Chapter 304 - 237: The Weather Is Cold, but the Heart Is Warm (Part 2)

"What’s the problem?"

"Our company culture prizes family harmony and sees being single as a disgrace. Everyone here doesn’t just work hard at their jobs; they work hard at finding a partner, too!

"As the longest-reigning bachelor in the company, I get made fun of because everyone else has a girlfriend! Look at President Sang over there. He’s so capable, but he just can’t find a girlfriend. Isn’t that frustrating?

"So, you see, does your existence have meaning for me? It’s hugely meaningful!"

Seeing him act so silly, Ni Bingyan couldn’t help but giggle.

「After lunch, they returned to the office.」

After looking over the reports, Sang Yuan tossed a stack of project investment proposals her way, asking if she liked any of them. He said she could invest in whichever one she fancied.

"I don’t have an eye for this sort of thing. Professional matters should be left to the professionals. I think I’ll pass!"

Ni Bingyan refused outright.

"The ones I’m giving you are all projects I’m optimistic about. Why would I give you something that’s guaranteed to lose money? Just pick one you like. Think of it as a way to pass the time. Otherwise, just sitting here doing nothing must be terribly boring."

Ni Bingyan was still a little hesitant.

She didn’t want to meddle in Sang Yuan’s work.

’Even if they were married, a couple should still have their own private space, let alone when they were just dating. It was even more important not to cross that line.’

"There are a lot of young people out there with passion, dreams, and the drive to act on them, but they lack the startup capital. If you choose one of them, you’d be giving them a hope of making a name for themselves!"

Sang Yuan spared no effort, pitching them like a seasoned matchmaker trying to sell off his eligible bachelors.

Ni Bingyan still shook her head.

’The thought of doing something that could change someone’s fate was incredibly stressful just to think about.’

’Better to just pass.’

But it was as if Sang Yuan knew exactly what she was thinking.

"These projects will be invested in using your money, so don’t feel any pressure. As for those who don’t get picked, it just means their luck was a little off. People with bad luck don’t usually have smooth sailing in business, so you can’t even talk about a return on investment. Don’t call it superstition—everyone believes in this stuff. It’s all about fate, you know~"

Ni Bingyan thought that made sense, so she took the stack of files.

People desperate for investment would naturally praise themselves in all sorts of creative ways. After reading just two proposals, Ni Bingyan started to frown.

’How was she supposed to know which were good and which were bad?’

’She’d never dealt with this kind of thing before.’

"First, you have to look at the project itself. Does it have a profit model? Is it feasible? What are the potential difficulties?

"Second, you have to consider the background of the person you’re investing in. Does this person have a good reputation? Do they have connections? Besides financial support, do they need any other kind of backing?

"Furthermore, if possible, you should also consider various government policies and predict which industries will be profitable in the future.

"Of course, you also have to consider the projects you’ve done in the past. It would be a real joke if your left hand started fighting your right hand and they both ended up losing..."

Sang Yuan did his best to use a lighthearted tone as he imparted his "few" little investment tips.

"You’re teaching me so much. Aren’t you afraid I’ll learn it all and steal your business?"

Ni Bingyan was just joking. She knew she had no talent for business.

Someone with a natural gift would have surely made great progress after more than a year of Sang Yuan’s hands-on teaching, yet she couldn’t even tell a good investment proposal from a bad one.

But Sang Yuan looked at her seriously. "I want nothing more than for you to learn as much as possible. That way, if I’m not around someday, you’ll still be able to live comfortably on your own skills, without having to rely on anyone or suffer any injustice."

Once those words were spoken, even someone as articulate as Ni Bingyan was at a loss for a reply.

She just felt that while the day was cold, her heart was very warm.

Because she knew Sang Yuan wasn’t the type to be all talk and no action.

The two of them continued chatting like this, and before they knew it, it was time to leave work.

A single guy can work overtime or not, it doesn’t matter. But when you have a girlfriend, you have to leave on time.

And not only leave on time, but also go out for a nice meal, maybe see a movie, and create a little romance.

Ni Bingyan stretched and stood up.

"Your job isn’t easy at all!

"People envy bosses, thinking they just sit comfortably in their chairs without a care in the world. But I feel like it’s much harder than being a regular employee.

"At least employees have someone above them assigning tasks, so they know what they’re supposed to be doing. A boss has to figure it all out for themselves—what to do to create more profit, to help everyone in the company live a better life."

"Listen to you."

Sang Yuan put on his coat, unable to hold back a smile.

’She only found it difficult because she wasn’t good at these things.’

’It was always like that for an outsider.’

’But he wasn’t stupid; he wasn’t about to explain that.’

’If she thinks his work is hard, she’ll feel more sympathy for him~’

"The two of us have been cooped up in this office all day, working until our backs are sore. Anyone who didn’t know better would wonder what we were up to!"

Ni Bingyan picked up her overcoat and grumbled casually.

’People are always like that. They only see the spoils, not the struggle.’

’People envy kids from wealthy families born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but they never think about how much effort their ancestors put in to create that foundation for them.’

Sang Yuan, who had already picked up her bag and walked to the door, couldn’t help but burst out laughing when he heard her comment.

Ni Bingyan froze for a second before realizing her words were a bit off-color.

"Where is your mind going?!"

Seeing her blush and lunge toward him, Sang Yuan’s survival instincts went into overdrive, and he yanked the door open.

It was quitting time. Colleagues were either calling home or making plans to go out and relax, discussing good places to go.

The lively chatter drifted in, and Ni Bingyan, who still had her celebrity image to maintain, had no choice but to let him off the hook for now.

The two went downstairs. Before their car had even left the parking garage, Ni Bingyan got a call from Wei Shuojie.

"Done with work? Swing by the company on your way home later to pick something up."

Ni Bingyan was on vacation today, yet the first thing she said was "Done with work"? She obviously knew that Bingyan had spent the day at the office with Sang Yuan.

’Someone had probably given her some free publicity again.’

She had run into so many people on the way, and the office was full of them, too. She hadn’t planned on being sneaky about it, so she asked Wei Shuojie quite naturally:

"What is it?"

’It wasn’t a holiday, and she wasn’t a regular office employee. Even if the company was giving out gift packages, she shouldn’t be getting one!’

"They’re gifts from your fans, celebrating *Demon Suppression Tower* crossing one billion at the box office. None of them left a return address; they just sent them straight to the company to be passed on to you. We can’t return them, but it doesn’t feel right for me to accept them on your behalf, so you’ll have to come and haul them away yourself."

"Haul them away? Are there that many? What kind of stuff is it?"

She had received letters from fans before, but this was the first time they had sent packages like this.

She had to admit, she was pretty curious.

"That’s your private business; no one can open your things! You’ll have to open them yourself to find out."

Ni Bingyan figured that was true.

After a quick discussion with Sang Yuan, Ni Bingyan turned the steering wheel and headed for her agency.