Reading Yang Xin's face

Alan's face remained neutral as he stared at Yang Xin kneeling ahead of him. He had expected this to happen.

"You can stand. You won't regret choosing this. This is the contract of your employment. Read it," Alan spoke while throwing the scroll towards Yang Xin.

Yang Xin caught that contract scroll and stood up slowly. She read each wording very carefully, and a frown appeared on her face.

The wording of the contract was extremely elegant. However, the clauses in this contract were completely contrary to the wording. Yang Xin felt that she would become Alan's servant after signing this contract.

Moreover, this contract stated that she couldn't resist Alan's orders. And if she ever did resist his orders, it would give Alan the right to decapitate her.

For a second, Yang Xin felt that it wasn't such a great idea to sign this contract. However, she recalled that if she didn't accept it, she would lose everything. Her position, wealth, cultivation, freedom, and most importantly, ambition.

Either it was losing everything she held dear or joining the hand with this devil's incarnate. Yang Xin didn't wish to lose everything just yet.

She still held the ambition of becoming the first woman president of the Alchemy Association.

However, this wasn't the end of her worry. Her frown deepened as Yang Xin noticed that Alan would pay her a monthly salary of a hundred thousand Demon Spirit Coins. And it was specifically mentioned that this monthly salary was a bribe so that Alan could control the Alchemy Association from the inside.

"…I do not wish to accept this monthly salary," Yang Xin spoke clearly. If it was someone else instead of her, they would never reject this monthly salary.

However, Alan had expected her to protest regarding this point. A smirk appeared on his face as he responded, "That's exactly why you will get it."

Yang Xin gritted her teeth as she understood Alan's objective.

"…I will never use this salary!" Yang Xin spoke.

Alan had expected her to bring up this point as well and instantly replied, "It's not my problem that you are a fool. The fact remains that you will receive a hundred thousand Demon Spirit Coins every month."

"…I understand," Yang Xin spoke as she pulled out a feather pen. She used that feather pen to sign on that contract paper.

"Very good," Alan spoke.

"I have your first task ready for you. Immediately increase the price of pellets you sell to the City Lord's Mansion," Alan ordered her.

Yang Xin seemed startled to hear this order. But as she thought deeply, she felt that Alan's order made sense.

The Sacred Family and the Snow Wind Family were in fierce competition. It would be greatly beneficial for the Sacred Family if the Snow Wind Family couldn't buy these pellets.

"…It's best if I do not attempt that since that would just annoy the President of the Alchemy Association. He might even ask someone else to handle this deal," Yang Xin spoke calmly.

"And why would that be? Has he struck a secret deal with the Snow Wind Family?" Alan asked with a sneer.

"I did find it strange that the price of these pellets never increased for the Snow Wind Family when it increased for everyone else. However, why would the President have this secret deal with the Snow Wind Family? Is he aiming for something?" Alan asked.

Yang Xin remained silent. She was caught in a dilemma. She wondered if she should follow the President's order or that contract.

Alan's expression remained calm, and he asked her, "So you don't know anything related to this?"

Once again, Yang Xin remained silent as she couldn't make up her mind about it.

"So this had nothing to do with Nie Li's request?" Alan asked with a hint of mockery in his tone.

This time, Yang Xin gave a huge reaction as her eyes widened with disbelief, and she asked uncontrollably, "You knew?!"

"I had my suspicions, but you confirmed them just now," Alan responded while rolling his eyes.

However, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes as he spoke, "But still, this was a test, and unfortunately, you have failed, Yang Xin."

"…I guess you still don't understand what that the wording of that contract meant. Or you understand the wording, but still choose to ignore it and wish to try and fool me," Alan spoke.

Yang Xin flinched upon hearing those words since Alan was partially right. She was indeed trying to fool Alan since she thought he wouldn't know anything about this.

"…It's nothing like that. The President has ordered us to remain silent about this matter," Yang Xin tried to defend herself with these words.

"The President isn't the one who controls your future now. I do!" Alan spoke sharply.

Yang Xin gritted her teeth as she heard those words and chose to remain silent.

Alan analyzed her facial expressions and snorted in disdain, "…You are such a foolish woman. Do you think I don't know what you are thinking? Your thoughts are written on your face."

Yang Xin frowned slightly as she heard those words and asked Alan, "What do you mean?"

"It seems that you don't believe me," Alan spoke while rolling his eyes. He then added, "You were thinking along the lines that you will be more careful when lying to me in the future."

"…" Yang Xin's widened pupils were all the proof that Alan required from her. Her silence was another proof that Alan was right.

"Your attempt of outsmarting me is hilarious indeed. It's even more amusing than watching a clown's performance," Alan spoke.

Yang Xin clenched her fists tightly as she heard those words.

Alan noticed her facial expressions and knew that she was thinking of making him pay for these words.

"You won't have that opportunity," Alan suddenly spoke.

"W-What?" Yang Xin asked with a shaky tone. She had a bad feeling about it.

"You won't have the opportunity of making me pay for these words," Alan spoke.

Yang Xin felt goosebumps all over her body as she heard those words.

"Y-You can read minds?!"

"No. But I can read faces. And your face is extremely easy to read," Alan responded calmly.

As she heard this response, Yang Xin was utterly terrified of Alan. She now questioned her decision to serve him. It would be much harder than she previously imagined.