Chapter 51: Reaching a Consensus
Xu Youyou heard what the other party said but did not refute it. Instead, she nodded seriously and said, “Mr. Xie, I fully understand and support your determination to fight against the underworld forces to the very end.”
Upon hearing this, the homeless man was momentarily speechless. He had been denied countless times before, making every bit of recognition all the more precious.
However, just moments later, a wary look reignited in his eyes.
“Don’t play tricks on me. You’re one of them, aren’t you? Star Diamond sent you, right? Keeping me locked up like this is illegal detention! I’m calling the police!” Xie Ran tried to put on a fierce demeanor, but in his current state, he looked more like a child throwing a tantrum.
Xu Youyou gestured to the sofa beside her and said, “Please, sit.”
Xie Ran didn’t move. One of Xu Youyou’s bodyguards stepped forward, ready to force him into the chair.
Xu Youyou shook her head and said to the bodyguard, “Mr. Xie is a grown man who insists on fighting against the underworld. There’s no way he would be afraid to sit in a mere sofa chair.”
Xie Ran’s expression shifted unpredictably. Years in prison had stripped the confidence and arrogance from his gaze, leaving only evasiveness. But in the end, he took two steps forward and sat down on the sofa.
Xu Youyou personally picked up the teapot from the table, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of Xie Ran.
His throat bobbed slightly—he was very thirsty—but he still didn’t move.
Xu Youyou provoked him further, “What? Afraid I poisoned it?”
She poured herself a cup as well and took a slow sip.
Only then did Xie Ran pick up the tea she had poured and gulp it down.
Seeing that he had both sat down and taken a drink, Xu Youyou was now 80% confident about the upcoming conversation. As long as he was willing to communicate, things would be much easier.
She introduced herself, “My last name is Xu. I currently run an entertainment company, and I need a CEO. If you’re willing, you can work for me. The first year’s salary is two million. What do you think?”
Xie Ran’s eyes widened slightly. “Is this some kind of new scam? Let me tell you, I may be broke, but I won’t take dirty money. I will never give up on my revenge.”
Xu Youyou casually replied, “I never asked you to give up. I’m not on their side. In fact, I would love for you to keep fighting them.”
Xie Ran still didn’t trust her. In his eyes, those people had far-reaching influence, and Xu Youyou—such a young and beautiful woman—suddenly offering him such a big deal was definitely suspicious.
“People don’t offer favors for no reason. You must have ulterior motives,” he said.
Xu Youyou smirked. “I’ve heard your story long ago. I’m offering you this job not out of pity, but because I believe in your abilities.”
Xie Ran was thirty-five years old now, while Xu Youyou was barely in her twenties. He squinted slightly and said, “When everything happened back then, you were probably just a little kid.”
Xu Youyou replied, “I have my own ways of learning the truth. Right now, your only other option besides me is to flee the country. Are you sure you want to leave like a stray dog?”
Xie Ran lowered his head, his mind racing with countless thoughts. He didn’t know whether to trust Xu Youyou or not.
Xu Youyou opened her mobile banking app, switched to the account balance page, and handed it to him.
“This amount of money might not be enough for your revenge, but with your skills, I believe you can at least double it. Show me your worth, and I’ll offer you the rewards you deserve—such as doing everything in my power to help you get your revenge. How about it?”
Xie Ran was momentarily stunned by the number on her screen. There was no doubt that this young woman was wealthy—but still far from the level of the person he wanted to take down.
Yet, her words had moved him. Someone as proud as he was would never accept charity, but an acknowledgment of his abilities? That was something he could accept.
“The evidence has been destroyed. Even if I want revenge, what can I do?” he tested her.
Xu Youyou leaned back on the sofa. “You’re still guarding against me.”
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Xie Ran’s face. He did still have one last piece of evidence, but he was afraid it would end up like all the others—stolen and destroyed by those people.
Years ago, they had constantly tested him, trying to see if he still had proof. But in recent years, they had stopped, as if they were completely convinced that he had given up.
Xu Youyou continued, “I’ll take you to see my company later. Of course, if you don’t want to be a CEO and prefer to start your own business, I’ll invest in you.”
This time, Xie Ran was truly shocked. “You trust me that much?”
Xu Youyou met his gaze. “Of course.”
Years later, Xie Ran’s story would take the internet by storm, hailed as a modern-day tale of perseverance and revenge.
He had once been a top student from an elite university, a rising star in the business world—until he was framed and imprisoned. Because he refused to confess, he served his full ten-year sentence, with not a single day reduced.
Upon release, the people who had wronged him continued to monitor him, ensuring he could never gather evidence to clear his name. They blocked every path he tried to take, leaving him as nothing more than a homeless man sleeping under bridges.
Ten years in prison had completely ruined his life.
Had Xu Youyou not intervened, he would have been smuggled out of the country by the end of the year. With the help of former classmates, he would have rebuilt his life abroad and returned years later to take revenge on those who wronged him.
“Miss Xu, with your wealth, you could easily find someone better suited to manage your assets,” Xie Ran said.
But Xu Youyou brought up something else. “We actually have more in common than you think.”
Xie Ran was puzzled.
Xu Youyou continued, “We both grew up in orphanages. After you graduated, you donated a large sum of money to the orphanage that raised you. You are someone who repays kindness—and I prefer to work with people like that.”
Xie Ran’s expression softened.
He had endured so much over the years, but the orphanage director never doubted him. While in prison, he frequently received encouraging letters from her, urging him to stay strong and hold onto his beliefs.
If it weren’t for those letters, he might not have made it through.
Unfortunately, he had only learned after his release that she had passed away years ago—before she could see him clear his name.
“If Miss Xu is willing to believe in me, I will do everything I can to make money for you,” Xie Ran finally said.
