Chapter 99: Good Advice Often Sounds Harsh; Compassion Does Not Command Armies

After parting with Lin Ketong, Cheng Yao went back to Sunlit Half-Mountain Residence for a while.

The equipment was still with Lu Mengyao. They were planning to shoot some content that evening, and while filming, he could also guide her through it.

Lu Mengyao leaned in, her delicate nose twitching as she sniffed, then she frowned in distaste. “Lin Ketong’s scent...”

“Next time, together?”

“Huh?”

Lu Mengyao stared at Cheng Yao in disbelief, unable to understand how he could speak such shameless, brazen nonsense.

What did he mean, together next time?

Together for what?

Cheng Yao held the steering wheel and teased, “I think you and Lin Ketong would get along quite well.”

“Impossible!”

Lu Mengyao firmly rejected such an outrageous idea. It was simply too shameless; in fact, she could not even see where this man’s bottom line of shamelessness lay.

If she and Lin Ketong were to share a private moment with him,

then Cheng Yao might be perfectly satisfied,

but wouldn’t she and Lin Ketong be socially dead on the spot?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Cheng Yao did not press the matter. He dropped Lu Mengyao off at the driving school and said, “Try to get your license this week.”

“Mm, bye-bye.”

“I’m coming to stay at your place tonight.”

“Okay.”

Lu Mengyao’s face turned red, and she did not know whether it was from the heat or from embarrassment.

...

Returning to campus meant nothing more than attending classes, and hanging around with Liu Hanyue and Wang Churu to shoot videos.

As college life gradually settled into its proper rhythm, the class had indeed formed its own little circles. At this stage, one could still join them, but once enough time had passed, there would be no more chance.

Before long, Lu Mengyao’s followers had already surpassed 1.7 million.

Liu Hanyue’s followers were also steadily climbing, nearing 2.5 million.

As for Lin Ketong, under Cheng Yao’s guidance, she had also begun a new round of work.

As a car model, she knew quite a few people, so filming some videos at car dealerships was no problem at all, especially since they were the kind that cost nothing and featured luxury cars.

Lin Ketong was also skeptical, feeling that this path was a little wild.

Cheng Yao thought there was nothing wrong with it. Angel Baby had started out in Xiangjiang as a fresh-faced model, and look at how well she was doing now. If she could do it, why couldn’t Lin Ketong?

He also helped her explain some professional knowledge about car performance, enriching the content.

After all, the skill of being possessed by the Schumacher War God did not merely grant him racing technique. In fact, Cheng Yao felt that knowledge of cars and their performance was even more useful than driving skill itself. He did not street race, and he was not a racing driver.

What kind of gambler was he, staking his life on machinery?

Was his current life not pleasant enough that he was in such a hurry to die?

Cheng Yao saw things very clearly, and of course he would not do anything foolish.

Back to the point, Wang Yiming had already found technical staff through a headhunting company to fill out the company’s employee roster, and Cheng Yao was not stingy when it came to pay.

On Friday night, at the café downstairs from Sunrise Building.

Wang Yiming sat there with proper composure. Cheng Yao walked over, sat down, and pressed a hand lightly in the air. “What is it?”

Wang Yiming held up a file and said, “We screened some people on the platform. Quite a few can be signed, but if they come all the way to Jinling, does the company cover food, lodging, and transportation?

“Also, there’s the contract issue. I think you should pay attention to that as well, boss...”

By now Wang Yiming understood clearly: this was a complete hands-off owner.

And he only handled the beautiful women...

Of course, that suited him very well, because with Cheng Yao leaving everything to him, the power was in his hands. That kind of position and treatment was far more comfortable than what he had at the dealership.

“Go on about the contract,” Cheng Yao said, folding his arms and listening.

Wang Yiming smiled. “I’m not saying you’ve done anything wrong, boss, but when running a company, you really shouldn’t be too sentimental, especially in the contract. If you keep being good to people, they may not necessarily remember your kindness. I’ve seen plenty of that in the workplace.

