At the same time, on the 38th floor of the Cao Group…
After finishing the call with Lin Wanrong, Shen Mengying let out a breath of relief. Seeing that Director Qian was still waiting eagerly for a response, she quickly comforted her, “Alright—don’t worry anymore, Director Qian. CEO Lin already said it’s not your fault.”
“From now on, you just need to closely monitor Young Master Cao’s fund movements. Report to me immediately if anything happens.”
“Understood.” Director Qian visibly relaxed and gave a grateful nod, “Thank you for CEO Lin’s generosity.”
“I’ll definitely keep a tight watch on Young Master Cao and report the slightest movement immediately.”
“Also,” Shen Mengying paused, a trace of apology flashing across her face, “as for what happened today with Young Master Cao, CEO Lin said she can only find a chance later to help you settle that score.”
Director Qian maintained her flattering tone, “I understand. What happened today isn’t something that can be openly addressed…”
“CEO Lin not only didn’t blame me for mishandling things but also kept in mind to help me get revenge in the future—I’m already incredibly grateful.”
“If anyone is to blame, it’s only Young Master Cao for being too rough and overbearing.”
“It’s good that you understand,” Shen Mengying didn’t respond further or take the opportunity to belittle Cao Chuan. “I still have something to do, I’ll head out first.”
After another polite phrase, she turned to leave.
“I’ll see you out, Assistant Shen.”
Director Qian escorted her all the way to the elevator. Shen Mengying had no choice but to keep smiling.
Only when the elevator doors closed did her expression collapse into a bitter face as she hugged herself tightly.
“Being a worker… is so hard.”
As the Cao Group’s general manager assistant and a trusted aide to Lin Wanrong, she knew very well the true motive behind Lin Wanrong’s actions today.
Put simply, Lin Wanrong wanted to interfere in the Cao Family’s heir dispute and help Cao Hai seize the position of the Cao Family Heir.
This general manager of the Cao Group clearly wasn’t satisfied with just being a general manager—she had much greater ambitions.
But Shen Mengying herself never wanted to get involved in this kind of mess.
She just wanted a decent job, one with enough dignity and a high enough income.
She was just an ordinary girl from a regular family in another city. She had no ambitions to speak of.
Not to mention, getting involved in this kind of thing was far too dangerous.
Looking at past examples, inheritance struggles in big families always ended in bloody chaos.
And for low-level people like her, it was all too easy to become one of the countless bones left behind in someone else’s rise to glory.
She had no grudge with Cao Chuan. Only someone with a hole in their brain would risk their life for a salary of 20,000 or 30,000 yuan a month.
But now, the situation was beyond her control.
Lin Wanrong was a top authority in the Cao Group, and she also held a piece of dirt on her that could instantly ruin her reputation in the Real World.
With no other option, Shen Mengying could only temporarily give in.
Thinking of her current situation, Shen Mengying immediately recalled a once-popular meme.
On one side was her superior who held leverage over her, on the other was the Cao Family Eldest Young Master—a mad, overbearing brute with a simple brain and strong limbs.
Caught between the two, she fit that meme perfectly.
“I can’t disobey CEO Lin’s orders, and I can’t afford to offend Young Master Cao either.”
“I’m a cute girl in her twenties, yet I’m bearing pressure someone my age shouldn’t have to carry.”
…
Just as Shen Mengying was wallowing in her troubles and trembling slightly…
Elsewhere, on the 66th floor of the Cao Group, in front of Baichuan Investment Co., Ltd…
[Ding! Congratulations, host. Villain behavior completed. You’ve received a Villain Reward: 1,000 Villain Points.]
A System notification suddenly sounded in Cao Chuan’s mind.
“This counts too?”
Cao Chuan’s eyes moved slightly. He immediately pulled up the System interface.
[Villain System]
Host: Cao Chuan
Gender: Male
Identity: Eldest son of the Cao Family in Zhonghai… Legal representative and general manager of Baichuan Investment Co., Ltd., fiancé of Zhonghai Ye Family heiress Ye Shuang’er
Age: 25
Height: 186.8 cm
Weight: 85.9 kg
Body Status: 80 (Muscle Dominator)
Note: Below 60 is unhealthy. 60 is qualified. 70 is strong. 80 is Muscle Dominator. 90 is Ultimate Muscle Dominator. 99 is top world-class athlete level. 100 is perfection (human physical limit).
