Seeing Fang Ming's message, Chen Qian was visibly choked up.
It took her a long while before she replied.
[Qianqian Little Princess]: "Oh, Brother Fang, I've already bragged to my bestie about it. If I can't buy it back, how embarrassing would that be... (pitiful.jpg)"
[Qianqian Little Princess]: "And aren't you getting your salary soon? Young Master Qin thinks so highly of you, the bonus must be substantial. At worst... I'll wear that black stockings and JK uniform set you love the most tonight? (shy.jpg)"
Looking at the message that popped up on the screen, a faint smile curled at the corner of Fang Ming's lips.
"This woman has actually given me an opportunity to deceive Qin Xiao."
Over twenty thousand yuan wasn't much for someone who possessed two million-dollar black cards and a Chat Group.
But his current identity was Qin Xiao's underling, an ordinary corporate drone with a monthly salary of twenty thousand who still had to pay off his father's bad debts.
If he casually pulled out a black card and swiped twenty thousand, not only would the source of funds be hard to explain, but it would also alert Qin Xiao.
Would a follower who wasn't short of money still do the dirty and tiring jobs for his boss just for that salary of over twenty thousand?
Obviously not.
Only being poor, only being greedy for money, only being obsessed with women and spending lavishly for them, made for a qualified, easily controllable underling.
[Ming]: "Alright then, I'll figure something out. Wait for my message."
Whatever Chen Qian's purpose was in getting close to him—whether forced by Qin Xiao or trying to hedge her bets—since she'd already given him her first time, spending some money on her didn't matter.
[Qianqian Little Princess]: "Really? That's great! Love you, mwah mwah! @flying kiss"
...In a stylishly decorated trendy café, the air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and the creamy scent of pastries.
In a booth by the window, Chen Qian sat opposite her best friend, Zhou Xiaoyan.
Zhou Xiaoyan was the daughter of a deputy general manager at a materials company downstream from the Qin Group. They had become best friends by chance during a company collaboration.
Her figure and looks were slightly inferior to Chen Qian's, but she was still a rare beauty.
At the moment, she was stirring her iced Americano, looking at the somewhat distracted Chen Qian opposite her.
"Qianqian, so? What did your Brother Fang say?" Zhou Xiaoyan asked with a smile, her tone carrying the usual teasing and comparison between best friends.
Chen Qian was wearing a misty blue spaghetti-strap dress today, paired with a sheer cardigan. Her makeup was impeccable, but a trace of lingering weariness and irritation was evident between her brows.
Hearing Zhou Xiaoyan's question, she took a sip of her latte before curling her lip and saying, "He said he'd figure something out and told me to wait for his message."
"Figure something out?"
Zhou Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow, her brightly painted lips curving into a faint smile. "It's just a bag over twenty thousand, and he needs to 'figure something out'? Qianqian, not to be harsh... why are you even with him?"
"I've seen him a couple of times before. He's decent-looking and seems efficient at his work, but when it comes down to it... isn't he just a high-level wage slave? Earning a monthly salary of tens of thousands can't possibly cover your daily expenses."
Zhou Xiaoyan's words pricked Chen Qian's most sensitive spot.
Yes, what was Fang Ming?
No money, no background. Apart from his handsome face and the occasional deep, unsettling aura he exuded, what did he have compared to the wealthy young masters she used to fantasize about?
But what could she do?
Chen Qian's lips twitched into a bitter, helpless smile, and her voice dropped.
"You think I wanted this? Young Master Qin gave me a strict order to stick with him!!"
"Young Master Qin's order?"
Zhou Xiaoyan was clearly taken aback for a moment, then a glint of gossip and curiosity flashed in her eyes. "You just went along because Young Master Qin told you to? Didn't he offer you any benefits??"
"Of course there are benefits!"
Chen Qian said matter-of-factly. "Young Master Qin said that as long as I obediently stay by his side, in the future... he might consider letting me... or my father, have a stake in some idle shares of companies under his control, or some small projects that are easy to profit from."
This was the truth. Qin Xiao had indeed said that as long as she was obedient, he wouldn't mistreat her or her father.
He had even given her a small project with a million-yuan profit when he issued the order.
"That's more like it. I was wondering, how could Young Master Qin make you work for nothing? Although that Fang Ming guy... his conditions are average, since it's a task, just treat it as acting. With Young Master Qin's promise, you won't have to worry about a good life in the future."
...Zhou Xiaoyan spoke casually, as if this were just a trivial matter.
Fang Ming, however, didn't care what the two were discussing. After exiting the chat interface, he directly dialed Qin Xiao's internal line.
The phone rang twice before being answered.
"Fang Ming, what is it?"
"Um... Young Master Qin, I have a favor to ask. I don't know if I should bring it up."
"Speak." Qin Xiao was concise.
"It's like this... my salary is about to be paid, right? I'm a bit short on cash. Could I... get an advance on last month's salary?"
By the end, Fang Ming's voice grew softer and softer, as if he were truly very embarrassed.
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.
Immediately after, Qin Xiao let out a light chuckle, its meaning unclear. "I remember giving you fifty thousand in expenses before the trip to Beijing, didn't I? You've used it all up?"
Fifty thousand? How could that be enough? A meal for a few people at the Green Rhyme Pavilion costs six or seven thousand alone.
Fang Ming complained inwardly, but didn't voice it. "Summer flight tickets are expensive, and Beijing's cost of living is a bit high. Fifty thousand wasn't enough!!"
"And the money I'm asking for now isn't for living expenses. Chen Qian has her eye on a bag costing over twenty thousand and insists I buy it for her... You know her personality, I really have no choice..."
"Hahahaha!"
Qin Xiao finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud, his laughter full of mockery and the confidence of one in complete control.
"Fang Ming, ah, Fang Ming, what should I say about you? In the past, even though you were poor, at least you were somewhat carefree. Now that you have a woman, how have you ended up worse off?"
"Young Master Qin is right to scold me. It's mainly because this is my first time having a girlfriend, I lack experience..."
"Just teasing you."
Qin Xiao reined in his laughter, his tone becoming relaxed. "It's only natural for a man to spend money on his woman. Since Chen Qian is with you, she really shouldn't be too shabbily treated. I'll call finance right now and have them settle this month's salary and bonus for you."
"Thank you, Young Master Qin!!"
"That's it. I have some matters to attend to here, I'll hang up first!!"
After hanging up, a smile curled at the corner of Qin Xiao's lips.
Actually, a salary of twenty thousand was somewhat low for a Special Assistant at Fang Ming's level.
But Qin Xiao had looked down on Fang Ming before his rebirth, and in his previous life, he had been ruined by the Soldier King Chu Feng, enduring a long period of hardship.
So in his mind, money should be used where it mattered most.
In his past life, Fang Ming had worked like an ox, diligent and uncomplaining, for a salary of just a few thousand. In this life, giving him twenty thousand, shouldn't he be grateful and devoted?
As for Chen Qian? She still had other uses. Giving her a bit more wasn't really a problem.