{Chapter: 324 The Office of the Ice-Cool Goddess}
Her long, silky black hair had been rolled up into a stylish bun at the back of her head, revealing the graceful arc of her neck. Her face was sculpted and flawless, exuding a rare blend of softness and strength. She wore a sharply tailored formal suit that enhanced her commanding presence. The fitted blazer hugged her waist perfectly, and the matching skirt revealed just enough of her long, shapely legs to be elegant but enticing.
Her legs, encased in a thin layer of high-grade silk stockings, were mesmerizing. They crossed and uncrossed with effortless grace as she moved around, and Lin Yuan couldn't help but notice how alluring the contrast was between her cold demeanor and her undeniably seductive appearance. She looked like she had just stepped out of the pages of a high-end Manhwa—poised, powerful, and breathtakingly beautiful and sexy.
Lin Yuan found himself gulping subconsciously.
'No, no, focus… now's not the time to let your thoughts wander,' he reminded himself, forcing his gaze away.
Yan Ruyue, unaware of his inner turmoil—or perhaps secretly amused by it—was busy packing a few things into her designer handbag while speaking to him casually. Her tone was much more gentle than usual, and her words flowed more freely.
Today, she was clearly more proactive than she had ever been before.
"So," she began with a hint of excitement in her voice, "I reserved two tickets for the newly opened pottery art museum near the Wanda business district. Let's check it out together after we leave."
"Sounds good," Lin Yuan responded with a smile. He was slightly surprised at her choice of destination but found it charming. She had clearly put thought into planning something meaningful.
This wasn't just about seeking treatment anymore. That had long since become a mere excuse.
Yan Ruyue was looking for a reason to spend time with him, and Lin Yuan, fully aware of it, chose to go along without objection.
She opened her mouth to speak again, her gaze meeting his warmly, but before she could finish her sentence, a sharp series of knocks broke the moment.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"President Yan?" came a female voice from the other side of the door.
Yan Ruyue turned toward the source and replied, "What is it? Xiaoyun? Come in."
The door opened, revealing a young woman dressed in a professional secretary uniform. It was Xiaoyun, Yan Ruyue's capable assistant and secretary. She looked slightly startled upon seeing Lin Yuan inside, but she quickly composed herself and stepped forward with her usual diligence.
"President Yan," she reported, "the group of shareholders is urging again. They're requesting an update and asking to schedule a meeting to discuss the matter."
Yan Ruyue's expression darkened subtly. Her brows furrowed as she sat up straighter in her seat, her earlier warmth replaced by a crisp and businesslike tone.
"I've already spoken with them multiple times," she said coolly. "There is no final result yet. Tell them they will be updated once everything is confirmed."
"Yes, understood!" Xiaoyun bowed slightly and hurried out of the room, clearly sensing her boss's impatience.
Once the door shut again, Yan Ruyue exhaled softly and turned back to Lin Yuan. There was an apologetic curve to her lips, though her eyes still held traces of irritation.
"There have been a few… complications within the company," she admitted, her voice softer again. "It's just some small matters, nothing for you to worry about."
"I understand," Lin Yuan said, nodding without probing further. He knew how stressful managing a business empire could be. Unexpected issues were part of the territory.
Before Yan Ruyue could say anything else, her phone buzzed loudly on the desk. She glanced at the screen and sighed before answering. The conversation that followed was long and clearly not pleasant.
As she spoke in a hushed tone, Lin Yuan noticed her face gradually losing its calm composure. Her brows knitted tighter, and her eyes lost their spark. The conversation went on for several minutes, and it was clear that whatever she was hearing was deeply troubling.
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally ended the call. She stared blankly at her phone for a second, her fingers tightening around the device before setting it aside.
There was a flash of conflict in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a practiced smile. She reached for her coat and stood up abruptly.
"It's alright now. Let's go," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
But before she could fully rise from her seat, Lin Yuan stepped behind her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, guiding her back down.
"Sit for a bit longer," he said in a low voice, his tone gentle but firm.
The gesture caught her off guard. Her eyes widened slightly, but then softened as she looked up at him.
He wasn't just here to indulge her or play along with her whims.
He was showing concern.
Real concern.
And for someone like Yan Ruyue, who had always stood at the top, who had rarely been comforted or cared for, that simple gesture meant more than she could express.
A faint blush touched her cheeks, but she didn't resist. She stayed seated, looking up at Lin Yuan with a complicated but warm gaze.
