build, and somewhat dull eyes.

The two seemed completely out of place in the glamorous, modern, and elite office environment, as if they had stumbled into another world.

Yan Yan and Xiao Min spotted them immediately. Their professionalism made them quickly stop their casual conversation, exchange glances, and see the same question in each other's eyes.

This doesn't seem like they're here to discuss cooperation; it seems more like they're here to visit relatives and friends.
Xiaomin immediately composed herself, flashing a standard, highly approachable professional smile, and took a step forward to greet him:
"Hello!"

The middle-aged woman was startled by the sudden greeting and the overly luxurious surroundings. She instinctively took a small step back, her eyes filled with natural fear and unease. She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, appearing somewhat at a loss.

But when she met Xiaomin's warm and sincere smile, her nervousness seemed to ease a little.

She mustered all her courage and asked cautiously in heavily accented Mandarin:

"Y-you...hello...I'm looking for He Qing—"

Ga? !

"He Qing?!"

The professional smiles on Yan Yan and Xiao Min's faces froze instantly! They were both stunned!

People come to visit Mr. He in an endless stream, including political and business celebrities and philanthropic partners, but they all address him respectfully as "Mr. He".
Calling her by her first name, "He Qing"? This auntie is definitely the first person in history to do so!
Seeing the two pretty receptionists looking bewildered and shocked, the middle-aged woman assumed she had come to the wrong place or mispronounced their names. A flicker of panic crossed her face, and she hesitantly turned to the thin, dark-skinned young man beside her, whispering:

"Your aunt...you mean your cousin works here? Is that right?"

cousin?!
boom--!
These two words exploded in Yan Yan and Xiao Min's minds like a thunderclap!
Good heavens! These are Mr. He's...relatives?! Cousin and aunt (or maternal aunt)?!

Xiaomin reacted the fastest, her smile becoming even more sincere and enthusiastic as she quickly replied:
"Yes, yes! Mr. He is in his office!"

She carefully chose her words to avoid any possible offense:

"Excuse me... do you have an appointment?" (End of Chapter)