Xia Yingluo shut her eyes, yet the slap never landed.
When she opened them again, she saw Ye Chen gripping the Fat Boss's wrist.
"Ye Chen?" Xia Yingluo stared at the boy in front of her, stunned.
With her hand seized, the Fat Boss's face changed color.
"Who are you?"
Ye Chen said coldly, "The girl's already working so hard at her age, and you still make things difficult—have you any humanity?"
The Fat Boss retorted, "She's my employee; I pay her wages. She spilled soup all over a customer—am I wrong to discipline her?"
Ye Chen snorted and turned to the female customer. "You were on the phone, waving your hand, and you knocked the bowl over—yet you blame the girl. Have you no shame?"
The woman argued back, "I didn't move at all; she didn't hold the tray steady."
Ye Chen raised his phone. "I recorded everything. Want me to play it for everyone?"
He pressed play.
The clip showed the woman talking on the phone, then suddenly flailing and toppling the soup bowl.
The crowd of customers frowned.
"How could you frame the poor girl like that?"
"So over the top."
"Looks respectable, but she's a schemer."
"The kid's working hard enough—framing her? Have a conscience."
Hearing the onlookers, the woman flushed.
She jumped up, tossed money on the table, and slipped out with her head down.
The Fat Boss pointed at Xia Yingluo. "What are you standing there for? Clean the floor!"
Ye Chen said, "Sorry, you'll mop it yourself. Let's settle an account first."
"Account? What account?"
Ye Chen sneered. "Ever heard of child-labor laws? Hiring an underage worker is illegal."
"What?" The Fat Boss's face paled.
She knew hiring minors was against the law; she'd only taken Xia Yingluo because the girl asked for so little pay.
Ye Chen asked Xia Yingluo, "How much does she pay you a month?"
Blushing, Xia Yingluo answered, "Five hundred yuan."
Ye Chen continued, "Jiangzhou's minimum wage is a thousand. Two violations—your shop might as well close."
"You—" The boss panicked.
Ye Chen dialed. "Hello, Industry and Commerce Bureau? I want to report…"
Hearing that, the Fat Boss panicked even more.
"Young man, let's talk nicely."
Ye Chen glanced at her and hung up.
"What's there to talk about?"
The boss said, "I'll make up the girl's wages—please don't report me."
Ye Chen replied, "Make up the wages? My classmate works here till midnight, even ladles brine—that's not enough."
Grinding her teeth, the boss said, "Fine, she's worked six months. I'll add a thousand each month—fifteen hundred total."
Ye Chen nodded, satisfied. "Good attitude—done."
Beside them, Xia Yingluo and Li Sitong were dumbstruck.
So impressive.
And when Ye Chen negotiated, he didn't sound like a High School student—he was shrewder than most adults.
The Fat Boss handed Xia Yingluo six thousand yuan in back pay, and the three left the noodle shop.
Xia Yingluo gazed at Ye Chen, admiration filling her eyes.
I'll never be timid again—I want to be like Ye Chen.
[Ding: Host helped investment target recover 6,000 yuan—ten-fold rebate: 60,000 yuan.]
[Ding: Host helped investment target complete life transformation—reward: God-tier Investment Assist Card.]
Ye Chen's phone buzzed: a 60,000-yuan deposit notification.
In the system panel he read the card's description.
God-tier Investment Assist Card: supplies one guaranteed profitable business tip—single use.
Ye Chen was ecstatic; this was exactly what he needed.
A system alert popped up.
He opened it—an investment tip.
"Dajiang Industrial: starting tomorrow, financing hype will trigger ten consecutive limit-up days."
Ye Chen suddenly remembered that stock.
It had soared ten daily limits in 2008, a market miracle.
Later exposed as manipulation, it crashed just as hard, ruining countless investors.
Blushing, Xia Yingluo said, "Ye Chen, thank you."
"No need—we're classmates."
The three walked into a KFC.
Ye Chen smiled. "You're working to save for University, right?"
Xia Yingluo nodded. "I'm an orphan; graduation's near, I need tuition."
Ye Chen grinned. "How much have you saved?"
Suspicious, she asked, "What for?"
Ye Chen chuckled. "Let me earn you more, so money worries disappear."
"Earn money?" Xia Yingluo blinked.
Ye Chen nodded. "I can grow your savings—no more anxiety."
Without hesitation she said, "My odd jobs add up to about nine thousand—can I give it all to you?"
Ye Chen was startled—she trusted him that much?
"Enough, but… sure you want to hand over everything?" He studied her.
She nodded firmly. "I believe in you."
A strange warmth surged in Ye Chen's chest.
"All right, transfer it—I won't let you down."
Li Sitong piped up, "Ye Chen, invest for me too?"
Ye Chen waved her off. "Quit joking—you're not short of cash."
She pouted. "I want to prove myself to my dad."
Sighing, Ye Chen asked, "How much do you have?"
Li Sitong handed him her phone. "My allowance—about 1.18 million."
Ye Chen nodded calmly. "Got it."
A plan formed in his mind.
Tomorrow the stock opens low, financing news erupts, ten straight limit-ups, then the news is exposed as fake, price dives—turning into junk.
Countless people trapped, some even jumping off buildings.
But if Li Sitong's money rides the ten boards, that's a 150 % gain.
Easy money—why not?
Ye Chen probed, "How much do you want in?"
Licking her ice cream, Li Sitong shrugged. "Whatever you decide."
Ye Chen nodded again. "Good, got it."
"Account password?" he asked.
She smiled. "My birthday."
"Right, got it."
Ye Chen keyed in her birthday password.
He transferred all 1.18 million from Li Sitong's card to his own, ready to buy the stock at market open.