From Wage Slave to Tycoon

’What a mess. I really need to find a full-time secretary soon. I can’t possibly do everything myself!’

Su Chen was currently driving toward Jinmao Mansion.

Just yesterday, he had instructed Pei Rang to rent a floor in Jinmao Mansion for the future company headquarters after registering the company.

But... what happened instead?

This morning, Pei Rang had called to tell him there was a change of plans regarding the company registration.

After asking for details, Su Chen finally understood the whole story.

Apparently, after leaving Su Chen’s home, Pei Rang had gone straight to Korn Ferry International to see Aik about handling the registration. He learned from Aik that registering an investment company was quite troublesome; even with their firm’s help, it would take a week.

Aik had then proposed a suggestion: instead of registering a new company, why not acquire an existing one? As it happened, Aik knew of an investment firm that was for sale.

The company had no debt, all its licenses and qualifications were in order, and the price was quite reasonable at just 500,000. The only issue was that it was registered in Xiangjiang, which would require Pei Rang to make a personal trip.

Once Su Chen understood the situation, he made the call on the spot and told Pei Rang to take a trip to Xiangjiang and secure the company.

Su Chen knew this was most likely a shell company, probably registered by Aik or one of his friends. After all, Korn Ferry International wasn’t just a headhunting firm; it was also a brokerage that acted as a middleman.

As long as you had a need, they could pull the right strings for you!

As long as the company was free of any debt disputes, it was fine. Although it cost significantly more than the normal procedure, it saved a lot of time.

As for the company being registered in Xiangjiang, Su Chen could accept that. After all, he had never planned to register it in places like the Cayman Islands to begin with. ’With a system like mine, do I really need to worry about creative tax avoidance?’

Of course, if it was US Dollars earned abroad... he should still avoid taxes as much as possible. After all, why turn down free money from foreigners?

After Pei Rang came to his house to pick up his identification, he left directly for the airport. Naturally, the task of leasing office space fell to Su Chen.

In the Jinmao Mansion parking garage, even though Su Chen had been here a few times, he couldn’t escape the security check. He took the opportunity to ask and learned that you could bypass the check if you had an access pass for the building.

As for getting an access pass, you first had to be a tenant of Jinmao Mansion.

He took the elevator straight to the 66th floor. This time, Su Chen wasn’t here to see Emma, but Secretary Li. This was an idea that had suddenly popped into his head on the way over.

He would poach Secretary Li and make her his private secretary!

From their few interactions, Su Chen felt that Secretary Li was quite good. He just didn’t know if Emma would be willing to part with her.

’Since I’m here at Jinmao Mansion on business anyway, I might as well ask her first. If she agrees, I can go back to being a hands-off boss!’

It was the same familiar Taiwanese receptionist. She was stunned for a moment when she saw Su Chen, then quickly stood up after collecting herself.

"Mr. Su, hello. Are you here to see President Emma? I’ll call her right away..."

Before she could finish, Su Chen raised a hand to stop her. "I’m not here to see President Emma. I was wondering if Secretary Li is in her office."

"She is, Mr. Su. I’ll take you there!"

"Thank you."

Su Chen followed the young receptionist toward Secretary Li’s office.

As they reached the office area, Su Chen ran into an old acquaintance.

"Su... Su Chen!" Qin Ying’s expression was complicated when she saw him again.

She had thought that after making an impression on President Emma last time, she would be given an important role on account of being Su Chen’s old classmate. But so much time had passed with no news at all.

Qin Ying later analyzed the reason: maybe her relationship with Su Chen was just average, not worth him speaking up for her.

She only felt envy and jealousy toward Su Chen. They had graduated from the same high school. She had even gone to college while Su Chen could only work odd jobs. Who would have thought... that when they met again, their statuses would be worlds apart.

"Oh, it’s Qin Ying. What’s up? Do you need something?" Su Chen didn’t have a particularly good impression of his old classmate.

Ever since the last incident, he had labeled her as calculating.

Hearing the slight coldness in Su Chen’s tone, she shook her head awkwardly. "It’s nothing!"

"Alright then. You get back to work. I have some things to take care of." After speaking, Su Chen gestured for the young receptionist to lead the way.

Watching Su Chen’s departing figure, Qin Ying was filled with a mix of emotions. If she hadn’t been so calculating back then and had simply taken Su Chen to see the president as an old classmate, perhaps things would have turned out differently.

But there are no do-overs in life.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. The young receptionist knocked lightly on the office door.

"Come in," came Secretary Li’s voice from inside the office.

Su Chen nodded at the young receptionist, then pushed the door open and walked in.

"Mr. Su, what brings you here? Are you here for President Emma? I’ll call her right away!" Seeing who it was, Secretary Li quickly rose from her chair and walked toward Su Chen.

Su Chen smiled and waved his hand. "I’m not here for Emma. I’m here to see you."

"Me?" Secretary Li was completely bewildered. She never imagined Su Chen would be here to see her.

"Mr. Su, is there something you need me to do?"

As she spoke, Secretary Li poured Su Chen a cup of tea.

He picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and then said slowly, "I want you to be my private secretary. I wonder if you’d be willing."

Su Chen didn’t like to beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"Private secretary? I... I... really... Can I?" Secretary Li was so excited she started to stutter.

"Of course, you can. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you. If you’re willing, I’ll go have a chat with Emma."

"I’m willing!" Secretary Li nodded her head vigorously.

Becoming Su Chen’s private secretary was countless times better than her current job. Only a fool would refuse.

Seeing Secretary Li agree, Su Chen smiled and nodded. All that was left was to talk to Emma.

Then, led by Secretary Li, he went up to the executive office area on the 68th floor.

"Mr. Su!" Emma was a bit bewildered by Su Chen’s sudden visit.

"Emma, I’d like to discuss something with you."

Hearing the word "discuss," Emma instantly tensed up. ’What could this big shot possibly need to discuss with me??’

"Mr. Su, what might that be?" Emma asked tentatively.

Su Chen beckoned to Secretary Li, who was standing a short distance away, signaling for her to come over.

As Secretary Li walked to Su Chen’s side, she saw Emma’s gaze fall on her and began to feel a little anxious.

"It’s like this... I find Secretary Li to be very professional, and I happen to be in need of a private secretary. I was wondering if you could part with her!"

"You can... absolutely! It’s Xiaoli’s good fortune to be appreciated by Mr. Su. How could I possibly stand in her way? How about this... Xiaoli, go and start the handover process for your work right now!" Emma couldn’t be happier; how could she possibly refuse?

"Then I thank you!"

Seeing Emma agree, Su Chen let out a long sigh of relief. ’This is my first time poaching an employee right in front of their boss. It’s still a little awkward.’