Chapter 125: Let’s See What They Can Do

Watching Yuan Cheng’s miserable state, Yao Ziqi waved his hand, and two security guards stepped forward to stand beside him.

Yao Ziqi said, "I apologize, Manager Yuan, but these are the instructions from President Huo."

Seeing this, Yuan Cheng collapsed onto the floor.

Lu Ming glanced at Yao Ziqi and noticed his sharp, professional demeanor and composed nature. Lu Ming gave a silent nod of approval. Yao Ziqi then instructed the two guards to help Yuan Cheng up and seat him on a nearby sofa. He poured two glasses of water, brought them over to Lu Ming and A-Duo, and said, "Mr. Lu, please let me know if there is anything you need. President Huo told me that no matter what you require, I must ensure it is done."

Lu Ming nodded slowly and replied, "Originally, I intended for A-Duo to apply for a position as a sales associate, but I didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Yao Ziqi was stunned. He thought to himself that given the relationship between Lu Ming and President Huo, why would his friend need to apply for a sales role? Surely, a position could have been arranged for her anywhere in the Jiamei Group. However, he kept these thoughts to himself and instead said, "Mr. Lu, would a sales position not be beneath a friend of yours?"

Lu Ming smiled. "I originally wanted her to gain some experience, but it seems that is no longer feasible." Once his identity was revealed, A-Duo’s status would inevitably rise. If she were to work as a sales associate now, the other managers would likely treat her like royalty, which would defeat the entire purpose of her having a job.

"I see," Yao Ziqi said with a smile.

Just then, a man rushed in, breathless, and asked, "May I ask who Mr. Lu is?"

"I am he," Lu Ming said calmly.

"Greetings, Mr. Lu. I am Qin Yuanjiu, the General Manager of Jiamei’s Metropolitan District. President Huo sent me to report to you and to handle the matter regarding Yuan Cheng."

Not only was A-Duo surprised, but Yao Ziqi was also stunned. The level of importance President Huo placed on this matter was reaching an unprecedented height. For the regional manager to come personally to report to this Mr. Lu meant his status was definitely extraordinary, and his relationship with President Huo was truly intriguing.

Lu Ming nodded. "Handle it however you see fit. Don't worry about me."

"Understood, Mr. Lu."

Qin Yuanjiu acknowledged the order with a wave of his hand. Two women and a man entered the room and began sealing the office equipment in Yuan Cheng’s office. Qin Yuanjiu then said, "Mr. Lu, shall we find you a place to rest? We would like to host you for dinner shortly."

Lu Ming considered this and replied, "That sounds good. It is time for a rest."

A-Duo’s situation was now complicated, and Lu Ming needed time to think about how to arrange things for her. He would definitely be staying overnight, so finding a place to rest was a good idea. Seeing that Lu Ming had agreed, Qin Yuanjiu immediately said, "Please, follow me."

Lu Ming nodded, took A-Duo’s hand, and stood up. A-Duo still seemed somewhat nervous; the series of changes had left her feeling a bit overwhelmed. Qin Yuanjiu led the way out, and as they departed, he told Yao Ziqi, "You assist them and wait for the economic crimes investigation team to arrive." Yao Ziqi nodded.

After the three went downstairs, Qin Yuanjiu checked them into a suite at a five-star hotel across the street, insisting that he would host a banquet for Lu Ming that evening. It was hard to refuse such hospitality, so Lu Ming agreed.

After Qin Yuanjiu left, A-Duo looked at the luxurious furnishings of the suite and stuck out her tongue in amazement. Lu Ming watched her, smiled, and sat on the sofa to turn on the television. While his eyes were fixed on the screen, his mind was busy considering A-Duo’s future. It was no longer appropriate for her to work as a sales associate at Jiamei, but if he sent her elsewhere, her innocence would inevitably lead to her being taken advantage of. If a young girl were to be led astray, her entire life could be ruined.

Just as he was worrying, Huo Yutong called. Lu Ming answered.

"Brother Lu, is that A-Duo pretty?" Huo Yutong’s voice sounded plaintive on the other end.

Lu Ming shook his head internally; what was this all about? "Yutong, A-Duo is just a young girl. Don't overthink it."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yutong immediately laughed. "I knew Brother Lu wasn't that kind of person."

"What kind of person am I?" Lu Ming asked, caught between laughter and tears.

"Alright, enough of that. Since A-Duo is your friend, why don't you bring her back? Let her undergo some proper training. We are currently short on all kinds of talent at Jiamei. Professional training will allow her to contribute to the company while securing a good income for herself. What do you think?"

