Board meeting happens and Yao? Well, let's just say she is entertainment for two and hell for others.
Chapter Seven
4 Weeks Later
The terrace of the ZGDX base was bathed in the soft golden hues of the afternoon sun. The breeze was light, carrying the distant sounds of the city, but the space itself was quiet—peaceful, for once.
Which was exactly why Yao had claimed it as her grooming station.
Seated on a cushioned chair, legs crossed lazily, she was running a brush through Da Bing's thick, regal white fur.
The massive Kneazle lay stretched across the terrace floor like a king, his piercing blue eyes half-lidded in contentment as his mistress combed through his fur with practiced ease.
"You're so spoiled." Yao murmured as she carefully brushed out a tangle near his ear. Da Bing, in response, flicked his tail with superiority, his body completely relaxed, as if he knew he was being pampered like the royal beast he was. "Completely shameless, huh?" Yao chuckled fondly at her eldest brat.
"You should talk."
Yao froze mid-stroke. That voice. Deep. Smooth. Infuriatingly familiar. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Lu Sicheng. Exhaling through her nose, she resumed brushing Da Bing's fur, not bothering to look up. "What do you want, Storm Cloud?" she asked the male and smirked.
Sicheng, who had stepped onto the terrace with his usual lazy yet deliberate stride, let out a quiet huff at the nickname but ignored it. "You need to come with me." he ordered her and watched as she did not even twitch.
"Nope. Not happening." Yao didn't even pause as she responded to the male.
"You don't even know where." Sicheng arched a brow at the female as she snorted.
"I don't have to. You're wearing your corporate expression. That means HQ. And that means corporate idiots. And that means I'll kill someone." spoke Yao as she glanced up briefly, her viridian emerald gaze sharp and knowing.
Sicheng tilted his head slightly, his lips twitching. Then, before she could blink, he smirked. That dark, amused, slightly dangerous smirk. "Not a bad idea." he offered to the female as.
Yao blinked once but then narrowed her eyes. "...Are you asking me to kill someone?" she asked the man with a tilt of her head.
"Not yet. But I'll keep it in mind." Sicheng's smirk deepened.
"Yeah, well, I don't do well with corporate politics. I'd rather stay here." Yao snorted, going back to grooming Da Bing.
Sicheng folded his arms, expression still unreadable as he eyed her closely. Then, with the same calm, unbothered tone, he said— "We leave in thirty minutes. Get ready."
Yao froze again before she slowly looked up. "...Excuse me?" she demanded of the man before her.
"You heard me." Sicheng gave her a neutral stare.
"I did. I just don't like it." shot back Yao as magic flexed around her.
"Not my problem." he retorted back to the female fighting back his amusement of her.
"You can't just order me around, Storm Cloud." Yao set the brush down, crossing her arms.
"I can, actually. Because you work for ZGDX even though you own 34%, I own the majority of it." Sicheng tilted his head as he raised his eyebrow at her as she growled at him.
"...Unfortunately." stated Yao in a dry darkened tone as she glared at the man before her.
Sicheng's lips twitched again. Then, as if it were an afterthought, he added, "If you can go the entire meeting without hexing anyone, I'll buy you lunch."
Silence.
Yao blinked once.
Then twice.
Then, slowly—her lips curved into a sharp smirk. "Any lunch I want?"
"Yes." Sicheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Including dessert?" Yao leaned back in her chair, arms still crossed.
"Fine." Sicheng exhaled slowly at the damn impossible woman but he was amused as hell as he could tell food? Was the damn way to go with her.
"Even if it's expensive?" Yao's smirk widened with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"I am aware of how money works, Chen Yao." Sicheng's jaw twitched as he could tell the damn woman was teasing her
Yao hummed, tapping a finger against her arm. Then, finally, she stood up. "Alright, Storm Cloud. You got yourself a deal." she nodded her head as she turned toward the door, but paused, looking back over her shoulder. "But you better hope I don't run out of patience, or someone's getting hexed into the next century." she warned the man with a pointed look.
"I look forward to it." answered back Sicheng as he smirked again and with that, he walked off, leaving Yao to prepare for what was sure to be an eventful meeting.
