To put it simply, if Xiangyi wanted to get inside, she had to get her hands on an employee ID card.
Xiangyi reluctantly backed away from the entrance, wondering if she could climb up from another floor through a window. But when she looked, she saw that all the windows were made of specialized bulletproof glass. No matter what Shaoyao and Hua Nu did, they couldn't budge them. Even more frustrated, Xiangyi continued around the back and spotted a man in a suit flirting with a woman.
Both of them wore employee badges. Xiangyi seemed to have found a shortcut inside, so she had Hua Nu take control of them and took the woman's ID card.
But when Xiangyi looked at her student-like outfit, she remembered that she'd already appeared on the lobby's security cameras. Going upstairs dressed like this would make her stand out too much. After thinking it over, she finally steeled herself, stripped the woman's clothes off, and tossed them both into the Flower God Ring.
Once she'd done that, Xiangyi changed into the woman's professional outfit. She let her hair down, took off her glasses, and put on the employee badge. Her entire air changed at once.
At that moment, no one suspected Xiangyi.
She walked through the entrance again as if it were the most natural thing in the world. There weren't many people in the lobby, but as soon as they saw Xiangyi, everyone's attention naturally focused on her. Xiangyi had a bad feeling, but still put on an air of haughty indifference and headed straight for the elevator. Just as she was about to use her employee badge to open the doors, a man in a suit called out to her.
"Hello. Are you CEO Ye?" Xiangyi waved the employee badge in her hand while covering the photo, keeping the man from noticing that it didn't match her face at all.
But the man kept staring at Xiangyi and didn't notice that detail. It seemed he'd deliberately come over to strike up a conversation. Realizing his mistake, he smiled even more broadly and said, "Sorry, miss. You're so beautiful that I thought you were CEO Ye."
Xiangyi had no choice but to answer, "No, my name is Zhang Xiaoshuang." She was about to scan her badge, but the man had already helpfully opened the elevator doors for her. Xiangyi thanked him and stepped inside. He was still smiling, but he seemed to be waiting for someone, so he didn't come up with her.
Xiangyi had successfully taken the first step. Standing where she could be seen directly from the elevator, she casually pressed the button for the third floor.
First, she didn't want her methods to cause Shuxuan trouble;
Second, she needed to create a distraction so people wouldn't discover her real purpose.
So she went to the third floor, nowhere near her destination, then headed straight upstairs and found the office Shuxuan had mentioned.
The meeting had already started. Shuxuan sat in the deputy manager's seat, her expression grave as she joined the others. Across from her sat a man who looked like a client.
But he wasn't a fat, balding man. He was a handsome, fresh-faced guy in a suit. Considering how Shuxuan had dressed today, it wasn't hard to guess why.
Although Xiangyi didn't have those kinds of feelings for Shuxuan, she had to get Shuxuan's first and second kisses, no matter what.
Having made up her mind, Xiangyi looked around again, wondering if she could find an excuse to call Shuxuan outside—or have Hua Nu carefully slip the documents in and avoid this moment.
"Young Master Chen, what do you think of this proposal?"
The woman presenting the proposal at the front of the room wore light makeup, but she couldn't hold a candle to Shuxuan's looks. Still, Xiangyi's sharp eyesight let her read the words "Sales Manager" on the woman's badge.
No need to guess. This was the woman who'd taken Shuxuan's manager position. Shuxuan clearly had no say in the meeting. She'd carefully prepared this proposal to challenge the general manager and win her old position back.
"It's all right. What about everyone else? Don't you have any proposals?" The man called Young Master Chen shifted his gaze. Even though Shuxuan stood out most in the room, he didn't look at her much.
Maybe he was pretending to be a gentleman, or maybe he really was a well-bred young master. Everyone present took Young Master Chen very seriously, but none of them seemed to dare casually present a proposal to him.
Shuxuan's expression grew more and more troubled. She clutched her phone in both hands, as if praying for something. Perhaps she was praying for a miracle, or perhaps for someone to come along and change everything.
Hua Nu: Master, someone's coming.
Hua Nu's voice suddenly sounded in Xiangyi's mind. Looking in the direction Hua Nu had indicated, Xiangyi saw someone approaching with a tea tray. It held cups of tea, and Xiangyi already had a plan. She could create an opportunity to enter, draw everyone's attention to herself, and then have Hua Nu deliver the documents to Shuxuan.
