Has the Boss Bost His Temper Today? - Chapter 13

The meeting began, and Chu Yanzhou took the stage with his project.

 

The purpose of this seminar was not only to announce the progress of the guiding pills but, more importantly, to attract technical factories capable of collaborating on suppressing special pills. He couldn’t afford to pour all his energy into the K2 plant system alone.

 

Duan Shiming didn’t forget to capture his boss’s heroic bearing, snapping photos from all sorts of angles. After all, he was carrying out tasks for both the Human Resources and Public Relations departments, taking plenty of photos of the boss to be used for official materials.

 

Especially when Chu Yanzhou put on his rimless glasses; that cold, scholarly vibe immediately came through. Setting aside his temper and personality, this Alpha’s face and physique were truly top-tier.

 

He sent the photos he’d taken to the PR department.

 

[PR Department Xiao Zhang: Xiao Duan, if President Chu sees that you’ve photographed him like this, he’ll probably blow a fuse.]

 

Duan Shiming:  He quickly replied: [Do they look bad? President Chu is quite handsome.]

 

[PR Department Xiao Zhang: President Chu is handsome, but you haven’t captured his actual dashing charm.]

 

Duan Shiming refused to engage in self-reflection: [Then it must be that President Chu isn’t photogenic.]

 

[PR Department Xiao Zhang: (Thumbs up emoji)]

 

“Xiao Bao.”

 

Hearing the call from beside him, Duan Shiming looked over and found his Second Uncle had quietly sat down next to him.

 

“Where’s my Big Dad?”

 

“He went to video call your father; said he missed him.”

 

Duan Shiming:  So clingy.

 

Director Zheng asked, “Are you getting used to following Chu Yanzhou?”

 

Duan Shiming: “Did you put me by his side on purpose, Second Uncle?”

 

Director Zheng: “You can learn a lot from him. It’ll give you experience for when you return to the Group later.”

 

The main reason was that Chu Yanzhou was strict enough to keep an eye on the kid for them, killing two birds with one stone.

 

Duan Shiming: “And you purposely let me rent the place next door to him?”

 

Director Zheng laughed. “In the future, if I can’t find you, I’ll just look for him. Isn’t that convenient?”

 

Duan Shiming: “I’m a grown man, can I really get lost?”

 

Director Zheng: “Young Master, have you run away from home only a few times? Isn’t this time also a case of running away?”

 

Duan Shiming: “…”

 

Oh, so going out to work also counted as running away from home.

 

Director Zheng noticed the Alpha on stage looking over. “Chu Yanzhou doesn’t know who you are, but he likely suspects you’re from Headquarters.” This was exactly his intention.

 

Duan Shiming leaned over to whisper to his uncle, “He’s suspected it, but he has no evidence. I always feel like he has a bit of a grudge against Headquarters.”

 

Director Zheng: “Sit up straight, he’s looking over.”

 

Duan Shiming was about to ask what happened if he looked over, but he went silent at his uncle’s next sentence.

 

“He has a gambling agreement with me. If he cannot make a profit of 28 billion within five years, Chu’s Biotechnology will belong to the Chu-Luo Group.”

 

Duan Shiming was shocked. “Isn’t Chu’s Biotechnology a subsidiary of the Group?”

 

“The company originally belonged to the Chu family. I shorted and merged it later on.”

 

Duan Shiming: “…”

 

Director Zheng continued, “His R&D team has top-tier researchers. They’ve developed a pill that assists with the use of guiding chips, which might help with your condition.”

 

Duan Shiming went numb. “Second Uncle, you merged his company because of me?”

 

“Mm,” Director Zheng responded.

 

Duan Shiming lowered his voice. “Don’t say you know me! I’m not close to you!”

 

Director Zheng: This brat.

 

Duan Shiming stole a glance at his uncle. “Don’t think just because you’re my Second Uncle I’ll help you. I won’t do things like stealing company secrets. I’m a man of principle.”

