Chapter 230: Enjoying Flowers, Playing with Jade

Xu Yuexin did not answer her directly.

"Are you busy right now?"

He asked Zhang Manyu in return.

"Not busy."

"If you're not busy, that's good; go back now to look at your flowers, and I'll bring you back later."

Xu Yuexin arranged.

"Go back now?"

"Isn't that leaving early? But there's a Chairman's order, so it should be fine, right?"

"Besides, there's really nothing much today."

Zhang Manyu thought.

"Mm, okay."

"But I need to report to Sister Qingxia."

Zhang Manyu, after thinking, replied, "Chairman Xu, could you wait for me a moment?"

"It's fine, go ahead."

Xu Yuexin leaned against the desk, saying.

When Xu Yuexin is absent, daily operations are handled by Lin Qingxia, so he respects Lin Qingxia's authority.

Only in that way can the company's operation stay orderly.

Xu Yuexin's rule for himself is that dating female artists is allowed, but it must not affect daily operations.

"Chairman Xu, I've spoken with the General Manager."

"We can set off now."

A moment later, Zhang Manyu bounced back to Xu Yuexin's side, saying.

"Let's go."

Xu Yuexin led Zhang Manyu to the company parking lot outside, and they got into the car one after another.

"How's the recent filming going, smooth?"

After getting in the car, Xu Yuexin started the Rolls‑Royce and asked.

"It's going quite well; everyone knows I'm the company's artist, they're cooperative, no one gives me a hard time."

Mentioning that, Zhang Manyu felt quite pleased, "The TV drama has filmed 13 episodes so far, ready to be uploaded for broadcast."

"If the reception is good, we'll shoot the remaining 15 episodes; if not, we'll just do a simple ending."

"Oh, I recall the fee is 60% after the first 13 episodes, and the remaining 40% after the other 15?"

"That's right, total fee is 600,000 yuan, and 360,000 has already been paid!"

Zhang Manyu said happily, her pure face full of joy, "Company 180,000, I 180,000, then I can repay your house money earlier."

"Then I wish you can save up the money sooner."

Xu Yuexin said with a smile.

When he previously bought houses for Lan Jieying and Zhang Manyu, they both insisted on signing a debt note.

Xu Yuexin didn't really intend to let them repay, but wouldn't say it outright.

Back at Zhang Manyu's villa, Xu Yuexin was taking off his shoes, when Zhang Manyu stopped him.

"No need to take them off."

"Fine, you've swept it so clean."

Xu Yuexin looked at the spotless floor that Zhang Manyu had dragged over, and couldn't bring himself to step his big feet onto it.

Seeing that, Zhang Manyu quickly crouched, fetched a pair of slippers and placed them before him, respectfully like a maid.

Inflated!

Experiencing such service for the first time, Xu Yuexin truly felt inflated.

Looking at the obedient Zhang Manyu crouched before him, Xu Yuexin felt unusually light‑hearted.

"Ahem, get up quickly."

Xu Yuexin supported Zhang Manyu's delicate shoulder and walked with her toward the balcony to view the Narcissus.

On the balcony stood a matte shallow water pot, its bottom lined with a layer of pebbles.

In the pot, a pool of clear water rippled slightly in the wind, and the Narcissus inside was about to bloom.

Among the pure white petals, faint goose‑yellow stamens could be seen; a gentle sniff revealed a fragrance that filled the nose and soothed the heart.

"The Narcissus bought half a month ago finally sprouted buds after moving in."

Zhang Manyu, looking at the beautiful fragrant Narcissus, happily said to Xu Yuexin, "The feng shui here is good; the flowers bloom quickly."

"That's right."

"I specially chose this for you and Lan Jieying to stay."

After being praised, Xu Yuexin said proudly, "So, living here still feels comfortable, right?"

"Mm, very comfortable."

"The house is big, facilities are complete."

Speaking of that, Zhang Manyu took hold of Xu Yuexin's arm, "But I still don't know how to operate the New Air System; could you teach me?"

"Come, let's go take a look."

Xu Yuexin inadvertently adjusted his arm position, and lifted Zhang Manyu's fresh small hand, saying.

Just beyond the entrance foyer is the New Air System control panel, placed next to the central Air Conditioning.

"That red dot is definitely the switch."

Xu Yuexin pressed the button above and muttered to himself.

Zhang Manyu nodded, watching Xu Yuexin's actions attentively, letting her small hand rest in his large hand.

"I'll try it, see if this is wind speed."

After speaking, Xu Yuexin pressed a button beside the switch.

The New Air System is still a very novel gadget, just beginning to be promoted in some upscale residences.

