Chapter Forty: The Exceptional Assistant!

Lin Xiaolei’s eyes fell upon the credit card Wang Zheng had tossed onto the table. The dazzling diamond motif on its surface was proof enough of its extraordinary nature.

Who exactly was he? Anyone with a diamond credit card was certainly no ordinary person—yet why was he helping her? Questions swirled in Lin Xiaolei’s heart as she stared blankly at the card, lost in thought.

“Could he be an angel sent by heaven to rescue me?”

The other three businessmen present were full of astonishment. While the bald-headed man had been the one to voice their doubts, the news was something all of them knew. Now, seeing the assistant to the general manager of the nearly bankrupt Zhongtian Company throw down a diamond credit card, they couldn’t help but wonder—could it be fake?

One of them picked up the card, turning it over and examining it closely before passing it to the others. These days, credit card fraud was rampant, but usually only with ordinary cards. No one had ever heard of a diamond credit card being used for fraud; the card’s advanced anti-counterfeiting technology and information security made it nearly impossible to misuse. Furthermore, anyone with such a card would be personally received by the bank manager—no one would be foolish enough to walk into a trap.

“So, do you believe me now?” Wang Zheng looked at the three businessmen and said, “Your mistake lies in always treating each other as competitors, neglecting the most important thing—profit. You’d rather reduce your gains in competition than consider working together for mutual benefit. Of course, human nature is selfish—I understand that. But sometimes, changing your perspective makes problems simpler; switching your standpoint allows you to be more tolerant. You are all shrewd men; surely you understand what I mean?”

Wang Zheng could see the dawning realization in their expressions, and it pleased him.

“Ah!” The bald-headed Mr. Huang sighed heavily after hearing Wang Zheng’s words. He glanced at his two rivals and said with deep emotion, “I’ve thought about cooperation before. But our companies have been locked in fierce rivalry for years, tensions running high. I’ve always been too proud to take the initiative—I didn’t want to bow my head in front of others. So the idea was shelved.”

“This isn’t asking for help, nor is it bowing to anyone—it’s called unity,” Wang Zheng replied. “Infighting is no skill; making money from foreigners is the real business. We’re partners, equal and mutually beneficial—why not work together?”

In recent years, the tendency to fawn over foreigners had become so severe that people would cling to them for fear of missing out on a little ‘foreign’ light, with no dignity left. Even a beggar from abroad could come here and be treated like a lord; a toad on the highway might crash into an imported jeep!

These businessmen, whose livelihoods depended on exports, were classic examples—so caught up in domestic rivalry that they’d forgotten the real ‘enemy.’ Now, the look on their faces was one of sudden enlightenment, as if, “A single word from a wise man is worth ten years of study.”

With a shared vision, things became much simpler. Wang Zheng laid out his plan: neither scaring off buyers with exorbitant prices nor missing the chance to sell tea. The businessmen were somewhat skeptical, but Wang Zheng’s confidence won them over slightly. In the end, the bald-headed Mr. Huang proposed visiting Zhongtian Import and Export Company—less a tour, more a test of Wang Zheng’s claims. To believe on the strength of a single diamond credit card, without knowing its owner, would be reckless.

Hearing Mr. Huang’s suggestion, Lin Xiaolei was startled. After a brief moment of panic, she regained composure and looked at Wang Zheng, pretending nothing was amiss. The meaning was clear to both of them.

Zhongtian Company had only three people: a general manager, an assistant, and a secretary—neither of the latter two had even signed a labor contract. All three were present. If they went to Zhongtian and found the office empty, how could they explain it? Wouldn’t everything they’d discussed be exposed as a sham?

“Of course, I’ll be happy to show you around!” Wang Zheng replied with a smile. There was not a hint of panic on his face; in fact, he exuded a distinct air of calm confidence. Picking up his chopsticks, he said unhurriedly, “But before that, may I finish my lunch?”

“We were being thoughtless, forgetting it’s lunchtime!” Mr. Huang chuckled, playing the good cop for now—but once at Zhongtian, he’d likely switch roles. He trusted what he saw more than what he’d heard.

