Chapter 52: Joining the Company
Xu Youyou handed a laptop to Xie Ran. “Verbal promises don’t always count, but a written contract is binding. Your first task after joining is to draft an employment contract. Make sure it includes both your job responsibilities and my promise to help with your revenge.”
A warmth spread through Xie Ran’s heart. He had suffered from unfair contracts before and was planning to bring this up, but Xu Youyou addressed it first.
His doubts about her completely disappeared. However, after years of hardship and little access to technology, he hesitated momentarily as his hands hovered over the keyboard.
After a long pause, he slowly began typing.
Xu Youyou watched as he moved from awkward keystrokes to fluent typing, his speed increasing steadily.
Once the contract was finalized, she printed it out. They both signed their names and pressed their red fingerprints onto the paper, making the contract official.
“I’ll take you to the company now,” Xu Youyou said.
She didn’t let Xie Ran ride with the bodyguards but instead had him join her in her private car.
As they sat in the backseat, Xu Youyou glanced at Xie Ran, dressed in ill-fitting, second-hand clothes, and had an idea.
“Xu Jie, head to the nearest mall first,” she instructed the driver.
Xie Ran didn’t think much of it, assuming she just wanted to shop.
But when they arrived, she led him straight to the men’s formalwear section.
“Pick out a few suits that suit him,” she told the store assistant, pointing at Xie Ran.
The assistant, experienced in such matters, quickly assessed Xie Ran’s build and brought out several well-matched suits.
“Go try them on,” Xu Youyou said, handing him the clothes.
Xie Ran took off his old, ill-fitting hoodie and put on a sleek, tailored black suit. His entire demeanor transformed instantly.
Even if he went back to his spot under the bridge, no one would recognize him as the scruffy homeless man from yesterday.
“You actually look like an elite now,” Xu Youyou remarked.
Years of hardship had left a melancholic air about him. But as a top university graduate, he had never let adversity dull his intellect. Now in his thirties, he carried a mature, compelling presence.
The store assistant, eyes shining with admiration, said, “This suit looks like it was made just for you.”
Xu Youyou didn’t make him try on every piece. Once she confirmed the right size, she told the assistant, “Since it fits, pack everything up. I’ll pay.”
Xie Ran wanted to refuse.
But Xu Youyou said, “You’re about to be a CEO, not some random employee. First impressions matter—you should know that better than I do.”
Xie Ran had no counterargument. If he showed up looking disheveled, it would undermine his authority.
“Deduct it from my salary,” he said.
Xu Youyou shook her head. “My company isn’t bankrupt. This is just a basic business expense.”
Aside from suits, she also bought him some casual wear. Afterward, she pushed him into a high-end salon.
Once his messy, overgrown hair was trimmed into a neat crop, she handed him a brand-new phone and laptop.
Only after all this did she finally take him to her entertainment company.
When Ouyang Ouyang first joined, the company was just an empty shell. But after producing a short drama, Xu Youyou had rented office space and hired some staff.
So when they arrived, the office wasn’t completely deserted.
“Chairman, what brings you here today? I’ll notify Mr. Ouyang immediately,” the HR manager said, fawning over her.
Xu Youyou waved a hand dismissively. “He’s busy filming; don’t bother him. Just gather everyone in the main conference room so Mr. Xie can meet the team.”
Xie Ran had declined her offer to start a new company. After being out of the corporate world for so long, he wanted to ease back in by managing the entertainment company first.
Even with everyone assembled, the conference room still felt a bit empty—most employees were on set with Ouyang Ouyang.
“I’ll keep this brief,” Xu Youyou announced. “This is our new CEO, Mr. Xie Ran. From now on, he has full authority over company operations.”
The HR manager’s expression turned ugly.
Ouyang Ouyang had been the nominal leader, but in reality, the HR manager had been running things. Now, with an outsider taking the top spot, his hopes of climbing the ranks were crushed.
Xie Ran, observing everyone’s reactions, didn’t miss the subtle change in the HR manager’s expression.
Xu Youyou stayed true to her word—after making the announcement, she stepped back, waiting to see how Xie Ran handled things.
But instead of taking drastic action, he simply introduced himself and dismissed the meeting, only asking the HR manager to stay behind.
“Can I review the company’s employee records?” he asked.
The HR manager smiled stiffly. “CEO Xie, you want them now? That’s impossible. Give me a few days to organize everything first, okay?”
Xie Ran frowned. “Are you saying the HR department doesn’t maintain updated records?”
The HR manager glanced nervously at Xu Youyou, hoping for support. Seeing no reaction from her, he said, “We’ve been swamped with work lately, especially with no clear leadership—”
Xie Ran wasn’t fooled. “Mr. Zhao, what’s the core function of the HR department? If you can’t even manage basic records, then I have to question your competence.”
Xu Youyou had no patience for internal power struggles. “If Manager Zhao can’t handle the job, we’ll find someone who can.”
Zhao’s eyes widened. He had only just started pushing back, and Xie Ran had barely pressured him—yet Xu Youyou was already pulling the trigger.
This was ruthless!
