Special Effects Pheromone - Chap 25
Xia Tao put on his clothes, preparing to go downstairs with Yu Zhao. However, Yu Zhao said, “Why don’t you take a shower first?”
Xia Tao smiled and said, “I’ve already showered. The scent you’re smelling is from the room; it dissipates once you’re outside.”
Yu Zhao didn’t say much, just nodded. While putting on his shoes, Xia Tao said, “Yesterday, you gave me the opportunity for an external assignment. I didn’t perform well, my mistake. I apologize to you. I’m sorry.” Xia Tao had just finished tying his shoelaces, at this moment, he lowered his head, half-kneeling, as if ready to kneel down at any moment, looking extremely respectful.
Yu Zhao looked at Xia Tao with some surprise.
“Mr Zhao, I think President Yong won’t let me off easily. It’s the same for you, right? Why don’t we become friends, get along well, and not have to worry about your brother’s mood?” Xia Tao raised his head, his face sincere.
Yu Zhao thought for a moment and said, “I’ve never worried about my brother’s mood.”
Xia Tao’s expression stiffened.
“You’re overthinking it,” Yu Zhao said casually.
After speaking, Yu Zhao opened the door, holding onto the door frame, and said, “Please.”
Xia Tao stood up and walked out of the room.
Following Yu Zhao, Xia Tao smiled and said, “Mr. Zhao, your moral character is very noble, with excellent personal qualities. I admire you very much.”
Yu Zhao glanced at Xia Tao, “What do you mean?”
“But Mr. Yong isn’t like that. He’s so petty; he must be hard to deal with.” Xia Tao said, “Didn’t he just snatch a deal from you recently? Aren’t you planning to fight back?”
“We’re from the same company. No matter who signs the deal, it’s good for the company. You can’t say it’s snatching business.” Yu Zhao replied in an official tone.
Xia Tao whispered to Yu Zhao, “I just heard some information about Mr. Yong in President Hai’s office… Honestly, don’t you want Mr. Yong to experience what it’s like to lose a deal?”
Yu Zhao was somewhat surprised, looking at Xia Tao.
“I’ve heard all the details.” Xia Tao answered, “It’s the ‘E Cao’ company—”
Yu Zhao raised his hand, gesturing for Xia Tao not to continue, while pressing the elevator button. Xia Tao looked around, thinking someone might be nearby, and quickly stepped into the elevator. When Yu Zhao also entered the elevator and the door closed, leaving only the two of them, Xia Tao thought it was confidential enough, and finally said, “It’s from the E Cao side…”
“No need,” Yu Zhao said, “I’m not interested.”
Xia Tao looked at Yu Zhao in astonishment, “Yu Yong used underhanded tactics to snatch your business, and you don’t plan to fight back? Aren’t you going to retaliate and make him taste what you’ve been through?”
Yu Zhao said, “My performance is several times better than his. It’s meaningless to bother about this.”
After saying that, the elevator reached the corresponding floor. Yu Zhao walked out of the elevator, leaving Xia Tao alone with a stiff expression.
Yu Zhao sat in his office, watching the figure outside the door. Someone knocked on the glass door of his office. Through the clean glass, Yu Zhao could see the person knocking – it was a capable salesperson from his team named David.
Yu Zhao nodded towards him, indicating him to come in.
After David came in, he sat down. Normally, David was used to some polite chit-chat, but having been with Yu Zhao for a long time, he knew Yu Zhao didn’t like such formalities. So, he got straight to the point, saying, “Director Zhao, I want to discuss the matter of a salary increase – or maybe, advance the bonus. What do you think?”
Yu Zhao never skimped on money for his subordinates. To be honest, he didn’t understand why some leaders were so unwilling to spend money; after all, it’s the company’s money! Using the boss’s money to make subordinates happy was a good deal, in his opinion.
However, as a leader, he still needed to be aware of his subordinates’ movements, especially for such important employees. Although David earned a good income, his expenses were also high. Yu Zhao had noticed this, but even with David spending a lot, it wasn’t to the extent of coming to ask for money. Yu Zhao asked tentatively, “Running out of money?”
