Zhao Yang looked at Chen Wei, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Chen Wei, I know our relationship is just like that. You've probably hated me for a long time now. As for me, I have a stubborn temper and can't bring myself to apologize. All I can say is, if you really want to join Group Three, go ahead. I won't blame you."
After saying this, Zhao Yang suddenly felt a bit disheartened.
He had followed Wang Wentao for over ten years. Even if he hadn't achieved great success, he had worked hard and stayed loyal to the company. But now, Wang Wentao agreed to Luo Chen's unreasonable demands. It was really disheartening!
Chen Wei didn't say much, but he could tell that Zhao Yang was indeed feeling down.
Just as Zhao Yang said, their relationship wasn't great, and Chen Wei had hated him at times. But now, seeing Zhao Yang's situation, the hatred had faded, replaced by a bit of pity.
Neither of them spoke again. They entered the elevator, one after the other, and went up to the twenty-eighth floor. Exiting the elevator, they walked towards Wang Wentao's office.
As they passed by the core team's trading room, Chen Wei glanced inside. The conditions were indeed much better than their small trading room. Each person had a large solid wood desk with six big monitors arranged in two rows. Several top traders were sitting in leather chairs, either working on trades or chatting, looking extremely comfortable.
The trading room also had a coffee machine and a drink cabinet with free beverages. One table was filled with hamburgers, pizzas, cakes, and ham, available for anyone who got hungry at night.
After a quick glance, Chen Wei turned his head and continued walking forward, his longing for the place much diminished.
Arriving at Wang Wentao's office, Zhao Yang knocked on the door.
A voice from inside called out, "Come in!"
Zhao Yang pushed open the door and entered with Chen Wei.
He greeted Wang Wentao blandly and then sat down on the sofa, his face gloomy and silent.
"Oh, Chen Wei is here. Please, have a seat!"
Seeing Chen Wei come in, Wang Wentao stood up from behind his desk, smiled, and motioned for Chen Wei to sit down.
Wang Wentao, in his forties, wore gold-rimmed glasses, had neatly combed hair, and exuded a shrewd and worldly air.
Chen Wei smiled lightly, greeted Wang Wentao, and then sat down next to Zhao Yang.
Wang Wentao also sat down on a nearby single sofa, picked up the teapot and teacups from the coffee table, and poured three cups of tea.
"Come, try this tea."
He handed the tea to Chen Wei and Zhao Yang with a polite gesture.
Chen Wei took the tea, thanked him, and took a sip.
The tea was fresh and elegant, with a lasting aftertaste, quite good indeed.
"Good tea."
Chen Wei nodded and commented.
He rarely drank tea, though his father, Chen Jianping, loved it, often brewing the cheapest tea leaves in large amounts, making it bitter. Chen Wei couldn't stand it, but his father enjoyed it.
Wang Wentao's tea was far superior to those cheap leaves. Even though Chen Wei wasn't a tea connoisseur, he could appreciate the quality.
Zhao Yang also took a sip but remained expressionless, setting the cup down silently, still looking grim.
Wang Wentao glanced at him, shook his head with a smile, and refilled their cups. "A friend gave me this tea. You can't buy it on the market. I don't even drink it often myself. I only brought it out because you and Zhao are here. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so generous."
Chen Wei smiled lightly, saying nothing.
Zhao Yang's face softened slightly at these words.
"How did things go today?"
Wang Wentao asked Chen Wei.
"Not bad, made about sixty thousand."
Chen Wei took another sip of tea, finding it quite addictive.
"Wow, impressive! That's a lot! Even more than our core team traders make! Those guys can't make as much in a month as you do in a day. It's frustrating!"
Wang Wentao feigned frustration.
Chen Wei didn't respond.
Wang Wentao refilled their cups again and said to Zhao Yang, "Zhao, drink up! Why are you being polite with me? Let me tell you, if you ask for this tea next time, there won't be any left!"
Zhao Yang picked up his cup, took a sip, and muttered, "If you don't have any, I'll find some myself."
Wang Wentao laughed, "You rascal, always taking my stuff!"
Chen Wei observed this and thought to himself that Wang Wentao really knew how to win people over. A few simple words and he almost dissolved Zhao Yang's grievances.
Then, Wang Wentao looked at Chen Wei, sighed lightly, and said, "Chen Wei, with your current skills, you're fully qualified to join the company's core team. But since you've just started making money, company policy requires three consecutive months of over ten thousand in earnings before joining the core team. I wanted to make an exception, but Zhao, Luo Chen, and the other team leaders all had strong objections."
Chen Wei responded calmly, "Oh."
Wang Wentao continued, "I understand Zhao's thoughts. He wants to keep you in Group Seven for a couple more months so he can maintain his top position. It's not about the bonus; he just likes showing off to the other team leaders, right, Zhao?"
Zhao Yang, still stern-faced, retorted, "Who's showing off!"
Wang Wentao laughed and said, "As for Luo Chen and the others, they have their own reasons. Even though I'm the general manager, I can't disregard their opinions. So, I have to ask you to wait two more months before joining the core team."
Without waiting for Chen Wei to respond, Wang Wentao continued, "Of course, I understand you might be upset about this. So, starting next month, your permissions and commissions will be the same as the core team, but you'll still trade from the lower-level trading room. What do you think?"
Chen Wei nodded slightly.
If his permissions and commissions were the same as the core team, he could accept that.
He was considering going independent, but that required money.
He made over a million this month, but even without buying a house, it wasn't enough.
Setting up an office, buying equipment, and opening an account all required significant funds. A hundred thousand wouldn't cut it.
In short, to start his own trading company, Chen Wei needed at least five million.
So, the best option was to stay with Meitai for another month.