"Sure, but I can only work part-time. As for becoming a full-time accountant, forget it. My goal is to join a Fortune 500 company after graduation."
Xiao Wu still had some pride—he looked down on a small restaurant's accounting job.
"You're unbelievable! You dare reject my big brother's invitation?"
Ah Hu swore and stepped forward, looking like he was about to rough Xiao Wu up.
Cao Yang waved him off. "What are you doing? Put that act away."
"Part-time's fine. The rest can wait for later."
"Ah Hu, Ji Mao, explain the situation to him and then take him to check the accounts."
Ah Hu and Ji Mao told Xiao Wu the details, and he immediately shook his head.
"No way! You're committing a crime. I can't help with that!"
Knowing what they were involved in, Xiao Wu firmly refused. If anything went wrong, he'd be ruined for life.
"Damn it!" Ah Hu swore again and pulled out a gun, scaring Xiao Wu backward. He glanced at Cao Yang for help.
"Forget it, forget it." Cao Yang waved his hand, dismissing Ah Hu and Ji Mao.
"I don't need you specifically. We're just short-handed right now. Help me check the accounts; I promise nothing will happen to you."
"Sorry, boss. I won't do illegal things."
At that moment, the office door opened. Manager Lin walked in.
"Mr. Cao, there's a Miss Diana outside looking for you."
Cao Yang nodded. "Send her in."
He then looked at Xiao Wu. "Since you don't want to help, I won't force you. Go handle your own business."
Xiao Wu left and bumped straight into Diana. His eyes locked on her.
It wasn't lust—it was recognition. Diana frequently appeared in Forbes, known as the "Blood Rose of Wall Street," a powerful finance woman.
And she knew Cao Yang? Who exactly was this Cao Yang?
"Cao, congratulations!" Diana's tone was tinged with envy.
Cao Yang smiled awkwardly. Noticing Xiao Wu still standing there, he asked, "Anything else?"
Xiao Wu smiled shyly. "Miss Diana, could you sign an autograph for me?"
Diana looked him over suspiciously and then at Cao Yang. "Your friend?"
Cao Yang also looked puzzled. "You know Miss Diana?"
"Yes, I often see her in Forbes."
Cao Yang smiled. "Miss Diana is a very good friend. An autograph is nothing. If you're willing to work for me, when you graduate, she can mentor you or help you get into a Fortune 500 company."
"Really?" Xiao Wu hesitated.
"Miss Diana is right here. Do you think I'd lie?"
He winked at Diana, silently asking for her cooperation.
Diana rubbed her forehead. She usually didn't go out of her way to help strangers, but today, she couldn't refuse.
After confirming Xiao Wu's school, she nodded.
"Sure. Cao Yang is a good friend. After you graduate, I can write you a recommendation letter. Just tell me which company you want to join."
The tone implied he could choose any company on Wall Street.
"Great!" Xiao Wu nodded firmly, agreeing to Cao Yang's request.
Watching him leave, Cao Yang admired his earlier rebellious attitude.
"Cao Yang, I want to buy your shares."
Diana was direct—no beating around the bush. Straight to the point.
Cao Yang knew they hadn't given up on the Nanluo oilfield, but he hadn't expected them to target even his small stake.
"Miss Anna, my shares account for 30% of Nanyang Company, and Nanyang itself owns 8% of Nanluo Petroleum. What could you do with such a small stake?"
"Don't worry about that. Just name a price. How much to sell it to me?"
Cao Yang thought for a moment. Diana must have a plan for these shares, but how she would use them wasn't his concern. He wouldn't sell—they were waiting for Chu Zhenbei to release someone. If they found out he sold to an American, there'd be trouble.
Chu Zhenbei sneezed twice and rubbed his nose before heading straight to Han Qingshan's office.
He had come to request the release of someone. Although he didn't want to offend anyone, his father had promised Cao Yang, and he couldn't let his father break his word.
"Qingshan brother…" he greeted warmly as he entered.
"Oh, Zhenbei! Come in, take a seat."
Han Qingshan welcomed him and personally poured tea.
"Congratulations on securing the Nanluo Petroleum project. The higher-ups even specifically praised you. Truly enviable."
"You flatter me. It should have been secured years ago, but it got delayed. I'm not in a position to take credit."
He smiled humbly, carefully considering how to bring up Cao Yang.
Before he could, Han Qingshan interrupted.
"Zhenbei, doesn't your energy department at Libao Group seem understaffed?"
Zhenbei was taken aback. "Why do you say that, Qingshan?"
"My daughter-in-law Bai Wei is in the construction department, but she went to Nanluo to help with energy matters. Doesn't that prove your energy department is short-handed?"
Zhenbei felt awkward. Han Qingshan was clearly expressing dissatisfaction, subtly questioning him.
Normally, it was just a temporary reassignment, but Cao Yang was in Nanluo, and Bai Wei was involved. Anyone in Han Qingshan's shoes would be upset.
Thinking back, Zhenbei realized he was indeed at fault.
Han Qingshan's remark implied he knew about Cao Yang, trying to shut Zhenbei's mouth.
"Qingshan brother…" Zhenbei began to explain, saying Bai Wei's trip was official and fully supervised.
Han Qingshan interrupted again.
"Zhenbei, have you heard any rumors recently?"
Zhenbei shook his head. "Not really, brother. What's the matter?"
He felt uneasy, fearing it was gossip about Bai Wei and Cao Yang, unsure how to explain it to his future in-laws.
"Ah… that useless daughter of mine has brought me great shame!"
Han Qingshan sighed, looking at Zhenbei. "You haven't heard anything at all?"
"Well… there were some whispers, but completely baseless. Nobody would believe them."
The rumor was that Han Xixi was three months pregnant two months after marrying her husband, without any prior relationship.
"Whether it's true or not, I know in my heart. That's why I feel ashamed."
"Back in Japan, when Xixi had that incident, I immediately arranged her marriage to the young master of the Shuchuan Liu family, hoping she would settle down. Yet, she got pregnant by someone else and married another man, bringing shame to my face!"
"Originally, Shuchuan had a position suitable for Han Jiang to gain experience, but now I can't even bring it up. I truly feel humiliated!"
Han Qingshan was visibly furious, even slapping his own face.
Though he was hitting himself, Zhenbei felt a burning sensation on his own face. This was a veiled criticism. On the surface, he spoke of Han Xixi, but he really meant Bai Wei.
"That child isn't Liu family's?"
"You and I are on the same side. I won't hide it—if it were Liu's child, there'd be nothing embarrassing. But it's not. That's why I feel ashamed!"
"Then whose child is it?"
"Who else but Cao Yang? That little bastard kidnapped Xixi in Japan and assaulted her multiple times. How could I tolerate that?!"
Zhenbei was speechless. Han Qingshan had blocked all his options; he had no way to respond.