Volume 1, Chapter 35: What a Coincidence, We Meet Again

"My niece is a senior in college this year; she's both sweet and pretty. Why don't you get to know her?"

Shen Wei smiled with extreme cordiality. He had figured it out: Lin Chen was someone personally planted here by the Matriarch, and the Chairman had even ordered a car to be assigned to him specifically—his status was definitely not simple! Even if he wasn't sent by the Matriarch to investigate the company, he had to be at least the young heir of a wealthy family. If he could build a good relationship with him now, would there be any shortage of benefits for himself in the future? The more Shen Wei thought about it, the warmer his smile became.

Behind him, a group of female colleagues who had been eavesdropping were winking and nudging each other.

"Did you see that? Even Manager Shen wants to introduce his niece to Lin Chen; he's definitely a stock with high potential!"

"Let's just give up; don't compete with Manager Shen for him."

"Manager Shen's niece is just a girl, and we're girls too. We're in the same company; the proximity gives us a natural advantage!"

"Exactly, a golden bachelor like this, and so handsome too—I’ve set my sights on him!"

They chatted away, looking at Lin Chen like hungry wolves eyeing a small lamb. Lin Chen, however, looked miserable. "Manager Shen, thank you for your kind intentions, but I’m already married!"

It was bad enough having a swarm of unwanted admirers back in school; why was this happening even after he started working?

Shen Wei didn't believe him. "Nonsense! You just graduated from school, what marriage? If you don't like my niece, just say so!" Realizing he might have spoken too harshly, he quickly changed his tune. "Alright, alright, these things depend on fate. I know you young people don't like being arranged. Go back to work!"

Before Lin Chen could even get a word in, Shen Wei had already left. He had no choice but to head back to the office, feeling dejected.

After a busy morning, Lin Chen and Jiang Yao returned to their office for a lunch break. Since it was an office assigned exclusively to the two of them, it was equipped not only with a sofa but also with cots for napping—the perks were beyond compare. Jiang Yao flopped onto his cot and immediately pulled out his phone to start gaming.

Lin Chen glanced at him. "You’re so addicted to the internet, you should be sent to the 'Electric Shock Master' for some proper treatment!"

"Forget it! I don't know who it was that spent three days and nights in an internet cafe during freshman year and had to call a professor to come and save him."

"Let's not talk about the past; we are still good father and son."

After trading a few barbs, Lin Chen pulled his blanket up, ready to sleep. But just then, there was a knock at the office door. It was the head of the Finance Department, Yu Feng.

Yu Feng was a legendary figure. It was said she had been with the company since its inception, having followed the Chairman from the start; she was a true veteran. This Department Head Yu was known for being utterly impartial and stern, so much so that people secretly called her the "Extinction Master." However, she took good care of herself and was quite attractive. Despite her "Extinction Master" reputation, she was the dream goddess of many male colleagues in the company.

Lin Chen and Jiang Yao exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes. Why would the head of the Finance Department come to the Marketing Department in person?

"Lin Chen, you're free this afternoon, right?" Yu Feng's gaze fell on him.

Lin Chen jolted, jumping up abruptly and scrambling to straighten his clothes. "Department Head Yu, I... I have no tasks. Is there some work you need me to do?" Logically, this shouldn't be happening! Even if there was work, shouldn't Shen Wei be the one to tell him?

Yu Feng nodded. "One of our employees needs to go out to collect a payment this afternoon, but the company cars are all occupied. Since the company has assigned a car to you, you can make the trip for us." She turned and left before Lin Chen could even speak. "Four o'clock this afternoon, pick someone up at the company gate. I've already cleared it with your boss."

Lin Chen looked at Jiang Yao, bewildered. "Wait... didn't they say the car assigned to me was only for Manager Shen's use? How did someone from the Finance Department end up asking for me?"

Jiang Yao gloated. "Heh, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Just be a good boy and go do the grunt work!" He couldn't help but add with a sigh, "But the company provided a Mercedes E300, and you get to use it whenever you want with gas reimbursed. Forget about occasionally helping out; I'd be willing to switch jobs to be a driver for that!" Renting a car cost hundreds a day! Getting to drive one for free with gas paid for, just by running an occasional errand—what a sweet deal!

Lin Chen thought about it and breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Yao chimed in again. "By the way, this Department Head Yu really does have a bit of that 'Extinction Master' vibe from *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*. Could she have taken a fancy to you?" He smirked. "Heh, Manager Shen has his eye on your backside, and now here comes Department Head Yu. You’ve got quite the romantic fortune!"

Lin Chen's face turned green. "If you can't say anything useful, shut your mouth!!!"

...

After Yu Feng returned to her office, Shen Wei followed shortly after.

"I don't get it. You need to head out from the Finance Department—it's not like the company lacks drivers. Why do you have to keep targeting my guy?"

"What do you mean 'your guy'? Isn't he an employee of the company? The company provided him with a car; the other drivers are busy, so what's wrong with me borrowing him? Don't forget, you still owe me a favor." Yu Feng didn't even look up.

Shen Wei fell silent, and after a long while, he blurted out, "Tell me, Department Head Yu, you wouldn't happen to have a crush on Lin Chen, trying to rob the cradle, would you?"

Yu Feng's face darkened instantly. "Nonsense! Am I that kind of person? I need to take a nap; Manager Shen, please leave!"

Shen Wei felt helpless and turned to leave, but he began to mutter to himself. He had been able to find out that Lin Chen was planted in the company by the Matriarch, so Yu Feng must have been able to find out, too. Come to think of it, Yu Feng was a veteran of the company and the head of Finance; could she also be trying to win Lin Chen over to show her loyalty to the Matriarch? But she had been with the Chairman from the very beginning and was as close as a sister to her; she shouldn't need to play these little games...

The more Shen Wei thought about it, the more confused he became, so he secretly made a resolution. It seemed he would have to treat Lin Chen even better in the future to ensure he wasn't snatched away by anyone else.

After Shen Wei left, Yu Feng stopped what she was doing. In truth, the only reason she had asked Shen Wei for the driver was because her niece, Yu Lingyan, had begged her to. That girl wasn't young anymore, and despite the family constantly urging her to go on blind dates, she had refused every one. Since she had finally taken an interest in a young man, as her aunt, she had to help out. That was why she had used her position to have Lin Chen take Yu Lingyan out to collect the payment, creating an opportunity for them to be alone.

However... as Yu Feng thought about Shen Wei's comment about "robbing the cradle," Lin Chen's face suddenly appeared in her mind, along with a glimpse of his abs that he had accidentally revealed earlier.

The young man was indeed quite impressive. It was no wonder her snobbish niece had fallen for him. Yu Feng thought to herself, and without realizing it, she opened the employee database on her computer and began flipping through Lin Chen's resume...

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Chen was waiting at the company gate right on time. Soon, there was a knock on the window. After he opened the door, Yu Lingyan got in.

She smiled and winked at him. "Lin Chen, what a coincidence! We meet again!"