Lin Tang's actual intention was to tell her he was incredibly agitated and that she should stop ssing around. But who would have thought that after Lee Encai was startled, she would flash out her other hand and say urgently, "D-don't... don't bully ! At worst, I'll... I'll help you cool down, okay?"
"Uh—"
Even for a master cultivator like Lin Tang, the move was so unexpected that he froze as if his pressure points had been struck, unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as she did as she pleased!
A possibility suddenly flashed through his mind. Does this an I need help from Shen Youling, who also has a special physique, to successfully break through? I used to live in seclusion, cultivating in the mountains. There too, I hit a bottleneck and couldn't break through no matter how hard I tried. But right after I ca down the mountain, I ran into Shen Youling and inexplicably broke through. If that's the case, won't I always be dependent on her, completely at her rcy? Do I have to swallow my pride and go make up with her?! I refuse to believe that superstition. I'll try to break through on my own a few more tis. If it still doesn't work, then I'll consider a long-term plan!
Lin Tang's expression flickered with indecision.
「In the bathroom.」
Lee Encai first used a generous amount of hand soap to wash her hands. She washed them over and over, but they still felt strange. In the end, she took a full shower, changed her clothes, and threw the outfit she had been wearing into the trash can with disgust.
"That damn Lin Tang, he couldn't even give a heads-up to get out of the way..." she muttered and cursed.
When she ca out and saw Lin Tang still pulling a long face, she grew even more dissatisfied. "My hand is about to fall off, and you have the nerve to give that look?"
"No, I was just wondering why you did that. I was trying to tell you to stop ssing around, but then you... Sigh. I don't even know what to say."
"???"
You bastard! Taking advantage of and then playing innocent! If that's what you really ant, why are you only saying it now? Do you really think I'm an idiot you can fool so easily?
"Hmph, don't worry. I never said you had to take responsibility for . It was just a... massage, that's all. I don't think it's a big deal! I won't go blabbing about it, and you better keep it a secret too, you hear?" Lee Encai scrunched her nose, her expression a mix of adorable petulance and mock fierceness.
「The next day.」
Mo Pinglan still hadn't returned.
Looks like her debt collection failed. I guess I'll have to handle it myself!
Although Lee Encai's interruption yesterday had lifted his spirits a little, the shadow of his failed breakthrough still lingered. Taking it out on Zhou Rushan seed like the perfect solution.
"Encai, I'm heading out," he said, greeting Lee Encai with a pleasant smile.
"Hmm?" Lee Encai was taken aback. Why is his attitude toward so good today? Yesterday, he was so impatient when he was about to leave. Could it be because of what I did yesterday...? she wondered, a strange expression on her face. She considered whether, if she did it a few more tis, he might transform into the perfect, doting gentleman.
"Can I go with you?" she asked.
"Of course! If that Yan Luoyang guy ca back for revenge while you were here alone, it would be a problem," Lin Tang nodded.
Lee Encai was moved to tears. So touching! He's actually thinking about my well-being!
Since Lee Encai was coming along, they might as well drive. Her driving skills were much better than Chen Yuyan's, and she drove steadily toward the Zhou Family estate.
「On the way.」
Lin Tang received a call from Mo Pinglan. She reported that the debt had been fully collected. Zhou Rushan had managed to scrape the money together by selling off all his assets at bargain-basent prices. The Zhou Family was now completely ruined. Without money to pay his subordinates, who would stay loyal to him? They had all fled. If it weren't for Song Chaohu's ability to keep order through sheer force, the n would have stripped the house bare of all its appliances and furniture.
"Master, I'm at the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom branch in Jiangbei now. If it's convenient, could you please co over? I'll have all the employees co out to welco you!"
"Alright." It seed Zhu Yingning was sincere about giving him the company. It would be foolish to refuse a free gift, so he decided to go.
The Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom branch was located on Jiangbei's central financial street. It was also the tallest, most eye-catching building on the street.
Shen Youling, dressed in a relatively cheap won's suit and holding her resu in a clear plastic folder, waited quietly in the interview area. There were many other candidates: elites who had returned from overseas, graduates from prestigious universities, and seasoned industry professionals. The competition was incredibly fierce.
Ever since learning of Shang Yuenong's appalling actions, Shen Youling felt too ashad to face Lin Tang and had fled Villa No. 1. Afterward, she managed to borrow so money from an old classmate. With that money, she rented a cheap apartnt, pulled herself together, and started looking for a job.
