Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 244 - 233: (Bonus for 300+ Monthly Votes)

"What did you say?" Teng Shuixian didn’t hear what Qian said clearly.

"Nothing, do you want to continue playing chess?" Qian gestured at the chessboard.

Both were experts, hard to distinguish who was better. Halfway through the game, Teng Shuixian casually asked.

"Chen Xiaoqian, the order you want, I’ll have my dad give it to your big brother."

"Alright, go ahead. My big brother can handle it well. Partnering with him won’t be a loss for your family."

Teng Shuixian looked up, puzzled at Qian, unsure if it was disappointment or surprise in her eyes.

"Hey, didn’t you say before, you approached me not because of my dad?"

Qian shrugged, "Of course it’s not because of that."

"Then why did you agree!" Teng Shuixian angrily pushed the chess pieces on the board, the black and white game instantly disrupted.

In the past life, the order was given to that small company because Teng Shuixian went against her father.

Actually, Teng Daye favored Yu Mingli and another huge company. Teng Shuixian insisted on opposing her father, whichever company he liked, she’d veto it. Teng Daye, to appease his daughter, would let her have her way.

Giving it to Yu Mingli would indeed result in a better outcome, his capabilities were evident.

She considered Qian a friend, felt disappointed hearing her speak like that.

"Giving it to my big brother, does it make any difference whether I like you or not? Even if you don’t give it to my big brother, you can still play chess at my place, wear my pajamas, lay on my little bed. Even if you do, it’s the same treatment. Girl, your worldview is too simplistic."

"Simplistic?"

"Yes."

Treating patients with anorexia involves helping reshape worldviews and correcting body image issues, seeing thinness as beauty. What Qian was doing now were preparatory steps, but formal treatment hadn’t begun yet.

"I don’t deny approaching you has something to do with your father. Without that connection, how would I have met you? As for the order between your father and my big brother, that’s between them. If it works out, that’s their business; if it doesn’t, it’s still none of our concern."

In the previous life, if Teng Shuixian didn’t oppose her father, her big brother probably could have secured that order.

Young people always tend to see everything in black and white, either good or bad. Like her approach to Teng Shuixian, she was her patient, and interacting a bit earlier was totally justified. And if, in the process, she could secure some business for her big brother, wouldn’t that be great?

"Why can you keep things so simple?" Teng Shuixian felt Qian’s mindset was vastly different from hers, still digesting and absorbing her ideas.

"Once you accept there’s gray beyond black and white, life gets easier. You can eat and also accept emotions, and you grow. If you manage your father’s company, surely you can’t appoint employees purely based on your likes?"

"I don’t want to manage a company."

"When water is too clear, there are no fish. You’re going to be an entrepreneur, not a philanthropist. Don’t confuse these concepts. Whatever benefits you and those around you is good. Our world is a huge Tai Chi, and we’re balancing various relationships daily."

Teng Shuixian gave Qian a strange look, "Why are you so sure I’ll be an entrepreneur?"

"Because you care too much about your father. When a day comes, reality forces the caring-you to suddenly mature, you’ll grow up overnight, missing the growth process. You’ll suffer, and so will he. That’s your path."

In the previous life, after Qian cured Teng Shuixian, her father was abruptly diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer, forcing the young girl to take on the complex family business overnight. When she nearly broke down, it was Qian who consistently provided psychological counseling, supporting her through it.

After taking over the business, the first thing Teng Shuixian did was sign long-term contracts with Qian’s studio, buying EAP for front-line employees in her factories nationwide. This benefit was rare in domestic enterprises, usually more common in foreign companies.

"Chen Xiaoqian, why do I feel there’s another meaning in your words? I could never take over my father’s company. How much did he pay you to convince me? I’ll double it, don’t talk to me about this."

Qian blinked, "Then I won’t talk about it. No need to double it; just promise me, when you do take over, give your company’s EAP to my studio."

"What’s EAP?"

"Employee Assistance Program. Services held by 90% of Fortune 500 companies. It provides professional guidance, training, and consultation through professionals like us to help employees and their families solve psychological and behavioral problems, increase performance, and improve organizational atmosphere and management. I figure I have a few more years before I establish my studio. By then, you should be coming into your own. Give me that order first... I’ll give you a discount, we’re friends after all."

Teng Shuixian was both amused and exasperated.

"I already said I wouldn’t take over, and yet you keep insisting. Moreover, it’s weird. Why don’t I dislike you talking to me like this?"

It’s rare to see people discussing benefits openly like this, but being straightforward seemed more acceptable than hiding behind pretense.

"Who says friends can’t talk about collaboration? We Chinese value fate, family ties, geographical connections. By sticking to principles, everyone benefits. Why the coyness? Talking money is crass, but who can live solely on air without this crude thing?"

"What are the principles?"

"In materialistic terms, principles are called bottom lines or mutual benefit maximization. In idealistic terms, they’re the heart — exchanging sincerity for sincerity. A friend helping you might not do the best job, while a stranger may not measure up to your friend. Getting cheated is a probability game. Use this to judge and then choose."

Qian gestured at her head.

"I don’t get it..."

"Then let me put it more plainly. You resent your father solely making money and not caring about you. But have you considered, whom is he making money for? Think about his motivation, and maybe you won’t dislike him as much. To put it even more bluntly, how can you use your dad’s money while resenting his efforts?"

"Chen Xiaoqian, are you trying to end our friendship?"

"Speaking the truth inevitably leads to dislike. —Shuixian, dare to work with me tomorrow, to experience life? If you want independence, be thorough. If you can achieve self-sufficiency as I said, I’ll talk to your dad and have him not work for a month, just to accompany you."

"Are you serious?"

"Qian never boasts. I won’t do anything unless assured."

As Qian spoke, she had already restored the disrupted chessboard back to its previous state, every piece laid out as if the game had only been paused.

"This piece, you placed it wrong." Teng Shuixian instantly noticed that Qian had sneakily altered a move.