Undercurrents at the Celebration Dinner

The auction ended in a subtle atmosphere.

Yan Qingyue was undoubtedly the center of attention.

Not only because of her astonishing beauty and commanding presence, but also because her discerning eye had spotted a treasure: she had acquired the priceless Ming dynasty imperial court jeweled flower ornament for a rock-bottom price.

People kept coming up to congratulate her, their words full of envy and probing questions. They all wanted to get close to her or ask her for advice on appraising treasures.

Yan Qingyue handled them calmly and conducted herself with poise, but her mind was nowhere near the social pleasantries.

Out of the corner of her eye, she kept watching the man beside her, who looked unassuming but was already boiling over inside.

We're rich! President Yan is awesome! I'm awesome! The system is even more awesome!

Hahaha! The mission's complete, right? Where's the reward? Where's the reward?

Everyone around us is staring! Hehe, didn't see that coming, did you?

A true master keeps a low profile! Though President Yan was the one in the spotlight... half that medal belongs to me!

Lin Chen struggled to keep his face expressionless, but inside, gongs and drums were already roaring and firecrackers were going off.

He couldn't wait to check the system notification.

Yan Qingyue finally managed to free herself from the crowd and said to Lin Chen in a low voice:

"Let's go."

Her tone was as calm as ever, but a careful listener could detect a barely perceptible note of lightness.

Amid countless envious and inquisitive gazes, the two left the auction venue early.

Once they were seated in the back of the Rolls-Royce, the soundproof partition rose, completely shutting out the outside world.

Yan Qingyue didn't immediately tell the driver to go. She carefully took out the rosewood box and opened it again, examining the dazzling jeweled flower ornament by the soft light inside the car.

The longer she looked, the more astonished she became. Its craftsmanship and condition made it worth far more than merely "ten times the price." If she found a collector who truly loved it, its price would probably be beyond estimation.

She gently closed the lid and turned her gaze to Lin Chen, who was sitting ramrod straight beside her, though his wandering eyes made it clear his mind was elsewhere.

"Today, I have you to thank."

Her voice sounded especially clear in the enclosed car.

Lin Chen jolted back to his senses and hurriedly waved his hands.

"President Yan, you're too kind. I just... a blind cat stumbled across a dead mouse. Luck, it was pure luck!"

Right! Just luck! I can't let the system be exposed! Golden Eye and all that is way too fantastical!

"Luck?"

Yan Qingyue leaned slightly closer to him. In the confined space of the car, the movement felt somewhat oppressive. "Once is luck. What about twice? Three times?"

Her gaze seemed capable of seeing straight through him as she fixed her eyes on his.

"Kexiang Technology... that landscape painting... and this."

Lin Chen's heart instantly skipped a beat. The cold sweat that had just subsided broke out on his back again.

She really does know everything! What do I do? What do I do?

Is it time to come clean? I can't tell her about the system, even if she beats me to death! If I do, I'll definitely be hauled off and sliced up for research!

"President Yan, I..."

His mind raced as he tried to invent a plausible explanation. "I'm just... just more sensitive to numbers and market fluctuations, and then... maybe I also have a bit of... inexplicable intuition when it comes to old objects?

"Right! Intuition! I can't explain it myself!"

His expression was sincere, and his eyes looked—or tried to look—innocent and confused. He perfectly played the part of a young man bewildered by his own "gift."

Yan Qingyue watched him perform in silence.

She could clearly hear the panicked thoughts running through his head. He had even come up with "sliced up for research," and she almost couldn't hold back her laughter.

Of course she didn't believe his explanation.

Could intuition pinpoint stock codes and purchase times?

Could intuition sense a compartment hidden for hundreds of years through a box?

This was definitely more than simple intuition.

But she could tell he was determined to hide it to the very end.

If she pressed him, she probably wouldn't get the truth out of him anyway, and might even scare him away.

Right now, he was a treasure.