Consequently, its user‑interface design is not as straightforward and intuitive as later versions.

Unless, like in Xu Yuexin's Half-Mountain Mansion in the Mid-Levels, a custom version with an easily understandable control panel is provided, one has to fumble through the usage like this.

"Ding‑dong…"

When Xu Yuexin pressed the button beside the switch, a sound came from inside the New Air System's seal, and soon air began flowing out.

The indoor air instantly cooled, and the rush of fresh air felt very pleasant.

"That's the one that increases the wind power; what about decreasing it?"

Zhang Manyu shook Xu Yuexin's arm and said.

Xu Yuexin didn't answer immediately, but stared at the panel, thinking.

The panel has only three buttons in total: one is the power switch, one increases the wind power, so the next must control wind direction.

The question arose: where is the button that reduces wind power? Xu Yuexin pondered, a bit confused.

With a tentative mindset, Xu Yuexin pressed the increase‑wind button twice in succession.

"Hoo…"

The curtains on the balcony door were blown up, and Zhang Manyu's short skirt was slightly lifted, revealing porcelain‑white thighs.

"Oh dear, what are you doing, New Brother?"

In a panic, Zhang Manyu hurriedly covered her skirt, her face flushed as she asked Xu Yuexin.

"I'm trying to see how to reduce the wind power."

Xu Yuexin was speechless, muttering curses at the inventor of this system in his mind.

Can't the wind power be normal? Who needs such strong wind at home?

As he spoke, he quickly pressed the button twice more.

Just as he guessed, the wind now became weak.

"This New Air System has no button to reduce wind power; you can only increase it to the maximum, then keep increasing, and once it exceeds the limit it switches to the minimum."

Xu Yuexin looked at Zhang Manyu's still‑blushing face and said, "You try operating it yourself."

"Mm‑mm, okay."

"New Brother, I wasn't angry at you earlier, I was just panicking…"

Zhang Manyu, one hand covering her skirt, said, then apologetically explained to Xu Yuexin.

"It's fine, I understand."

Xu Yuexin said, "Go ahead and try quickly."

"Ding, ding…"

Zhang Manyu followed the instructions, operating the panel, and soon completed a cycle that turned the wind power from low to high and back to low.

"The New Air Systems in other rooms must work the same way."

Xu Yuexin said as she finished.

"It must be like that."

Zhang Manyu nodded, glancing secretly at Xu Yuexin, "By the way, I call you New Brother in private; you shouldn't mind, right?"

"Why would I? If you kept calling me Director Xu in private it would be strange…"

Xu Yuexin slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and said.

"Hmm, actually I also think of you as an older brother in my heart."

Zhang Manyu giggled, "With you backing me up, my debut went so smoothly."

"Not at all, it's mainly because of your own talent," Xu Yuexin said as he walked to the sofa and sat down. At that moment, Zhang Manyu picked up the glass water pitcher and poured him a glass of juice.

"Many people have good talent, but not everyone is as lucky as I am."

Zhang Manyu respectfully placed the juice before Xu Yuexin and said, "The Manager told me yesterday that the 13 episodes I just finished filming were well received by the TV station and should fetch a good price."

"It's just that the ratings are uncertain."

"As long as we can sell it at a price, that's fine."

Xu Yuexin lifted the glass, took a sip of juice, and said, "Whether the ratings are high or not is secondary; the key is to make the investors profit."

"As long as they make a profit, even if the ratings tank, they'll still consider investing in you next time."

"So that's how it is…"

Zhang Manyu sat beside him, saying blankly.

She had indeed debuted, but these days all her energy was spent on filming.

She still didn't quite understand some of the film industry's rules.

"Hmm, just remember you made a good start; you don't need to feel pressure."

Xu Yuexin affirmed again, "Besides, even if you run into trouble, the company has your back."

"Then I'd still prefer not to rely on the company for a safety net."

Zhang Manyu gently shook her head and said, "After all, the company's finances are under pressure now."

"Oh? Who told you there's pressure?"

Xu Yuexin keenly caught it.

Zhang Manyu instantly realized she had misspoken,

"Uh… I'm sorry, I was just talking nonsense earlier."

She quickly denied, "No one said that to me."

"Speak up."

Xu Yuexin gently closed his eyes and calmly issued a command, "Who is it, exactly?"

Zhang Manyu felt a chill: normally, Xu Yuexin always appeared before her as a big brother, bringing only happiness and warmth.

It was still her first time encountering Xu Yuexin presenting such an imposing, cold image.

Under fear, Zhang Manyu could barely form words.

