Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

"Then I want a kiss, a hug, and to be lifted high in the air right now, cousin!"

She tried to rekindle the intoxicating passion from before by asking for a kiss, to relive that feeling of being out of her body.

However, Chen Ming did not immediately grant her request.

He reached out and tapped the drum lightly, producing a crisp sound, as if to "wake her up."

"Yay!"

Xie Wanqing gasped softly, two blushes instantly rising to her cheeks. She looked at him with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, and asked in a sweet voice, "Cousin~ why did you hit me?"

Chen Ming deliberately put on a serious face and said in a tone that was half-joking and half-seriously:

Even tigers don't eat their cubs! Go wash up first!

Xie Wanqing was taken aback at first, then realized the meaning behind his words. Her face turned even redder, but she refused to back down, muttering with slight dissatisfaction:

"This...this is all your fault! I haven't even complained about anything, and you're already complaining..."

Despite her complaints, Xie Wanqing still obediently struggled to sit up after she finished speaking.

However, instead of going to the bathroom alone, she turned around, took Chen Ming's hand, and said softly with a hint of slyness and new expectation in her eyes:

"Come on, cousin... I want to wash my little cousin clean myself too..."

……

Meanwhile, in the heart of Ling'an City's bustling commercial district, inside the magnificent skyscraper housing the Laolongxiang Gold Shop, another meticulously planned meeting was taking place.

Zhang Wanzhen, accompanied by her mother Zhang Xuanni, followed behind a capable-looking female secretary, through the bustling and dazzling showroom on the first floor of the jewelry store, and headed towards the internal area that was not open to the public.

Throughout the journey, Zhang Xuanni's eyes never stopped; she was like a meticulous detective, carefully observing everything around her.

The Lao Long Xiang Gold Shop on the first floor was bustling with customers, its gold jewelry gleaming in the sunlight. The well-trained sales staff exuded the prestige and prestige of this time-honored brand. A private internal elevator led upstairs; its interior was tastefully decorated, and its operation was smooth and silent.

As the elevator doors briefly opened and closed, Zhang Xuanni could see the office area upstairs—the corridor was wide, the decor was a blend of modern simplicity and understated luxury, the materials were exquisite, and the lighting was soft and bright.

Unlike the usual situation where dozens of different companies are crammed into a single building, here the entire building clearly belongs to the same system. The employees are dressed in uniform business attire, walking briskly yet orderly, their faces radiating confidence and vitality.

All of this left Zhang Xuanni with an excellent first impression.

She even had a fleeting thought: This company is really powerful, and the environment is great. It would be wonderful to find a job here...

After the elevator reached the top floor, the female secretary respectfully led them into the almost extravagantly spacious general manager's office.

A very charismatic, elegantly dressed woman was seen sitting in a CEO chair behind her desk, busy at work.

Such a grand display and such distinguished figures immediately dispelled many of Zhang Xuanni's doubts—at least, her daughter wasn't associating with any shady characters.

"Sister Shi Ci!"

Upon seeing the figure behind the desk, Zhang Wanzhen immediately broke into a genuine, radiant smile. She jogged over and affectionately took Shi Ci's hands, appearing quite familiar with him...

A warm and friendly smile also bloomed on Shi Ci's face. She gently squeezed Zhang Wanzhen's hand in return, her tone filled with surprise:

"Wow! It's only been a few days, Wanzhen seems to have become even more beautiful! She looks so radiant... Is this your mother?"

As she spoke, her gaze naturally shifted to Zhang Xuanni, who was walking up behind her. A look of undisguised amazement flashed in her eyes, and she thought to herself: What a beautiful and elegant woman who still retains her charm and has an outstanding temperament!

Just as Zhang Wan was about to begin the introductions, Zhang Xuanni stepped forward. With a polite smile, she extended her hand to Shi Ci and introduced herself with grace and poise:

"Hello, Mr. Shi, I am Wanzhen's mother, Zhang Xuanni. Thank you so much for taking the time to receive us this time."

Seeing this, Shi Ci quickly released Zhang Wanzhen's hand and politely grasped Zhang Xuanni's outstretched hand with both of hers, saying warmly:

"Auntie, please don't be so polite. Just call me Xiao Ci or Xiao Shi! There's no need for 'General' or 'General' in front of you. I'm your junior."

