174: Chapter 174 Zeng Xiaoxian with a Resentful Look

"Phew..." Finally, Lin Wanyu collected herself and smiled, "I've embarrassed myself in front of you, Brother Yang."

Zhao Yang sighed, "So, you understand my thirst for talent now, right?"

"But Brother Yang, I don't know if I should ask this."

"If you want to ask why I go to work, just forget it. Many people have asked that already."

Lin Wanyu looked curious, "But I really want to know."

Zhao Yang smiled, "Great capacity brings greatness, and having no desires makes one strong. But I happen to like money, so to prevent myself from being corrupted by it, I just have to make myself richer than those who want to corrupt me. That way, they'll retreat in the face of difficulty, and it won't hinder my ambition to 'serve the people'."

Lin Wanyu opened her mouth, not knowing how to respond. It sounded wrong at first, but upon closer thought... it was even more wrong.

Zhao Yang gently tapped her forehead, "Don't think about why I have to work anymore. The reality is that I must work, and someone needs to help me manage this money. I'm really in need of an asset manager like that."

"But... why choose me?" Lin Wanyu asked, "I don't have any professional experience."

"I have the plans and predictions, I just need an executor. In my case, experience is actually a drawback." Zhao Yang smiled, "I just need my manager to execute according to my predictions. Experienced managers would think I'm looking down on their professional standards. Besides, I trust you; after all, you're the Young Miss of the Lins International Bank chairman, so you won't lose your head just from seeing a lot of money."

"Oh..." Lin Wanyu nodded in realization, "I think I get it. Brother Yang trusts me, so I can give it a try."

"I'll give you a 10% commission on the business," Zhao Yang said. "As for the management fee, according to the market rate, it should be percent..."

"Brother Yang," Lin Wanyu quickly said, "Don't go by the market rate. Other asset managers are truly providing services to increase wealth; I'm just acting according to your baton, at best, I'm just a trader. Just pay me a fixed salary."

"Lin Wanyu," Zhao Yang said seriously, "Regardless of what your actual work entails, to the outside world, you are my private asset manager. If people find out I'm paying you a fixed trader's salary, they'll think I'm bullying you. Where would that leave me?"

"But Brother Yang, you have so much money. You absolutely cannot pay me management fees according to the market rate, otherwise I'd rather not be this asset manager." Lin Wanyu looked firm. "My job is just that of a trader; I don't have the nerve to accept management fees."

Seeing how serious she was, Zhao Yang stopped insisting, "How about this: a monthly salary of 50,000, and a 10% annual business commission. If you feel you're too busy to handle it alone, you can hire someone else to help you, but you'll have to pay their salary."

Lin Wanyu thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, thank you, Brother Yang."

"It's too late today. Tomorrow, I'll prepare the list of assets you need to manage, and we can sign the contract when I get off work." Zhao Yang handed her the door key again, "Come over during the day tomorrow and organize the property deeds and authorization contracts. The contracts are all in the cabinet nearby; I really don't have the time to deal with these."

"Okay." Lin Wanyu nodded, took the key, paused for a moment, and said, "Brother Yang, how about... I just come here to work during the day? I don't mean anything else, it's just that I think your account value is simply too high, so it's safer to use your computer."

Zhao Yang smiled, "We're on the same page. Since that's what you think, I don't need to harp on about it."

Just then, both Lin Wanyu's and Zhao Yang's phones received messages at almost the same time, asking where to have a late-night snack.

"Brother Yang, how should we reply to Yifei?" Lin Wanyu asked.

Zhao Yang thought for a moment, stood up, went to the kitchen, and took two large tubs of Häagen-Dazs out of the freezer, placing them in a plastic bag. "Just tell them we've finished eating and are bringing everyone some ice cream. I'll go over with you and check on Zeng Xiaoxian while I'm at it."

Lin Wanyu chuckled, "Teacher Zeng must be in a miserable state."

