Chapter 120: Acquiring 'Urban Hero', Zhang Man's Exceptional Intelligence of 158? - The Rich Second-Generation Villain With No Morals

The boss of "Cityman" Decorating Company was a woman in her forties. Her appearance was rather average, scoring about a 70 out of 100. However, she carried herself with a pleasant air and looked sophisticated. "Fang Ting, General Manager of 'Cityman' Decorating Company. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Qi," she said with a smile as she extended her hand. Fang Ting did not show any hint of condescension despite Qi Lin's young age. "So, we're like half a family now," Qi Lin remarked with a smile as they shook hands. "Oh? How so?" Fang Ting asked curiously after taking her seat. Qi Lin chuckled, "What a coincidence, my mother’s surname is also Fang." Fang Ting looked surprised. "By the way, may I ask why Mr. Qi suddenly wants to acquire my 'Cityman' Decorating Company?" she asked candidly. Taking a sip of coffee, Qi Lin responded lazily, “Just for fun. I happen to have some spare cash on hand. I find the decorating industry quite interesting, so I thought I'd dabble in it.” Upon hearing this, Fang Ting's initial good impression of Qi Lin promptly dissipated. Over time, wealthy heirs uninterested in their family fortunes might just throw money at ventures they knew nothing about. Fang Ting understood this and prepared to name her price. "Since Mr. Qi knows how booming the decorating company is, he should also know that I wouldn't sell it at a low price,” she asserted, hinting at the value they had built over six years with unwavering dedication. Qi Lin, unwilling to waste time on pleasantries, got straight to the point. "Ms. Fang, let's settle on a price. If it’s agreeable, we’ll sign the transfer contract immediately. If not, we part ways." Fang Ting, unaccustomed to such a direct business approach, was taken aback. Yet, considering his straightforwardness, she didn't dare to state her price initially. “10,000 is the lowest I can offer,” Fang Ting cleared her throat and stated. Qi Lin merely glanced at her before turning to leave. While 'Cityman' could indeed become a coveted company, he wouldn't let eagerness lead him astray. If the acquisition failed, he had other methods to gain the company, leveraging favor with Qin Hanliang from the Bureau of Commerce. “Hey, Mr. Qi, don’t go. If the price is too high for you, could you name your price?” Fang Ting hurriedly called out to stop him. The company's working capital was around ten thousand, as most funds came from clients. Fang Ting herself didn’t have the means to spare, yet had plans to venture into a new industry, contemplating selling 'Cityman' for some time now. Realizing an opportunity like selling to Qi Lin might not come again soon, she felt a sense of urgency. “The price is 60,000. If it goes any higher, I won't hesitate,” Qi Lin declared calmly. Though valued around 50,000, Qi Lin might have negotiated lower were it not for the company's potential. Seeing his resoluteness, Fang Ting bit her lip, “Is there really no other way?” “What do you think?” Qi Lin turned again. "Fine, 60,000 it is! Mr. Qi, when shall we sign the contract?” Fang Ting conceded with little choice, feeling a mix of resignation and disbelief that a professional like her, who had risen to elite ranks, would be bested by an eighteen-year-old. "Let's draft the contract now. I have one condition—Zhang Man's employment contract must be tied with the company contract. I want her," Qi Lin said, indicating Zhang Man, who till then had been silent, stunned by the rapid change of ownership from a company she helped build for years. She hadn’t expected Qi Lin would retain her specifically. Talent like Zhang Man's could be developed further, but the cash of 60,000 couldn’t always be readily available. “Alright, as long as Zhang Man agrees, she's yours,” Fang Ting conceded. “I’m willing to follow Mr. Qi,” Zhang Man demurred, pleased. Who wouldn’t welcome the prospect of working under a tall, handsome, and dashing young heir? After enlisting experts to draft and notarize the company transfer contract, Qi Lin acquired 'Cityman' Decorating Company for 60,000. "Do you know why I brought you over from Fang Ting?" Qi Lin asked, driving with Zhang Man seated beside him in the passenger's seat, as they headed back to the company. "Well, isn't it obvious? Mr. Qi must have taken a liking to girls like my sister. Everyone expects me to stay in the company as Mr. Qi’s companion,” Zhang Man surmised, her delicate face resting on Qi Lin's