Volume One, Chapter Four: The Sharp-Tongued Man

Jiang Mu hesitated for a moment at these words, his steps slowing, a fleeting trace of perplexity passing across his face. Instinctively, he looked up at Li Ruochu, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he spoke with a resigned tone, “There's really no need to be so agitated.”

The two made their way to the executive floor.

Jiang Mu raised his hand, his fingers carefully grasping the handle of the office door, twisting it slowly.

The door opened at a measured pace. Li Ruochu, her heart filled with anticipation for the chaos she recalled from memory, watched with wide eyes, tense and curious.

Yet what greeted her was a scene entirely different.

The office was bright and spotless, with desks and chairs arranged neatly, documents stacked in perfect order on the desktop, and the floor immaculate.

“Secretary Jiang, didn’t you say your president was angry?” Li Ruochu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Unable to resist, she leaned in closer to Jiang Mu, lowering her voice, her tone full of astonishment.

“Yes, he was furious,” Jiang Mu replied with a bitter smile, the lines on his face nearly folding together.

“Then why hasn’t he smashed anything?” Li Ruochu grew even more puzzled, her eyes darting about, her voice dropping lower.

Images flashed in her mind of every time Shen Yubai had lost his temper—his office left in shambles, documents scattered like snowflakes, books toppled in all directions.

Comparing the two, she silently sighed.

Without comparison, there is no pain.

Look at President Feng—how composed he seems when angry!

“So, getting angry means smashing things?” At that moment, a deep, magnetic voice erupted suddenly before them, like thunder out of a clear sky.

Jiang Mu and Li Ruochu both jolted, as if struck by a spell, their bodies freezing instantly.

Jiang Mu’s face went pale in a flash, beads of sweat breaking out across his forehead.

Li Ruochu sucked in a cold breath, her heart pounding wildly, feeling as if it might burst from her throat.

“President Feng, hello, I’m the secretary to the president of Shen Group. My name is Li Ruochu. I apologize for disturbing you so late…”

“If you feel sorry for something, then don’t do it.” Feng Yizhou stood not far away, his figure tall and straight as a pine, brows slightly furrowed, lips parting coldly to cut Li Ruochu off.

He then turned with elegant ease, his stride firm and agile, long legs carrying him toward the desk.

Li Ruochu watched Feng Yizhou’s back, the corner of her mouth twitching as she inwardly complained: Indeed, everyone has their own way of venting anger. Some smash things, he chooses the most economical method—sharp words!

Still, she dared not show any of this on her face, forcing another awkward smile, her facial muscles growing stiff, as she said, “President Feng, you’re quite humorous. The issue with the contract is our company’s fault. Please grant us one more day. Tomorrow I will give you a satisfactory contract.”

As she spoke, she watched Feng Yizhou secretly, her gaze full of anxiety.

“Secretary Li, do you know I am a businessman? Do you realize how much money we lose for every day of delay?” Feng Yizhou stopped in front of the desk, hands pressed to its surface, leaning forward slightly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, scrutinizing Li Ruochu from head to toe.

His gaze seemed to pierce through her soul, making Li Ruochu feel as though she was under a microscope, every inch of her exposed.

“President Feng, please state any requirements, we will do our utmost to fulfill them.” Li Ruochu bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, striving to keep her voice steady and resolute.

No matter what, she had to minimize the company’s losses.

Though she might not stay long with Shen Group, she could not forget that the members of Team Three had labored night after night, burning the midnight oil for this contract.

If their efforts were wasted due to this mistake, she could not bear it.

“Can you make decisions for Shen Yubai?” Feng Yizhou raised his brows, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, his tone laced with sarcasm.

He leaned back, settling into his chair, arms crossed casually over his chest, his posture as if appraising merchandise laid before him.

“If your requests are within my power, I can make the decision.” Li Ruochu met Feng Yizhou’s gaze with unwavering resolve, her mind swiftly calculating the company’s limits.

She knew this contract still allowed a twenty percent profit margin for Shen Group; if it came to it, they could concede ten percent to salvage the partnership.

“Heh…” Feng Yizhou sneered, the sound harsh in the quiet office.

He stood, hands pressed to the desk, leaning forward, his eyes sharp as blades, cutting straight to Li Ruochu. “So Shen Group is truly on the decline, sending a young girl to deal with me!”

He paused, his tone growing colder. “Have Shen Yubai come negotiate with me himself!”

“President Feng, could we…” Li Ruochu stepped forward anxiously, about to plead her case, but was forced back by Feng Yizhou’s piercing gaze.

The rest of her words stuck in her throat, impossible to utter.

“Before noon tomorrow is the last patience I will grant. Otherwise, I will eliminate all profit for Shen Group.” Feng Yizhou’s cold words hung in the air as he sat back down, picked up the file on his desk, and ignored Li Ruochu entirely.

His tone brooked no argument, as if he had issued Shen Group an ultimatum.

His words had given Shen Group one final chance.

“In that case, I won’t disturb you further.” Li Ruochu remained deferential.

But as she reached the door, Feng Yizhou’s voice drifted from behind, “Miss Li, you’d best check the mirror before leaving home in the future!”

Li Ruochu instinctively touched her hair, suddenly feeling a cartoon hairband.

At once, her face flushed crimson—she’d hurried out and forgotten to remove it!

Leaving the office, Li Ruochu felt her legs weak, weighted as if filled with lead.

She raised a hand to her forehead, only then noticing it was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

Recalling the confrontation in the office, Feng Yizhou’s powerful presence had pressed upon her like an invisible force, enveloping her entirely.

Every solution she proposed, he countered with ease.

Li Ruochu had always prided herself on her eloquence, solving countless challenges in her career with her silver tongue, but today, faced with Feng Yizhou, she finally realized what it meant to meet her match.

Li Ruochu took out her phone and dialed Shen Yubai’s number. “Beep… beep… beep…”

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

She tried again, still no response.

She called several times in succession, but the line never connected; eventually, she was met with the sound of the phone shutting off.

Li Ruochu trembled with anger, gritting her teeth at the screen and cursing, “Shen Yubai, you bastard!”