Chapter 198: Chapter 196: A Tour of Tianyao Group
"Mr. Fu, if you keep talking like this, I’m afraid we won’t be able to continue our conversation."
Jian Xi refused with a slight tug at the corner of her lip.
Fu Shengyuan knew when to stop and did not continue further.
"Let’s eat! And then I’ll give you a surprise."
He tried to help Jian Xi buckle her seatbelt but was refused.
"I can do it myself."
She quickly fastened her seatbelt.
After this meal, I need to stay as far away from him as possible, she thought.
Every interaction with him always caused her an inexplicable discomfort.
It wasn’t that Fu Shengyuan wasn’t handsome enough, but rather she subconsciously rejected men who were so full of schemes.
This time, Fu Shengyuan didn’t take Jian Xi to an ordinary restaurant but to the top floor of a high-end shopping center.
There were a total of thirty-six floors.
The top floor offered a bird’s-eye view of the entire eastern suburbs’ beautiful scenery.
Fu Shengyuan explained, "This newly built shopping center is called Xinyue Shopping Center. The top floor houses a restaurant with eighty-eight seats, only accessible with a reservation. As for the dozens of floors below, they cater to all kinds of entertainment, and only members with a fortune in the tens of millions can enter. It’s considered one of the top shopping centers in Beijing."
"This concept seems very similar to Ouleite," Jian Xi said.
Ouleite was the most high-end shopping center Jian Xi had visited in Beijing, built by Si Yuhuan for the exclusive entertainment of the wealthy.
Inside, ordinary luxury brands could only set up stalls, while top luxury brands owned their own storefronts, and those who entered had to be billionaires.
Custom-made items worth millions could be seen everywhere.
The people wandering through the shopping center were all figures who appeared in media and newspapers, a true gathering place for business tycoons.
The security and service systems were of the world’s highest standard, once dubbed the ultimate luxury shopping paradise within the country.
It was only after Jian Xi had come into contact with the development of Yaowang Group that she truly understood the significance of Ouleite’s existence—it was a sanctuary where fashion moguls from across the globe aspired to secure a foothold.
Only by being part of Ouleite could one prove their worth.
Li Bin’s biggest goal right now was to get the Yaowang Brand into Ouleite.
A hint of disappointment couldn’t be hidden in the depths of Fu Shengyuan’s eyes. "Yeah, it’s a copy of Ouleite, but this place offers better value for money."
Jian Xi saw the embarrassment flash across his face.
She didn’t say anything more but complimented, "Success comes to those who strive for it; with enough effort, the title of the richest man might change hands."
It should be me, Jian Xi thought, but didn’t say it aloud.
Fu Shengyuan, thinking she was referring to himself, smiled and raised his glass.
Jian Xi toasted with water instead of wine. "This meal is on me."
Debts must be repaid.
Before Fu Shengyuan could voice his refusal, Jian Xi stated her purpose for the meal, "I’d like to take a look at your company headquarters."
"Sure." He agreed without a second of hesitation, smiling in response.
After the meal, Jian Xi paid the bill, and Fu Shengyuan said nothing.
For people of their status, the cost of a meal was a mere drop in the bucket.
「Tianyao Group.」
This was Jian Xi’s first truly comprehensive tour.
The last time she came here to discuss a so-called collaboration, she met Fu Luosheng in a conference room and didn’t have the chance for a thorough look around.
Fu Shengyuan escorted her through various departments, causing quite a stir among the leaders and executives, who all came out to greet them.
Jian Xi was most interested in the science and technology research and development department.
Tianyao Group had dedicated three entire floors to this department, and the innermost areas required multiple passwords, facial recognition, and iris scanning to gain entry.
Jian Xi marveled at their management, which was very strict.
Si Yuhuan’s Haohan Group also had stringent security, but it wasn’t as hermetically sealed as this place.
Moreover, Jian Xi noticed that the researchers here were even more... obsessed with their work.
Not a single person had looked up at her and Fu Shengyuan since she’d entered.
Even when their eyes fell upon the two of them, they acted as if they were invisible, remaining expressionless and continuing with their work.
This level of dedication sent shivers down her spine.
The researchers at Tianyao Group were more like emotionless robots.
"Boss, why didn’t you let us know in advance about your visit so we could have given you a proper welcome?" said the balding man who appeared to be in charge, clapping his hands. "Everyone, come and meet our President, Fu Shengyuan, and CEO Jian of Jian Group."
Following his call, a few people finally approached, offering a sparse round of applause. They nodded respectfully to the two, which served as their greeting.
Jian Xi, accustomed to flattery from her position as CEO, found it quite novel to suddenly experience the pin-drop silence of this department.
Fu Shengyuan touched his nose, slightly embarrassed. "The staff here are immersed in research year-round and have somewhat lost their ability to communicate socially. You know how science and engineering researchers can be..." He pointed to his head. "They’re rather single-minded here, without many distracting thoughts or schemes, completely devoted to their research."
"Understood. Don’t worry, I have no complaints. I’m just very impressed. It’s not easy to find such dedicated employees. I’ll go check out the marketing department."
Jian Xi nodded to everyone and turned to leave.
As she was leaving, she caught sight of a woman.
Clad in a white lab coat and wearing protective glasses, she ignored the leader’s call for greetings and didn’t budge, as if she hadn’t heard anything at all. She remained focused on her distillation flask, staring at it without blinking, engrossed in some unknown research.
This woman was tall and slender. Though not beautiful, she had an air of elegance about her.
Jian Xi felt she looked familiar.
But she couldn’t remember where she had seen her before.
Fu Shengyuan followed her gaze, his cold eyes narrowing slightly.
Once they arrived at the marketing department floor, Fu Shengyuan received a phone call.
"Miss Jian, I’ll have someone accompany you around..."
"There’s no need, Mr. Fu, don’t be too polite. I’m just going to wander around. You go ahead with your business."
He nodded, very gentlemanly. "Then my apologies. Please make yourself at home."
As soon as Fu Shengyuan left, Jian Xi headed to the finance department.
What’s there to see in the marketing department anyway? Only by looking at the financial statements can one truly understand Tianyao Group’s performance over the years. Publicly listed companies have disclosure requirements, sure, but who doesn’t keep multiple sets of books?
Fu Shengyuan didn’t go anywhere else but returned to the research department.
The woman who had been fixated on the distillation flask shot him a cold glance when she saw he had returned. "What? Getting serious about this charade? Afraid I’ll make a move on her?"
"Heh!" He chuckled lowly. "Reckless revenge is the act of the weak. I hired you here with a high salary to research cutting-edge chips, not to act like a brute. If you lay a hand on her, believe me, I won’t let you off the hook."
The woman’s face was cold. "Got it."
Elsewhere, Jian Xi entered the finance department. The director, knowing the CEO himself had brought her for the tour, was very attentive and brought out the financial statements she wanted to see.
"This is the financial statement for the whole year. Is there anything else you’d like, Miss Jian? Just let me know."
The word on the street was that she might very well be the future lady boss of Tianyao Group; he’d be a fool not to seize this chance to flatter her and secure his position.
This won’t do! To show I’m truly attentive, I’ll get all the financial reports from the last three years! he resolved.