The scent of fresh paint and sawdust hung thick in the air as Elara stepped into the new storefront. It was nestled in the bustling district of Huaxi City—a step above their first location in terms of foot traffic and urban appeal. Though the space was still bare, she could already visualize it: tall shelves filled with ornate perfume bottles, private consultation booths, and a signature scent diffuser system lining the corners.
"We're right on schedule," the head contractor informed her, flipping through the renovation blueprint. "If we keep this pace, you can begin setup in ten days."
"Seven," Elara corrected smoothly, her eyes scanning the layout. "And make sure the floors are treated with sound insulation. I want it to feel like walking into another world."
The man gave a slight nod, awed by the young woman's commanding presence.
As she left the site, she called her assistant—a fresh graduate from a top university whom she had recruited personally. "Finalize the interviews for sales and consultation staff. I want loyalty, poise, and passion. Experience is secondary."
Back at Scentra's original location, the transformation was astonishing. In just a few short weeks, the boutique had raked in over 25 million yuan. The custom scents, signature lines, and therapeutic blends had turned heads in both the beauty and wellness industries. And her mother? No longer just an accountant. Mae now ran the financial operations of both stores like a seasoned executive.
Elara stood by the glass window for a moment, watching her mother confidently guide a team meeting. A small smile tugged at her lips.
But she couldn't dwell long.
Her next destination was a discreet, high-end auction house tucked in a quiet alley of the city's luxury district. She had brought with her one of the smaller ginseng roots from the space. Though it wasn't the oldest, it was still leagues beyond anything available on the open market.
The appraiser's eyes widened the moment he laid eyes on it. "Miss... this is centuries old. You could fund a pharmaceutical startup with this."
Elara's lips twitched. "I intend to fund a gaming company."
Within the hour, she had finalized the transaction. Enough to secure high-performance servers, development tools, a beta testing team, and branding for X\_Heroes.
---
Online, the gaming world was in chaos.
"Bro, have you tried X\_Heroes yet?!" one streamer shouted into his mic mid-stream.
"What the hell is this AI?! It just changed my entire quest path because I insulted an NPC!"
"I dated the healer and now she betrayed me to join the enemy faction. I didn't even know games could do that!"
Forums buzzed with conspiracy theories. Who was behind this? No big company had claimed the project, and the game's complexity rivaled AAA titles. Some suspected it was a secret side project of a famous developer.
Back in Zhonghai City, within the private gardens of an opulent estate, an elderly woman rested in a rattan chair under a cherry blossom tree. Her name was Meredith Lu, and she was sipping tea as she spoke to her visiting grandson.
"I owe a great deal to a young lady," she said softly, her eyes glimmering. "She used aromatherapy to help me when no one else could."
Lu Zeyan arched a brow. "In this city?"
The family butler nodded. "Yes, sir. She refused money. Said it wasn't necessary. Very poised. Very... different."
Lu Zeyan's gaze narrowed. "First ShadowBelle's signal pings from here... now some mysterious aromatherapist saves my grandmother?"
He turned, the sunlight catching in his sharp eyes. "Is this city suddenly full of hidden talents, or are we simply looking at the same person from different angles?"
His curiosity sharpened. "Find out who she is. Discreetly."
As the wind rustled the cherry blossoms around them, he silently added, *No such thing as coincidence.*
you know, what nevermind he said as he heads back to his room