Chapter 11: Clubhouse Sales Champion

The driver helped his boss into the car, and as soon as the car left the neighborhood, Xie Ting’an sat up straight, the drunkenness in his eyes completely gone. The driver, used to this, watched as his boss took out his phone and started making calls.

“Xiao Qin, get in touch with Hua Corporation. We can loosen up on the cooperation project we discussed earlier. I want all the dirt on Ren Shan that Hua Corporation has suppressed, the more, the better.”

“Have the new media department keep an eye on Ren Shan’s activities. If he posts anything about Xie Boxia or the Xie family, contact the PR department immediately and notify me.”

Xie Ting’an hung up the phone, pondered for a moment, and found the “Director” group in his contacts.

“Director Liu, are you free lately?”

Even from a distance, the driver could hear the famous Director Liu’s laughter.

“Of course, if President Xie asks, I have time!”

“I have a few film and TV IPs with a comprehensive rating of over 8.5, targeting a young audience. Are you interested?” Xie Ting’an raised his hand, lightly rubbing his fingertips together.

“Aren’t you busy with the live entertainment sector lately? How do you have time to make a comeback?” Director Liu asked.

“I mainly want to recommend someone to you.” Xie Ting’an’s expression softened.

Director Liu paused. He hated it when investors forced people into his projects. If someone was forced in, Director Liu’s sharp tongue during filming would be the least of their worries.

But he couldn’t ignore Xie Ting’an’s influence.

“Alright, alright,” Director Liu’s voice turned cold, “You know my temper. If I end up scolding them away, don’t come looking for me.”

“Okay.” Xie Ting’an agreed, but before he could elaborate, the other side had already hung up.

Looking at Director Liu’s contact interface, Xie Ting’an smiled helplessly.

Director Liu had a close personal relationship with the Xie family. He wasn’t just a friend of Xie Fu but also one of the first directors signed by the Xie Corporation.

Director Liu was about the same age as Xie Fu and had watched the three Xie children grow up. During holidays, he would even give them red envelopes.

Years ago, seeing the Xie Corporation’s improving situation, Director Liu had bought shares in the company. Now, during dividend time, he would come to the house and praise Xie Ting’an.

Although among the three Xie children, Xie Ting’an brought the most profit to Director Liu, his favorite was still the sweet and adorable Xie Boxia.

When Xie Boxia was young, Director Liu taught her how to act. At just one year old, she would recite lines in a cute voice, cry on cue, sleep when told, and wake up with a sweet smile, making Director Liu so happy he would hold her every day.

Later, when Xie Boxia got into the Drama Academy, Director Liu was the most excited. Hearing she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, he painstakingly selected several scripts for her, only for her to say, “Uncle Liu, I need to avoid suspicion,” which left him unable to eat for three days.

Now, with Xie Ting’an determined to push someone to him, Director Liu didn’t even finish listening before hanging up quickly.

Returning to the phone’s dial interface, Xie Ting’an paused at the “Father” note, then moved up slightly to dial his mother’s number.

“Hello, Ting’an, how come you have time to call today?”

His mother answered quickly, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine.” Xie Ting’an paused, his mind filled with the image of a future cemetery, with a cold tombstone bearing his parents’ names.

“The night before last, I suddenly felt a pang of anxiety. I was worried about you, but thinking you might be working at that hour, I didn’t want to disturb you.”

His mother couldn’t help but nag her eldest son, “I asked Assistant Xiao Qin and learned you’re busy lately, but you must take care of your health. It’s the most important thing, understand?”

Xie Ting’an turned his head to look at the bustling traffic outside the car window. Words he usually didn’t pay much attention to now felt particularly warm, one by one.

“Let him do as he pleases. When he ends up like me, lying there regretting it, he’ll see!”

His father’s voice came from the other end of the phone, sharp and unkind as always, without any mercy.

“Say less!” His mother turned to speak, blocking her husband’s mouth in frustration, “Ting’an rarely calls, can’t you say something nice?”

“He doesn’t care about nice words. Look at him, sleeping only a few hours a week, flying back and forth between countries, more reckless than I ever was. He’s really fallen into the money pit!”

Xie Ting’an closed his eyes. Normally, he would calmly say, “Take care of yourselves,” and hang up.

But now, thinking of his father collapsing in the future, he wanted to strengthen his heart.

“Ting’an, don’t listen to your father’s words.” His mother was a bit anxious, staring at the phone, afraid the other side would hang up. But after waiting a while, they didn’t.

“Mom, let Dad take the call.”

The son’s steady voice came through the phone, and his mother perked up, immediately handing the phone to her husband. Xie Fu instinctively took two steps back, seeing the smile in his wife’s eyes. He gritted his teeth, took the call, and spoke stiffly.

“What’s up?”

“Dad, have you been taking your medicine lately?” Xie Ting’an asked gently.

“Yes, why?” Xie Fu instinctively clutched his chest, remembering the time after surgery when his eldest son held his hand tightly, telling him not to worry, that he would take care of the company and the family.

He actually… has been doing quite well all these years.

“I heard Uncle Su’s family has a new granddaughter. Haven’t you gone to see her?” Xie Ting’an asked casually.

Mentioning this, Xie Fu almost blew his top.

“Xie Ting’an! You’re twenty-nine, almost thirty, practically thirty-one. If you had a child, would your mother and I have to look at other people’s grandchildren every day?”

