Boss Lu: A reborn life is destined to be without regrets!
Chapter 100 - 91. What makes you think you’re worthless?

Chapter 100: 91. What makes you think you’re worthless?

The amount even surprised Lu Jincheng a little.

Acquiring the coffee shop had been an impulsive action.

To achieve such pure profit in 2014 was no worse than the painstakingly marketed internet-famous stores of the future.

It was even stronger!

After all, the Golden Stone coffee shop was still in its infancy, having just broken even last month, with its reputation and influence gradually incubating.

The future looked promising.

"Here, this is the pure profit after deducting the staff wages, rent, and utilities, totaling 213,500, all on this card."

After double-checking, Zhou Sinin pulled a bank card from her purse and waved it towards Lu Jincheng.

"Have the staff salaries been paid?"

Lu Jincheng did not take the card from her hand but instead asked a question.

"Yes, for Sister Tian, the new guy Xiao Qi, and Qian Jiansong, who’s in charge of delivery..."

Zhou Sinin counted on her fingers, taking it seriously.

"Stop counting, stop counting. What about your share?"

Lu Jincheng looked at her with a smile.

The total profit on the spreadsheet was just over two hundred and ten thousand, all on this card.

According to their initial verbal agreement, Zhou Sinin had contributed thirty thousand yuan for renovations. Based on the investment ratio, she was entitled to a 25% share.

Converted into cold, hard cash, her rightful earnings would be 53,375 yuan.

No matter how you looked at it, after distributing her portion, the amount on the card should not be what it was now.

This could only mean one thing.

—Zhou Sinin hadn’t taken a penny.

"Umm... I think..."

Zhou Sinin rubbed her forehead and pushed the calculator aside.

"My contribution for the renovations has already been recouped, and after all, there was no contract..."

"I didn’t really do anything, taking this is too much."

Her hands unconsciously twined together, her fingertips gently touching, betraying her inner conflict.

Zhou Sinin, who had dealt with financial numbers since she was young, had a keen sense for the distribution of wealth.

For instance, the money given by her family was clearly allocated: rewards were rewards; red envelope money was red envelope money. The boundaries were clear.

What was hers couldn’t be a penny short.

But this time, she was torn in an internal struggle.

Should she really be so precise in settling accounts with him?

Would he overthink it if they did?

And if they didn’t get too precise... would that truly be okay?

"Zhou Sinin, what on earth are you babbling about?"

Lu Jincheng chuckled helplessly, took the bank card she pushed over, and forcefully stuffed it back into her palm.

"Please, you did nothing?"

"Then tell me, who negotiated the prices for the coffee beans?"

"Who dealt with the specialized inspections from market supervision?"

"Who opened up all those delivery channels?"

"..."

Zhou Sinin was startled at first, then spoke softly.

"But you taught me all of that. I just implemented what you told me to do."

"Whether it’s the renovations, managing the supply chain, or negotiating channels."

"With or without me, anyone else could’ve done it..."

Her voice was soft and whispery, lacking the deeper tones, and when she was serious, it would take on the gentle lilt characteristic of the Wu dialect.

Crisp and pleasant to the ear.

"Why do you think you don’t deserve this money?"

Lu Jincheng crossed his arms, his gaze intense.

"Now, you make a fine cup of coffee, you’ve gotten to grips with the entire supply chain, and you’ve understood the core logic behind our profit-making."

"You could say, the technical barriers, government and business resources, and the stability of the channels are all within your grasp right now."

"OK, you’re telling me now you don’t want the money."

Mr. Lu put on a stern face, staring straight at Zhou Sinin.

"Can I interpret that as you wanting to draw a clear line with me and go solo?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Sinin’s eyes widened as she stammered, "I’m not... I didn’t mean that!"

She had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, everything always going smoothly. How could she have ever heard such gangster talk?

It was completely attaching a label, browbeating, and making trouble out of nothing!

But on second thought, it somehow made sense.

If Zhou Sinin funded it herself and pulled the team together again, there could really be a chance!

After all, it’s just about overcoming the same issues once more: product and service output, establishing and connecting channels, and later maintenance, and so on.

But she had already solved the same problems once under Mr. Lu’s guidance.

"Since you’re not, then what does this mean?"

Lu Jincheng crooked his middle finger and gently tapped the table twice, tilting his head to look at Zhou Sinin.

In fact, his words were a classic example of the slippery slope fallacy, seizing on a possibility and pressing step by step to create a desired outcome.

Such talk was just right for coercing Zhou Sinin, but if it were Guan Yongyi, who studied law, he would have to switch to a more logical approach.

"I... I just thought..."

Zhou Sinin’s tearful eyes reflected her helplessness, yet she didn’t know how to explain, anxiously twirling her fingers through her hair.

"Alright, I understand, and I don’t blame you."

"You haven’t grasped the core logic of making money in the domestic business scene."

Lu Jincheng saw that his pressure had reached the right level and stood up, wrapping an arm around Zhou Sinin’s shoulders, lowering his voice.

In the bustling café, few noticed that the two bosses at the front had leaned close together.

"The majority of business barriers aren’t so-called technology, do you know what they are?"

"What is it?"

Zhou Sinin lifted her chin, her eyes full of a strong desire to know.

"Trust cost."

Lu Jincheng used just four simple words to break through her original decision.

...

"Well, okay then."

Zhou Sinin gently bit her lower lip, holding back a plush smile, and obediently placed her bank card back in her purse.

Mr. Lu had a dangerously persuasive way with words, and an insistence that was irresistible.

She was persuaded.

"I’ll withdraw my share later and then give you the card."

"There’s no hurry. I have enough pocket money recently. Keep it with you for now."

Lu Jincheng waved his hand.

"I’ll ask for it when I need money."

"Mm-hmm."

Zhou Sinin nodded, not mincing politeness this time like she used to.

"Let’s go, have some lunch at the hotpot place next door."

Lu Jincheng smiled and patted her back as they walked out of the café together.

He not only saw through Zhou Sinin’s dilemma but also took the opportunity of her trouble to tie them even closer together.

With the money in Zhou Sinin’s hands, Mr. Lu felt at ease of course.

She initially felt that settling accounts clearly would hurt feelings and taking the money would feel wrong.

Both palms and the back of the hand are flesh.

Anyone with normal emotions, after being so closely pressed and convinced by him, would only feel that their own logic indeed had flaws.

Trust is worth a fortune.

Moreover, Lu Jincheng had left the money in her care, this tactical retreat actually made her feel a bit guilty.

Silently taking on a debt of gratitude, she would have to try even harder to help in the future.

Otherwise, how could she live up to Mr. Lu’s trust?

And that is human nature.