He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

Early morning, in the president's office of the Shen Group.

Shen Qingge's aura today is completely different from yesterday's.

She wore a sharply tailored white suit, her hair styled in a high bun, revealing her long, swan-like neck. After last night's double dose of love and (crossed out) massage, she was radiant, her eyes sharp as knives.

Across from the desk sat a middle-aged, overweight man, sweating profusely and looking restless.

It was Wang Qiang, the boss of "Hongda Building Materials" and a henchman of the Zhao family.

"Mr. Shen... what brings you here?" Wang Qiang wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes darting around. "If it's about the raw materials, I've already made it very clear. As for the Zhao family..."

"Smack."

Shen Qingge threw a thick document onto the table with a crisp sound.

"Take a look." Shen Qingge leaned back in the boss's chair, twirling a pen in her hand, her tone indifferent.

Wang Qiang picked up the document with a puzzled look and turned to the first page.

After just one glance, his face turned deathly pale, and he slumped into the chair like a lump of mud.

That was a debt assignment agreement.

The high-interest loan he owed to the Macau casino, which had ballooned to over 300 million yuan with compounded interest, was now listed as the creditor as—Shen Qingge.

"This...how is this possible?!"

Wang Qiang's voice trembled, "How could you...?"

"Boss Wang, I don't care how you lost your money."

Shen Qingge leaned forward, a dangerous glint in her beautiful phoenix eyes. At that moment, the image of Jiang Che strategizing and maneuvering confidently last night flashed through her mind.

"I am now your largest creditor. According to the agreement, if you do not repay the money, I can apply to freeze all your assets, including your shares in Hongda Building Materials, and... the secret stash of money you were saving to send your son abroad."

"No! Mr. Shen! No!"

Wang Qiang completely broke down, falling to his knees with a thud. "President Shen, please have mercy! I really have no money right now! The Zhao family is pressing too hard on me with the loan..."

"No money?"

Shen Qingge sneered, "If you don't have money, you can use goods as collateral."

"I know you still have a batch of top-grade steel in your warehouse that was originally intended for the Zhao family. Give me this batch of goods, and it will be used to offset the debt at 80% of the market price. I can extend the remaining debt for you for another year."

"This..." Wang Qiang hesitated, "But what about the Zhao family..."

"Wang Qiang, think this through."

Shen Qingge stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked down at the city below, and said domineeringly:

"The Zhao family might only make you earn less money, but I... can ruin your family and destroy your life."

"Besides, you've disliked the Zhao family for a long time, haven't you?"

This sentence became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Wang Qiang gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes. The Zhao family had treated him like a dog for the past few years, never giving him a kind look. Since he was going to die anyway, he might as well cling to the Shen family's coattails!

"Okay! I'll sign!"

Wang Qiang got up and tremblingly signed his name on the supply agreement.

"Mr. Shen, it's not just the goods! I also have evidence of the Zhao family's shoddy workmanship in the new district project! As long as you guarantee I won't die, I'll give you everything!"

Shen Qingge looked at the signature and a victorious smile appeared on her lips.

Won.

We really won.

In just one night, they not only resolved the supply chain crisis, but also gained leverage over the Zhao family.

She took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to her "husband" who was pinned to the top of her chat list:

[The hunt begins. Come home early tonight, I'll treat you to an extra meal.]

……

at the same time.

Classroom for first-year students in the Vocal Music Department at the Affiliated High School of Jianghai Academy of Arts.

This is the most famous elite art school in Jianghai City. Students who can get in either come from wealthy families or are from artistic families.

Su Xiaoruan sat in the corner of the last row of the classroom, looking out of place.

Although she was wearing the Chanel that Jiang Che had bought for her, the outfit didn't look out of place among the GUCCI, PRADA, and limited-edition trendy brands that filled the room.

What's striking is her demeanor.

The girls around me were all talking about last night's ballet performance, Paris Fashion Week, or which young master had gotten a new sports car.

Su Xiaoruan looked down at the sheet music in her hand, which was full of tadpole-like characters, and felt like her brain was about to explode.

"Hey, you new guy."

A slightly sarcastic voice rang out from above.

Su Xiaoruan looked up.

Standing in front of her were three or four stylishly dressed girls. The one in the lead, with her flaxen wavy hair and exquisite nail polish, was looking at her with the eyes of someone looking at an alien.

She is Lin Shanshan, the most beautiful girl in the vocal music department, and also the leader of a small group in her class.

"I heard you got in through connections?"

Lin Shanshan crossed her arms and looked down at Su Xiaoruan: "When the teacher asked you to introduce yourself, you said you'd never studied vocal music before? You'd never even touched a piano?"

Su Xiaoruan frowned.

Given her past temper, if anyone dared to speak to her like that, she would have slapped them long ago.

But she remembered Jiang Che's instructions: "Go to school to learn skills, not to fight. Don't cause me trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either."

Su Xiaoruan took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and said calmly:

"I'm here to learn, is it wrong if my foundation is weak?"

"Study? Ha!"

Lin Shanshan laughed exaggeratedly, and her followers around her joined in the laughter.

"This is an intensive course! The art college entrance exam is in three months! You can't even recognize all the do-re-mi notes, and you think you can compete with us for a spot?"

"I advise you to drop out of school as soon as possible, instead of embarrassing yourself here. That Chanel outfit you're wearing doesn't even look like your own. Could it be... you were sent here by some old man who's keeping you?"

"What did you say?!"

Su Xiaoruan suddenly stood up, and the stool made a screeching sound.

Insulting her is acceptable, but insulting Jiang Che (the person who gave her the clothes in her heart) is absolutely unacceptable!

A chillingly fierce light flashed in her large eyes—the murderous aura she had honed over years of street life.

