Chapter 159 It's Not Really About the Money

The establishment of Huakun Holding and Investment Co., Ltd. was remarkably low-key, entirely uncharacteristic of Lu Kun's usual style.

Even when discussing investments and equity acquisitions with other workshops and factories, everything was conducted strictly behind the scenes to avoid attracting the attention of interested parties.

Let alone outsiders, the vast majority of rank-and-file employees within the Huakun conglomerate were completely unaware that Huakun Holding had even been formed.

Even ordinary staff working at the Huakun headquarters struggled to understand the relationship between the main conglomerate and Huakun Holding.

Their understanding of Huakun Holding was hazy at best, and quite a few people assumed it was merely a subsidiary department of the broader Huakun system.

The management, who were privy to the actual situation, naturally kept their mouths tightly shut to protect their own interests, not letting slip a single whisper and leaving the lower-level employees to indulge in wild guesswork.

Whenever someone asked, they would simply laugh the matter off and deftly steer the conversation elsewhere, refusing to make any official statement.

The notion that Huakun Holding was just another department of the Huakun system gained significant traction for a time.

It was hardly surprising that those kept in the dark harbored such thoughts.

After all, Lu Kun's handling of the situation invited endless speculation!

Lu Kun had deliberately obfuscated everything connecting the Huakun conglomerate to Huakun Holding.

Instead of renting or purchasing a new office building for Huakun Holding, Lu Kun simply had an otherwise vacant building belonging to the Huakun system cleared out and remodeled to serve as the new offices.

Situated in a rather secluded location, this building had sat idle for a long time—even whispered about as a "haunted house" by employees at the Huakun headquarters—but it was finally being put to use.

Huakun Holding Office Building. First-floor lobby.

"Good morning, Chairman!" the two young receptionists chorused, stepping forward to greet Lu Kun the moment he strode through the doors.

Since the entire management team of the Huakun system were the original shareholders of Huakun Holding, Lu Kun, as the head of the enterprise, naturally and rightfully occupied the position of Chairman.

"Morning to you both. Are you getting used to your first day on the job?" With Huakun Holding officially up and running, Lu Kun was in high spirits and greeted the two receptionists with a warm smile.

"I'm doing well, thank you. The working environment here is wonderful, and the tasks are very manageable," replied the slightly older girl on the left. Her name was Lin Yuyan. Hearing Lu Kun's question, she quickly put on a standard welcoming smile and answered in a gentle voice, while simultaneously giving a subtle tug to the sleeve of the slightly dazed younger girl standing beside her.

"Ah? Oh, yes, yes! It's really great," the younger girl snapped back to reality and hurriedly chimed in.

Lu Kun was left speechless. The young woman's professional etiquette was clearly subpar and desperately needed practice.

*I wonder how the HR department hired someone like this?* Lu Kun thought to himself, somewhat miffed. Although he had instructed them to hire attractive young women, he certainly hadn't asked for empty-headed bimbos.

Fortunately, she was a legal loli—the kind whose figure defied even a D-cup bra!

Of course, a trivial matter like this didn't warrant Lu Kun personally correcting the young woman. He reckoned that as soon as he left, the more mature girl would give her a proper scolding.

"Work hard, and I'll see that you get bonuses at the end of the month," Lu Kun said, keeping a straight face while feeling immensely amused inside as he watched the younger girl gaze at him with infatuated eyes. He gave a light cough and continued.

***

After Lu Kun left, the two receptionists—one older, one younger—immediately huddled together to whisper.

"Sister Yuyan, our boss is so nice! He's not terrifying at all like the rumors say, and he's not fierce in the slightest!" the younger girl, Wang Siqian, murmured with a flushed face as she nervously twisted the hem of her uniform.

On her very first day of work, the boss had promised bonuses at the end of the month if they performed well. This was practically like a pie falling straight out of the sky!

She had heard that company bonuses were divided into four tiers: the Diligence Award, the Dedication Award, the Contribution Award, and the Major Contribution Award.

Since the boss had promised bonuses, she wouldn't dare dream of the Contribution or Major Contribution awards, but surely she could at least start with the Diligence Award? That alone was equivalent to ten days of her salary!

The young girl thought to herself with sheer delight.

The older girl stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Siqian, don't be a fool! Our boss is a married man," Yuyan said, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"Oh, Sister Yuyan, where is your mind at? I just think our boss is a really good person, and besides..." Wang Siqian's face grew redder the more she spoke.

"That's because you haven't heard him chewing people out. I heard from the staff in that other building that almost every time the boss comes to the company, someone ends up being scolded to the point of an existential crisis," Lin Yuyan said, her mouth twitching in exasperation.

"No way, I think the boss isn't as bad as they say!" Wang Siqian protested, puffing out her cheeks.

"How is he not bad?" Lin Yuyan rolled her eyes.

"He promised to give us bonuses!" Wang Siqian retorted instantly.

Lin Yuyan snorted, using a pun with double meaning: "Just because he gives you money? Don't be an idiot!"

Wang Siqian nearly twisted the hem of her skirt out of shape as she muttered, "It's not about the money at all, money doesn't matter... I just think the way he looked when he promised me a bonus was exceptionally handsome."

Lin Yuyan: "......"

"No wonder. I was wondering why you kept your head down and didn't dare speak to the boss earlier. Turns out you've set your sights on our boss..." Lin Yuyan teased with a wicked smile.

"That's not it at all!" Wang Siqian's face turned crimson. "I only kept my head down because I noticed the boss's zipper was undone, and I was hesitating whether I should remind him..."

"......"

Inside the Chairman's office.

"Achoo! Achoo!"

"Looks like I really caught a cold," Lu Kun calmly pulled out a tissue to blow his nose.

He glanced down and, lo and behold, his little brother was barely secured.

After swiftly sealing the border, Lu Kun immediately immersed himself in work. As for opening up to the outside world, that would have to wait until evening.

While Huakun Holding's investment plan had been drafted, expecting to complete everything overnight was pure fantasy.

The entire company wasn't even fully staffed yet.

Talent with specialized expertise—particularly designers, brand operations managers, and senior financial personnel—was still severely lacking at Huakun Holding.

There was nothing Lu Kun could do about this except combine open recruitment with poaching.

Lu Kun had always firmly believed that "as long as you swing your hoe with enough skill, no corner of the wall is impossible to break down."

As for the consequences faced by companies whose talent was heavily poached, Lu Kun couldn't care less. It was all standard commercial competition, completely devoid of right or wrong.

"Boss, Attorney Chu, who had an appointment with you, has arrived," the assistant said, knocking on the door.

"Ah, I'm aware. Is she in the first meeting room? I'll head over right now," Lu Kun asked hastily, putting down the paperwork in his hand.

"Yes, she's waiting for you in the reception room," the assistant replied with a slight bow.

As Lu Kun stood up, his vision was greeted by an expanse of snowy white.

Good grief!

What on earth was the Huakun Holding HR department doing?

He had only instructed them to hire attractive receptionists; he hadn't said anything about hiring glamorous assistants too!

Having one Liu Liping at home was already more than enough for Lu Kun to handle.

If he had to stare at a bevy of beauties in the office all day long, his nutritional reserves would surely run dry before long!

"Lead the way," Lu Kun cleared his throat and said indifferently.

The assistant stood up and deliberately glanced toward her boss's critical region, a fleeting trace of disappointment flashing deep within her eyes.

Lu Kun's eyelid twitched violently. Just what kind of people was HR hiring?