My Computer Leads to an Instance Dungeon-Chapter 155 - 130: Am I a Benefactor?

Fang Zhen ignored Xia Siwei's pleas for him to return and walked out of the hospital room alone.

He had done what he needed to do. It was less about helping Xia Siwei and more about sticking to his usual way of doing things. As for the outcome or what Xia Siwei thought, he couldn't be bothered to care.

Staying to explain would be too troublesome. There were too many things that were hard to clarify, and he didn't want to lie. It wasn't that he was particularly honest; it was mainly that if he lied, he'd have to remember what he'd made up. That was too much trouble, and he found it exhausting. He avoided lying whenever possible. It saved him the headache.

As for what Xia Siwei might guess, that was her business. It had nothing to do with Fang Zhen.

His task was done, so he slipped away, unknown and unsung.

Fang Zhen took the elevator downstairs. Suddenly, his phone rang.

He answered the call. It was Wang Donglai.

Fang Zhen laughed. "Aren't you on a date? Why are you calling now? What, is she not good-looking? Are you planning to use me as an excuse to bail?"

"No, the girl's pretty decent, and she has a nice personality. We're just on a break halfway through our game," Wang Donglai said. "I just glanced at my phone. He Yilin replied to me. He wants to meet you for an interview. Where are you? Do you have time?"

"This afternoon," Fang Zhen mused for a moment.

It was just after two, and he had nothing else planned for the afternoon, so meeting up would be fine.

"I'm over by the People's Hospital. There's a Starbucks on Jiefang Road nearby. Let's meet there. I'll wait for him," Fang Zhen said.

"Okay, add him on WeChat first. He can head over in a bit," Wang Donglai said.

"Alright."

Fang Zhen hailed a taxi and headed for the appointed coffee shop.

Twenty-some minutes later, Fang Zhen was at the designated coffee shop, waiting for He Yilin.

The coffee shop wasn't crowded at this hour. It was a weekday, so inside there were only two couples and a man who looked like a designer, working on a laptop. Fang Zhen was happy for the peace and quiet.

When a man walked in, Fang Zhen took one look and his intuition immediately told him this was the person he was waiting for.

The newcomer wore a classic navy blue suit, paired with a white shirt and a tie. The tie's color and pattern were understated and classic, not at all bright or flashy.

On his feet was a pair of classic brown leather shoes, kept clean and polished.

His accessories were a simple watch, belt, and cufflinks—nothing ornate or eye-catching in the slightest.

The man was tall but quite thin, around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. He had a very refined demeanor and wore gold-rimmed glasses. He gave off an impression of being low-key, methodical, detail-oriented, and respectful of rules.

The moment Fang Zhen saw him, he was pretty sure it was He Yilin.

People who have worked in the finance industry have certain standards for their attire. The man's suit was understated but expensive. It was well-fitted—not too tight, not too loose—and impeccably clean, free of wrinkles and stains. He clearly valued cleanliness and maintenance.

These dress code standards not only reflect professionalism but also show respect for one's work and clients.

He raised a hand in greeting.

The man noticed him and walked over.

Fang Zhen put down his coffee, stood up, and greeted him with a smile.

Although he was the one interviewing the candidate, He Yilin was a talented individual. Fang Zhen wasn't the type of boss who needed to act high and mighty in front of employees to feel important. He offered the man the proper courtesy and respect.

"Mr. Fang?" the man asked.

"That's me," Fang Zhen nodded.

"Hello, I'm He Yilin. I heard from Assistant General Manager Wang that your company is in need of a vice president, and I'd like to apply for the position," He Yilin said.

"Great. Have a seat, let's talk," Fang Zhen said.

The two sat down.

He Yilin had a briefcase and was about to open it, presumably to take out his resume.

"Mr. He, I have a general understanding of your situation, so let's skip the formalities," Fang Zhen said. "Let's cut to the chase and get straight to the point."

He Yilin didn't fuss over it. He stopped trying to take his resume out of his briefcase and instead looked at Fang Zhen. "Alright. What specific requirements do you have, Mr. Fang?"

"Here's the situation. I have a trading company, and I'm the core of it," Fang Zhen said. "I have a way of acquiring certain goods that are rare on the market but highly effective. We generally follow a boutique model—small quantities, but guaranteed profits."

"The source of these goods is definitely not illegal, but sometimes they lack the relevant paperwork."

"I need someone to complete the paperwork for these goods, pay the back taxes, sometimes develop the market, and handle all sorts of miscellaneous matters."

"I need to focus on expanding my channels, and I don't have time for these professional yet tedious tasks. I need a vice president to help me navigate these processes so I can concentrate on my core business."

After speaking, Fang Zhen looked at He Yilin.