~
The ZGDX base was loud—as usual.
Ming and Pang were arguing over something stupid, Lao Mao was laughing at them, and Lao K was watching in mild amusement while sipping his tea.
Everything was normal.
Until Chen Yao walked out of her room.
And everything stopped.
~
One by one, they turned their heads—
And then—they gaped.
Because this was not the Chen Yao they knew. Gone were the cargo pants, the tank tops, the long-sleeved shirts, the boots, the sneakers.
Instead—
Skin-tight, well-fitted black slacks. A blood-red silk button-up blouse, long-sleeved, perfectly tailored, clinging in just the right places. Jeweled combs glinting in her braided bun. And was that makeup? Her eyes, normally striking, were now absolutely lethal, enhanced just enough to make them even more piercing. She looked polished. Powerful. Deadly. Like she was about to ruin someone's entire career and look flawless doing it.
Ming, mouth slightly open, turned to Pang. Pang, eyes wide, turned to Lao Mao. Lao Mao, equally stunned, turned to Lao K. Lao K just stared. None of them could say anything.
But their expressions said it all. What. The. Hell.
~
From the corner of the room, Sicheng leaned back against the doorway, arms crossed, watching. He had felt the shift in the room before he even saw her. The way the air thickened, the way the others stiffened like they had seen something unbelievable.
But when he looked up and finally laid eyes on Chen Yao. His thoughts slowed. He didn't react the way the others did. Didn't gape. Didn't make a sound. But his whiskey-amber gaze swept over her, slow and deliberate, taking in every detail. The sharp contrast of her blood-red blouse against her pale skin. The way the fabric clung just enough to emphasize her shape without trying. The dangerous glint in her viridian emerald eyes, amplified by just the slightest touch of makeup. The jeweled combs in her hair, securing her braided bun, marking her as someone who followed traditions, yet still broke every rule she pleased.
She looked like a threat wrapped in silk. And for the first time, Sicheng realized something. She wasn't just chaos. She was dangerous. Not just because of her magic. Not just because of her mind. But because she could walk into a room looking like that, and whether she knew it or not, she could ruin a man without even trying.
And that? That was a problem. A problem that he wasn't sure he wanted to solve or to damn well leave alone.
~
Yao paused at the entrance to the living room, her viridian emerald eyes flickering over them.
Slowly, so, so slowly, she arched a single, perfect brow. And then she gave them The Look. That cold, bone-chilling, promise-of-suffering look. The one that said: You say one word, and you die.
Ming, who had just barely opened his mouth to say something, immediately shut it. Pang, who had been about to whistle, looked away like he wasn't even thinking of it. Lao Mao casually turned toward the wall, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. Lao K sipped his tea a little too aggressively. They knew better. But she wasn't done.
"If any of you say one damn word, I will prank your asses to hell and back. There will be no rest for you. And then—" She tilted her head slightly, a wicked smirk curling at the edges of her lips. "I will have Dobby torture you."
Silence. Complete. Utter. Silence.
"Understood." Ming swallowed hard as the damn petite woman scared the hell out of him.
"Yep. No problem. Not a word." Pang nodded aggressively as he swallowed hard as he had no
Lao Mao, casually sliding further back on the couch, held his hands up. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Lao K? Lao K just took another sip of tea and turned back to his favorite drama show like his life depended on it.
They knew better than to mess with her.
And Sicheng?
Sicheng was still watching her. Not saying anything. Not reacting. But the way his fingers tapped against his arm, the way his gaze hadn't moved away from her for longer than necessary. Spoke volumes. Finally, after another beat of silence, he pushed off the wall and stepped forward.
"Scaring my team before a meeting, Chen Yao?" he inquired with a low rumbling tone the was edged with amusement.
"What can I say? I like to keep people in line." Yao smirked, adjusting her cuffs.
"Good. Let's see if you can keep yourself in line at HQ. Half an hour. Let's go." Sicheng's whiskey-amber eyes flickered with amusement.
She rolled her eyes but followed him out. Leaving behind a room full of stunned men still trying to process what just happened.
And Sicheng? Sicheng just shook his head slightly because this was going to be interesting.
