Volume 1, Chapter 6: Mr. Zhou, I Thank You

Zhou Huaixu rested his well-defined fingers on the table, legs crossed, and cast a casual glance at the data displayed on the screen.

"Submit your respective investment proposals by next week."

His attitude was quite ambiguous. No one could quite fathom what he was thinking. However, since the boss had given the order, they naturally had to comply.

Shen Zhao had drafted the investment department's proposal earlier. After sending it to Zhang Yunshu for review, she added, "The core data still needs to be provided by the finance department. Given Accountant Ji’s attitude this morning, I doubt she will give it to me or Xiao Li again."

"I will ask her manager for it later."

Zhang Yunshu had been quite irritated by the marketing and finance departments during the meeting. After work, she took Shen Zhao and Xiao Li out for drinks to blow off steam.

Xiao Li asked, "I heard that Mr. Zhou was a staunch advocate of long-term value investing back on Wall Street. Why is he not continuing that approach now that he’s here at the company?"

Zhang Yunshu looked at Shen Zhao. "Zhao, you were at the meeting today. What are your thoughts?"

Shen Zhao swirled her glass and replied, "Balance."

Zhang Yunshu nodded in approval.

Xiao Li looked confused. "What are you two speaking in riddles for?"

Zhang Yunshu tapped her on the forehead. "Speak less, do more, observe carefully, and learn slowly."

Xiao Li pouted. "I don't understand these roundabout ways of yours. I just know that I really dislike Ji Chao right now; I don't want to deal with her at all! Every time I go to her for data, she’s always so dismissive! I have to use nice words to beg her, and the stuff she sends back is barely worth looking at! And yet, some people still hold her up as the company’s 'face'—some cold, proud beauty! Ugh! Hmph, she’s not even half as pretty as our Zhao!"

Shen Zhao lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Zhang Yunshu’s expression turned serious. "Keep these things between us. Don't make a scene at the office."

Xiao Li felt aggrieved. "I know. I’m just venting."

After finishing their drinks, the three went their separate ways. Zhang Yunshu called for a designated driver to take Shen Zhao home. On the way, Zhang Yunshu received a call. Seeing her surprised expression, she said, "Thank you, Assistant Chen," before hanging up.

Shen Zhao asked, "Company business?"

Zhang Yunshu replied, "Chen Yuan informed me that Mr. Zhou is going on a business trip the day after tomorrow, and I have to go with him."

Shen Zhao found it strange. "Usually, such business matters are notified via email. Given Assistant Chen’s meticulous working style, why would he send a WeChat message directly?"

Zhang Yunshu said, "It means Mr. Zhou doesn't intend to make this trip public."

Shen Zhao paused, forming a guess in her mind, but she didn't voice it.

"I like your temperament," Zhang Yunshu said, patting her head. She added, "But sometimes, being too considerate of others makes it easy for you to be bullied. Your cousin, Ji Chao, doesn't appreciate you as her sister at all. What Xiao Li said today might have been emotional, but the girl is honest; she wouldn't lie."

Shen Zhao understood what she meant and nodded. "Thank you, Sister Shu."

...

That evening, Shen Zhao played the piano at a restaurant. She had played there for five days, and the manager was quite satisfied, asking her to work every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Shen Zhao was very grateful.

During a break, she saw a message from Zhang Yunshu: *Zhao, I’ve come down with acute gastroenteritis and just finished surgery. I definitely can't go on the business trip tomorrow. I’ve already communicated with Assistant Chen; you can go in my place.*

Shen Zhao stared at the flight information Zhang Yunshu had sent, her scalp tingling. She didn't want to go at all. If Zhou Huaixu were only related to her as Zhou Lin’s older brother, she wouldn't be this afraid of him. But the problem was that Zhou Huaixu was the big boss. Shen Zhao felt that she must have been out of her mind from angering Zhou Lin a few days ago, acting with such audacity to not only throw herself at Zhou Huaixu but also threaten him—it was truly idiotic.

She spent the entire night in a state of dread. The next day, when she arrived at the airport, she received more bad news: she would be the only one traveling with Zhou Huaixu.