David quickly said, “Oh, I haven’t gotten involved with anything like gambling or drugs.”
Yu Zhao smiled and asked, “Does your wife want to buy a bigger house?”
David laughed and shook his head, “No plans to change houses; we’ve only paid off this one for a few years.”
Yu Zhao knew David bought a new house, he even attended the housewarming party. Yu Zhao continued, “So, do you have a mistress outside?”
David didn’t deny it, grinned, and said, “It’s not to that extent.”
Originally, Yu Zhao wouldn’t have felt anything about such matters, but now he couldn’t help feeling a bit angry. He didn’t know why.
He pursed his lips and asked a question he would never have cared about before, “Does your wife know?”
“Can’t let her know.” This ALPHA salesperson wobbled his phone. On the phone screen was a photo of his OMEGA wife, “I’m the ‘loving husband.’ I return home on time every day. To be honest, I’m giving her a breakup fee. I’ll come back home after I’m done playing. I won’t ruin the family. Right? My well-regarded ‘loving husband’ reputation can’t sink, can it?”
When Yu Zhao heard the three words “loving husband,” he almost wanted to vomit.
“When it comes to a salary adjustment, let’s discuss it later, depending on your performance this quarter. As for advancing the bonus, it needs to go through the HR and finance departments, which is quite troublesome,” Yu Zhao took out the checkbook and said, “If you urgently need it, I can lend it to you for now.”
David expressed his sincere gratitude, wrote an IOU voluntarily, promising to repay it when the bonus was distributed. With Yu Zhao’s check in hand, David left the office. After a while, Xia Tao casually walked in, bringing a cup of hot coffee. Yu Zhao had to admit that Xia Tao lacked some business skills, but she had a knack for taking care of people, and the coffee’s taste perfectly matched his requirements.
After taking a sip of coffee, Yu Zhao had a few thoughts in his mind and said to Xia Tao, “Have you seen David’s wife?”
“Huh? I haven’t seen her in person, but David’s phone, computer screensaver, and his desk all have photos of her. They even have a picture together,” Xia Tao smiled, “It’s quite hypocritical.”
Yu Zhao almost choked, “Hypocritical? What do you mean?”
Xia Tao said, “He must be cheating outside.”
Surprised, Yu Zhao thought, “You can see that? That’s quite professional!”
“I even saw him buying roses last time, splitting them into two bouquets and sending them separately,” Xia Tao said, “He ordered two bouquets, one with red roses, definitely for a lover, and the other with yellow roses, probably for his wife.”
However, Yu Zhao countered, “How do you know the yellow roses are for his wife?”
Xia Tao explained, “I’ve seen a lot. It’s an unwritten rule; yellow roses represent jealousy, infidelity, apology, and love. Many men who cheat will give yellow roses to their ‘legitimate wives,’ and if they are financially well-off, they might even throw in some diamonds or other jewelry.”
Frowning, Yu Zhao suddenly remembered that in the past, when Yu Hai returned from business trips, he often gave a bouquet of yellow roses to Duan Keyi. Duan Keyi would smile, accept them, and later throw away the yellow roses with a frightening expression – of course, the diamonds would be kept.
The flower shop was not far from the company. Coincidentally that day, Qu Jing also passed by and decided to go in. The shop assistant asked with a smile, “Sir, what would you like?”
“Roses,” Qu Jing thought of his own roses.
The shop assistant asked again, “Red roses? We received some particularly beautiful ones today.”
Supporting his chin, Qu Jing said, “Wouldn’t that be too cliché?”
After all, Yu Zhao was quite refreshing.
After work, Yu Zhao walked to his car and saw Qu Jing holding a bouquet of roses, standing in the parking lot like a fool.
Yu Zhao took a closer look: yellow roses?
The voice in his mind roared: Castrate him!!!
Yu Zhao shook his head; he even thought he might be crazy.