Financial freedom starts with cracked apps.

Chapter 190 Emotional Rift and a High-Profile Entrance (6k-page compilation)

12:30 PM.

The rain continued to fall in a light drizzle.

At Shennan Pet Club, Xu Lei and Lin Shen had a pleasant conversation.

The two not only discussed work-related matters, but also the troubles they encountered in their lives.

Of course, it was all Xu Lei's one-sided output, while Lin Shen listened quietly.

Because of similar experiences and the fact that we were once colleagues who took care of each other, there were no concerns or barriers between us.

You can insult whomever you want.

Criticize whichever executive you want.

After spending about an hour together, Xu Lei realized that the man's success was definitely not unfounded!

Whether it's his mature and witty speech or his long-term vision, it's enough to prove Lin Shen's excellence!

No wonder they can start a company after quitting their job.

There is a reason!
"It's getting late, shall we go have lunch together?"

Lin Shen inadvertently revealed the green gold bracelet on his left wrist, which, combined with his mature look today, gave him the flamboyant air of a young CEO from a novel.

Upon seeing this, Xu Lei's heart skipped a beat. Then, remembering that her boyfriend had returned at noon, she decisively refused.

"No, Mr. Lin, my boyfriend is coming home at noon, and I need to go home to cook."

"Virtuous and capable".

Lin Shen gave her a thumbs up, which made Xu Lei lower her head in embarrassment.

"No, not really! After all, cooking for myself saves money, so I've developed this habit."

"Then I'll take you back, and we can buy some groceries on the way."

"it is good."

This time, Xu Lei didn't refuse Lin Shen's offer. After all, it was raining outside, and getting a ride home wouldn't be bad.

So the two of them, each holding their own umbrella, arrived at Lin Shen's Jaguar XFL, one after the other.

Sitting in the passenger seat and looking around at the slightly luxurious interior, Xu Lei couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Wow, it's beautiful! Brother Shen, how much did you pay for this car?"

"Four hundred thousand, I guess."

Lin Shen turned on the air conditioning, brought up his personal playlist, and then turned the steering wheel and drove away from the entrance of Shennan Pet Club.

"It's not expensive, and it's enough to keep out the wind and rain."

"This isn't expensive at all."

Xu Lei felt envious, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on her face.

"My boyfriend and I have been working for several years, and we still haven't been able to buy a car."

"After all, you need to save money for your wedding."

"Saving money? Ha!"

Xu Lei propped her cheek up and looked out the window, her expression filled with disappointment.

"I've saved up almost 100,000 yuan, but my boyfriend hasn't saved a single penny! Every time he gets paid, he either buys all sorts of things or goes out to eat for several days in a row, as if he has to spend all the money!"

"It feels like your roles have been switched."

Lin Shen joked.

"In my experience, most girls are spendthrifts, so maybe you've misunderstood your boyfriend."

"I hope so..."

Xu Lei couldn't help but sigh softly.

Lin Shen then drove the two to a nearby Hema Fresh supermarket.

When selecting ingredients, he demonstrated a wealth of life experience, clearly indicating that he often cooks for himself.

This surprised Xu Lei greatly.

"You've cooked before?"

"When you're trying to lose weight, you have to control your diet, so I researched recipes and learned how to cook as well."

Lin Shen teased Xu Lei as he helped her pick out tomatoes.

Do I seem like someone who's detached from worldly affairs?

"Yes, it looks like it."

Xu Lei couldn't help but complain in her heart.

Have you ever seen anyone dressed in a suit and tie coming to the supermarket's produce section to pick out vegetables?

This is clearly a stark contrast, isn't it!
This gave Xu Lei a completely new understanding of Lin Shen.

He is not only handsome and wealthy, but also an exceptionally good man who is full of life!

This image is perfect!
Xu Lei couldn't help but feel a strange fondness for Lin Shen; after all, it was hard not to be attracted to him!
Of course, she maintained her composure and reserve, but her gaze kept sneaking peeks at Lin Shen's handsome profile, and her heart raced.

Absolutely!
The girlfriend of this kind of guy must be very happy...

