Polish the diamond

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "But wouldn't it be fun to see his face when he finds out that the little broke Yang Qinru made a smarter move than him? Maybe I should bring popcorn to the dinner."

Her laughter filled the room as she typed out a quick reply: "Looking forward to the dinner, everyone! Especially excited to hear about Jin-ge's brilliant investments"

Butler Fu entered, carrying a tray with a cup of tea. "Young Miss, I thought you might need this. You've been in here for hours."

"Thanks, Butler Fu," Yang Qinru said, taking the tea and setting it beside her laptop. "I've been busy planning my next steps."

Butler Fu glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow. "Are you looking at the stocks again, Young Miss?"

"Of course," Yang Qinru replied, her tone nonchalant. "I have to stay ahead of the game."

"But… Time's Company?" Butler Fu hesitated, recognizing the name. "Isn't that a bit of a gamble? It's not exactly thriving right now."

Yang Qinru raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, Butler Fu, you wound me. Do you really think I'd put my precious money into a failing company without a plan?"

He hesitated. "Well... no, of course not. But..."

"No buts," Yang Qinru said, waving her hand dismissively. "Just wait and see. In six months, this company will be the talk of the town, and I'll be laughing all the way to the bank."

Yang Qinru's eyes sparkled as she continued, "When my dear cousin finds out I invested in Time's Company—while he probably wasted another fortune on some doomed venture—I might just frame his reaction as art. It'll be priceless."

Butler Fu couldn't help but chuckle softly. "You seem to enjoy ruffling feathers, Young Miss."

"Who, me?" Yang Qinru feigned innocence, placing a hand over her heart. "I'm just doing my part to keep the family… lively"

Butler Fu sighed. "As long as you're confident, Young Miss."

"Confident?" Yang Qinru scoffed, sitting up straight. "I'm more than confident. I'm a genius." She gave him a cheeky grin.

"But you're still broke for now," Butler Fu reminded her gently, unable to suppress a smile.

"Details, Butler Fu, mere details," she said, brushing it off with a flick of her hand. "Besides, I'm not broke. I'm temporarily financially challenged. Big difference."

Butler Fu chuckled, shaking his head. "If you say so, Young Miss. Just... please don't go overboard with your schemes."

Yang Qinru closed her laptop with a satisfied snap. "Oh, Butler Fu, you worry too much. Trust me, I've got this all under control."

He sighed again, picking up the empty tray. "Very well. I'll leave you to your... genius plans. Just don't forget to rest."

"I won't," Yang Qinru replied, already opening her laptop again as soon as he turned away.

Once the door clicked shut, she leaned back against her pillows, staring at the screen with a self-satisfied smirk.

"Yang Jin," she muttered under her breath. "You're going to regret underestimating me. Just you wait."

...

It was barely 8 a.m., and the incessant knocking on Yang Qinru's door felt like a personal attack on her sacred morning slumber.

Groaning, she tried to bury herself deeper under the covers, but the knocking persisted, growing louder and more insistent.

With a dramatic sigh, she dragged herself out of bed, her steps heavy as she shuffled toward the door.

Swinging it open, she was met with the sight of Butler Fu standing there, impeccably dressed as usual, a stack of documents neatly tucked under his arm.

Yang Qinru yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Good morning, Butler Fu. What is it this time?"

"Good morning, Young Miss," he said with an infuriatingly calm tone. "Do you wish to hear about the progress on the Reeve Company?"

Yang Qinru's annoyance evaporated, replaced by eager anticipation. Her eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously. "Of course!"

But before she could demand details, Butler Fu raised a hand. "Then please freshen up first, Young Miss. It's improper to discuss serious matters while you look like…" He paused, searching for a diplomatic word, "…you've just rolled out of bed."

Yang Qinru froze, the corners of her mouth twitching in irritation.

'Damn you, old fox! Damn you, Fu Weirong!' she cursed inwardly, but with no choice, she stomped toward the bathroom, grumbling under her breath.

"Damn you." she cursed under her breath.

"What was that, Young Miss?" Butler Fu asked innocently.

"Nothing," she snapped, turning on her heel. "I'm going, okay? Just wait here."

Fifteen minutes later, Yang Qinru emerged from her room, her hair still damp from her quick shower.

She wore a simple white sleeveless shirt paired with black trousers—casual yet polished.

Butler Fu was already seated in the living room, sipping tea as he flipped through the folder.

Without looking up, he gestured toward the chair across from him.

"Please, Young Miss."

Yang Qinru slumped into the seat, crossing her arms. "Alright, spill. What's the update?"

Butler Fu adjusted his glasses and began. "As per your instructions, I reached out to the company's new chairman. Surprisingly, he was quite receptive to the acquisition. It seems the company's current financial struggles have left him with few options, and he sees this as an opportunity rather than a threat."

Yang Qinru leaned forward, intrigued. "No resistance? Not even a little skepticism?"

"None," Butler Fu confirmed. "In fact, he's eager for guidance. It appears you were correct in assessing his potential. The man has vision but lacks the experience to implement it effectively. He's what you might call… a diamond in the rough."

Yang Qinru smirked, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "Exactly what I thought. So, we're going to polish this diamond, right?"

Butler Fu nodded. "If that's your wish, Young Miss. However, it will require significant resources and mentorship. Are you prepared to allocate what's necessary?"

Yang Qinru waved a hand dismissively. "Of course. This isn't just about money, Butler Fu. It's about positioning. Reeve Company is going to be a major player in the media industry. When they rise to prominence, the Yang name will be tied to that success-" she paused. "No. When they rise to prominence, my name will be tied to it." 

She paused, tapping her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "But we can't spoon-feed him. Let him figure things out, make some mistakes. That's the only way he'll grow into the leader I know he can be."

Butler Fu smiled faintly. "Wise words, Young Miss. It seems you're quite serious about this endeavor."

Yang Qinru leaned back, her confidence radiating. "I am. And not just because it's a good business move. It's about proving that I can spot opportunities others overlook."

Butler Fu chuckled. "Ah, a little competition with your esteemed cousins, perhaps?"

Yang Qinru gave him an innocent look. "What competition? I'm just doing what any responsible Yang would do—making smart investments."

Her sly grin betrayed her true intentions, and Butler Fu shook his head in amusement.

"Your foresight is remarkable, Young Miss," Butler Fu acknowledged, though his tone carried a hint of dry humor.

"Don't sound so surprised," Yang Qinru retorted, raising an eyebrow. "I told you before—trust me on these things. And when Reeve Company becomes a powerhouse in the news industry, remember who saw it coming first."

"Spoken like a true strategist," Butler Fu said, bowing slightly.

Yang Qinru smirked. "Don't flatter me too much, Butler Fu. I might start expecting breakfast in bed next."

Butler Fu gave her a pointed look. "Only if you manage to wake up before noon, Young Miss."

"Well, Young Miss, with the charity gala tonight, I suggest you rest after this discussion. It will be a long evening." Butler Fu said.

Yang Qinru rolled her eyes. "Rest? After this? Do you think my brain ever takes a break, Butler Fu?"

"No," he replied dryly, "but one can hope."