Volume 1, Chapter 61: Almost Exposed

Previous job?
Xu Mi paused for a moment, looking calm and composed. "I used to work in medical aesthetics."
The company specialized in biotechnology, focusing primarily on skincare and wellness, so answering that way was not entirely inaccurate.
Lin Chen, however, frowned. "That kind of work is exhausting. Now that your husband is making good money, you can just stay home and relax from now on. Your husband can totally take care of you!"
Although he was not very familiar with the medical aesthetics industry, he knew that it involved hard physical labor—like the employees in beauty salons who gave facials to customers. Just thinking about it made him feel tired.
He couldn't bear to let his precious wife suffer!
Xu Mi smiled sweetly and nodded. "Okay!"
As Lin Chen spoke, he remembered the change in his job status and was about to bring it up again when he noticed it was already close to eight o'clock.
"Ah, it's this late!"
He finished the soup in his bowl in one gulp and said hurriedly, "Wife, I'm off to work now. I'll tell you some good news tonight when I get back!"
He had originally planned to tell her last night, but with all the distractions, he had completely forgotten.
Xu Mi smiled. "What good news?"
"It's a secret. You'll find out when I get back."
With that, Lin Chen changed his shoes and headed out the door.
Xu Mi, however, was left feeling puzzled.
What could Lin Chen's good news possibly be?
Could it have something to do with his job change?
Thinking of this, she picked up her phone and made a call.
...
Once outside, Lin Chen got into his car and drove toward the company.
Along the way, he couldn't help sighing to himself once more.
The company benefits were truly amazing. If they hadn't provided him with a car, he would probably be squeezed into the subway right now like a sardine in a can!
Still, thinking about it carefully, the company had first offered a high salary, then provided a car, and now directly promoted him, raising his annual salary to three hundred thousand.
With such a massive pie falling straight onto his head, it seemed he would have quite a huge scapegoat burden to carry for the company in the future!
By this point, Lin Chen was convinced that the company was plotting against him.
They would give him sweet perks first to make him deeply grateful, and then, once the company ran into trouble, they would push him out to take the blame and act as a scapegoat. It made perfect sense!
Even so, he decided to play along for now.
Since there wasn't the slightest whisper of any scapegoat duties yet, he would just keep doing the job and pocket the high salary first.
As for the future, he would deal with it when the time came!
If worse came to worst and things looked suspicious, he would simply run away immediately.

Arriving at the company, he found a luxurious KFC breakfast waiting neatly on his desk, along with a steaming cup of coffee.
Jiang Yao stood nearby, his eyes shining with excitement.
Lin Chen frowned. "Showing excessive courtesy without a reason can only mean you're up to no good! Spill it, what do you want from me?"
"Didn't we talk about this yesterday?"
Jiang Yao rubbed his hands eagerly. "You're the manager of the live-streaming department now, so that deputy manager position..."
Lin Chen chuckled. "You brat, now that your adoptive father has made it big, could I forget my good son? Don't worry, the deputy manager position is definitely yours."
"As for the other positions, though, things are a bit troublesome..."
Long Wenying had stated that all matters related to the live-streaming department were left entirely to his discretion.
Even hiring staff was completely up to him.
Yet, while this seemed simple on the surface—granting him absolute authority—actually executing it was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
After all, this was no different from starting his own business, and he didn't have an ounce of experience.
"What's so troublesome about it?"
Jiang Yao curled his lip. "I went up to the eighth floor to check it out. The renovation is completely done, and even the desks and chairs are already in place."
"All you need to do next is hire people—hand that over to the HR department—and then buy office supplies, computers, and live-streaming equipment through the finance department. As for you, the manager!"
He patted Lin Chen on the shoulder. "You just sit in your office, flap your lips a little, and direct your subordinates to do the work!"
That sounded easy enough in theory, but...
Lin Chen rubbed his chin, feeling that something wasn't right.
He was getting a three-year salary of three hundred thousand!
Not to mention the year-end bonus. If he didn't work hard, would he even be worthy of such a salary?
To take a step back, who didn't harbor ambitions to show off their skills? Previously, he simply lacked the money and could not afford the cost of trial and error.
Now that the company was footing the bill and even guaranteeing a safety net, the opportunity had delivered itself right to his doorstep. If he didn't try, he would always feel resentful.
With that thought, Lin Chen slammed his hand on the desk. "No way! Since I've taken this on, I have to do a good job. Good son, you handle the hiring, and I'll handle the procurement."
"Let's divide and conquer and get this live-streaming department off the ground!"
If they actually managed to make money for the company, they might even help the company weather its crisis and escape the fate of being pushed out as a scapegoat one day in the future!
Jiang Yao was dumbfounded. "I can understand wanting to go all out, but you're the one in charge. Shouldn't hiring people be your job?"
"Did we get our division of labor backward?"
It was one thing to be unwilling to pass tasks on to other departments, but why was Lin Chen letting him handle the most important task while choosing an irrelevant chore for himself?
Jiang Yao suddenly gasped. "You brat, you're not planning to take kickbacks, are you?"
He lowered his voice. "Don't say I didn't warn you, that's illegal! Don't go getting yourself locked up right after finally landing a good job."

