Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 111 Lin Chen Kisses Me

Factory Director Qi's face froze instantly after being reprimanded by Lin Chen. He then spread his hands and said, "Director Lin, don't put it so harshly. That's just how it is. We'll go after whoever is easy to manipulate. We can't just ignore the God of Wealth and Master X and offend them, can we? The villagers are simple and honest and won't cause trouble. A few days without water is no big deal. There's no need to make a big deal out of it."

These words completely ignited Lin Chen's anger. He slammed his hand on his desk, making the documents on it rattle. His eyes were as cold as ice: "Being honest doesn't mean you're easy to bully. Not causing trouble doesn't mean you deserve to be wronged. Xinhai Company eats the people's food and is responsible for water supply. It's not for you to use the name of the project to line your own pockets and treat the villagers like soft persimmons."

Lin Chen was truly impressed by this group of old men.

How can such words be spoken so eloquently and respectably?

Seeing that Lin Chen was truly angry, Director Qi also dropped his affected demeanor, his face darkening, and his tone becoming threatening: "Director Lin, you're being a bit unreasonable. This isn't just a problem for our water plant; it's always been done this way when Old Zhang was in charge, and everyone tacitly agreed. If you insist on making a big deal out of it, future project coordination for the water plant might not be so smooth."

He thought that bringing up Lao Zhang and the industry's unspoken rules would force Lin Chen to compromise, but little did he know that Lin Chen was not one to fall for that. He didn't give him any room to bargain, and his tone was firm and resolute: "I don't care how your profit chain works, or how Lao Zhang dealt with you before, but things have changed here. The bottom line of people's livelihood cannot be touched, and the rights of the villagers cannot be violated. This is my rule, and it is also the rule of the project department from now on. I tell everyone this."

"You're all right, let's see how long you can be so arrogant, Lin Chen."

Factory Director Qi picked up the project application from the trash can with a frustrated expression, slunk away, his face extremely grim as he left, looking as if he had swallowed a fly. However, he immediately called Old Zhang after leaving the factory.

Old Zhang arrived just after the start of the workday in the afternoon.

Old Zhang put on a serious expression and said with a smile, "Xiao Lin, Director Qi just called me. I heard about the Heshan Water Plant thing. The plan is all done, and the project proposal is fine. Just sign it for him. There's no need to make things so tense."

Lin Chen: "Director Zhang, I can't do this. This project is unreasonable."

Old Zhang's smile faded slightly: "Lin Chen, Director Qi always did things this way when I was in charge. The water plant needed to eat, and the construction team needed to make money. Everyone got what they needed, and things went smoothly. But you insisted on breaking the rules. Not only did you offend people, but the project department will also run into obstacles everywhere when coordinating with the various water plants. It's not worth it."

Lin Chen stopped what he was doing, looked up at him, his eyes sharp, and his words clear: "You're using the repeated work stoppages to torment the villagers and line your own pockets. You turned a blind eye to it before, that was your way of doing things, I understood but I didn't accept it. Now if you want me to sign something, there's definitely no room for discussion."

Old Zhang didn't expect Lin Chen to be so disrespectful and directly refute him. His face darkened, and his tone became more pressure-inducing: "You're young and don't understand the intricacies of this situation. Factory Director Qi also has connections. He was a good brother of General Manager Zeng Huihuang back then. If he mentions it to General Manager Zeng, it won't be good for your future promotion."

After hearing this, Lin Chen chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Director Zhang, you may not know, but I'm not particularly enthusiastic about promotions."

These words left Old Zhang speechless. His face turned pale and then red, embarrassed and annoyed. He wanted to lash out but lacked the confidence, since Lin Chen held the real power and Song Jiehui was clearly biased towards Lin Chen. He was powerless to do anything about it.

He stood up abruptly, his tone tinged with anger and embarrassment: "Fine, Lin Chen, you think you're all grown up now, huh? You won't listen to reason anymore!"

"I'm not involved in this anymore. If anything goes wrong later, you're on your own."

