Chapter 278 - 276: About the Company
Li Xiu chuckled as he looked at the flustered and annoyed Zhou Lian. He didn’t dare tease her too much. If he actually made her angry, not only would he be the one responsible for cheering her up, but just seeing her upset would break his heart. He gently soothed her, "Bao’er, we’re a loving married couple. This is just a bit of fun between us, nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s only when we’re alone. See? I’m not like this when other people are around, right?"
She thought about it and realized he was right. The blush on her face slowly faded, but Zhou Lian still looked at Li Xiu worriedly. "Well, you have to be careful!"
Looking at his somewhat naive Zhou Lian, Li Xiu held back a laugh and said in a low voice, "Alright, I’ll listen to my Bao’er. I’ll be sure to be careful!"
The ten-plus-hour drive flew by as Li Xiu continued to playfully tease Zhou Lian. When they arrived at their home in the Capital City, Zhou Lian smiled gently at the sight of her family, Professor Xiao, and Professor Fan gathered around. She crouched down to embrace her two children as they rushed toward her, kissing them again and again, unable to contain her emotions. It was the first time she had been separated from them for so long since they were born.
Watching the mother and her two children hugging, Li Xiu smiled fondly. He respectfully greeted Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, Professor Xiao, and Professor Fan, then smiled at Zhou Huaitai and Zhang Yizhen standing nearby. "You two, come help me get the stuff from the car," he said softly.
The four elders stared at the mountain of things being unloaded, both shocked and exasperated. ’Those two, honestly... how much did they buy?’ Mrs. Zhou and Professor Xiao opened their mouths to speak but then closed them again. ’One of them loves to be extravagant, and the other spoils her rotten. Oh, whatever. Let them be. It’s not like either of them would listen to us anyway.’
In the days that followed, Zhou Lian enrolled in driving school. While she was at her lessons, Li Xiu went around delivering all the gifts they had brought back. But on one of the rare occasions Li Xiu visited the company, he was cornered by Li Bao, Wang Dongfang, Wei Guo, and Liu Qiang. The four of them stared at the carefree and dapper Li Xiu, their hearts filled with envy, jealousy, and hate. ’We’re all being worked to the bone, and here he is, waltzing off with his wife on vacation!’
Li Xiu watched with rare amusement as the four of them took turns complaining. When he felt they had just about finished, he said breezily, "When we founded the company, I told you all I wouldn’t be involved in management. Every single one of you told me not to worry, that you had it under control. So, how’s it feel to be proven so wrong?"
"Bro, go easy on us," Li Bao said, looking at Li Xiu with a pained, helpless expression. "Who could have known back then that we’d end up this exhausted! We’re worked to the bone!" He was miserable. They had never expected the company to get this big, and they certainly hadn’t expected Li Xiu to *actually* stay completely hands-off.
"Bro, Sister Fang is nagging us every day to find girlfriends," Wei Guo said, sounding deflated. "But just look at us. Do we have the time? The company has tons of business, tons of orders, and we’re making great money, but we have absolutely zero time to rest. Forget finding someone, we don’t even have time for a blind date."
Li Xiu shot them a contemptuous look. "It’s because you’re all idiots. If you’re so busy, why not hire more capable people to help? Do you really have to do everything yourselves? You deserve to be worked to death. A brain is a terrible thing to waste. Did you all grow one just for looks?"
"Bro, with a mouth that sharp, isn’t your wife tired of you?" Liu Qiang shot back weakly. ’I’ve never met a man with such a vicious tongue!’
Li Xiu scoffed and fired back without holding anything back. "Did you leave your brain at home?" he said, looking at Liu Qiang. "Of course I have to dote on my wife. What would an old bachelor like you know about that?"
"Bro, you should come take charge at the company," Wang Dongfang said gently, looking at Li Xiu. "The volume of business is growing constantly. We really need you to come and oversee things." ’This man’s talents are going to waste. We have to find a way to make him do some work. Why should we be killing ourselves while he gets to travel around all lovey-dovey with his wife?!’
Li Xiu gave Wang Dongfang a smirk. "Don’t even think about it," he said sarcastically. "Figure it out yourselves. Here, split these gifts among the four of you. Your sister-in-law brought them for you. I don’t have time to listen to you all whine. I’ve got to pick up my wife and head home for dinner!"
Watching Li Xiu’s dashing figure disappear, the four men let out a collective groan. They quickly divided the gifts and went their separate ways. ’There’s still so much work to do. The four of our brains combined are no match for his. We should just get back to it.’
Once in his car, Li Xiu couldn’t help but smirk. ’It’s good for them to be tired. Weren’t they all hoping to build a huge business? Well, it’s huge now. I told them at the annual meeting last year to start slowly scouting for promising new talent to bring into the company, but they wouldn’t listen. Serves them right. It feels so satisfying to watch them eat their words. They think they’re tired? They can just suck it up.’
Seeing Li Xiu in such a cheerful mood, Zhou Lian looked at him curiously. "What have you been up to?" she asked, puzzled. "You seem to be in a very good mood."
Li Xiu gave Zhou Lian a tender look and burst out laughing, then proceeded to tell her everything that had happened at the company.
Zhou Lian was left speechless. ’This man gets more ruthless every time. His tongue is second to none.’ Unable to restrain her curiosity, she asked softly, "Jin Chen, I don’t remember you being this sharp-tongued in our past life!"
"Bao’er, that’s just because you never saw that side of me," Li Xiu said disdainfully. "Besides, I’m not being vicious, I’m just telling it like it is. Back then, every one of them wanted to create a huge business. When we founded the company, I made it clear I wouldn’t be involved in management. They were the ones who beat their chests and promised, ’No problem, leave it all to us!’ And now they’re complaining to me? What, do they feel like they haven’t eaten enough crow yet?"
"You really don’t want to go take charge at the company?"
"How could going to the office make me as happy as staying by my Bao’er’s side?" Li Xiu said nonchalantly. "Besides, I’m super busy every day! When would I have time for the company?" ’I’d have to be an idiot to go work there,’ he thought. ’Not only would I be worked to death, but I’d have absolutely no time to spend with my wife. I’d have to be crazy to even consider it!’
Shooting Li Xiu a sidelong glance, Zhou Lian shook her head with a resigned sigh. ’That’s what I figured,’ she thought. ’Oh well, I’ll just let him be. Otherwise, with his tendency to get anxious and insecure, I’d just end up being the one to coax him back into a good mood. Besides, I can’t bring myself to force him to do anything he dislikes.’
Li Xiu stole a glance at Zhou Lian and smiled, triumphant. ’I knew she wouldn’t have the heart to force me. What could be better than spending every day with my wife? Life is only a few short decades long. I barely have enough time as it is to dote on my Bao’er; I’d have to be an idiot to get my priorities backward. Besides, those guys are the type who work better under pressure. In a way, they’re probably enjoying it!’