I was forced to start the second round because I was raised in poverty

Chapter 382 American Talk
Su Cheng followed him directly until they reached the 20th floor, a non-public floor, and arrived at a private VIP room.

The intricate Persian patterns on the carpet and the abstract oil paintings hanging on the walls absorbed all sound, completely isolating the outside world from its glitz and glamour.

There is no main light here, only a few spotlights embedded in the wall, whose amber glow precisely outlines the silhouettes of two huge single Chesterfield sofas.

Su Cheng's feet trod on the Persian carpet, which was so soft it was almost unreal. Each step was silent, as if she were being absorbed by the sponge-like texture of the room.

The air was filled with a complex smell that he had never smelled before.

It seemed to be a mixture of old books, leather, and aged wood, and he could also smell a faint, sweet fragrance.

The light shone from an unknown corner, dim yet precise, making everything in the room seem heavy and expensive.

In the center of the room, on a low brass coffee table, sat only a large crystal ashtray and an open sketchbook. The light fell perfectly on this spot, creating a stage-like focal point.

The waiter carried a heavy mahogany humidor box with both hands. The moment the lid was opened, a rich and mellow aroma of cedarwood mixed with the fermented scent of tobacco filled the air.

Su Sheng didn't look at the waiter, but simply waved his hand casually, and the waiter understood and turned the box towards Su Cheng.

The waiter bowed slightly, silently indicating to him to make a choice.

It wasn't until he saw the cigar box that Su Cheng realized Su Sheng had only come to take him to smoke cigars, and not to play any escape room games.

If it were a private room play, Su Sheng would have no sense of boundaries, and Su Cheng would just turn around and leave.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the cigars, which varied in color but were arranged neatly.

The cigars all looked pretty much the same, so he just randomly pointed to one.

Su Sheng casually picked up another cigarette from the box, his movements as casual as if he were pulling one out of a cigarette case.

The waiter took out a beautifully crafted Taiwanese cigar cutter from his vest pocket.

He held the cigars in one hand, and with surgical precision, with the other hand, he cut a perfect slit in both cigars with a "snap".

Next, the waiter struck a long, pine-scented cigar match.

Instead of lighting it directly, he patiently and evenly "roasted" the end of the cigar, allowing the tobacco oils to caramelize.

Only when the stem of the cigar showed a uniform orange-red halo did he respectfully present the first cigar to Su Cheng's lips, holding it on a silver tray.

Su Cheng was already a heavy smoker, but he still felt a spicy, scalding, almost choking smoke suddenly fill his mouth and rush to his throat.

He instinctively wanted to cough, but he forcibly suppressed it, his cheeks instantly turning red.

Su Cheng quickly exhaled the smoke, which scattered and became shapeless, leaving a burning sensation on her tongue and palate.

In contrast, Su Sheng's demeanor exuded a sense of enjoyment.

The smoke he inhaled lingered briefly in his mouth before transforming into a rich, complete column of grayish-blue smoke, which he slowly exhaled.

The smoke swirled around him, as if it were a tangible extension of his thoughts.

He would take a puff every now and then, not exhaling the smoke immediately, but lingering it in his mouth for a moment, as if engaging in a silent dialogue with the complex flavors.

Finally, he slowly and completely exhaled the smoke, the gray-blue smoke gathering in front of him without dissipating, swirling and rising.

The waiter was quietly handling the match at the service counter next to him, using a small silver tool.

Su Sheng's posture was always relaxed and in control of the overall situation.

His every inhale and exhale was rhythmic, and the smoke created a private space around him.

When Su Cheng took his second inhalation, he became more cautious, inhaling only a shallow wisp of smoke and letting it linger briefly on his tongue before exhaling.

The tingling sensation remained, but after the burning pain, a strange fragrance began to emerge.

It tastes like roasted almonds, with a hint of cocoa bitterness.

This small discovery eased Su Cheng's tension slightly.

What's this?
Did the older brother secretly take his younger brother to an internet cafe?

You skillfully enter the account and password on the receipt into the Wanxiang network management port, but I don't know how to turn on the computer.

nmd.

When the ash on the cigar has accumulated to a certain length, the waiter will silently reappear.

He held a specially made ashtray, gently brought it close to the end of the cigar, and used silver tongs to gently "pick" off the white ash, without letting a single speck of smoke fall.

