woman wearing irish linen shirt

The meeting with COO Li Ruijie went very smoothly.

We both came from very similar backgrounds. We both left China to go overseas during our undergraduate years. We chose a more pragmatic direction for further study during our graduate studies, and then switched from consulting to Internet. We have similar ideas and similar orientations.

In fact, he treated me very kindly, and he was extremely attentive when listening to my speech. Coupled with the impression accumulated from previous contacts in the company, he was not at all like the kind of person who would face both sides from BCG and Kevin. I exerted pressure and forced me to deposit the person who submitted the name certificate according to the seal.

Of course, to be the boss, you have to prepare a few more faces.I can understand.

Kevin asked me to stop after dinner.

Of course I don't want to stop, it's Saturday noon, if I hurry up, I can go to the party villa in Sentosa to play in the water.

But it's not up to me.In the previous dinner, the COO only talked roughly about the direction, and I didn’t touch the score at all. Speaking of it, not only my brain cells were wasted, but also the storage space of my recording pen, which contributed a lot .

I texted Miss Pender, and the phone switched to airplane mode and started recording.

It's going to be a two-pronged approach today, and no one can stop me from setting up a trap for Kevin.

It was raining heavily in the city center.Kevin took me to a private club, and we took a short walk outdoors, both of our trousers were wet.I don't like this kind of disrespect, and Kevin is naturally even more so. After sitting down, he took out a velvet cloth like cleaning glasses to dry the upper of the shoe, and then threw the cloth away.

I moved my eyebrows slightly, but didn't speak.Although this is a bit of a waste, it is someone else's business after all; besides, Kevin may want to send any signal through such a waste, so I will not allow me to comment on it at will.

The travel suit I wore today was made of wool fabric, it was wrinkle-resistant, waterproof, and quick-drying, and the shoes were not too expensive, so it didn't matter.

Kevin gestured with two fingers together, and a waiter came over immediately.He opened the cigar booklet: "Would you like one?"

"I don't smoke. Thanks."

He didn't say much after hearing the words, and lowered his eyes again. After flipping through two pages of the booklet, he turned back to the front page and knocked somewhere: "What year is it?"

"The Century 16 in stock was first produced in [-], sir."

Kevin nodded: "I want one of these, and I'll cut it myself. Can I trouble you?"

"My pleasure, sir." The waiter withdrew.

What a burnt bag, I thought to myself, tobacco in Singapore is already expensive, and the price is doubled in this kind of club. He also ordered the popular Cohiba model, and he had to add another multiplier.I have been to several popular local clubs that provide cigar lounges. This one is very deep, but it is said that most of the cigars are licensed, so it is worth the money.

When the people walked away, Kevin said: "Do you mind?"

I smiled on the skin: "Of course not."

"People are stupid and have a lot of money" came quickly.

Kevin picked it up for a little inspection, nodded his thanks to the waiter, and took out a delicate cigar clipper from the side pocket of his carry-on bag.After cutting the cigar, he handed the cigar back to the waiter to light the fire, and said, "Give me a glass of Yamazaki 18 Years, and add an ice puck."

I am calm.

"Afterwards. Ma'am?"

"A glass of water would be nice without ice." I smiled and nodded at him. "Thank you."

Kevin took off his suit jacket, took the cigar from the waiter, and handed over the jacket again. His movements were skillful and chic.Of course, I was born in a working family, and I have never been used to this decadent capitalist way of life—it may also be that I simply don’t get along with Kevin, after all, the real capitalist is the one who is intimate with me.

Although she herself may find it difficult to identify with this identity.

"Why do they serve wine?" I deliberately leaned over and asked in a low voice.

Now in the second phase of deregulation, the alcohol ban is still in force.Obviously, what this store did was illegal.

Kevin took a puff of cigarette to the side, frowned, turned around and leaned forward slightly, and said, "This is a membership-only club, and there is no buying or selling."

"so?"

"So there is a gap here." Kevin said while loosening his tie.

"It's not blank."

"It depends on how you understand it." He laughed, sat back, and took a deep breath.

There was a stuffy dry tobacco smell in the air, mixed with Kevin's cologne.It dawned on me that this was just his nature: Kevin wasn't trying to pick a tone with me, he was accepting me, on the contrary.

I don't see me getting along with him.

"Lunch with Raj today, how do you feel?" Kevin looked over, "I think this is the first time you two met in private?"

I nodded: "Yes. He is more talkative than I thought."

"That's not what I'm asking," he said, "I'm saying—think of him as the CEO of a new company, the way he talks, the way he thinks about the future, all these qualities, Did it satisfy you?"

