Chapter 12: Mei Niang, Long Time No See!

Lin Beifan turned his head to look.

The butler was approaching with a stunning woman by his side.

She stood close to 1.7 meters tall, her figure elegant and poised. She wore a black short skirt paired with a stylish purple blouse of an unknown brand, exuding sophistication and fashion sense.

Her skin was fair, her facial features exquisite—almost as if they had been sculpted by the hands of a god. Her chestnut-brown hair cascaded in soft curls, and she wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses, adding a touch of intellectual charm.

Her expression was radiant yet proud, with a subtle hint of allure.

Lin Beifan knew this woman. In fact, he was very familiar with her.

Her name was Liu Rumei, the close friend of the heroine, Song Yuqing.

Though she was not the protagonist of the story, she played a crucial role as a supporting character.

She was outstanding in every aspect—blessed with beauty, intelligence, an enviable educational background, and impressive professional competence.

The only thing she lacked compared to the heroine was luck.

In his past life, when Song Yuqing had pursued him, Liu Rumei had been furious. In her determination to prove he was unworthy, she had accepted an invitation from his father and taken up the role of his personal secretary.

Her initial goal had been to gather evidence against him, to expose his true colors and make Song Yuqing give up on him.

However, as time passed, her hatred turned into something else. She had grown entangled in his world, becoming one of his closest allies—advising him, strategizing with him, and even helping him deal with his enemies.

Now, after being reborn, fate had played the same trick again. She had returned to his side, just like before.

A nostalgic smile appeared on Lin Beifan's lips.

"Mei Niang, long time no see."

For a moment, he was lost in memories, reminiscing about the past.

However, Liu Rumei's expression instantly darkened. Her eyes flashed with disgust and disdain.

"Tch, what a shameless playboy. His eyes go wide at the sight of a beautiful woman—some things never change. A dog can't stop itself from eating dirt."

She responded coldly, "Hello, Mr. Lin. My name is Liu Rumei. I hold a master's degree in management from Harvard and have spent the past two years working at Blue Mountain Investment Bank, achieving significant results. Your father has hired me as your personal secretary to assist with your business affairs."

Lin Beifan chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Liu Rumei."

But she remained indifferent.

"I, however, am not happy to meet you at all," she replied icily. "Let me make one thing clear—I'm only here for work. I will not participate in any of your reckless activities! If I find that you're incompetent, I won't hesitate to resign immediately!"

Her tone was sharp, leaving no room for nonsense.

Lin Beifan, however, remained unfazed. He smiled lightly and said, "Of course, that's entirely your choice, Mei Niang."

"The colder you are now, the more passionate you'll be later."

Liu Rumei frowned. "What... what did you just call me?"

"Mei Niang," Lin Beifan repeated casually. "Your name has 'Mei' in it, and you have a naturally charming aura—so I think it suits you."

Liu Rumei reacted as if she had been electrocuted. "That nickname sounds awful! Don't call me that! I have a proper name—Liu Rumei!"

"Alright, Mei Niang."

"You can call me Rumei, Miss Liu, or Secretary Liu!"

"I got it, Mei Niang."

"...!!!"

After a few rounds of bickering, Lin Beifan remained stubborn, causing Liu Rumei to glare at him with murder in her eyes.

Sensing the tension, the butler stepped in with a diplomatic smile. "Miss Liu, the young master is simply joking with you!"

Liu Rumei forced a tight-lipped smile, her teeth grinding. "Don't worry. I may be a lady, but I'm not petty."

Then she turned to Lin Beifan and said, "Young Master, it's getting late. Shouldn't we start working? If you slack off, I won't hesitate to report you to your parents. Let's see how they 'discipline' you then!"

Lin Beifan thought for a moment and nodded. It was indeed time to get to work.

To counter his enemies—the so-called protagonists—he needed a solid foundation, starting with his career.

"What exactly am I in charge of?" he asked.

The butler quickly replied, "Young Master, you may choose to serve as deputy director of any department within the group, or as vice president of one of our subsidiary companies. If you perform well, you'll be promoted accordingly."

This was the privilege of being born into wealth.

While ordinary people had to climb the corporate ladder step by step, his starting position was already at the top.

For many, the peak of a lifetime's effort was merely his starting line.

"If that's the case…" Lin Beifan smirked, "then I'll choose Lin Investment Company."

For someone reborn with future knowledge, investment was the easiest and most lucrative path.

With his prophetic advantage, making money would be as easy as breathing.

He was confident that he would rise even faster than in his previous life.

"Understood, Young Master. I will make the necessary arrangements," the butler said, visibly pleased to see Lin Beifan taking things seriously.

"In addition," the butler continued, "your position will be Vice President of the investment company. According to company policy, you will be provided with an official car, a personal secretary, a driver, and a bodyguard.

"You already have a car and a secretary. Do you wish to choose your own driver and bodyguard, or should we assign them to you?"

Lin Beifan smiled knowingly.

"I'll pick them myself."

In his previous life, there had been a man in the security department of his family's group—a formidable fighter, fiercely loyal, and deeply trusted.

This time, he would make sure to bring him back.

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[To be continued...]