Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

On New Year’s Eve, President Chen lay on a soft couch by the pool, replying to texts with his left hand and scattering fish food with his right. It didn’t look so much like feeding fish as it did scattering rice seedlings.

Before his rebirth, he had spent every New Year’s Eve just like this, with a revolving door of girls by his side.

The last girl to keep him company was Cheng Guo. The day before yesterday, at the Cloud Speed Express annual party, he had seen the little rascal again, and she had coaxed a big red envelope out of his pocket.

”BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ—!”

His phone suddenly started vibrating.

Chen Yansen glanced at the caller ID. It was Wang Zihao. Without a second thought, he casually pressed the answer key.

”Brother Sen, have you eaten yet?” Wang Zihao asked with a grin.

”The chef is prepping. We’ll probably eat around eight,” Chen Yansen scanned the kitchen with his Divine Sense and replied nonchalantly.

”Uncle Chen is at my place. My dad’s drinking with him now,” Wang Zihao said.

”Keep an eye on him for me. He can only handle one glass,” Chen Yansen instructed.

”Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control,” Wang Zihao patted his chest, assuring him.

”Your sister...” Chen Yansen opened his mouth, about to ask something, but swallowed his words. Instead, he said, ”Give my regards to Uncle Wang and Aunt Wen.”

”Brother Sen, honestly, I don’t get it. You used to bully Ziyan all the time when we were kids. Why is she closer to you than to me now that we’re grown up? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were her real brother,” Wang Zihao couldn’t help but complain.

’She doesn’t want me as a brother!’

Chen Yansen sneered.

Wang Zihao hadn’t caught on yet. After all, in his memory, when Chen Yansen and Prince Ziyuan first met, his sister was still just a little snot-nosed kid.

”We’re brothers. You’re not getting jealous of me, are you?” Chen Yansen teased with a laugh.

”It’s not that. It’s just that she’s always siding with an outsider. You don’t think she could be...” Wang Zihao trailed off.

Chen Yansen’s heart tightened. He asked with a dry laugh, ”What about it?”

”I suspect Dad found her, not gave birth to her. Why else would she not be close to me at all?” Wang Zihao continued.

Chen Yansen breathed a sigh of relief, then joked, ”Uncle Wang has sharp brows and bright eyes, and he’s tall and well-built. And one look at Aunt Wen tells you she was a great beauty in her youth. Don’t you think it’s possible you’re the one who was found?”

Wang Zihao froze for a moment. He couldn’t help but recall bits and pieces from his childhood. It seemed Wang Zhanjun had always been especially strict with him, but extremely lenient with Prince Ziyuan, doting on her completely.

”Brother Sen, no way, right?” Wang Zihao’s head drooped, his face a picture of misery.

”I’m just kidding. Your eyebrows are identical to Uncle Wang’s. A printer couldn’t be that precise,” Chen Yansen said, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

”Brother Sen, Happy New Year. Ziyan is calling me to set off fireworks in the yard,” Wang Zihao said.

”Bro, are you on the phone? Is that Chen Yansen?”

Hearing the familiar voice through the receiver, Chen Yansen couldn’t help but give a knowing smile.

”Yeah. Want to wish Brother Sen a Happy New Year?” Wang Zihao asked, turning his head.

Prince Ziyuan was wearing a fiery red down outfit. Bathed in the light of the fireworks, her face was as fair as jade. Her alluring, almond-shaped eyes shimmered with a watery glint, and the beauty mark beneath the corner of her eye was faintly visible.

”Okay, give me the phone,” Prince Ziyuan said, holding out her small hand.

Chen Yansen glanced at the end-call button. His finger had just started to lift when he heard Prince Ziyuan’s soft, sweet voice say, ”Brother Jensen, thank you for the New Year’s gift. I got you a gift too. Send me your shipping address on QQ and I’ll mail it to you.”

”Have Zihao bring it to me.” Chen Yansen was on high alert.

”Do you hate me?” Prince Ziyuan asked abruptly after a few seconds of silence.

”I see you as my own sister. How could I possibly hate you? Don’t overthink it,” Chen Yansen placated her casually, thinking, ’This girl’s intuition is pretty sharp.’

’My own sister?’

A knot formed in Prince Ziyuan’s chest, and her expression soured.

”So, your ’own sister’ isn’t even allowed to know your current address?” Prince Ziyuan retorted.

”Packages get lost in the mail easily. It’s safer to have your brother bring it to me,” Chen Yansen explained, unhurried.

He had his own way of dealing with Prince Ziyuan.

Three minutes later, President Chen hung up the phone, the corners of his mouth turning up in a faint smile.

No matter how clever the seventeen-year-old Prince Ziyuan was, she was no match for him, especially since he was basically using cheats.

”Boss, dinner is ready!”

Just then, Ye Qiuping, wearing an apron, called out softly from the living room doorway.

Chen Yansen lifted his hand and glanced at his watch: 7:43.

He had to admit, Master Ye was a fast and excellent cook.

Chen Yansen rolled off the couch, slipped on his slippers, and ambled over to the dining table.

Typhoon shelter Australian lobster, steamed giant grouper, garlic butterflied shrimp, stir-fried celery with squid, mouth-watering chicken, and stir-fried duck with young ginger—eight dishes in total, all exquisitely plated and perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

”After the New Year, I’m transferring you to the cafeteria,” Chen Yansen said, giving her the highest praise.

”I put rat poison in the soup. I’m afraid you won’t make it to the New Year,” Ye Qiuping said with a grin.

”I don’t believe you.” Chen Yansen deliberately ladled a bowl of the kidney bean and pig trotter soup and drank more than half of it in one go. Then he commented, ”It’s a little bland.”

”I made a dipping sauce for you.” Ye Qiuping pursed her lips in a smile and brought out a small bowl of sauce from the kitchen, brimming with red chili oil.

After sitting down, Chen Yansen said to Ye Qiuping, ”Let’s eat. You’ve worked hard, President Ye.”

”I’m happy to serve my boss,” Ye Qiuping said coquettishly, wiggling her body.

SMACK!

Chen Yansen said in a deadpan voice, ”Stop wiggling. Sit down and behave.”

Ye Qiuping yelped in pain and subconsciously rubbed her butt.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—! A series of knocks came from the door.

”Your dad?” Ye Qiuping asked.

”Half an hour ago, Lao Chen was still in Chunshen. It’s not like he can fly.” Chen Yansen shot her a look, then probed with his Divine Sense.