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She turned around to face Lei Guoliang. The soft office lighting cast a faint shadow on her delicate face.

"Guoliang," she suddenly changed her form of address, her voice softening, "I think I fought a pretty good battle in Dongguan, didn't I?"

"It's very beautiful," Lei Guoliang said honestly.

"Then... what's the reward?" Shen Mo took a step forward, so close that he could smell the faint, yet aggressive, rose scent emanating from her.

"Besides the three-percentage-point profit reduction, shouldn't I ask for something... more substantial?"

Her eyes shimmered under the lamplight, carrying a direct yet dangerous allure unique to mature women. This wasn't a subordinate currying favor with their superior; it was a woman testing a man.

Lei Guoliang looked at her, neither backing away nor yielding. Having been reborn, he was indifferent to matters of the heart, but not averse to them either.

A woman like Shen Mo is intelligent, ambitious, knows how to negotiate, and also knows how to maintain boundaries.

What happened between us had nothing to do with love; it was more like an exchange of benefits and a release of pressure.

"What reward do you want?" he asked calmly.

Shen Mo smiled, her lips, painted with dark red lipstick, curving into a charming arc: "Tonight, I'm in a suite on the top floor of the Ritz-Carlton. I ordered room service; it's French cuisine, and I also have a nice bottle of Bordeaux. It's a bit wasteful to eat alone."

It was an obvious invitation. Lei Guoliang remained silent for a few seconds. He recalled Ji Fanyin's quiet departure, the occasional restrained glances Su Wanqing cast during her report, and the tense nerves and immense pressure he had been under these past few months.

"What time?" he asked.

"Anytime." Shen Mo's smile deepened. "I'll go back and prepare first. You... come over when you're done."

She picked up her handbag, turned and left, the sound of her high heels clicking on the marble floor crisp and rhythmic, like a tacit call to arms.

The office fell silent again. Lei Guoliang walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a small glass of whiskey.

The ice hockey puck spun slowly in the amber liquid. He needed this brief indulgence, a temporary escape from his identities as CEO, chairman, and strategist, and the most primal sensory stimulation to remind himself that he was still a living, breathing human being.

But he also knew that his relationship with Shen Mo had to end in bed and be based on mutual benefit. If inappropriate emotions were to get involved, the balance would be broken, and the carefully constructed empire triangle he had built would collapse.

Half an hour later, he left the office.

Almost at the same time that Lei Guoliang headed to the Ritz-Carlton, Su Wanqing had just finished a video conference in her suite at the Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai.

She took a shower, put on a silk robe, and carried a glass of red wine to the balcony. The night view of the Huangpu River was still dazzling, and the river breeze carried the chill of late autumn.

She took out her phone, found Lei Guoliang's number, and hesitated to press the call button.

At today's monthly meeting, she appeared calm on the surface, but she was actually holding back a lot of energy inside.

Shen Mo is riding high in the South China region, while Han Mei is making a strong showing in the North China region. Although she has the best performance in the East China region, she lacks a legendary case of winning the battle in one fell swoop.

She actually wanted to go to Jiangcheng, this new battlefield, but Lei Guoliang chose Shen Mo instead.

"She's more suitable." Lei Guoliang's words to her privately after the meeting still echoed in her ears. Rationally, she agreed, but emotionally, she felt a trace of resentment.

She took a sip of wine, the icy liquid sliding down her throat. She remembered a few months ago in Hangzhou, when Lei Guoliang draped his coat over her shoulders; she remembered the forceful yet warm kiss by West Lake on a snowy night; and she remembered that chaotic and passionate night later at his home in Shenzhen.

That feeling... was very complex. It was the awe of superiors and subordinates, the joy of being recognized, a woman's admiration for a powerful man, and a vague, possessive desire that yearned to be more than just a capable assistant.

She ultimately didn't make the call, but instead sent a short message: "If Jiangcheng needs support, the East China region can deploy elite troops at any time. Take care. Wanqing."

After sending the message, she put her phone aside and gazed at the skyscrapers of Lujiazui across the river. Behind those lit windows, how many women like her were alone in the dead of night, facing immense ambition and unspoken loneliness?

The Ritz-Carlton's penthouse suite boasts floor-to-ceiling windows offering unparalleled ocean views of the deep bay. At the long dining table, the exquisite French cuisine has barely been touched, while the bottle of 1996 Château Latour is nearly empty.

Shen Mo changed out of her daytime business suit and into a burgundy silk slip dress. Her long hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, and her face, without makeup, had less of a sharp edge and more of a languid charm.

She walked barefoot on the soft carpet, holding a wine glass, to Lei Guoliang, who was standing by the window.