Xiangyi: Hua Nu, I need you to help me with something. Hua Nu: Do you want me to kill someone?
Xiangyi laughed helplessly and reminded her:
Xiangyi: This is a peaceful era. I need you to knock that woman out and give me a chance to enter the office.
Hua Nu nodded. In an instant, she sent a silver needle flying. The woman's body suddenly jerked, then toppled over from the momentum. Xiangyi immediately caught the tea tray and put the woman into the Flower God Ring.
The whole thing happened in one smooth motion. Xiangyi breathed a sigh of relief and knocked on the office door.
"Come in." A voice came from inside at once, but everyone was too tense to pay attention to Xiangyi.
Shuxuan, however, glanced over. When she saw Xiangyi's face, her taut nerves relaxed.
Xiangyi didn't make eye contact with Shuxuan. She first set the tea down properly, while secretly having Shaoyao slip the fallen documents into Shuxuan's hand.
The whole process aroused no suspicion, but it wasn't long before everyone noticed how unfamiliar Xiangyi's face was. It was both unfamiliar and exceptionally beautiful, making them curious and strangely unsettled.
Most importantly, Young Master Chen seemed unable to take his eyes off Xiangyi.
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Using My Cheat Skill Makes Me So Overconfident
It was an uncontrollable attraction that made Young Master Chen forget the manners he should have had.
Shaoyao: That guy keeps staring at you, Flower Master. Is something wrong with him?
Shaoyao's voice appeared in Xiangyi's mind. Xiangyi had been a little nervous, and Shaoyao's comment nearly made her crack. She tried hard to control her emotions, but still managed a polite smile.
"Young Master Chen? Young Master Chen?"
The others had noticed Young Master Chen zoning out. Somewhat awkwardly, they called his name.
"Oh, sorry. I'm listening. Where were we?" Young Master Chen looked embarrassed, as if he couldn't understand why he'd lost his composure.
He'd seen plenty of beautiful women, but he'd never met anyone like Xiangyi.
She was stunning, yet there was no arrogance in her eyes. She seemed approachable. Her beauty was calm and unassuming, with a hint of mystery that made Young Master Chen want to call off the meeting and take this unexpected woman out for coffee to talk about life.
The others looked utterly bewildered. They had no idea the company had anyone this beautiful, and what was more, she'd only come in to serve tea. She showed no sign of lingering afterward, which made Young Master Chen restless.
The Sales Manager leading the meeting saw an opportunity and hurried to call Xiangyi back as she was about to leave.
"You're the new girl, Xiaoshuang, right? Stay and listen. You can learn from your seniors' experience." The Sales Manager sounded perfectly serious, making it seem as though Xiangyi really was a member of the sales team.
But how could the sales team members not know that wasn't true? They didn't know who the woman was, but they still didn't dare call her out.
Shuxuan, who'd gotten the documents from Shaoyao, was terrified. Afraid she'd dragged Xiangyi into trouble, she was about to stand up and explain when she felt a force pin her down. There was no one nearby, but she could faintly smell flowers.
Shuxuan realized that one of Xiangyi's invisible magical beasts must be hiding beside her, so she settled down. But she still looked at Xiangyi anxiously, afraid that a student wouldn't know how to handle the situation.
"Yes, Manager." Xiangyi wasn't worried. If she'd been an ordinary person, she might have been intimidated by a situation like this. But now she could protect herself, and Hua Nu was behind her, a tool who could do anything. Even if she said something wrong, Hua Nu could simply give everyone a single jab and make them forget Xiangyi had ever been there.
Of course, she'd heard that the effect could have side effects. Since Xiangyi wasn't trying to rob or murder anyone, she wouldn't do anything too extreme. She obediently stood where Young Master Chen could see her.
Shaoyao: He's still staring. Should I just dig his eyes out?
Shaoyao was clearly displeased with Young Master Chen's gaze. For some reason, Xiangyi taking off her glasses made her seem like a completely different person, which left Shaoyao so irritated that she wanted to tell Xiangyi to put them back on.
Hua Nu: Everyone loves beauty. Just look at Flower Master. Isn't she beautiful?
Hua Nu smiled nearby, her gaze on Xiangyi always carrying a hint of heat and curiosity, as if she were trying to find some kind of clue. Xiangyi wasn't uncomfortable under Young Master Chen's gaze, but Hua Nu's stare made her feel uneasy.