~
Sicheng's Maserati hummed smoothly against the pavement, the inside of the car filled with a cool, crisp silence. He drove with one hand, effortlessly maneuvering through the streets, his whiskey-amber gaze fixed ahead. But while he was focused on the road?
Chen Yao was distracted because her phone kept buzzing. She ignored it the first time. And the second. But by the third buzz, she finally glanced down.
[Chen Qiang – Eldest Brother]
Yao sighed through her nose as she already knew exactly what this was about. Tapping the screen, she opened the messages.
Chen Qiang: Mei-Mei.I know you and I know that you are currently on your way to ZGDX HQ, and I am telling you right now, Mei-Mie.Do. Not Kill. Anyone.
Yao snorted but could not begrudge her brother as the man knew her all too well to say that to her..
Chen Qiang: If you have to hurt someone, send a damn stinging hex at them. That is IT.
Yao smirked, already typing back.
Yao: You wound me, Da-Ge. You think I can't behave?
Chen Qiang: I don't think. I know.
Yao rolled her eyes and before she could type back, another message popped up.
Chen Qiang: This is serious, Yao. This is your business now. Heir Lu is your business partner. Your actions don't just reflect back on you—they reflect back on him too.
Yao's smirk faded slightly. That? That was a different kind of warning. One that had weight. She drummed her fingers against her lap, her mind turning over the words. This wasn't just about her. It wasn't just a personal vendetta against corporate idiots who didn't know what they were doing.
This was her business now even though it was not one she had wanted. And Lu Sicheng? Was now her business partner. Which meant if she acted recklessly, it wouldn't just fall on her. It would fall on him. And that was unacceptable. Because if there was one thing Chen Yao did take seriously? It was her family name and her business.
Her jaw tightened slightly, but she typed out a quick response.
Yao: Fine. I'll behave.
Chen Qiang: Define behave, brat.
Yao: I will try very hard not to hex anyone.
Chen Qiang: Chen Yao.
Yao: I SAID TRY.
Chen Qiang: …I'm lighting incense for Heir Lu's patience.
~
Sicheng had been quiet, focused on driving but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yao's expression shift. Gone was the playful amusement. Her smirk had faded slightly, replaced with something more contemplative. Something calculating and could clearly tell she was thinking.
"Problem?" inquired Sicheng as he glanced at her as she snorted some.
Yao glanced up, blinking at him. For a second, she debated saying nothing. "Not really. My brother is just reminding me not to kill anyone." she sighed as she fought back a pout as her brother was always ruining her fun.
"Reasonable request." offered Sicheng as his lips curled slightly as could hear the sulkiness in her tone.
"He also said if I have to hex someone, I should stick to stinging hexes." Yao sighed dramatically as she was damn near pouting.
"Merciful." murmured Sicheng as his brows lifted slightly.
"I know, right?" Yao leaned back against the seat, stretching.
"He's right, though." spoke Sicheng, in his calm, smooth tone as he focused on the road.
"About what?" Yao tilted her head toward him, one brow arching.
"This isn't just your business now. It's ours." spoke Sicheng with his voice quiet, but firm.
Yao paused. She didn't reply immediately. Instead, she studied him. Sicheng's expression hadn't changed. His grip on the wheel was relaxed, controlled. But his words carried weight. And she knew what he meant. This wasn't just about her own choices. Her actions reflected on him too. And he knew it. "Ugh. You sound like my brother." Yao exhaled sharply as she shook her head with a grumble.
"Smart man." Sicheng smirked slightly as he glanced at the pouty woman beside him.
"Fine. I'll try." Yao huffed, crossing her arms as she fought back a growl.
"You'll try?" asked Sicheng as he fought back the urge to actually snicker
"I'll try very hard." tried Yao as she damn near pouted as she could hear the amusement in the man's damn too smug tone.
"Not good enough." Sicheng chuckled quietly, shaking his head as dark amusement glinted in his eyes.
"Then I guess you better have lunch money ready, Chessman." Yao grinned back at the man with mischief flashing in her eyes.
Sicheng exhaled, but there was amusement in his gaze. This was going to be interesting.
