Chapter 12: Mei Niang, Long Time No See!

Lin Beifan turned his head to see what had caught his attention.

He saw the butler approaching, accompanied by an exquisitely beautiful woman.

She stood at nearly 1.7 meters tall, a vision of grace and poise. She wore a chic black miniskirt and a purple blouse—brands unknown—but together they formed a harmonious and fashion-forward ensemble.

Her skin was fair, almost porcelain-like, and her features were delicately chiseled as if crafted by divine hands. Her wheat-colored, curly hair framed her face, and she wore a pair of stylish black-rimmed glasses.

Her appearance was radiant yet haughty, tempered with just a hint of allure.

Lin Beifan recognized her; in fact, he knew her quite well.

Her name was Liu Rumei, and she was the best friend of Song Yuqing, the female protagonist.

While not the main female character, Liu Rumei was undeniably an important supporting role.

She excelled in various aspects—possessing a stunning visage, a laudable educational background, and a remarkable aptitude for getting things done.

Compared to the female protagonist, what she lacked was simply a matter of fate.

In his previous life, Song Yuqing had pursued him actively. Envious and aggrieved, Liu Rumei had accepted an invitation from his father to become his personal secretary.

Her purpose was to gather evidence against him, expose his true character, and thereby end Song Yuqing's infatuation with him.

Unexpectedly, as they spent more time together, she herself became emotionally entangled.

She even often strategized on behalf of Lin Beifan, countering the moves of other key players.

Now, having been reborn, she had arrived by his side once again, seemingly unchanged from before.

'Mei Niang, long time no see!' Staring at her breathtaking beauty, Lin Beifan found himself lost in a reverie of past memories.

In contrast, Liu Rumei wore an expression of disdain.

'Ah, he's still the same old womanizer; a leopard never changes its spots,' she thought.

With icy detachment, she spoke, "Hello, Mr. Lin. My name is Liu Rumei. I hold a Master's degree in Management from Harvard University and have worked at Lanshan Investment Bank for two years, achieving notable results. Your father has hired me to be your personal secretary, responsible for handling your work-related affairs."

"Hello, Liu Rumei. I'm delighted to meet you," Lin Beifan responded with a smile.

"However, I can't say the feeling is mutual," Liu Rumei retorted curtly. "I want to make it clear: I will only manage your professional matters. Don't expect me to indulge in any of your frivolous activities. Also, if you fail to meet my expectations, I will leave immediately," she warned, offering him no quarter.

"Of course, you have the freedom to set those terms, Mei Niang," Lin Beifan said, smiling nonchalantly.

'The colder you are now, the warmer you'll be later,' he thought.

Liu Rumei seemed taken aback. "What did you just call me?"

"Mei Niang! Your name has the character 'Mei,' and you're quite charming, so I thought the name Mei Niang suited you."

Liu Rumei bristled as if her tail had been stepped on. "That nickname doesn't sound flattering at all! Don't call me Mei Niang; I have a full name, it's Liu Rumei!"

"Alright, Mei Niang!"

"You can call me Rumei, Miss Liu, or Secretary Liu!"

"Understood, Mei Niang!"

"..."

After several rounds of this back and forth, Lin Beifan remained unyielding. Liu Rumei was infuriated, her eyes almost bulging out, as if she were contemplating murder.

Noticing the escalating tension, the butler intervened, "Miss Liu, the young master is merely joking with you."

"Don't worry, I may be a woman, but I'm not that petty," Liu Rumei said through gritted teeth. "Young Master, it's getting late. Shouldn't you be starting your work? If you slack off, I won't hesitate to report directly to your parents. You can then deal with the consequences."

Lin Beifan pondered for a moment. Indeed, it was time to get down to work.

To counter those main characters, he would certainly need the backing of a strong career.

"What responsibilities will I have?" Lin Beifan inquired.

The butler quickly responded, "Young Master, you have the option to serve as a Deputy Director in any department within our conglomerate, or as a Vice President in one of our subsidiary companies. Once you have proven your merit, you can be promoted to higher positions!"

This was the advantage of being a second-generation rich kid. Where he started in his career was often where most people dreamt of reaching after years of hard work.

For countless average individuals, their lifetime of striving would merely bring them to his starting point!

"In that case, I'll choose Lin Investment Company," Lin Beifan declared.

For him, a man reborn with foreknowledge, investment was the quickest way to succeed and amass wealth. He was incredibly confident that he would rise even faster than he had in his previous life.

"Very well, Young Master. I'll make the necessary arrangements," the butler said, visibly pleased to see Lin Beifan taking his work seriously. "Also, your current position is that of Vice President in a branch company. According to our corporate policy, you will be provided with a company car, a secretary, and a driver-bodyguard. You already have a car and a secretary; would you like us to arrange a driver-bodyguard, or would you prefer to choose one yourself?"

"I'll handle that myself," Lin Beifan said.

He remembered that there was a particularly loyal and competent individual in the security department of his conglomerate. This person had been faithful to him in his previous life.

So this time around, he intended to have that individual reassigned to his service.