‌Chapter 24 Intelligence Insults

The air hung thick with unspoken tensions—women blushing, men stifling smirks.

Zhao Yalin, the ice-queen interviewer, arched a perfectly groomed brow. "Splendid. Now, enlighten me—what was your previous occupation?"

"Security guard."

"Mr. Ye, this isn't a comedy club."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Her lips thinned. "You're underestimating my intelligence."

"Miss, seems you've got a bias against security personnel. Let me clarify—I'm the most cultured security guard you'll ever meet. Satisfied?"

"Perfectly."

Ye Chenghuan grinned. "So… am I hired?"

"Not so fast. There's one final test. But not here." She rose abruptly, her earlier professionalism evaporating. "Follow me."

Even the other panelists exchanged puzzled glances. The scripted interview had ended—what fresh torment was this?

Ye trailed her through labyrinthine corridors, hyperaware of every sway of her hips beneath that punishingly tailored skirt. The woman was a walking liability report. Yet he couldn't deny the thrill of her unpredictability.

The CEO's office swallowed them whole. Zhao perched on buttery leather, curves straining against her pencil skirt. "Sit."

Ye leaned against the doorframe. "Standing helps me… relax."

"Formal introductions—I'm Zhao Yalin, CEO of Haunting Group."

Recognition flickered. So this was the tyrant Wu Shi had whined about to Lin Peishan! Not some battle-ax, but a lethal rose with thorns.

"Charmed," Ye extended a hand she ignored. "Shall we begin? I'm dying to impress."

"Begin what?"

"The final test you mentioned."

Her laugh was arctic. "You actually thought I'd hire you?"

Ye clicked his tongue. Another trap sprung. "Protocol says I passed."

"Correct. So I invented a new protocol."

"Your panelists might question that."

"I'll say you failed the secret test. No one challenges a CEO's whims."

"Ruthless! My kind of woman." He sprawled in the guest chair. "But why?"

"Must I spell it out? The elevator. The… crowd incident."

"A little ass-grabbing never hurt anyone. CEO's shouldn't hold grudges."

"Little?" Her pen cracked. "Haunting Group needs elites, not alley-cat degenerates." She waved dismissal. "Get out."

Ye shrugged. "How about I let you grab my ass in return? Balance the scales."

"Shameless! Leave or I'll call security!"

"Go ahead. Let the whole company hear why their CEO blacklisted me. 'Fired for copping a feel' has a nice ring."

Her composure fissured. "What do you want?"

"The job. I keep your… oversight… quiet."

"Blackmail?"

"Partnership." He laced fingers behind his head. "We're at an impasse."

The desk phone shrilled. Zhao snatched it up, her expression shifting through shock to calculation. "The Long-8 licensed Rolls Royce… is yours?"

"Borrowed."

"What's your relation to Lin Peishan?"

"Relevance?"

"Everything. Answer."

"We dine together. Binge dramas. Share baths. What's your guess?"

Her porcelain mask slipped. "You're lying."

"Check with her." He sauntered to the restroom, granting her crisis-management time.

Wu Shi's porcine face greeted him at the urinals—the same lecher he'd humiliated at Shangri-La.

"You!" The man's jowls quivered. "Haunting Group hires trash now?"

"Better trash than embezzlers," Ye smirked, adjusting his fly with deliberate flair. "Need a magnifier to find yours?"

Back in Zhao's office, her gaze could frost volcanoes. "Lin confirmed your… acquaintance. She advises against hiring you."

Ye snorted. "I'll paddle her backside tonight."

"Nevertheless," Zhao leaned forward, cleavage gleaming like a weapon, "I'm appointing you Marketing Director. Trial period: one month."

His brows shot up. "No hard feelings about the… misunderstandings?"

"Past irrelevant. Welcome aboard, Director Ye."

Her smile promised exquisite revenge.

The marketing department froze as Zhao entered with her prey. "Meet your new director. Ensure he memorizes every company regulation."

Four junior executives paled.

"Failure means docked bonuses," Zhao added sweetly, exiting amid glares aimed at Ye.

He winked at his shellshocked team. "How about we skip to the whiskey-and-regrets part?"

Somewhere, a voodoo doll with Ye's face acquired new pins. The war had just begun.