Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

Liu Lan was washing vegetables when she heard the sound and looked up. She saw that it was Director Li, the highest-ranking official in the logistics department. She immediately became so nervous that she didn't know what to do. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and stood up.

"Director Li... I'm here."

Li Huaide walked up to her and handed her a stack of brand-new towels and a bar of soap, speaking in an exceptionally kind tone.

"Comrade Liu Lan, this is a subsidy from the factory for employees facing difficulties. Please take it. The factory knows about your family situation. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come directly to me. Don't worry about anything."

His gaze, seemingly concerned, was actually like a sticky snake's tongue, sweeping over Liu Lan, lingering for a moment on her chest, which was rising and falling slightly with nervousness.

Liu Lan was taken aback by this sudden "concern" and instinctively took the things, thanking them repeatedly.

"Thank you, Director Li, thank you for the organization's concern..."

"Work hard, and things will get better."

Li Huaide patted her shoulder, a gesture that seemed encouraging, but his fingertips carried a hint of intimacy that was hard to detect, before turning and leaving Liu Lan, who was in a state of utter confusion.

This scene naturally caught the attention of many people in the cafeteria.

Director Zhao saw this and was secretly pleased, feeling that he had made the right move.

Qin Huairu, who had been observing from the shadows, frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

She found a moment and quietly reported the situation to Li Zhenhua.

When Li Zhenhua received Qin Huairu's message, he was looking out the window in his office, his fingers lightly tapping on the window frame.

When he heard that Li Huaide couldn't hold back and took the initiative to contact Liu Lan, he was not surprised at all. Instead, a cold smile appeared on his lips, as if he had everything under control.

"The fish are finally starting to sniff the bait..."

He turned and gave instructions to Qin Huairu on the other end of the phone.

"Understood. Proceed as planned. Tell Liu Lan to stay calm, handle the situation normally, and not to be overly enthusiastic or deliberately avoid it. Wait for my instructions next."

After hanging up the phone, Li Zhenhua turned his gaze to the vast factory area outside the window, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

Li Huaide cleverly jumped in, saving him the trouble of guiding her.

Now that the net has been cast, let's see how this arrogant fish swims step by step into the trap that has been prepared for him.

At this moment, Li Huaide was still immersed in the perverse pleasure of about to cuckold his opponent, completely unaware that his every move had fallen into the hunter's calculations.

In the following days, Li Huaide's "concern" for Liu Lan increased day by day.

Like a fishing net that is gradually tightening, what initially seemed like ordinary work-related care quickly escalated into targeted special care and material incentives.

Firstly, regarding work arrangements.

The canteen manager, Fatty Zhao, had clearly received explicit instructions from Li Huaide, and his attitude towards Liu Lan underwent a complete change.

The dirtiest and most tiring jobs of the past, such as cleaning mountains of potatoes and scraping off blood-stained pig offal, are no longer available to Liu Lan.

She was transferred to the relatively easy pastry group, where she was responsible for simple tasks such as kneading dough and dividing it into portions. Sometimes she would just sit there picking vegetables. The looks she received from her coworkers were full of complex emotions, including envy, jealousy, and a hint of unspoken contempt.

Liu Lan felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She was used to being busy and enduring things, and this sudden "preferential treatment" made her feel uncomfortable.

She kept Li Zhenhua's teachings in mind.

"Don't take the initiative, don't refuse, keep your distance, let him feel that you are gentle and grateful, but also a little timid and hesitant."

So when Fatty Zhao announced the new work arrangements with a smile, she simply lowered her head and said "Thank you, Director" in a voice barely audible, with a perfectly timed blush of fear and gratitude on her face.

This blush, embellished by Fatty Zhao, reached Li Huaide's ears, making him even more restless.

He felt that this woman knew how to repay kindness, but she was timid and needed him to add fuel to the fire.

Thus, the temptations of matter followed one after another.

One day before leaving get off work, Fatty Zhao mysteriously called Liu Lan aside and handed her a net bag containing two white steamed buns and a small piece of shiny, oily braised meat wrapped in oil paper.

"Liu Lan, Director Li noticed you haven't looked well lately, and your child is still growing, so he specifically asked me to give this to you. This is a special treat for us; you can't buy it anywhere else. Take it quickly, and don't let anyone see it."

