The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

"I said I'm not interested in the deputy manager position," Song Xinxue said, her voice low but clear.

"I came to the property management department simply to do my job well. I don't need a promotion or a raise. I will continue to provide good property management services for buildings A and B. But I don't have the energy to take care of the other residents."

He Zhongwei's face darkened. He stared at Song Xinxue for several seconds, not expecting her to refuse so decisively. He tried to read something from her face, but it was as calm as a stagnant pool.

"Xiao Song, have you thought this through?"

"I've thought it through."

He Zhongwei took a deep breath and waved his hand: "Okay, you can go out now."

Song Xinxue stood up and turned to leave. As she reached the door, He Zhongwei's voice came from behind her: "Little Song, you need to know when to yield."

Song Xinxue paused for a moment, then pushed open the door and went out without turning around.

He Zhongwei sat in his office, his face ashen. He picked up his phone and sent a message to Fan Hai: "President Fan, she refused."

Less than ten seconds after the message was sent, the phone rang. Fan Hai's voice was as cold as ice: "You rejected her? What did you tell her?"

He Zhongwei repeated the conversation, and Fan Hai remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone.

"She doesn't know what's good for her." Fan Hai's voice was soft, but every word was like a knife. "I originally wanted to seriously pursue her, but I gave her too much face."

He Zhongwei sensed something in his tone and cautiously asked, "President Fan, so what are your plans...?"

"You don't need to worry about this," Fan Hai said, and then hung up the phone.

He Zhongwei put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh. He had a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen, but then he thought, it's not like he's doing it, so what does it have to do with him?

Building D, 18th floor, Fan Hai's apartment.

After hanging up the phone, Fan Hai paced back and forth in the living room, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. The ashtray on the coffee table was overflowing with cigarette butts, and the entire living room reeked of acrid smoke.

Fan Hai, worth a billion yuan, is a rising star in Shenzhen's business world. What woman couldn't he have? Yet a property manager dared to reject him again and again.

She won't answer his calls, won't reply to his messages, and refuses his invitations. Now she's even turning down the "work-related contact" he arranged. This is a slap in the face. It's obvious she hates him and opposes him, completely igniting the violence and possessiveness in his bones.

He stopped, walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, burning his stomach. He stared at the glass, a cold smile slowly curving his lips.

He originally planned to pursue Song Xinxue through "legitimate means," using money, status, and property to exert pressure and gradually win her over.

After all, she was his ideal woman from university, and he wanted to maintain some dignity while enjoying the thrill of conquest.

If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink a penalty shot.

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Manager He. Find a way to get Song Xinxue to come see me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone: "Mr. Fan, what do you need to do?"

"It's just a gift," Fan Hai said casually. "Just say that a homeowner needs her to deliver a gift for them. Don't mention it's my house."

"This...Mr. Fan, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"Manager He," Fan Hai's voice turned cold, "how many years have you worked at the property management company? Do you want to take a step up? I have a long-standing relationship with General Manager Li from your group headquarters."

Fan Hai continued, "Once this matter is handled well, I'll put in a good word for you. The vice president position will be yours, and the general manager position isn't out of the question either."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, then He Zhongwei's voice came through, slightly hoarse: "...I understand, President Fan. I'll make the arrangements now."

He was about to hang up to make arrangements when Fan Hai called out sharply, "Wait!"

"Mr. Fan, is there anything else you need?"

"Song Xinxue is very perceptive. You just finished talking to her and immediately asked her to come to my house. She's bound to be suspicious." Fan Hai narrowed his eyes and plotted. "Tomorrow night, find a reasonable excuse to have her come over. Don't give yourself away."

"Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll definitely send the person over to you tomorrow!"

After hanging up the phone, Fan Hai went into the bedroom and pulled a small box from the deepest part of the wardrobe. He opened it and found a small, dark red incense stick with an indescribably sweet scent.

A mind-altering incense. Once lit, it will cause the person who smells it to become confused and easily manipulated, and they will remember nothing afterwards.

He used it once, on a female client who was always reluctant to talk. After that, the contract was signed, and the female client didn't say anything. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk; she genuinely couldn't remember anything.

He put the incense back in the box, a smile playing on his lips. "Song Xinxue, if you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The next evening, just as Song Xinxue was about to leave work, He Zhongwei stopped her.

"Xiao Song, wait a minute."

Song Xinxue stopped and turned to look at him. He Zhongwei picked up an exquisite gift bag from the table.

He handed it to her, saying, "Could you please deliver this? It's a gift from the property management to the residents on the 21st floor of Building C. The housekeeper responsible for that area is on leave today, so could you please take it to them on your way?"

Song Xinxue took the gift bag and glanced at the address. She nodded, "Okay, Manager He."

She didn't want to see Fan Hai at all, let alone step into his house, lest he pester her again and say some greasy things.

He Zhongwei smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Song Xinxue walked out of the office carrying the gift bag, heading towards Building C. Halfway there, she suddenly stopped. She remembered something—the last time she ran into Fan Hai in the garden, he had said, "I live on the 18th floor of Building D. Come visit sometime." The 18th floor of Building D.

She glanced down at the gift bag in her hand: Building C, 21st floor. Not Fan Hai's apartment. She breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking.

As she approached Building C, about to go inside, she suddenly stopped. Something felt off. He Zhongwei's attitude today was completely different from yesterday. Yesterday, she had rejected his "promotion," and although he was unhappy, he hadn't said anything.

He was suddenly being unusually polite today, even asking her to deliver something. She thought about it and figured she was probably overthinking it. He Zhongwei was the manager; it was normal for him to assign tasks.

As she was about to enter the lobby of Building C, a male colleague in a property management uniform came out, carrying a toolbox, as if he was going to fix something.

"Sister Song!" The male colleague's eyes lit up when he saw her, and he quickly walked over.

His name was Liu Yang, a maintenance worker at the property management company. He was a few years younger than Song Xinxue, tall and thin, and spoke with a shy demeanor. He was known as an honest man in the property management department. He usually blushed when he saw Song Xinxue, and today was no exception.