After the two finished shopping for the ingredients, Lin Shen offered to pay, which greatly touched Xu Lei and moved her deeply.

"Hey, hey, hey! Brother Shen! I'll pay."

"Consider it reimbursement for your travel expenses to the interview."

Lin Shen chuckled softly, his gentle words causing Xu Lei to bite her lip, a strange sense of happiness filling her heart.

I haven't been treated like this in a long time...

Why are other men so outstanding?
well--!
Xu Lei felt a pang of sadness and blurted out a question in a moment of impulse.

"You're so kind, you must have a girlfriend by now, right?"

"Have."

Lin Shen's answer made Xu Lei feel inexplicably choked up, and she couldn't help but continue to ask questions.

"May I ask if it's the same one as before?"

"I broke up with that guy a long time ago."

Lin Shen smiled meaningfully.

"You know my girlfriend now."

what?
Xu Lei's beautiful eyes widened instantly.

Do I know him?
seriously!
Could it be that one of the people in the office has won Lin Shen's heart?

That's so enviable!
If only I had taken the initiative back then and shown my interest in Lin Shen, this potential catch!
She might even be the boss's wife by now!

A sense of regret filled Xu Lei's heart, regretting that she hadn't acted sooner.

To satisfy her gossipy nature, she risked being annoyed by Lin Shen and cautiously inquired...

"Brother Shen, could you please tell me who it is?"

"I'll keep you in suspense for now; you'll find out when you start the job."

Lin Shen didn't say it explicitly, which made Xu Lei curious.

However, she wisely refrained from mentioning the matter again.

After the two left Hema Fresh, Lin Shen drove Xu Lei back to her residential community.

As soon as the car stopped downstairs, a familiar figure holding an umbrella came into view.

Xu Lei was stunned for a moment, then immediately cheered.

"Brother Shen, that's my boyfriend! Why don't you drop me off here?"

"Okay, don't forget the stuff in the trunk."

"Ah."

When Zhang Xu, who was passing by, saw a particularly handsome all-black Jaguar parked downstairs, he was quite surprised.

After all, this kind of car is not common in the neighborhood.

When Zhang Xu saw his girlfriend get out of the passenger seat, he was completely stunned.

Xu Lei?

"precious!"

Xu Lei carried a large bag of groceries from the trunk, opened an umbrella, and walked into the stairwell with a cheerful smile on her face.

"I'm back from grocery shopping, I'll show you what I can cook later! Let's go upstairs, I have to tell you, I passed the interview!"

"..."

Zhang Xu fell silent, his face not showing the joy he felt for his girlfriend, but rather a sense of wariness.

Because the moment he opened the passenger door, he realized that the driver was a man in a suit and tie.

He seems to be quite good-looking!
This made Zhang Xu frown and question in a cold voice.

"Who sent you here?"

"Brother Lin Shen, that's the colleague I've often told you about before."

Xu Lei seemed oblivious to Zhang Xu's change in expression, continuing her excited monologue.

"Let me tell you! He was actually the boss who interviewed me! He owns Shennan! You didn't expect that, did you? I didn't expect it either."

"I never expected this..."

Seeing his girlfriend so happy, Zhang Xu felt a surge of jealousy welling up inside him.

Why did you get into his car?

"Because it was raining, he kindly offered to give me a ride, so what?"

Xu Lei finally realized that Zhang Xu's emotions were off, and she looked incredulous.

"You don't suspect me, do you?"

"It's hard not to be suspicious."

Zhang Xu sneered.

"Why did you have to sit in the passenger seat? And you even took a big bag of groceries out of his trunk. You two must be really close. He's actually driving someone else's girlfriend home. I wonder what he's up to..."

"He's not a Didi driver! How could I possibly sit in the back?"

Xu Lei never expected that her deliberate attempt to keep her distance from Lin Shen would still lead to her boyfriend's suspicions and public mockery.

This caused her initial desire to take the initiative to improve the relationship to plummet to rock bottom.

"Stop being unreasonable! Do you know that this bag of vegetables was bought by Brother Shen?"

