The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 226 You're sick, I have the cure!
Just as Homei was still in shock, Yang Muye's voice continued to ring out.

"Ms. Huo, have you heard of the term 'Pick-up Artist' when you were abroad?"

"A pick-up artist?"

"I answered hesitantly," Homei replied.

She had heard the word a long time ago, not abroad, but in a university psychology class.

"Pickup artist" is a literal translation; a more accurate translation would be "womanizing expert."

Using various social skills, or so-called routines, to enhance one's attractiveness to the opposite sex.

Yang Muyi nodded and said, "Of all the people I've met, President Liu's PUA skills are the highest. I should ask him for some advice when I have the chance."

Homei's expression grew increasingly puzzled.

It's said that ugly guys need tricks to pick up girls, while handsome guys only need one... trick.

Liu Yuntian is an absolute heartthrob, with an impressive family background and personal abilities. Does someone like him really need PUA (Pick-Up Artist) tactics to pick up girls?

Even more outrageous is that Yang Muye actually wants to learn from Liu Yuntian.

It's like a top student who always gets full marks on exams asking a classmate who only gets 85 for advice on how to improve their grades.

If you've already gotten full marks, how can you improve further?

Of course, Homei was referring to appearance.

“Ms. Huo, your understanding of PUA is outdated. The PUA I’m talking about is ‘emotional exploitation’ with the aim of manipulation.”

Yang Muye corrected.

Homei adjusted his glasses, inwardly unconvinced.

Did you invent this yourself?
"This was invented by Mr. Liu, which is why I said I should learn from him."

“I have already resigned from Yuntian Mall, and I don’t understand what Mr. Yang meant by telling me this.”

"That's precisely where Mr. Liu's brilliance lies. The women he manipulates don't even realize they're being manipulated."

You mean...me?

Huo Mei suddenly found it very funny. She herself had a background in psychology, so how could she not know that she was being manipulated and exploited?
"Miss Huo, you haven't forgotten why you resigned from Yuntian Mall, have you?"

Huo Mei smiled as she watched Yang Muyi's "earnest and persuasive" manner.

Are you sure you're not joking about giving psychological guidance to someone with a psychology background?

"Didn't Mr. Yang say before that the reason for resigning was either insufficient pay or feeling wronged? Which one do you think I am?"

Huo Mei decided to test Yang Muye.

"Liu Yuntian doesn't seem like a stingy person. In fact, according to you, the Liu Group in the United States is on the verge of bankruptcy, but the development of Yuntian Mall in China has not slowed down. Even if he's just putting on a show, I still have to say that President Liu is very generous."

Huo Mei's eyes flickered slightly, and she wholeheartedly agreed with Yang Muye's statement.

"So Mr. Yang thinks I've been wronged?"

“Your situation is a bit more special. On the surface, you are diligent and conscientious, and you are wholeheartedly thinking about Yuntian Mall. However, Liu Yuntian not only does not appreciate it, but also doubts your abilities and is unwilling to entrust you with important tasks. Anyone would feel wronged in your situation.”

At this point, Yang Muyi changed the subject.

"But are you really feeling wronged because you're not being valued? I don't think so. You're feeling jealous and resentful because of Liu Yuntian's attitude towards Lu Xiaoou. Even though she's one of Yao Yuan's people, he still appreciates her and is even willing to invite her to work at Yuntian Mall."

Huo Mei was about to speak when Yang Muye stopped her.

"Don't rush to deny it. You have to look at this from Liu Yuntian's perspective. Does he really admire Lu Xiaoou that much? Or is he just using Lu Xiaoou as a tool to belittle and deny you, thereby weakening your sense of self-worth and manipulating your emotions?"

Huo Mei pursed her lips and remained silent.

She recalled her first meeting with Liu Yuntian when she went abroad, where Liu Yuntian immediately exposed her for impersonating Lu Xiaoou's account and identity.

While harshly criticizing Huo Mei, he also lavishly praised Lu Xiaoou.

Just as Homei was feeling ashamed and angry and wanted to leave, he used the promise of helping Homei stay abroad to study as bait to force her to submit.

Liu Yuntian's reason at the time was that he needed to maintain contact with Lu Xiaoou through Huo Mei.

Huo Mei now realizes after careful reflection that Liu Yuntian was simply using Lu Xiaoou to manipulate her.

At that time, Huo Mei had suffered a terrible humiliation and originally did not want to accept Liu Yuntian's charity.

However, Liu Yuntian's appreciation for Lu Xiaoou successfully stirred up Huo Mei's resentment.

All of Liu Yuntian's "favoritism" towards Lu Xiaoou over the years was actually just for his own benefit.

"Belittling and denying are only the first step. To make you develop an emotional dependence on him, you need to create a sense of guilt, make you feel that you were wrong and that you are very sorry to him."

