Chapter 27 — The Weather Has Turned Cold, Let Wang Corporation Go Bankrupt

Hua Daimao looked Yan Dun up and down before saying,

“Your outfit is pretty interesting too. Why didn’t they give you something that actually fits for the show?”

Yan Dun looked down at himself.

He was wearing a hoodie provided by the production team. Printed across it were the words “Idiot vs. Dumbass”, and everyone in the gaming exhibition hall was wearing one. Since the merchandise had been produced in a rush, there was only one size available. Most of the male contestants were tall and long-legged, so the hoodie had been made fairly large.

Yan Dun was nowhere near as tall as those “leg models,” so on him the hoodie looked oversized.

After changing into it, he discovered that the hem covered his butt, while the sleeves completely hid the backs of his hands, making him look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes.

He had protested:

“This doesn’t fit me. Anyway, I’m a mentor now, not a contestant. Can’t I just not wear it?”

Chen Jiangchen had laughed.

“Brother Yan’s a mentor now, so he doesn’t want to be united with us anymore?”

Yan Dun waved his hand, causing the oversized sleeve to flop around.

“How would I dare?”

Chen Jiangchen added:

“Besides, it actually looks good on you. It’s called oversized fashion.”

The costume designer beside them nodded vigorously.

“Exactly! It looks great. Very oversized. Very fashionable.”

Then the designer added:

“Or maybe you could try wearing the women’s version?”

“No!”

Yan Dun refused immediately.

Because the men’s size was too large, he should wear women’s clothing instead?

His pride wouldn’t allow it.

And so he ended up wandering around all day in the oversized hoodie.

──── ୨୧ ────

Hua Daimao stared at him for quite a while.

The loose hoodie hung off Yan Dun’s body, revealing only a pair of slender legs beneath it.

It was unexpectedly attractive.

Smiling, Hua Daimao asked:

“Will you wear this again after today?”

“Probably not.”

Yan Dun waved dismissively.

He had only worn it because he’d been forced to. He definitely wasn’t planning to wear it again.

“That’s a pity,” Hua Daimao said. “Such a nice-looking outfit, only worn once.”

Yan Dun looked down at the soulless white hoodie with ‘Idiot vs. Dumbass’ printed across it.

“Nice-looking? This?”

Hua Daimao’s eyes were full of appreciation.

He didn’t seem to be pretending.

“Of course it looks good.”

Yan Dun felt that Hua Daimao’s aesthetic sense might be broken, but he didn’t say so aloud.

Instead he smiled awkwardly.

“If President Hua likes it that much, I can ask them for an extra one and give it to you.”

As though he had been waiting for exactly that line, Hua Daimao immediately replied:

“Why would I take someone else’s? Just give me the one you’re wearing.”

“Huh?”

Yan Dun blinked.

Hua Daimao continued:

“You said you don’t want it anymore. Don’t tell me you’d rather throw it away than give it to me?”

“Of course not.”

Yan Dun instinctively shook his head, completely unaware that he had practically agreed already.

Hua Daimao nodded in satisfaction.

“Remember that.”

“...I’ll remember.”

At this point, backing out felt too awkward, so Yan Dun reluctantly agreed.

──── ୨୧ ────

After that, silence fell between them.

Feeling awkward, Yan Dun tried to make conversation.

“What new game are you guys showing here?”

Actually, he was genuinely curious.

Leather Wars vs. Snake Skin had already been pulled from shelves. Could Hua Corporation really produce another mature title in such a short period of time?

Hua Daimao introduced it casually.

“Oh, this one. One Hundred Ways to Kill a Scumbag Boyfriend.”

Yan Dun had heard of the game and was surprised.

“Isn’t that a new title from Your Mom Is Dead Studio? Why is it yours...?”

Hua Daimao explained:

“Well, Hua Corporation didn’t really have any games left to exhibit, so I bought the studio.”

“...”

Yan Dun still wasn’t used to a world where buying a company was as casual as buying groceries.