~
The meeting room at ZGDX HQ was stiff, formal, suffocating. The kind of place that Yao hated.
And Sicheng?
Sicheng was watching her. Not overtly. Not obviously. But his whiskey-amber eyes flickered to her whenever something particularly...interesting happened.
And right now?
She was ice.
~
Yao had entered the meeting room with her usual swagger, but when CEO Bao's name was mentioned. Everything changed. It wasn't obvious to everyone in the room. Not at first.
But Sicheng?
Sicheng noticed. The moment the words left the executive's mouth, the air around her dropped. It was subtle. Controlled. But her entire posture shifted. Her expression cooled. Her mischief disappeared. And in its place? Something lethal. Something sharp, unforgiving. Sicheng didn't have to guess what she was thinking. He already knew that she hadn't forgotten and that she hadn't forgiven.
CEO Bao had nearly cost them everything with his idiotic, misogynistic contract. Worse was that he had insulted a High Born Pureblood Lady. And now? Now, she was here and was sitting at the table. Owning 34% of ZGDX and she would not be slighted again.
Sicheng tilted his head slightly, lips twitching in dark amusement. This was about to get interesting.
~
What made this even better was that he wasn't the only one watching.Seated at the head of the table, his mother, Lady Lu Wang Lan, was also paying attention. And not just to the meeting, no she was watching Chen Yao and Sicheng recognized that expression. The slight tilt of her head. The sharp, assessing gleam in her eyes. The silent intrigue. She wasn't just watching a business partner, no she was evaluating her.
Sicheng could already predict how this meeting would go. There would be corporate nonsense. There would be discussions of investments and partnerships. There would be a hundred and one unnecessary formalities. But the real event? The real danger? Was sitting right beside him.
And if anyone in this room made the mistake of underestimating her? They wouldn't live to regret it. Because Chen Yao wasn't just a partner. She was a storm waiting to be unleashed. And right now? He was the only thing keeping that storm in check, because said storm respected him enough to not go through with the threat of killing someone today. His fingers tapped lightly against the table. A quiet, amused rhythm.
~
The meeting room at ZGDX HQ was as suffocating as Yao expected it to be. Corporate nonsense. Useless pleasantries. Paperwork stacked in neat piles. She hated it. Still, she knew better than to outright dismiss it. This was her business now. And unfortunately, that meant she had to tolerate some level of stupidity.
So instead of rolling her eyes at everything being said, she focused on reviewing the documents in front of her. Numbers. Budgets. Expenses. Her viridian emerald gaze flickered over the details, her fingers idly drumming against the table. Everything seemed standard enough…until she saw one particular cost breakdown. Her fingers stopped drumming. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, without looking up, she asked, "Why are we paying out the ass for a photo-shoot?"
Sicheng, who had been sitting beside her in his usual calm manner, smirked faintly.
Lady Lu, seated at the head of the table, raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
CEO Bao? Visibly tensed up. He cleared his throat, adjusting his tie as he responded. "Heiress Chen, I assure you, the quality of the services provided—"
"Spending nearly 30,000 yuan, for one photo-shoot." Yao cut him off, her tone flat, unimpressed as she lifted the paper, shaking it slightly.
CEO Bao forced a polite smile. "These are industry-standard rates," he said quickly. "The makeup artists and photographers are top-tier. The quality must be maintained for the brand image—"
Yao arched an eyebrow. Then, without hesitation, she pulled out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts effortlessly, pressing a name before placing the call on speaker. The phone rang twice before a smooth, confident voice answered.
"Zi Coria speaking."
"Coria-Jie, tell me, are you free in two weeks?" Yao asked as she ignored as she was being stared at by everyone.
There was a pause.
Then—
"For you, Yao? Always. What do you need?"
"A full photo-shoot for me and the ZGDX team. Hair, makeup, styling, the whole deal." answered Yao as she glanced at Sicheng as she felt his magic shift and saw him eying her.
Coria hummed thoughtfully.
"Two weeks from now? Yes, that works. I assume this is for official team marketing?"
"Bingo." grinned Yao wickedly as she knew the woman would come through for her.
Before Coria could even ask, a familiar voice suddenly cut in from the background.
"10,000 yuan!"
