SWNOVELXO Chapter 83:
Chapter 83: The Female Lead’s Charm! Don’t Waste Bad Girls! Scare Away the Little White Rabbit:
Xu Hao looked at the interviewer, who had collapsed to the ground, trembling in fear. “You’re quite bold, going against my orders.” He said calmly, his tone devoid of any emotion.
The interviewer’s face turned pale as despair gripped his heart at this moment. He had been with the company long enough to know just how terrifying Mr. Xu could be.
Xu Hao pulled out his phone and made a call.
In the Human Resources Department, Wang Yunpeng, the HR director, was working diligently at his desk when his phone rang.
It was Xu Hao calling.
Startled, Wang Yunpeng quickly answered the phone. “Sir—”
But before he could finish, Xu Hao cut him off. “You have one minute to get to the interview room,” he said before abruptly hanging up.
Wang Yunpeng froze, his mind racing. Something serious must have happened. Without hesitation, he dropped everything and sprinted toward the interview room.
Meanwhile, Xu Fangfei, one of the interviewees, was watching Xu Hao. His presence exuded an overwhelming aura of power and authority, much more than she had expected based on the photos she had seen. Her eyes gleamed with interest.
Next to her, Li Yunshu was confused, not yet fully aware of the situation.
Less than a minute later, Wang Yunpeng arrived, panting heavily.
Seeing the cold expression on Xu Hao’s face, his heart sank. He didn’t even take a moment to catch his breath before respectfully greeting, “CEO.”
“Your interviewer abused his power. I want an explanation.” Xu Hao said, his voice cutting through the air like ice.
Wang Yunpeng wiped the sweat from his eyebrow. He knew immediately that something had gone terribly wrong.
He bowed his head, not bothering with excuses. “It’s my fault, Mr. Xu. I take full responsibility.” He admitted, knowing any attempt to shift the blame would be useless.
Xu Hao had become intimidating in recent times, and explanations were futile.
“At least you can admit your mistakes,” Xu Hao said, but his tone held no warmth. “Starting today, you are demoted to deputy director. I’ll review your performance over the next three months before deciding if you deserve your position back. And make sure you submit a report. If something like this happens again, resign voluntarily.”
Wang Yunpeng was stunned, but compared to being fired outright, this punishment was merciful. He immediately responded, “Thank you, Mr. Xu. I accept the punishment.”
Wang Yunpeng had always been a hardworking and loyal employee. This incident, though serious, wasn’t entirely his fault. After calming himself, he glared at the interviewer who had caused the mess.
“What are you waiting for? Get out of here!” Wang Yunpeng snapped. The interviewer, shaking with fear, quickly scrambled out of the room.
Wang Yunpeng felt his anger boiling over. He had been doing his job properly and ended up caught in the middle of this disaster. If he could, he would have torn the interviewer apart. But for now, he had to deal with the current situation.
He approached the two remaining interviewees, intending to continue, but Xu Hao waved him off. “I’ll handle this. You may go.”
Grateful for the reprieve, Wang Yunpeng bowed respectfully and left the room.
Xu Hao picked up the two resumes, quickly glancing through them. Both applicants seemed impressive on paper, but he could tell without much thought that Li Yunshu’s resume was genuine, while Xu Fangfei had likely been exaggerated.
“You can leave. My company doesn’t need dishonest employees.” Xu Hao said, putting down Xu Fangfei’s resume.
From the moment she laid eyes on Xu Hao, Xu Fangfei had been captivated by his mature and commanding presence. Her heart pounded as she realized she was being dismissed.
“Mr. Xu, please give me a chance.” She pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.
“Do you need me to repeat myself?” Xu Hao’s voice was firm.
Realizing she had no choice, Xu Fangfei lowered her head in defeat. “I… I understand.” She turned and walked out, her steps heavy with disappointment.
As she left, Xu Hao’s eyes briefly flickered with thought. He glanced at Bai Ling, his personal bodyguard standing nearby, and gave a subtle signal. Bai Ling nodded, pulling out his phone to contact the dead soldiers under his command. With the exception of those guarding Xu Hao’s women and daughters, all other dead soldiers were now under Bai Ling’s management.
With Xu Fangfei gone, only Xu Hao and Li Yunshu remained in the interview room. The atmosphere grew quiet, and Li Yunshu felt her nerves rising. She kept her head down, nervously twisting the corners of her clothes with her fingers.
[Ding! Li Yunshu is nervous. Emotional points +23!]
“Ms. Li,” Xu Hao finally said, “Welcome to the Xu Group family.”
Li Yunshu, surprised, quickly raised her head, her eyes wide. Xu Hao’s smile was warm, and for a moment, it felt like a gentle breeze on a spring day.
“Thank you… thank you,” Li Yunshu stammered, still processing the fact that the CEO of the company had personally helped her. She knew Xu Hao’s reputation as a self-made legend, but she hadn’t expected him to be so young and approachable.