Chen Yuan carefully explained the precautions to her and handed her the itinerary. Seeing Shen Zhao’s pale face, Chen Yuan smiled and said, "Don't be nervous; we’ll be back tonight. Mr. Zhou is very efficient. As long as the main business doesn't go wrong, he won't say anything about other insignificant mistakes."

Shen Zhao looked unconvinced. She had already experienced Zhou Huaixu’s ruthless tongue. One wrong word and he would poke right at your spine. How could she not be nervous?

However, as it turned out, Chen Yuan was right. From boarding the plane in the capital to visiting the enterprise in Chengdu, Zhou Huaixu didn't say a word to her other than what was related to work.

At the tail end of August, Chengdu was hot and humid. Zhou Huaixu wore his high-end bespoke suit impeccably. Even with a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, he remained focused on touring the production base with the heads of the enterprise. Every gesture and movement was filled with grace and patience.

Shen Zhao followed closely by Zhou Huaixu’s side, her gaze falling on his sharp, handsome profile. The sacred, unattainable, and aloof aura had returned to this man in an instant. The saying that a man at work is particularly charming was actually quite true.

After the tour, the host invited them to dinner. Zhou Huaixu politely declined, citing the need to return to the capital that evening. The other party had no choice but to accept.

With some time left before their flight, Shen Zhao asked, "Mr. Zhou, do you need to reschedule the flight to go back earlier?"

"No need."

Zhou Huaixu found a nearby teahouse. After sitting down, he asked casually, "Both companies we visited today are in the company’s investment plan. Which one do you prefer?"

Shen Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Cunxin." Cunxin was the company they had visited in the afternoon.

"Reason?"

"The chip industry has huge market potential for the future. Since Cunxin is a high-quality company, the return on investment will surely be very high."

Zhou Huaixu lifted his eyelids and cast a faint glance at her. "But Cunxin’s stock price is high, and the company’s current cash flow is not optimistic. Investing in Cunxin requires a return cycle of at least five years."

Shen Zhao replied unhurriedly, "Cunxin’s stock price is higher than Fenxing’s, which we saw this morning, but it is still a fair price. On the contrary, Fenxing’s stock price is absurdly low; buying into it rashly carries significant risk."

"Stock price volatility is difficult to predict in the short term. However, in the long term, it is determined by the company’s value. Cunxin has that potential, and its current stock price is lower than its latent value."

Shen Zhao wasn't making these statements without basis. Firstly, they were conclusions drawn from analyzing financial data. Secondly, their investment department had been interested in investing in Cunxin since last year and had been observing the company’s securities and financial trends.

Zhou Huaixu sat opposite Shen Zhao, legs crossed. He still appeared calm, with no hint of his thoughts. After a long while, he spoke in a low voice: "You should be aware that most people in the company prefer short-term investments."

The two major departments, marketing and finance, were the obvious examples. The influence of those departments was inseparable from the backers behind them.

Shen Zhao understood the implication. She pursed her lips, her clear eyes determined. "The investment department has always insisted on long-term value investing."

"I want to see action," Zhou Huaixu said.

"Rest assured, Mr. Zhou," she replied.

Her statement undoubtedly signaled which side the investment department was taking. Zhou Huaixu’s indifferent gaze landed on her face again. Shen Zhao felt uncomfortable under his stare, but she dared not look away, so she braced herself and met his dark eyes, feeling nervous inside. After all, Zhou Huaixu was a titan in the financial world, a man standing at the summit, while she was merely a climber at the foot of the mountain; she naturally held him in awe.

Zhou Huaixu lazily and elegantly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Your intelligence at work is inversely proportional to your handling of personal affairs."

"..." She would take that as a compliment.

Shen Zhao forced a smile and said dryly, "Mr. Zhou, thank you very much."

It was getting late, so Shen Zhao called for a private car. As she stood up from her chair, perhaps moving too quickly, she felt a sudden wave of dizziness. Losing her balance, she fell backward.

Her waist was caught by a large hand.