The Charismatic Personality of Zhou Yi

One hundred and fifty thousand.

To Zhou Yi, this amount of money was naturally nothing.

But whether she was worth that much remained debatable.

If he started by offering such a high salary, it would be unrealistic to expect her heart-flutter points to increase through future raises.

Women without money are easily swayed by wealth, but those who already have money desire much more.

However, if he refused now, Jiang Ruolan probably wouldn’t lower her standards to stay.

"How about this—we’ll set a one-month probation period, with the monthly salary as you requested, 150,000. Does that work?"

"Of course, President Zhou. When shall we sign the contract?"

"Let’s do it now."

Zhou Yi’s decisive attitude struck Jiang Ruolan as undeniably attractive.

The smile on her face deepened.

It seemed this President Zhou was generous and straightforward—no beating around the bush.

She preferred leaders with a transparent personality.

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

Zhou Yi assumed her increased affection was due to him agreeing to her salary demand.

In reality, it was because of the personality he had just displayed.

After signing the contract, the two shook hands with smiles.

From now on, they were business partners.

"How should I address you going forward?"

"Just call me Ruolan, President Zhou."

Zhou Yi got straight to the point with his requests.

"Alright, Ruolan. As you can see, there’s no office equipment here yet. You’ll need to handle the purchases."

"Recruiting staff in the early stages will also be your responsibility. Once you hire a new HR person, you can hand that over."

"Once the company’s preliminary preparations are complete, we’ll officially discuss investment work. What do you think?"

Jiang Ruolan smiled. "President Zhou, I’ll ensure these tasks are completed well. That said, I have a few small suggestions."

"Go ahead."

"First, I believe we should refine your image. You’re undoubtedly handsome, President Zhou, but as a boss, you’re missing something."

Having interacted with many executives, Jiang Ruolan knew exactly why Zhou Yi had failed to retain people earlier that day.

As she spoke, she studied his expression to gauge whether her words might anger him.

If he took offense, she’d have to tread carefully in the future—even well-intentioned advice would be off-limits.

But if he accepted it without issue, she could speak freely moving forward.

This was her way of testing the waters with her new boss.

Understanding each other’s boundaries would make their working relationship smoother.

Navigating a boss’s preferences was an art in itself.

Zhou Yi, of course, wasn’t upset.

Even if he had been, his first thought would’ve been: Her very first sentence was to call me handsome—why would I be mad?

If Jiang Ruolan hadn’t meant well, she wouldn’t have risked displeasing her boss. Clearly, she had Zhou Yi and the company’s best interests at heart.

Her comment piqued his curiosity. "Go on."

She pinpointed the issue directly.

"Your attire."

Whether in China or abroad, a company president’s wardrobe was non-negotiable.

For an established company, employees might not care how the boss dressed—his track record would speak for itself.

But Zhou Yi’s venture was brand new. An office without even a desk? Without the right image, it wouldn’t inspire confidence.

Buddha needs gilding, and a horse needs a fine saddle. That was the principle at play.

Zhou Yi mulled over her words before nodding slowly.

"You’re right. I overlooked that."

His smile showed no trace of irritation, and Jiang Ruolan relaxed.

This boss might be a pleasure to work with.

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

With her concerns eased, she continued:

"If you’re free later, I’d be happy to accompany you to pick out some suits. A well-fitted suit would make you look far more professional, and you’ll need them for formal occasions anyway."

As a seasoned executive assistant, Jiang Ruolan was well-versed in such matters.

"Sure, let’s go now."

The two stepped out of the president’s office into the empty open workspace.

Before leaving, Zhou Yi gave Jiang Ruolan a few instructions:

"Make sure the office desks are spacious. Don’t cram the workstations too close together—get high-quality ones."

"Especially the chairs. Ergonomic ones are a must. Long hours in poor seating can cause real damage."

"Add plenty of potted plants around the office. They brighten the mood."

"Stock up on snacks too. Set up a small relaxation corner somewhere."

Before he could finish, the system notifications chimed in rapid succession.

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

Zhou Yi paused, glancing at the woman beside him, who listened with a polite smile.

So Jiang Ruolan... has a soft spot for bosses who treat employees well?

Seemed that way.

And really, who wouldn’t?

Now that he understood her preferences, Zhou Yi had a clearer strategy for winning her over.

Looks and money were secondary.

This woman valued character.

No wonder she’s different from the average college girl. She’s after something deeper—a connection on a higher level.

Jiang Ruolan noted each of Zhou Yi’s requests, genuinely admiring his consideration for employees.

She’d worked in China before. Most bosses treated staff like disposable labor, never sparing a thought for their well-being or morale.

As they entered the elevator, Jiang Ruolan confirmed:

"Just to clarify—working hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, correct?"

"Yes, with a three-hour break from noon to 3 PM."

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

Zhou Yi nearly laughed.

This sophisticated woman is full of surprises.

"And overtime pay is 100 per hour?"

"Right, but unless it’s urgent, tasks can wait till the next day. Minimize overtime whenever possible."

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +1]

Zhou Yi pondered—what else? Subsidies!

"Let’s also add transportation and housing subsidies—2,000 per month total."

"Life’s tough for workers these days, especially in Huaihai. Many are renting from out of town. Their salaries probably don’t leave much after expenses."

Jiang Ruolan was genuinely taken aback.

Then—

[Jiang Ruolan’s heart-flutter points +10]

She smiled, this time from the heart.

Standing outside the building, she studied Zhou Yi with newfound intrigue.

This young man had truly astonished her today.

Most bosses ran companies for profit—capitalists, plain and simple.

Honestly, if she were the boss, would she have thought this far for her employees?

Maybe at first. But once someone transitions from worker to capitalist, priorities often shift.

She had seen too many people change their demeanor the moment they became even minor leaders. Staying true to one's original intentions was far too difficult.

"President Zhou, speaking from the heart—it must be wonderful to be your employee."

At this moment, Jiang Ruolan found herself wondering:

Could she witness the rise of a true enterprise, where employees genuinely loved their company and respected their boss?

Could she witness this young man become a real entrepreneur, not just another so-called capitalist?

Even if it was just for the sake of Zhou Yi's unwavering principles, she would strive to help him build this company well.

This job was entirely different from her past ones.

Before, she worked simply for the sake of work. Now, there was a touch of personal sentiment in it.

She wanted to witness this company become a legend—one that would leave capitalists speechless, proving that not everyone treated employees like beasts of burden.

She never wanted to hear another boss say, "What company doesn’t enforce 996 these days?"

She never wanted to hear another boss say, "You expect overtime pay for working late?"

She never wanted to hear another boss say, "You think lunch break is for resting too?"

Instead, she hoped such words would be replaced by one simple phrase:

"That’s not how Huanyu operates."

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Just sharing my personal take on Jiang Ruolan—hehe, which version do you all prefer?