Her skin crawled as she sat at the head of the table in the spacious, glass-paneled Xiao Holdings conference room.
The room exuded power and prestige, with its marble floors and a panoramic view of Shanghai's skyline.
The air felt heavy, not from the luxury, but from the piercing gazes of the executives seated before her.
Everyone at the long, polished oak table was at least twice her age. They exuded experience, confidence, and an unspoken skepticism that made her want to melt into the chair.
She was a gamer, a girl who spent late nights raiding dungeons, not someone prepared to lead one of China's largest conglomerates.
Sure, she'd graduated top of her class with a business degree, but studying and running a billion-yuan empire were worlds apart.
"You're the temporary CEO of Xiao Holdings?" An elegant woman, her jet-black hair swept into a sleek bun, asked, arching a perfectly drawn brow. Her fitted designer suit screamed authority.
"Yes," Xiao Ting said, gripping the edge of the table. Her voice was steady, but her hands fidgeted with her wristwatch.
"Then you must already know about the major investment we've planned for the newly acquired plot under the Fengtian Project in Shanghai," another man, just as intimidating, added. His salt-and-pepper hair gave him the air of a wise patriarch, but his tone carried an edge.
Xiao Ting bit back a groan. She didn't know any of their names yet and regretted it bitterly.
What kind of CEO doesn't know the names of her staff?!
Oh, right, the one who woke up a CEO this morning.
She forced a professional smile. "I'm still acclimating to my new responsibilities. I'll review the investment details today and provide my feedback tomorrow. For now, I'd prefer we start with an overview."
A murmur passed around the room. She couldn't tell if they were impressed or just tolerating her. Either way, this was a game of power, and she knew enough from her gaming days to play it smart.
Zhang Hua, a younger woman in her thirties with a poised demeanor, leaned forward. "The stocks in our Fengtian Project have shown remarkable potential. If the projections hold, we could see significant profits, around one billion yuan, in six years."
"But there's a caveat," Wei Xing, a man not much older than Zhang Hua, interjected. "The interim period poses risks. A loss of three hundred million yuan is almost guaranteed within the first two to four years. That kind of hit could destabilize our stockholders' confidence."
Zhang Hua countered immediately, her voice sharp. "This is business, Mr. Wei. Every investment carries risk. We can't dismiss the opportunity to grow our portfolio by billions simply because you're afraid of temporary setbacks."
Xiao Ting nodded thoughtfully, absorbing their arguments. Both were right in their own ways. The risk was daunting, but the potential reward was equally staggering.
"I'll need to think this through," she said, finally. "Thank you for your insights. Let's reconvene tomorrow once I've had time to review the data."
As the executives filed out of the room, Chase remained seated, clapping his hands dramatically. "Bravo, Princess! You're a natural. I actually got goosebumps."
She shot him a glare. "I nearly passed out."
"I know. Your legs were shaking so much I had to hold your lap so they wouldn't notice."
Her brain stalled. She stared at him, then at the hand still resting on her lap. Her cheeks burned crimson.
"CHEN CHASE!" She screamed, snatching up a folder to hurl at him.
He ducked, laughing. "What? You seemed to like it!"
"GET OUT before I kill you!" She kicked off a high heel, aiming for his head, as he sprinted out the door.
"Despicable man!" she muttered, flustered and furious.