Hao Jian was startled and couldn't help thinking slyly:
Could this girl, seeing how handsome and charming I am, want to borrow the most precious thing within my body?
But Yuan Shanshan had no idea about Hao Jian's indecent thoughts; her pretty face blushing, she said:
"I... I want to borrow some money from you."
After she spoke these words, Yuan Shanshan's hands tightly grasped the hem of her clothes because she had never borrowed money from anyone before, and she felt very ashamed.
Yuan Shanshan was a very proud person, and she never asked for help from anyone, and this was the first time in history.
Hearing this, Hao Jian frowned slightly, surprised by her request since he had known Yuan Shanshan for only one day. It was indeed a bit abrupt for her to ask him for money.
Seeing Hao Jian frown, Yuan Shanshan felt so ashamed she was almost about to cry, thinking that his frowning meant he disagreed.
Indeed, after all, she had known him for less than a day, why should he lend her money? Yuan Shanshan also didn't know how Hao Jian would view her afterward.
"I'm sorry, it was presumptuous of me, I disturbed you, goodbye!"
Yuan Shanshan gave Hao Jian a deep bow and then turned and ran away, wanting nothing but to find a hole to crawl into.
"Wait!" Hao Jian suddenly called out loudly, stopping Yuan Shanshan from leaving.
Yuan Shanshan's body stiffened, and she awkwardly turned back, "Is there something else?"
"Can I ask what it's for?" Hao Jian asked. He was not unwilling to lend Yuan Shanshan money, but before lending, he wanted to know what she needed it for.
If it was for buying luxury handbags or something, Hao Jian certainly wouldn't lend it to her.
Yuan Shanshan lowered her head and said softly, "My mom is in the hospital and now I need to pay the hospital fees, but I don't have the money."
"What about your father?" Hao Jian asked. If she didn't have the money, surely her father did.
"He has already died," Yuan Shanshan said with a disconsolate expression.
"…" Hao Jian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How much do you need?"
"You're willing to lend me the money?" Yuan Shanshan was taken aback; she really hadn't expected Hao Jian to actually consider lending her the money.
"It's hard for me to refuse a request from a beauty!" Hao Jian said with a smile.
He saw that Yuan Shanshan was not the type of girl who would casually ask people for money; she must be truly in trouble to have taken this step.
And Hao Jian chose to believe what Yuan Shanshan said. Since she was indeed in trouble, helping her wouldn't be a problem, especially since he currently had two million in his account.
"But we've only known each other for one day," Yuan Shanshan said in shock, having already prepared herself for a likely failure and considering failure highly probable.
If it were her, she would not lend money to a stranger she had only met for one day either.
"Then you can wait for me to have known you for one hundred and fifty days before asking me, assuming by then your mom is still alive," Hao Jian said with a quirky smile.
However, Yuan Shanshan could only give a bitter smile, thinking that by then, it would all be too late...
"Everyone faces difficult times, but who knows when they will come? I'm willing to help you, so tell me how much you need," he said.
"I need five thousand, five thousand will do," Yuan Shanshan said, not daring to ask for more, just the five thousand for the hospital fees; she was already very grateful that Hao Jian was willing to lend her the money.
"I don't have that much money on me right now, I'll withdraw it later, and I'll bring the money to you this afternoon," Hao Jian said with a smile.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
Yuan Shanshan's expression was somewhat excited, Hao Jian's kind act was like lighting a bright lamp on her dim path!
Providing help during hardships always beats adding decorations to something already perfect.
Yuan Shanshan had nowhere to turn, and in this situation, Hao Jian chose to help her, filling her with gratitude.
Hao Jian waved his hand, indicating there was no need for thanks:
"Just go to work properly, I'll come to see you later."
"Mm," Yuan Shanshan agreed, bowing repeatedly to Hao Jian.
Watching Yuan Shanshan's retreating figure, Hao Jian also fell into deep thought.
Soon after, Hao Jian realized he had to do something and went to the president's office to find Shu Ya.
"Haven't I told you not to keep running here if there's nothing important?"
Shu Ya said somewhat angrily, hinting that frequent visits by Hao Jian might arouse suspicion.
"Wife, I want to discuss something with you," Hao Jian said as he plopped down in front of Shu Ya.
"What is it?" Shu Ya asked, holding back her irritation.
"Do you know about a new employee named Yuan Shanshan?"
"I do, a quite exceptional staff member, what about her?"
Shu Ya frowned; she had reviewed Yuan Shanshan's information and was very satisfied with her.
However, she did not know why Hao Jian suddenly brought her up, worrying he might have taken an interest in her.
"It seems her family is facing some difficulties. She said her mother was hospitalized with heart disease and she came to borrow money from me today. Do you know if the company has any sort of relief fund?"
"You think this is a school? A relief fund? How could the company have such a thing?" Shu Ya rolled her eyes and added:
"Could she be deceiving you?"
"She shouldn't be, she was almost crying when she asked me for money," Hao Jian shook his head, assured that Yuan Shanshan would not deceive her.
"Since that's the case, I'll just start a fundraiser for her in the company," Shu Ya said.
That was the only solution, as there was no relief fund in the company and it wasn't possible to set such a precedent just for Yuan Shanshan.
"Maybe not, that way, she might be looked down upon by colleagues in the future."
Hao Jian was thinking thoroughly; Yuan Shanshan was such a proud person, and going ahead with this might mean she wouldn't be able to continue working at the company in the future.
"Then what do you suggest?" Shu Ya was getting impatient, noticing that Hao Jian was more concerned about another woman than her.
"What about a pay raise or something?"
"Impossible, I can't break the company's rules just because I pity her. Otherwise, if everyone could get a raise whenever something happens at home, how could the company function?" Shu Ya immediately shook her head in refusal.
"That's true," Hao Jian sighed in resignation, realizing he had indeed thought too much.
"I can switch her probation period from three months to one month, that's all I can do," Shu Ya said, knowing that once the probation was over, Yuan Shanshan's salary would increase as well.
"That should work," Hao Jian acknowledged, aware that this was the furthest Shu Ya was willing to compromise.
He stood up to leave, but Shu Ya called him back: "Tell me, why are you so concerned about a woman you've known for just one day? Are you really that benevolent?"
Hao Jian did not turn back but took a deep drag on his cigarette: "Because I'm an orphan, I know the pain of being an orphan, so I don't want to see anyone else become one like me."
After saying this, Hao Jian pushed the door and walked out, leaving Shu Ya staring blankly in a daze.