For Yi Anguo, he had no inclination to personally manage his own Anning Online Supermarket, let alone the Taobao Company. Moreover, he was well aware that Jack Ma was the soul of Taobao. Without Jack Ma, could it still be called Taobao? As long as Jack Ma didn't embezzle the company's profits behind his back or harm his interests, Yi Anguo wouldn't interfere with him, nor would he meddle in Taobao's affairs.

After successfully acquiring forty percent of Taobao Company's shares, Yi Anguo returned to China with Zhou Mengdie.

Zhou Mengdie had desperately wanted to stay in the United States to work with Chen Xuejiao on investment projects. She aspired to become an investment goddess just like her. But after some thought, Yi Anguo decided against leaving her in the United States. After all, he needed a trustworthy assistant by his side, and Zhou Mengdie was perfectly suited for the role. He persuaded her to return to China with him. Besides continuing as his assistant, she could also take charge of domestic investment projects, as there were many companies in China worth investing in.

"What major investment projects are even left in the country?" Zhou Mengdie asked, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

"There are plenty," Yi Anguo said with a smile. "Just you wait. Once we're back, I'll keep you so busy you won't even have time to be disappointed."

"Don't you dare look down on me! I definitely won't let you down. As long as you give me the chance and an endless supply of money, I can become an investment goddess, too," Zhou Mengdie said proudly.

"What do you mean 'an endless supply of money'? Do you think investing is that simple? That you can just throw money at things? What happens when you start randomly funding projects and they lose money? Who takes the fall then, you or me?" Yi Anguo asked, speechless.

"Aren't you the one who tells me which company to invest in? Then I just go and do it. If the investment loses money, it's obviously on you. And if it makes money, the profits are yours, too," Zhou Mengdie retorted confidently. "Isn't Assistant Chen also investing based on the list of projects you gave her?"

"Being an investor isn't nearly that simple," Yi Anguo explained. "While I did give Assistant Chen a list of investments and a general plan, plans can never keep up with reality. When it's time to act, you have to assess the specific circumstances. Nothing is set in stone. For example, investing in Facebook was an unplanned project, but Assistant Chen did an excellent job seizing that opportunity. Furthermore, you have to decide how much capital to invest and what percentage of shares to acquire. Those are judgments you must make based on the situation at that moment. First and foremost, you need to understand the conditions under which an investment will best serve our company's interests."

Zhou Mengdie nodded. "I know all of that. Of course I'd consider the company's best interests. I definitely wouldn't invest recklessly. Didn't you praise me for handling the investment negotiations with Tencent so well?"

Yi Anguo gave a helpless, wry smile. "Alright, then. I hope you continue to excel and become a true goddess of the investment world."

Zhou Mengdie isn't stupid, Yi Anguo thought. She couldn't have become a top student otherwise. She just lacks experience. Perhaps if I give her the chance, she'll really surprise me.

Although she was an excellent and qualified assistant, and he was reluctant to let her go, Yi Anguo knew that letting her venture out on her own was what was best for her. The relationship between a boss and his assistant secretary should never be too complicated, let alone tainted by personal feelings. Once emotions become involved, the relationship grows complex and loses its simplicity.

Although Yi Anguo and Zhou Mengdie had never crossed the final line between a man and a woman, their relationship had not been purely innocent since they had shared a kiss. At the very least, neither could claim to have a completely clear conscience. In a relationship between a man and a woman, once that line is crossed, there is only the first time and countless times after. While they hadn't breached the final barrier, they had shared many hugs and kisses. It was only a matter of time before an opportunity arose for them to break through that final defense.

It seemed as though both were consciously restraining themselves, each waiting for the other to lose control and take that first step forward. This was the main reason Yi Anguo had agreed to let her go, to allow her to stand on her own two feet and realize her potential. He could restrain himself, but he wasn't confident he could maintain his composure if Zhou Mengdie were to take the offensive.

It's said that a man chasing a woman is like scaling a mountain, while a woman chasing a man is like piercing a sheet of paper. It's no joke. Few men can resist the determined pursuit of a beautiful woman. Yi Anguo certainly didn't think he possessed that kind of willpower. He liked Zhou Mengdie; that was undeniable. But burdened by his relationships with several other women, he would not actively pursue her, nor would he be the one to breach that final barrier between them.