Bai Bing, sitting nearby, had watched Wang Zheng throughout, admiring his effortless composure and mastery of the situation. She’d spent enough time with him to know she could never fully understand this man; every day, he revealed new facets that forced her to reevaluate him.

Today, Wang Zheng’s series of performances had amazed Bai Bing, prompting her to marvel inwardly: “He can lie without so much as a blush or a heartbeat, not even batting an eyelid...!”

A true swindler, through and through!

On the surface, Bai Bing was calm, but inside, she was gloating, eager for chaos. She was ready to watch the show unfold, keen to see Wang Zheng’s reaction when his lies were exposed.

Wang Zheng ate heartily, as evidenced by the constant smacking of his lips. His appetite was excellent, but Lin Xiaolei, seated beside him, could barely eat—she picked at a few greens and left her chopsticks untouched. Holding a wine glass, she gently swirled the red liquid, gazing alternately at the alluring wine and at Wang Zheng. He struck her as much like the wine: captivating, mysterious, rich and deep, yet impossible to fully grasp.

“Ah! I’m full!” Wang Zheng wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking content. Nothing was more blissful than a full belly—those who’d never been hungry didn’t know the taste of hunger; even in hell, the starved would be scorned!

The hungriest wretch was the most pitiable ghost of all!

“If you gentlemen are finished, we can leave now!” Wang Zheng said cheerfully.

The three businessmen felt a pang of frustration. They hadn’t touched a bite, waiting for Wang Zheng all this time. Now, it seemed Wang Zheng was waiting for them—the roles had reversed, and they felt like gluttons. If not for the promise of cooperation, they’d have left long ago.

Outside the restaurant, each businessman had his own car. Lin Xiaolei once had a car, too, but to help the company weather its crisis, she’d already sold it.

“Where’s your car, Ms. Lin?” one of them asked. As general manager, how could she rely on walking? They recalled hearing that Zhongtian was on the brink of bankruptcy, and even its vehicles had been sold off to keep the business afloat. Now, they looked at Lin Xiaolei with suspicion, waiting for her explanation.

“Old, so we got rid of it!” Wang Zheng answered before Lin Xiaolei could, now serving as both her assistant and spokesperson—he would handle all questions.

“Well then, please let me drive you,” the bald-headed Huang Wei said, smiling meaningfully as he climbed into his Mercedes S600.

Wang Zheng, Lin Xiaolei, and Bai Bing squeezed into the back seat. Wang Zheng thought Bai Bing should take the front, but she ignored his suggestion. In the end, Lin Xiaolei and Bai Bing sat on either side, with Wang Zheng in the middle.

Lin Xiaolei looked nervous from the moment she got in, her fists clenched tightly. Wang Zheng glanced at the bald driver up front—local forces encircling the central, rural encircling urban. Then, without a word, he patted Lin Xiaolei’s hand, flashing a confident smile to reassure her.

“He can still smile at a time like this? Does he have some trick up his sleeve?” Lin Xiaolei wondered.

In less than ten minutes, the car stopped in front of Yong’an Tower. For Lin Xiaolei, those ten minutes felt endless, almost unbearable. She nearly confessed the true state of Zhongtian Company, but Wang Zheng’s smile held her back. Deep within, a voice reminded her of what Wang Zheng had said the first time they met—“I want to change the things in this world that cannot be changed.”

A miracle—Lin Xiaolei was waiting for Wang Zheng to perform a miracle.

Step by step, they entered Yong’an Tower, walked into the elevator… Lin Xiaolei’s heart pounded wildly as the elevator ascended, as if a dozen rabbits were jumping inside her chest. When the elevator stopped at the eighteenth floor, she felt faint; if Wang Zheng hadn’t supported her, she would have collapsed.

Her skin was too thin—no, Wang Zheng’s was too thick!

“Ding!” The elevator doors opened. The large plaque reading “Zhongtian Import and Export Co., Ltd.” hung boldly on the wall.

“Hello, this is Zhongtian Import and Export Company!”

A pleasant voice greeted them as the six stepped out. Beside the elevator, behind the reception desk, stood a beautiful young woman in a white business suit, smiling warmly.