Chen Yuxi settled into her office chair, mentally summoning her system.
System, run a full scan on Sun Jia's communications. Highlight anomalies and possible leaks.
A soft, calm voice replied in her head:
"Flagged: suspicious activity in emails and voice messages. Recommended: continue monitoring discreetly."
She smirked faintly, confident. No one can hide anything from me.
But Lin Guo, standing just outside her glass office, silently observed. He didn't move a muscle, didn't speak a word—but he could hear every mental command she sent, every calculation racing through her mind, every tiny flicker of doubt she tried to suppress.
She's thorough. Clever. Dangerous… in all the right ways, he thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Before Yuxi could act further, Yue Xinyan burst into the office, her heels echoing sharply. "Lin Guo! I have urgent matters! Why is she handling the files again?"
Chen Yuxi's pulse quickened. She had already anticipated this moment, but her mind-linked system buzzed with alerts: Yue Xinyan had secretly tampered with some reports to discredit her.
System, counteract. Reveal discrepancies in her files during the meeting, Yuxi commanded silently.
Lin Guo stepped in silently, leaning casually against the doorway. His presence alone made Yuxi's heart race, though she had no idea he already knew her thoughts—and her commands.
"Yuxi," he said lightly, voice low and calm, "show us the updates."
She presented the report confidently, unaware of how perfectly Lin Guo had manipulated the situation. Every correction, every discrepancy highlighted by her system, seemed to coincide with his subtle guidance.
Yue Xinyan's smirk faltered. Her attempt to sabotage Yuxi had failed spectacularly.
"You…" Xinyan hissed, cheeks flushed from embarrassment.
Before she could recover, Chen Yuxi's hand shot out—another slap across Xinyan's face. Hard, clean, precise. Gasps echoed around the office.
Lin Guo's dark eyes flicked between them, subtle amusement in the depths. He could hear Yuxi's mental commentary: Finally! She deserves that. That woman is insufferable…
He didn't respond verbally. Instead, he leaned slightly closer to Yuxi, letting her feel the heat of his presence, letting her notice—without understanding—how attuned he was to her thoughts.
She admires me… she fears me… she even challenges me mentally, he thought, letting a small, approving smirk tug at his lips. Perfect.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of office chaos:
Yuxi's system continued exposing secrets.
Lin Guo subtly guided outcomes without her realizing it.
Yue Xinyan schemed and failed repeatedly, leaving a trail of embarrassment.
By the end of the day, Chen Yuxi left the office exhausted yet exhilarated, heart racing at the thought of Lin Guo watching her, yet oblivious to just how much he already knew.
The game is only beginning, Lin Guo thought silently, eyes narrowing with calculated amusement. And she won't even know until it's too late.