Volume 1, Chapter 29: The Assigned Vehicle

When Shen Wei called their names, everyone was stunned.

Lin Chen had been busy all morning and was starving; he couldn't help but say, "Manager Shen, is there something that can't wait until after lunch? It's our break time right now!"

Jiang Yao, however, caught on quickly. He gave Lin Chen a sharp nudge with his elbow, winking frantically, and said with a smile, "Manager Shen, this kid is just hungry and confused. We’re coming right over!"

"Lin Chen, what are you still standing there for? If Manager Shen is looking for us, it must be important. Lunch can wait!"

With that, he dragged Lin Chen along to follow Shen Wei.

Behind them, the other employees began to gloat.

"Those two, getting a private office the moment they joined the company! I thought they had some big connections, but it looks like they're nothing special after all."

"Getting called in for work during lunch break—hilarious."

"The more capable you are, the more you have to do. Since they got special treatment, they must have more work than us."

"Heh, working overtime during the lunch break; we’re eating while they’re being worked like pack mules. Isn't that just great?"

Hearing the gossip behind him, Lin Chen couldn't help but sigh.

*Forget it, forget it.* For an intern to earn twelve thousand a month, doing a little extra work was only fair. It was just a shame about his stomach.

The two of them followed Shen Wei, resigning themselves to their fate, until they reached...

The executive canteen?!

"Huh?" Jiang Yao muttered, "Are we going to be made to watch him eat while he assigns us tasks?"

Lin Chen was also surprised, then indignantly added, "He won't waste even half a minute; he’s going to assign us work while he eats, and we won't even get a bite! What a beast!"

Earning a living as a corporate lackey really wasn't easy!

Just as the two were whispering to each other, Shen Wei spoke up.

"Sit."

He smiled warmly. "What would you like to eat? I’ll have the staff bring it over."

"Huh?"

Lin Chen and Jiang Yao were dumbfounded. They exchanged glances.

Was he treating them to a meal?

Thinking back to the time they had specifically gone to a restaurant, Jiang Yao’s eyes lit up. The food in the executive area was more than just a little better than in the staff area!

Lin Chen realized what was happening, but still hesitated. "Manager Shen, this... isn't that against the rules? We should be eating in the staff area..."

"Oh, I have something I want to discuss with you both, so we’re eating here today."

As Shen Wei spoke, he handed the menu to them. "Order whatever you want! Don't stand on ceremony with me."

*Stand on ceremony?*

Lin Chen and Jiang Yao were already famished, so they didn't hesitate to start ordering.

It had to be said, the food in the executive area was truly excellent. Lobsters and abalone were brought out as if they were free. Even the soup was countless times better than what was served in the staff area.

At first, Lin Chen and Jiang Yao were a bit reserved.

Shen Wei urged them repeatedly, "Eat! Weren't you hungry? Don't be shy. If you don't eat, I can't finish all this on my own."

The two exchanged a look. "Manager Shen, then we won't be polite..."

As they spoke, both reached for the same lobster at the same time.

"Hand it over!"

Lin Chen’s technique was superior; he successfully snatched it and began to eat immediately.

The taste was fantastic! He had originally thought the staff canteen food was good—cheap, generous portions, and decent flavor—but compared to this, it was like pig slop!

The two ate with gusto.

Watching them, Shen Wei felt a weight lift off his heart. Ever since that last incident, the two had been intentionally or unintentionally distancing themselves from him, making him anxious and constantly wondering how he had offended them. After all, these two had been sent in by the old lady; they might well be undercover agents planted in the company. If he offended them, his position might be at risk!

But seeing them eat like this, it was clear they didn't treat him as an outsider, so he could rest easy.

After eating for a long while, their hunger satisfied, their brains began to function again.

"What do you think he's up to?"

"He said he wanted to talk, but this doesn't look like a business meeting."

"I think he's just using it as an excuse to treat us to a meal..."

"Maybe he’s got his eyes on your backside!"

"Screw you!"

Relying on the rapport of their long-standing friendship, they exchanged frantic messages with their eyes. But after a long time, they still reached no conclusion.

Lin Chen couldn't hold back anymore. "Manager Shen, didn't you say you had something to discuss with us?"

"What exactly... is this matter? Are we going on a business trip?"

Shen Wei snapped back to reality and hurriedly shook his head. "No, no. I called you here today because I want to adjust Lin Chen’s position."

"Huh?"

Lin Chen was stunned.

Jiang Yao reflexively asked, "He’s changing positions, then what about me?" If Lin Chen left, he’d be left all alone in their two-person office. Surely they wouldn't force him back into the big open office, would they? *Anything but that!*

Shen Wei explained, "I didn't make myself clear. It’s just that I’m adding some responsibilities to Lin Chen’s role..."

Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Whatever the work is, please just tell me!"

Although he had plenty to do every day, it was all minor stuff that was easy to handle. Drawing a twelve-thousand-a-month salary and eating the boss’s food—he had actually been feeling a bit uneasy!

Shen Wei tried his best to look as friendly as possible. "It’s not really a big deal. It’s just that... well... the company’s current drivers are a bit short-staffed. When I need to go out, I often don't have anyone to drive me."

"So, I’ve decided to assign a car to you. From now on, if I need to go out, I’ll have to trouble you to drive me."

Lin Chen was completely bewildered. In a company this large, there should theoretically be a clear division of labor, yet they were asking him, an office clerk, to moonlight as a driver?! It wasn't that he was unwilling, but the whole situation felt... bizarre.

Moreover, Shen Wei was a founding member of the company, and he was using the word "trouble" for a nobody like him. It was absurd! Too absurd!

Jiang Yao was also dumbfounded. "Manager Shen, you want Lin Chen to work part-time as a driver?"

"Not part-time. I’m just assigning a car to him, and he’ll be responsible for driving me alone!" Shen Wei shook his head again. "And I don't go out that often; the workload isn't heavy at all!"

He then realized something. "By the way, Lin Chen, you have a driver’s license, right?"

"I do, but..."

"Then it’s settled!" Shen Wei made the final decision. "Are you full? I’ll take you to see the car."

Lin Chen followed Shen Wei out in a daze.

As they left, Shen Wei instructed Jiang Yao, "Don't rush, eat slowly. If you need more, just order it and put it on my tab!"

Even though the higher-ups had specified that Lin Chen was to be given a car—making him clearly the more important one—Jiang Yao had also been sent by the old lady, so he couldn't be neglected!

The shrimp in Jiang Yao’s hand fell to the plate. This job was too good to be true! He definitely had to send his cousin a red envelope later!

Lin Chen was led by Shen Wei directly to the company parking lot. He looked at the Mercedes-Benz E300 in front of him and turned into a statue.

"Manager Shen, you... you said the car the company is assigning to me..."

"It can't be this one, can it?!"