She looked Zhang Xuanni up and down carefully, and said sincerely, "Honestly, Auntie, you're so young and beautiful, and you have such a great presence. When I first saw you, I really couldn't believe you were Wanzhen's mother! If you went out together, people would believe you were sisters. I always feel like calling you 'Auntie' makes you sound old..."

Shi Ci spoke naturally and fluently, with a sincere tone, without any trace of deliberate flattery.

The reason she was so polite and considerate was simple—one of the two women in front of her was the woman her boss, Chen Ming, had his eye on, and the other was her boss's future "mother-in-law." As an employee, she naturally had to treat them with the utmost sincerity and respect, and make sure to leave them with the best impression.

As the saying goes, flattery will get you everywhere.

Zhang Xuanni was overjoyed by Shi Ci's perfectly timed praise. The serious expression on her face melted away instantly, replaced by a happy smile. The last trace of wariness that had remained vanished in an instant.

She chuckled and squeezed Shi Ci's hand tightly, saying with a smile, "Oh my, Shi Ci, you're so good with words! You're making me blush. How about this, let's not be so formal about seniority and just call each other by our own names? You call me Sister Zhang, and I'll call you Shi Ci. That'll sound more friendly!"

Shi Ci readily agreed, seizing the opportunity with a sweet smile: "Since you don't mind, Sister Zhang, then I'll call you that from now on! To be honest, you don't look that much older than me, so calling you 'Auntie' feels a bit awkward. Calling you 'Sister Zhang' is more appropriate."

"Hahaha……"

Zhang Xuanni was amused and laughed heartily. Her goodwill towards Shi Ci skyrocketed. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Xiao Ci, no wonder you were able to become the president at such a young age. Your interpersonal skills and your way of speaking are impeccable! Even people who have just met you find it hard not to like you. You have such a sweet tongue..."

However, Zhang Xuanni was actually wrong in saying that.

Although Shi Ci was impersonating a wealthy heiress, the real heiress, Long Zixuan, did not become the CEO because of her interpersonal skills such as being "sweet-talking" or "good at interpersonal relationships."

Their status and power primarily stem from their unassailable birth and family background. While personal ability is certainly important, their starting point determines their ceiling.

Zhang Xuanni failed to see through this facade, easily believing Shi Ci's performance and even using her own simple worldview to explain everything. This also reflects the naive and trusting side of her personality.

No wonder she could give birth to a daughter as innocent and naive as Zhang Wanzhen; it turns out that this mother herself also possessed a touch of the untainted, naive, and sweet quality deep down...

In short, thanks to Shi Ci's perfectly timed flattery and pandering, the atmosphere in the office became exceptionally harmonious.

The two chatted happily, their laughter ringing out from time to time, appearing as long-time friends despite their age difference.

The lingering doubts and wariness in Zhang Xuanni's heart quickly vanished completely, like a thin mist under the sunlight.

Her logic was simple—how could a young president like Shi Ci, who manages such a large company, possibly spend so much time and energy going to such lengths to set a trap for his own daughter? It makes no sense at all, and there's absolutely no profit in it!

If it were just a phone call, Zhang Xuanni might be wary of whether it was a new type of telecom fraud.

But now, she was truly standing inside this magnificent company, seeing the president in person.

None of this can be faked; it cannot be forged.

As for lust? Shi Ci herself is a beautiful woman, she has no such desire!

Surely she wouldn't be keeping a mistress for her man?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

She shook her head firmly in her heart.

Having figured these points out, Zhang Xuanni completely let down her guard and believed that Shi Ci had lent money to Zhang Wanzhen out of compassion.

So, choosing her tone carefully, she steered the conversation towards a practical matter, asking to confirm, "Xiao Shi! I heard from Wanzhen that she told you about our family's difficulties, so you lent her 480 million. What about the interest... and the repayment deadline...?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xuanni's hesitant tone, Shi Ci understood that what the other party hoped for was an "interest-free loan" and a "flexible repayment period," but was too embarrassed to ask directly.

Anyway, the money came from the boss, Chen Ming, and was Zhang Wanzhen's allowance for the whole year. It had nothing to do with her, so Shi Ci was happy to do a favor and didn't intend to make things difficult for the boss's mother-in-law.

