Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

The clamor of the tasting event completely subsided, leaving only scattered gift boxes and the faint fragrance of jade in the luxurious exhibition hall. The competitor, whose conspiracy had just been exposed in public and declared bankrupt, was being dragged out of the venue in a sorry state by security guards, crying and begging for mercy along the way, but no one paid any attention. Huang Yiming had just seen off the last group of jewelers who came to finalize cooperation when he turned around and saw Su Qingyue walking slowly in a white suit and high heels. The sharpness in her cool eyes had faded from when she was standing on the platform, replaced by a hint of inquiry and amusement.

"Mr. Huang, truly impressive." Su Qingyue walked up to him, her fingertips tracing the jadeite scrap pendant Huang Yiming had given her at the appraisal event. The translucent jade shimmered with a subtle light, clearly not something produced by ordinary means. "One appraisal event not only crushed the competitors but also boosted Yiming Trading's reputation. I'm just curious, where did you get all this jadeite and medicinal herbs?"

Huang Yiming understood. Su Qingyue's personal appearance today to expose his opponent's counterfeit goods scheme was not simply a matter of business loyalty; the core reason was that she was eyeing the rare goods he possessed. He looked up to meet Su Qingyue's gaze, his expression calm and composed, without the slightest hint of panic. He neither deliberately concealed anything nor was he completely candid: "President Su has cultivated deep roots in the business world for many years and should know that every industry has special channels that are inconvenient to discuss openly. I was able to obtain these goods entirely through luck and the connections I've built over the years. I hope President Su will understand and refrain from further discussion."

His words were perfectly worded, protecting the system's secret without offending Su Qingyue, which only fueled her curiosity. Having seen countless sycophantic and opportunistic businessmen, Huang Yiming's calm, composed, and unassuming demeanor actually garnered her favor. A hint of approval flashed in her eyes: "I understand your concerns. After all, anyone would keep such a good source of goods a secret."

Su Qingyue's playful tone vanished, replaced by a serious one, her business aura radiating once more: "My Su Jewelry controls over 70% of the high-end jewelry channels nationwide, and we also have a presence in overseas markets; in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, we have long-term partnerships with major pharmacies and hospitals. As long as you're willing to prioritize supplying me with your goods, I can help you completely eliminate the obstacles from your competitors in the city, allowing Yiming Trading to establish itself within a month, and even monopolize the entire city's rare jewelry and medicinal herb market, making you incredibly wealthy."

Huang Yiming's heart stirred slightly; this was precisely what he urgently needed. He had just registered his company, and its foundation was not yet stable. Even though he possessed top-grade jade and medicinal herbs, he lacked established sales channels and could not quickly convert them into cash. More importantly, the threat from the Black Stone Sect was drawing ever closer, and he needed a large amount of funds to stockpile heavy weapons and settle his family. Su Qingyue's suggestion was undoubtedly a timely help.

"President Su is quite straightforward." Huang Yiming extended his hand, his eyes firm. "I can promise you that all rare and precious goods will be supplied to Su's Jewelry first, but I have one condition: Su's must not interfere with my supply channels, must not pry into any of my privacy, and during the cooperation period, neither party will interfere with the other's core affairs. If President Su breaches the contract, the cooperation will be terminated immediately."

Su Qingyue smiled and took his hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool, and the moment they touched, her heart skipped a beat. A fleeting, almost imperceptible emotion flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. "Deal. I, Su Qingyue, keep my word. Tomorrow morning, my assistant will bring the cooperation agreement and simultaneously activate all channels to promote your goods. We'll never again let those clowns dare to laugh at you, a 'poor boy,' for not being worthy of the jewelry business."

The two shook hands and completed the transaction, gradually easing the tension. Su Qingyue discussed the jewelry industry's trends and market strategies, displaying her professional expertise. Huang Yiming occasionally chimed in, proposing modern jewelry processing concepts such as precise cutting and creative design, breaking away from the rigid styles of traditional jewelry. He even suggested using modern technology to create custom-made jade jewelry, which caught Su Qingyue's eye. She felt that Huang Yiming was mysterious and capable, and that this man was far more complex than she had imagined.