Zhao Yang laughed, "If he weren't miserable, I wouldn't bother going to see him."

… Zhao Yang and Lin Wanyu carried the ice cream to Building 3. Entering the elevator with them was a distinguished-looking man, seemingly in his thirties, dressed in refined attire.

Zhao Yang smiled at him and asked, "Hello, friend. You look a bit familiar; you look a lot like a senior of mine. I don't suppose your surname is Wang?"

The man replied very gracefully, "I'm sorry, you might have mistaken me for someone else. My surname is Shen, Shen Linfeng."

Zhao Yang smiled apologetically, "My apologies, it was my mistake. My name is Zhao Yang. Hello, Mr. Shen."

By this time, the elevator had reached the sixth floor, so Zhao Yang nodded to him and stepped out of the elevator with Lin Wanyu.

"Brother Yang, that Shen Linfeng from earlier looks like his family is quite wealthy," Lin Wanyu said.

"Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have mistaken him for someone else," Zhao Yang said, though he was inwardly musing. Fate is truly a subtle thing; even the slightest change can alter everything that follows.

If he hadn't taken Hu Yifei to find Zeng Xiaoxian early, then it would likely have played out like in the show: Hu Yifei and Shen Linfeng would have met in the elevator and then embarked on a whirlwind romance.

However, Zhao Yang felt that when Shen Linfeng and Hu Yifei dated, they probably weren't very happy. Shen Linfeng had an externally gentle but internally strong personality, while Hu Yifei was strong both externally and internally; their personalities clashed, otherwise they wouldn't have broken up so hastily.

Perhaps Shen Linfeng was just using Hu Yifei as a shield for his blind dates to shut his family up. Since Zeng Xiaoxian had been brought back early, it was unlikely Hu Yifei and Shen Linfeng would have another chance. In that case, he might meet that waitress named Sarah at the Lonely Corner Bar earlier than before—that was more his type.

Lin Wanyu opened the door with her key. Zhao Yang pushed the door open and saw—good grief! Everyone was gathered together, staring at Zeng Xiaoxian, who was huddled on the sofa, as if he were a monkey. It included not just the original iPartment residents, but also Guo Haizao.

Lin Wanyu dangled the large plastic bag in her hand, "Come on, everyone, have some ice cream! Brother Yang is treating. There's plenty of Häagen-Dazs for everyone."

"Wow!" Chen Meijia immediately rushed over, "Long live Brother Yang!"

"I'll go get the spoons." Guo Haizao immediately got up and headed to the kitchen, her movements agile and smooth—you could tell at a glance she came here often.

"I'll help you." Lu Zhanbo immediately trotted after her. Zhao Yang observed the state of the two, hmm... wishing them happiness. Lin Wanyu was completely left alone.

When his gaze fell on Zeng Xiaoxian, the corner of Zhao Yang's eye couldn't help but twitch. In addition to being bruised and swollen, there were obvious, bleeding tooth marks on his lips. Zhao Yang glanced at Hu Yifei again; there was a trace of blood on the corner of her mouth.

Holy crap, Zhao Yang thought, shocked. He couldn't even begin to imagine what had just happened. Seeming to notice Zhao Yang's gaze, Hu Yifei blushed.

"Yifei," Zhao Yang pointed to the corner of his own mouth, "Wipe that off. What on earth did you do?"

Hu Yifei wiped the corner of her mouth, her tone completely nonchalant, "I had to force a kiss back. This guy actually dared to resist and even tried to bite me. Hmph."

Zhao Yang gave a thumbs-up, then looked at the resentful-looking Zeng Xiaoxian.

Zeng Xiaoxian pulled a bitter face, huddled on the sofa, and said aggrievedly, "Chief Prosecutor Zhao, I want to file a report. Hu Yifei... she... she... abused me..."

"As for that..." Zhao Yang spread his hands, "That doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of our Procuratorate. However, you can seek help from a women and children's protection agency."