The assistant squeezed his eyes shut, his muscles tensing as if awaiting punishment.
"You imbecile!" Zhu Guo's eyes bulged with furious indignation.
He had just triumphantly and easily dealt with Shi Xinxin, that fledgling girl.
Now, he was being told it was all his own imagination.
Enraged, Zhu Guo kicked the assistant who was kneeling on the floor.
Zhu Guo was already superior to his subordinates in martial arts, and the assistant couldn't resist. He could only endure Zhu Guo's kick to his chest.
He slowly pushed himself up from the distance, maintaining a half-kneeling posture.
Hatred blazed in his eyes, but it instantly returned to normal the moment he looked at Zhu Guo.
"Have you investigated Shi Xinxin's recent movements?"
As if he hadn't been the one attacking, Zhu Guo looked at the assistant who was obediently submitting to him.
"Your subordinate is incompetent, I couldn't find Shi Xinxin's whereabouts. However, CL and Shengshi are jointly bidding and plan to participate in the auction next week."
Hearing about the auction, Zhu Guo's eyes flickered. He also needed to handle something there. Wasn't this good news from heaven? He could also take care of this little girl incidentally.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
"CL is a jewelry company? Are there no other affiliated projects?"
Zhu Guo felt that if Shi Xinxin could escape such a major incident, she must have other formidable tricks.
Now he had to regard her with a bit more respect.
"CL is a newly established company in the country, still in its early stages. It is indeed only undertaking jewelry design projects."
The words "jewelry design" made Zhu Guo's mind up. He could already picture Shi Xinxin suffering heavy losses, looking grief-stricken and on the verge of tears.
"This time, I will make sure she never recovers. You, personally handle this. No matter what method you use, whether it's hiring a spy or going undercover yourself, get your hands on CL's bidding proposal. We'll sell it to someone else, and then we'll see how she bids!"
"Oh, no, how can we call it stealing? We're just going to 'borrow' it, to give to those who need it."
Zhu Guo had naturally investigated Shi Xinxin's company's rivals. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and friends should help each other.
Assistant Feng Yu lowered his head; Zhu Guo couldn't see his expression.
His handsome yet somewhat disheveled face was filled with intense hatred.
He was not Zhu Guo's original subordinate. He had an unknown origin, and Zhu Guo had taken an interest in him and painstakingly trained him.
Initially, he was grateful that Zhu Guo had helped him.
He never expected Zhu Guo to become more and more excessive later, treating him like his other helpless subordinates, like fish on a chopping block, devoid of soul.
He would often beat and scold him.
Zhu Guo was ruthless, always kicking him in the chest.
Later, he was assigned all the life-threatening missions, under the guise of training him, with no regard for his life or death.
Feng Yu had had enough, but he didn't have enough power to resist Zhu Guo yet. He couldn't act rashly.
However, this seemingly imposing organization, the Azure Dragon, was now riddled with corruption. He had helped them conceal so much evidence of their crimes that he had lost count.
Now, it was an excellent opportunity to repay Zhu Guo. He curled his lips coldly and agreed to Zhu Guo's request.
"Yes!"
...
Shi Xinxin had spent the entire night at the company. Sheng Chenjin wanted to follow her, but her gaze stopped him.
She ate a simple meal in the morning and then picked up the designs she had prepared earlier.
She pondered for a moment and sent the prepared version to Sheng Chenjin's private account, just in case.
This was undoubtedly the most perfect version of this jewelry, bar none.
She wondered if her master in the jewelry world would see her work and if she would be praised this time.
Shi Xinxin fell into contemplation, recalling that period of time that, though reluctant, was full of gains.
"Little Star, how can you present such work? Even my cat and dog wouldn't like it."
"Winning an award this time would be great!"
"See, it's all because others have yielded their opportunities to young juniors like you."
"You won't have such good opportunities when you grow up."
Her master was of Chinese descent. To better pave the way for domestic designers, she decided to change her nationality, bearing the stigma of being unpatriotic from her countrymen.
Only those who truly understood the industry would know her painstaking efforts.
At this moment, Shi Xinxin rested her chin on her hand, a nostalgic smile appearing on her face.
Feng Yu, hidden behind the tall office door, saw the scene through a barely perceptible crack.
A look of pain appeared on his usually cold face.
Something flashed through his mind, but he couldn't recall it.
He could never remember his childhood memories. He knew he had amnesia.
But he didn't care. This life of living on the edge of a knife left him no time for nostalgia or reminiscing.
His head felt like it was about to explode.
"What a cute little brother! It's a pity Master doesn't take apprentices anymore. You'll live with us from now on."
...
"Senior Brother, you're not allowed to bully my brother!"
A little girl stood in front of him, protectively shielding him like a mother hen guarding her chicks.
"Junior Sister, he's our brother too. Why did you have to bring him back yourself?"
The little girl was angry.
She turned to him, her eyes sparkling, and said, "I see a shadow of my elder sister in you. From now on, I'll protect you, and no one will be able to bully you."
The scene froze on the girl's smiling face.
Feng Yu's eyes slowly regained clarity. The smile of the sister in his memory looked exactly like... Shi Xinxin.
He didn't know that when he held his head, his elbow had bumped the door, making a slight sound.
But it had attracted Shi Xinxin's attention.
"Come out."
Shi Xinxin narrowed her eyes, slowly stood up, and assumed a defensive posture.
Seeing no reaction from inside, Shi Xinxin frowned and slowly walked over.
Then, behind the door, she found a man holding his head, looking pained, quite good-looking, and seemingly younger than her.
Shi Xinxin thought: Do I need to struggle this much to be harmed?
Out of politeness, Shi Xinxin knocked on the door, making a sound.
The man didn't react for a while, then slowly lifted his head.
He saw Shi Xinxin standing openly at the door, looking at him.
The little girl who had flashed through his mind moments ago slowly merged with the Shi Xinxin before him, they were so similar.
His gaze was still somewhat dazed. Even if he didn't know if there was any connection between him and her in his childhood, he would clarify it today, even if it meant bringing down scoundrels like Zhu Guo.
"Come out. You've been hiding long enough."
Shi Xinxin naturally didn't miss the calculating look in his eyes.
If he wanted to scheme against her, he would need to have the ability.
Feng Yu obediently followed her out.
Shi Xinxin cautiously closed the door.
She turned around and examined the young man.
"You're quite well-equipped. Speak, what do you want? Sister doesn't sell herself."
Shi Xinxin crossed her arms and sat on the CEO's chair, looking at him leisurely.
"You're already working hard at such a young age. To be sent to do such an important task at your age, you must be doing quite well where you come from."