“I’m confident in you. Work hard,” Xu Hao said encouragingly before leaving the room.
After all, there was plenty of time to get to know this little female lead better. There was no need to rush and scare away the “little white rabbit.”
…
Not long after Xu Hao returned to his office, there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he called.
The door opened, and Xia Qingge entered, dressed in professional attire. She had recently been promoted to manager of the finance department and now managed a large team. Over time, she had developed a mature and intellectual aura.
“Qingge, what brings you here?” Xu Hao asked with a smile.
Xia Qingge stepped closer to Xu Hao, her eyebrows curved playfully, adding a hint of coquettishness to her expression.
“I’m here to report on my work.” She said softly.
“Well, you came at just the right time…” Xu Hao responded, his tone calm but filled with hidden meaning.
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Xu Fangfei walked out of the Xu Group building and onto the street. Just as she was about to hail a car and head home, a figure stepped in front of her.
“Miss Xu, our boss would like to see you. Please wait a moment.” said a man, his posture respectful but firm.
Xu Fangfei took a step back, her expression wary. “Who is your boss?”
“You’ve already met him—Xu Hao, the CEO of Xu Group,” the man replied.
Xu Fangfei was puzzled. Didn’t Mr. Xu just dismiss me? Why would he want to see me again?
Despite her confusion, curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to stay.
…
Back in the office, after Xia Qingge finished her work report, she left Xu Hao’s office with her face slightly flushed.
However, Xu Hao had already moved on to other matters. He instructed Bai Ling to gather more information on the newly encountered heroine, Li Yunshu. As he did so, his phone pinged with a notification.
It was news about the protagonist, Zheng Feifan. He had left the Magic City and was now heading to the Imperial Capital.
Lately, Zheng Feifan had been surrounded by constant trouble from Zhao Media, and assassins had been sent after him.
Frustrated by these events, Zheng Feifan had decided to confront Zhao Media directly and investigate the truth behind his father’s death.
Xu Hao tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, thinking. He needed to send one of his dead soldiers to keep an eye on Zheng Feifan, gather intelligence, and ensure that things didn’t escalate. Once Zheng Feifan left the Imperial Capital, Xu Hao’s agent would be ordered to kill Zhao Media’s boss.
While it wasn’t likely that anyone would trace the act back to Xu Hao, there was no telling what a grief-stricken and crazed Father Zhao might do if he lost his son. Xu Hao couldn’t afford any unnecessary threats to his daughters. As long as Father Zhao lived, there would always be a risk.
After sending the necessary messages, Xu Hao was about to put his phone down when he saw a notification about Yao Xinrui. A thought crossed his mind. It had been a long time since he’d seen his old friend, Chu Xiong. Maybe it was time to reconnect.
Opening his contacts, Xu Hao found Chu Xiong’s number and called him.
The phone rang only briefly before a bold, hearty voice answered.
“Well, this is a surprise! Brother Xu, the busy man himself, calling me?”
Xu Hao chuckled. “Brother Chu, you’re joking. You’re the one who’s busy. I’ve had some free time lately, so I thought I’d catch up.”
The duo exchanged pleasantries, trading good-natured jokes about business and recent successes.
“So, Brother Chu, how’s the business world treating you?” Xu Hao asked.
Chu Xiong laughed. “It’s just small stuff, really. I’ve heard about your big moves recently. You’ve been making waves in real estate! It’s impressive. But I hear you’re also planning to diversify?”
“That’s right. You can’t keep all your eggs in one basket,” Xu Hao replied. “I’m preparing for any market shifts in the future. If the real estate market slows down, I need to have other industries to fall back on.”
Chu Xiong couldn’t help but admire Xu Hao’s foresight.
“This man really is a legend.” He thought. From nothing to building a multi-billion-dollar empire.
After some more back-and-forth, Xu Hao shifted the conversation.
“Brother Chu, it’s been a while since we caught up in person. When can we have tea together? I always learn so much from our talks.”
Chu Xiong smiled. “You flatter me, Brother Xu. But it just so happens that tonight, I’m hosting a family dinner. Why don’t you join us? It’ll just be my son, a few close family members, and of course, you’re no outsider.”
Xu Hao hesitated for a moment. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family gathering.”
“Nonsense! It’s just us. And you’re not an outsider, Brother Xu. I insist.”
“Alright then, I’ll join you,” Xu Hao agreed.
…
In his luxurious office, Chu Xiong hung up the phone, looking thoughtful. His relationship with Xu Hao had always been good, but he knew it could be deepened. Xu Hao’s past ventures in real estate had little overlap with his own business. But now, with Xu Hao planning to shift into the new energy sector, it aligned closely with the electronics company managed by Chu Xiong’s wife, Yao Xinrui. A closer relationship could lead to valuable business cooperation.
