Stepping out of the hotel, walking on Luyin Boulevard, Bai Xiaosheng looked up at the sky, the sky was blue, looked at the trees, the trees were green.
The oncoming breeze was warm and pleasant.
He was free.
Bai Xiaosheng even spread his arms and embraced this long-anticipated freedom, under the astonished gazes of the passersby.
It took a while for him to snap back from this pleasant feeling.
"Red Lotus, choose for me a subsidiary of Zhenbei Group in this city. It should be a sizable one," Bai Xiaosheng instructed.
Finally, he was about to take his first step into Zhenbei Group.
"Okay," Red Lotus quickly organized the information and implanted it into Bai Xiaosheng's mind.
"Is this company also under the Zhenbei Flag?" Bai Xiaosheng was somewhat surprised.
"Well then, let's go there!"
Century Construction Real Estate Co., Ltd., one of the major real estate enterprises in Tiannan City.
Perhaps, I could get promoted to manager or even a higher position there, let's see if it suits me.
On his way to Century Construction, Bai Xiaosheng had lunch and familiarized himself with the company's information once more.
The headquarters of Century Construction—Century Building, general manager's office.
A dignified and authoritative middle-aged man was massaging his temples while looking at a report. He took good care of himself and looked just over forty, though he was nearly fifty. His tired eyes carried a hint of shrewdness. It was Shang Wenshu, the general manager of Century Construction.
At this moment, Shang Wenshu was feeling a headache.
Policy factors, market conditions, and strong competitors caused the company's performance to fall short this year!
Although Shang Wenshu was middle-aged, he was still full of enthusiasm and aspired to climb higher and go further. Unfortunately, belonging to the same group, the real estate companies in several nearby cities performed more impressively, outpacing his. Moreover, his personal connections within the group weren't strong, which seemed to fracture his dream of getting promoted to regional manager of the group's real estate business.
In fact, even within Century Construction, he didn't have full authority.
"If this continues, not only the regional manager position, but even my current position as general manager is at risk..."
Shang Wenshu muttered to himself, clenching his fist.
"If I had connections within the group, a voice, maybe there would be a chance for a turnaround, unfortunately!"
With immense reluctance, Shang Wenshu could only let out a long sigh.
Century Building, first-floor lobby, reception desk.
A pretty girl sat upright, staring at her computer. She was Chen Ke, the receptionist at Century Construction's headquarters.
It was just past lunchtime, the quietest time for visitors, and Chen Ke enjoyed the calm. However, she was still quite sleepy and yawned widely. That's when she saw a spirited young man standing outside the counter without knowing when he had arrived, almost catching her full yawn.
"Who are you looking for?!" Chen Ke startled, quickly closing her mouth.
The person who came was Bai Xiaosheng.
"I'm here to see your general manager Shang Wenshu," Bai Xiaosheng said politely.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then I'm sorry, I can't help you."
Chen Ke shook her head, flatly refusing.
"Maybe, you could give this to him for me." Bai Xiaosheng took out his identity card, fully confident as he showed it to Chen Ke.
"Sir, we don't accept shopping card promotions!" Chen Ke was stunned, then her face showed disdain.
How did security let just anyone in?
And you, a salesman, want to see Mr. Shang?
Bai Xiaosheng was startled.
He thought his universally effective ID card was actually blocked by a receptionist, and even mistook it for a sales card?
It seemed that the card only worked with people of sufficient rank.
Bai Xiaosheng realized this and then seriously told the receptionist, "Correct, you are doing your job well. Actually, I'm a relative of Mr. Shang. I was just testing you just now."
Mr. Shang's relative?
Chen Ke looked at Bai Xiaosheng skeptically, clearly unconvinced.
"Make a call; he will definitely see me. If I'm lying, you can call security," Bai Xiaosheng stated earnestly. "But if you don't make this call and he gets angry, I won't take responsibility."
Bai Xiaosheng spoke convincingly, as if he were telling the truth.
Chen Ke suddenly felt a bit nervous.
Recently, Mr. Shang's temper had not been very good!
"You'd better not lie to me!" Chen Ke threatened, glancing sharply at Bai Xiaosheng before actually picking up the phone.
"Hello, this is Shang Wenshu." Soon after, the call connected, and Shang Wenshu's voice carried a tone of authority laced with a hint of irritation.
Chen Ke instantly became tense.
"Mr. Shang, there's someone called... Bai Xiaosheng looking for you, he says he's your relative," Chen Ke said.
While she was on the call, Bai Xiaosheng whispered his own name next to her.
"Bai Xiaosheng?" There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, "Who is that, I don't have any relatives with the surname Bai."
In an instant, Chen Ke's face turned pale, and she glared fiercely at Bai Xiaosheng.
She had really been deceived!
"Describe him to me," Bai Xiaosheng said with a smile, showing his ID card.
Chen Ke felt Shang Wenshu's temper was on the verge of erupting; somewhat flustered, she subconsciously followed Bai Xiaosheng's suggestion, "He... he's holding a card, dark gold in color, with a dragon and a tiger, and also the logo of our Zhenbei Group."
There was a terrifying silence on the other end of the phone, then suddenly, a 'snap' as if someone had slammed down the receiver.
Chen Ke was nearly scared to tears.
"How did it go?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.
"You really are a conman!" Chen Ke angrily hung up the phone, shouting, "Security, get this man out of here!"
Bai Xiaosheng was also startled.
"Hey, hey, what exactly did he say? Call him again, I will talk to him!"
Chen Ke clenched her teeth in anger.
Did she look stupid to them?
"If he won't come down, then I will go up to find him!" Bai Xiaosheng hurriedly said, seeing that the security guards were really heading their way.
Chen Ke's face turned white with anger.
Mr. Shang come down for you? You want to go up to him?
You really want me to be fired, you damn scammer!
"Another security guard!" Chen Ke shouted in anger.
The security guards quickly surrounded Bai Xiaosheng, and he began to panic.
"Everyone stop!"
At that moment, a commanding shout echoed through, filled with authority.
Chen Ke and the security guards turned around, only to be startled.
There, by the elevator, Shang Wenshu was running over.
Tang, the general manager, that dignified middle-aged man, the unflappable Mr. Shang in the face of adversity, was sprinting over!
Chen Ke stared with wide eyes, feeling that the scene was so surreal.
In the blink of an eye, Mr. Shang had run up to the reception, even slightly out of breath, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Gone was the usual composure, solid as Mount Tai.
"Is it you!" Shang Wenshu, disregarding the stares of those around him, fixed his gaze on the only unfamiliar face and asked with a quivering voice.
Bai Xiaosheng nodded.
"Let me see!" Shang Wenshu's adam's apple bobbed, he said urgently, his eyes flickering with anticipation.
Bai Xiaosheng knew what he was asking for and took out his ID card. Shang Wenshu didn't reach out to take it, instead intently examining it again and again.
"Please! To my office, let's have a nice chat," Shang Wenshu, overflowing with enthusiasm, smiled.
Bai Xiaosheng politely nodded, pocketed his card, and followed Shang Wenshu towards the elevator.
Before leaving, Bai Xiaosheng smiled at Chen Ke.
See, I'm not a conman. Bai Xiaosheng said with his lips.
Chen Ke stood there, dumbfounded, watching the two leave. It took a long while before she came back to her senses, incredulously turning to the security guard beside her, still in shock, and said.
"Just now, Mr. Shang personally came down to 'invite' him upstairs!"