Chapter 7: Hidden behind the Mask

Feng Yuansheng sat in the hospital room, his nephew Yun Cheng sleeping soundly in the bed beside him. He was still sleeping peacefully, and his condition was stable.

Just then, his secretary Li Ming entered the room, carrying a file in his hand. "Sir, here is the investigation report on Second Miss Jiang and the kidnappers," he said, handing him the file.

Feng Yuansheng opened the file and began to read through it carefully, his brow furrowed in concentration. As he read, his eyes turned cold. "There was someone else involved?"

Li Ming nodded grimly. "Yes, sir. The kidnappers were hired by the Jiang family's madam to ruin Jiang Yan's innocence. She dislikes her stepdaughter. She was to be tortured for five days before being released. Yet, she managed to get away from those people. That's how the kidnappers arrived at the mountain and attempted to kidnap her again."

Li Ming hesitated for a moment before continuing, "However, it appears that one of the kidnappers was a covert member hired by an unknown rival of the Yun family. He had infiltrated the gang at the time, and they had no idea who he was. They assumed he had been sent by the Jiang family to deal with the Second Miss Jiang."

Feng Yuansheng's face darkened with anger as he listened to Li Ming's report.

"Sir, the Yun Family is currently bidding for one of the biggest medical projects, and they have a high chance of winning. It's possible they wanted to kill Master Yun Cheng to prevent your family from winning the bid." Li Ming reported.

The surrounding around Feng Yuansheng turned colder, " Despicable! Do we know who is behind this?"

Li Ming shook his head. "Not yet, sir. But we are working on it."

"Get Tang Xiang on it." Feng Yuansheng ordered.

Secretary Li Ming hand trembled, "But sir- "

"You dare to question me?"

"No-No Sir. I will contact him now."

Feng Yuansheng leaned forward; his gaze intense. "Also increase security around Yun Cheng."

Li Ming nodded again. "Understood, sir. I'll make sure he's well protected." With that Secretary Li Ming bowed and left.

Feng Yuansheng leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. He knew that he had to be careful. If the Yun Family's rivals were willing to resort to such extreme measures, then he had to set an example immediately.

Feng Yuansheng eyes flickered to the file again. Jiang Yan. That little kitten also seems to have more terrifying enemy then anyone could imagine.

***

Jiang Yan sat by her grandmother's bedside, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. It had been a two days since her grandmother's accident, and she still showed no signs of waking up. Feng Yuansheng has already paid off the hospital fees, and she was grateful for that. But Jiang Yan knew she needed to do something because now she needs to take care of her Grandmother also.

With the knowledge of the future she has to grab the opportunity now, she needs to grow her empire. And she knows exactly where to start from.

Taking her phone, she quickly dialled a number she remembers from her past life.

"Hello?" a drowsy voice answered on the other end of the line.

"Hello, is this Hua Mei?" Jiang Yan asked.

"Yes, who is this?" Hua Mei replied, sounding a little annoyed from getting woken up.

"I'm Jiang Yan. I am a designer, and I would like to work with you," Jiang Yan said without beating around the bush.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. If you really want to work for me, you have to go through the proper channels," Hua Mei replied coldly.

Jiang Yan scoffed. "I didn't say I want to work for you. I said I want to work with you."

Hua Mei raised an eyebrow in amusement. "And what makes you think I would want to work with someone I've never even heard of?"

Jiang Yan confidently replied, "Because once you see my designs, you'll be begging to work with me."

Hua Mei chuckled. "I like your confidence, but that's not how things work in the fashion industry."

Before Hua Mei could say anything more, her laptop chimed. "I have sent you the draft. Take a look and call me back after you've gone through them."

As the call with Jiang Yan ended abruptly, Hua Mei let out a deep sigh and decided to open the email. As she scrolled through the designs, her eyes widened in amazement. The intricate details and innovative patterns were unlike anything she had seen before. Hua Mei could feel her excitement building as she realized that these designs had the potential to change the entire fashion industry. She couldn't wait to work with Jiang Yan and bring these stunning designs to life.

With trembling fingers, Hua Mei reached for her phone and dialled Jiang Yan's number.

"Jiang Yan, it's Hua Mei," she said, trying to keep her excitement in check. "I've gone through your designs and I have to say, I'm impressed. I'm happy to work with you on this project."

Jiang Yan chuckled on the other end of the line. "I told you, Hua Mei. You won't regret working with me. I have a natural talent for design."