 

During this time, he had already reviewed all the company’s projects. Every project in Chu Yanzhou’s hands was extremely profitable.

 

Particularly the anti-counterfeiting technology for pharmaceutical packaging; this plant was the most lucrative, operating globally with annual revenues in the tens of billions. Not to mention other projects, if the guiding pills took off, Chu’s Tech would be no different from a money-printing machine.

 

A mere 20-odd billion would be nothing.

 

“Does Xiao Bao want to help him?” Director Zheng asked.

 

Duan Shiming: “It’s not about helping or not. It’s just a job. Since I work for him, I have to follow the rules and regulations.”

 

Director Zheng thought to himself: This guy can actually follow rules and regulations?

 

“But”

 

Director Zheng: “.” As expected, there’s a ‘but’.

 

Duan Shiming looked at his uncle. “If you make things hard for him, you’re making things hard for me. I don’t want to work overtime. Don’t block his projects, or I’ll throw a fit.”

 

Director Zheng: “I am engaging in business warfare.”

 

Duan Shiming: “I don’t care.”

 

Director Zheng:  This brat. I truly have no way to deal with him; he’s been completely spoiled by us.

 

The lights converged on the stage. Chu Yanzhou stood at the podium, his tall and slender frame outlined in sharp silhouette.

 

He looked down, and as his gaze passed over a certain spot, it met those round eyes staring at him with total concentration. He paused for an imperceptible half-second.

 

“I hope the guiding pill innovation project can truly enter people’s lives, saving them from hardship and meeting their needs at a price everyone can afford. This has been the goal of Chu’s Tech’s major breakthroughs in guiding pills in recent years.”

 

As soon as he finished, a sound of enthusiastic, joyful clapping erupted.

 

Duan Shiming stood up with a “whoosh,” clapping without restraint. With the atmosphere boosted, everyone else followed suit, something that hadn’t happened for the previous few speakers.

 

His biological father, Director Chen: “…”

 

His uncle, Director Zheng: “…”

 

Truly an ancestor who couldn’t stay still.

 

Chu Yanzhou: “.” Was my speech really that good?

 

The seminar lasted nearly three and a half hours, ending at 6:30 PM.

 

“Director Zheng, thank you very much for your help,” Chu Yanzhou said.

 

The group walked out side by side.

 

Hearing this half-hearted thanks, Director Zheng smiled noncommittally. “The performance you’ve created over these three years has brought the second-tier subsidiaries to new heights. You’ve brought much honor to the Group. I greatly admire your ambition.”

 

Chu Yanzhou accepted the praise, but found the man’s attitude hard to read.

 

He hadn’t expected this man to directly open a “green channel” for Group projects—meaning all stages of the guiding pills would be approved at maximum speed, and the R&D budget for the project would be doubled.

 

Then what was the point of all the obstacles over the past three years?

 

Remaining cautious, he pressed further, “Then what if I want the K2 plant system from the Galaxy Research Institute? Is there a chance to use it?”

 

The most critical factor now wasn’t just Headquarters’ funding. He wasn’t short on money; if he wanted it, he had plenty of ways to get it. What he wanted was the equipment from the Galaxy Research Institute under the Chu-Luo Group. This was because guiding-related drugs could only use the K2 plant system to suppress the highest purity and achieve the best results.

 

What he had always wanted was the right to use the K2 system.

 

Director Zheng laughed. “As you know, my eldest brother has the final say at Galaxy Labs. If you really want to use the K2 plant system, you might have to try persuading him.”

 

The emotions in Chu Yanzhou’s eyes remained calm; this man clearly had no intention of helping him there.

 

Without the K2 system from the Galaxy Research Institute, the guiding pills could not be successfully pressed into tablets.

 

Then why put on this whole show?