I was wrong?
I'm sorry, Liu Yuntian?

Huo Mei had already been persuaded by Yang Muye, but upon hearing this, she simply couldn't agree.

The fact that he has resigned from Yuntian Mall shows that Liu Yuntian has messed things up.

Huo Mei felt that what Yang Muyi said later would not happen again.

"You think Liu Yuntian didn't know you left Yuntian Mall and secretly joined Xiaoguang Express?"

Yang Muye's question stunned Huo Mei once again.

Did Liu Yuntian already know he would join Xiaoguang Express?
Huo Mei suddenly remembered that Liu Yuntian had threatened her before entering the apartment, saying that she had ulterior motives for moving in.

Huo Mei's motives were indeed impure, because she came specifically to get close to Yang Muye.

However, Liu Yuntian did not mention the matter again after meeting Yang Muye.

Previously, Huo Mei had naively believed that Liu Yuntian was not exposing her because of their past relationship.

After Yang Muyi said that, looking at Liu Yuntian's behavior again, there were indeed many suspicious points.

“Ms. Huo, you switched from Yuntian Mall to Xiaoguang Express. Wu Xiaoguang must have been after more than just your experience at Yuntian Mall, right? If I’m not mistaken, you must have brought Wu Xiaoguang a substantial ‘pledge of allegiance’.”

"How could you—" Huo Mei stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence.

Yang Muye almost managed to trick him into revealing information.

“It’s very simple. Yuntian Mall is a major client of Xiaoguang Express. If your ‘pledge of allegiance’ is to betray the interests of Yuntian Mall or to poach a large number of key personnel from Yuntian Mall’s own logistics system, Wu Xiaoguang definitely wouldn’t dare to accept it.”

"If this 'pledge of allegiance' didn't come from Yuntian Mall, then it can only come from Yuanfang Express. If news spreads in a few days that a group of key business personnel and franchisees from Yuanfang Express suddenly announced their defection and joined Xiaoguang Express, I really wouldn't be surprised at all."

Despite appearing calm at this moment, Huo Mei was actually panicking inside.

How did Yang Muye find out about his secret "collusion" with Gao Chang from Yuanfang Express?
Yang Muye smiled.

"Miss Huo, aren't you focusing on the wrong thing? Shouldn't you be worried about whether Liu Yuntian or Yao Yuan know about this?"

impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Huo Mei knew that she had kept her alliance with Gao Chang very secret. How could Yao Yuan, who trusted his brother so much, possibly know about this?

It's even less likely that Liu Yuntian would agree. "Liu Yuntian may not know the inside story, but he knows Yao Yuan. The relationship between the two is like that between Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Among all the heroes in the world, only you, my lord, are like Cao Cao. They are on opposing sides, but at the same time, they admire each other."

"Liu Yuntian knows you joined Xiaoguang Express and were given important responsibilities, so he must have poached Yao Yuan's talent. Do you think Liu Yuntian might have secretly informed Yao Yuan?"

"From another perspective, could it be that Yao Yuan had anticipated this situation and had already reached some kind of tacit understanding with Liu Yuntian?"

As soon as Yang Muyi finished speaking, Huo Mei immediately denied it.

Liu Yuntian and Yao Yuan are now bitter enemies over the competition for Yuanfang Express. How could the two of them possibly be secretly in contact?
Yang Muye spread his hands, looking at the emotionally agitated Huo Mei:

Is there any conflict between vying for control of Yuanfang Express and making Yuanfang Express bigger and stronger?

Why did Liu Yuntian insist on acquiring Yuanfang Express? It was because he recognized Yuanfang Express's strength.

This is why Liu Yuntian was very angry when Huo Mei fabricated the "unauthorized dismantling of express delivery packages" scandal to smear Yuanfang Express.

The stronger Yuanfang Express becomes, the more valuable it is to acquire.

"You mean, Liu Yuntian and Yao Yuan conspired to take over Xiaoguang Express?"

As soon as Homei finished speaking, he immediately realized something was wrong.

Xiaoguang Express was built up by Liu Yuntian to deal with Yuanfang Express. If Xiaoguang Express is swallowed up by Yuanfang Express, wouldn't it be even more difficult for Liu Yuntian to acquire Yuanfang Express?

Yang Muye's voice followed.

"You know about exchanging pieces in board games, right?"

Huo Mei nodded, knowing that Yang Muye meant a strategy of sacrificing local interests for overall advantage.

But what Huo Mei couldn't understand was, what was Liu Yuntian trying to replace by sacrificing Xiaoguang Express, which he had helped to build up?
"As you said, Yuntian Mall is now trying to inject capital into the US to keep Liu's Group afloat. They are currently short of funds, and Yuanfang Express has also launched a poison pill plan to resist the takeover."

