Manipulative Harem God

Lisa felt her unease spiraling as the conversation delved deeper into uncomfortable territory.

Zhang Wei's demeanor had shifted drastically, and he no longer exuded the friendly aura she had encountered earlier. He now seemed like a completely different man, stern and probing.

With each question, Lisa carefully chose her words, drawing upon the experience she had gained during her university years.

Then came the question that sent a shiver down her spine. "Lisa, can you brief me about the conversations you had with Huang Ren before joining?"

Time seemed to freeze as the weight of that question settled in the room.

!!

Lisa, now seated on a chair, felt an icy chill creeping through her skin once more. She had expected a thorough discussion, but this was something she hadn't prepared for.

The sudden turn of events had her on edge, and she struggled to find her footing in this unexpected and unsettling interrogation.

Lisa had been briefed that her role would extend beyond aiding the chairman in professional matters, encompassing assistance in his personal life as well.

She believed in her abilities to carefully maneuver through such situations.

The problem was, Zhang Wei was being unusually direct. It was throwing her off balance.

If he asked directly to sleep with him, wouldn't she have no room to maneuver anymore?

Zhang Wei had considered his approach. He knew hammering her directly might lead to her fleeing the country, and he didn't want to involve embassies.

"It's alright if you don't want to tell me," he spoke, attempting to reassure her.

"Sigh!.." A relieved sigh escaped Lisa's lips, but she was caught off guard by Zhang Wei's next words.

"Even though, I have the first task for you," Zhang Wei spoke.

"Umm... What type of task?" Lisa asked, feeling a slight unease settle in as his deliberate creepy tone sent shivers down her spine. This wasn't what she had expected at all.

Zhang Wei's chuckle filled the room, a low, almost mischievous sound. "Just a small task."

Lisa couldn't help but feel her lips twitch at his response. "Chairman, you're not going to bully me with this 'small task,' are you?"

Zhang Wei leaned back slightly, his tone reassuring. "Definitely not. I take good care of my workers, as you've seen with the women earlier."

Lisa thought to herself, 'I knew it!'

Despite her thoughts, she kept her lips tightly shut.

Despite his reassuring words, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had entered a situation that might have caused Zhang Wei trouble, and this "first task" seemed like his way of getting back at her.

Zhang Wei's voice took on a serious tone as he continued, "Before I tell you about your first task, Lisa, how familiar are you with the entertainment industry in our country?"

Lisa began, "... I studied about it before joining. The major players are—"

Zhang Wei's interruption was sharp, cutting through her words. "Not the analysis part. Tell me what you know about the workings of the industry. Like, have you even heard about the unspoken rules?"

Lisa's mind raced to grasp the shift in the conversation. "Unspoken rules... Like... The ones in rumors?"

Zhang Wei affirmed, "Yes, the ones in rumors."

Lisa was momentarily caught off guard, her thoughts scrambling to comprehend the sudden change.

Zhang Wei leaned in, his eyes piercing and intense. "You see, Lisa, the last owner of this company was stubbornly against implementing any unspoken rules, for personal reasons.

But he ended up succumbing to immense pressure from other industry players."

"... In the end, the pressure became too much, and he had no choice but to sell the company to me."

"Really?" Lisa's eyes blinked in surprise. This piece of information wasn't something she had come across in her research, as it wasn't on paper.

The intrigue of the entertainment industry and the company she had just joined deepened, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Zhang Wei nodded solemnly, his eyes carrying the weight of the responsibility he was about to assign. "Hanland is not Nithelia. Things work differently here. If you don't follow the industry norms, you won't survive. So, your first task is ensuring that all the actresses contracted by our agency understand the new rules and cooperate with the company's change in policy."

Lisa replied confidently, "That's fine, I can do it."

Zhang Wei held up a hand, pausing her enthusiasm. "Wait a moment. That task can be handled by Huang Ren as well. Don't forget, you are the Chairman's secretary. It's not your job to deal with these petty tasks. Your real work is to help the company overcome its biggest problem. It's your opportunity to prove yourself."

Lisa was taken aback, her nervousness creeping back. She gulped, nodding slightly.

Zhang Wei continued, "It's about our top actress, Xu Qing. While implementing the new policies, she might pose a lot of resistance. It's your job to ensure that she accepts the new policy and doesn't end her contract with the company, as it would cost us a huge loss in assets."

Lisa contemplated, her mind racing as she absorbed the weight of the task presented to her. "... That would be hard."

Zhang Wei's countenance remained firm, unmoved by her hesitation. "It's hard; that's precisely why it's your job. Huang Ren had already briefed me about the conversation he had with you."

"He did?" Lisa's voice wavered slightly, the sensation of being under the spotlight intensifying.

Zhang Wei's nod was casual, but it sent shivers down her spine. "He did. I'm open to whatever you want. If you don't wish to take on the role of a 'bed warming' secretary, that's fine with me. I can hire a second secretary, but then you'll need to prove your worth to stay in the company."

Lisa's hands clenched involuntarily, her knuckles turning white, her body betraying the storm of emotions within her. "I see," she said, her disappointment subtly seeping through her words.

The reality hit her like a cold wave.

She was receiving triple the payment someone of her level could expect, and now she had to prove herself, to validate her position in the company.

The high payment earlier had been a package deal with her roles including warming his bed, and now, standing firm in her stance against the additional role, she had to demonstrate her value to remain at Hanland Entertainment.

Lisa's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She had anticipated some back-and-forth, perhaps a verbal joust with Zhang Wei, but he had presented her with an argument that was difficult to refute, making perfect sense even to her.

She couldn't deny the logic.

Finally, she let out a defeated sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Chairman, if there's nothing more, may I leave?"

Zhang Wei stood up, leisurely tracing the corner of his desk with his fingers, a playful glint in his eyes. "What's the hurry?"

!?

Lisa tensed, feeling a spike of anxiety, only for Zhang Wei to suddenly burst into laughter. "I was only kidding, you can go."

"O-Oh, thank you." Lisa was both relieved and flustered. She hurriedly stood up, grateful for the chance to escape this uncomfortable situation.

She left his office, her mind still processing the encounter and the daunting task that lay ahead.