She couldn't figure out what Hua Nu was looking for, but whenever she tried to ask, she couldn't get an answer. After thinking it over, she deliberately looked away and pretended to listen to the others.
Young Master Chen was paying less and less attention to the meeting. He kept politely turning down the proposals, but didn't seem genuinely interested in signing a contract with the company. The Sales Manager was annoyed, but couldn't show it. After thinking for a moment, she decided to make an example of someone, starting with Xiangyi.
"Xiaoshuang, summarize what we've discussed so far." The Sales Manager looked at Xiangyi, hoping to use the opportunity to scold her and show Young Master Chen what was going on.
Shuxuan was so nervous her throat seemed to jump. Though it was a sales meeting, it involved a lot of specialized knowledge. Even Shuxuan had to prepare carefully to understand everything. And Xiangyi—a student about to enter her final year of high school—couldn't possibly summarize the meeting's contents in such a short time.
Knowing Xiangyi had come for her, Shuxuan couldn't let her get hurt. She tried to stand again, but Shaoyao held her down.
"..."
Shuxuan was speechless. Then she saw Xiangyi looking at her and smiling. Xiangyi looked calm and confident. Shuxuan was confused, but with all sorts of questions running through her mind, she chose to trust Xiangyi.
"All right, Manager. I'll go over the main points, but I'm new, so there are some things I may not fully understand. Please forgive me if I get anything wrong." How could Xiangyi be afraid? With Eidetic Memory, she could afford to be overconfident.
Her mind could record countless things, and whenever she needed them, she could immediately retrieve the information and repeat it. Even the smallest details of everyday life stayed in her memory.
Once she finished speaking, she began fluently reciting the key points. Young Master Chen listened, his expression showing a hint of admiration. He seemed impressed that Xiangyi had grasped everything so quickly.
The Sales Manager looked unhappy. She'd tried to make an example of Xiangyi and failed. Realizing that she'd only embarrassed herself, she looked around for someone else to make an example of. Then she spotted Shuxuan and smiled.
"Xiaoshuang did an excellent job. She really is our ace new hire. Young Master Chen wanted to hear everyone else's proposals, didn't he? Shuxuan, our deputy manager, is one of our very best. Why don't we have her go next?" The Sales Manager began her little scheme, naturally shifting everyone's attention from Xiangyi to Shuxuan.
Shuxuan was prepared, and after seeing how hard Xiangyi had worked for her, there was no way she'd make a mistake. She needed this contract to succeed. She needed the money and a higher position. Clenching her fist, Shuxuan smiled and stood up.
This time, the invisible weight on her shoulders didn't return. It was as if the unseen hand had vanished, making Shuxuan wonder if the pressure had all been in her head. She smiled at Young Master Chen, then walked to the front.
Xiangyi paid closer attention than before, but when she saw Young Master Chen still looking at her, she made a polite gesture inviting him to listen, hoping he'd focus on the important things.
Young Master Chen realized he'd been rude to a beauty, and hurried to look at Shuxuan. Soon, he was drawn in by her proposal. When Shuxuan finished, Young Master Chen immediately agreed to go with her sales plan.
The room stirred, but when they considered the proposal carefully, they realized Shuxuan's contract was more ingenious. Not only that, it could help the company earn an additional ten percent in profit while making Young Master Chen feel completely at ease.
"I'm looking forward to a win-win partnership with you, Ms. Jing." Young Master Chen smiled as he shook Shuxuan's hand, polite and perfectly measured. Shuxuan smiled and replied courteously, "I'll do my best. By the way, Young Master Chen, there are a few details I'd like to confirm with you. When would you have time?"
Shuxuan was neither servile nor overbearing. Young Master Chen glanced at his secretary beside him, and the male secretary immediately understood and listed his schedule.
"Tonight, Young Master, you have to attend Madam Qin's banquet. At midnight, you need to catch a flight to Huangsha City." The secretary spoke quietly, explaining that Young Master Chen's business trip was tightly scheduled.
Hearing this, Young Master Chen frowned slightly, displeased. His gaze shifted past Shuxuan to Xiangyi standing nearby, as if he felt reluctant to leave.
"Then how about at noon?" Young Master Chen sighed. In the end, he gave up on having lunch with Xiangyi.
Shuxuan remembered that she was supposed to meet Zhang Mou, the mother of Prince Qin, at noon. But Young Master Chen didn't have any other time, putting her in a difficult position.