Seeing this, Su Cheng realized that even the simple act of flicking cigarette ash didn't require her to do it herself here.

Gradually, Su Cheng stopped worrying about her clumsiness.

His senses were completely captivated by the ever-changing taste.

After the bitterness comes a faint sweetness.

After the earthy scent comes a subtle leather aroma.

This was an experience he had never had before.

Complex and profound, it requires absolute focus to capture.

After a while, Su Sheng looked at the waiter.

Su Sheng gave a simple signal, and the waiter immediately understood.

The waiter bowed slightly and then began to retreat silently.

His figure blended into the shadows by the door, and finally, with a barely audible click, the heavy walnut door was gently closed.

Closing the door changes the atmosphere in the room.

The previous silence was a carefully maintained, service-oriented quiet with the presence of a third party.

At that moment, the silence became pure.

Su Cheng subconsciously sat up straight.

He could sense that the slightly entertaining, relaxed atmosphere from before had disappeared, replaced by a highly concentrated, focused energy field.

Su Sheng wanted to take the initiative to understand Su Cheng.

As the older brother, he wanted to know about his younger brother's upbringing.

As a participant in the training program, Su Sheng also wanted to acquire more information.

Throughout the entire process, Su Sheng only listened to the information conveyed by others.

The father said that he had good intentions, while Uncle Bai said that Xiao Cheng was suffering.

But what are Su Cheng's own thoughts?
How did he grow up?

How does he view his family?

Su Cheng's reaction was slightly disdainful.

Oh.

It wasn't that the older brother secretly led the younger brother to "go online" behind their father's back.

So now it's a classic American talk segment?

We need to talk!

Su Cheng realized that Su Sheng wanted to understand her upbringing and family.

Let's talk then.

The key question is... how does he want to talk?

Instead of interrogating Su Cheng like a census taker, Su Sheng first acknowledged and praised Su Cheng's efforts and hard work.

Su Cheng's educational background within the group is not high, especially in the K11 category, where she is at the bottom.

The group's K-11 graduates are either PhDs from Oxford or Cambridge, or MBAs from Ivy League schools, Wharton, or LSE London School of Economics and Political Science.

"Manager Su."

“As a graduate from a non-target university, whose major is not even related to the job, you have taken the position they all dream of: the youngest reserve-level senior executive in the Dihao Group, in charge of our most important business.”

Su Sheng's tone did not contain any condescending scrutiny, but rather a discussion on an equal footing.

He has already checked Xiaocheng's detailed file.

When Xiaocheng was still an intern, in order to understand the logistics cost structure of a certain case, she followed the longest-haul truck for three whole days, traveling from south to north. She sat in the passenger seat.

We ate the same boxed meals as the drivers and slept in the same service areas.

The final logistics optimization plan even clearly listed the price at each toll station.

Not only does it have data models, but it also marks which road sections on the map have the highest fuel consumption, which toll booths have shady pricing, and even estimates the gray income of drivers.

In order to figure out the problem with a certain production line and find the 'ghost costs' that are never seen in the reports, Su Cheng followed the front-line workers in the client's factory for three whole months, working shifts in shifts.

Day shift, night shift, and extended night shift – he didn't miss a single one.

However, after a week, Su Cheng discovered that the No. 3 machine tool would experience an unexplained 30-second lag every 40 minutes of operation.

On the report, this would only be classified as normal 'equipment maintenance time'.

The daily production capacity lost by this machine alone amounts to 700,000 units per year.

The tool store layout is unreasonable, forcing each worker to walk nearly 800 meters more each day just to find a tool.

Skilled workers in the stamping workshop, relying on their twenty years of experience, have achieved a 3% lower scrap rate when cutting raw materials compared to the standard process.

He was hailed as a role model for the entire factory, but this unreplicable feel, as a standard, was precisely the factory's biggest cost risk.

Many elites in the consulting industry dream of standing on the cloud and giving orders.

While others were drawing models in the conference room, he was counting trucks on the national highway.

While others were analyzing financial statements, he was working shifts in the factory.

Su Cheng wasn't working in a clever way, but rather in the most foolish and honest way to get to the heart of the problem.

Su Sheng's eyes held pure, undisguised admiration.

but.

Su Cheng's face showed no surprise or tension.