Even though people in such positions inevitably managed to skim a little bit off the top, starting to play shady tricks the moment they stepped into the company was completely indefensible!
Lin Chen rolled his eyes. "Like I said, since nothing good ever comes out of your mouth, you should talk less. Anyway, as for the hiring task, take it if you want it."
"If you don't want it, leave it there. Once I'm done buying the supplies, I'll do it myself!"
"Do you really have to be the one to buy the supplies?"
"Yes! Just tell me whether you're going to hire people or not!"
At this, Lin Chen gave Jiang Yao a meaningful pat on the shoulder. "Deputy manager?"
That single mention of 'deputy manager' instantly sent Jiang Yao into such a daze of delight that he agreed on the spot.
"That's more like it!"
Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, I'm going out to file a report and then get to work. Keep your eyes open when you're hiring people too!"
"The general manager said I have full discretion over who to hire, but the resumes still have to pass through HR. Don't go bringing just any stray cats and dogs into the company."
"For one thing, none of your junior-high-dropout classmates or childhood buddies are allowed! No favoritism!"
Jiang Yao protested indignantly. "Hey, you brat, am I that kind of person? I'm waiting for the two of us to team up, build this department, and make a hundred million!"
Lin Chen nodded and turned to head up to the ninth floor.
Long Wenying was in a meeting, so Cai Meng received him instead.
"Manager Lin, the general manager said that all matters concerning the live-streaming department are under your sole discretion. You decide what needs to be done without needing to check with her again. Just take the receipts for any expenses directly to the finance department for reimbursement."
Cai Meng explained, "As for coming and going, you don't need to report your whereabouts either. In other words, until the live-streaming department is officially up and running, you have complete freedom of movement."
"Of course, this period can't last too long. After all, the whole company is watching your live-streaming department right now!"
Even when playing favorites, one couldn't be too blatant about it.
Overjoyed, Lin Chen quickly said, "I understand, thank you, Secretary Cai!"
With that, he turned and stepped into the elevator.
Cai Meng watched his retreating figure, unable to stop her mind from pondering.
She wondered what kind of background and identity this fellow possessed to make the board of directors agree to establish a separate department just for him to play around with.
He was most likely some rich second-generation heir sent by an investor to experience life.
A live-streaming department wouldn't cost much even if they spent money, treating it simply as a way to keep the young master happy.
Cai Meng shook her head and returned to her office.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen exited the building, and before even reaching the parking lot, he pulled out his phone and dialed Xu Mi's number.
"Wife, we're going on a date! Change your clothes and wait at home for me to pick you up!!!"