C10 The New Boss of the Company

Suddenly, two icy tears dropped onto Lin Tian's chest.

His body jolted sharply.

The red haze in his eyes cleared abruptly, revealing a glimpse of lucidity.

Perhaps instinctively, the fair face cradled in his arms was streaked with tears, evoking a deep sense of pity.

A sharp pain, like nothing he'd ever felt before, pierced Lin Tian's heart.

"Boom!"

Clarity flooded Lin Tian's mind.

"Damn it! Lin Tian, how could you do such a thing to the person who saved you? How are you any different from scum like Zhao Hongyang, who preys on the vulnerable?" he berated himself.

Thankfully, despite their near-nakedness, they hadn't crossed the final line.

Relieved, Lin Tian exhaled deeply.

He hastened to set down the body in his embrace and began dressing.

But the enticing figure lunged at him once more.

Her eyes were flushed, her breath fragrant, and her supple body wrapped around him again in relentless pursuit.

The heat Lin Tian had just quelled within him threatened to erupt anew.

Yet his mind was clearer than ever.

He bit down hard on his tongue, the sharp pain scattering all his urges.

Swiftly, he extended two fingers and pressed gently on Cheng Yufei's Baihui acupoint.

She immediately went limp, collapsing onto the sofa.

Seizing the moment, Lin Tian quickly dressed himself.

He looked down at Cheng Yufei, her skin nearly red to purple, his expression icy.

The dose of poison in her system was substantial; it needed to be expelled without delay or her body would suffer grave harm.

For Lin Tian, the Sovereign Heavenly King and the region's preeminent master, the toxin was trivial.

His palm, wreathed in a soft golden glow, reached out and rested on Cheng Yufei's smooth abdomen.

The golden light swiftly penetrated her body, and the redness faded from her skin at a visible rate.

In mere minutes, all signs of redness had vanished.

Lin Tian withdrew his hand and helped Cheng Yufei dress.

...

Half an hour later, Cheng Yufei's eyes fluttered open.

She was immediately met with the distinct features of Lin Tian's face.

"You're awake," he said with a gentle smile.

Confusion washed over Cheng Yufei as she stared blankly at Lin Tian.

Then, as realization dawned, her expression turned to one of alarm, and she quickly examined her body.

She found her clothes in place and no unusual sensations.

"What... what just happened?" she asked, her voice a mix of relief and bewilderment.

She had a faint recollection of an intimate encounter.

"You were drugged, which led to that behavior," Lin Tian explained calmly.

"Drugged? Zhao Hongyang, you despicable fiend!" Cheng Yufei's face contorted with shock and rage.

"Rest assured, I've neutralized the drug," Lin Tian assured her with a composed demeanor.

Cheng Yufei's expression softened, tinged with confusion as she regarded Lin Tian, "Why didn't you... take advantage of me?"

Lin Tian shook his head, replying with a detached tone, "I refuse to stoop to such opportunism."

Cheng Yuwei was taken aback, her expression growing even more bewildered.

Indeed, if Lin Tian had truly intended to harm her, he would have acted long before now.

"Lin Tian, what exactly do you want?" she demanded, her face a tapestry of complex emotions as she fixed her bright eyes on him.

"I want you to truly accept me," Lin Tian said deliberately, his voice measured.

Cheng Yuwei was visibly shaken.

She had not anticipated such a response from Lin Tian.

"Why? Do you naively believe that giving me ten million will make me fall for you? Lin Tian, is that even realistic?" Cheng Yuwei's voice was icy as she interrogated him.

"It's irrelevant. My patience and resolve are steadfast. Time will vindicate my beliefs," Lin Tian declared, his expression showing a resolve she had never seen before.

Cheng Yuwei felt a jolt run through her.

Especially when she looked into Lin Tian's clear, pure eyes, she could sense the sincerity in his words.

"I need to know why."

Her gaze never left Lin Tian.

He remained silent.

Eventually, he spoke softly, "Because I owe you."

"You owe me?"

Cheng Yuwei's brow furrowed, her confusion deepening.

"In time, all will become clear. Moreover, the reason I signed this contract wasn't for the 'sleeping together' clause. I wanted to be close to you," Lin Tian said, his gaze penetrating.

Cheng Yuwei paused, her mind racing with turbulent thoughts. Lin Tian's serious demeanor touched something within her.

"I'm not sure why you're so determined to stay by my side, but I am a woman of my word. If you're willing to forgo the 'sleeping together' clause, then as a compromise, I'll agree to be your 'contractual spouse'. Just remember, the agreement is simply to keep you around," she stated.