"It… it…"

Zhang Manyu whispered, "It's A Lian."

"Oh, the woman you recruited two months ago, right?"

"Yes."

Zhang Manyu said, trembling.

Xu Yuexin said nothing after listening.

No matter what the actress A Lian's past record was, from now on she has to get out.

Seeing Xu Yuexin remain silent, Zhang Manyu felt even more panicked.

"Cut some fruit to eat, Director Xu, what fruit do you like?"

Zhang Manyu asked cautiously.

"Anything, I'm not really in the mood to eat right now."

"Oh… May I ask, Director Xu, how will you deal with her?"

In the end, Zhang Manyu couldn't hold back and asked Xu Yuexin.

"You don't need to handle it."

Xu Yuexin's face was as calm as water as he said.

Zhang Manyu immediately became so anxious she was about to cry.

If she caused someone to lose a job, she would be extremely upset.

"Director Xu, I…"

"What? You're worried about losing your own job?"

"It's fine, I'm mainly worried about A Lian…"

"Stop worrying about others; worry about yourself."

"Tell me, besides me, have you ever discussed the company's financial situation with anyone else?"

"No, that day I only heard A Lian say that, I didn't discuss it with her."

"Oh, then you're lucky."

Xu Yuexin nodded, "You've just entered the workforce, so you might not know these yet."

"In short, from now on you must not spread any information about the company's finances. Understand?"

"Mm‑hm, I understand."

Zhang Manyu quickly nodded.

In her subconscious, she felt she was a seed talent of the company, so occasional slip‑ups were fine.

Even when Xu Yuexin first frowned, Zhang Manyu hadn't imagined she was almost facing the risk of losing her job.

Looking back now, that was truly terrifying.

The room fell into prolonged silence until Xu Yuexin finally spoke, breaking the stillness.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"Nothing, I'm a bit scared."

"Just scared?"

"Uh, also a bit surprised."

Zhang Manyu saw Xu Yuexin's mouth corner lift slightly, gaining a bit more courage, and said, "I didn't expect you would…"

"What is there to be surprised about."

Xu Yuexin leaned back on the sofa, relaxed, and said, "Is it that I go out to conquer the world with a soft heart and gentle hands?"

Xu Yuexin is equally kind to Lan Jieying and to Zhang Manyu.

But that is certainly not all of him.

"…"

Zhang Manyu was left speechless by Xu Yuexin's words.

At the same time, a seed of admiration for Xu Yuexin began to quietly take root and sprout within her heart.

Xu Yuexin's decisive yet flexible temperament struck her as extremely charismatic.

In the past, Xu Yuexin seemed to her a warm big brother.

Today, before Zhang Manyu, Xu Yuexin showed an even more attractive side.

Zhang Manyu had never heard Xu Yuexin speak of how he started out.

Yet based on Xu Yuexin's behavior today, Zhang Manyu could guess it must be a legendary story.

"Hello."

At that moment, Xu Yuexin, in front of Zhang Manyu, took out his mobile phone and dialed the landline of the company's general manager's office.

"Hello, Director Xu, what can I help you with?"

Lin Qingxia didn't know whether Xu Yuexin was calling to discuss personal matters or business, so she used the most formal address.

"Didn't I show you a remittance slip of over 30 million before?"

"Now I'm preparing to transfer 10 million into the company's account to bolster the principal."

"Have the finance department get the accounting ready."

"Alright, Director Xu, I'll go back and give the finance department a heads‑up."

"Alright, that's it, goodbye."

"Okay, bye~"

After they said their goodbyes, Xu Yuexin ended the call and looked toward Zhang Manyu with interest.

Zhang Manyu's face was full of fear, and when he looked over, she quickly averted her gaze.

"After returning to the company, spread the words you just heard, spread them all."

"Better yet, you can embellish them."

"Alright, Director Xu, I will definitely tell everyone."

The worry vanished from Zhang Manyu's face, and she quickly agreed.

Zhang Manyu had just been worrying whether they shouldn't have heard this conversation.

Now that Xu Yuexin gave the order, Zhang Manyu finally understood his meaning.

"Don't call me Director Xu."

Xu Yuexin then lifted Zhang Manyu's delicate jade hand and said, "Call me brother."

…

Her small hand was grasped by Xu Yuexin, and upon hearing his request, Zhang Manyu's young body trembled slightly.

Although the two had previously had physical contact, the nature now was different.

After the little incident just now, Xu Yuexin, in Zhang Manyu's eyes, was no longer just a warm big brother.

Zhang Manyu understood in their heart what Xu Yuexin's current actions pointed to.

(End of chapter)