104: Chapter 104 Happy Cooperation

"That's normal."

Jiang Chen took a sip of his coffee, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

"Chenxing Capital is a newly established company. It's currently in the preparatory stage; the office space has just been secured, and the team is still being assembled."

Shen Xi's brow twitched slightly—a tiny movement, but Jiang Chen caught it.

A new company, a new location, a new team.

Everything starting from zero.

She didn't show disappointment, nor did she show any particular interest; she simply nodded calmly.

"Is it convenient to disclose the company's business direction?"

"Business intelligence analysis and investment decision support."

Jiang Chen set down his cup, concise and to the point. "Simply put, we provide clients with precise investment advice and business decision-making bases through systematic intelligence collection and analysis."

Shen Xi nodded again without further questions.

She picked up her iced Americano, took another sip, then set the cup down and leaned forward slightly.

This movement made Jiang Chen realize she was about to get down to business.

"I'll be direct..."

Her tone was frank, without any embellishment.

"My current situation isn't great. My former company spread some false rumors in the industry, which led to me getting no responses to the many resumes I've sent out recently. The fact that you could find my contact information shows you've done your homework, so you should be aware of these circumstances."

"I know."

Jiang Chen nodded, his tone as calm as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

"Then you should also know that my previous position was Brand Director, not corporate operations."

Shen Xi looked him straight in the eye, neither avoiding nor wavering; there was something very clean in the depths of her gaze.

"You're looking for someone who can help build a system and a team. Why me?"

She asked this question very seriously.

It wasn't a probe or false modesty; she truly wanted to know the answer.

Jiang Chen leaned back into the sofa, looking at her, and remained silent for two seconds.

"Because what you did at your former company went far beyond the scope of brand management."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was articulated clearly.

"Headquarters site selection, office space planning, supplier negotiations, cross-departmental coordination—you were deeply involved in all of these and did them well. It's not that you can't do corporate operations; you just haven't done them under the title of 'Operations'."

Shen Xi didn't respond.

Her expression changed slightly, like a stone thrown into stagnant water, sending out a circle of tiny ripples.

"Chenxing Capital is currently at zero."

Jiang Chen continued, his pace neither fast nor slow, as if telling a story.

"No team, no systems, no processes—nothing. I need someone who can turn 'nothing' into 'everything'."

He paused, his gaze meeting Shen Xi's eyes.

"You built a brand from 0 to 1 and achieved an annual revenue of over a hundred million. I believe you can do the same for building a company from 0 to 1."

Shen Xi fell silent.

She lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the side of the coffee cup.

In the café, some people were talking in low voices, others were typing on keyboards, and the sound of steam from the coffee machine drifted over from the counter, but these sounds all seemed distant to her ears.

She thought about the projects she had done.

For the first sub-brand, from a blank sheet of paper to the opening of the first store, she had pulled forty-six all-nighters.

For the second sub-brand, the team expanded from three people to twenty, and she had personally taught every single one of them.

For the third, a high-end Japanese cuisine brand, she built it from zero to over a hundred million in annual revenue. She had stood on the stage at the celebratory banquet, with a crowd of people below all applauding.

And then?

Then she refused to sign, was kicked out, had mud slung at her, and her resumes vanished into the sea.

It had been three months.

She had started to doubt if she really was no longer capable, if she really was "underperforming" as her former company claimed, and if her reputation in the industry was truly ruined.

But the young man before her was telling her with a near-brutal certainty:

You can do it.

It wasn't comfort, it wasn't politeness; he truly believed it.

Shen Xi looked up, the gray mist in her gaze dissipating somewhat.

"Aren't you afraid I'm just a pretty face with no substance?"

she asked, the corner of her mouth curving slightly, but the seriousness in her eyes betrayed her.

She really cared about the answer.

"I am."

Jiang Chen smiled, his tone light but his gaze serious. "That's why, in terms of salary, I can't give you your previous figure."

Shen Xi was stunned for a moment, then immediately sat up straight.

She didn't show disappointment; she just watched him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

"A monthly salary of forty thousand, with a thirteen-month bonus."

Jiang Chen stated the figures plainly, without any bluster.

"It's lower than what you had at the catering group, I know. Once the company registration is complete, you'll be allocated five percent in stock options, vesting over four years. If revenue targets are met in the first full fiscal year, the year-end bonus will be no less than twelve months' salary."

Shen Xi's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

A monthly salary of forty thousand was indeed lower than before.

But in this market, for someone who had been unemployed for three months and whose reputation had been smeared, this figure had already far exceeded her expectations.

Not to mention the five percent options and the twelve-month year-end bonus.

She wasn't a young girl fresh out of school; she knew what these numbers meant.

It meant this young man was serious. He wasn't just playing around or painting empty promises; he was putting up real money to bet that she could succeed.

"Aren't you afraid I won't be worth this price?" she asked, her voice slightly softer than before.

"That's why I'm only giving you a one-month probationary period."

Jiang Chen held up one finger and tapped it lightly on the table.

"Within one month, you need to complete three things: company registration, team recruitment, and building the operations system! If you succeed, we'll talk about permanent employment; if not, we part ways amicably."

Shen Xi looked into his eyes for about two seconds, and then the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.

It wasn't a polite smile, nor was it a professional one.

She was genuinely amused.

Amused at her own hesitation, amused at this young man's directness, and amused at this opportunity that had fished her up from the bottom of the valley.

The smile bloomed on her deep, well-defined face, like an oil painting suddenly coming to life. Her features relaxed, and even the dark circles under her eyes seemed to fade a bit.

"You..." She picked up her coffee cup and raised it toward Jiang Chen from a distance.

"Your negotiation style is very direct. I like it."

Jiang Chen also picked up his cup and clinked it gently against hers.

The crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet café, like the finalization of a ritual.

"A pleasure working with you," Jiang Chen said.

"A pleasure working with you." Shen Xi set down her cup and reached out her hand.

Jiang Chen shook her hand.

Her palm was warm, her grip firm and decisive.

It was the handshake of a professional manager—neither humble nor arrogant, just right.

"I have no more questions." Shen Xi withdrew her hand, her tone much more relaxed than when she had first sat down.

Jiang Chen glanced at her to confirm she had nothing else to ask, then stood up and grabbed the car keys from the table.

"Then let's go. I'll take you somewhere."

Shen Xi picked up her bag and followed him out of the café.

The two of them crossed the first-floor lobby of the IFC and took the elevator down to the parking lot.

The panamera's lights flashed twice, and Jiang Chen opened the driver's door and got in.

Shen Xi opened the passenger door, sat inside, and fastened her seatbelt in one fluid motion.

She didn't have the restraint or awkwardness of someone sitting in the passenger seat of a luxury car; she just sat in naturally, buckled up, and leaned against the backrest as if sitting in any other car.

The car drove out of the IFC's underground parking lot and headed along Jiangcheng Avenue toward the Changjiang International Center.

The afternoon sunlight slanted in through the car window, falling on Shen Xi's profile and casting a warm glow on her wheat-colored skin.

She watched the city scenery receding rapidly outside the window and suddenly spoke.

"President Jiang, there's something I want to make clear to you in advance."

"Go ahead."

"My reputation in the industry isn't very good."

Her tone was very calm, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

"The rumors spread by my former company have likely reached the entire industry. If you hire me, it might affect Chenxing Capital's brand image."

Jiang Chen glanced at her sideways, then returned his gaze to the road.

"Shen Xi."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight.

"Chenxing Capital is a new company without any brand baggage. I don't care what the industry says about you; what I care about is whether you can get the job done."

"If you can build the company from zero to one, then you are Chenxing Capital's best brand image."