 

“Yanzhou, you are young and ambitious. You should know that in our industry, the last thing you want to do is make enemies. Instead of having another layer of friction, it’s better to become win-win partners. You have such excellent packaging anti-counterfeiting technology, R&D capabilities, and management skills, you are a rare talent. Our cooperation has a better chance of winning, and the Chu-Luo Group will be your strongest umbrella.”

 

Director Zheng asked, “Have you really never thought about us becoming partners?”

 

“Director Zheng, you know my thoughts.” Chu Yanzhou’s tone was light, carrying a distance of self-restraint. “Perhaps there will be a chance after the gambling agreement ends.”

 

Seeing him meet his gaze without being overbearing or humble, Director Zheng laughed knowingly. He then introduced him to his brother-in-law, Director Chen: “Yanzhou’s ability is quite good. He purified some components of the blockers and guiding agents to set up a new production line, making the pills much safer. I’m quite supportive of him. It’s just that regarding the research institute, you might have to speak with my eldest brother. Brother-in-law, why don’t you take a look…”

 

For Xiao Bao’s sake, the polite words had to be said. Whether his eldest brother agreed or not was another matter entirely.

 

“Sigh.” Director Chen listened with a melancholy face.

 

Chu Yanzhou frowned slightly. “Director Chen, is it the research institute” It seemed there were still many places where he needed to pull strings. For instance, this Director Chen was also a key figure.

 

“President Chu is young and promising. What do you think of your secretary?” Director Chen observed the Alpha in front of him.

 

Chu Yanzhou:  He was slightly stunned. “My secretary?”

 

How did the topic jump to his secretary?

 

“The one who was by your side just now.” Director Chen couldn’t help but worry. “He’s quite good, right?”

 

He wasn’t worried about the boy’s eating habits, but he was most worried that the kid wouldn’t sleep well. Whenever the boy slept poorly, Director Chen would also be anxious all night.

 

Chu Yanzhou’s eyes flickered, but it was only a momentary emotion. “Xiao Duan is my new secretary. Although he’s just entered society and doesn’t have much experience, he is hardworking, articulate, and very clever.”

 

This Director Chen…

 

Why ask about his secretary out of the blue?

 

Director Chen was a bit surprised to hear “hardworking,” but “very clever” was definitely true. He nodded. “Indeed. He looks about the same age as my son.”

 

It seemed his working state was alright.

 

Chu Yanzhou: “.”

 

Is that so? He’s the same age as your son, yet you’re staring at the boy? Is this a hint for me to do something?

 

How preposterous!

 

“By the way, where did Secretary Duan go?” Director Zheng looked around.

 

Chu Yanzhou: “He went to get the car.”

 

Director Chen: “…”

 

Director Zheng: “…”

 

Director Chen smiled. “Then I’ll have my driver come over as well.”

 

Chu Yanzhou: “Very well.”

 

They chatted side by side as they walked out of the venue. Chu Yanzhou took the opportunity to chat more with Director Chen, only to find that this Director Chen used his little secretary like a punctuation mark, mentioning Duan Shiming in every single sentence.

 

Did he really think he was that kind of unscrupulous person? Wanting him to trade Duan Shiming for project support?

 

The conduct of the Chu-Luo family truly made him see them in a new light.

 

Just as they stepped out of the venue, they saw that black Maybach fail to control a sharp turn. The car “whooshed” as it swung in an exaggerated arc, the tires letting out a short, sharp shriek against the pavement.

 

 

The driver’s side window was open, and Driver Duan could be seen rapidly spinning the steering wheel to stabilize the car before coolly bringing it to a stop.

 

Duan Shiming held the steering wheel with one hand, rested his arm on the window, and looked outside, raising an eyebrow. “Are you guys getting in?”

 

The atmosphere shifted abruptly.

 

 

It felt like the Grim Reaper was asking, “Are you coming to your deaths?”

 

“My driver is here too, so we’ll head out first,” Director Zheng said with a smile. “We’ll have a good chat over dinner later.”

 

Actually, letting this “little ancestor” torture Chu Yanzhou a bit wasn’t a bad thing. Sometimes being too ambitious isn’t good either.