“Especially with contracts, they have to be locked down tight. Move everything online. Keep it impersonal. That way, if problems arise later, you won’t need to worry about holding back. Mercy does not command troops...”

He was speaking about the internet celebrities they were about to sign, not the few beautiful women under Cheng Yao’s direct care.

Cheng Yao stroked his chin and thought it over, finding it reasonable.

Sincere advice is often hard to hear. Wang Yiming had been struggling in that circle for so many years; he certainly knew more than Cheng Yao did.

“Boss, if you want to make this big and keep it going long-term, you have to handle the human touch carefully. I know you don’t lack money, that this is mostly just a game to you, but for me, this is a chance...”

“What you said makes sense. You be the company’s legal representative.”

He had thought about this before. Originally, he had planned to let someone closer to him do it, like Lu Mengyao or Lin Ketong, but neither was quite suitable.

In the end, he had thought of Zhang Ya—but wouldn’t that be the same as inviting a shark into the fishpond himself?

He did not dare show off that kind of move.

Cheng Yao became serious. “Don’t worry about the money. Poach anyone you can. No need to save face. Also, you need to maintain the relationships and connections—smooth things over where you can. Give gifts where gifts are due. If they really won’t accept gifts, send supplements instead. I’m not good at that sort of thing.”

“...All right. Leave that to me. If there’s any problem, I’ll contact you.”

Look at you, so experienced, Wang Yiming thought, his expression odd.

“Then that’s settled.”

Wang Yiming stood up and saw Cheng Yao out to the door, then let out a sigh.

What he had just said was the plain truth. He knew some bosses who talked about human warmth and ended up falling into a pit, taking the company down with them.

You could not underestimate human nature,

and you certainly could not underestimate greed.

In truth, working under such a boss was comfortable enough, but the pressure was enormous too. If you did not perform well, you would feel you had let down his expectations, and your conscience would not let you rest.

“Hello, this is Wang Yiming. Yes, yes, yes, food and lodging are included, yes. Just bring the people over. We have a professional team, that’s right...”

...

After leaving Sunrise Building, Cheng Yao headed straight for Jade Prosperity Tower.

This week’s daily life had been pleasantly uneventful. Every day he shot videos, ate delicious food, recorded bits of life, and personally directed some action scenes. After all, he might be a great director in the future.

So learning to control things in advance was no bad thing, such as framing shots and capturing angles...

Every night, he studied mixed martial arts with Chen Xingyan, progressing at a startling pace.

Cheng Yao noticed that during practice, the effects of the genetic potion seemed to be absorbed faster within his body. The lines of muscle across his abdomen were now handsome and pronounced...

Chen Xingyan had tried them and said they were excellent!

When Cheng Yao arrived at the mixed martial arts gym, he had barely stepped through the door before he caught Chen Ruiyong’s fierce glare.

He sighed, and at last understood.

So Chen Ruiyong was Chen Xingyan’s brother. No wonder Chen Ruiyong’s attitude had changed. Back then he had been so warm toward Cheng Yao; indeed, when someone shows excessive enthusiasm without cause, they are either up to no good or up to something even worse.

He had wanted to take on a disciple, only to fail, and now his affection had turned to resentment.

Chen Xingyan was also quite a talent. She had simply cut in and taken him away. Cheng Yao could only marvel at her cleverness. As expected of the good little sister of the family’s dear brother.

How filial of her.

“Why do you come every day?” Chen Ruiyong asked irritably, his expression far from friendly when he looked at Cheng Yao.

Trying to court my little sister?

Get past me first!

Chen Xingyan had already changed and come out. “Cheng Yao, come quickly. Today we’re doing sparring drills. Finish up and head back early to rest. You’re going to Modu tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, I’ll change clothes.”

Once Cheng Yao entered the locker room, Chen Xingyan only then turned a hostile look toward Chen Ruiyong.

...