A treasure that could bring astonishing luck, or rather... reveal hidden wealth.

She leaned back against the seat again, her tone softening as though she had accepted his explanation full of holes.

"Is that so? Then your intuition really is quite special."

She paused, then changed the subject. "To celebrate what we gained today, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. What would you like to eat?"

A celebration dinner?! Yan Iceberg is treating me to dinner?!

Did the sun rise in the west? No, wait, is she still trying to pump me for information? A Hongmen Banquet?

Alarm bells went off in Lin Chen's head, but he didn't dare refuse aloud.

"President Yan, that's too generous of you. I... I'm fine with anything. I'll leave it to you."

"Then let's go to Cloud Summit."

Yan Qingyue gave the driver the instruction.

Cloud Summit Restaurant was one of the city's most upscale Western restaurants, renowned for its nighttime views overlooking the entire city and its steep prices.

Lin Chen clicked his tongue inwardly.

Goodness, President Yan really must be happy today. She's sparing no expense!

The car drove slowly toward the city.

Yan Qingyue said no more and closed her eyes to rest.

Lin Chen was happy to have some peace and quiet. He hurriedly called out to the system in his mind.

System, system! Is the mission complete?

[Ding—The Auction Trial has been completed.]

[Rewards issued: skill point x1, 100 system points. One mysterious gift pack has been deposited in the system space.]

[Congratulations, host. Golden Eye skill proficiency +20. Current proficiency: 20/100.]

YES!

Lin Chen was ecstatic. A skill point! Points! And a gift pack! Sweet!

He immediately looked into them.

The skill point could be used to raise a skill's level, and points could be exchanged for items in the system shop, though the shop had yet to open. The mysterious gift pack couldn't be opened for now; it showed that specific conditions were required to trigger it.

Without hesitation, he put the precious skill point into Golden Eye.

[Golden Eye (beginner) proficiency: 20/100 → 120/100.]

[Skill leveled up! Golden Eye (intermediate) proficiency: 20/200.]

[Skill effects enhanced: a small increase in perception probability, a small improvement in the completeness and accuracy of information, and the new ability to faintly perceive energy fields, effective on special items.]

It had leveled up!

And it could even perceive energy fields now?

Though the improvements were still "faint" and "small," they were genuine improvements all the same!

Lin Chen was thoroughly satisfied.

Dinner time.

The best table with a view at Cloud Summit Restaurant.

Soft lighting, melodious piano music, exquisite tableware, and delicious food.

Yan Qingyue seemed to have set aside her investigation for the time being. She ate gracefully and occasionally chatted about company matters or inconsequential topics. The atmosphere was unusually relaxed.

Lin Chen gradually relaxed as well. With delicious food before him, a beautiful view beside him, and a beautiful president for company, though her motives weren't pure, the treatment was simply incredible.

I have to say, when Yan Iceberg eats quietly without talking, she's pretty pleasing to the eye... much prettier than when she's acting all fierce.

This steak is really good, though the portion's a bit small... Can I order another one? That doesn't seem very polite...

Yan Qingyue cut the foie gras on her plate, listening to his jumbled complaints and his dilemma over the steak. The corners of her lips curved almost imperceptibly.

Just then, a man's voice rang out, tinged with surprise.

"Qingyue? What a coincidence!"

Lin Chen looked up, and his heart immediately sank.

It was Zhang Weiming!

That annoying marketing director!

A fashionably dressed young woman accompanied him.

Zhang Weiming's eyes lit up when he saw Yan Qingyue. Then he saw Lin Chen across from her, and his gaze immediately darkened, a trace of gloom flashing through it.

"Director Zhang."

Yan Qingyue gave him a slight nod in greeting, her manner distant.

"And who is this?"

Zhang Weiming sized Lin Chen up with feigned curiosity, a barely perceptible hint of contempt in his voice. "He looks a little unfamiliar. He's not in our circle, is he? Qingyue, your social circle is getting more and more... broad these days."