"What's wrong? Do you have something else to do? You heard me—I don't have time to meet in person otherwise." Young Master Chen waved a hand, his expression tinged with helplessness. If he could, he'd have liked to relax, but that clearly wasn't possible.
Madam Qin's banquet that evening was extremely important. A woman Young Master Chen had dreamed of meeting would be there.
"Well... I can rearrange my schedule. Please give me a few minutes to decide." Shuxuan gritted her teeth and decided to put her career first. Zhang Mou was her benefactor, but without a career, she couldn't achieve her future plans.
Young Master Chen agreed, and Shuxuan stepped aside to make a phone call.
Seeing this, Xiangyi started to leave with Shuxuan, but Young Master Chen stopped her.
"Miss, could we get to know each other?" Young Master Chen smiled brightly, making his intentions clear.
"Sure. But as you can see, our manager's planning to give me a little 'tough love.'" Xiangyi pointed to the Sales Manager glaring at her from a distance, sneaking in a dig at her and making Young Master Chen like Shuxuan more.
Xiangyi helped Shuxuan thoroughly, but left no sign that she was taking Shuxuan's side. Young Master Chen didn't know Xiangyi was still in high school. Hearing her words, he thought she was funny. As his fondness for her grew, he naturally became displeased with the Sales Manager who was picking on her.
"Would you like me to talk to her for you?"
"Don't. People might think I got promoted by relying on my looks." Xiangyi shook her head in refusal. Young Master Chen laughed even harder, then held out his hand and said, "Miss Xiaoshuang, you're really interesting. Then, outside of work, let's get to know each other. My name is Chen Haowen."
Xiangyi was about to take Chen Haowen's hand, but his name sounded far too familiar.
If she remembered right, Chen Haowen was the eldest son of the Chen family and the protagonist's best friend. But because the protagonist was so charming, Xiangyi had maliciously made Chen Haowen fall in love with him. From then on, Chen Haowen went down the path of being gay, willing to take a blade for the protagonist until he eventually died.
Though this wasn't the first time she'd seen a later character appear, Xiangyi still felt conflicted.
"What's wrong? Did my name scare you?" Chen Haowen still had no idea he was on his way to becoming gay, or that he'd be willing to die for a friend.
Xiangyi forced a smile, took his hand, and explained, "It did, actually. Who in Heaven City hasn't heard of the eldest son of the Chen family?"
"Then what if this eldest son of the Chen family invited you to have afternoon tea?" Chen Haowen's handsome, delicate face looked gayer and gayer to Xiangyi. She thought she could arrange for him to meet Ye Fan, who was basically a background character, so the two could live happily ever after.
Of course, if he turned out gay, then even if nothing happened between her and Shuxuan and she didn't get her first kiss, she wouldn't have to worry about Young Master Chen one day getting any ideas about the flower fairies or flower folk.
The more Xiangyi thought about it, the happier she felt. She nodded and said, "Sure. But I should warn you about something."
Young Master Chen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do you have a boyfriend?"
Xiangyi shook her head. "I don't have a boyfriend, but I only like women." As she spoke, she heard something fall behind her.
Shuxuan, who shouldn't have appeared at that moment, suddenly showed up. She stared at Xiangyi in shock, as if she'd heard every word of their conversation.
Xiangyi was speechless. She'd only said that to put Young Master Chen off, but the words had ended up scaring her target, Shuxuan, half to death.
But she didn't think she needed to explain. The more she explained, the more it would seem like a cover-up. So Xiangyi smiled, bent down to help Shuxuan pick up the fallen documents, and made a shushing gesture.
She'd meant to tell Shuxuan not to ask just yet, but from Shuxuan's perspective, it looked downright flirtatious.
Her face flushed slightly, and she couldn't control her strange reaction. She quickly looked at Young Master Chen, finally managing to calm down.
"Young Master... Chen, I've already spoken with my friend. We'll discuss the details of the contract at noon." Shuxuan responded, not daring to look at Xiangyi behind her.
Xiangyi knew Shuxuan had been startled. Now that she'd done everything she needed to do, she turned to slip away, but Young Master Chen called out to her again.
"Wait... Ms. Jing, could we add one more person? I'd like to get to know her." Young Master Chen still had no intention of giving up. With a smile, he invited Xiangyi to join them for the contract discussion.
"Well..." Shuxuan was at a loss, but Young Master Chen had already said, "Isn't she new? There's no harm in learning from her seniors."
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