 

The two big bosses walked toward the vehicles not far away.

 

Chu Yanzhou looked at the poking-out head of Duan Shiming and said flatly, “Get out.”

 

Duan Shiming: “Get out for what? Get in.”

 

Chu Yanzhou: “I’m still young and want to live a few more years.”

 

Duan Shiming: He pursed his lips, held the seat for support, and swung his long legs over to sit in the passenger seat.

 

Chu Yanzhou opened the driver’s door and habitually turned off that messy DJ music.

 

“Hey, hey, hey” Seeing Chu Yanzhou turn off his music, Duan Shiming reached out and pressed down on the back of his hand to stop him. “After a meeting that long, you’ve got to listen to some music to get excited!”

 

His palm pressed down, just barely covering the broad back of the hand.

 

Chu Yanzhou’s knuckles tightened instantly. His gaze traveled from the overlapping hands up to the slender wrist bone, finally settling on the open collar of the guy’s shirt as he leaned forward. The flash of white skin at the collarbone made his emotions irritable.

 

At the same time, that citrus and lime pheromone drifted over.

 

He was already annoyed, and now it was even worse.

 

“Boss, let’s listen for a bit.” Duan Shiming turned his head and looked at Chu Yanzhou pleadingly, blinking his eyes. “Please?”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yanzhou let go.

 

Duan Shiming took Chu Yanzhou’s silence as agreement. He immediately played the music and buckled his seatbelt. “Wahoo, let’s go!”

 

Chu Yanzhou gripped the steering wheel, quietly adjusting his breathing. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his knuckles rubbed against the wheel below, aided by the citrus and lime scent that lingered in the car.

 

“Secretary Duan.”

 

“Hmm?” Duan Shiming turned to look at him.

 

“Director Zheng opened a green channel for the project.”

 

Duan Shiming’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Really?! I knew you could do it!” He gave Chu Yanzhou two big thumbs up. “President Chu, you’re incredible!”

 

A red light appeared ahead, and the car slowly came to a stop.

 

Chu Yanzhou turned his head and met those bright, smiling eyes. They were clear and watery; the way he was proud and happy for him made even the tips of his hair seem to bounce with joy.

 

This guy was annoying, but not to the point where Chu Yanzhou would push him out for the sake of profit.

 

He didn’t have any secretaries that young around him, nor had he ever encountered such obvious suggestive remarks as he had today. He was Duan Shiming’s boss; if he had to sacrifice a subordinate to achieve an end, what kind of man would that make him?

 

Including Ji Huaichuan’s goals, it all started with getting close to Duan Shiming.

 

This guy really couldn’t be let out of one’s sight; one lapse and he’d be gone.

 

“In the future, in public, do not undo the top button of your shirt.”

 

Duan Shiming: “?”

 

Chu Yanzhou glanced at him. “Button it up.”

 

Duan Shiming found it a bit bizarre. “Why?”

 

“Button it up or have your pay docked. Choose for yourself.”

 

Duan Shiming lowered his head and quickly buttoned it.

 

Chu Yanzhou’s peripheral vision caught this face. The handsome Beta had his eyes lowered, appearing purely harmless and incredibly obedient, which only made Chu Yanzhou’s mood more irritable.

 

“Duan Shiming.”

 

Duan Shiming finished buttoning up and tilted his head to look at him. “What is it?”

 

“What would you do if you encountered workplace harassment or ‘hidden rules’?”

 

Duan Shiming’s eyes instantly flashed. He suddenly rolled up his sleeves, raised his arm, and flexed his biceps. “Damn, if anyone dares to touch me, I’ll break their legs!”

 

His voice was like a lit firecracker, loud enough to blow the roof off the car.

 

Chu Yanzhou:  He was silent for a few seconds. His heart relaxed, and he then burst out laughing, reaching out to pat the small fist. “Leave people a way to live.”