"Don't worry, Director Zhang, I'll handle it if the sky falls." Lin Chen didn't care at all. After saying that, he lowered his head and continued working, not even glancing at Old Zhang again, and didn't even offer a polite attempt to persuade him to stay.

Two days later, Lao Zhang made a special trip to the city company to find Zeng Huihuang. As soon as they met, he had a long face and his tone was aggrieved and annoyed: "President Zeng, I've come to apologize to you."

Seeing his expression, Zeng Huihuang frowned and gestured for him to sit down: "Old Zhang, why are you apologizing so formally? Let's talk things out."

"President Zeng, you strongly recommended me to take charge of the Suixian project department, but now I'm completely controlled by Song Jiehui, it's no different from being kicked out. I've let you down!" Old Zhang said with a bitter expression and his tone was full of resentment.

Zeng Huihuang looked surprised upon hearing this, and his tone suddenly became more serious: "What's going on? Did Song Jiehui actually remove you from your position as director? He dares to do that?"

Old Zhang got angrier and angrier as he spoke, pouring out his grievances: "It's no different from being dismissed. He installed a deputy director here, blatantly taking away all the power I had, and even hinting that if I didn't cooperate, he would send me home to retire."

"I told you before, just focus on the project. I'll approve all the requests you submit. Don't bother with Song."

"Don't stoop to Jiehui's level; it's not worth getting angry with him," Zeng Huihuang said in a deep voice.

Old Zhang looked aggrieved: "I didn't dare to argue with him at all, but he wouldn't let go. Just because of a tiny bit of overdue data, he went through all my past work from beginning to end. It's obvious he's deliberately picking a fight."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Huihuang slammed his hand on the table, his face flushed with anger: "This Song Jiehui has really gone too far! Does he really think Sui County is his domain?"

"President Zeng, you're soaring high in the city company, you can't just ignore your old brother's fate! Tan Huasheng has already been completely sacrificed, and now he's turning his attention to me. He's clearly trying to wipe out your roots in Sui County." Old Zhang said anxiously, hoping that Zeng Huihuang could lend a hand.

Zeng Huihuang, however, seemed unconcerned: "It's not as serious as you say. A few days ago, Song Jiehui even gave me a special report at the meeting. He was very respectful and seemed quite sensible."

"President Zeng, he's playing two-faced. He flatters you to your face, but behind your back he's relentlessly suppressing your former subordinates from Sui County! To be honest, it doesn't matter whether I'm the project manager or not, the key issue is that I won't be able to help you with the connections for those construction teams anymore!" Old Zhang's words hit the nail on the head, his tone full of implications.

Zeng Huihuang's expression changed for a moment, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and changed the subject, asking, "Who exactly is the deputy director of your project department now?"

Old Zhang uttered the name, his tone full of disgust: "It's that Lin Chen!"

"It's that Lin Chen again?" Zeng Huihuang was startled upon hearing this, his tone full of astonishment. He clearly hadn't expected that the same person had repeatedly ruined his plans, and a chill instantly surged in his eyes.

Finally, the weekend arrived, and Lin Chen could finally breathe a sigh of relief and get some rest. When he was a specialist, he always felt overwhelmed by the amount of work and the low pay. He never imagined that becoming deputy director would be even more exhausting, leaving him with barely any time to catch his breath. He couldn't help but think to himself that he was probably born to be overworked. What was even more mentally and physically exhausting was that the bizarre projects and absurd chaos in the project department constantly challenged his worldview; the mental strain was far more agonizing than the physical exhaustion.

That day, Lin Chen was holed up in his villa, frantically writing. He had been busy with job transfers and daily chores, so the frequency of his novel updates had decreased slightly, but the quality of the content remained consistently high. The word count had already surpassed three million, and the monthly ticket chart had been number one across the entire network for six consecutive months, maintaining its high popularity.

The novel's film and television adaptations have been completed and are preparing to be launched on major platforms. The novel's websites seized the opportunity to provide ample recommendation resources, and a strong promotional campaign boosted its popularity. The monthly royalties amounted to a full 500,000 yuan, a truly high-paying income.