She said very generously, "Sister Zhang, don't worry, Wanzhen has explained the situation to me. This 480 million is an interest-free loan I gave to Wanzhen because we get along well, so there's no need to rush to repay it... However, I have a small suggestion..."

Chapter 265: Shi Ci's Occupational Hazard

Upon hearing that it was an interest-free loan and that there was no need to rush to repay it, Zhang Xuanni felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.

She quickly replied, "Oh! Xiao Shi, you're too kind. Please feel free to offer any suggestions. You are a great benefactor to our family now, and I will definitely consider your suggestions carefully."

Having laid the groundwork sufficiently, Shi Ci then began to explain his innermost thoughts:

“Then I’ll get straight to the point. I heard from Wanzhen’s cousin, Zhang Yunyi, that you and Wanzhen’s father both lost your jobs because of debt issues. Although the family’s debts have been temporarily paid off, life still goes on. Without a stable source of income, it’s not a long-term solution…”

"So, Sister Zhang, have you considered finding a high-paying job in Ling'an City? Ling'an City has a good economy, many opportunities, and the salary level is definitely much higher than in Hongdu City. If you're willing to stay and work here, on the one hand, you'll have income security, and on the other hand, it will be more convenient for me to take care of you..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuanni couldn't help but mutter to herself: "Yunyi, that girl really doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. How can she just spill all the family's secrets? What if she thinks our family has trouble repaying and then backs out of lending us the money?"

She then pondered for a moment, carefully considering Shi Ci's words, and felt that what Shi Ci said made sense, and it sounded like she was thinking of her family.

Zhang Xuanni nodded and said, "Xiao Shi, you're right! There are indeed more opportunities in Ling'an City than in Hongdu City, and the salaries are higher... To be honest, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I was already planning to look for suitable job opportunities here. Because no matter what, we will definitely work hard to earn money and pay you back as soon as possible! We can't let our benefactor feel disappointed..."

To further reassure Shi Ci, Zhang Xuanni added, "In addition, we have a house in our hometown of Hongdu City where we live. Although it's not very big, it's still worth some money. If you're worried, we can leave the property certificate with you as collateral. If the real estate market weren't so sluggish right now, making it difficult to sell houses quickly and driving prices down, we would have already been preparing to sell the house..."

Her words indicated that her family had the ability to repay the loan, and at the same time, they were also a subtle way of expressing that she genuinely wanted to repay the loan and did not intend to default on it.

After all, a 480 million yuan interest-free loan is practically a windfall. Shi Ci could simply put that money in a bank to earn interest or invest it in her own business; who knows how much profit it would generate by the time her family could repay it?

Therefore, Shi Ci is helping them at a complete loss, and this kindness is truly too heavy.

Zhang Xuanni was filled with gratitude!

However, Shi Ci did not follow up on Zhang Xuanni's lead regarding the mortgage of the property certificate. She simply smiled and gently shook her head.

“Sister Zhang, you’ve misunderstood me. I have absolutely no doubt about your family’s ability to repay, and I certainly don’t need you to use the property certificate as collateral. To be more frank, even disregarding everything else, just based on my confidence and trust in Wanzhen, I believe that with her intelligence and potential, she will be fully capable of repaying this money on her own after graduating from university!”

She first reassured Zhang Xuanni, but then subtly changed the subject, saying:

“But, Sister Zhang, this debt wasn’t actually incurred by Wanzhen. She’s just a high school student, yet she has to take responsibility for her parents’ debts, which could even affect her future studies and life plans. It’s a bit unreasonable, and as her ‘adopted older sister,’ it breaks my heart to see her like this.”

Shi Ci's words were full of affection for Zhang Wanzhen, and seemed sincere and heartfelt.

She observed the guilt and complex expression on Zhang Xuanni's face, knowing that her words had had an effect, and then offered her true suggestion:

"So, here's my idea—out of respect for Wanzhen and understanding your family's difficulties, I'm willing to lend you this 480 million yuan interest-free to help you through this tough time. But this money is nominally a loan to you, Sister Zhang, and I hope you can come and work for me. This way, you can earn a decent salary through work, gradually repay this debt, and also supplement your household income to maintain your livelihood. What do you think of this proposal?"

