Hmm.

Is this someone trying to poach employees?

Ye Chen wasn't surprised in the slightest.

After all, in his previous life, Pang Jun had been poached for decades while under his command.

But what did surprise him was that the opponent came right to his company's front door with a shovel in hand?

However, Ye Chen didn't feel any anger.

Instead, he looked at Ding Chengjun with a playful smile and shook his head.

"The formula for Flawless Cream is worth two hundred million? You're in the same industry, yet you dare offer that price? Is this naïveté or ignorance?"

The words weren't very hurtful, but the insult was undeniable.

Ding Chengjun's face flushed red with embarrassment, but he had no rebuttal.

Indeed, two hundred million for the formula was ridiculously low.

But two hundred million was the most he could afford.

Even though Yun Dai was considered a major player among third-tier brands, the various expenses didn't leave him with astronomical sums.

Two hundred million was his cash limit.

"Alright, head back to where you came from!"

Ye Chen didn't even regard him as a competitor.

He smiled faintly and looked at Pang Jun.

"Old Pang, we haven't talked about your salary yet, have we?"

"I'm not greedy for money. As long as it's enough to live on, I'll leave it to you," Pang Jun replied earnestly.

"Alright, then I'll give you a two hundred million annual salary. Is that enough?" Ye Chen said.

"Two hundred million? That's more than enough!" Pang Jun was briefly stunned.

Whether it was thick nerves or a poor sense of money, there wasn't a trace of excitement or joy on his face.

"As long as it's enough. I'll head inside. I'll have Yinuo draft your contract later."

Ye Chen patted Pang Jun's shoulder and didn't spare Ding Chengjun another glance.

He strode into the company with a smile.

The way Ye Chen ignored him almost drove Ding Chengjun mad.

"President Ding, don't waste your efforts. As long as Yiren Ru Xue doesn't fire me, I'd work for twenty million, let alone two hundred million. I won't return to Yun Dai, and selling the formula? That's even less likely!"

With that, Pang Jun didn't give Ding Chengjun a chance to respond.

He turned around and walked briskly back inside.

"Damn it!"

At that moment, Ding Chengjun couldn't hold back any longer and kicked the tire of a nearby car, letting out a furious roar.

Ye Chen's blatant disregard was humiliating.

Pang Jun's resolute rejection shattered him.

But more than anything, it left him with a sense of unease and crisis.

If he couldn't get Pang Jun back or obtain the formula, Yun Dai's fate in the market was sealed.

"President Ding!"

Seeing him like this, his secretary called out nervously.

But Ding Chengjun raised his hand to stop her from continuing.

He took a deep breath.

"Let's go back and talk later."

"Understood," the secretary replied cautiously.

However, as they got into their Range Rover, they realized that Ye Chen's Mercedes G-Class was blocking the way.

"Son of a—!"

Losing his cool, Ding Chengjun slammed the steering wheel.

"Should we ask Mr. Ye to move his car?" the secretary asked timidly.

"Ask him to move it? Do you think that's possible? He's doing this on purpose to retaliate for our poaching attempt. Damn it!"

Ding Chengjun roared inside the car.

But this time, he really misunderstood Ye Chen.

Ye Chen wasn't petty enough to retaliate over something like this. He didn't even know the Range Rover belonged to them.

He simply forgot to move his car.

If they had asked, Ye Chen would have had someone move it immediately.

"What now?" the secretary asked nervously.

"Call the company and have someone bring another car!" Ding Chengjun huffed.

"And this car?"

"Leave it here. Someone can pick it up tonight."

Inside Yiren Ru Xue, Ye Chen had already forgotten about the poaching drama outside.

Such incidents had happened too often in his past life.

He was used to it.

In the general manager's office, Chen Yinuo looked up and smiled as Ye Chen walked in.

"Back so soon?"

"How could I not, with my lovely wife summoning me?" Ye Chen teased.

"Stop joking around. Look over these factory outsourcing documents first."

Chen Yinuo stood up and handed him the files.

After carefully reviewing them, they discussed the potential risks hidden beneath the surface of each factory.

This discussion helped Chen Yinuo grow as well.

When she showed hints of understanding and breakthroughs, Ye Chen finally stopped.

"Old Ye, the company doesn't have enough funds to complete the acquisitions. What do you think—"

"Let Pang Jun handle the negotiations first. Once we finalize the deal and the price, I'll arrange the funds," Ye Chen said.

He wanted to inject capital immediately, but most of his money was tied up in Stella's stocks. Only a few million remained in the account.

"Tomorrow night... Tomorrow night will be the right time to cash out."

"Alright, I'll let Pang Jun know."

"By the way, he was just complaining about how we give him too much to do. He said sending him on errands is like using a cannon to kill mosquitoes," Yinuo laughed.

"And then?" Ye Chen grinned.

"Then I used the method you taught me."

"He might seem slow sometimes, but his loyalty is unmatched," Ye Chen remarked.

It was a conclusion drawn from decades of experience.

"Alright, enough of that. The effects of Flawless Cream are already making waves online. I just called Jingshan and asked him to host a special livestream tonight to sell fifty thousand units," Yinuo shifted the topic.

"You handle it," Ye Chen smiled nonchalantly.

"Why do you act like such a hands-off boss?" Yinuo pouted.

"It's good for your growth. Yiren Ru Xue is just part of our empire. There's more to come," Ye Chen said.

"Don't pile too much on me. I can barely handle this as it is," Yinuo laughed.

Checking the time, she added, "Alright, if you have more to do, get going. Don't let me keep you."

"Got it. I'll head out."

"Pick up Yoyo after school this afternoon. I might stay late at the office."

"I'll have dinner ready when you get home."

Watching Ye Chen leave, Yinuo smiled warmly.

Reflecting on the past few years, it all felt like a dream.