Lin Tian hadn't expected Cheng Yuwei to agree to his proposal, and his eyes sparkled with hope. Wasn't this agreement exactly what he had been seeking?

Now, he could silently watch over the girl who had saved his life six years ago.

"Rest assured, until you fully accept me, I vow not to harbor any untoward desires," Lin Tian assured her earnestly.

Somehow, Cheng Yuwei found that Lin Tian no longer repelled her as he once did, though she couldn't say she felt any real affection for him.

"And one more thing: Lin Tian, you may be the company's largest shareholder, but expertise matters. I expect you won't meddle too much in the business," Cheng Yuwei added softly.

"You have my word. I won't touch any aspect of the company's operations. It remains yours, and that's unchangeable," Lin Tian responded.

Then, recalling Hu Yong's earlier words, he added, "By the way, you should consider the possibility that there's a mole involved in the company's financial troubles. If I'm not mistaken, Hu Yong can't be absolved of blame."

To Lin Tian's surprise, Cheng Yuwei nodded in agreement, "Yes, I had the same suspicion on my way back. And it's not just Hu Yong; Xu Lili is implicated too, as they both persistently urged me to partner with Zhao Hongyang."

"Xu Lili! That despicable woman!" Lin Tian's expression darkened at the mention of her name.

Cheng Yuwei sighed and shook her head, "Let's go. Even though you're not involved in the company's management, the staff should be introduced to you and your new role."

After their conversation, the two exited the office, one following the other. Outside, a group of employees were busy showering Hu Yong with flattery. However, the moment Cheng Yuwei appeared, they scattered like leaves in the wind—she was, after all, still the company's general manager.

Cheng Yuwei had no time for small talk. She pointed at Lin Tian and cut to the chase, "Since everyone's gathered, I'll get straight to the point: Lin Tian is the new owner of Fame Design Company."

A hush fell over the crowd.

A profound silence ensued, so quiet that everyone could distinctly hear their own breathing. But the stillness was fleeting, soon shattered by a chorus of incredulous gasps:

"The new boss... Lin Tian?"

"Impossible! CEO Cheng must be kidding, right?"

"How could someone like Lin Tian, a nobody, become the new boss?"

"It's utterly laughable..."

Amidst the rising tide of skepticism, Cheng Yuwei, her face a mask of neutrality, spoke up again:

"I see this news is hard to digest, so let me clarify. As you're all aware, our company has been facing a financial crunch, needing an urgent infusion of five million dollars. Moments ago, Mr. Lin Tian personally contributed ten million dollars, which has been deposited into our company's account. This not only prevents the dire outcome of a bank foreclosure but also leaves us with an additional five million dollars to enhance our company's agility moving forward.

"As a result, I've entered into a share transfer agreement with Mr. Lin Tian, transferring 51% of Fame Design Company's shares to him. Therefore, Mr. Lin Tian is now the largest shareholder, the boss, and the chairman of Fame Design Company here in East River City."

The announcement sent waves of shock, disbelief, and bewilderment through the crowd. Each employee's face was a picture of astonishment. They knew Cheng Yuwei too well to think she'd lie about such a matter. It was virtually set in stone: Lin Tian was the new head of Fame Design Company.

Recalling how they had just been mocking Lin Tian, the employees' faces drained of color, a mix of fear and regret washing over them. Then, out of nowhere, someone in the crowd began clapping loudly:

"What are you all doing standing around? Let's give a warm welcome to Chairman Lin!"

Prompted by these words, the others quickly recovered from their shock, scrambling to offer their flattery:

"Welcome, Chairman Lin! With your leadership, our company is sure to thrive."

"Chairman Lin's reputation precedes him; he's bound to propel our company to new heights."

"Chairman Lin is formidable, commanding, and undeniably charismatic."

While most were quick to offer praise, two faces in the crowd stood out for their lack of enthusiasm. Xu Lili and Hu Yong were not congratulating Lin Tian; instead, they glared at him and Cheng Yuwei with venomous resentment.

"Shut up! Have you all lost your minds? Open your damn eyes and look!" Hu Yong exploded in rage. "How could a lowly security guard amass ten million dollars? It's absurd!"

Xu Lili chimed in with equal fervor, "Exactly! That guard makes a measly three thousand two hundred dollars a month! If he had ten million, why would I have divorced him? I refuse to believe that this good-for-nothing has that kind of money."

Clearly, despite the evidence, Xu and Hu remained in staunch disbelief of the truth before them.