“Dad, you taught me not to put all my eggs in one basket.” Xie Ting’an smiled, “You have more than just me.”

“You, as the eldest brother, set no example!” Xie Fu was furious, “I asked you to meet the Lin family’s child, and you didn’t even go!”

“I am the eldest brother, but I ask you to treat us equally.”

Xie Ting’an spoke slowly, “Xie Yurun is already over twenty-five, and you’re not worried at all.”

Xie Fu was stunned, realizing his second son and youngest daughter were not young anymore.

“As for me and Yurun, you can be casual, but for Boxia’s blind dates, you need to be serious.”

Xie Ting’an’s eyes glinted, “The appearance must be excellent, height not below 180 cm, weight within the normal BMI range, high education, good personality, respectful…”

“Wait, slow down.” Xie Fu grabbed a notebook, his pen almost catching fire, “What else?”

“Clean background, supporting Boxia’s career is basic.” Xie Ting’an’s tone grew serious, “Most importantly, it depends on Boxia’s own wishes. If she likes him, great. If not, you can’t force her.”

“Boxia’s stubbornness, who dares to force her.” Xie Fu knew his youngest daughter well, looking at the standards set by Xie Ting’an, sensing something but unable to pinpoint it.

“Dad, take care.” Xie Ting’an smiled, and before Xie Fu could react, he sincerely said, “Take care of your health,” and quickly hung up.

Honestly, even if Ren Shan hadn’t done anything yet, Xie Ting’an didn’t think much of him.

But Xie Boxia had no dating experience before, and in the past four or five years in the industry, the men she met weren’t of high quality, lowering her standards. She got confused by Ren Shan’s pursuit and even introduced him to the family.

His sister wanted to date, and Xie Ting’an couldn’t stop her, but raising her standards was a family responsibility.

The driver parked the car steadily in the villa’s underground garage. Xie Ting’an took the elevator upstairs, and while placing his watch in the display case in the dressing room, he remembered the gold ring he acquired today. Reaching into his coat pockets, he unexpectedly touched a piece of paper.

Taking out the paper, Xie Ting’an looked at the check signed by President Sun, reading it twice. He realized it was the compensation President Sun gave to Gu Mingchen when breaking off the engagement with the Gu family, the check that said, “Gu Mingchen is worth this much.”

Xie Ting’an’s eyes flickered, recalling how Gu Mingchen accepted the check in front of everyone.

As for why it was in his pocket…

After thinking for a moment, he remembered Gu Mingchen’s intentional proximity at the hospital.

Taking out his phone, Xie Ting’an found Gu Mingchen’s WeChat and sent a voice message. After waiting for a while, there was no response.

Frowning slightly, he considered Gu Mingchen’s regular schedule and noted the time—it was indeed late.

His work phone suddenly rang, a call from a Xie Corporation shareholder. Rubbing his temples, Xie Ting’an didn’t know how many times he’d taken work calls during his vacation.

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In the clubhouse office, the manager looked down at the resignation letter in front of him, stunned for a moment.

In all his time here, it was the first time he’d seen a waiter resign and even submit a resignation letter!

How formal.

The manager looked up at the tall young man in front of him, recalling the words of other waiters and those young masters from last night, and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

“Are you really leaving?”

“Yes.” Gu Mingchen replied calmly.

“Is what they said true?” The manager’s eyes lit up with excitement, “Did President Xie really take you under his wing?”

Gu Mingchen quietly looked at the person in front of him, his expression stern, but his ears turned slightly red, “He didn’t.”

“Oh…” The manager’s enthusiasm faded, and he looked at the waiter in front of him with a hint of indifference.

“I heard your family is in trouble, and you’re still in school. If you don’t work here, where do you plan to earn money?”

The manager didn’t want Gu Mingchen to leave. Although the young man was aloof and lacked social skills, his performance over the past month was undeniable. Tonight, a private room even specifically requested his service.

The office was silent for a long time. Gu Mingchen didn’t respond, just pushed the resignation letter forward.

“Alright, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine.” The manager was a bit displeased, looking at Gu Mingchen’s basic salary and drink commission for the month, which was quite substantial.

Despite the harsh words and occasional physical altercations from those young masters, every bottle of alcohol Gu Mingchen was forced to drink was clearly priced, and the money was indeed quick to earn.

“Finish tonight, and it’ll be exactly a month. Your basic salary plus commission totals fifty-eight thousand seven hundred.” The manager calculated the pay slip, feeling a bit regretful.

“If you could stay a few more months, your performance could catch up to the sales champion. Why not stay a bit longer? A distinguished guest really liked your eyes and specifically asked about you.”

The manager spoke enthusiastically, but the young man in front of him remained indifferent, showing no basic reaction.

“Alright, everyone has their own ambitions. Finish tonight, and I’ll settle this month’s salary for you.” The manager was speechless.

“If you ever want to come back, I’ll have to deduct two points from your commission for the first month.”

“I won’t come back.”

Gu Mingchen spoke without hesitation, as if there was only one choice in his life.

“Do your best on the last day.” The manager didn’t bother persuading further, “Don’t let me find any issues and dock your pay.”

Leaving the office, Gu Mingchen silently planned the use of his salary. After paying off debts, he would set aside some to buy a small gift for him, maybe even see him again.

Thinking of the future, Gu Mingchen’s eyes brightened, and his steps towards the private room became unconsciously lighter.