After finishing breakfast, Yan Zhen invited Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er to stroll around the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce headquarters together. The two women naturally had no objections.
The only one not invited, Long Ying, put on a woeful little expression.
Yan Zhen chuckled and ruffled her hair.
“Didn’t you say you’d follow me wherever I go?”
“That’s true…” Long Ying’s resentment eased a bit, but she still wasn’t happy. She muttered, “Yan Zhen is such a big dummy~”
“Alright, I’ll treat you to some snacks later. The headquarters has specialty treats you can’t find anywhere else.”
Before heading out, Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er both veiled their faces, and the group set off low-key.
Aunt Mu didn’t hide her figure. Instead, she walked at the rear of the group, her gaze constantly scanning their surroundings in vigilance. It occasionally lingered on Yan Zhen and Ji Ya up ahead before quickly withdrawing.
The Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce headquarters was right next to the Elegant Garden. To put it simply, it was a bustling shopping street lined with all sorts of shops, open plazas for customers to rest, and arena performances to draw crowds.
Of course, beyond these approachable facilities, there were also high-end, upscale auction houses that required a certain status just to enter.
In short, the whole operation resembled the shopping streets from Yan Zhen’s memories.
This had little to do with Yan Zhen himself; it was more that Ji Ya had a vague concept in mind, which was why she’d shaped the chamber into this modern style. Yan Zhen’s suggestions had provided the eye-opening revelation, instantly clarifying those fuzzy ideas in her head.
“Alright then, She Ji Sister, Xian’er Sister, why don’t you all have fun with Little Long Ying? Big Sis needs to take Little Brother Yan Zhen to meet the other stewards first. Excuse us.”
Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er said nothing, but Long Ying was quite concerned.
“When will you be back?”
Ji Ya laughed lightly.
“Soon—just a quick meeting.”
“Then hurry back, okay? We’ll be waiting.”
“See you~”
Watching them leave, Long Ying felt a pang of emptiness in her heart. She kind of wanted to follow, but she knew being too clingy would annoy Yan Zhen Zhen.
A soft, boneless hand of shimmering white jade rested on Long Ying’s forehead. Cai Lian’s indifferent voice sounded.
“Are you still dwelling on that memory?”
Long Ying nodded dejectedly.
Cai Lian ruffled the loli dragon girl’s hair.
“Until he grows strong enough, we’ll all protect him. Don’t put all the pressure on yourself.”
Yi Xian’er gave a light hum from the side.
“Yan Zhen is stronger than any of us. He doesn’t need protection. Our rebirths might even be part of his plan. We should just focus on our duties and obey his orders.”
Cai Lian let out a cold chuckle.
“That’s the difference between a wise helper and a confidante. A confidante only shares his burdens when he’s troubled, but a wise helper snuffs out troubles before they arise.”
Yi Xian’er wasn’t intimidated.
“Don’t gild the lily. If it were Zi Ji, I’d buy it, but you, Myriad Snake, as a wise helper? Even Ji Ya’s more useful than you.”
“After you left, this Queen did plenty for him! And no matter what, it’s not your place as a deserter to criticize!”
Deserter!
That struck Yi Xian’er’s sore spot.
In her previous life, she truly hadn’t mustered the courage. Even after developing the Gangsha Unity technique, she hadn’t confessed to him.
Because he was already married by then, she feared rejection and fled back to Greenwater Town to live in seclusion.
“This time, I won’t run again. No matter what.”
“Then be a good little one. This Queen awaits the tea you’ll serve!”
As the two women’s tones grew sharper, Long Ying hurriedly waved her little hands, hopping back and forth between them to intervene.
“Sister Cai Lian, Sister Xian’er, don’t fight, don’t fight…”
The two women huffed in unison and went their separate ways, leaving Long Ying in the middle, utterly flustered. For a moment, she didn’t know whom to follow. After hesitating, she finally went after the closer one, Sister Cai Lian.
Yan Zhen had no idea that the moment he stepped away, Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er had started arguing. He followed Sister Ji Ya to the chamber’s headquarters building, Manting Tower.
The instant they entered, Yan Zhen noticed Sister Ji Ya’s aura shift. Her pretty face grew taut, sharp light glinting in her narrow eyes—a perfect domineering CEO vibe.
A maidservant who had been waiting promptly approached, utterly deferential.
“Chief Manager, you’ve arrived.”
Ji Ya said coolly,
“Are they all here?”
“The other nine stewards are already waiting in the conference room on the top floor.”
“Lead the way.”
“Yes.”
The group took the elevator up to the top level.
Along the way, the maidservant sister stole a few glances at Yan Zhen, thinking to herself that he cut quite the figure. Young as he was, he already had Mystic Master-level cultivation or higher. No wonder the Chief Manager was willing to accept his dual cultivation treatment.
Once they exited the elevator, the maidservant led them straight to the conference room and opened the door, bowing to invite them in.
With Ji Ya in the lead, the group entered the conference room.
The room’s setup was simple: a large, U-shaped table dominated the center, with a holographic Mystic Artifact projector in the middle.
Three people sat on each side of the table and three more at the bottom. The head seat was empty, clearly reserved for Ji Ya, the Chief Manager.
All nine people inside turned to look at them.
Ji Ya lifted her chin slightly and walked unhurriedly to the head seat. She sat down and instructed,
“Bring over another chair.”
Jin Tong and Yu Nu immediately fetched a new chair from the corner and placed it beside Ji Ya.
Ji Ya said softly,
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, have a seat.”
Yan Zhen sat down next to her as instructed, then sized up the nine people in the room.
Looking at the nearest ones, Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper, Yan Zhen flashed a “friendly” smile and gave them a “warm” wave.
If he weren’t worried about undermining Sister Ji Ya’s authority, he might have at least said, “You two old fossils, how are you still kicking?”
However, even without him provoking them, they jumped right in, pointing at his nose.
“When did the Board of Stewards’ meetings start allowing some no-name kid to attend?”
“Isn’t this a bit against the rules, Chief Manager?”
Ji Ya looked at them like they were idiots.
“Have Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper forgotten? Little Brother Yan Zhen currently holds half a percent of the chamber’s shares. He’s no outsider.”
The two froze, then remembered how last month Ji Ya had taken a sliver of shares from them and the others—totaling half a percent—and given it to Yan Zhen, all to “win him over.”
Because Ji Ya had declared in front of the enshrined elders that all her new product designs over the past year, her unique business strategies, and even that stock-trading gimmick that had ballooned the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s assets overnight—they all originated from Yan Zhen!
When it came to making money, no one knew more than him. The chamber had to pull this treasure in.
And so they’d lost a bit of their shares.
“…”
Still, as Ji Ya said, even with that small loss, their remaining assets had nearly doubled thanks to Yan Zhen’s suggestions. No one else harbored any grudges.
Except Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper.
Too bad they couldn’t make any waves anymore.
These days, Ji Ya held unquestioned authority in the chamber. Everyone knew that following her lead meant big profits—even the three enshrined elders sided with her.
Second and Third Shopkeepers were nothing more than clowns now.