──── ୨୧ ────

Hua Daimao casually glanced at the weather forecast and calmly instructed his assistant:

“The weather’s turned cold. Let Wang Corporation go bankrupt.”

The assistant answered:

“Boss, because the weather has been cold for several years now, there are no Wang Corporations left in the country.”

In other words, every Wang Corporation in China had already been bankrupted by him due to weather-related reasons.

Hua Daimao frowned.

“Then register a new Wang Corporation and bankrupt it.”

“Yes, Boss. My mistake. I’ll handle it immediately.”

The assistant left.

Hua Daimao then turned to Yan Dun and thought:

I must look incredibly domineering and attractive right now.

Yan Dun looked back at him and thought:

What a lunatic.

At that moment, the system chimed:

Successfully collected CEO quote: “The weather has turned cold. Let Wang Corporation go bankrupt.” ✓

Yan Dun’s eyes immediately lit up.

Hua Daimao noticed the sparkle in his eyes and thought:

As expected, I chose the right strategy.

──── ୨୧ ────

After chatting a little longer, Yan Dun received a call from the production crew telling him to return to the exhibition hall.

According to the script, he needed to patrol the hall as a “mentor” and offer comments on the exhibits.

Since the project belonged to Chen Jiangchen, Yan Dun was supposed to give it positive reviews.

So he leisurely returned to An Corporation’s exhibition area, walked around while pretending to inspect everything carefully, and finally gave Chen Jiangchen a thumbs-up.

“You’ve arranged this place wonderfully!”

In reality, Chen Jiangchen spent all his time attending tutoring sessions. He had never personally decorated the exhibition hall. Professional staff from the company had done all the work.

The cheating was practically happening in plain sight.

All the contestants could already see the overwhelming aura of favoritism radiating from him.

Still, after some thought, nobody found it strange.

After all, he was a top movie star who already had more film offers than he could handle. The fact that he was willing to appear on a reality show like this practically guaranteed he was preselected to win.

There was nothing worth arguing about.

However, this only further reinforced a rumor:

Chen Jiangchen’s smooth success was entirely due to An Corporation backing him.

──── ୨୧ ────

Since Yan Dun knew Chen Jiangchen’s true identity, he was extra enthusiastic in his praise.

“This empty space here is especially brilliant!”

Chen Jiangchen honestly replied:

“That’s not intentional empty space. I accidentally smashed the decoration that was supposed to go there.”

Yan Dun choked.

Then he quickly recovered.

“Ah! There’s a saying that true artistry lies in happy accidents. Because you happened to break the decoration, this blank space was created. Truly masterful!”

He gave another thumbs-up.

The people nearby silently gave him thumbs-ups in return.

As expected of the chairman’s favorite secretary.

Truly impressive.

──── ୨୧ ────

After completing his assigned flattery duties, Yan Dun planned to clock out.

He returned to the dressing room, took off the hoodie, and changed back into his own coat.

Once he was done changing, he remembered that he had promised to give the hoodie to Hua Daimao.

The whole thing felt a little strange.

He couldn’t quite explain why.

As he stood there thinking about it, the door opened and An Zao walked in.

Yan Dun immediately stood up and smiled.

“Boss An, you’re here?”

An Zao nodded slightly.

Then he asked:

“What are you staring at that hoodie for?”

Yan Dun explained Hua Daimao’s request for the hoodie.

After hearing the entire story, An Zao still wore his usual pleasant smile.

Only the slight tightening of his fingers betrayed a hint of displeasure.

Then he said:

“Little Honest One, could you pour me a cup of coffee?”

“Of course.”

Yan Dun picked up the coffee and walked over.

Just as he was about to hand it to An Zao, who was sitting in a chair, An Zao suddenly stood up.

Neither of them reacted in time.

They collided.

The coffee splashed all over An Zao.

Yan Dun stared in horror.

No way...

Again?!

Inside his head, he furiously cursed:

System! Are you setting me up?!

The customer-service agent replied:

Dear customer, are you sure I’m the one setting you up?!