Fatty Zhao's tone carried a sense of superiority, as if he were bestowing a handout.

Liu Lan looked at the dazzlingly white steamed buns and the tempting braised meat, and her throat involuntarily moved.

This was undoubtedly a huge temptation for her and her child, who rarely ate meat and couldn't even get enough coarse grains to eat.

For a moment, she almost reached out to take it.

But Li Zhenhua's calm voice seemed to echo in my ears.

"Small favors are like sugar-coated bullets. Accepting them is tantamount to tacitly approving his further actions. You need to show that you need them, but you don't dare to ask for them, so that he thinks you are aloof or afraid of owing him a favor."

Liu Lan withdrew her hand, raised her head, and her eyes revealed genuine longing, but even more so panic and rejection.

"Director Zhao, this...this is too precious, I can't accept it. I appreciate Director Li's kindness, but this...I can't accept it."

She waved her hands repeatedly, shrinking back slightly, as if afraid of being burned by the net.

Fatty Zhao was taken aback when she refused, and then put on a stern face.

"How can you be so ungrateful? Director Li is just trying to be helpful, and you're refusing him like this? Take this! This is an order!"

He then tried to force it on her.

Liu Lan's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled with tears.

"Director Zhao, I really can't accept this... My husband just had an accident. If I take something so valuable from a leader, what will people say about me... Please, please return it to Director Li for me..."

As she spoke, tears actually fell from her eyes. Her pitiful yet stubborn appearance left Fatty Zhao at a loss. He could only reluctantly take back his things and mutter "stubborn" as he left.

This "refusal to bribe" incident, on the contrary, aroused Li Huaide's interest even more.

In his view, Liu Lan wasn't that she didn't love things, but rather that she was too timid and had too many concerns. This also showed that she wasn't the kind of superficial woman who could be easily swayed by material things.

This is more in line with his image of a "good woman".

Far from being angry, he found the woman even more alluring, and his desire to conquer her intensified.

He felt it was time for more direct "communication".

That afternoon, the logistics department called the canteen, specifically asking Liu Lan to go to Director Li's office.

When she received the notification, Liu Lan's heart sank. She knew that the most critical moment was about to arrive.

She followed the clerk who came to deliver the message, her head down, walking through the quiet corridor of the factory office building. Her heart was pounding, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.

Arriving at the office door with the sign "Director of Logistics," the clerk knocked on the door, and Li Huaide's deliberately calm voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Liu Lan pushed the door open and went in; the clerk closed the door behind her.

The office was spacious, with a deep red carpet, a row of tall bookshelves against the wall filled with finely bound books, and a huge mahogany desk that looked very impressive.

Li Huaide did not sit behind his desk, but on the sofa next to it, with two cups of hot tea brewing on the coffee table in front of him, their aroma filling the air.

Today he wore a gray Zhongshan suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a kind smile on his face, trying to create an approachable atmosphere.

"Xiao Liu is here, please sit down, don't stand."

Li Huaide enthusiastically pointed to the sofa opposite him.

Liu Lan walked awkwardly to the sofa, but didn't sit down completely, only touching half of her bottom. She nervously twisted the hem of her clothes with her hands, lowered her head, and whispered.

"Director Li, you wanted to see me?"

"Hey, relax, relax."

Li Huaide smiled and pushed a cup of tea in front of her.

"I just wanted to chat casually, to get to know you about your work and life. How are you? Are you settling into the new dorm? Is your child's schooling okay?"

"I'm used to it, everything's fine... Thank you for your concern, Director Li."

Liu Lan's voice was still very soft.

"That's good, that's good."

Li Huaide took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over Liu Lan, from her slender neck to her slightly heaving chest, and then to her legs pressed together. His gaze was so intense that it made Liu Lan feel nauseous and terrified, but she forced herself not to move.

"Little Liu,"

Li Huaide put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and began to speak frankly.

"I know everything about your family. It's truly heartbreaking for you. Tell me, you're so young, beautiful, and gentle—how did you end up with such a scoundrel?"

Liu Lan didn't speak, but lowered her head even further and her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she was suppressing tears.

Seeing her like this, Li Huaide thought he had touched a nerve and was secretly pleased. He continued to speak in a tone full of "sympathy".