As Lin Tang had said, a young woman with a university degree shouldn't starve just because she'd left the Shen Family. In practice, however, she repeatedly found herself in difficult situations. For instance, she was nearly scamd by a real estate agent while looking for a place to rent. On another occasion, while viewing a property directly with the landlord, he suddenly made an inappropriate advance. Fortunately, she had prepared pepper spray. The mont she sensed sothing was wrong, she sprayed it decisively and fled.
The job-hunting process was also exceedingly awkward, mainly because she was too famous. The number one beauty of Jiangbei! At least ninety-nine percent of any large company had heard of her. The humiliating saga of the Shen Family had beco pri gossip, spreading far and wide. Even if a company didn't know initially, a simple background check would quickly bring them up to speed. These companies would then promptly inform her that their humble establishnt couldn't accommodate such a prominent figure.
Smaller companies, on the other hand, didn't bother with such thorough background checks and had no idea who she was. But she was too beautiful. Many felt she was unsuitable for the role and politely rejected her, or they would suggest she apply for positions like secretary, model, or strear instead.
Once bitten, twice shy. Shen Youling held no prejudice against these professions, but to be on the safe side, she turned them down. After searching high and low, she received an interview invitation from Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom. The offer was a pleasant surprise, and she was determined to seize this rare opportunity.
I have to pass. I can do this! Shen Youling silently cheered herself on, completely unaware that Lin Tang was now the owner of this very company.
As fate would have it, just as it was about to be her turn, the interviewer's phone rang. After taking the call, the interviewer quickly got up, went out, and announced that all interviews were suspended due to an urgent matter.
"Huh?"
"What's going on...?"
"I was planning to go to another interview after this. With this delay, I won't make it in ti."
"Hey, look, it seems like people from other departnts are running outside too!"
"What's happening? A fire drill?"
"Look downstairs!"
Everyone peered down and saw all the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom employees lining up in formation on the ground floor. So were even holding a large banner that read: "A Warm Welco to Our Chairman for His Visit."
"So the chairman of the company is here!"
"I heard their boss is really mysterious and never does interviews. No one even knows his real na."
"Could it be a young, handso, domineering CEO, just like in the TV dramas?"
"Haha, no way. This company has been around for over ten years."
"Just because it's been around for a decade doesn't an the owner is old. Maybe it's an heir?"
"Wow, did you guys see the woman standing at the very front? She's gorgeous, and her figure is incredible!"
"You're right, and she's so young..."
Their gazes locked onto Mo Pinglan, completely stunned by her beauty. Then, in unison, they all turned to look at Shen Youling.
Shen Youling had deliberately tried to downplay her appearance. She had her hair in bowl-cut bangs and wore black-frad glasses, without a trace of makeup. Even so, she was still remarkably eye-catching, and the other candidates had already been secretly sizing her up.
At this mont, perhaps because the distance blurred their vision, or maybe due to the added glamour of Mo Pinglan's high-status position, and thanks to the partial success of Shen Youling's attempt to look plain, they felt that Mo Pinglan was even more beautiful than Shen Youling. She had been outshone.
Shen Youling herself didn't care about such things, but she was still stunned. She recognized Mo Pinglan from the banquet, where she had been by Zhu Yingning's side.
This company belongs to that Ms. Zhu? Oh no! A jolt of panic shot through her. She rembered how Zhu Yingning had gnashed her teeth at the ntion of Lin Tang, her hostility palpable. Although she was now Lin Tang's ex-wife and had completely cut ties, who knew what Zhu Yingning might think? Was my interview invitation a trap? No, I have to get out of here, fast! Her expression filled with panic, she imdiately turned and hurried away.
"Huh?" The other candidates were surprised. She's giving up on the interview just because she thinks her looks were surpassed? What kind of mindset is that? Was she planning to seduce a superior, but gave up when she saw the leader was an even greater beauty?
So of the male candidates looked on with regret. I was hoping that if both she and I passed the interview, we could beco colleagues and maybe even a couple one day. Even if that didn't happen, just having her around to look at every day would have been a treat. And now, she's gone...
Shen Youling rushed to the ground floor, intending to slip out the back door. However, she found it locked, with a security guard eyeing her suspiciously. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and exit through the main entrance. She kept her head bowed low, not daring to linger but also afraid to walk too quickly and arouse more suspicion.
Just then, a luxury car pulled to a stop in front of Mo Pinglan and the other employees. A man and a woman got out.
Everyone—the candidates upstairs and the employees below—snapped their heads toward them. Shen Youling also instinctively turned her head slightly, stealing a glance from the corner of her eye...
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