How had such a wonderful opportunity fallen into his lap?
Zhou Group was expanding aggressively into overseas markets, and anyone with the slightest business sense could foresee its success. Whoever was put in charge of this division would effectively be polishing their résumé. Upon returning, they would be eligible for a much more important position in the company.
Plenty of employees coveted the assignment, including Zhou Lin and her husband. Zhao Jiansheng held a reasonably senior position, but he had never managed to penetrate the true center of power. If he could go abroad this time, it would be a great advantage for the couple. Other senior executives were interested too. Competition was fierce.
“Grandpa, why did you choose me?”
Zhou Shichang patted his grandson’s shoulder fondly. “You don’t get sent to run an overseas subsidiary just because you’re capable. I have my reasons for choosing you. First, you know Aimer’s president personally. Second, without you, Zhou Group would have suffered enormous losses this time. No one can object to your selection after what you’ve done. Most importantly, though, I believe you can do the job. I’m counting on you to help shoulder some of the company’s responsibilities in the future.”
He could hardly have been clearer. This was the first time Zhou Shichang had openly expressed his intention to groom Wang Cheng for leadership. If Zhou Lin had heard it, she would have been furious.
Wang Cheng was delighted to have an elder place such trust in him. “Since you think so highly of me, Grandpa, I absolutely cannot let you down. I’ll do my very best.”
“Good. That’s the spirit.” Zhou Shichang knew he had not misjudged his grandson. “There’s something else. After Assistant Xie leaves, his position will be vacant. Do you have anyone in mind to fill it?”
Wang Cheng froze, then his eyes brightened. Was Grandpa giving him a hint? He had mentioned Zhang Wu to his grandfather before, but nothing came of it, so he thought it had been forgotten. Apparently not. Having climbed along an offered ladder many times in the past, Wang Cheng immediately seized his chance.
“Yes. Zhang Wu, who manages Dongwang Group for me. He’d be a good choice. I owe a great deal of my success in taking full control of Dongwang Group to him.” Zhou Shichang laughed at his haste. “But if Zhang Wu comes here, who will run Dongwang Group?”
“His father is still there, isn’t he?” Wang Cheng answered. That was only a convenient excuse. In reality, he had already told Zhang Wu to train successors, and Zhang Wu understood the assignment. He now had several capable assistants. With his father keeping an eye on the business too, nothing serious should go wrong. But Wang Cheng could hardly tell his grandfather that they had already anticipated this possibility.
“You little schemer. You’re just like your mother when she was young.” Zhou Shichang saw a glimpse of his eldest daughter in the boy. Remembering the past, he could not help sighing. Time had flown. In the blink of an eye, his grandson was already a grown man.
Wang Cheng laughed along with him.
“I hear your mother introduced you to the Tang family’s daughter. How did that go? You’re twenty-five this year. It’s time to find a girlfriend. Most people have dated several people by your age, but you haven’t had even one. I’m waiting to hold a great-grandchild,” Zhou Shichang said suddenly. He was pleased that Wang Cheng did not behave wildly like his other grandson, but a young man who was too quiet could worry his elders in another way.
Wang Cheng had not expected the conversation to turn to girlfriends. Cold sweat broke out. How did Grandpa know he had met Tang Jiayan? No, that was not the important question. Hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind.
He widened his eyes slightly. “How did you hear about that, Grandpa?”
Zhou Shichang laughed. “What’s strange about it? Tang Group has business dealings with Zhou Group.”
So that was all. Wang Cheng relaxed a little. “Since you already know, Grandpa, I won’t hide it. I just don’t have feelings for Miss Tang. You know, a company as large as Zhou Group doesn’t really need another powerful family to make it look better. And personally, I believe in marrying for love. There’s nothing unusual about my not having had a girlfriend. I lived in the mountains for years; I hardly had any opportunities.”
“Then follow your own wishes. I won’t rush you,” Zhou Shichang said. Wang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.
After leaving the office, Wang Cheng went looking for Xie Wenzhi, only to be told he had gone to see General Manager Feng. At the morning meeting they had decided Xie Wenzhi would manage the overseas subsidiary, so he was starting to hand over his current work. Many people had always assumed he was simply lucky. Only when they saw the duties he was transferring did they discover how many responsibilities he had been handling all along.
Wang Cheng called Zhang Wu. Zhang Wu was surprised to hear from him and assumed the matter concerned Dongwang Group. When he learned Wang Cheng wanted him to take a position at Zhou Group headquarters, he nearly thought he had misheard.
“The timing may be tight, so hand over your work there as quickly as you can. The position I’ve arranged for you is important, and plenty of people are eyeing it.”