After hearing this, Homei suddenly realized what was going on.

Liu Yuntian sacrificed Xiaoguang Express in exchange for Yao Yuan abandoning the poison pill plan.

This would improve the overall situation of Yuntian Mall's acquisition of Yuanfang Express.

No wonder Yao Yuan suddenly transferred Gao Chang back to headquarters despite his excellent performance in the Southwest region, effectively demoting him.

On the surface, Yao Yuan was persuaded by Lu Xiaoou to reform the management system of Yuanfang Express and abandon the previous system that relied on brotherhood and nepotism.

But in reality, it was a staged act of self-inflicted suffering.

Yao Yuan even went so far as to publicly declare—

The person who rests on their laurels and sleeps soundly is not my brother.

He was aiming his sword at Gao Chang and his group of old ministers who had fought alongside him to build the empire.

The more Homei thought about it, the angrier and colder she became.

What angered her most was neither Gao Chang deceiving her, nor Liu Yuntian and Yao Yuan's tacit "collusion" in acting, which fooled everyone else.

Rather, it's a deeper level of manipulation, Liu Yuntian's own methods of psychological manipulation.

Full of confidence, Gao Chang, who had betrayed him, joined Xiaoguang Express, thinking he could make a name for himself and let Liu Yuntian know that he was no less capable than Lu Xiaoou.

But the truth is that Liu Yuntian knew all along that joining Xiaoguang Express would fail, so he deliberately let him leave.

On the one hand, it can make the exchange of cards more realistic.

On the other hand, it creates a sense of guilt, making oneself feel that one has done something wrong, and thus generating feelings of guilt and self-blame.

Then, with a little manipulation, one will develop a high degree of emotional dependence on it, just as Yang Muye said.

In this way, Liu Yuntian's self-harassment would be considered a great success.

Ironically, when Huo Mei and Lu Xiaoou chatted with Liu Yuntian across the ocean through a shared MSN account, their initial intention was to use him as a case study for research.

As a result, he himself became the subject of Liu Yuntian's PUA experiment.

If Yang Muye hadn't pointed it out, Huo Mei would still be in the dark.

Both Liu Yuntian and Yang Muye said when they first met that Huo Mei was not suitable to study psychology.

In retrospect, that statement was absolutely correct.

At the same time, Homei was also secretly on guard.

While it's true that Liu Yuntian has been manipulating him, Yang Muye's current act of revealing all of this to him, causing him to feel a deep sense of frustration and guilt, is also a more subtle and sophisticated form of manipulation.

"Mr. Yang, you're telling me all this not just to remind me, are you?"

"What, once bitten, twice shy? Do you think I'm also using PUA tactics on you?"

"Isn't that right?" Homei retorted.

Huo Mei once desperately wanted to prove that she was as good as Lu Xiaoou.

But now she doesn't want to anymore.

Huo Mei admits that Lu Xiaoou is better than her, and will call Lu Xiaoou to confess everything, and then completely withdraw from this deceitful business game!
"You know what, right now you're giving me the impression that you can't take a game anymore, so you're just cheating and refusing to play anymore."

Huo Mei suddenly became agitated, stood up abruptly, and roared at Yang Muye:
"I've been treated like an idiot and made a fool of for so long, and now I don't even have the right to quit if I can't handle the game?"

Yang Muye raised his head and looked at Huo Mei with a sincere expression:

"The best way to win is not to quit, but to join."

what?
Homei didn't quite understand.

"Liu Yuntian must have had you investigate me before. You should know more about me than many others. The Cainiao Station project is not that important to me. My initial idea was to build up Cainiao Station and sell it for a good price after it reaches a certain scale."

This remains true even now.

Once the battle between Liu Yuntian and Yao Yuan is truly decided, Yang Muye will sell his shares in Cainiao Station at the appropriate time and cash out.

Before that, Yang Muye needed a suitable agent to manage and operate Cainiao Station.

Huo Mei, who has worked for Liu Yuntian for several years and single-handedly built Yuntian Shopping Mall's own logistics system, is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Huo Mei smiled in response to Yang Muyi's sudden offer of an olive branch:

"I'm someone who was manipulated by Liu Yuntian for so long without realizing it, and then I was completely played by Liu Yuntian and Yao Yuan. And you want me to be your agent?"

Yang Muye shrugged.

In fact, he didn't have very high requirements for his agents.

All this requires is that the person has a clear enough understanding of themselves and can execute the boss's orders without fail.

Huo Mei has been subjected to PUA by Liu Yuntian for so long, which perfectly fits the two conditions mentioned above.

Yang Muye was just there to pick the peaches.

(End of this chapter)