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

Thinking of this, the smile on her lips became even more genuine.

After listening to Shi Ci's reasonable analysis, especially the sentence "This debt was not actually owed by Wanzhen...", Zhang Xuanni felt a deep connection with Shi Ci, touching the most tender and guilty nerve in her heart as a mother.

Yes, what kind of logic is there in the world to let a daughter who is still in school bear the heavy debt of her parents? This is not only an economic burden, but also a huge psychological pressure.

Shi Ci proposed making her the debtor and offered her a job opportunity. In Zhang Xuanni's view, this was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for her to take responsibility and regain her dignity through her own efforts.

So she made her stance clear almost without hesitation:

“Xiao Shi, you’re right. This shouldn’t have been Wanzhen’s burden in the first place. I’m very willing to work for you, but…”

She changed the subject slightly, revealing a hint of embarrassment, "We need to make this clear first. I've been away from the workforce for a while now, so I might not be able to immediately handle the tasks you assign. If I don't do them well, wouldn't that just cause you trouble?"

Zhang Wanzhen, who had been listening quietly to the side, was somewhat bewildered at that moment.

She blinked her big eyes, looking at her mother, then at Sister Shi Ci, her head filled with little question marks:

Wait, this isn't how the script was supposed to go this time?

Isn't it enough to just convince Mom that the money was borrowed and from a legitimate source, and then go home with peace of mind?

How did the conversation turn into Mom wanting to stay in Ling'an City and work for Sister Shi Ci to pay off her debts?

This sudden turn of events left her somewhat bewildered.

Although she was young, she was perceptive enough to understand people's expressions and knew that she had no right to interrupt. Moreover, she believed that Sister Shi Ci would never deliberately make things difficult for her mother.

After all, her boyfriend was Sister Shi Ci's top boss!

With that thought in mind, she felt reassured and continued to obediently play the role of listener...

Shi Ci then gave Zhang Xuan Ni a reassuring smile and said in a relaxed tone:

"Sister Zhang, you don't need to worry about that at all. The work I arrange for you will definitely be within your capabilities, or I will arrange for someone to teach you step by step until you have fully mastered it. More importantly, if you are not interested in the work assigned to you, or feel that it is not suitable for you, you have the right to refuse!"

These respectful words completely dispelled the last trace of concern in Zhang Xuanni's heart.

If you can refuse work you don't want to do, then what's there to be afraid of?

A hopeful smile lit up her face, and she quickly asked, "If it's a job I can do, that's great! What exactly is the position? That way I can be mentally prepared."

However, although Shi Ci had a vague idea about the specific work arrangements, she had to ask Chen Ming's opinion first. How could she make the decision on her own?

So she adopted a delaying tactic, showing a hint of apology on her face:

"As for the specific job details... I still need to think carefully about it based on the company's actual job requirements and your strengths to ensure I arrange the most suitable position. How about this, Sister Zhang, it's rare for you to come to Ling'an City, and you must be tired from the journey. Let Wanzhen show you around today and let you relax and rest. We'll finalize the work details tomorrow... I happen to have some urgent matters to attend to, so I won't stay with you any longer..."

Zhang Xuanni found her explanation reasonable. It was already quite remarkable that the CEO of a large company could spare so much time to receive them, given his busy schedule.

Anyway, the CEO will help arrange the work, so I can just come and officially start work tomorrow.

So, she took her daughter Zhang Wanzhen's hand, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Shi Ci once again, and then said goodbye and left the office...

After seeing off the Zhang family mother and daughter, the office returned to silence.

Shi Ci quickly took out her phone and selected the photo that best showcased Zhang Xuan Ni's mature charm and delicate profile from the few photos she had secretly snapped earlier. In the photo, Zhang Xuan Ni was talking to her daughter with her head slightly turned to the side, a smile on her lips, gentle eyes, a beautiful neck, and was well-maintained with an outstanding temperament.

She sent the photo to a contact labeled "BOSS," followed by a message:

[Poetry: [Zhang Xuanni's photo.jpg]]

[Poetry: Boss, do you need a nanny like this at your lakeside villa? She's pleasing to the eye, and with her age and experience, she'd definitely be gentle, meticulous, and very attentive when doing housework...]

Chapter 266: A Steady Flow

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in a luxurious hotel suite.

After Chen Ming and Xie Wanqing finished bathing in the steamy, erotic room.

They were now lazily embracing each other, lying on that large, comfortable double bed.

The air still held a lingering, ambiguous atmosphere and the fresh scent of shower gel.

Xie Wanqing curled up beside Chen Ming like a satisfied kitten, her cheek pressed against his warm chest, her eyes closed as she rested, a tired but content smile on her lips.

Chen Ming casually picked up his phone from the bedside table. As the screen lit up, the lock screen displayed an unread message notification from "Tool Man No. 2 - Shi Ci".

He swiped to unlock the device, tapped the green bubble, and saw the photos and messages sent by Shi Ci.

His gaze was first drawn to the photograph—the woman in it was truly striking. She possessed not the innocent, youthful beauty of a young girl, but a mature charm that had been refined by time, radiating from within. Her features were delicate, her skin impeccably maintained, and her eyes held a gentle yet independent air. Her figure was perfectly accentuated by her well-chosen clothing.