"I told him about our argument, and he was still advising me to be more understanding of you, saying all the good things about you, but instead you're making sarcastic remarks about him?"

what?
Xu Lei's angry questioning left Zhang Xu completely bewildered.

Am I really misunderstanding something?

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat quiet, Lin Shen noticed that the two seemed to be arguing, so he got out of the car.

When Zhang Xu saw the man walking slowly through the rain with an umbrella, he was startled and his expression was full of doubt.

Is he Lin Shen?

I remember Leilei said he was an ordinary person before... You call that "ordinary"?
When Zhang Xu went to pick up Xu Lei from her company, he had met Lin Shen once before.

In his memory, Lin Shen seemed to be quite fat, and his appearance was definitely not as good as his.

And now you're telling me that this tall, handsome man in front of me is Lin Shen?
Do not make jokes!
How could he change so much?
Zhang Xu's sense of crisis surged immediately. He looked at Lin Shen warily and instinctively stood between him and Xu Lei.

"Are you Lin Shen?"

"Hello."

Lin Shen smiled and extended his right hand, but Zhang Xu did not shake it.

This made Xu Lei even more heartbroken, and she was utterly disappointed in him.

Regardless of how you want to treat Lin Shen, don't you know basic social etiquette?
They don't understand any social etiquette at all!

Not polite!
No manners!
"It's normal for couples to bicker. There's no need to make things so tense. Just talk things out."

Even though Zhang Xu was hostile towards him, Lin Shen still joked.

"Brother, you need to be more confident."

Do I need you to teach me?

Zhang Xu frowned, his mood heavy.

Although he didn't really want to admit it, Lin Shenguang's mere presence alone exerted immense pressure on him, as if the two of them were in different worlds.

If this kind of person really wants to pursue Xu Lei, do I have a chance of winning?
Disturbed and confused, Zhang Xu grabbed his girlfriend's hand and headed upstairs, hoping to get her away from the deep forest as soon as possible.

"Leilei, let's go upstairs to talk."

"Do not touch me."

Xu Lei forcefully shook off Zhang Xu's hand, turned around and bowed to Lin Shen.

"I'm sorry, Brother Shen, for causing you trouble. Zhang Xu is just like that, please don't mind. Thank you for bringing me back."

"It's ok."

Lin Shen smiled and waved.

"You guys go upstairs, I'm leaving."

"it is good."

After watching Lin Shen drive away, Zhang Xu breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly realizing that he had been too petty, and then apologized politely.

"Leilei, don't be angry. It's my fault. I thought Lin Shen had other feelings for you. I misunderstood."

"You're fine, I'm the one with the problem."

Xu Lei said softly, "I'm too weak to argue with Zhang Xu right now."

By this time, she had completely lost hope in the job. Xu Lei had initially been overjoyed to have landed a new job, but now, all her happiness had vanished.

Forget about work.

Lin Shen must be very angry right now.

Xu Lei felt a sense of powerlessness, as if she wanted to laugh but couldn't. She picked up the groceries and turned to go upstairs, which made Zhang Xu panic.

He's not afraid of his girlfriend throwing a tantrum; he's afraid she'll say nothing at all!

"Leilei, I want to apologize to you, okay?"

"Listen to me, I really didn't mean anything by it. You have to understand me, right?"

"Any man would feel awkward if Lin Shen, a rich and handsome guy, brought you back!"

"Then why didn't you come with me to the job interview? Why didn't you drive me to get a ride? Was it because you didn't like it?"

Xu Lei's questioning left Zhang Xu speechless, and she was too lazy to continue the discussion.

A broken mirror cannot be rounded.

Once a crack appears in a relationship, it will only grow wider.

Especially for the party who takes the initiative, if their attempts to please are not met with a response, they will only be utterly disappointed.

Perhaps I simply cannot continue this relationship with Zhang Xu.

Xu Lei would never have thought about this before; when she encountered trouble, she would only think about how to solve it.

But now it seems she has to consider this matter.

-

-

[Upgrade Task: Hire a secretary to help you manage your daily schedule, with a salary of no less than 10000 (Completed).]

[Direct Recruitment of Employees lv.2→lv.3]

[Benefit: You will receive a 35% to 40% rebate on the base salary when hiring employees.]

