Chapter 307

Chapter 307: 300: Gu Yihuan and Pang Zijin Extra Story 1 Chapter 307: 300: Gu Yihuan and Pang Zijin Extra Story 1 The founder of Pamdow, Pang Minde, had two sons and a daughter, with the eldest son, Pang Yuanzong, having gotten himself entangled in romantic debts when he was young. Pang Zijin, the illegitimate daughter of Pang Yuanzong, ranked third among the grandchildren of the Pang family. Her biological mother passed away early, and her father did not care for her.

Pang Yuanzong’s legitimate wife, Li Huailan, citing the better quality of education resources abroad, sent Pang Zijin out of the country. She was fourteen then, still at an age to be easily molded by others. Upon her arrival in Chevalier, the nanny meant to „look after” her ran off with her year’s living expenses. She sold everything she could and made it through that year.

Why didn’t she call home? Because the only number she could get through to was that of Pang Yuanzong’s assistant. That assistant was drawing two salaries, one from Pang Yuanzong and another from Li Huailan.

At fifteen, a white boy said he liked her, and afterwards, she inexplicably became the target of a group of girls. She swore she hadn’t even remembered the boy’s name, because it was too long.

At sixteen, she made a friend who said she had something great to share with her. When she visited her friend’s home, she saw several drugged-up men and women lying haphazardly on the floor. She ran away after blowing up the microwave with a lighter.

At seventeen, she was robbed, falsely accused of theft, locked in an equipment room, and had her face slapped for photos. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, she finally got through to Pang Yuanzong’s phone and asked if she could return home.

Pang Yuanzong said, „Your mother is doing this for your own good. Don’t pick up bad habits out there.”

Mom?

Her mother had long been dead. She didn’t believe all this was mere coincidence; someone didn’t want her to live well, didn’t want her to live at all. She had thought about ending it all, and only started to seriously consider it after she met another person on the top floor of the library who also seemed to be contemplating the same thing.

„How about we both don’t jump today?”

„Alright.”

Wen Changling was the second benefactor she had met; the first had been Gu Yihuan.

Though she had been cursed as a loss by her own mother from a young age, and almost killed by her stepmother, her fate was not too harsh. Half a year later, when she was being pinned against a wall and forcibly injected with a restricted substance, she encountered Wen Changling, her benefactor, again.

“If you want to transfer schools, I can help you.”

There were no rainbow clouds, but in that moment, Pang Zijin truly felt she had met a hero.

“Thank you for helping me.”

Wen Changling was also honest, „You’ll have to repay it.”

“I remember.”

Pang Zijin changed schools, changed her number, and cut off all contact with the Pang family.

Pamdow (Pang’s) was a domestic brand founded by Pang Minde, starting from textiles but later developing into fragrances and cosmetics, which became the largest category of products for Pang’s.

Noon Ferry was the dark horse in the fragrance industry that had caught everyone’s attention in recent years. During Pang Zijin’s years abroad, Noon Ferry had been surpassing Pamdow in perfume sales. Pang Shifang, the eldest son and grandson of the Pang family, was in charge of this sector. His strategy to cope with the competition was to poach talent, setting his sights on the senior perfumer from JeanSui, Landry.

By coincidence, Pang Zijin was friends with Landry. It was only when she returned to the country with Landry that Pang Minde discovered: oh, there’s such a granddaughter.

Afterwards, Pang Zijin held a nominal position in Pang’s. On the day she joined the company, it was said that Li Huailan was so angry she skipped dinner.

*****

Tonight, Aoting Bar was buzzing with activity as the owner took to the stage, offering a ten percent discount on drinks.

The moment the laser lights dimmed, a woman walked in from the outside. In the dim light, one could vaguely see her bright eyes and white teeth, her long hair softly curled.

Nick waved, “She’s here.”

The woman walked to the bar, took off her white suit jacket, and revealed a black knitted camisole. The style of the camisole was very classic, without any complex design.

