There, standing right behind her, was the president of Tidal Group—Yan Luoxi, her face completely devoid of expression.
Yan Luoxi stood at five-foot-seven, her figure tall and elegant, as straight and upright as a fir tree in winter.
Her skin was a natural ivory, as pure as freshly fallen snow. Her features were sharply defined, like a master sculptor’s masterpiece, possessing both classical perfection and modern delicacy.
Her eyes were deep and bright, like two cold, mysterious gems. She exuded an unapproachable aura that naturally kept others at a distance.
"Ah—"
Snapping to her senses, a flustered Shen Meng quickly bowed. "P-President Yan, hello."
Yan Luoxi said nothing, merely offering a slight nod. She gave Shen Meng an expressionless glance before turning and walking into the exclusive presidential elevator on the other side.
"CLICK-CLACK—CLICK-CLACK-CLACK—"
Only after the sound of high heels faded into the distance did Shen Meng dare to let out a quiet sigh of relief.
’It can’t be helped!’
’That was terrifying!’
’Our president’s natural aura is just too powerful!’
’The Ice Queen President...’
’It’s true!’
’People don’t get nicknames like that for no reason!’
’That felt like trying to walk down a muddy path—impossible to take a single step!’
"Phew..."
After letting out a long sigh, Shen Meng belatedly noticed that the back of her shirt was soaked through.
Reaching back to touch it, she discovered that even her bra straps underneath were drenched!
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She shook her head in resignation and scurried off toward the women’s restroom.
*
*
*
"BUZZ—"
Meanwhile, Gu Yizhou had just sat down at his desk when his phone started to vibrate.
He put down his breakfast and pulled the phone from his pocket.
A WeChat message from his mom was displayed on the screen.
Mom: "I talked it over with your dad last night. We think you have a point. I’ll go to the bank in a little while to transfer you the money for the down payment."
Gu Yizhou’s eyes lit up after reading the message. He was ecstatic!
He quickly typed back a reply, "Okay, Mom. Got it!"
The moment he sent his message, his mom replied instantly.
Mom: "You little brat, if you don’t bring a daughter-in-law home for New Year’s, I’m not letting you off the hook!"
Gu Yizhou: "..."
Seeing his mom bring this up again, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
’What a headache!’
He gave a few perfunctory replies before using work as an excuse to end the conversation.
...
「At the same time.」
The top floor of the Modu Financial Mansion, in the presidential office of Tidal Group.
Yan Luoxi sat in her soft, comfortable executive chair, listening to her assistant report on the day’s schedule.
"At 10:30, you have a multinational investment meeting. At 11:30, President Chen from Shanglin Venture Capital will be here to sign a contract. At 3:00 PM, Yixin Hall Game Company has scheduled a meeting to discuss a share acquisition. And at 4:30, there’s a Kunpeng Technology angel round financing project that needs your review..."
As she listened to her assistant’s report, Yan Luoxi’s exquisitely cold face remained expressionless.
She had long grown accustomed to such a packed daily schedule.
In theory, as the president of the group, she didn’t need to handle so many matters personally. But it was in her nature; Yan Luoxi would not tolerate the slightest error in her work.
It was precisely because of her hands-on approach that in just three years after she took over, Tidal Group had grown from a ten-billion-dollar company into a hundred-billion-dollar conglomerate.
"Alright, I understand. We’ll stick to that schedule."
Yan Luoxi cut her assistant off with a wave of her hand, rubbing her temples as she spoke softly.
"Of course, President Yan."
Her young assistant, Bai Jie, nodded perceptively and asked, "Should I make you a cup of coffee?"
"Mm."
Yan Luoxi remembered she’d already had coffee that morning, so she said, "Make me a cup of tea instead."
"Of course, President Yan. One moment."
Bai Jie said with a respectful nod.
With that, she turned to leave the office.
Just then, Yan Luoxi suddenly remembered something and called out to her.
"Wait."
Bai Jie paused. She turned and walked back to her boss’s desk. "President Yan, is there anything else?"
"Prepare the investment risk assessment report for Zhongtian Technology and bring it to me."
Yan Luoxi said, looking up at her assistant.
"Hm?"
Bai Jie froze for a second. ’Wasn’t the stock investment in Zhongtian Technology rejected a while ago?’
’Why is President Yan suddenly bringing it up again?’
However, despite her confusion, she was a professional assistant who knew what questions were appropriate to ask and which were not.
So she just nodded respectfully. "Of course, President Yan. I’ll prepare it and bring it to you shortly."
"Mm."
Yan Luoxi nodded and waved her hand. "You may go."
At that, Bai Jie turned and left the president’s office to carry out her tasks.
*
*
*
「In the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime.」
Yan Luoxi was in her office, eating the exquisite light lunch her assistant had bought for her while on a video call with her mother.
To be precise, her mother, Tang Wanfang, had called her.
"Mom, is something wrong?"
Yan Luoxi swallowed a mouthful of salad and asked in a flat tone.
It was simply her nature. She wasn’t being disrespectful to her mother; she always spoke this way—emotionally stable, with a placid tone that created a sense of distance.
’No, that’s not right!’
’There is one person who can stir her emotions!’
’Gu Yizhou!’
’That’s right!’
’For some reason, Yan Luoxi had discovered that whenever she turned into a cat, just being near that damn man was enough to affect her. She would lose control of her emotions without even realizing it!’
’Normally, her emotions shouldn’t fluctuate that much!’
’After some thought, she concluded it had to be because that jerk, Gu Yizhou, was just so infuriating with his words and actions. That’s why she couldn’t control herself.’
’Yes!’
’That has to be it!’
Yan Luoxi thought to herself.
"Do I need a reason to call you?"
Tang Wanfang said from the video screen, her face stern. "So, tell me. Where were you the other day?!"
"Hm?"
Her mother’s words snapped Yan Luoxi back to reality. She couldn’t help but frown slightly.
’I don’t even have to think about it.’
’It must have been Roy. That girl tattled on me!’
Seeing her daughter’s silence, Tang Wanfang, on the other end of the call, grew angrier. Her face darkened as she scolded, "You girl! Something so major happened and you didn’t even say a word to your family? Are you trying to worry me to death?"
"Mom, don’t be angry. I’m fine."
Yan Luoxi said, shaking her head.
"You’re fine? So that means Roy..."
Tang Wanfang almost let the name slip. She quickly changed the subject. "Ahem, anyway... I heard you’re dating someone? When are you going to bring him home for us to meet?"
Yan Luoxi: "?????"