[Reward: Random employee benefit *1]

[Upgrade Task: Poach employees from other companies with high salaries and retain them with generous benefits (0/10)]

"The mission was successfully completed."

After returning home, Lin Shen first checked the situation regarding direct recruitment of employees.

In fact, regardless of whether Xu Lei passes the second interview or not, she will take up the position of secretary.

As for why Lin Shen emphasized this matter, it was simply to make her feel a sense of crisis.

The subtext is:
"This position isn't indispensable for me. If there's a better candidate, I'll definitely choose someone else. If you really want this job, then please work hard."

Clearly, this is blatant workplace PUA (Pick-Up Artist) tactics.

But the high salary Lin Shen offered was indeed tempting enough that most people would find it hard to resist.

"Hopefully she can do well."

Recalling Zhang Xu's hostile gaze just now, Lin Shen smiled, feeling quite sorry for him.

Put yourself in their shoes: if you didn't have your own system, and your girlfriend was a secretary to a rich and handsome boss.

They probably feel just as conflicted as Zhang Xu is right now.

But there's nothing we can do about it; that's just how society is now.

Winner takes all.

All Lin Shen could do was avoid provoking Xu Lei.

Whether she'll offer herself to him or not is her business...

Just as Lin Shen was in a daze, he suddenly received a message from Zhou Qiang on WeChat.

[Zhou Qiang: Brother Shen, the office area has been renovated and cleaned. Why don't you come and take a look?]
[Zhou Qiang: Photo.]
Lin Shen's eyes lit up when he saw the photos Zhou Qiang sent.

Under the wide-angle lens, the renovated office area looks exceptionally clean and tidy.

Even though it was raining outside, the house was still spacious and bright.

The tables, chairs, water dispenser, printer, and other equipment have all been replaced with brand new ones, and it looks very comfortable.

It's at least much better than the environment where Lin Shen works.

[Lin Shen: I'm going right now]
After replying to the message, Lin Shen went to the bathroom to fix his hair.

Since Qin Yuennan wants him to be a little bit sadistic, then he has to get a slicked-back hairstyle!
After finishing, Lin Shen sprayed some hairspray on his head and then put on his half-rimmed black-rimmed glasses.

Paired with a suit worth tens of thousands of yuan, he really has that vibe.

"good."

Lin Shen was very satisfied with his appearance, so he went downstairs and drove to the China World Trade Center.

-

3 PM, lobby on the first floor of the China World Trade Center.

Zhou Qiang and Zhang Xin had been waiting there for a long time.

A moment later, Lin Shen strode in.

With one hand in his pocket, his steps were steady and his posture upright.

Lin Shen, dressed in a formal suit, seemed out of place among the people around him, and soon attracted a large number of amazed glances.

Zhang Xin was among them.

"Mr. Lin, you look very handsome today."

Zhang Xin quickly stepped forward, smiling as she extended her right hand in a compliment.

Lin Shen shook hands with her in a friendly manner.

"Thank you. I heard the office area has been renovated?"

"Yes."

Zhang Xin gestured for them to proceed.

"This way, please. Let me show you around."

"it is good."

Lin Shen followed Zhang Xin upstairs, while Zhou Qiang, standing to the side, appeared rather reserved.

After all, one was his boss and the other was his former best friend.

Now that the two are of equal status, he has become merely an extra.

To be honest, Zhou Qiang felt a little bitter and uncomfortable, but what could he do?

Lin Shen is very capable and climbs quickly.

You should cling to this kind of person and never become their enemy!
So Zhou Qiang smiled and flattered him.

"Brother Shen, did you go on a date today? You look even more handsome than before!"

"I have to meet someone later."

Lin Shen patted Zhou Qiang on the shoulder and jokingly scolded him.

"You used to be so straightforward, always joking and bragging with me. Why are you so reserved now?"

"hey-hey."

Zhou Qiang scratched his head awkwardly, but a warm feeling welled up inside him.

Although Lin Shenfei has achieved great success, his personality remains the same as before—gentle and easy to talk to.

It's no wonder that people like this can achieve great things!