Her heels were not high, the color of off-white leather complimented her skin, and her fishtail pencil skirt accentuated her figure just right. Her only jewelry was a pearl necklace and a watch.

Elegant, knowledgeable.

It wasn’t difficult to guess her profession, she was at least a high-level white-collar worker.

Nick took out the bottle she had stored previously, and she poured a small glass, savoring it slowly.

Lighting shifted, and the band took the stage. The drummer showcased a brief solo, and after a flourish, the vocalist stepped to the center, adjusting the mic stand, “Good evening.”

The Gu Family’s young master grew up spoiled and had a bright, captivating smile when he laughed.

He sang three songs in a row, each more heart-wrenching than the last. Clearly, he was not very good at selecting songs, simply relying on a wild, willful energy, completely indifferent to the life or death of the audience’s eardrums. Some guests were already dissatisfied, clamoring for a change in the main singer. Nick, the bar’s perfumer, could only helplessly shake his head.

“Nick,” the woman pushed the half-finished bottle of wine toward him, “keep it for next time,” she said, picking up the coat from the chair next to her, “as usual tonight.”

Nick raised his hand in acknowledgment.

A bartender not far away excitedly shouted, “Tonight’s bill is on Third Master!”

The room erupted in cheers.

This generous Third Master was none other than Miss Pang San, Pang Zijin.

The bit of money she’d made from overseas investments was all splurged in this manner at Gu Yihuan’s bar, otherwise, with his singing ability and his disposition which was not at all suited for business, the bar would have gone under long ago.

Spending a bit of money was nothing; it was her motivation to earn.

She was a regular at the bar, and Nick was always curious about her: “Do you and our boss have an old acquaintance?”

She had the looks that perfectly fit the contemporary traditional aesthetics, dignified and gentle, but when she laughed, she resembled a fox, as if she had a thousand years of cunning: “You guess.”

Nick couldn’t guess. She had never told anyone her name. Once a man tried to hit on her, bragging when he was drunk, “The guys on the street call me Fourth Master.”

She chatted in good spirits, “What a coincidence, I happen to be the third in my family.”

That’s how the nickname “Third Master” came about.

*****

The second year after Pang Zijin returned to the country, Pang Shifang’s team stole the perfume formula from Noon Ferry. Less than half a month after Orange Beauty hit the market, users began to experience adverse reactions, and negative news spread like wildfire. If this incident wasn’t handled well, not just the perfume products, but Pamdow’s garments/accessories, and cosmetics/skincare products could all take a major hit.

Pang Shifang lost all trust from Pang Minde and Pang Zijin was appointed to handle the emergency, representing the company in its response. She fought a beautiful PR battle and quelled the crisis of confidence.

With Pang Shifang removed from his post, the general manager’s office had a new occupant. This incident marked a watershed moment, indicating the beginning of a reshuffle of the management rights within the Pang Family’s business.

The new general manager, Miss Pang San, had returned from overseas, and the general manager’s office arranged for her a welcome trio – a meal, karaoke, and clubbing. Coincidentally, the bar’s owner was today’s lead singer on stage.

“He has a nice timbre; it’s just that his singing skills are poor.”

“He’s the bar owner; I heard he’s a rich young master who opened a bar just to be a singer.”

“Is the threshold for being a singer that low?”

The colleagues from the general manager’s office were discussing when the new GM, who had been silent the whole time, interjected, “He’ll be famous later.”

There was a hint of a cryptic smile in her voice, but it didn’t sound like a joke; the employees all looked toward the boss.

She said with a laugh, “Because someone will support him.”

A male colleague looked puzzled: “Ah? Who would support him?”

“Me.”

The male colleague laughed awkwardly: “President Pang really knows how to joke.”

President Pang stood up and walked to the bar.

When Nick saw her, he was as if he’d seen a god of wealth.

“As usual tonight.”

As usual, the tab for the entire place was on Third Master again tonight.