shoulder, as she gently tapped his chest with her graceful fingers. Qi Lin: “” Although Zhang Man was indeed attractive, Qi Lin couldn’t muster interest. The thought of her history with men marred any potential appeal. In truth, his decision to keep Zhang Man was driven by her acumen as a business prodigy. Twenty years from now, the owner of 'Cityman' wouldn’t be Chen Ting anymore, but Zhang Man. She would rise from a simple staff member to squeeze Zhang Ting out from a deputy’s seat, turning 'Cityman' into one of China's top ten decorating brands. Considering both her technical skills and capabilities, Zhang Man was exceptional. Others might struggle to manage her, but as a reincarnator with systematic oversight, Qi Lin deemed himself well-equipped to handle her ambitious nature. Nonetheless, he maintained no desire for anything beyond professional interaction. “You’d better keep your distance. I’m only interested in well-kept women,” Qi Lin said plainly, pushing Zhang Man away with one hand. To him, “well-kept” didn’t necessarily mean naive but rather a woman who carried herself with dignity, like one from a respectable background maintaining her composure regardless of marital status—not a promotional professional like Zhang Man. As Qi Lin pushed her away, Zhang Man’s face reddened slightly, a mix of surprise and complex emotions stirring within her. After pondering it over, Zhang Man bit her lip, addressing Qi Lin, “Mr. Qi, do you think you might have misunderstood me?” “Misunderstanding? How could I? Your character is plain for all to see. Isn’t the rapid growth of 'Cityman,' from a small company to what it is today, primarily the work of your public relations efforts?” Qi Lin chuckled, adding, “I respect any profession without discrimination, but treating me as a business target is where you erred.” Zhang Man was momentarily speechless, understanding Qi Lin's aversion derived from her promiscuous reputation. “What if I told you I am still innocent?” Zhang Man asked quietly, shyness lacing her eyes. “Don’t kid yourself. Innocent? Your clients must have been idiots to sign contracts without expecting favors,” Qi Lin laughed, seeing Zhang Man’s pretense. Did she truly consider him a naive fool? However, Zhang Man slyly countered, “Who said I’d have to sacrifice myself to secure contracts? Our company hires plenty of women for precisely that purpose—spreading the credit, I take 80 percent, they get 20.” An adept socialite skilled at playing the societal game would dazzle many, yet remain untouchable herself—like a mythical woman of the past might have done. Stunned by Zhang Man’s approach, Qi Lin couldn’t help but pause for a moment. “So, the future head of 'Cityman,' Zhang Man, might indeed be such a fantastical bargain?” Of course, it wasn’t just words that Qi Lin was willing to trust from Zhang Man. “System, you've burdened me with revival. Investigating a woman's virtues should be well within your capabilities, shouldn't it?” Qi Lin inquired within, testing the system's abilites. “Ding! As analyzed: Zhang Man, female, 29, attractiveness: 96, IQ: 158, attribute: Innocent,” the system’s mechanical voice chimed in, soon after Qi Lin’s internal question. “Ah~” Upon witnessing Zhang Man's attributes, Qi Lin exhaled deeply—not entranced by her allure, nor by her purity, but dazzled and astonished by her exceptional intelligence. What was the concept of 158 IQ? To put it simply, an individual with a Mensa-grade IQ of over 148 is classified as capable of entering the world’s elite intellectual circle; 120 is smart, 135 is genius. But 158? Beyond genius by any standard—it could equate to the top echelon of global intellect. Contemplating further, Qi Lin resumed his curiosity toward the system, "System, may I inspect my own attributes?" “Ding! Host Qi Lin’s current attributes: Male, 18, attractiveness: 99, IQ: 160, attributes: SSS - Level Muay Thai, SSS - Level Disguise,” the system sounded once more, aloof and devoid of any emotive quality. "Ah, it seems I remember now. After being reborn, the system granted me a photographic memory. No matter how complex anything is, I remember it in an instant. An IQ of 160 seems pretty reasonable," Qi Lin mused about the realization while at the same time resenting others for having an IQ of 158, jokingly calling them freaks. Given his own IQ of 160, he smugly thought it apt. "What? Double standards?" He chuckled to himself, reveling in the fact that he slightly edged out Zhang Man by two IQ points, feeling confident she wouldn’t escape his grasp. Seeing