Chu Xiong’s mind drifted for a moment, and he thought about Xu Hao’s seven daughters. Each one of them was exceptionally beautiful. The thought crossed his mind—what if one of them were to match with his son?
But then, he quickly dismissed the idea.
No, he thought.
Xu Hao was fiercely protective of his daughters. That won’t happen.
Thinking about his own unworthy son, Chu Xiong shook his head in disappointment. Still, he had to try. Whether or not his son could rise to the occasion would be a matter of fate.
…
Meanwhile, Xu Fangfei had been waiting for hours at a nearby café after being approached by one of Xu Hao’s people. Just as she was starting to think she’d been tricked, the woman who brought her there led her to a private room in a hotel.
Finally, Xu Fangfei was brought face-to-face with Xu Hao. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving just the two of them in the room.
Xu Hao smiled faintly and waved her over.
Nervously, Xu Fangfei walked closer. On the table in front of her, she noticed an array of exquisite dishes, each one meticulously prepared and undoubtedly expensive. Even though her family wasn’t lacking in wealth, she had never seen a meal as luxurious as this.
Xu Fangfei felt increasingly nervous as she wondered what Xu Hao wanted from her. She cautiously sat down at the dining table, but she was too anxious to start eating.
“What are you waiting for? Eat,” Xu Hao said casually as he started eating, noticing her hesitation.
After spending the whole afternoon at the café, Xu Fangfei was indeed hungry. The aroma of the delicious food in front of her was hard to resist. She swallowed and picked up her chopsticks, putting a piece of seafood into her mouth. Her eyes lit up immediately as the spicy, rich flavors danced on her taste buds—it was absolutely delicious.
As her nerves began to ease, she took more small bites, slowly becoming less afraid of Xu Hao’s presence.
After a while, she mustered the courage to ask, “Mr. Xu, why did you want to see me?”
Instead of answering her question, Xu Hao asked his own. “You know Li Yunshu, right?”
“Yes, we’re classmates.” Xu Fangfei responded cautiously.
“What’s your relationship with her?” Xu Hao asked, his tone calm but probing.
Xu Fangfei hesitated. She wasn’t sure what Xu Hao’s opinion of Li Yunshu was, and she didn’t know how to respond. Was it safe to tell him the truth?
“Just tell me the truth,” Xu Hao reassured her with a hint of a smile. “I’m not going to eat you.”
Feeling a little relieved, Xu Fangfei began explaining the complicated history between her and Li Yunshu—their clashes, their rivalry, and the grudges they held. She nervously glanced at Xu Hao, trying to read his reaction, but his expression remained as calm as ever.
After she finished, Xu Hao leaned back and said, “I’ve taken a liking to her. Do you have any ideas on how to help me win her over?”
Xu Hao had initially planned to use Xu Fangfei to create trouble for Li Yunshu so he could step in at critical moments, winning the female lead’s favor. However, after hearing Xu Fangfei’s story about their complicated relationship, he changed his approach. He realized Xu Fangfei might be a useful ally.
Xu Hao needed someone like her—someone who understood Li Yunshu well, even if they were enemies.
The reason Xu Hao had waited until now to meet Xu Fangfei was that he had been waiting for a thorough background check on her. The investigation revealed that Xu Fangfei was self-centered and opportunistic, someone who bullied the weak but feared the strong. She dreamed of finding a wealthy and powerful partner.
In many ways, Xu Fangfei was like countless others—a product of her circumstances. While she wasn’t as virtuous as someone like Li Yunshu, she had her own sense of self-worth. She hadn’t yet found the right wealthy suitor, so she had avoided getting involved with anyone else. She enjoyed the attention of admirers, but she never took any of them seriously, keeping them at arm’s length.
Her appearance and figure were striking, with the system rating her looks at around 90 points—a level that most would find attractive.
There’s an old saying: Don’t waste a bad girl.
Xu Hao saw potential in her. If he wanted to win over Li Yunshu, Xu Fangfei would be an excellent tool, and most importantly, she’d be easy to control.
Xu Hao knew exactly how to handle someone like Xu Fangfei. She loved being pampered, and he had the means to give her anything she wanted. She thrived on power, and with her fear of losing everything, she would be loyal—at least as long as she didn’t find someone wealthier. And if she ever did betray him, he would make sure her family was ruined.
With these thoughts, Xu Hao’s strategy became clear—Xu Fangfei would help him get closer to Li Yunshu.
However, Xu Fangfei was confused by Xu Hao’s words. What did he mean by being attracted to Li Yunshu? Was he referring to her talent? Or… could it be something else? But wasn’t Xu Hao already married? And wasn’t he known for being loyal to his wife?
She couldn’t make sense of it, so she spoke hesitantly, “I don’t quite understand what you mean, Mr. Xu…”
Xu Hao, realizing they were already deep into this conversation, decided to be blunt. With a mischievous smile, he said, “To put it simply, I want to sleep with her and win her heart. I’m asking if you have any ideas on how to help me.”