Compared to the brief trip to Yangcheng, Mr. Lu stayed in Shanghai for a full three days. Three days accompanied by a beauty, utterly satisfying. During those three days, Zhou Sinin pulled out all the stops, nearly accompanying Lu Jincheng the entire time, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment. Even the market research was filled with enjoyment. This year seemed like a late one. By the time they left Shanghai, though the Lantern Festival hadn’t arrived yet, it was already nearing the end of February. For most university students, their winter break typically wouldn’t conclude until after the Lantern Festival. But for the ever-busy Mr. Lu, his break was even shorter. After leaving Shanghai, he briefly returned to Liao City to rest his feet, then packed his bags, bid farewell to his family and Zhong Ruixi, officially ending his vacation ahead of schedule. There was still a great deal awaiting him in Jiang City. Nanhu Industrial Park, Golden Stone Media. Since the eighth day of the lunar new year, the previously deserted Nanhu Industrial Park began to bustle again. Not only did the office buildings come back to life with vibrant energy, but accompanying milk tea shops, iced drink stands, clay pot rice stalls, barbeque vendors, and miscellaneous print and graphic shops also reopened for business. A year’s plan starts in spring. The white-collar workers who had entered society were like tightly wound clocks, rarely enjoying month-long breaks of peace. "Happy New Year, Mr. Lu~" Building 4 of Nanhu Industrial Park D District, the top floor of Golden Stone Media’s offices. It was Lu Jincheng’s first day back in Jiang City, and also the first day He Ying no longer needed to overstep her responsibilities at work. As the office door was pushed open, Lu Jincheng glanced at the noticeable changes in He Ying and couldn’t hide a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "Happy New Year, you’ve grown even more beautiful~" Lu Jincheng had always enjoyed offering He Ying a little praise. It wasn’t insincere, nor purely out of courtesy or gentlemanly demeanor—he genuinely admired this young lady. Tall enough, graceful enough, radiantly sweet. Her long hair was distinctive, and while the office attire slightly downplayed her curves, her chest and hips were, in truth, enticing. There was a natural allure in her softness, a subtle charm hidden within her purity. She worked hard, comprehended things quickly and efficiently, was smart, perceptive, understanding, and maintained a professional restraint. Although possessing the persistence and upward drive typical of grassroots women, she was not overly delicate or fragile. Her modest background, paired with her sharp wit and the deliberately concealed vanity and ambition, often gave Lu Jincheng a particular feeling. A feeling that he could easily take the reins and control her. More importantly, however, Lu Jincheng consistently appreciated this kind of woman. Despite limited circumstances, still putting thought and effort into refining her appearance. In Mr. Lu’s worldview, women could be diligent or lazy, profound or pure, kind-hearted or materialistic. Even if blessed with average natural attributes, they could be beautiful or plain. But they must have the desire to refine and present themselves. They should devote as much effort, resources, and thought as possible to their appearance. Women should not only adorn themselves for others but should also embrace and honor the "female" identity gifted by the heavens. He knew that He Ying’s financial situation wasn’t particularly strong and that her social network and exposure still fell short of anything sophisticated or elite. Yet He Ying knew how to dress herself up despite her constraints. The first time he’d mentored her, he could tell her fitted blazer wasn’t any designer brand. Her high heels and pencil skirt were relatively ordinary as well. But the effort she put in was evident. Carefully selected, carefully coordinated—even the waistline seemed to have been hand-altered to accentuate her slenderness. And those stockings she wore over her calves were flawless, without a single tear or wrinkle. He had subtly guided her a few times and had even transferred her a sum of money. From that point on, he noticed He Ying making further, eye-catching progress. The first meeting after the New Year, He Ying once again presented herself so exquisitely, appearing even more stylishly alluring than just a few months ago. The shirt and trousers she donned were perfectly fitted and elegant, presenting a harmonious fashion statement. Especially noteworthy was the rose-red leather belt around her waist. Though devoid of any visible logo, it looked like a genuine high-quality piece. As his gaze moved downward, it was hard not to notice He Ying’s platform shoes. And beneath the steady indoor air conditioning, a hint of her smooth, exposed alabaster feet peeked out. He Ying stood where she was, clutching a folder to her chest, waiting as Mr. Lu worked through one task after another that had accumulated. At the same time, she discreetly straightened her posture, meeting the man’s up-and-down appraisal with her own composed demeanor. There was a mix of intensity as well as silent affirmation in his gaze. It had to be said: in just a few short months spanning her transition from the ivory tower to the professional world, He Ying had become exponentially more beautiful than before. Beyond her natural attributes, there was the evident effort of meticulous refinement. Lu Jincheng had a soft spot for beautiful women and admired women who cherished their own worth. In fact, this kind of attentive refinement a woman engaged in also served another unspoken purpose for the man who "possessed" her. The version of her they could admire— this polished, elegant, thoughtfully styled woman who seemed unattainably out of reach in public—was someone entirely different when in private spaces. For a man, this brought about a profound yet indescribable sense of pride and satisfaction. Yet, as far as Mr. Lu was concerned, he didn’t feel the need to make any bold moves. He wasn’t fixated on claiming He Ying physically or in any way transforming her into his personal possession. He wasn’t lacking in female companionship. Nor did he mind if He Ying was merely a visually pleasing and industrious employee in his office. "’Goddess 101’ is about to start filming soon. Douyu just reported that many of the participants from out of town have already checked into Goddess Castle." "The promotional support for Ji Shu has been extremely effective. Mr. Lu, you should check out the data over the past week—advertisers have doubled their real-time offers to her. Ji Shu has asked multiple times when you’ll be back." "I’ll talk to her soon." "And regarding the properties you asked me to look into a few days ago, while you mentioned not needing to dwell too much on cost-performance ratios, I still conducted some comparisons. Here are comparative charts across various dimensions." "Let me take a look." The most reassuring trait a boss could ask for in an employee was one who provided clear responses every step of the way. If someone lacked that ability, they wouldn’t last long by the boss’s side. He Ying reported on the progress of her tasks to Lu Jincheng one item at a time, her voice soft and smooth, unhurried and methodical. With her meticulous explanations, Mr. Lu promptly gained a clear understanding of his priorities and what needed immediate attention moving forward. "Alright, have a seat." After spending a significant amount of time on the stack of paper-based materials in He Ying’s hands, Lu Jincheng finally stretched and stood up. "When does Miao Miao’s variety show officially start?" "The day after tomorrow." He Ying lowered her head, checking her phone’s planner. "Alright, you don’t have anything urgent right now, do you?" Raising his wrist, Lu Jincheng glanced at his watch. He Ying shook her head. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⦿fire.net