By the time she returned to her office, evening had fallen. She buried herself in paperwork, flipping through contracts and reports until her phone buzzed. Glancing at the time, she realized with mild surprise—it was already eleven.
She had set an alarm earlier precisely because she feared she might lose track of time. Tonight, she had an appointment.
Qiao Zhi stood, adjusting her posture. She touched up her makeup in the mirror, changed into a light dress, and slipped on white heels that accentuated her long, elegant legs. In the glass reflection, she looked like an empress disguising herself as a goddess descending among mortals.
She left through the president's private elevator, the quiet hum of machinery escorting her into the underground parking lot. She had not seen a single employee on the way down, and the solitude only made her aura seem sharper.
Sliding into her car, she picked up her phone and dialed. The call connected quickly.
