Chapter 5

(new book uploaded, please recommend~)

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On the other end of the phone, a deep, middle-aged man's voice laughed heartily and said, "Honey, your words really hurt Dad. Dad raised you with great hardship, feeding and clothing you, and even sending you to school. Now that Dad is old, if I take some of your money to travel abroad, do you have to scold me?"

"Dad, I wouldn't oppose you going out to play; I would even support it. But you can't take all my savings, can you? That's money I worked hard to save in America." Ouyang Feifei, shocked and angry, said, "You know the agreement I signed with Uncle Mu. I only get a symbolic salary of 5,000 yuan a month. If I can turn the company around within a year, I'll get a big bonus. If you take all the money, how will I live for the next half year?" For an ordinary person, a few thousand yuan a month in a place like Shanghai would be enough to get by, just not a wealthy life.

But Ouyang Feifei had grown up in luxury. To put it mildly, 5,000 yuan would only be enough to buy a bottle of skincare products. If she used it to stay in a hotel, she would be kicked out in less than a week.

"By the way, Dad is short on cash lately. Since you don't live at home and prefer to stay in hotels, I've rented out the house."

Ouyang Feifei gasped, her nearly perfect face showing indignation as she angrily said, "Dad, you're really trying to drive me to the wall!"

"Sweetie, don't say I'm leaving you no way out." The man laughed, very happily, "Xiao Chen from the Municipal Party Committee's office is really a good guy. Although he comes from a good family, he's not arrogant or domineering. He's reserved and steady, good-looking, and capable, with no pretense. I see he has a full forehead and an extraordinary demeanor, destined to be a leader. You should go out to eat, watch movies, and date him more often. For each date, I'll return one-tenth of the money."

"Dad, I admit he's good, but if there's no chemistry, it won't work no matter how many times we date." Ouyang Feifei rolled her eyes, annoyed, "Dad, am I your biological daughter? How can you bully me like this, always pushing me away?"

"Dad is really hurt by your words. As the saying goes, when a man grows up, he should marry, and when a woman grows up, she should wed. Feifei, you're already 25. If you keep this up for another two years, you might end up a spinster." The middle-aged man said with a heartbroken tone, "My old friends have already become grandparents. Feifei, do you want me, this old man with ailing health, to die without ever holding a grandchild? How pitiful, I, Ouyang Hua, have suffered all my life, and now in my old age, my future is so bleak. I am truly unfortunate... thinking back, I raised you with great hardship, one diaper at a time..."

"Dad, stop it. Every time you force me to go on a blind date, you use this trick, pretending to be pitiful and seeking sympathy. I'm already immune to it." But Ouyang Feifei's tone softened, and she coaxed, "Dad, can't you wait until I stabilize the company before I start dating? I promise that once I turn the company around, I'll definitely find a boyfriend and won't be picky."

"Honey, don't use that on me. Every time you promise, you find different excuses to avoid it. I understand the situation with Old Mu's company. There are so many hidden dangers that even Old Mu is worried. By the time you fix it, it will be too late. I'm not in a hurry, but I am eager to have a grandchild." Ouyang Hua was determined, "I'm telling you, this time, your old man is serious. If you don't date and fall in love with Xiao Chen, you'll have to live on 5,000 yuan a month, after tax."

"Dad, can't you... hello, hello~"

"Beep," Ouyang Hua hung up the phone. When Ouyang Feifei called back, her father had already turned off his phone.

Ouyang Feifei was stunned, not expecting her father to be so ruthless this time. She quickly checked her accounts online. Apart from the 8,000 yuan in her company salary card, which she had never used, the rest of her accounts, totaling several million, had vanished.

The reason her father could take her money was that she had earned it abroad. From her university days, she had worked part-time at famous companies. Stanford students, even before graduation, were highly sought after. Later, with a lot of experience, she joined some early graduates in corporate restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions, earning a share of the profits.

By the time she was in her master's program at Stanford, her outstanding work and achievements had led her to join a corporate doctor team, specializing in diagnosing the problems of troubled and nearly bankrupt companies. After graduating, she gained fame in the industry by reviving a nearly dead American company, earning a substantial reward in a short year.

Old Mu, hearing about her capabilities and reputation, went to great lengths to bring her back from abroad to save his Mu Group.

Since she had no bank account in China, Ouyang Feifei transferred all her money to a new account set up by her father. First, her father, a successful businessman, didn't care about this small amount of money. Second, she and her father didn't need to keep things separate, and as a daughter, giving all her money to her father was no problem.

But she never expected her father to pull such a stunt, forcing her to date, fall in love, and get married. Ouyang Feifei pouted, not because she was upset about the money, but because she felt it was a conspiracy. The symbolic 5,000 yuan salary and the reward contract with Uncle Mu, as well as her father using his account to take the money, all seemed premeditated.

Even the sudden push in the third month seemed planned. Everything was aimed at forcing her to date, marry, and have children.

"Damn, Dad, and Uncle Mu. Do you think that by ganging up on me, you can force me to surrender?" After figuring it out, Ouyang Feifei's cold and charming face showed no anger, only calm, with a hint of a smile. She crossed her arms and muttered to herself, "I, Ouyang Feifei, am not someone who gives up easily."

Her character was such that the more difficult the situation, the more she was motivated to face the challenge. She enjoyed solving problems and overcoming difficulties, not avoiding or compromising. Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen this industry.

She took out paper and pen, looking at the 8,000 yuan salary, and started making calculations. Soon, she had a plan. She called to cancel her hotel room and summoned her personal secretary... a series of arrangements filled her with passion and drive, as if she were playing an interesting game, trying to survive with extremely limited resources.

...

It was 8 PM.

Ouyang Feifei drove to her newly rented two-bedroom apartment and moved her luggage in piece by piece. The apartment, though simple and a bit old, was very quiet, with lush vegetation in the neighborhood. In a city where new developments often had bare, young trees, such a quiet and green old neighborhood was rare.

More importantly, it was a teacher's community, built by the nearby No. 19 High School over a decade ago. Most of the residents were school staff.

While teachers might not be the most revered profession, they generally had good manners, even if only on the surface. Teachers with multiple properties would be selective about their tenants, not renting to unsavory people.

This quiet and elegant neighborhood, nestled in the city, satisfied Ouyang Feifei. She praised her new secretary for handling the matter so well in just one day.

Of course, a CEO renting a place with a monthly limit of 2,000 yuan could be a blow to company morale. Moreover, with her extensive international background, she valued privacy and didn't want anyone to know where she lived. So, she told her secretary that a distant relative from her hometown needed a place to stay.

The small apartment, though only about 70 square meters, was well-equipped with two south-facing rooms, a small living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The secretary had arranged for cleaning and even bought some essentials, showing great attention to detail. It was no surprise, as secretaries always put their best effort into personal matters for the CEO.

Ouyang Feifei, with her keen observation, noticed some strange details. From the slight stains on the kitchen exhaust fan, it seemed the apartment had been vacant for several years.

Such a good apartment would be in high demand on the rental market. Why didn't the owner rent it out? How did her secretary manage to rent it? She had checked the prices online during her lunch break and found that 2,000 yuan was far too low for such a good place.

Since she was satisfied with the place, she decided to be grateful. However, she was always clear about separating personal and professional matters, so any gratitude would be expressed privately.

Feeling a bit hungry, she took out some milk and bread. Just as she was about to eat, she felt sticky and uncomfortable.

Although it was just after Qingming, she had broken a light sweat from moving her luggage, as she was not used to physical labor. Seeing that the water heater had been set up by her secretary, she locked the door and soon the bathroom was filled with steam.

...