Chapter 31: The Enchanting Beauty

Wang Haoran left the school and soon found himself standing before a towering office building. This entire building belonged to a cosmetics company named "Enchanting Beauty," and its owner was none other than his stepmother.

After his driver went to park the car, Wang Haoran headed towards the front desk in the lobby. The receptionist there was a stunningly beautiful young woman, easily scoring a 90 out of 100. As a cosmetics company, having a gorgeous receptionist was almost a requirement—after all, the front desk was like a showcase of the company's image.

Wang Haoran had only visited this company a few times, and that too, when he was very young. Naturally, the staff wouldn't recognize him. Although he could have easily forced his way in, dealing with the security guards was unnecessary. Instead, he opted to follow the usual process and approached the receptionist, intending to ask her to notify his stepmother about his arrival.

At that moment, several people were already in line at the reception. Not wanting to wait, Wang Haoran simply cut in front of them, feeling it was only natural for the "prince" of the company to skip the line. His action caused a slight commotion, drawing the attention of the receptionist.

She stopped what she was doing, her large eyes narrowing in on Wang Haoran with a serious expression. For a moment, Wang Haoran was taken aback. This scene felt oddly familiar, as if straight out of a typical story—was she about to scold him or call security to have him thrown out? Then, his identity would be revealed, and she'd frantically apologize. 

To his surprise, the receptionist's demeanor changed suddenly. With a bright smile, she said, "Oh, it's Young Master Wang! You look even more handsome in person than in the photos."

"You've seen my photos?" Wang Haoran asked, a bit taken aback.

"Yes, of course. Ms. Zhen has your photos all over her office and in every corridor of the building," she explained.

This realization hit Wang Haoran like a bolt of lightning. His stepmother must have put up those photos, probably so she could see her beloved stepson wherever she went. The typical plotline where the protagonist gets disrespected before revealing their true identity was definitely not going to happen to him, a self-aware villain.

Wang Haoran mentally rolled his eyes at the cliché he'd just avoided and requested, "I need to see Ms. Zhen. Could you let her know I'm here?"

"Right away, Young Master Wang," the receptionist chirped. She quickly made a call and then said, "The secretary mentioned that Ms. Zhen is in a meeting right now, but I'll take you to her office so you can wait."

The receptionist, ignoring the waiting line, led Wang Haoran to the elevator. As they ascended to the 28th floor, she suddenly commented, "It's really stuffy in here, isn't it?"

"Is it?" Wang Haoran replied, puzzled, as the elevator was air-conditioned. However, he soon understood when she loosened her blouse slightly and fanned herself, inching closer to him. The proximity brought a certain view within easy reach, testing his willpower.

Stepping out of the elevator, they walked down a long corridor lined with framed pictures of Wang Haoran, a clear indication of his identity as the company's "prince." Women in business attire passed by them—these employees were all stunning, their appearances far surpassing those of typical schoolgirls. 

Wang Haoran internally marveled at his stepmother's preference for hiring attractive women, a trait that seemed to run in the family. Yet, thanks to his past experiences, he managed to keep his composure.

Finally, they arrived outside the CEO's office. "Here we are, Young Master Wang," the receptionist said, smiling.

"Thank you," Wang Haoran replied.

"Could I add you on WeChat?" she asked hesitantly, her nervousness apparent.

Wang Haoran gave her a curious look, prompting her to quickly clarify, "I mean, so I can arrange things in advance for your next visit."

"Sure," Wang Haoran agreed, understanding her true intention but choosing not to call it out. He handed her his phone for the QR code, and she eagerly added him as a contact.

"I'm Du Ning," she said before leaving, her voice filled with excitement.

Inside the office, a tall, shapely woman who had been busy with paperwork quickly stood up to greet him. "Young Master Wang, welcome. I'm Ms. Zhen's secretary."

Wang Haoran gave her a once-over—this woman's figure was just as impressive as Du Ning's, though with a bit more flair, scoring a 93 out of 100.

"My stepmother sure knows how to pick them," Wang Haoran mused.

"Can I get you something to drink?" the secretary asked.

"Just a glass of water," Wang Haoran replied, settling into the plush sofa.

The secretary quickly brought him a glass of water and then, bowing slightly, said, "Please wait here. I'll check how long Ms. Zhen's meeting will take and get back to you."

Wang Haoran nodded, his eyes briefly catching the name on her work badge—Fang Xuan, Chief Secretary.

---

In the conference room, Zhen Li, Wang Haoran's stepmother, was in the middle of a heated discussion with her senior staff about business matters. The meeting had dragged on since the morning, with no proposal able to satisfy her. Irritated, she snapped at her secretary, who had just quietly entered the room, "Didn't I say not to disturb me until the meeting is over? What part of that did you not understand?"

"Ms. Zhen, someone is here to see you. It's your—" Fang Xuan began, but Zhen Li cut her off, "I don't care who it is. Tell them to leave; I'm busy!"

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the senior staff too nervous to speak. Zhen Li's temper flared, and she slammed the table, "Well? Does anyone have a better idea?"

Fang Xuan, sensing the rising tension, almost turned to leave before dropping the bombshell, "Ms. Zhen, it's your son who's here to see you."

Zhen Li's irritation vanished instantly. "Wait, what? My son is here?!"