Looks: 90 (out of 100; exclusive to novel readers)
Aura: 70 (out of 100; exclusive to novel readers)
Current Villain Points: 3,000 (Eligible for one draw)
Inventory: Empty
Then he switched to the lottery page of the System.
A new System notification followed.
[Current Villain Points eligible for one draw. Host, would you like to proceed with the lottery?]
“Draw.”
The moment Cao Chuan gave the mental command, a golden spinning wheel lit up and began to spin.
After a flash of golden light, it came to a stop.
[Congratulations, host. You have drawn the reward: Villain’s Eye.]
As the System voice sounded again, a cool sensation wrapped around Cao Chuan’s eyes.
It was as if countless nanobots were performing surgery on his eyeballs.
When the subtle sensation faded, the world in front of him instantly became clearer and sharper.
Feeling amazed, Cao Chuan immediately checked the details of Villain’s Eye.
[Villain’s Eye: A villain-exclusive ocular technique. Once acquired, focusing on a target allows automatic scanning of their basic information, as well as two critical indicators: Favorability and Loyalty.]
Though he didn’t fully understand it, it seemed pretty powerful.
He tested it by focusing on Song Keran behind him.
[Song Keran]
Gender: Female
Identity: Secretary to the General Manager of Baichuan Investment Co., Ltd.; elite graduate of Zhonghai School of Economics and Business
Age: 25
Height: 168.5 cm
Weight: 52.9 kg
Looks: 90 (60 = pass; 70 = public goddess level; 80 = top influencer/small celebrity; 90 = superstar level; 100 = perfection; exclusive to novel readers)
Figure: 90 (60 = pass; 70 = good; 80 = excellent; 90 = top-tier; 100 = perfect divine beauty)
Aura: 90 (60 = pass; 70 = good; 80 = excellent…)
Loyalty: 70 (Below 60 = disloyal; 61–70 = loyal; 71–80 = very loyal; 81–90 = utterly devoted; 91–99 = would die for you)
Favorability: 70 (Below 60 = indifferent; 60 = more than friends, less than lovers; 61–70 = like; 71–80 = love; 81–90 = deeply in love; 91–99 = eternal love)
Cao Chuan’s eyes twitched again.
It really worked?
And even more absurd—Song Keran’s Loyalty and Favorability toward him were both at 70?
Loyalty rating: [Loyal], nearing very loyal.
Favorability rating: [Like], close to love.
No wonder after he secured the Cao Family Heir position, she considered things from his perspective…
She even tactfully reminded him just now that holding back at the right moment could lead to surprising results.
Looking at Song Keran’s cold yet stunning face, Cao Chuan’s lips curved slightly.
Song Keran seemed to still be deep in thought. At this moment, perhaps sensing his gaze, she suddenly snapped out of it.
The moment their eyes met, she clearly tensed.
“Young Master Cao, why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m wondering what you’re thinking about,” Cao Chuan said with a half-smile.
“Me? I was just thinking about what happened earlier with Director Qian.” Song Keran didn’t notice his expression at all and quickly shared her thoughts.
“I replayed everything in my head while I was in the elevator. I think you might really be right.”
“When it came to transferring such a large sum of money, Director Qian—Cao Group’s financial director—seemed shockingly unprofessional.”
“And also Assistant Shen… Her timing when she entered Director Qian’s office was far too coincidental. Plus, her reaction upon seeing you and facing your questioning felt off…”
“So, should I take it that… you’re thinking on my behalf?”
Cao Chuan’s smile deepened as he looked her over from head to toe.
“Lin Wanrong’s spy… My Secretary Song.”
Song Keran clearly hadn’t expected him to put it that way. Her expression froze for a moment.
Cao Chuan’s gaze turned even more aggressive, his smile growing intense.
“Don’t tell me you have some… special kink? After getting scolded and punished by me, you actually started liking me?”
“N-no, that’s not it!” Song Keran quickly looked away.
“I just think… what you said earlier made a lot of sense. A person shouldn’t forget their roots.”
“My job was given by you—it was you who gave me a means to live, and the first bit of money to treat my mother’s illness. I shouldn’t betray you. I should serve you first and foremost.”
Cao Chuan grabbed her chin and turned her head toward him, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“Is that really all it is?”