Lu Ming immediately felt that this made sense. He had told Huo Yutong all about A-Duo’s situation, and this arrangement was exactly what he had hoped for. He agreed on the spot. They chatted for a while longer, and after Huo Yutong reluctantly told him to return soon, she hung up.

He glanced at A-Duo, who was still enthusiastically exploring the room. Lu Ming smiled and shook his head, returning his attention to the TV. A while later, A-Duo’s excitement waned, and she sat down beside him with a troubled look.

"What's wrong, A-Duo?" Lu Ming asked.

A-Duo looked at him and said, "Brother Lu, what about my job? I don’t have much money, and if I don't get a job, I'll go hungry."

Lu Ming smiled. "Don't worry. I’ve found you a good job. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the Jiamei headquarters in Xijing City. You’ll undergo training for a while, and then I’ll arrange a better position for you."

"Really?" A-Duo jumped up with joy.

"Of course it's real," Lu Ming chuckled.

"Thank you, Brother Lu!" A-Duo bowed to him, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Don't mention it," Lu Ming replied, returning to the television. To him, this was a trivial matter, a mere gesture of convenience. A-Duo, now in high spirits, sat down to watch TV with him.

Before long, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Lu Ming said.

Qin Yuanjiu pushed the door open and said, "Mr. Lu, the banquet is ready."

Although Lu Ming and A-Duo had already eaten, he didn't want to decline after having already given his word. He stood up, brought A-Duo along, and followed Qin Yuanjiu to the hotel’s top floor.

The top floor featured an observation restaurant with an excellent view; through the glass windows, one could almost overlook the entire city. It was just nightfall, and the neon lights everywhere adorned the capital of the land of abundance, making it look magnificent.

Qin Yuanjiu led them to the largest private room, which had been reserved in advance, and pushed the door open. "Please, Mr. Lu."

Lu Ming nodded and led A-Duo inside. He saw over a dozen people sitting in the room. As soon as they saw Lu Ming enter, they all stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Mr. Lu."

This scene startled A-Duo. Lu Ming was also taken aback and looked at Qin Yuanjiu with a questioning gaze.

Qin Yuanjiu quickly explained, "These are the managers of Jiamei’s various branches in the capital. I invited them all, thinking that you might give us a few words of encouragement."

Lu Ming was left speechless. "What do I have to say? I am not your boss."

Qin Yuanjiu hurriedly replied, "President Huo has specifically instructed us to follow your guidance without the slightest error. If you could say a few words, it might benefit us for a lifetime."

Lu Ming frowned slightly and said, "Everyone, sit down."

They all took their seats, and Qin Yuanjiu pulled out chairs for Lu Ming and A-Duo. After sitting down, Lu Ming said slowly, "I have nothing to say, except one thing: do not bring bureaucratic practices into Jiamei. If you continue down that path, you will be in great danger."

A cold sweat broke out on Qin Yuanjiu’s forehead as he realized his attempt to flatter had backfired. Because President Huo had repeatedly told him to serve Mr. Lu well, Qin Yuanjiu had assumed Lu Ming was a high-ranking government official. Seeing now that he was clearly not a government official, he felt extremely embarrassed.

"Mr. Lu, I apologize. I thought you were from the government, so..." Qin Yuanjiu said awkwardly.

Lu Ming smiled. "I am just a personal friend of Huo Yutong. Do not overthink it."

Just then, an arrogant voice echoed from outside: "I don't care who is inside, tell them to vacate this room immediately. I've had enough of being pushed around these past few days, and I’m in a very short-tempered mood."

Qin Yuanjiu immediately said, "I apologize, Mr. Lu. Let me go see what is happening."

Lu Ming nodded with a hint of a strange smile. Qin Yuanjiu stepped out, and after a short while, he returned looking extremely embarrassed. "Mr. Lu, would you mind if we changed rooms?"

Lu Ming smiled. "Why?"

Qin Yuanjiu hesitated but said, "Young Master Wang of the Jiasheng Group and Young Master Liu of the Haomei Group want this room. They are the local power brokers here, and it might be troublesome to get into a conflict with them."

It wasn't that Qin Yuanjiu was afraid of them—the reputation of the Jiamei Group was no small matter. However, these two groups were long-established enterprises in the Sichuan region with deep roots. They were like local serpents, and without absolute necessity, Qin Yuanjiu did not want to provoke friction. After all, if a conflict arose, it would surely alert the Jiamei headquarters, and he would be held accountable by President Huo.

However, Lu Ming wore a mischievous smile and said, "It’s fine. We are not giving them this room today. Let's see what they can do about it."