Manager Ji smiled warmly. "Director Shi, I'm glad the meeting was a success. I look forward to future cooperations."
As they spoke, Bei Chuan and Secretary Shang had already gathered the documents and were ready to leave. Noticing them, Shi Nian politely ended her conversation with Manager Ji.
"Ahem… Uhm… Director Shi, I was curious about earlier." He paused, then continued, "About the way the glass shards flew into your hands. If I may ask… how did you do that? Was it a magic trick?" His eyes shone with curiosity.
In truth, he was not only curious about the glass shards—he was even more curious about the slip of paper she had passed earlier. But he didn't dare ask. That was a slip given to the Demon King; he could only speculate.
Manager Ji wasn't the only one intrigued. The entire auditory team had been whispering about it, and even Bei Chuan and Secretary Shang were clueless.
Once the question was asked, everyone turned toward them, eager not to miss a word.
Shi Nian didn't make them wait. She reached into her blazer pocket and brought out a small black button-like object, placing it on her palm for them to see.
It was at least five times thicker than a normal button.
"This is a magnet." She pressed a tiny switch at its center.
The surface slid open, revealing the stored glass shards.
"Unlike a regular magnet, this one has been altered to sense the magnetic field in glass materials," Shi Nian added.
Manager Ji and the others stared in awe. None of them had ever heard of a magnet that could attract glass from such a distance. Even without a physics background, the device amazed them.
"Director Shi, where did you purchase this magnet?" Manager Ji asked, unable to hide the glow in his eyes.
"It was given to me by a friend. It's still a work-in-progress and not available to the public. I never expected to use it so soon," she replied.
Unwilling to give up, Manager Ji tried again. "Director Shi, I am willing to purchase the one you have—at any price."
Anyone else would have been tempted, but Shi Nian wasn't. For one, she had made the device herself, with parts she acquired from an acquaintance in the underground ring a few days ago.
She declined Manager Ji's offer. This wasn't the time for her to invest in the new technologies she intended to introduce to this world.
The auditory team wasn't surprised by Manager Ji's request. His collecting habits were well-known—if something was rare and invaluable, he would try to acquire it.
…
Soon after, Shi Nian and her small group left RainCloud Investments.
She decided to treat them and instructed the chauffeur to drive to a nearby restaurant.
The closest one was a four-star Michelin restaurant located on the top floor of the capital's largest mall—Golden Star Mall.
Unsurprisingly, the mall was owned by the Bosi Group.
Earlier, they could have eaten in RainCloud's cafeteria, but Shi Nian had declined. Manager Ji's team still had several meetings lined up and were visibly busy.
As Shi Nian, Bei Chuan, and Secretary Shang walked through the mall toward the private elevator that led to the restaurant, Shi Nian quietly admired her man's handiwork.
In their past lives, Si Yehan had never reached this level of wealth. He had never owned a conglomerate like the Bosi Group.
The Bosi Group held enough power to rival the country's economy. If it collapsed, the nation would feel the shock. If an enemy wanted to cripple the country, the Bosi Group would be the first target.
This was the reason she had ignored the hints that Si Yehan might be connected to the Bosi Group—even though they shared the surname "Si."
Yet here, in this lifetime, in a parallel universe, her man had achieved all of this in his early thirties.
She was so proud of him.
All of her own achievements—her power, her wealth—came from countless lifetimes of experience. But Si Yehan had none of that. Even now, she was certain he had no memories.
Her expression barely changed, but Bei Chuan and Secretary Shang noticed the pleasant shift in her mood.
In their eyes, Director Shi was looking at the mall with the expression of a satisfied mother hen watching over her chick.
By the time they reached the restaurant, her mood had settled again.
They were attended to immediately and led to a table for three. Since it was past lunch time, the restaurant wasn't crowded, making the atmosphere calm and pleasant.
Although it wasn't the same five-star restaurant with private rooms where she had dined with her cousin, the ambience here was elegant. The seats were spaced out for privacy, with sections ranging from single tables to groups of five. The service was impeccable.
Shi Nian took the lead in ordering. She picked up the restaurant's menu and listed her choices to the server who had brought them in.
As usual, not losing her foodie aura, Shi Nian couldn't resist ordering a little more than necessary. After she finished, the others placed their orders as well.
They waited in silence until Shi Nian suddenly spoke.
"Secretary Shang."
Hearing his name, Shang Wei looked up immediately.
"I do hope today's incident will be the last of its kind," Shi Nian said, her gaze briefly meeting his.
"Of course, Director Shi," he answered softly almost without any conviction.
"Mmm. That would be for the best," she replied, in a cool tone.
Silence ensued again. Bei Chuan was still stunned by what he'd heard. He patted his chest quietly.
Fortunately, I was careful while working on the documents today… otherwise it wouldn't have been just glass shards.
He never expected something like this from Secretary Shang—someone who had once worked diligently for the late Shi couple.
Is this the allure of money and prosperity? Or… did he never truly work for the late Chairman Shi Beicheng?
The more Bei Chuan thought about it, the more he couldn't help staring at Secretary Shang.
Noticing Bei Chuan's undisguised look, Shang Wei bowed his head even lower. His fists clenched under the table.
He despised himself.
He had schemed against the daughter of the man he once swore to serve with loyalty.
Regret swallowed him whole, almost suffocating him. But even with regret, he knew that if time were turned back, he would still have taken the same path.
Because refusing back then meant losing the person he treasured most in this life.
Sometimes, even with money, power, and fame…
a person's downfall rests in the hands of the one they love.