Upon hearing the assistant's words, Mo Qingli's room fell into complete silence. Every executive present was stunned.
Kovate Corporation? They'd heard of it—the second-largest supplier in Country Y.
But their technology had always been a tier below that of Thorn Mining.
How could they suddenly achieve a technological breakthrough?
And why would they proactively reach out at such a critical moment?
It was all too coincidental.
"Coincidence?" Mo Qingli murmured to herself.
No.
In this world, there weren’t that many coincidences—especially not when it came to a business war involving billions.
She turned to her assistant. "Who contacted us?"
"It was Kovate’s newly appointed... Board Strategic Advisor," the assistant replied, his expression growing even more peculiar. "He said his surname is Lin."
Lin.
Lin Yuan.
Lu Chenyuan’s former chief assistant, now the CEO of Abyss Dragon Technologies.
A realization flashed through Mo Qingli’s mind like lightning. She understood everything in an instant.
This was all Lu Chenyuan’s doing.
Before she had even set foot in Country Y, before she had known she was walking into a storm, this man had already arrived ahead of her. He had acquired Kovate, developed new technology, and paved the way for her—clearing every obstacle in her path.
And he hadn’t even told her. He had simply done it all in silence.
An indescribable warmth surged in Mo Qingli’s chest, melting away the cold anxiety that had gripped her.
So, she wasn’t fighting alone. She never had been.
"President Mo?" the Chief Operating Officer asked cautiously. "Should we... engage with Kovate?"
"Engage," Mo Qingli said, snapping back to her usual composed and decisive self.
"Tell them I want to speak directly with whoever has decision-making authority."
She paused, then added:
"Now. Immediately."
......
Outskirts of Oscity.
A private ski resort.
The place had been cleared out, leaving only a few people on the vast slopes.
Lu Chenyuan was deep in conversation with an official from Country Y’s Ministry of Commerce, discussing his "New Energy Industrial Park" proposal—a plan that perfectly aligned with the country’s future development strategy.
The agreement was reached effortlessly.
After seeing the official off, Lu Chenyuan was about to leave when a black Bentley pulled up in front of the ski lodge.
The door opened, and Mo Qingli stepped out, clad in a blue ski suit.
She removed her goggles, revealing a pair of bright, captivating eyes.
She simply looked at him, wordless.
Lin Yuan, ever perceptive, discreetly withdrew.
Lu Chenyuan knew—she had figured it all out.
"The scenery here is nice," he said, breaking the delicate silence.
"It is," Mo Qingli agreed, stepping closer. "Perfect for discussing a multi-billion-dollar deal."
Her tone gave nothing away.
"That was just a side investment," Lu Chenyuan replied.
"Was it?" The corner of Mo Qingli’s lips curved slightly. "Then I should thank you, President Lu, for ‘incidentally’ solving a major problem for me."
She took another step forward, closing the distance between them to less than half a meter.
She could even catch the crisp, wintry scent lingering on him.
"Lu Chenyuan," she said, locking eyes with him. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
Lu Chenyuan fell silent. How could he answer?
Should he say, Because I knew you’d be in trouble, so I came to save you?
Who would believe such nonsense?
"I thought you could handle it on your own," he offered, a weak excuse.
Mo Qingli laughed.
"Yes, I could have handled it," she nodded. "I would’ve filed lawsuits, sought new suppliers, mobilized every resource to fight this battle."
"But it would’ve cost me time, energy. Maybe even a heavy price for the Mo Group."
"And yet, with just a wave of your hand, you made it all disappear."
Her gaze remained steady.
"Do you think I’m useless?"
"Of course not," Lu Chenyuan denied immediately.
"Then you just don’t see me as one of your own," she said, a faint trace of hurt slipping into her voice.
Lu Chenyuan had no response.
Reasoning with women—especially women like Mo Qingli—was never a wise choice.
Seeing his flustered expression, Mo Qingli suddenly smiled.
"Alright, I’ll stop teasing you," she said, stepping back to restore some distance.
"Business is settled. Now, it’s personal time."
She gestured toward the slopes.
"Since we’re here, how about a run?"
Lu Chenyuan glanced at the steep slope, hesitating.
"I don’t know how," he admitted honestly.
In his past life, he’d been a poverty-alleviation official—he’d barely even seen snow, let alone skied.
In this life, as a perpetually busy CEO, he’d never had time for such luxuries.
Mo Qingli’s eyes flickered with surprise before melting into amusement.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Perfect," she said, clapping her hands in delight. "I’ll teach you."
An hour later.
Lu Chenyuan had gained a profound understanding of the phrase "every profession has its own mastery."
In the business world, he strategized effortlessly, commanding victories from afar.
But on the slopes, he was as clumsy as a penguin.
"Lower your stance, lean forward, use the inside edge to steer..."
Mo Qingli was a patient instructor, guiding him tirelessly.
She skied with effortless grace—like a snow spirit, or a queen ruling over winter itself.
Lu Chenyuan fell. Again and again.
Each time, Mo Qingli would glide over, laughing, and pull him up.
Their physical contact became frequent, natural.
He could sense the joy radiating from her, bright and infectious.
Even through the thick layers of their ski suits, he could almost catch the faint fragrance of her hair.
The invisible barrier imposed by the original plot seemed to soften, just a little.
Lu Chenyuan realized—he didn’t dislike this feeling.
In fact, he rather enjoyed it.
Sunlight spilled over the pristine snow, casting dazzling reflections.
The world was quiet, save for the sound of skis carving through powder and their occasional laughter.
"Let’s take a break."
Mo Qingli led Lu Chenyuan to a midway platform.
They sat on a bench, gazing at the distant mountains and forests.
"I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time," Mo Qingli said softly.
"Neither have I," Lu Chenyuan admitted.
In both his past and present life, his shoulders had always carried too much responsibility.
Moments like this—where he could simply exist, free of thought, just enjoying the sport and the scenery—were rare.
"Lu Chenyuan," Mo Qingli suddenly turned to him, her gaze earnest. "Thank you."
"Again?"
"This ‘thank you’ is different," she said, her eyes clear and sincere.
"I’m not thanking you for solving my problem."
"I’m thanking you for letting me know I’m not alone."
"In this world, apart from my parents, there is one more person who would silently stand behind me, shielding me from the storm. This feeling... it’s wonderful."
Lu Chenyuan’s heart was deeply stirred.
He gazed at the woman before him—independent, resilient, radiant.
Yet even the strongest queen, in the depths of her heart, would not refuse a shoulder to lean on, a partner who would walk beside her through anything.
Lu Chenyuan parted his lips, about to speak.
Just then—
A sudden disturbance erupted!
A piercing roar tore through the air from the snowy slope above them.
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
transmigrates into the role of a villainous rich second-generation kid in an urban fantasy novel, and gets bound to a god-tier choice system. Right at the start, he catches the female lead stealing exam papers! This triggers the villain's choice options! [Choice 1: Pretend you didn't see anything] [Choice 2: Loudly call her out, drawing everyone's attention] [Choice 3: ...] And thus, a twisted villain is born. To avoid getting killed by the protagonist, he has no choice but to take down all the protagonists first. Jiang Che: Nobody understands being twisted better than me!
