After visiting four 4S car dealerships that had been continuously losing money, Sun Dasheng, accompanied by the general manager of the car sales company, arrived at the last BMW 4S dealership that was still profitable.
This dealership was not far from his apartment in Courtyard No.1.
"Director Sun, this dealership is the crown jewel of our company, with annual sales of over a hundred million. Last year alone, this location sold more than a hundred BMWs," the bald general manager said cautiously from the side.
"What’s the gross profit?" Sun Dasheng asked, glancing at the cars in the showroom without going in.
"The gross profit on the cars isn’t high, only around ten percent. We generally make our money from additional services. All together, it can reach over twenty percent," the general manager explained.
"So you’re saying this dealership nets a profit of over twenty million a year?" Sun Dasheng asked.
"That’s not bad," he nodded. "What about the other four?" he pressed.
The general manager wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Those four lose over ten million a year."
"So, you’re saying these five dealerships basically worked all year for nothing?" After all, there were many other expenses to consider.
"Yes... that’s correct."
"Alright, I get it now. I was wondering why such a good deal would fall into my lap. It turns out a huge chunk of the acquisition cost was for this one BMW dealership."
After speaking, Sun Dasheng walked inside. A large entourage followed him.
The dealership’s manager saw the group of high-level company executives and hurried over to greet them.
"Welcome, President Fang, President Li! It’s an honor to have you inspect the BMW 4S dealership. Xiao Zhong, hurry and serve tea to our executives..."
Before he could finish, General Manager Fang cut him off. "Xia Hai, what are you talking about? First, you need to greet our company’s new owner, Director Sun."
General Manager Fang’s words left Xia Hai, the manager of the BMW dealership, stunned for a few seconds. He then quickly bowed obsequiously.
"I was just wondering who this distinguished gentleman with President Fang was, and it’s Director Sun himself! I failed to recognize your importance, Director Sun. Please forgive my ignorance."
As expected of a top salesman, the flattering words just rolled off his tongue.
"Haha... and this is?" Sun Dasheng asked with a smile.
The general manager beside him immediately made the introduction. "This is our company’s sales champion, the manager of this BMW dealership, Xia Hai. Director Sun, don’t be fooled by his plain appearance. That silver tongue of his could talk a dead man back to life. Half of this dealership’s annual sales are thanks to him."
Sun Dasheng just smiled and nodded, offering no comment.
The others didn’t seem to think much of it. A small 4S dealership probably wasn’t even on Director Sun’s radar. He was likely just making a routine visit.
At that moment, a tall, beautiful woman with a cold, refined expression brought tea over.
"Zhong, what are you waiting for? Hurry and serve Director Sun his tea," Xia Hai ordered, his tone becoming condescending now that he was addressing a subordinate.
When Zhong Liying walked up to Sun Dasheng with the tea, she froze for a moment. A subtle change flickered across her perpetually stoic face.
"Director Sun, please have some tea."
Her tone was neither servile nor arrogant, each word landing with weight.
Although Sun Dasheng was surprised that a top real estate agent like her would switch to a car dealership, he didn’t ask about it. Instead, he smiled, took the teacup, and said, "Thank you."
His fingers accidentally brushed against her slender hand.
As he drank the tea, he caught a faint, pleasant fragrance that wasn’t from the tea itself. It must be her perfume.
"Director Sun, allow me to show you around," Xia Hai offered eagerly.
Sun Dasheng didn’t refuse. He placed the teacup on the table, stood up, and followed him to hear about the dealership’s operations.
「In the staff break room at the back of the dealership.」
Pan Yanyan noticed her best friend’s expression was off and quickly asked, "Liying, did he bully you again? Why don’t we just find another job? I told you these male managers are all trash. It was the same at the real estate agency. At first, he pretended to stick up for you, even having the store manager and that woman, Wang Panpan, transferred. But in the end, wasn’t he still trying to force you into his bed, threatening to withhold good property listings otherwise?"
"That Manager Xia at this BMW dealership is no better. The way he looks at you has always been wrong. I’m right, aren’t I? He finally showed his true colors today, didn’t he?"
Pan Yanyan looked at her best friend’s enviably beautiful face and figure, sighing with genuine feeling. "If only you had listened to me before and gotten together with Mr. Sun. He’s got the looks, the body, and tons of money. There aren’t many high-quality men like him in all of Dahu City. Why couldn’t you just seize the opportunity?"
"Now all you get are these old lechers who try to bully you and force themselves on you just because you’re pretty." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel-fire.ɴet
"Liying, you’re just too beautiful. In the end, if you don’t wind up alone, you’re destined to be a rich man’s mistress. If you don’t plan on being single forever, why not choose a rich man you actually like?"
These were heartfelt words, straight from the soul. It was a risky thing to say, even to a close friend; it could easily cause a fight.
"Liying, are you even listening to me?" Pan Yanyan asked, a little exasperated that her long speech had earned no reaction. "Forget it. How many times have I said all this? Have you ever once taken it to heart?"
Pan Yanyan felt discouraged. Her best friend was outstanding in every way, except she was too stubborn, insisting on struggling and succeeding on her own.
The idea is noble, but reality is cruel. Those predatory men get ideas the moment they see her. If she won’t sleep with them, they block her progress. Her entire path to advancement is cut off. What else can she do?
Zhong Liying looked at her best friend with a complicated expression and finally spoke her first words since entering the room.
"Yanyan, I just saw him."
That one sentence made Pan Yanyan leap to her feet.
"Really? Where is he? Did he come looking for you?"
She must have finally come to her senses and contacted him! Otherwise, how would he know she had changed jobs and was working here?