My Dream Connects to 3000 Years in the Future

"Have everyone sign an additional confidentiality and non-compete agreement! We need to increase the security level." Zhao Shao emphasized. His meaning was obvious—to raise the cost of poaching the people in front of him. He had previously guessed that the algorithm’s improvement to the model would be frighteningly high...

But this wasn’t just frightening... This was a straight-up ghost story!

"Oh, and when salaries are paid out this month, add a bonus equivalent to three months’ pay!" Zhao Shao quickly added, having just noticed the programmers’ simmering resentment.

Instantly, the guys’ attitudes did a complete 180, and they began sucking up without a moment’s hesitation.

"The boss is awesome!"

"I’ll sign it gladly! Old Cai, hurry up and bring over those contracts." One employee even reached out toward the man in the suit.

"Why are you only cheering for the boss? Boss Chu is awesome too!"

"What do you mean, ’Boss Chu’? Call him President Chu! President Zhao just said we’re to treat President Chu the same way we treat him."

"This artificial intelligence... oh, no, the all-new Z, it was all thanks to President Chu that it was finished... Boss Chu is just too good. His technical skill has already surpassed the boss, hasn’t it?"

When the topic shifted to technology, the programmers in the room got even more excited.

"Boss Chu, we kneel before you!"

"My two bosses, as you know, my admiration for you is like the torrential, unceasing waters of the Yangtze River!"

"Loyalty!"

"..." Chu Bamboo fought to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching. ’Seriously, aren’t you guys embarrassed laying on such outdated flattery?’

But then, Chu Bamboo glanced at Zhao Shao, who looked completely unfazed and even seemed to be enjoying it a little. Chu Bamboo nodded, his face expressionless.

’So that’s how it is. You’re the one who started all this... Mystery solved!’

Zhao Shao soon noticed Chu Bamboo’s piercing gaze and snapped out of it. An awkward smile appeared on his face as he grabbed Chu Bamboo’s sleeve and pulled him toward his office, lowering his voice.

"Hey, don’t blame me for this extra expense. I’ve always believed in ’wolf culture’... not *that* kind of wolf culture! I mean, you pay your people for the work they do! Extra work means extra pay! So, it’s only natural to add a bonus for this confidentiality stuff..."

"...Now I get why you’re always short on cash!" Chu Bamboo sighed.

He had always wondered. Zhao Shao was so capable, and a natural-born swindler, so how did he manage to get to a point where he seemed to struggle just to make payroll?

But now, he understood!

’Zhao Shao was just a terrible capitalist... Was he just throwing money away? During this crucial early growth stage, he wasn’t ruthlessly exploiting his employees, but instead was handing out raises and bonuses at the drop of a hat... It would be a miracle if he *ever* had enough money.’

’But... it was fine, I guess.’ Chu Bamboo felt a sense of peace. His identity as Mr. Zhu from the shantytown renovation district meant he didn’t actually mind people like this all that much.

And then he heard...

"W-well, I have my junior’s support, don’t I!" Zhao Shao ducked his head, flashing a bashful, toothy grin. "After all, in the contract, my junior did promise... to provide a portion of the funds, within reason..."

?

’Oh, real good. So you’ve found your sucker, is that it?!’

"Oh, I’m a little short on cash at the moment. Maybe next month, or the month after that," Chu Bamboo said, his face a blank mask.

Zhao Shao: "?"

’Crap, then this month’s salaries...’

’I originally had enough to cover it!’

But after his grand gesture... Zhao Shao broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes darting around uncontrollably.

"It’s not a huge problem, though," Chu Bamboo said reassuringly. "With this new large-scale model, we just launch it, tack on a few extra services... and we’ll make all the money back! If that doesn’t work, we can always get a loan... Why are you looking at me? You’re not expecting *me* to take out the loan, are you?"

Zhao Shao: "...Is it possible that... I’m already saddled with debt?!"

"Is it possible," Chu Bamboo retorted, "that I’m *also* starting a company, and that this very afternoon I have to go with Principal Li to get a loan from the bank?"

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other.