This was actually a spur-of-the-moment decision by Shi Ci.

According to Chen Ming's original script, her task was to play the role of the "mysterious wealthy godmother" and make Zhang Wanzhen's mother believe that the huge loan was legitimate and there was nothing to worry about. Then she could retire successfully and send Zhang Wanzhen's mother back to her hometown in peace.

In this way, Zhang Wanzhen's parents can be relieved of their debt burden, live in peace in their hometown, and start anew.

Although Zhang Wanzhen lost a year's worth of pocket money, she successfully saved her family from breaking up!

Furthermore, with Chen Ming as her support, she can continue to live a comfortable life.

A world where no one will get hurt has been created!

However, when Shi Ci saw Zhang Xuan Ni in person—a beautiful woman who, despite the hardships of life, was still well-maintained, retained her charm, and even possessed a more mature allure than many young girls—the string deep within her heart, the desire to "find a high-quality woman for the BOSS," was plucked hard.

After all, she had only successfully found Zhang Wanzhen, and she already received a bonus of 40 yuan and a car sales commission of 84 yuan!

With such huge profits, who wouldn't be tempted or confused?

Therefore, Shi Ci's "beauty-seeking radar" suddenly went off wildly, and almost subconsciously, she decided to temporarily revise the script, cleverly and reasonably shifting the burden of debt from Zhang Wanzhen to her mother, Zhang Xuanni.

Doing this has many advantages:

First, this would greatly reassure Zhang Xuanni, making her more comfortable accepting the loan.

As a mother, Zhang Xuanni's deepest worry was whether her young daughter had paid some unknown and terrible price for the money, fearing it might be a trap for her daughter.

However, if the debt is clearly on her own shoulders and she, as an adult, is primarily responsible for it, then her concerns will naturally be much less—after all, the fact that she can owe so much money is because it was borrowed, which shows that she is very bold in borrowing money!

The reason she is now facing a debt crisis is mainly because she has nowhere else to borrow money. Now that Shi Ci is willing to lend her money, she naturally will not refuse.

Secondly, it would also allow Zhang Xuanni to legitimately work under the BOSS.

Shi Ci estimated that if he could successfully recommend this very charming and beautiful woman to the BOSS, he might receive an unexpectedly generous reward...

Although the BOSS only needs a pure and beautiful girl.

But Zhang Xuanni has a special advantage in her identity, which might bring a different kind of novelty and excitement?

There's no harm in trying it out, and who knows, the boss might like it too!

Finally, this is also to solve a pressing practical problem.

Zhang Wanzhen came to Ling'an City to stay with her cousin's family because she wanted to escape the vicious debt collectors in Hongdu City. It was an arrangement made by her parents to protect her.

Now that the debt issue has been resolved, theoretically, Zhang Wanzhen should return to her hometown in Hongdu City to continue her high school studies.

This means she and her boss will be in a long-distance relationship, only able to meet during long holidays like summer and winter breaks. This is clearly bad news for her boss.

As someone who aspires to be the most trusted secretary to her boss, Shi Ci feels that it is her duty to proactively help her boss solve problems.

Therefore, she had a sudden inspiration and persuaded Zhang Xuanni to stay and work in Ling'an City.

If Zhang Xuanni decides to stay, then Zhang Wanzhen, as her daughter, can naturally stay in Ling'an City with her mother. She only needs to go through the transfer procedures to continue her studies at a high school in Ling'an City.

This made it much easier for the BOSS and Zhang Wanzhen to meet or be affectionate, and they no longer had to suffer the pain of long-distance love.

Moreover, as her "adopted older sister," wouldn't it be easy for her to find any excuse, such as "wanting to take Wanzhen to my place to play," to make Zhang Wanzhen stay out all night?

This has cleared a major obstacle for the BOSS's "happy life"!

It is precisely because of these many benefits that it can bring huge potential profits to oneself, please the BOSS, solve the BOSS's "practical difficulties", and allow the Zhang family mother and daughter to settle down in Ling'an City, which is beneficial to all parties.

That's why Shih Tzu decided on the spur of the moment to slightly modify this simple money-borrowing scenario!

She could almost foresee that when she reported to the BOSS, she would not only not be blamed, but would most likely be praised...