“Don’t worry, Young Master Zhou. I’ll finish the handover quickly. But there’s a problem. I’ve been training several people lately, yet I don’t think any of them is quite ready for such a heavy responsibility. They lack experience and authority. I’m worried they won’t be able to keep the old foxes in line.” Wang Cheng promptly repeated to Zhang Wu the argument he had used to coax his grandfather.
Zhang Wu was surprised, but this was good news. With his father there, he could also feel more at ease.
Not long after Wang Cheng hung up, Xie Wenzhi emerged.
“Zhou Cheng? What brings you here?” Xie Wenzhi did not yet know the chairman had personally chosen Wang Cheng to work with him at the overseas subsidiary.
Wang Cheng grinned. “Looks like we’ll be working together soon. I’ll be counting on your guidance.” Xie Wenzhi froze, immediately understood, and laughed. “I’m the one who’ll be counting on you.”
The news spread quickly through the company.
There was little jealousy. Many employees knew Zhou Group had avoided substantial losses thanks to Wang Cheng, so the chairman choosing him for the overseas assignment seemed entirely reasonable. But some people were unhappy, most notably Zhou Lin and her husband.
Zhou Lin had planned to make a case to her father that evening for one of the overseas positions. When she heard the decision had already been made, she flew into a rage in her office, sweeping things off the desk and scattering them everywhere. Her assistants and secretaries dared not enter for fear of becoming targets of her anger.
“Father’s intention to cultivate Zhou Cheng is obvious now. The situation is very unfavorable for us.” Zhao Jiansheng sat on the sofa and exhaled cigarette smoke. He usually did not smoke at the Zhou residence because Zhou Shichang disliked the smell. Over time, he had unexpectedly kicked the habit, though he occasionally smoked a cigarette when distressed. Wang Cheng’s overseas appointment annoyed him too. He had worked at Zhou Group for more than twenty years. Although ambitious, he had hidden his ambition well and worked hard to prove his ability to his father-in-law. Yet the old man always kept him at arm’s length, and Zhao Jiansheng was running out of patience.
“Dad clearly doesn’t trust us. What can we do?” Zhou Lin was furious, but she refused to sit back and accept defeat.
Zhao Jiansheng frowned. He had no good solution either. After the company’s internal purge, gaining access to the real center of power had become even harder. They had cooperated with Hengyu Group, but Hengyu was still a source of danger.
“Where’s Chenlin?”
“Who knows? Ever since that brat moved out of the main residence, he’s been disappearing every day. I bet he’s running around with those useless friends again.” Their son was no help to them, and they were finding it increasingly hard to make progress within Zhou Group. Zhao Jiansheng privately wondered whether his father-in-law suspected they had been involved in the earlier leak of confidential documents. There was no proof, but the possibility had kept them from making any big moves lately. They feared someone might catch them and undo all their efforts.
Wang Cheng did not return to Binhai Garden that night. On his first day back, he could hardly invent an excuse not to stay at the Zhou residence.
Thanks to that well-timed decision, the man following him failed to capture any conclusive evidence and did not even learn that Wang Cheng had a place to stay at Binhai Garden.
At dinner, Zhou Lin brought up Wang Cheng’s impending departure. Although the news made her sick with anger, she hypocritically offered a few words of concern. Listening made Wang Cheng’s teeth ache. This was one reason he disliked staying at the Zhou residence. Being fussed over every day by someone wearing such an obviously false face made his fists itch. He was afraid that one day he would fail to stop himself from punching her, though the prospect did not trouble him much.
That evening, Wang Cheng called Chu Yifeng to share the good news.
Chu Yifeng had been staying in China to work largely because of him. Now that Wang Cheng was going abroad too, they would have plenty of chances to see each other there.
“Perfect. I’ll take you to meet my maternal grandfather while we’re there.” Hearing that, Wang Cheng suddenly felt he was not nearly as bold as a man ought to be. He had far more reservations than Chu Yifeng, who seemed to handle everything so effortlessly. “Uh, does your grandfather approve of us being together?”
“No.”
“…”
So everything he had imagined earlier had been wishful thinking.
“If he doesn’t approve, why are you taking me to meet him? To annoy him? He’s getting on in years. He shouldn’t be put through too much excitement. I think you’d better reconsider.”
Chu Yifeng chuckled softly. “Relax. He may not particularly approve, but he’s open-minded. He wouldn’t try to crush younger relatives or disown anyone the way some elders would. And if all else fails, you could always undergo IVF like Yuan Xia. I guarantee the old man would accept you without another word.”
Wang Cheng wanted to smack him across the face again.