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Chapter 153 Maybe I Can Be a Kept Man?
Chapter 153 - 153 Maybe I Can Be a Kept Man?
Jiang Ruolan quickly composed herself, offering a polite smile as she stepped forward to greet them. "Mr. Zhou, Miss Kong."
Kong Huaijin nodded in response, while Zhou Yi gave her a brief but warm smile. When his gaze met hers, Jiang Ruolan's mind instantly flashed back to that night—the way his eyes had been filled with unspoken desire. Her cheeks flushed involuntarily, and she lowered her head, pretending to fetch water.
Zhou Yi noticed her discomfort and called out gently, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head lightly, forcing a casual tone. "I'm fine, just a bit tired from skipping my afternoon coffee. Thank you for asking, Mr. Zhou."
At work, their interactions remained strictly professional, maintaining the appearance of a normal boss-employee relationship. Kong Huaijin didn't suspect anything unusual; she simply thought Zhou Yi was being considerate, as always.
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"Mr. Zhou, shall I get some coffee? Miss Kong, what would you like?" Jiang Ruolan offered.
"Let Ye Chen handle it. No need for you to go out of your way. If you're tired, take a break," Zhou Yi suggested kindly.
"It's no trouble at all. I often grab coffee for everyone anyway—it's not a big deal," Jiang Ruolan insisted.
Seeing her determination, Zhou Yi didn't push further. Kong Huaijin casually mentioned her preference, and one of the employees from Huanyu volunteered to accompany Jiang Ruolan downstairs. The office buzzed with a warm, friendly atmosphere.
To be honest, Kong Huaijin had never seen a company like this before—no weary eyes, no dark circles, no dull expressions. As she stood lost in thought, Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Come on, let me show you my new project."
"Mm-hmm, sure," Kong Huaijin replied, her voice tinged with surprise and curiosity, which Zhou Yi caught clearly.
Perhaps, once again, he had unknowingly changed someone's life.
As Zhou Yi led Kong Huaijin toward the VooTube department, the rest of the office erupted into whispers.
"Hey, who's that? She's gorgeous! And Ruolan seems so respectful around her."
"That's Miss Kong! Didn't you see the trending topic today?"
"I was napping during lunch. Haven't checked social media yet."
"Oh, that's Kong Huaijin, the daughter of Huaihai's richest man! Rumor has it she's a CEO herself. Apparently, she spent a fortune just to have dinner with our Mr. Zhou—and even followed him to campus!"
Those unfamiliar with the story stared wide-eyed.
"How much is 'a fortune'?"
"Supposedly $20 million."
"$20 million for a meal? That's the world of the ultra-rich for you. Our Mr. Zhou must be irresistible."
"I'll dream about this tonight. If a female CEO gave me $2,000, I'd say yes in a heartbeat."
"So why is she here...?"
"Not sure. But Mr. Zhou doesn't seem opposed to her presence. Oh no, is my ship sinking? I'm Team Yi-Lan, wuwu."
"I'm Team Yi-Wen! Please, don't tell me she's going to be our boss's wife. She's beautiful, but she feels so distant..."
The office gossip flowed endlessly, especially when it involved the boss and a wealthy heiress. Soon, rumors about Zhou Yi and Kong Huaijin spread across social media. Fans even created a hashtag for their potential pairing: #FortuneForLove, playing on the words "fortune" (referring to Kong's wealth) and "love" (a pun on Zhou's name).
Whether it was Zhou Yi riding in her sports car or bringing her to the office, people were talking. Some men, envious and bitter, mocked Zhou Yi for allegedly using Kong Huaijin to climb the social ladder, calling him a "kept man."
Zhou Yi's fans retaliated fiercely, accusing the critics of jealousy. The feud escalated online, fueling the drama.
[What a gigolo, living off women. Who knows how he got his company and that Rolls-Royce?]
[Started a business in college? Yeah right, he probably had help.]
[Exactly. That woman next to the Rolls-Royce is probably his sugar mama.]
[How can he call himself a CEO if he's just mooching off others? No wonder he's so generous with his employees—it's not his money!]
[Honestly, this heiress probably isn't serious about him. Rich people do stuff like this all the time—they'll pay fortunes for male models too.]
[You sound like an expert. Are you one of those kept men?]
[Stop being salty. I can smell your bitterness through the screen.]
[Look at yourselves. No wonder the CEO lady isn't interested in you.]
[For ugly people, looking closely is cruel. For sour grapes, smelling them makes you nauseous. Listening to you talk is like hearing nails on a chalkboard.]
The critics were quickly overwhelmed by Zhou Yi's fans, who tagged Zhang Wu, the leader of the anti-defamation group, urging him to step in.
["DiehardFan," look at these haters! How dare they insult Brother Yi!]
["DiehardFan," where are you? We're waiting for your epic roast!]
[We need our leader! Without him, we're lost!]
[Husband, say something already!]
Zhang Wu, now the head of Zhou Yi's anti-defamation team, couldn't resist the sweet pleas of the female fans. He launched into a scathing rebuttal, leaving the critics speechless. Some deleted their accounts entirely, overwhelmed by the backlash.
Zhang Wu basked in the praise, feeling a newfound sense of accomplishment in his role.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi was showing Kong Huaijin the VooTube app. She immediately saw its potential.
"This is brilliant! How did you come up with this idea? There's nothing like it on the market right now. I have a feeling this app will explode as soon as it launches," she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
"With a few celebrities and influencers on board, plus some strategic advertising and partnerships with phone manufacturers, it's bound to succeed."
"No wonder you were so confident earlier. This is a fantastic project," Kong Huaijin remarked.
"So, Miss Kong, are you interested in investing?" Zhou Yi asked.
In the workplace, Zhou Yi maintained professionalism, addressing her as "Miss Kong." She understood his clear boundary between personal and professional matters and reciprocated by calling him "Mr. Zhou."
"Mr. Zhou, with such a groundbreaking idea, it would be foolish not to invest. Only an idiot would pass up this opportunity," Kong Huaijin replied confidently.
Zhou Yi set down the phone running the beta version of the app and gestured toward his office. "What are your thoughts on VooTube's development? You probably know more about internet investments than I do."
"The initial funding required isn't substantial—$10 million should suffice. However, scaling up will require significant investment later on, especially for operations, promotions, and further development. My rough estimate is several hundred million dollars. I recommend seeking funding from multiple companies. Anyone with vision won't hesitate. As for me, I'll need to discuss it with my father first."
"And what's your personal investment plan? Let's skip the initial phase—I'm more interested in the long-term commitment."
"If the app develops as I expect, I can personally invest at least $300 million," Kong Huaijin said with a smile, adding, "Separately from the company's contribution, of course."
Zhou Yi: Well, it seems I'm destined to reap the benefits of being a "kept man."
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