CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 177: I WAS CLEARLY HERE FIRST_2

She had barely waved her hand for three seconds before she cautiously observed Han Lie’s expression and asked with a guilty conscience, "Um, does cost accounting require being good at math?"

Han Lie chuckled inwardly, nodding as a matter of course. "Yeah, definitely."

Xi Luting’s shoulders slumped, her previously soaring momentum completely deflated.

Damn it, you jerk, are you trying to make things hard for me? If I were good at math, would I still be here with you?! Annoying!

Feeling unamused, when she saw Liang Wu walking towards her with an exaggerated sway of her hips, she didn’t feel much anger but rather was too lethargic to care.

"Director..."

Liang Wu was smart. At school events, she only addressed people by their school positions. She reported the outcome of her discussions to Han Lie in detail.

"The budget you gave was three to five thousand per table, excluding drinks. The hotel, considering your instructions, ’Don’t be too extravagant, just arrange something for three to five thousand,’ prepared the Aulong set meal for you. It included twelve dishes, priced at the lower end of the range, coming to 3,688 RMB per table after discount.

"I felt their proposal didn’t quite align with your intentions; it was too modest. Therefore, I took the initiative to increase the meal to sixteen dishes: six cold, eight hot, and two soups. The new additions are all specialty dishes from their Chinese cuisine department: a secret-sauce eight-treasure squab and a bowl of shark fin soup for each person, plus one steamed garoupa and one plate of grade 5A Wagyu sashimi per table.

"The final calculated price is 4,888 RMB. It’s not too ostentatious but allows the students to try some dishes they rarely encounter, making your elaborate arrangement at the Marriott worthwhile.

"As for the venue fee, the manager proactively waived it. Though I’m not sure why, I realized they have great respect for you, so I also asked them for a complimentary case of Budweiser Red Aluminum and a case of Bailishan mineral water per table. This isn’t about saving money, but about fighting for the benefits we deserve, preventing them from losing their reverence for you. I told him: if such a trivial matter requires my personal intervention next time, then there’s no need to continue our collaboration. So, the manager also added a serving of ice cream for everyone.

"Lastly, regarding the red wine and champagne, they could also be complimentary, but the price range and taste of red wine and champagne vary so much, I was afraid you wouldn’t be satisfied with the quality. So I asked them for a supplier list. Would you like me to read it to you, and then you can personally pick one?"

Xi Luting, standing beside Han Lie, listened in utter amazement, her expression betraying her shock.

Holy shit! This chick is stealing my thunder!

It took her a moment to realize her mistake. No, no, that’s not right, let’s try that again— Holy shit! Is the bar for a personal assistant set this high?! I might really not be cut out for this job...

Han Lie was extremely pleased.

Liang Wu was truly reliable, completely grasping his thoughts. So damn considerate!

She made decisive calls within her authority, demonstrating astonishing decisiveness. When it came to things that should be fought for, she strove to secure them. She had her own ideas and a firm attitude when dealing with outsiders and was very adept at maintaining her leader’s face and dignity. For decisions she couldn’t make on her own, she prepared thoroughly, ensuring the leader wasn’t bothered with trivialities yet still had the satisfying experience of making the final call.

Well done!

"Give me your Alipay."

Han Lie didn’t praise her directly, but he transferred 200,000 RMB into her Alipay account.

"From now on, you’ll handle all my personal external payments. As for your salary, we’ll discuss it once the company is established."

"Yes, Director."

Liang Wu accepted the money cheerfully, neither prideful nor shocked by the amount. She calmly accepted the current situation.

Xi Luting kept giving Liang Wu odd looks. Even though Han Lie was giving money to another woman in front of her, she felt no jealousy or bitterness.

Can’t compete, can’t compete... You’ve earned that money! Only you can do this job!

Of course, though she was impressed, she didn’t abandon the idea of irking Pan Ge, spicing up the story considerably in her chat with the meek Pan.

"Hahaha! That’s what you get for acting all high and mighty and refusing to come work at the student union! Feeling it now, aren’t you?!"

Pan Ge was indeed a bit flustered.

From Xi Luting’s description, she knew that this Liang Wu was the queen of schemers, the Empress Dowager of tea. Chamu Yuyun was a mere novice compared to her. Pan Ge didn’t even have to ask; she could guess—Liang Wu must have gained her experience out in the world; there’s no way she could have honed these skills just from school.

However, despite her inner nervousness, Pan Ge was outwardly tough.

"What are you anxious about? It’s just a personal assistant, right? She, just like you, is destined to be a maid!"

Pan Ge’s retort left Xi Luting yelling in frustration, which made Pan Ge feel somewhat relieved.

Then, as soon as she closed the chat, she immediately began frantically inquiring about who this Liang Wu was.

This woman is too capable! That damn kiddo Han Lie is young and inexperienced; he could easily be overwhelmed!

Chen Yanfei, the so-called "childhood friend," hadn’t even appeared yet, and Pan Ge was already feeling immense pressure from another woman.

She found it both thrilling and couldn’t help but wail internally—

Damn it, Han Lie, will it kill you to stop charming everyone for a second?! Day in and day out, if you’re not in heat, you’re picking someone to be in heat with... Just you wait until I’ve trained and gotten stronger! One day, I’ll beat those two kidneys of yours into Tofu dregs!

「」

The atmosphere of the group dinner was exceptionally good.

Han Lie’s money was pretty much well spent, earning endless praise from his gorgeous female subordinates.

The cost of living wasn’t yet as horrendous as it would be a decade or so later, and students today hadn’t seen as much of the world.