Hua Mei smiled. "Yes, you certainly do. Let's discuss the profit allocation and get started on this project right away."

As they discussed the collaboration, Hua Mei couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration for this unknown designer. She was bold and confident, but also talented. It was refreshing to work with someone who wasn't afraid to take risks and push the boundaries of fashion.

After the call ended, Hua Mei sat back in her chair and smiled to herself. She was excited to work with Jiang Yan and bring these amazing designs to life.

But as she leaned back, a sudden thought struck her. How did Jiang Yan know her personal email address? Hua Mei shook her head and shrugged off the thought. She would deal with it later. Right now, she had a new project to focus on. The fashion industry was full of surprises, and Hua Mei couldn't wait to see what would come next.

***

Jiang Yan was feeling relieved now that she had settled one matter. She still had a few more things to do, though. Her grandfather, Old Master Jiang, had given her a sizable amount of money when she entered the Jiang family, and while she had used some of it for basic expenses, she still had a significant portion left. She had been planning to invest the money in the stock market for a while now, and with her financial acumen and years of experience in the market, she was confident that she could make the most of the opportunity.

Jiang Yan quickly went through the stock market and found some promising investments. Without hesitation, she invested all the remaining money she had. She knew that there was always a risk involved with investing, but she wasn't afraid of losing money. After all, she was already known as the queen of the stock market, having made successful trades and investments in the past. Right now, her priority was to build her wealth and secure her future.

Because of the scheming member of the Jiang Family, Jiang Yan knew that she would have to move out of her current house soon. While she had been staying there temporarily, she would need to find a permanent residence in the capital city, where the cost of living was significantly higher than in other cities. The expenses there could be as much as five or even ten times that of a high-end city, and renting a house there was no joke. She was determined to find a suitable place for herself, but until then, she would have to settle for a temporary apartment.

Jiang Yan had given her entrance exam for college, and the college was set to begin in just two months. She was confident that with her marks, she would be able to enter the Imperial College. Unlike the last time, this time she would be studying in the Liberal Arts department. She had already done her master's in business from overseas, and with the experience of her past life, she didn't need a certificate to prove herself. Liberal Arts were relatively easy, and she would have more free time to handle her affairs.

Jiang Yan approached her grandmother's hospital bed and looked down at her sleeping form. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving her alone while she dealt with the Ning family. When her grandmother had woken up and found herself alone in the hospital, she had become hysterical. But after the nurse confirmed that Jiang Yan had brought her in and had gone home, her grandmother had calmed down. Due to the strong medication, she had drifted off to sleep before Jiang Yan could reach the hospital.

Although Jiang Yan was relieved that her grandmother was now sleeping soundly, she couldn't shake off the worry and concern that filled her heart. She knew that she had to bring her grandmother away from all these problems as soon as possible.

"Grandma Lui, just hold on a little bit longer. I will take care of everything and make sure that we are safe and away from all these troubles," Jiang Yan whispered softly, hoping that her grandmother could hear her even in her sleep.

***

"Boss, we are sorry!" one of the men pleaded, his voice quivering as he knelt on the ground with his head bowed. He knew he had failed his boss, and he could feel the weight of his mistake bearing down on him.

"Heh! Sorry!" a chilling voice echoed through the room, as a figure emerged from the shadows, their face concealed by a mask. The man shuddered at the sound, knowing that his fate now rested in the hands his boss.

The person walked towards him; their footsteps heavy with authority. "But I can't afford any mistakes. Not anymore," The figure said, their tone laced with coldness.

The man trembled as the figure stopped in front of him, their eyes piercing through the darkness. "You failed," The person hissed, its voice dripping with menace. "And failure is not an option."

The man's heart raced, and he tried to speak, to beg for mercy, but his throat was dry and his words caught in his mouth.

The figure's hand shot out, grabbing the man's shoulder, causing him to flinch. "You have one more chance," they growled. "But know this: I won't be as merciful next time."

The man knew that his boss was ruthless and unforgiving, but this was something else entirely. He knew that he had to make things right, or he would pay the ultimate price.

"I understand, boss," he stammered, his voice barely audible. "I won't let you down again."

As he rose to his feet and made his way out of the room, the man could feel the weight of his boss's disappointment heavy on his shoulders. He knew that he had to regain their trust, and that failure was simply not an option. He couldn't afford to fail again, not if he wanted to keep his job and, more importantly, stay alive.

***