The steak in Lin Chen's mouth suddenly lost its flavor.

Damn it, why is this fly everywhere? He's not here with good intentions!

Yan Qingyue set down her knife and fork, picked up her napkin, and dabbed at the corners of her mouth, her movements unhurried.

"My special assistant, Lin Chen.

"I brought a capable subordinate out to celebrate a successful project. Is there a problem, Director Zhang?"

Her tone was even, but it carried an unquestionable authority as she directly referred to Lin Chen as a "capable subordinate."

By defining the meal as a "company celebration," she cut off any nasty remarks Zhang Weiming might have made next.

Zhang Weiming was taken aback, his face stiffening with embarrassment. He gave two dry chuckles.

"Heh, no problem, of course not. President Yan, you really do care about your subordinates. We won't disturb you two, then."

He left with his companion in frustration, but the look he gave Lin Chen was even more hostile.

Hmph, a mere assistant thinks he's worthy of dining alone with Qingyue somewhere like this? Just you wait!

The little incident cooled the atmosphere.

Yan Qingyue frowned slightly.

Zhang Weiming's father was a director of the company. Although she disliked Zhang Weiming, she couldn't completely disregard him.

Besides, Zhang Weiming was narrow-minded and would repay the slightest grievance...

She looked at Lin Chen across the table. His head was lowered, and he seemed focused on cutting his steak, but his thoughts were anything but calm.

Damn it, he ruined my appetite!

That guy definitely has it in for me now!

He wouldn't make things difficult for me behind the scenes, would he?

No, I have to get stronger, fast!

I've got the system, so why the hell should I be afraid of him!

But President Yan really stood up for me just now!

She actually called me a capable subordinate? And said we were celebrating the project's success?

Hehe, that does have a nice ring to it...

Listening to his thoughts shift from indignation to self-encouragement and then to a touch of pride, Yan Qingyue suddenly found it a little funny.

Sometimes this guy was scared out of his wits, and sometimes he was blindly optimistic. He was rather interesting.

"Don't worry."

She spoke suddenly, her voice a little softer than before. "Just do your own job."

Lin Chen looked up at her in some surprise.

Yan Qingyue said nothing more, only raising her glass of red wine.

"Today, thank you for your 'intuition.'"

The glasses touched gently with a crisp clink.

Under the lights, her eyes seemed to reflect the myriad lights outside the window, shimmering with color, deep and unfathomable.

Lin Chen stared, a little dazed, his heart inexplicably skipping a beat.

President Yan... really does seem... pretty...

Hearing this compliment straight from his heart, Yan Qingyue tightened her fingers slightly around her wineglass and looked away. The tips of her ears seemed to grow a little warm.

After dinner, the driver took Lin Chen home first.

As he got out, Yan Qingyue suddenly called to him.

"Assistant Lin."

"President Yan, is there something else?" Lin Chen quickly turned back.

Yan Qingyue looked at him. Her expression was hard to make out in the darkness, but her voice came through clearly.

"Be at work on time next Monday. And... keep that 'intuition' of yours."

With that, the window rose, and the Rolls-Royce glided silently into the night.

Lin Chen stood where he was, pondering her last words.

Keep my intuition? What does that mean? Is she encouraging me to keep using the system?

Or... did she really believe my nonsense?

He shook his head and thought no more about it. Excited, he rushed home, ready to study the system rewards and figure out how to use his first pot of gold to make more money.

Meanwhile, in the car, Yan Qingyue watched the colorful lights streak past the window, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the screen of her phone.

The screen displayed her conversation with Secretary Li.

"Conduct an in-depth investigation into Lin Chen's entire background, including his family, education, and personal relationships. Don't overlook anything unusual."

"At the same time, keep a close eye on Zhang Weiming's recent movements, especially anything directed at Assistant Lin."

After sending the messages, she closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.

Lin Chen, I will uncover the secrets you're hiding.

And until then, no one is going to lay a hand on my man.