He Yilin's eyelids lowered slightly as he heard this, seemingly pondering Fang Zhen's requirements.

A moment later, He Yilin looked up and asked, "Pardon me for asking, but what specific goods are we talking about? Do you have any examples? Do they involve any items that fall outside the legally permissible scope?"

"You don't have to worry about that, Mr. He. I operate with principles. Everything is done within the legal framework; otherwise, I wouldn't be discussing this with you," Fang Zhen said. "As for specific products, I've previously dealt in antique-style Gold crafts and Cinnabar Ore."

Hearing this, He Yilin seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

He Yilin relaxed a bit. "If that's the case, I believe I'm seventy to eighty percent confident I can handle this position."

"I have some insight into how to handle these things within a legal framework."

"Of course, how well I can do it will likely depend on getting hands-on with the specific business operations and going through an adjustment period before I can say if I'm truly a good fit."

Fang Zhen nodded slightly.

He had met some businesspeople from Shanghai and noticed a common trait among many of them.

Legitimate businesspeople in Shanghai have a habit: even if something is a sure thing, they won't pound their chests and guarantee success, much less make wild boasts about how capable they are.

When these serious professionals are entrusted with a task, even if they've decided to do it or are already confident, their response is always something like, "I'll give it a try," "Let me work on it first, and we'll see," or "I'm only partially certain; let's wait for an update before discussing the next steps." They never speak in absolutes.

He Yilin clearly had this habit.

Fang Zhen could tell that He Yilin was actually very confident, but he was still being habitually modest, managing expectations. It was a typical trait of people like him.

Fang Zhen had a good feeling about He Yilin and was quite satisfied with their conversation.

But he still presented a test.

He said, "Mr. He, I don't doubt your professional abilities, but there is one thing I'm rather concerned about. I may be a bit direct with my question, and I hope you can be frank in your answer."

"Please, go ahead," He Yilin replied, straightening his posture.

"I know about your past record, and I understand that you're changing jobs out of necessity. I get all that," Fang Zhen said. Then his gaze sharpened as he asked, "I actually feel we click quite well, Mr. He, but there is one problem. Mr. He, how can I trust that you won't make a similar choice again?"

"This may be a blunt question, but I'd really like to know your thoughts on the matter."

"In other words, I'd like to hear how you, Mr. He, can make me trust you in one minute. After all, this VP position at the new company requires a certain foundation of trust between us for things to work."

He Yilin's brow furrowed slightly.

Fang Zhen observed the top student from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics who had done "advanced studies" at Tilanqiao. 'He Yilin isn't displeased,' he thought, 'but rather contemplating the best way to answer.'

After a brief silence, He Yilin looked up and said, "Mr. Fang, I'd actually prefer to prove myself with my professional abilities rather than other factors."

"But your question does resonate with me."

"Mr. Fang, I'm already 37 years old. I am a husband to a loving wife, a father to two children, and a son to my elderly parents." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"My wife loves me very much, but her income is average. My two children are in school, and my parents are elderly. I moved them to Xiahai City and bought a house for them to live in near my own."

"I have to support my family, pay two mortgages, and raise my children—send them to extracurricular classes, give them a happy, fulfilling childhood."

"With so much responsibility on my shoulders, I cannot, and I dare not, take a wrong step again."

"I made a wrong choice in the first half of my life. I don't deny it, and I don't run from it. But I have also paid a sufficient price. For the second half of my life, I want stability. I want a stable family and happiness. I don't want any more turmoil."

"I understand what you're getting at. First, you're afraid I'll repeat my past mistakes. Second, you're afraid I might get ideas about striking out on my own."

"To be honest, if I were ten years younger and didn't have a family, I might have had some ideas. I might even have considered starting my own business."

"But now, weighed down by responsibilities, I just want to be a good employee and seek stability. I can't afford to take any more risks."

"With a record like mine, any boss willing to take me in is my benefactor. Even my last boss, who still owes me wages and has disappeared, I'm still grateful to him for giving me a chance to start over."

"Right now, I'm truly walking on thin ice; I dare not misstep even half a step. If I did something shady or dishonorable, even if I didn't go to prison, you would surely spread the word in Xiahai's circle of bosses. Then I'd truly have no options left but to become a fugitive."

"I've had more than enough trial and error in the first half of my life. I really, really don't want to abandon my wife and children to become a fugitive, and I don't want to go back 'inside' again. So, I will treat any job that allows me to support my wife and children with the utmost seriousness, and I will be grateful to any boss who gives me a chance."

"I really have no other choice."

He Yilin sighed softly. "In a situation like mine, don't you think I'm worthy of trust?"

Fang Zhen listened, watching He Yilin for a moment.

After a moment, Fang Zhen smiled.

"Mr. He, do you have any requirements regarding salary and benefits?" he asked.