Lin Yuan asked directly, his tone gentle but firm, "Did something happen at the company? If something is troubling you, it'll be hard to enjoy our outing later."
He recalled that during this period in the original timeline, Yan Ruyue's company encountered a minor crisis—a setback that left a noticeable impact. Judging from the anxious look on her face, the urgency of her secretary Xiaoyun's message earlier, and the drawn-out phone call just now, it wasn't difficult for Lin Yuan to deduce that the issue had already emerged.
Yan Ruyue's company specialized in skincare and cosmetic products. Among their best-selling items, their facial beauty masks stood as the flagship product—the foundation of their brand's public image and revenue stream.
And if Lin Yuan remembered correctly, this problem stemmed from an issue with their mask supplier.
The original supplier had recently and rather suddenly increased the prices of their products, throwing the company's financial planning into disarray.
While Lin Yuan gently held her shoulders, Yan Ruyue no longer tried to stand up. She let out a soft sigh and leaned back into the plush leather of her office chair. Her elegant features betrayed a rare vulnerability as she looked up at him.
She didn't try to hide the truth—there was no point. Lin Yuan clearly already knew something.
With a small nod, she admitted, "You're right. Something did happen… I originally planned today as a way to relax, to unwind a little with you, but now... I'm afraid it'll only leave me more exhausted."
There was a soft pause before she looked up again and said sincerely, "Last time, when I visited the Lin Group, I watched how you handled things so decisively—so flawlessly. You were calm, composed, like you had everything under control no matter how chaotic the situation was. That left a deep impression on me."
Her voice grew a little softer. "Can I ask for your help this time?"
Indeed, the last time they were together, Lin Yuan had resolved a major issue at the Lin Group with a calm authority that impressed not just Yan Ruyue, but everyone present. It wasn't just competence—there was a quiet confidence about him, a commanding presence that couldn't be ignored.
Moreover, Yan Ruyue had asked once before if Lin Yuan could offer his support in case something ever went wrong with her company. And now, that moment has arrived.
Hearing her request, Lin Yuan smiled and nodded. "Of course. Didn't I already promise you that I'd help if anything ever happened? You just have to make sure I get paid for my time."
As he said this, his gaze instinctively swept over her elegant figure—her tailored office outfit hugging her curves, the gentle shape of her hips, and especially her long, perfectly straight legs wrapped in high-quality black stockings. She looked like the very definition of an ice-cold beauty queen—the kind who could dominate boardrooms and hearts alike.
Feeling his gaze, Yan Ruyue's cheeks flushed with a faint pink hue. But she didn't look away or act annoyed. On the contrary, she was already used to Lin Yuan's teasing glances by now. In fact, she had a favorable impression of him, and her heart had started to compete quietly with another woman—Chi Qian—for his attention.
She didn't reject his gaze. She didn't mind it.
With her lips pursed slightly, Yan Ruyue began to explain: "Our company has hit a rough patch recently. As you know, we're mainly in the skincare and beauty business. Our signature product—the facial mask—has been affected directly."
Before she could finish, Lin Yuan interrupted with a knowing smile, "Let me guess. Your company's major partner—the mask supplier—suddenly raised their prices? Not just a little, but enough to put your profit margins under pressure?"
Yan Ruyue blinked, surprised by his accuracy. "How… how do you know that?" she asked, stunned. "This issue just came up recently. We haven't released any official statement, and you're not even part of our board or executive team…"
She genuinely couldn't figure it out. How did Lin Yuan already know so much?
Lin Yuan simply smiled again, not offering an answer. There was an air of mystery about him, and Yan Ruyue could feel herself being drawn into it, like a moth to a flame. He was becoming more and more enigmatic in her eyes, and that mystery only made him more appealing.
After staring at him in silence for a few seconds, she exhaled and said, "Yes… that's exactly what's happening. The supplier we've worked with up till now suddenly increased their prices—but it wasn't a small change. It was a huge jump, almost deliberately hostile."
Lin Yuan's expression shifted slightly. "A large margin?"
"Yes." Yan Ruyue nodded gravely. "Far beyond industry norms. It's as if they're trying to force us into a corner, perhaps hoping we'll either accept the inflated prices or be pushed out of the mask market altogether."
Hearing that, Lin Yuan's brow furrowed in thought. If the price hike was so unreasonable, then something more was likely going on behind the scenes.