He listened quietly, as if he were listening to a case analysis that was relevant to him.

Even though Xiao Cheng had worked so hard, and it wasn't the kind of fake effort or futile effort, it still took him two years to become a full-time employee.

Su Sheng couldn't understand why.

Su Cheng was furious when she heard this.

why?
How the hell am I supposed to know why?
You should know better than me why, damn it!

Su Cheng was foolish enough to charge in back then; he was really daring.

He had actually done this for several years in his previous life. Due to the suppression from the old man, he eventually saw no hope of promotion and simply became a seasoned veteran.

That spirit was completely extinguished by the frugal upbringing plan.

If Su Cheng had known back then that he was a prince raised in poverty, he certainly wouldn't have done that.

He's not an idiot.

Su Cheng's face showed no excitement, no flattery, and not even the usual gratitude.

There was only a barely perceptible, sarcastic smile.

"But no matter what, hard work always pays off. You are now a K11 member of the group and are receiving key training from the group and organization. Resources will be allocated to you."

"You have a lot of room for advancement in the group in the future."

Su Cheng: ???
Is this how Su Sheng calculates the accounts?

Key training?

Are you saying raising a child in poverty?

Su Cheng couldn't understand what he was talking about at all, what resource allocation was he referring to.

Does the "splitting resources" you're referring to mean watching him get hammered over the head by Long Ruoli or Jin Hong Group while they stand by and do nothing?

They didn't offer even the slightest help.

Not to mention mobilizing the group's resources to help him, Su Sheng didn't even ask a single question. In the end, it was Su Cheng who mobilized his own resources to turn the tide and resolve the UNV issue.

Is this what he calls resource allocation?

Are you kidding me?
Su Cheng is the K11 with the lowest educational background in the Dihao Group, but she also has the worst treatment among the K11 employees.

He didn't even get the normal K11 benefits!

Take the UNV case as an example.

Damn, he took down the entire Jin Hong Group in such a huge case.

Normally, it wouldn't be unreasonable to promote Su Cheng to K12, because this is a small group fighting against a large corporation.

The results of it?
Su Sheng gave them 50,000 yuan and then went abroad for a few days of travel.

They didn't even issue a commendation order.

Wait.

Su Cheng suddenly sensed something amiss.

This feeling was intangible and intangible, yet it instantly tightened Su Cheng's intuition.

He keenly sensed that Su Sheng was emanating an indescribable aura.

Su Cheng pushed the power of the six eyes to the limit, trying to figure out what exactly this aura emanating from Su Sheng was.

After careful sniffing and observation.

Finally, Su Cheng caught a glimpse of an extremely contradictory expression in the depths of Su Sheng's eyes the moment he looked away.

Su Sheng first objectively examined the situation, then felt an almost instinctive envy that he could hardly suppress, which he quickly suppressed into a feigned indifference.

These complex emotions blended together so quickly that ordinary people simply couldn't distinguish them.

But Su Cheng clearly saw its trajectory.

Followed by.

A long-suppressed rage raged within Su Cheng's chest, almost breaking free of the constraints of reason.

This anger did not arise out of thin air, but was forged from the combined forces of long-standing injustice and the absurdity of the present moment.

What the hell are you jealous of?!

These words echoed repeatedly in Su Cheng's mind.

Beneath his anger lay a deeper level of confusion and chilling sorrow.

Su Cheng couldn't understand it at all.

What reason is there to be jealous of someone who is showered with love and affection?

Su Sheng has enjoyed the best resources since childhood, including the love of his parents and family!
He is now K2 in the group, holding a prominent position and enjoying social prestige.

But deep down, he still harbored a sense of jealousy.

In Su Cheng's view, this was a great injustice and insatiable greed.

He was like someone sitting on a mountain of gold, yet envying the few coins in his broken bowl.

It's a joke full of irony and absurdity.

Su Cheng found Su Sheng's jealousy particularly hurtful and hypocritical.

Is there a possibility.

Am I the one who should be jealous?
If you're so envious, then let's switch!
Su Cheng doesn't mind being an orphan at all.

On the contrary, Su Sheng.

If their lives were truly switched, and Su Sheng were to play his role, he probably would have jumped off the building long ago.

Su Cheng harbored countless feelings of repression and grievance.

(End of this chapter)