The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

The New Year passed amidst one disaster after another. Three months had passed since the Jiangzhou earthquake. Winter gave way to spring, but this year's spring felt distinctly different.

The reason was the four hottest news stories currently circulating in the country.

Topping the headlines was the resurgence of Spiritual Qi. All sorts of strange things were happening constantly: walking trees, talking wild boars, fire-breathing hens... Such bizarre tales kept appearing before the public.

The second hottest news story was the images sent back by satellites. The entire planet seemed to have grown a size larger, and the area of every continent had increased by at least one-third. This caused many countries to start bickering over territory again.

The third news story sparked a frenzy the moment it was released. The nation had begun promoting the Martial Dao. Various Cultivation Techniques could be viewed for free on the official website, complete with video explanations and demonstrations by Martial Dao experts. The seven current realms of the Martial Dao were also announced: Outer Strength, Inner Strength, True Qi, Grandmaster, Heavenly Dipper, Outer Manifestation, and Inner Scenery. The Martial Dao was made a required subject for all students, though it would not be part of high school or college entrance exams. However, anyone whose cultivation reached the True Qi Realm would receive preferential treatment upon enlisting in the military.

This news also drove up interest in the mysterious Black Feather from before, causing the price of a single feather to skyrocket to the point where it was priceless and unavailable on the market.

The fourth news story was the Child of Calamity, who had been trending for three straight months. His popularity far surpassed that of any celebrity or internet influencer, and he was a person of interest for every major nation for one simple reason: wherever he appeared, disaster was sure to follow. He had effectively become a living directive, and key officials from all sides had to cooperate with him to evade disaster. This was a lesson learned through blood and tears; there was once a location the Child of Calamity couldn't persuade to evacuate, and the resulting casualties were catastrophic. Now, citizens across the country were debating where the Child of Calamity would show up next, while also arguing about where they *wanted* him to appear, sparking endless controversy.

The gentle, persistent rain continued to fall, having seemingly become a part of daily life. Humans truly were the most adaptable of creatures, still living their busy lives in the midst of such monumental changes.

Inside the Li Group's headquarters in Jiangzhou, Xiaoye was dressed to the nines today. He had intentionally used hair gel to create a hairstyle he thought was very handsome, and he was holding a large bouquet of bright red roses. As soon as he entered the company, many of his colleagues started teasing him.

"Going on a date today, Manager Xiao?"

"Dressed so sharp and holding flowers... don't tell me you're going to propose?"

"Manager Xiao, give the flowers to me! I'll marry you!"

Xiaoye laughed and retorted, "Can't I dress up a little? What's so funny? You're all so idle. Don't you have any work to do?"

Hearing this, his colleagues grumbled and scattered.

Xiaoye didn't go to his own office, but went straight to the general manager's floor.

He arrived outside the general manager's office, extremely nervous. Taking a deep breath, he asked the secretary, Xiaoyu, "Has President Li arrived?"

Xiaoyu, who had been admiring her new manicure, turned her head. Xiaoye's attire startled her, and she replied, dazed for a moment, "She's already here!"

After getting her reply, Xiaoye straightened his hair and knocked on the office door.

"Come in!"

Pushing the door open, Xiaoye instantly forgot the speech he had prepared, his gaze fixed, mesmerized, on the figure behind the desk.

She had short, snow-white hair, a flawless, porcelain-like face, and eyes that shone like brilliant pearls. She was looking down at the documents on her desk, revealing the sapphire earrings that dangled from her translucent earlobes. Below her long, fair neck, she wore a light gray business suit over a white blouse, looking every bit the untouchable corporate goddess.

Even though Xiaoye saw this stunning beauty every day, he couldn't help but be captivated.

Li Huiran looked up and chuckled softly. "Oh, it's Manager Xiao. Please, have a seat."

Xiaoye tremblingly placed the flowers on the desk. "Th-these are for you!"

Li Huiran's brow furrowed slightly. "Why are you giving these to me? It's not like you don't know my situation."

Xiaoye said with sincere gravity, "For the past three months, we've been rushing to meet the deadline for the Sunny Day Project. Now that the first phase is complete on schedule, I want to pursue my own happiness. President Li, as for your 'situation,' I don't mind at all!"

Li Huiran recalled the day Xiaoye had stood up for her. She was genuinely moved by the memory, but she still shook her head, stood up, and said sternly, "I can't accept the flowers. Besides, I have no intention of considering romantic matters anytime soon."

Xiaoye, still unwilling to give up, was about to speak...

Li Huiran's brow tightened. "You're a veteran employee I personally promoted. I don't want personal feelings to affect the trust I have in you."

"President Li, I..."

Li Huiran spoke again, her tone now slightly harsh. "The Sunny Day Project is currently under intense national scrutiny. It's no longer a secret that we're building an international martial city. The Zhao Family and Lin Family of Beijing have once again increased their investment, bringing the total to six hundred billion. For the sake of the work that lies ahead, I don't want you leaving because of something like this."

Li Huiran's words were perfectly clear and cold-blooded. If Xiaoye insisted on pursuing her, she would fire him. She greatly admired his abilities and was moved by his previous actions, which was precisely why she spoke with such finality. She didn't want to give him any false hope.

Dejected, Xiaoye messed up his hair, then gave a relieved smile. "I knew this would be the outcome. I understand, President Li. I'll focus on my work."