"But now it's all good. The organization has helped you solve this big problem, and you're finally free from this misery. The good days are yet to come."

He paused, observing Liu Lan's reaction. Seeing that she didn't object, he revealed his true intentions, lowering his voice even further, with an obvious seduction.

"Xiao Liu, I know it's not easy for you to raise a child alone. From now on, I'll take care of you at the factory, and no one will dare to bully you. I can transfer you to a more relaxed and lucrative position, such as working in the union or as a clerk in the department, where you won't be exposed to the wind or rain. If you have any difficulties in life, just let me know, and I'll take care of anything you need."

As he spoke, he casually took out a small, exquisite brocade box from his pocket, opened it, and pushed it in front of Liu Lan.

Inside was a jade bracelet of good quality, which gleamed with a warm luster under the light.

"Here, this is a little trinket I brought back from my last business trip. It's not worth much, but it suits your skin tone. Try it on."

Liu Lan looked at the jade bracelet, her heart pounding.

This is no longer a small favor; it's a clear signal.

She remembered Li Zhenhua's instructions.

"When he offers tangible benefits, or even gives you expensive gifts, it means he's impatient. At this point, you should show panic, fear, or even a bit of insulted anger, but don't completely turn against him. You need to make him feel that you're not indifferent to money, but rather afraid of trouble and gossip, and that you need him to give you more 'security' and 'commitment'."

As if burned, Liu Lan abruptly withdrew her hand, leaned back, and showed a mixture of fear and humiliation on her face, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Director Li! This...this is too valuable! I can't accept it! I...what kind of person am I to wear this...please take it back!"

As she spoke, tears finally streamed down her face—not feigned, but born of genuine fear and pressure.

"Director Li, I know you mean well, but... but there are so many people and eyes in the factory. I've only just settled down. If someone sees me like this... I... I'll have no face to live with!"

Her shoulders shook as she cried, looking utterly pitiful.

Li Huaide was taken aback by her strong reaction. He was initially surprised, but then he became even more certain that this woman was indeed cowardly and valued her reputation extremely much.

This actually reassured him more; a woman like that was less likely to cause trouble.

He quickly reassured her.

"Oh dear, look at you, why are you crying! I'm only doing this for your own good, aren't I? It's just the two of us here, who will see us? Don't worry, with me here, no one in the factory will dare to say a word!"

He tried to put the bracelet in Liu Lan's hand, but Liu Lan dodged away like a startled rabbit, stood up, and said in a tearful voice.

"Director Li, I appreciate your kindness, but I absolutely cannot accept this! I... I have to go back to work!"

After saying that, without waiting for Li Huaide's response, he turned around, opened the door, and practically ran out of the office.

Holding the bracelet, Li Huaide watched Liu Lan's figure disappear through the door. Instead of being angry, he stroked his chin and revealed a determined smile.

"Heh, she's got a bit of a temper. But that's precisely why it's so satisfying once you get what you want."

He believed that if he applied more pressure and made more concrete promises, this seemingly weak young widow would eventually give in.

He hadn't met a woman who could ignite his desire to conquer so much in a long time.

In the following days, Li Huaide did not ignore Liu Lan because of her "lack of appreciation," but instead intensified his treatment of her.

He began to show "special concern" for Liu Lan in various public or semi-public occasions.

For example, when getting food in the cafeteria, he would deliberately walk over to the window where Liu Lan was and chat with her for a few minutes; sometimes, even during departmental meetings, he would "accidentally" mention that the cafeteria work was hard and that he should pay special attention to certain employees who were having difficulties, while his eyes would sweep meaningfully over some people in the know present.

These actions undoubtedly put Liu Lan in the spotlight.

Rumors quietly spread in the factory that "Director Li has taken a fancy to Liu Lan, the new widow in the canteen."

Some people envy Liu Lan for her incredible luck, some despise her for relying on her looks to get ahead, and others are waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Liu Lan felt immense pressure; whenever she walked around the factory, she could always sense people pointing and whispering behind her back.

She became even more taciturn, rarely speaking to anyone except for necessary work-related exchanges. Her submissive and silently enduring demeanor further aroused Li Huaide's strong possessiveness and protectiveness.

He felt the time was right; he needed a trigger, a chance that would allow him to completely win over this woman.