C3 She Met That Man Again

"Mommy!"

With a soft and mellow call, the little one with short legs clung to Xiong Miao's legs like a koala, grabbing her clothes and climbing up with all his might.

"Mommy, Mama hit me. He took my toys." Then, Five Treasures Lele followed, standing a short distance away with tears brimming in his dark, innocent eyes, looking utterly wronged.

Four Treasures Mama, perched on Xiong Miao, watched Lele lodge his complaint with unabashed boldness, showing no sign of fear.

It seemed that as long as he was with his mother, he felt free to get into mischief.

Xiong Miao had a good idea of what had happened.

"Mama, your little brother is crying. What do you say?" She straightened the little one's body and looked at him with a gentle but serious expression.

Four Treasures Mama was known for being playful and mischievous, while Five Treasures Lele was naturally slow and timid.

Lele's complaint was a sure sign that Mama had indeed been picking on him.

Mama blinked and said to Lele, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, brother. Let's go play." Lele quickly forgave him, his smile returning as he wiped away his tears.

Mama squirmed, wanting to get down, so Xiong Miao squatted and set him on the ground. The two little ones joined hands and cheerfully went back into the toy room, leaving Xiong Miao feeling both relieved and burdened.

Raising six treasures on her own was a tremendous pressure.

The cost of milk powder alone was more than most could bear.

Whereas others could make a can of milk powder last a week, her family could barely make it last a day.

For years, even with a steady job in design, Xiong Miao had to take on part-time work to make ends meet. Only through hard work could she sustain her family's needs.

This time, she had returned to film a children's clothing commercial because Su Mumu had taken the job. It was an opportunity to fulfill the starry dreams of First Treasure Qianqian and Second Treasure Junjun, so she had brought the children back for the shoot.

But she hadn't anticipated running into such an aggravating situation.

Even though she had braced herself for the possibility of encountering Su Hongyi upon her return, she never imagined it would be such a distressing encounter.

The past was nothing but a wisp of smoke to her now. Her immediate and pressing concern was to earn money to support her family and safeguard her six adorable little ones.

Life for their family of seven was already tough; they couldn't afford to be taken advantage of again!

The following day, Xiong Miao arrived at Rich Corporation and approached the reception desk. "Hello, I'm looking for the person responsible for your children's clothing advertising."

"Just a moment, please. Our executives are in the middle of an emergency meeting," the receptionist replied, then began to take phone calls with a nervous air.

Xiong Miao noticed the receptionist was exceedingly cautious with her words, maintaining a friendly tone as though she were treading on eggshells.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss. Our CEO will be arriving shortly. He's a new appointee, and as the saying goes, 'a new broom sweeps clean.' The whole company is bustling with preparations for his arrival. I'm afraid the Advertising Department manager might not have time to meet with you."

No sooner had the receptionist finished speaking than several women in black business suits hurried past.

"Hurry, hurry! The CEO's car has arrived. Miss Etiquette, please come this way!"

Caught up in the commotion, Xiong Miao was mistaken for the etiquette hostess by the welcoming committee and was ushered to stand properly at the company's entrance.

She was about to clarify the mix-up when a black Rolls-Royce glided to a stop at the front.

The car door swung open, revealing a pair of gleaming leather shoes followed by crisply pressed suit pants.

Then the man emerged: clad in a black, tailor-made suit, he stood tall with an imposing presence.

His chiseled features and deep-set eyes gave him an air of cold nobility, his eyebrows artfully arched, his eyes deep pools of intensity.

His arrival seemed to still the very air.

Like everyone else, Xiong Miao was captivated by the man's striking appearance.

He was incredibly handsome, yet oddly familiar to her. Had she seen him somewhere before?

As she pondered, a flash of recognition sparked in her mind.

It was him!

Xiong Miao's heart missed a beat.

Four years ago, their encounter was brief, but she could never forget such a striking face.

That night, four years past, was filled with fervent passion and wild abandon. The image of the man's robust and powerful form was as vivid as if it had happened only yesterday.

And now, he stood right before her.

As she gaped at the man in astonishment, he had already approached her. In that moment, his gaze shifted toward her, as if by some spectral force.

His look was icy, bearing down on her.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her eyes.

Zhan Yeling had only given her a cursory glance before his attention moved on, striding into the private elevator flanked by his bodyguards.

Phew...

She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for her quick reflexes to hide her face. He likely hadn't recognized her.

Xiong Miao's tense shoulders eased as she allowed herself a moment of silent celebration.

The new CEO of Ritch Group was him?

Wasn't he the special model who frequented the hotel scene?

Could it be that he climbed to the CEO position by leveraging his attractiveness and charming his way onto the list of wealthy women?

While she was caught up in her wild speculations, the receptionist approached her. "Miss, special assistant Gu mentioned that the company is undergoing restructuring. Anyone with grievances or complaints can speak to the responsible party."

"Alright, I'll speak with the Advertising Department's General Manager." Despite her surprise, Xiong Miao hadn't forgotten the reason for her visit.

She was escorted by the secretary to the top floor.

"Miss, please take a seat here and wait," the secretary instructed, leaving her in the waiting area. Overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere, the secretary quickly excused herself.

Xiong Miao heard a woman's voice coming from the office and, driven by curiosity, she tiptoed over.

Peering through the door's crack, she saw a woman on her knees before a man.

The man was seated, and all she could see was his leg slightly elevated, the crisp lines of his suit pants, and the gleam of his polished black shoes. His distinguished air was eerily familiar.

"Director Zhan, even though our sales department hasn't achieved standout results, I am beautiful. I'm willing to be your woman, to fulfill your every need daily. I excel at taking care of a man..." The woman edged closer, attempting to wrap her arms around the man's leg.

"Get out!"

The woman was sent sprawling to the floor by a swift kick from the man.

"Gu Yi, handle this!"

At the man's command, the office was filled with the sound of agonizing screams.

Xiong Miao shuddered at the sound. The woman had failed in her fawning attempts and was now being punished.

"Who's out there?" The cold, angry voice cut through the air.

Xiong Miao thought of fleeing, but the door behind her swung open, and her collar was seized. She was yanked into the office before she could utter a word.

Lifting her gaze, Xiong Miao saw the man's strikingly handsome yet haughty face.

She inhaled sharply and instinctively ducked her head like an ostrich.

How could it be him? Wasn't he the advertising department manager?

Before Xiong Miao could gather her thoughts, she saw the woman who had attempted to seduce the man now missing two teeth.

The bodyguard dragged her out and dumped her outside with a thud.

The example made of the woman was a clear warning, and Xiong Miao was too frightened to speak.

"What do you want?" The man's voice was deep and had taken on a casual tone, as if he hadn't been the one to resort to violence just moments before.

"I was just passing by, nothing more, hehe..." Xiong Miao managed a nervous smile. "You seem busy, sir. I'll just be on my way..."

"Stay where you are."

The voice from behind her was calm and unhurried, deep and melodious, yet carried an undeniable authority.

Hearing those words, Xiong Miao's feet felt as if they were glued to the spot.