Many people lack the motivation to write novels because they don't make money from it. If you could earn over ten thousand yuan a month writing novels, I believe you would definitely be able to lock yourself in your room every day to write.

It's just like working. In fact, as long as the money is right, I'd be willing to work overtime or even live at the company. Unfortunately, this evil capitalist only ever exploits and never gives anything in return.

However, Lin Chen had naively thought that if his novel was adapted into a film and television series, he would at least have some say, be able to offer suggestions, or even participate in the selection of the male and female leads. Maybe he could even have some fun with young models. But that was just wishful thinking!

Since signing the agreement with the novel website, the copyright of the novel has completely belonged to the platform. The author is left with only two rights: the right to know and a share of the profits. The share of profits is pitifully low and outrageously exploitative.

Lin Chen's novel sold for a whopping 20 million yuan, but the money he actually received was only about a million yuan after deducting all the costs. Although the platform did give the novel exposure, their behavior was even uglier than that of the parasites at Xinhai Group. It was blatant exploitation, leaving nothing behind.

Of course, as a top-tier author on the website, in addition to royalties and copyright revenue sharing, he receives a lot of extra income. A few days ago, an editor contacted him specifically, saying they wanted to ask him to teach online courses for new writers on the platform. He wouldn't have to show his face; each one-hour class would cost him 10,000 yuan—a sure-fire way to make easy money.

The reward was undeniably generous, but Lin Chen refused it without a second thought. He knew perfectly well that he had no talent for writing novels, neither understanding techniques nor any structure. His achievements were entirely due to his early life of struggling in Xinhai, where he witnessed too much absurdity and chaos in the workplace and the dark side of human nature.

It's just a truthful account of the sordidness and struggles of reality; there's nothing to teach others. You can't expect a newcomer to witness the coldness of the world and learn how to struggle in the mud. That's just too cruel.

Around 7:30, Lin Chen finished typing, stretched, and rubbed his sore neck, pondering what to eat for dinner. Suddenly, his phone rang. He looked at the contact name and saw it was Tang Xin.

Lin Chen answered casually, his tone languid, as if he had just finished typing: "Hello, what's up?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Gone was the usual cheerful and lively voice; only an undisguised grievance and dejection remained. The voice was soft, tinged with helplessness: "Lin Chen, can I stay at your place tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's heart tightened, his head stiffened instantly, a rush of blood to his head made his body feel hot, but he forced a calm expression and asked in a hoarse voice, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Tang Xin didn't respond to him. Her tone was stubborn yet subtly dependent. She pressed on, asking persistently, "Just tell me if it's okay or not."

Lin Chen had no reason to refuse, and immediately agreed: "Definitely no problem. You know my address, just come over. I'll leave the door open for you."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Chen lost his appetite and felt a strange restlessness. He tidied up the living room and prepared slippers and toiletries for Tang Xin. Not long after, the doorbell rang.

When Lin Chen opened the door, Tang Xin stood there, her eyes slightly red and the tip of her nose a little tinged with red. Her usually meticulously styled hair was casually tied up, a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks. Gone was the sharp, sophisticated look she wore in the office; she was dressed in a loose white knit sweater and jeans. Her figure was still voluptuous and eye-catching, but she exuded a vulnerable vulnerability. She was carrying a small suitcase. When Lin Chen opened the door, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by a quiet composure. She softly said, "Thank you for your trouble," her voice filled with melancholy.

Lin Chen stepped aside to let her in, took her suitcase, and as he closed the door, he noticed the bloodshot eyes in her gaze. He asked in a low voice, "What happened? Who upset our Director Tang?"

Tang Xin sat down on the sofa without saying a word, looking exhausted. After a while, she slowly spoke, her tone full of annoyance and helplessness: "He's back."

"Who?"

"Who else could it be but my dead husband?"

Lin Chen was taken aback, then realized that she was referring to her so-called husband, a man who relied on Tang Xin's family for support, idled away his days doing some shady so-called art, and was always away from home.