"See? This is why I love you both. Send me the contract later." praised Yao as she grinned wider with a pleased look flashing over her face.
"Done."
Click.
~
The room was silent. A different kind of silence. One that was stunned. Disbelieving.
CEO Bao's face had gone pale.
Even Lady Lu, usually unreadable, exhaled quietly, her eyes gleaming with clear amusement.
Sicheng, still sitting perfectly composed, smirked.
"Zi Coria, owner of Emerald Jade, one of the most prestigious photography companies around, will do our shoot in two weeks for 10,000 yuan. Tell me again why we were about to pay triple that for something I fixed in thirty seconds?" spoke Yao set her phone down and looked up at CEO Bao, smiling as she She folded her hands together, tilting her head slightly.
CEO Bao opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Sicheng, who had been watching her with dark amusement this entire time, finally spoke. "I'd like to hear this answer as well." His voice was calm. Even. But there was no mistaking the warning behind it. He had been waiting for something like this to happen, since the woman beside him joined his team and became the other owner, considering Heir Chen had informed him that his sister was good at calling out things. Waiting for Chen Yao to sink her teeth into something real.
And now that she had? It was entirely too entertaining. Her presence in this meeting had been sharp from the start. But now? Now she was thriving in it. And he found himself watching her again. Watching how easily she dismantled a situation. Watching how she shifted from chaotic and mischievous to lethal and efficient in a blink. Watching the way her viridian emerald eyes gleamed with something cold and sharp, something far too dangerous for someone who claimed she wasn't suited for corporate life.
Sicheng exhaled through his nose. This woman, she was going to ruin people and he had a feeling he was going to enjoy every second of it.
~
The weight of silence still hung thick in the air.
CEO Bao shifted uncomfortably, his forehead slightly damp. His mind was racing, no doubt trying to figure out a way to salvage the situation. He had been caught. Exposed for either gross incompetence or blatant corruption. And now? He had to cover his ass.
~
"Miss Chen, while I do see the price difference, you must understand that the Sung Photos team has worked with us for years. Their consistency and established relationship—" CEO Bao cleared his throat, forcing a weak smile.
"I don't care." Yao cut him off instantly, her voice flat, emotionless.
CEO Bao blinked. She wasn't angry. She wasn't furious. She was cold. Lethal in her disinterest.
"We are not throwing away 30,000 yuan for 'consistency.' The numbers don't lie. You either failed to negotiate properly or someone is profiting off that deal under the table." Yao's viridian emerald eyes glinted dangerously.
"That's not—" CEO Bao's face twitched.
"Enough."
The single word, spoken in Sicheng's usual cold, deep tone, effectively shut him up. All eyes shifted to the man who had been sitting silently, watching everything unfold.
Sicheng's whiskey-amber gaze flickered toward CEO Bao, sharp and cutting. "The contract with Sung Photos is to be terminated immediately." CEO Bao's mouth opened, then closed. "Furthermore, a new contract is to be drafted with Emerald Jade. However, before it is sent, it will be reviewed by Chen Yao and myself." Sicheng continued, his voice calm, slow, and dangerous.
"Wouldn't want another unfortunate oversight, would we?" Yao leaned back slightly in her chair, smirking.
CEO Bao looked like he wanted to argue. Like he was debating whether pushing back was worth the risk. Then his eyes flickered between Yao and Sicheng. Between the woman who had just completely dismantled him in under five minutes… And the man who was watching him like he was already dead. He made the correct decision. "…Understood."
Sicheng relaxed back into his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the table.
Yao, still grinning slightly, crossed one leg over the other.
"It's rare to see a meeting where Lu Sicheng doesn't have to be the one handling everything." spoke Lady Lu, who had been watching the entire thing with mild amusement, exhaled quietly.
"Mm. It is." Sicheng huffed as he flicked his gaze toward Yao, who was still completely at ease, like she hadn't just torn through an entire corporate executive with a few sentences. She thrived in this. Even if she didn't realize it yet. This wasn't just her business. She was built for this world. And Sicheng knew it. "Looks like I might not have to do all the work after all." A slow smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
"Tired already, Storm Cloud?" Yao snorted, flicking a glance toward him.
