"Don't rush, I'm arranging it." Mom regained her CEO-like authority, but her eyes still darted away unconsciously.
"Isn't Sister Xia the best?" Wang Xiong's tone became ambiguous. "I'm really looking forward to seeing Sister Xia every day, seeing her wear different styles of stockings every day...how exciting!"
Mom scoffed. "Hmph, then I'm sorry, I usually wear dress pants."
"And you wear pantyhose under your dress pants, right?" Wang Xiong said cryptically, "The repressed little Sister Xia..."
This nickname made Mom narrow her eyes, looking at her phone, and say, "You should mind your own business first. The sales department isn't easy to navigate. Don't think..."
"Don't think what?" Wang Xiong interrupted. "Is Sister Xia trying to say 'Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have something on you'? Should I show you the video from this afternoon?"
Mom's face instantly changed, and she pressed, "You...you recorded it?"
"Of course! How can I sleep without Sister Xia's video?" Wang Xiong said smugly. "But don't worry, Sister Xia, as long as you behave, the video will never leak."
Mom fell silent, her thoughts shifting, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Alright, alright, that's the end of today's check-in," Wang Xiong suddenly said. "Goodnight, Sister Xia. Remember to arrange for me to join the sales department. Oh, and remember to change your stockings tomorrow, hehe."
After hanging up the video call, Mom immediately dialed another number.
"Shang Yan, still not resting?" Her voice regained the unique authority and elegance of a female CEO.
"Sister Ling is working overtime on the new product launch." A capable female voice came from the other end of the phone. "The pre-sale data for the 'Skin-Refining' series is very good, but there are still some details that need to be confirmed."
I've met Aunt Shang Yan before. She's about the same age as Mom. She's the director of the marketing center at Lingya Group. She has an MBA from London Business School and has worked for many large companies abroad. She's considered one of Mom's key lieutenants.
"Thank you for your hard work," Mom said. "But there's something I need you to arrange. A high school student will be starting an internship tomorrow."
"A high school student?" Shang Yan was clearly taken aback, her tone surprised. "Sister Ling, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Our staff here are all professionally trained marketing personnel, and this is a crucial time for launching new products…"
"I understand," Mom interrupted, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "But this matter must be arranged. Assign him to the Lisi brand section, specifically the area with the backlog of low-end stockings."
"Sister Ling, is there some kind of trouble?" Shang Yan asked tentatively.
"It's nothing." Mom rubbed her temples with her slender fingers. "Just arrange things as they come."
"I see." Shang Yan immediately understood. "How about I have An Rou mentor him? An Rou is the stockings product line manager, right? Clearing out the backlog of inventory is her people's job."
"Let's do it that way." Mom's red lips curved slightly. "Just a simple training session will do. No need for special treatment; after all, he's… an intern."
"That batch of stockings is piled up in the innermost warehouse," Shang Yan said with a hint of amusement. "Moving, sorting, and organizing them is hard work, and the environment isn't great."
"It's a good opportunity for him to experience basic work." Mom nodded, adding, "Yes, let him start with the most fundamental tasks. Arrange things as they come."
"Understood." Shang Yan smiled on the other end of the phone. "I'll have An Rou arrange for him to work in the underground warehouse. The work there won't be easy. He'll be moving hundreds of boxes of stockings every day, sorting through the backlog, and counting defective products…it'll keep him very busy."
After hanging up, Mom leaned back in her leather chair and sighed deeply. Her slender fingers gently rubbed her temples, a hint of weariness showing on her mature, alluring face.
In the soft light of the study lamp, she looked down at her beautiful legs encased in black stockings. Her long legs were elegantly crossed, slippers dangling from her toes, revealing her heels covered by the stockings.
Mom bit her red lips, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, I stood outside the door, having overheard Mom's two conversations, my feelings were also incredibly complex.
That short, skinny bully from school who always harassed me is actually getting a job at Mom's Lingya Group! Even though he'll be assigned to deal with the stockpiled low-end stockings and face heavy physical labor every day, he's still succeeded.
On one hand, I felt a secret thrill at the dreadful job Wang Xiong was about to face. But on the other hand, I couldn't help but worry. Wouldn't Wang Xiong have even more opportunities to get close to Mom after joining her company?
What might Wang Xiong do to Mom without my knowledge?
I quietly left the study and returned to my room.
Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Everything that had happened today flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern—the scene in the office, Officer Li Zheng's nighttime visit, Wang Xiong's lewd video call…
And Mom. That high and mighty CEO of Lingya in the eyes of outsiders, now repeatedly agrees to Wang Xiong's demands, repeatedly compromises with him.
It's all because of that damned arson case. Doesn't Mom have any way to stop it?
Just then, my phone on the bedside table lit up with a message from the class group chat.
I took it out and shuddered—
It was a photo of an office. Wang Xiong was sitting behind his desk, taking a picture of his crotch. Two long, shapely legs in stockings stretched out from the desk, and delicate, cute feet in stockings were holding his penis between them, his pink toes clearly visible. The soles of his stockings were covered in a sticky liquid…