I'd heard Tang Xin mention it a few times before; their relationship was already dead in name only, with only a marriage contract binding them together.

"Why did he come back?" Lin Chen handed over a tissue, his tone becoming more somber.

"What else can he do? He can't make it on his own and comes back to me for money." Tang Xin scoffed, her eyes full of disdain, but her eyes were even redder.

Looking at her reddened eyes, Lin Chen felt a surge of pity mixed with some indescribable emotions. He handed her a glass of warm water and said, "It's alright. You can stay here with me for as long as you like."

Tang Xin took the water glass, her fingertips touching the warm glass and then Lin Chen's fingers. Both of them paused instinctively, an intimate atmosphere instantly filling the air. She looked up at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with moist gratitude, and whispered, "Actually, I didn't want to bother you, but I really can't stand him. I don't want anyone else to touch me except you."

Hearing this, Lin Chen felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his blood began to boil again. Looking at her face so close to his, his skin was fair and delicate, and his reddened eyes were as endearing as a fawn's. His voluptuous figure was wrapped in a loose knit sweater, making him appear soft and full.

He suppressed the agitation in his heart and turned his gaze away with feigned composure: "Why are you being so polite with me? Are you hungry? I haven't had dinner yet, so let's eat together. I'll cook you some noodles and fry two eggs."

"Thank you, Lin Chen." Tang Xin obediently replied, watching Lin Chen turn and enter the kitchen. The panic and grievance in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a touch of warmth.

Looking at the kitchen light and listening to the sound of running water and clinking dishes, a long-lost sense of peace welled up in her heart—a warmth she had never felt in that so-called home.

Lin Chen's cooking skills were top-notch. Soon, two steaming bowls of noodles were served, with golden-brown fried eggs on top, emitting a wonderful aroma.

As Tang Xin ate the hot noodles, warmth spread from her stomach to her whole body, and the soreness in her eyes gradually dissipated. Looking at Lin Chen across from her, who had been watching her eat, the light fell on his face, highlighting his distinct features. His usual decisive and unyielding demeanor in the project department now had a touch of warmth and humanity, making her heart flutter even more.

After finishing their noodles, the two sat down together, very close to each other. Lin Chen could smell the faint scent of her shampoo, mixed with a woman's unique fragrance, which made his heart itch.

"Director Tang, if you feel you can't live with him anymore, why don't you get a divorce?"

"I've brought it up many times, but he refuses. He says he'll agree to a divorce, but I have to give him 10 yuan, otherwise he'll keep harassing me."

"One hundred thousand? Give it to him, I'll pay it for you." Lin Chen's voice was deep and magnetic, full of confidence.

Tang Xin turned to look at him, her eyes shimmering: "No, Lin Chen, it's not that I don't have money, but why should I give him 100,000? He was the one who abused me first."

As expected, he was an abusive man. Lin Chen had already thought of that, but he still said calmly, "This is the fastest way. I gave him 100,000 not because he wanted 100,000, but because of you. 100,000 will help you buy freedom and peace of mind, and free you from your suffering. It's worth it. Besides, wasting time with this kind of person will only hurt your body and your heart. It's not worth it."

Hearing Lin Chen say this, all of Tang Xin's grievances and unease vanished. She trembled slightly as she slowly approached, feeling only a sense of peace and excitement. At this moment, she only wanted to completely let down her guard and immerse herself in Lin Chen's arms.

"Lin Chen kissed me." Tang Xin closed her eyes, leaned on his shoulder, her face flushed.

Lin Chen looked at her red lips so close to his face, and the heat in his heart could no longer be suppressed. He reached out and gently wiped away the stray hairs on her cheek, his fingertips touching her delicate skin.

Tang Xin trembled slightly, but instead of dodging, she leaned closer to him. Her voluptuous body pressed against his arm, and the soft touch made Lin Chen's blood surge.

Reason was instantly overwhelmed by lust and pity, and he pushed her down abruptly.

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