The group took the elevator to the 14th floor, where Zhang Xin turned on all the lights and took the initiative to introduce the floor.

"As per your request, the corridor is decorated with many small animal decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere."

"The air circulation system in the office area has also been improved accordingly, and the oxygen supply effect has been greatly enhanced, so many people can stay together without feeling sleepy."

"Most of the old equipment has been replaced, and the previous rest area has been specially converted into a cat petting area. The environment is spacious and more suitable for the pets to grow up in."

……

Led by Zhang Xin, Lin Shen toured the office area he had rented and found that he was quite satisfied with all the details.

The environment is very comfortable, the workstations are very private, and the desks are very spacious, suitable for employees of most body types.

"good."

Lin Shen nodded in satisfaction, which put Zhang Xin at ease. She then tentatively asked with a smile.

"As for the remaining balance of the renovation payment, what do you think..."

"Settle the debt now."

Without saying a word, Lin Shen took the expense list handed to him by Zhang Xin, glanced at it briefly, and then made the final payment.

[Host's entrepreneurial intentions detected. 150,000 startup funds have been withdrawn to pay the final payment for office renovations! Only 10,700,000 remain.]

"Thank you, Mr. Lin!"

Seeing Lin Shen's straightforwardness, Zhang Xin's fondness for him increased dramatically.

"Wishing you continued success in your future endeavors! Huamao is here to support you. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me."

"it is good."

"I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now."

"Ah."

After watching Zhang Xin leave, Zhou Qiang seized the opportunity to quickly interject.

"Brother Shen, when do you plan to use the office area? I'll get the water and electricity connected then."

"I'll let you know in a while."

Lin Shen considered that the company didn't have many employees yet, so it wasn't the right time to use them.

It's not too late to make a decision after we see the operational results of Shennan Pet Club.

"Do you have anything else to do next?"

Zhou Qiang rubbed his hands together expectantly.

"If you're free, how about I treat you to a meal?"

"Look at my outfit, do I look like someone who's not in trouble?"

Lin Shen smiled and patted Zhou Qiang on the shoulder.

"I'll treat you next time; I have plans tonight."

"it is good."

Zhou Qiang quickly put on a smile and followed Lin Shen down the elevator.

However, he stopped on the third floor and walked straight into Chongyou's office area after the door opened.

"I am leaving."

"Okay! Take care, Brother Shen!"

So Lin Shen met his girlfriend at work...

Zhou Qiang's mind stirred slightly.

who can that be?

-

-

Six o'clock in the evening, in the office of the marketing director of PetHome.

"...These are all the reports I've been working on lately."

After Qin Yuennan handed a stack of reports to the new director who was about to take over her position, her expression was not as happy as one would expect after a promotion; instead, endless melancholy and resentment were brewing within her.

Because the workload is just too much!

That's at least three times more than the salaries of other directors!

This made the new director feel a deep admiration for Qin Yuennan's work ability.

How did she manage to handle so many things so well?
In fact, their performance was the best among all departments!

It's absolutely terrifying!
"Don't hesitate to ask me anything."

Because she was about to leave the company, Qin Yuennan didn't harbor as much deep-seated hatred as before, and her usually aloof expression softened considerably.

Upon seeing this, the new director couldn't help but complain.

"There are so many things I need to ask, I reckon I'll have to trouble you for a while longer, Sister Nan."

"It's ok."

Qin Yuennan sat back down behind her desk, leaning back in her chair with her long, beautiful legs crossed and her fingers interlaced and pressed against her lower abdomen, a rather elegant posture.

"I will stay at the company until the end of this month."

Dangdangdang——!
Just then, a knocking sound rang out, accompanied by several exclamations and jeering from outside, creating a noisy commotion.

Qin Yuennan frowned slightly and said softly.

"Please come in."

?

The new director turned around and saw a super handsome man in a suit and tie walk in; her beautiful eyes widened instantly.

What the hell!

So handsome!

Do we have anyone that handsome in our company?
Qin Yuennan's brain immediately went blank, and an unusual light suddenly flickered in her usually indifferent beautiful eyes.

The forest is deep!?
(End of this chapter)