This question is really strange.But the most important thing in private conversations is to compare the heart with the heart, nine truths and one false. I said truthfully: "Our COO is very gentle and willing to listen to other people's opinions. He is not the kind of person who just believes in his own judgment. I would say that this is a steady rise. An excellent CEO candidate for a long-term company."

Kevin held up his cigar and looked at me through the smoke.I could feel him laughing, which was weird because Kevin wasn't showing much expression at the moment.He drew on the cigar slowly, not in a hurry to exhale, but to savor something in his mouth; then he puffed the smoke straight out.

So sophisticated, I cursed to myself.In his mind, are we familiar enough to share such "gentlemen's relaxation time"?

I'm not a gentleman anyway.

As for him...

I don't think so.

Kevin said: "I don't think the new company will develop so smoothly, at least not as you said, it will be in a period of steady growth right after its establishment."

I raised my eyebrows: "I'm listening."

"You have a misunderstanding. You think the new company is just a matter of a different head, a different manipulable brain, don't you?" He looked at me.

I restrained myself from responding, and just signaled him to continue with my eyes.

Isn't this a matter of course?Does the group really want to start another business with the original crew of Crab Shell?

"The leader of this reform, Sonia, Sonia Pender, I don't know how much you know about her." Kevin leaned on the sofa, with one hand on his hip habitually, and sucked lightly. Puff on a cigar to keep it from going out, "Maybe you've logged into the BCG Singapore website and seen her introduction to her specialties, maybe you've also seen the few minutes of interview video on the page, and you know that she is a very...very 'BCG' person, Of course, I think you have also felt this point in the past six months.

"I don't know her background. I tried to inquire about her when I was still at BCG, but failed." Kevin spread his hands and said in a low voice, "But she has done the case of the company next door. This is confidential, you I also know the way Internet companies advertise to the outside world, no company will admit that they need the help of consulting companies, that is too old-fashioned and does not conform to the spirit of the Internet."

I frowned slightly: "Through the 'case of the company next door', what are you trying to say?"

Kevin gave me a look: "As you know, the next door started much earlier than the crab shell, and that set is aimed at the market - learn from the best - copy the model - expand the scale - Although the cash-out rule is contemptible, it is really useful. Have you ever thought about why a company that is all Europeans will change overnight, and after the change of dynasty, the next door will completely lag behind us?"

"I thought they..." I paused, "I thought there were some, uh, technical problems during the transfer of power. This can also be seen in the market. The new owner next door is too arrogant and completely inappropriate. Respecting the rules of Southeast Asia, they even have to copy the entire office system from China, and force it to employees and third parties in Southeast Asia. A few major mistakes are enough for us to complete the overtake. I have been working in crab shells during this period, so I know What targeted adjustments have we made?"

Kevin looked at me meaningfully, nodded slowly, and said, "Guess why?"

They secretly hired helpers, but the helpers teamed up with the outside world and set up a game for them?

How dare I say this, my own recording is not easy to handle, and Kevin may not be completely unprepared.I just looked at him, slightly surprised and thoughtful.

"I agreed to my channel, so please forgive me for not being able to tell you the details." Kevin enjoyed his cigar, and after a few seconds of silence, he continued, "But I'm sure Sonia has made a big deal out of it." contribution, and she was promoted because of this case."

I frowned tightly: "You mean, our group..."

"No, no, that's not what I meant." Kevin raised his hand and spoke slowly, "You see, we are a US listed company, and we have the obligation to explain to the public what we are doing, and at the same time bear the expectations of our shareholders. ..."

"I don't think she's the type to trade insider information." I wince.

"I know." Kevin glanced at me, watching the smoke clear.

He smoked a cigarette and took another shallow sip of whiskey, and we didn't speak for two or three minutes.I pretended to be looking at the spirits collection that adorned the entire wall in the distance, analyzing how many out-of-print wines were in it, and the total price.

But I was very confused.

I didn't want to believe a word Kevin said, starting with the mention of Miss Pender.I think he's talking nonsense, I think he's distorting black and white, I think he's telling a cropped truth... In the end, I think he's honestly saying the whole thing, but I'm denying it's the truth.

Kevin tapped his expensive cigar lightly, and the beautiful ash fell off and fell into the glass jar.

He took another long puff of his cigarette and let it out: "Sonia is a talented consultant. Being able to rise so quickly shows that she has resources, good luck, and strong ability. The three are indispensable. I'm sure she doesn't want to She will violate the rules and sell customers, even if it is only a part of the customer's information, she will not do such a thing.

"But have you ever thought, Yao, a person who understands the rules to the extreme and has such superior conditions, how far can she go?" Kevin leaned forward, "She has a hundred ways to go, One hundred, Yao. What do you rely on to believe that the same thing will not happen again in the crab shell?"