A humorous scene: Just as the two were chatting happily, Su Qingyue's assistant rushed in with two cups of coffee. She slipped, spilling one cup directly onto Huang Yiming's sleeve, the dark coffee stain spreading instantly. The assistant turned pale with fright and quickly bowed, apologizing, "Mr. Huang, I'm so sorry, so sorry, I didn't mean to!" She reached out to wipe it clean. Huang Yiming was about to say "It's alright" when Su Qingyue spoke first, her tone stern, "What's the panic? You can't even do something this simple right. I'll deduct your salary. Go and get two more cups." Though her tone was harsh, she turned to Huang Yiming with a gentle smile, "I'm sorry you had to see this. My assistant is still too young and clumsy." (Clumsy.)

A romantic subplot unfolds: Qin Yuling, watching Huang Yiming and Su Qingyue's pleasant and harmonious conversation, felt a fleeting, almost imperceptible sadness in her eyes. She quietly rose and walked to the exhibition hall window, gazing absently at the bustling traffic outside, her expression somewhat dazed. Yang Xiu, sensing Qin Yuling's low spirits through the system, quietly approached and softly comforted her, "Sister Yuling, don't overthink it. President Su is just the young master's business partner. He's always had you in his heart; he's just handling business." Qin Yuling nodded gently, a forced smile playing on her lips, but the disappointment in her eyes remained undeniable. Huang Yiming noticed her expression, his heart softening. He excused himself to go to the restroom, quickly returning to Qin Yuling's side. He gently took her hand and whispered, "Don't overthink it. She and I are just business partners. In my heart, no one can compare to you." Qin Yuling looked up into his gentle eyes, her sadness instantly vanishing. She nodded, her eyes regaining their light.

Plot progression: After finalizing all the details of their cooperation, Su Qingyue stood up to take her leave. Before leaving, she deliberately stopped and solemnly instructed, "The Black Stone Sect is still looking for you. Be careful in your dealings in the city. I will have private bodyguards secretly protect you and your family. Call me anytime if anything happens." Huang Yiming felt a warmth in his heart. He hadn't expected Su Qingyue, who seemed aloof, to be so thoughtful and considerate. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Su. I appreciate your help."

Su Qingyue turned and walked out of the exhibition hall. After getting into the car, the smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression. She instructed her assistant in the front seat, "Closely monitor Huang Yiming's movements. Not only should we keep an eye on his supply channels, but we should also be wary of the Black Stone Sect. Find out exactly who the Black Stone Sect is and why they are relentlessly pursuing Huang Yiming. I have a feeling that Huang Yiming's secrets go beyond just his supply channels; there must be some hidden story behind him that we don't know about." The assistant nodded hurriedly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he dared not ask any further questions, respectfully replying, "Yes, Ms. Su."

Back in the exhibition hall, Huang Yiming felt a sense of peace looking at Qin Yuling's gentle eyes. He knew that his cooperation with Su Qingyue was a crucial step in his rise to power in the city, and also an important bargaining chip in dealing with the Black Stone Sect's retaliation. He immediately took out his phone to contact the arms dealer he had previously dealt with, finalizing an order for a batch of rifles and armor-piercing rounds. He then instructed Qin Yuling to wait in the exhibition hall while he quickly went to a nearby bank to transfer the deposit collected from the product appreciation event into a dedicated account, ensuring sufficient funds for subsequent material procurement. On his way back, he deliberately took a detour to check the area around the company and noticed two unfamiliar figures loitering in the shadows at a street corner. Their eyes were wary, and they kept glancing towards the company. They were clearly spies from the Black Stone Sect. A cold glint flashed in Huang Yiming's eyes, but he didn't react immediately. Instead, he calmly memorized the two men's appearances, thinking to himself: Now that Mo Chen has arrived in the city, he will surely find out my whereabouts first. These spies are just an appetizer. Back in the exhibition hall, he told Qin Yuling about his informant and told her to be careful and to contact him immediately through the system if she noticed anything unusual.

Just as Huang Yiming was preparing to return to the company with Qin Yuling to arrange subsequent cooperation matters, his phone suddenly rang. A cold, piercing voice came from the other end of the line, filled with a murderous aura: "Huang Yiming, stop hiding! Mo Chen, the Foundation Establishment Elder of my Black Stone Sect, is already downstairs at your company. Today, I will destroy your business, kill your family, and make you pay the price for killing my Black Stone Sect disciples!"