C3 Demoness Dong Xiaorou

Aunt Wang returned with a group of seven or eight people, a mix of men and women. Initially, Lee Zhi didn't pay much attention to them. The factory's valuable equipment had been stripped out long ago, leaving only the building itself. There wasn't much to clean up; they just needed to tidy the interior and clear out the weeds and debris scattered around the premises.

"Good evening, everyone. I'm Lee Zhi. You can call me Lee or Zhi. Aunt Wang must have filled you in on the job details. Your pay is 50 dollars for the day. Since it's already late, I'll only be able to give you half of that today. If that's alright with you, we can get started right away," Lee Zhi announced.

"We're fine with that."

With smiles on their faces, they followed Lee Zhi toward the factory, each carrying their own tools. They were all locals from Fish Head Island Village and knew exactly where the factory was.

Before they departed, Aunt Wang took Lee Zhi aside to a secluded spot and confided, "Lee, I've made sure to bring you trustworthy folks who won't try to cheat or slack off. Ignore any rumors you hear. I've known Dong Xiaorou since she was a child, and she's had a hard life."

Lee Zhi was initially puzzled by her words.

Who was Dong Xiaorou?

Why did Aunt Wang feel the need to mention her to him?

It wasn't until they arrived at the factory that Lee Zhi grasped Aunt Wang's meaning. Dong Xiaorou was a striking woman in her late twenties, standing tall at about 1.7 meters. Her slender, attractive legs were accentuated by her jeans. With a melon-shaped face and captivating large eyes framed by long lashes, her fair, delicate skin seemed untouched by the sun's harsh rays, unlike someone who had spent much time by the sea.

Later, Lee Zhi learned from Dong Xiaorou herself that her skin was naturally pale, impervious to tanning no matter how much sun she got, though she couldn't explain why.

"Are you Dong Xiaorou?" he asked.

Looking up from her work, Dong Xiaorou met Lee Zhi's gaze and nodded. "Yes, that's me."

Her voice was soothing to the ear.

Lee Zhi had encountered his fair share of beautiful women, and while Dong Xiaorou might not have been the most beautiful, she was certainly the most bewitching. Her allure wasn't just skin deep or in her mannerisms; it was something intrinsic, almost otherworldly.

She struck Lee Zhi as a remarkable siren whose charm was instantly perceptible, a radiance that defied description.

When Aunt Wang had first introduced her, Lee Zhi's attention was drawn to her figure, as her face was obscured by a scarf. He wondered to himself if such a stunning woman really belonged in a place like this.

He didn't know what others might think, but he was sure that if she were his, he wouldn't have the heart to let her work like this.

"If you dislike me, I can leave. I don't want to cause any trouble," Dong Xiaorou said, standing up with a serene expression.

Lee Zhi was taken aback and blurted out, "You're so beautiful. Why wouldn't I like you?"

"Does everyone necessarily like a beautiful woman?" Dong Xiaorou tucked her hair behind her ear.

Lee Zhi replied with a smile, "Everyone has an eye for beauty. Naturally, we all appreciate a beautiful woman."

Dong Xiaorou remained silent. Since Lee Zhi didn't send her away, she simply returned to her work.

Though Lee Zhi didn't know Dong Xiaorou's full story, he sensed that she was a woman with a past.

Lee Zhi was hard at work, with only a little over ten thousand dollars left to his name. He needed to get the factory spick and span before the machinery was due to arrive. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have hired help for the cleanup—he was more than capable of handling it himself—but time was of the essence.

The crew worked tirelessly until dusk before calling it a day. No one received their pay that day since there was at least another full day of cleaning ahead. The factory wasn't going anywhere, and neither was Lee Zhi.

The following morning, Lee Zhi summoned Dong Xiaorou to oversee the workers. He then gathered everyone else and made it clear: whatever Dong Xiaorou said, goes.

Lee Zhi had noticed Dong Xiaorou's attention to detail; she never cut corners while working. But that wasn't the sole reason he valued her presence.

Above all, Dong Xiaorou was strikingly beautiful.

When choosing a supervisor, he thought, why not pick someone pleasing to the eye?

Lee Zhi made another trip to the city, this time to order some glass and a couple of door sets. The factory complex was sprawling, with over a dozen buildings—big and small—covering 66,000 square meters. It was more space than Lee Zhi could utilize in the near future.

His plan was to get two buildings ready: a large one for manufacturing and a smaller one for living quarters. It was essential to have someone on-site once the equipment was installed.

"Boss, shouldn't the wages be 75 dollars per person? Why did you give everyone 80?" Dong Xiaorou inquired.

With a smile, Lee Zhi replied, "The extra five is for cigarettes and water—a little token of my appreciation for everyone's hard work these past few days."

"Thank you, Boss Lee!"

As evening fell, the workers left in high spirits with their earnings. However, Lee Zhi asked Dong Xiaorou to stay behind.

"Boss Lee, is there something else?" Dong Xiaorou asked, somewhat guarded. If Lee Zhi hadn't been consistently courteous and respectful around her, she would've left with the rest of the villagers.

Lee Zhi nodded. "Yes, I'm new here and without any assistance. I acted on impulse coming here, and my funds are limited. After the factory rent and equipment purchases, there's not much left of my initial 100,000 dollars."

Dong Xiaorou was puzzled by his candor.

"You're not formally employed, correct?" Lee Zhi probed.

"That's right, I don't have a formal job," Dong Xiaorou confirmed.

With a serious tone, Lee Zhi offered, "Miss Dung, I would like to formally invite you to join my company as its very first employee. Would you be interested?"

Miss Dung couldn't help but laugh behind her hand, eyeing him skeptically. "You're not trying to take advantage of me, are you? If so, I'd suggest you drop that thought—I've been trained in martial arts since I was a child."

Lee Zhi chuckled, shaking his head. "Absolutely not! And even if I had such intentions, I certainly wouldn't voice them!"

Dong Xiaorou pressed, "What exactly would you have me do?"

"Whatever you're capable of," Lee Zhi said candidly. "The factory is just getting off the ground, so we're not fully equipped yet. If you come on board, there won't be a specific role waiting for you. You'll do whatever needs doing." His invitation to Dong Xiaorou was primarily because she was a local who worked diligently and carefully. Plus, it seemed she commanded a certain respect—or perhaps fear—from the other villagers.

Lee Zhi was in need of someone to help him out.

"What's the pay?"

"Three thousand dollars a month!"

Dong Xiaorou paused to consider, then asked, "What about room and board?"

Lee Zhi chuckled, "You'll get full room and board, a monthly salary of three thousand dollars, and on top of that, a 100 dollars phone allowance every month!"

"I won't need housing, but I will need meals provided," Dong Xiaorou stated.

"Sure, but you'll have to cook for yourself!"

Dong Xiaorou nodded in agreement. "That's fine, I can cook!"

Lee Zhi extended his hand to Dong Xiaorou with a welcoming smile. "I'm glad to have you join my factory!"

As their hands shook, neither of them fully grasped the significance of this moment.

Dong Xiaorou became the very first employee of Lee Zhi's factory, which, as of now, didn't even have a name yet!