"What are you looking at?" she asked softly, her body moving closer almost imperceptibly.

"Look at this city." Lei Guoliang didn't turn around: "Every day, countless people flock in, wanting to settle down here and get a share of the pie."

We're one of them too, except... we have bigger appetites.

Shen Mo smiled and gently rested her chin on his shoulder: "Not one of them, but the most greedy ones." Her breath, carrying the scent of alcohol and fragrance, brushed against his ear.

Lei Guoliang turned around and looked at her. Stripped of her former glory as CEO Shen, she was now simply a beautiful and alluring woman.

He reached out and ran his fingertips across the delicate skin below her collarbone.

"You had a tough time in that battle at Dongguan," he said.

"Fighting for you is no hardship." Shen Mo looked up at him, her eyes hazy yet direct: "As long as you know my hardships and remember my kindness, that's enough."

That's a very clever way to put it. It doesn't ask for empty promises, but simply emphasizes remembering. Remembering her contributions, her efforts, and the good she did in this moment.

Lei Guoliang lowered his head and kissed her lips. The kiss carried the richness of red wine and the unspoken desire of adult men and women—forceful, direct, and decisive. Shen Mo responded passionately, wrapping her arms around his neck.

That night, there was no romance, only the most primal attraction and the most pragmatic exchange. Shen Mo used her body and charm to solidify her special position and achievements in Lei Guoliang's heart.

Lei Guoliang rewarded her loyalty and ability with possession and brief tenderness, and also released his pent-up pressure.

Emotions surged, yet I was terrifyingly clear-headed.

The next morning, when Lei Guoliang woke up in the master bedroom of the suite, the bedside table was empty. There was a glass of warm water on the bedside table, with a note underneath in Shen Mo's elegant handwriting:

"Breakfast is at the restaurant. I'm going back to Guangzhou to prepare for matters in Wuhan. Don't worry about me. Mo."

Their tone was businesslike, as if last night had merely been a pleasant business negotiation between two partners. Lei Guoliang twitched the corner of his mouth; Shen Mo was indeed the one who knew how to maintain proper boundaries.

He took a shower, changed his clothes, and went to the dining room. A fine breakfast was already laid out, along with several financial newspapers from that day.

He sat down, sipping his coffee while quickly browsing the pages. The front page featured discussions about macroeconomic controls and a potential cooling of the real estate market. Inside, there was a report on Anjia Tianxia's newly opened flagship store in Guangzhou, accompanied by a photo of Shen Mo cutting the ribbon, looking radiant.

My phone vibrated; it was a schedule reminder from Ji Fanyin: "10:00 AM, project review meeting with the website development department."

At 2 PM, Mr. Lu had an appointment with the bank to discuss credit. Tonight… I made soup at home, are you coming home for dinner?

Calm, gentle, and filled with cautious anticipation. This is Ji Fanyin's way: always putting home last, as his refuge when he is weary.

Lei Guoliang replied, "Okay, I'll be back tonight."

Almost simultaneously, Su Wanqing's message arrived: "The East China region has selected a five-person elite team. The list is sent to your email. They all have state-owned enterprise resources or Jiangcheng backgrounds and can be used by President Shen."

Also, there have been changes to the land plot in Hangzhou's new district, with suspected foreign investment involvement. I'm following up on this. (Late Spring)

Concise, efficient, and subtly sharp. Su Wanqing used this method to show that she doesn't fight for Jiangcheng, but she has the ability and resources to intervene at any time.

Lei Guoliang put down his phone and looked out the window at the city gradually awakening. Three women, three styles, three ways of interacting with him.

Ji Fanyin is a safe harbor, Shen Mo is strong liquor, and Su Wanqing is light tea. He needs them all, and he must control them all firmly.

This isn't an emotional choice; it's about resource management and risk control.

He must ensure that the competition between them is healthy, that their loyalty to him transcends personal feelings, and that the triangular structure centered on him remains stable.

After finishing breakfast, he left the hotel and got into his car. The driver asked, "Mr. Lei, where to?"

"Headquarters," Lei Guoliang said. A new day had begun; the chessboard in Jiangcheng needed to be set, the national map needed to be expanded, and the game of capital needed to be upgraded.

He has no time to indulge in romance, nor is he qualified to get bogged down in the quagmire of emotions.

Outside the car window, the traffic on Shennan Avenue began to surge. The pace of this city will never slow down for anyone, and its journey allows no hesitation or soft-heartedness.

When the car entered the headquarters' underground parking garage, Lei Guoliang had completely reverted to his calm, decisive, and far-sighted demeanor as the helmsman of the empire.

Last night's romance remains in last night. Today's battle has just begun.