Zhang Man with an IQ of 158 both surprised and amused him. He could always gauge a person’s essence after merely glancing at them—a knack honed from experiencing countless encounters in his previous life. But with Zhang Man, he'd misjudged her true nature. "She’s got a high IQ and still has a certain innocence about her, yet she’s managed to create the façade of a PR siren. Without probing the system, I’d have misjudged her by now. Strangely enough, why would such a woman mock such a situation if she never actually engages with men? Could it be she's seen my potential? Impossible... I’ve always shown the image of a playboy to others. Is this disdain from her now insignificant?" Lost in contemplation, Qi Lin couldn’t quite figure out Zhang Man's game. Over on the other side, Zhang Man, a little absentmindedly, observed Qi Lin's reaction. With Zhang Ting constantly stifling her power within the company—and even her extraordinary intellect proving unavailing—Qi Lin's advent reignited Zhang Man’s ambitions. She was poised for a power grab in the company. For her, dealing with an 18-year-old affluent heir, still wet behind the ears socially, should have been straightforward. A little charm, and he’d likely turn over company control unwittingly. However, it turned out Qi Lin wasn’t drawn to the allure of a seductive persona but rather to women with integrity. Fortunately for Zhang Man, while she handled PR and client liaisons, she served neither as the bait nor succumbed to physical encounters. "So, if you're innocent, why didn't you clarify earlier?" Qi Lin teased. "Turns out, I do like mature women like you. From now on, you'll stay at the company as my mistress." Despite his aim, Qi Lin was just going to let her think she could fool him. If Zhang Man dared to mess with him, he wouldn’t hesitate to leave her high and dry. Listening to Qi Lin’s reaffirmation of her story, Zhang Man felt a peculiar mix of relief and playfulness, prepared to engage further. However, in the very next moment, her eyes widened in disbelief as Qi Lin, keeping one hand on the wheel, undid her seatbelt and pulled her into an embrace, sealing her lips with a kiss. Zhang Man had teased Qi Lin under the pretense of their secure seatbelts, sure he wouldn’t dare act. Yet, with unexpected audacity, he robbed her of her first kiss in the dangerous confines of a driving vehicle. Yes, indeed—her first kiss. "No way! This brat! After deceiving so many men, it turns out I've fallen into his hands!" Zhang Man thought frantically. Deep down, she believed only a man who could truly handle her deserved to claim her first kiss. If that man didn't appear in her lifetime, then so be it. Yet, here she was, confronted with the unexpected. As Qi Lin released Zhang Man, a silver thread glistened momentarily in the sunlight. Furious, Zhang Man’s face flushed as she clutched the tether, her impulse one of violent retribution against Qi Lin’s impudence. "Mann, didn't you say you wanted to be my mistress? Why the anger now? Did you lie to me?" Qi Lin asked mockingly, as he watched the anger in her gaze. Truthfully, he found the challenge of wooing a clever beauty quite amusing. Hearing his words, Zhang Man suppressed her embarrassment and anger. Losing her first kiss and confronting Qi Lin wouldn’t yield any benefits; better to keep her efforts from going to waste. "Mr. Qi, I told you, I am very much innocent—your roughness frightens me," she retorted with a feigned pout, retrieving a tissue to graciously wipe her lips. "Haha, is that so? I thought you didn’t want to be my lover anymore,” Qi Lin continued to play the part of the mischievous heir. “Alright then, I’ll be more careful next time." "But Mr. Qi, you still haven’t explained why you want me to stay?" Zhang Man asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and mischief. "It’s not so much me admiring your ruthless side—exploiting others for personal gain—but you remind me of myself," Qi Lin explained, patting her leg casually. "You must know the assets I desire in the company are Chen Shuyi and the influence over Li Jiaming, who keeps causing trouble. If I own the company, it’s under my control. Do you understand?" Despite Zhang Man’s provocative clothing choices—eschewing uniforms and skirts—and her role as deputy GM left no room for idle talk about her, her revealing floral dresses and strapped heels spoke a certain allure few men could resist. Yet again, Qi Lin had taken liberties, and a hint of anger flashed in Zhang Man’s eyes. But externally, she kept her demeanor intact.