Yu Xiaxing slapped the table and made up her mind. “Then I’ll open an arts-exam prep program at the school.”
Su Hao and that mistress had opened a media-training program too, hadn’t they? She could teach them a lesson while she was at it.
Once they got anxious, they’d surely jump out and cause trouble for her again.
Lu Yanzhao looked up. “On campus?”
Yu Xiaxing nodded. “I have ten million yuan now, so don’t worry about saving money for me! I want to bring in a whole new team of teachers—the more professional, the better. The more expensive, the better!”
But if she really recruited teachers with outstanding experience, what would she do if parents actually sent their children here? Wouldn’t the program end up becoming a genuine success?
The review committee was extremely strict when it came to teacher recruitment.
If she casually hired a bunch of incompetent teachers, the committee wouldn’t approve her application—and wouldn’t allow her to touch the ten million yuan either.
During her first week, she had secretly tried to recruit some highly paid teachers who had poor teaching ability and had been rejected by other schools, only to have her proposal turned down by the committee.
By now, she had figured out the committee’s temperament. As long as she could give them one convincing reason, they would approve her request.
That was it! Why not recruit teachers who were genuinely outstanding but had no idea how to teach children?
When she had been studying abroad, her university had employed a professor who was a genius in physics.
He was covered in academic accolades, and the university treated him as a figurehead.
But he had absolutely no idea how to teach. Every day, he would silently write solution steps on the blackboard without explaining anything.
The students hated him and refused to attend his classes.
Why couldn’t she recruit people like that?
Prioritize fame over teaching; prioritize gimmicks over qualifications!
She could tell the committee, “A newly established school needs star power.” If they followed their usual practices, they would approve it.
And once it was approved, she could start preparing to lose money!
The more Yu Xiaxing thought about it, the more satisfied she became. “All right, go draft the proposal. Pay attention to my main requirement: don’t look for people with teaching experience. Recruit people with impressive reputations instead… Poach actors, painters, and the like who have extensive experience in their fields, and offer them high salaries. Just make sure they have no teaching experience. I don’t like the standardized teaching methods used nowadays!”
Lu Yanzhao nodded lightly. “Understood. I’ll have the proposal ready before the end of the workday.”
Yu Xiaxing said, “Once you’ve drawn up the proposal according to my requirements, submit it directly to the review committee. Just let me know when it’s approved.”
Lu Yanzhao replied, “All right.”
He really did whatever she asked. Yu Xiaxing almost felt embarrassed…
Lately, she had discovered that Lu Yanzhao and Ruan Tian were alike in one particular way: both had questionable professional ethics, but their professional abilities were outstanding.
They were incredibly useful.
Ask him to investigate something, and he would dig up every detail. Ask him to write something, and he would make it polished and impressive. Ask him to carry something out, and he would do it quickly and perfectly.
If someone else had been an undercover agent, Yu Xiaxing might have kept her guard up.
All she wanted to say was: The more, the merrier.
If she had used someone like him in her previous life, maybe she wouldn’t have worked herself to death!
Lu Yanzhao had just turned to leave when Yu Xiaxing called after him again. “Wait.”
Lu Yanzhao turned back.
Yu Xiaxing leaned over her desk, resting her chin on her arms as she looked up at him.
He wore a suit and tie every day, his cuff links fastened neatly. With his clean-cut features and cool, distant air, he looked like the impoverished campus heartthrob so often found in novels.
Yu Xiaxing said, “You can relax a little around me from now on. I don’t wear business attire to work either—I wear whatever’s comfortable. You don’t need to be so serious all the time.”
Lu Yanzhao froze slightly. She could even tell that he found these clothes uncomfortable? And she had taken the initiative to show concern for him?
He quickly recovered and gave a slight nod. “All right.”
Yu Xiaxing continued, “I’ve realized I make you do an awful lot. Drafting this proposal isn’t even really within your responsibilities, and you’re practically on call twenty-four hours a day. It makes me look like I’m exploiting you… No, that won’t do.”
Lu Yanzhao tensed. “It’s all right. I’m willing to do it, so you—”
Please don’t hire someone else to follow you around with me.
Yu Xiaxing looked up at him. “I’m giving you a raise.”
“...What?” Lu Yanzhao’s breath caught slightly.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling perfectly across the side of her face and gilding her in a layer of golden light.
He lowered his head, feeling ashamed.
He had never forgotten his true identity. He was Yu Zheng’s undercover agent, planted at her side.
Lu Yanzhao said quietly, “There’s no need.”
Yu Xiaxing frowned. “Why not?”
“You’re already paying me plenty.”
“What have I given you?”
So many things. For example, the employee benefits and consideration his parents had spent their entire lives longing for, and…
In any case, there was so much.
Lu Yanzhao’s throat moved faintly. He shifted his gaze away. “I’ll finish the proposal first.”
Yu Xiaxing didn’t let him brush her off. “No. I’m definitely giving you a raise. That’s final.”
In the end, Lu Yanzhao could only answer in a low voice, “Thank you, Trustee.”
He left the office with the folder in his arms.
The moment the door closed behind him, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Lu Yanzhao looked down.
A message had appeared on the screen.
Yu Zheng: “Why haven’t you been reporting my sister’s activities to me lately?”
Lu Yanzhao stared at the message, and the shame in his heart slowly rose again.
The Fifth Young Master had sponsored his education and helped him claw his way out of the mud. He owed him a debt of gratitude and couldn’t simply disregard it.
But Yu Xiaxing…
He closed his eyes. In the end, he still replied truthfully.
Lu Yanzhao: “The Seventh Miss is planning to open an on-campus arts-exam prep program at Shengde. She intends to hire professional teachers.”
After sending the message, he paused for a few seconds before adding another.
Lu Yanzhao: “Fifth Young Master, don’t you think you’re going too far?”
Yu Zheng replied with a single “?” before immediately calling him.
Lu Yanzhao glanced at the office door, walked a few steps toward the end of the corridor, and answered.
The instant the call connected, Yu Zheng’s voice exploded through the phone.
“Lu Yanzhao, your wings have grown, haven’t they?”
Lu Yanzhao fell silent. “I’m just telling the truth. Your sister hasn’t planted an undercover agent at your side to monitor you, so why are you doing this to her? I hope you can live up to your name and stand tall and unyielding. Stop using such underhanded tactics to compete.”
“Damn it…” Yu Zheng cursed. “Are you out of your mind? I’m just asking what my sister’s doing. I haven’t tried to sabotage her or anything. Can’t I show a little concern for her?”
Lu Yanzhao’s voice was very soft. “But you planted a spy at her side to monitor her. Do you really think that’s something a brother should do?”
“What spy? Watch your language!” Yu Zheng said indignantly. “Although I originally wanted you to act as an undercover agent, now I only want you to protect her… No, wait. Lu Yanzhao, whose side are you on now? Who are you working for?”
Lu Yanzhao remained silent.
Yu Zheng grew even angrier. “What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for my sister! How ambitious are you?”