Lin Shanshan was startled by that look and instinctively took a step back.

"What...what do you want to do? Trying to hit someone? This is a school!"

"Quiet!"

Just then, the classroom door was pushed open.

A middle-aged man with a refined demeanor and wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked in.

He is Professor Zhang, the devilish professor in the vocal music department.

"Class is starting, everyone back to your seats!"

Lin Shanshan glared at Su Xiaoruan and said in a low voice, "You country bumpkin, let's see how you cry during the professional test later!"

Su Xiaoruan bit her lip and slowly sat down.

Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.

She wasn't afraid of fighting, but she was really afraid of losing face. Especially afraid of embarrassing her brother.

"We will have a pop quiz today."

Professor Zhang stood in front of the piano, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Everyone, come up and sing a piece of your choice. I want to see the results of your practice over the past few days."

"The first one is Lin Shanshan."

Lin Shanshan walked confidently onto the stage.

She sang a challenging excerpt from an Italian opera. Although her breath control was unsteady in some places, her technique was skillful, clearly the result of years of training.

After the song was finished, the whole class erupted in applause.

"Good, A-." Professor Zhang nodded.

Lin Shanshan walked off the stage triumphantly, and as she passed Su Xiaoruan, she raised her chin provocatively.

"Next... Su Xiaoruan."

Upon hearing this name, the entire class fell silent instantly, and everyone looked towards the corner with expectant eyes.

Su Xiaoruan's heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty.

She had never sung in front of so many people before. She used to just belt out songs at karaoke, but now it's professional vocal lessons.

She stood up stiffly and moved step by step to the piano.

"What are you going to sing?" Professor Zhang asked, looking at her expressionlessly.

"I...I..."

Su Xiaoruan's mind went completely blank. She had long forgotten the Italian song lyrics she had just learned.

A few snickers came from below.

"Teacher, she probably only knows how to sing 'Two Tigers'?" Lin Shanshan said loudly.

Laugh out loud.

Su Xiaoruan's face flushed red, and tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to escape, to rush out of the classroom and never come back.

But at that moment...

She remembered Jiang Che's back as he played "Für Elise" in front of that Steinway piano yesterday morning.

She recalled Jiang Che's words: "Xiao Ruan has a nice voice, and her tone is very distinctive."

My brother said I could do it.

I know I can do it!

Su Xiaoruan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She didn't choose those highbrow operas, nor those flashy pop songs.

She remembered the bowl of noodles Jiang Che cooked for her that rainy night, and the warm embrace he had given her.

She spoke softly.

There was no accompaniment; it was a cappella.

It's a very old folk song – "The Flying Insects".

"The dark sky hangs low, accompanied by bright stars..."

When the first note flowed from her throat.

The previously noisy classroom suddenly fell silent.

It was an extremely unique voice.

It has a slightly husky, grainy texture, yet possesses a clarity that penetrates the soul. It's like aged wine in a deep alley, or the air after a rainstorm.

There are no fancy techniques, only the purest emotions.

That was her loneliness when she was homeless on the streets, and also her longing after being redeemed.

Lin Shanshan's mocking expression froze.

Professor Zhang stopped twirling his pen.

Everyone was captivated by this powerful and moving voice.

"The stars in the sky weep, the roses on the ground wither..."

"The cold wind blows, the cold wind blows, but as long as you're with me..."

As she sang the last line, Su Xiaoruan opened her eyes. Her eyes held tears, but even more so, a resolute determination.

The song ended.

The classroom was deathly silent.

A full five seconds passed.

Professor Zhang slowly took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and looked at Su Xiaoruan with a complicated expression:

"Who taught you to sing like that?"

"I... I was just singing randomly." Su Xiaoruan nervously clutched the hem of her clothes.

"Singing nonsense?"

Professor Zhang sighed, a smile of appreciation for talent appearing on his lips:

"Heaven has blessed us with talent."

"The pitch is perfect, and although the resonance cavities haven't opened up yet, this sense of narrative and emotional impact cannot be trained."

"Su Xiaoruan, right? This song isn't suitable for the art exam, but your voice... is a treasure."

"From now on, stay after school every day and I'll give you extra tutoring."

Whoosh—!

The whole class erupted in uproar.

Professor Zhang is known for his strictness and never gives anyone special treatment, not even Lin Shanshan! What makes this transfer student so special?

Lin Shanshan was so angry that she broke the pen in her hand and stared intently at Su Xiaoruan.

Su Xiaoruan was stunned, then flashed a bright smile and bowed deeply to Professor Zhang:

"Thank you, teacher!"

She sat back down, and although the gazes around her were still unfriendly, even more envious, she straightened her back.

She took out her phone and sent Jiang Che a WeChat message:

[Brother! The teacher praised me! He said I'm a treasure! I want to eat braised pork to celebrate!]

……

Tomson Riviera.

Jiang Che looked at the messages on his phone and smiled.

[Prompt from the Godly Tycoon Cultivation System:]

[The character Su Xiaoruan's "artistic talent" awakens for the first time.]

[Reward: Top-tier music arrangement skills (To ensure she shines in her art college entrance exams, please begin preparing a "trump card" piece).]

Jiang Che put away his phone and looked out the window.

He won the business battle, and his studies also improved.

But life would be too boring if we didn't do something interesting.

"Lin Shanshan?"

Jiang Che narrowed his eyes as he looked at the name mentioned in the WeChat message from Su Xiaoruan, which was filled with complaints.

If I remember correctly, Wang Qiang, who was killed by Shen Qingge, had a wife whose surname was Lin.

"interesting."

Jiang Che picked up his glass of red wine.

It seems that, whether in the business world or on campus, some things need to be dealt with together to make a real impact.