However, it was obvious that if their relationship continued to develop at its current pace without cooling down, an incident was inevitable.

...

"Brother-in-law, I've graduated! What kind of job do you think I should get?" Li Shanshan asked suddenly after an intimate moment.

"That depends on what you want to do. Our family has so many companies, are you worried you won't find a suitable job?" Yi Anguo said, holding her in his arms.

Even though they were like a long-married couple and had been intimate countless times, Li Shanshan was still in the habit of calling him "Brother-in-law." Then again, it wasn't wrong. He was, in fact, her brother-in-law.

"I want to work with you. How about I be your secretary?" Li Shanshan proposed.

"My secretary?" Yi Anguo teased. "If you become my secretary, then when there's work, the secretary does it. When there isn't... I 'do' the secretary!"

"Brother-in-law, you're awful! Are you like that with all your secretaries and assistants?" Li Shanshan retorted.

"No, no, absolutely not! Don't say such things!" Yi Anguo denied quickly. "I was just joking. I already have all of you. Where would I find room for any other women? Do you really think my body is made of iron?"

"Really? What about that secretary of yours, Zhou Mengdie? She's gorgeous, and she's been by your side for so many years. Are you telling me you don't like her, even a little bit?" Li Shanshan had found a weakness and wasn't about to let it go.

"Liking her doesn't mean I have to make her my woman, does it?" Yi Anguo said. "If we really had something going on, do you think I could have hidden it from all of you for this long?"

"Alright, I believe you. But other people won't. Why don't you send Zhou Mengdie off to do something else? Give her a promotion and a raise, and I'll be your assistant secretary," Li Shanshan suggested slyly.

"My assistant secretary's job isn't easy. If you really want it, you'll have to first learn from Zhou Mengdie how to be a good one for me."

Yi Anguo didn't refuse her request. He was already planning to let Zhou Mengdie go to head the domestic investment division. And he truly couldn't function without an assistant secretary; he couldn't possibly do everything himself. For his assistant, ability was secondary to trustworthiness. He needed someone he could rely on completely.

Zhou Mengdie had long ago earned his complete trust, which was the main reason he had been so reluctant to let her leave his side. Finding another assistant he could trust so implicitly would not be easy. Li Shanshan, however, was one of his women. Of course he could trust her absolutely. Since Zhou Mengdie was leaving, Li Shanshan could take her place, making for a seamless transition.

"Really! Brother-in-law, can I really work by your side as your assistant secretary?" Li Shanshan asked, her voice full of surprise and delight. She had only been testing the waters, not expecting him to actually agree to let her replace Zhou Mengdie.

"Of course it's true! Would I lie to you?" Yi Anguo said with certainty.

"Brother-in-law! Thank you! You're so good to me!" Li Shanshan said, turning her head to give him an eager kiss.

"Now that you've graduated, your sister might start pressuring you to get pregnant and have a child. What will you do then?" Yi Anguo added after a moment's thought.

"If I get pregnant, I'll have the baby! Worst case, you can just bring Zhou Mengdie back to be your assistant again, right?" Li Shanshan said without a second thought.

Yi Anguo shook his head helplessly, deciding to put these thoughts aside for now. Li Shanshan was currently climbing on top of him, actively testing the limits of his self-control.

Patience has its limits, and his had been reached. He saw no reason to hold back any longer. He was going to teach her a harsh lesson, to show her that he was not to be trifled with. The consequences of angering him were severe and not easily borne.

...

The next day, Li Shanshan accompanied Yi Anguo to the office and began learning from Zhou Mengdie how to be a good assistant secretary.

Yi Anguo had brought in a replacement without so much as a word of warning, leaving Zhou Mengdie utterly unprepared. Although she had often talked about leaving his side to strike out on her own and become an investment goddess, when the day finally came, she found she wasn't happy at all. Instead, she felt an immense sense of loss.

It feels like I'm about to lose something incredibly important.

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