Sicheng exhaled, shaking his head, this was going to be fun and he had a feeling nothing was ever going to be the same.
~
The meeting room was left behind, but the weight of what had transpired still lingered in the air as Sicheng, Lady Lu, and Yao stepped into the elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, enclosing the three of them in a much smaller space, the atmosphere shifted. Sicheng, ever calm and composed, pulled out his phone, already dialing. Lady Lu, however, turned her sharp assessing gaze to Yao. And for the first time since the meeting began, she properly introduced herself.
"Chen Yao." Lady Lu began smoothly, her tone even but carrying weight. Yao turned her head slightly, meeting the woman's gaze head-on. "Lady Lu Lan." Sicheng's mother gave her a small, polite nod. "I imagine you've already realized who I am."
"Of course. You're the matriarch of the Lu family. Which means you're the most powerful person in this company." Yao answered, her lips curling into a slight smirk.
"You're direct." Lan's lips quirked slightly, clearly entertained by the blunt response.
"I don't believe in wasting words." Yao said easily, her viridian emerald eyes flickering with mischief but also calculation.
"You handled yourself well in there. I had been curious how you'd conduct yourself in a setting like this." Lan hummed, observing her as she tilted her head to the side.
"And? Do I pass the test?" Yao arched a brow with mischief in her eyes.
"Let's just say you've made things very interesting." Lan chuckled softly as she nodded her head to the younger female.
"That's one way to put it." spoke Sicheng, who had been listening while waiting for his call to connect as he smirked slightly.
"Well, I don't plan on losing money because some corporate idiot thinks overpaying for mediocrity is acceptable. I have better things to spend it on." Yao rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
"A responsible mindset. A rare one, at that." Lan gave a knowing nod as she approved of what the woman was saying.
"You say that like I haven't been raised by High Lord Chen Kazier." offered Yao as she tilted her head and flashed a shark-like grin.
"I imagine that must have been… intense." chuckled Lan as her eyes gleamed.
"You have no idea." snorted Yao as her father was a ruthless business and so was her eldest brother.
They might have continued the conversation, but Sicheng's call finally connected. And immediately, the atmosphere darkened.
"I want an immediate investigation into Sung Photos and CEO Bao." Sicheng lifted his phone to his ear, his voice cold, sharp, absolute.
Yao's brows lifted slightly, her interest piqued. Lan, who had been expecting this, simply remained quiet, listening. A muffled voice responded on the other end.
Sicheng's expression didn't change. "Find the connection. I don't care how deep you have to dig—bank records, private dealings, anything that links them together. If Bao has been benefiting personally from these contracts, I want to know." Silence. Then another muffled response. "I expect results within twenty-four hours." Sicheng's fingers tapped against his forearm, a slow, methodical rhythm before he ended the call without waiting for confirmation.
Because it wasn't a request. It was a command.
"Efficient." offered Yao, who had been watching him carefully, smirked slightly.
"Of course." retorted Sicheng slid his phone back into his pocket, glancing at her.
"So what's your bet? Bribes? Personal investment? Or just sheer stupidity?" asked Yao as she leaned against the elevator wall, her arms crossed.
"Could be any of them. Could be all of them." answered Sicheng tilted his head slightly as he eyed her assessingly.
"Fair enough…just let me know you want some veritaserum, I will gladly pour it down the bastard's throat. " Yao snorted as she smirked with a vicious look on her face.
"Isn't that a controlled potion?" inquired Sicheng as he narrowed his whiskey amber eyes onto the woman.
"Not if one can brew it on their own." spoke Yao in an overly innocent tone as she batted her eyelashes at the male.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival.
Lady Lu gave them both a final glance, her expression unreadable but the amusement was clear as day in her eyes before she stepped out first.
Yao followed, her mind already turning over the implications.
And Sicheng?
Sicheng watched her for a fraction longer than necessary before stepping forward himself. Because if there was one thing he was certain of? This wasn't just business anymore. This was personal. And they were about to tear it all apart…right after he found out just how many damn illegal potions his Xiao Xuè Jīnglíng (little blood fairy) knew how to damn well brew.