However, when his gaze shifted downwards and he saw the message Shi Ci had attached, Chen Ming's brows instantly furrowed, and a large question mark appeared on his face.

?

What is Shi Ci up to?

Chen Ming's task for her was clearly to play the role of a "generous older sister," dispel Zhang Wanzhen's mother's doubts about the source of the huge loan, and let her return to her hometown to live in peace.

Now look what's happened. Zhang Xuanni just believed you were a kind and generous rich girl, and the next thing you did, you arranged for her to work in a young man's private residence?

How can people believe that?

The motives of the "generous older sister" suddenly became suspicious, and all the previous groundwork and performances may have been in vain!

This is absolutely outrageous!

Chen Ming found this unbelievable, so he immediately made a video call to Shi Ci.

He needed to figure out what the girl was thinking immediately.

"beep--"

The phone rang only once before the video call was quickly connected, and Shi Ci's familiar and pretty face appeared on the screen.

She was still in Long Zixuan's office, with an antique-looking bookshelf in the background.

Her face was full of smiles, and she said in a slightly ingratiating tone, "Boss! You saw the message so quickly? I was just about to send you a message to give you a detailed report on today's work!"

Chen Ming ignored her pleasantries and interrogated her succinctly: "Speak! What happened?"

On the other side of the screen, Shi Ci sensed the seriousness in Chen Ming's tone, immediately suppressed her smile, straightened her expression, and began to recount the events of her meeting with Zhang Xuanni and her daughter that day in detail.

She didn't hide anything, including the whole process of how she impulsively transferred the debt to Zhang Xuanni after seeing her appearance and temperament, and tried to arrange a job for her, as well as her little scheme of "finding a beauty to please the BOSS".

A few minutes later, after listening to Shi Ci's full report, Chen Ming's expression became very strange.

He stared at Shi Ci through the screen with an incredulous look, inwardly cursing: "You really dare to dream! You want Zhang Wanzhen's mother to be my nanny?"

While it's undeniable that Zhang Xuanni's photos are indeed very attractive—ranked at 89 points by the system's assessment of her overall appearance, suggesting she was likely a stunning beauty in her youth—Chen Ming still has his principles. He would never do anything to disrupt someone else's family harmony without good reason.

What's more, the other party is Zhang Wanzhen's mother! If something really happened, how would they face Zhang Wanzhen afterward? This is simply absurd!

So, Chen Ming said with a hint of warning, "Stop trying to be clever like this in the future, and don't forget my basic requirements. Even if you're coming to be a nanny, you must be a pure young girl..."

He directly rejected Shi Ci's far-fetched suggestion, then changed the subject:

"As for Wanzhen's mother's job arrangements... I recently started a new entertainment company. She doesn't have a relevant professional background, so she definitely can't do the technically demanding positions. However, she could try positions that focus on image, communication, and resource integration, such as artist, agent, talent scout, or public relations. Ask her later if she's interested in these kinds of jobs..."

The entertainment company he had Liu Rushuang set up has already taken basic shape and is currently in the recruitment stage; it would be easy to squeeze someone in.

In fact, with the capabilities Chen Ming now possesses, he is fully capable of building a vast business empire and arranging a senior management position for Zhang Xuanni that is more in line with her past experiences and is more relaxed and respectable!

But Chen Ming wasn't very interested in starting his own business.

In his view, those tedious business operations and market games should be left to the capable and willing girls in the harem to handle.

Anyway, he can provide unlimited funds and invincible military support, and who knows, he might even cultivate a few powerful "business empresses" in the future!

As for himself, he didn't need to get involved at all. He already had the ultimate cheat code that allowed him to directly enjoy life, so why did he have to work hard and experience the hardships of starting a business? Wasn't that just making a living without any real suffering?

Chen Ming saw things very clearly: most people in this world work hard to start businesses and strive for success, and their ultimate goal is to acquire more money and a higher social status.

Money is just a number to him; he can have as much as he wants.

As for status? He prefers to rely on his absolute strength to achieve it—as long as his strength is strong enough to crush everything, then he will naturally be the one standing at the top of the world and possessing the highest status, without needing to prove it through commercial success.

Therefore, all he needs to do is enjoy life and seize the day. The past 27 years of his awakened system have been tough enough; he'll make up for it with endless happiness in the future…

Upon hearing this, Shi Ci did not show the slightest frustration or discouragement on her face. Instead, she maintained her sweet smile and readily responded:

“Okay, boss, I understand. I will follow your instructions, inquire about Ms. Zhang’s interest in the relevant position at the entertainment company, and make proper arrangements for the follow-up matters.”

For her, this impromptu "shenanigans" was an extra attempt to "kill two birds with one stone".

Success would be a pleasant surprise, meaning another generous reward would be in hand; even if it fails, there would be no real loss.

Chen Ming was indeed not angry because Shi Ci had completed the task he was assigned—to play the role of a "rich heiress" and successfully gain the trust of Zhang Wanzhen's mother, Zhang Xuanni, making her believe in the source of the huge loan of 480 million yuan, thus putting her at ease.

As for her subsequent "spur-of-the-moment idea," it remained merely a suggestion, like a bubble that had just surfaced and been popped, and was rejected by Chen Ming before it could have any negative impact on reality.

More importantly, Shi Ci's arrangement for Zhang Wanzhen's mother to stay and work in Ling'an City, after discarding the unreliable "nanny" idea, is indeed a good thing at its core.

Just as Shi Ci analyzed, Zhang Wanzhen was able to stay in Ling'an City without any problem, and would have much more time to spend with him!

From this perspective alone, Shi Ci's "spur-of-the-moment" decision could be considered a lucky accident, bringing about some positive results...

The two then ended the video call.

Chen Ming had just put down his phone, ready to continue enjoying his intimacy with his cousin in his arms, when his phone beeped again. He glanced at it and saw it was a message from Zhang Wanzhen.

Clicking on the chat window labeled "Drew the talisman crooked again today," the girl's puzzled message came into view:

[The talisman I drew is crooked again today: Brother Chen, when we met today, Sister Shi Ci said she wanted my mother to stay in Ling'an City and work for her... Is that what you wanted?]

This girl, as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, remained obedient and silent throughout in Long Zixuan's impressive office, letting Shi Ci show off his skills. But upon reflection, she felt that something was amiss.

This deviated from the script she had initially agreed upon with Chen Ming and Shi Ci, which was to "comfort her mother and reassure her so she could return home safely."

So Zhang Wanzhen couldn't help but ask her man for a definite answer.

After all, according to her cousin Zhang Yunyi's previous statement and her understanding, from the moment she became Chen Ming's woman, her parents should have been able to live a carefree and comfortable life... How come her mother is now staying to work instead?

Chen Ming looked at the message and immediately understood the girl's confusion and unease. He quickly typed on the screen and replied:

[Unlimited Quantitative Easing: The arrangement for your mother to work wasn't my idea. I've already seriously criticized Shi Ci... However, she stumbled upon a good thing this time. Having your mother as the borrower to bear this debt does make your parents feel more at ease. As for the job, it's actually quite good for your mother to stay and work in Ling'an City. After all, how could I possibly mistreat her? The job I'll arrange for her will definitely be easy, respectable, and well-paid! Most importantly...]

Chen Ming paused briefly here, then typed out an ambiguous message:

Now you have a legitimate reason to stay in Ling'an City for an extended period. Don't you want to spend more time with me?

Ok?

Is that how it is?

Zhang Wanzhen held her phone and read the message. Her face gradually changed from confusion to understanding, and then a blush spread across her cheeks.

After Chen Ming's explanation, she finally understood the deeper meaning behind Shi Ci's actions.

Especially the last reason, "spending more time together," instantly struck the softest spot in the girl's heart. Her slight confusion and unease vanished immediately, and her mood became cheerful and bright.

[I drew the talisman crooked again today: I understand! Brother Chen, you and Sister Shi Ci are right, I was just overthinking things... I just hope Mom's work isn't too strenuous...]

Chen Ming immediately gave an affirmative answer:

[Unlimited quantitative easing: Don't worry! I assure you, it's the easiest job imaginable. This way, she'll have a stable income, a fulfilling life, and hope to gradually pay off her debts through her own efforts. She'll definitely regain hope and motivation for the future, and her mood will naturally improve. What do you think?]

As Zhang Wanzhen read this caring message, she could almost picture her mother regaining her vitality and living a positive life.

The naive girl was completely convinced, and her heart was filled with gratitude and dependence on Chen Ming.

[I drew the talisman crooked again today: Hmm!! Brother Chen, you're so right! I'm so stupid, I didn't even think of these deeper things... Thank you for considering so much for our family...]

[Unlimited Quantitative Easing: Is it just a matter of verbal gratitude?]

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Wanzhen was walking with her mother on a bustling street in Ling'an City. When this message appeared on her screen, her pretty face flushed red, and her heart began to race uncontrollably, as if a deer were pounding wildly inside her.

The girl subconsciously glanced at her mother, who was walking ahead and looking at the street scene with great interest. She then furtively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her fingers, trying to hide her shyness.

She hovered her fingertip over the screen for a moment before shyly replying with her head down:

[The talisman was drawn crooked again today: Well... how does Brother Chen want me to thank him? (Followed by a cute little rabbit covering its eyes with its paws, but peeking out through the gap)]

She tossed the question back gently, with the coy shyness characteristic of a young girl.

Chen Ming's reply came quickly, straightforward and affectionate:

[Unlimited Quantitative Easing: Hmm... I've done you a huge favor, a thank-you kiss isn't too much to ask, is it?]

Upon seeing the words "thank you for the kiss," Zhang Wanzhen's cheeks burned even hotter, and even her fair earlobes turned pink. Almost instinctively, she glanced around at the bustling crowd, her fingers frantically typing:

[I drew the talisman crooked again today: Should I send a voice message? Mom's right here...]

Chen Ming seemed to be able to imagine the girl's adorable, flustered look at that moment, and couldn't help but chuckle as he replied: