The next day, Lin Siya began going out with Li Xiaoyu to visit clients. It was completely different from the kind of business meetings she'd once known.
Back then, contracts were signed in five-star hotels or luxury restaurants—clients knew her company's reputation and rarely hesitated to cooperate. The only thing to negotiate was the price.
Now, she was visiting small shops still under renovation, talking to store owners one by one.
Some were decisive—agreeing in the morning, signing the contract by noon, and having technicians install the same day, payment made promptly. Others were cautious, preferring to test the system first. Some delayed payment for months, even half a year.
Each sale brought in just a few thousand yuan a year in maintenance fees. Every deal cost her days of walking, hours of talking, and a dry throat.
But watching her client list grow—from one to ten, then to hundreds—filled her with genuine pride.
Small issues she handled personally, leaving a deep impression. Grateful customers began recommending her to their friends. Soon her network exploded, her contacts growing at a pace that amazed even her colleagues.
A year later, Lin Siya was no longer "Little Lin" from Sales—she was Manager Lin.
She had the highest sales in the company.
Li Xiaoyu, instead of feeling jealous, often sought her advice. Lin Siya shared everything she knew, never holding back.
Having spent over a year in this little firm, she understood the relationships here.
Li Xiaoyu and Yuan Xin went way back, and from day one, Li had treated her kindly—mentoring, not suppressing. Compared to the cutthroat environments of her past jobs, even her own family's company, this place was peaceful.
Some of her clients had grown, too—expanding into chains. Whenever they opened a new store, they always called her to install security systems.
"Little Lin, that suggestion you gave me last time was brilliant," said one of her clients, Mr. Qin, during a renewal meeting. He had faced a tricky business decision, and her advice had given him the perfect solution. "Tell me, have you ever thought about switching companies?"
Caught off guard, Lin Siya shook her head gently. "I really like my current company, but thank you, President Qin, for the offer."
"That's a shame," Mr. Qin laughed. "You're far too talented for such a small firm."
He raised his hands quickly. "Don't take it the wrong way—I just mean you're excellent."
"I don't mind," Lin Siya smiled. "Our company may be small now, but when I had nowhere else to go, this place gave me a chance. It might be small today—but it won't stay that way. One day, I'll make it big."
Mr. Qin blinked, visibly moved. "Not many young people these days are that grounded—or that grateful."
He nodded, smiling with admiration. "Then let me be the first to wish your company great success."
"Thank you, President Qin." Lin Siya grinned. "And I wish your business expands across the nation—and overseas too. When it does, make sure to let me handle your security systems!"
Mr. Qin burst out laughing, genuinely pleased. "Count on it."
After signing the contract and parting ways, Lin Siya stopped by the restroom to freshen up.
She looked in the mirror at the woman staring back—light makeup, radiant eyes, confidence in every curve of her smile. She couldn't help chuckling.
"Lin Siya, you're such a dork."
Still smiling, she pulled out her phone. Her fingers didn't even need to check the contacts—she'd memorized that number long ago. The call connected after one ring.
"Done with the meeting?"
"Mm-hmm. President Qin's very straightforward," she said brightly. "He's opening more than twenty new stores, so I pitched the new equipment model. Even with the higher price, he signed right away after hearing the specs. Oh—and he said if the performance meets expectations, he'll replace all the old systems with our new ones."
"Have you eaten?"
"A little. I'm not that hungry."
There was a brief pause. "Did you drink?" Yuan Xin asked.
"I had a glass," Lin Siya admitted. "We were celebrating. Don't worry, I'm fine—I didn't overdo it."
Yuan Xin had warned her countless times: if any client tried to pressure her into drinking, she was to walk away, no matter how big the deal.
No job is worth compromising yourself.
Thinking of that, Lin Siya's smile softened.
"I'll come pick you up," Yuan Xin said calmly after hearing where she was.
As she waited, memories of another night surfaced—one that still made her shudder.
It had been her second month in the company. She'd gone to meet a chain-store owner, a man with greasy skin and an oily smile. From the moment she walked in, his gaze made her skin crawl. But desperate to land the deal, she stayed.
At dinner, he kept pressing her to drink. When she refused, one of his associates actually lifted a glass to her lips.
She panicked—shoved him back a little too hard—and the man stumbled, nearly falling.
The greasy boss, fuming, sneered that if she just "drank with him nicely," he'd not only forgive her but give her more contracts in the future.
She was terrified.
Then she thought of Yuan Xin—the woman who had somehow become her anchor. Without hesitation, she called her.
Yuan Xin didn't ask questions, only the address.
"Give the phone to him," she'd said.
Lin Siya handed it over with shaking hands.
She didn't know what Yuan Xin said, but after that, the man went pale and stayed quiet.
Less than thirty minutes later, the private room door burst open.
Yuan Xin strode in—dressed head-to-toe in leather, her wild red curls catching the light. Without a word, she pulled Lin Siya behind her.
Then came the rest of the company—half the staff, even two bleary-eyed night-shift techs still in pajamas. They filled the room in seconds, forming a wall behind their boss.
Lin Siya had been stunned speechless.
The sleazy old boss found himself surrounded—not beaten, but scolded.
Each employee took turns lecturing him until he turned beet red, trembling from sheer embarrassment.
Yuan Xin sat beside him, cigarette in hand, smoke curling lazily through the air.
Her white fingers tapped his shoulder lightly, her voice calm, almost friendly.
"I heard your daughter's about twenty-four now, right? Studying for her master's degree?" she asked, smiling as if chatting with an old friend.
The man froze, then nodded stiffly. "Yes—just got in this year."
"Oh, she's talented then." Yuan Xin exhaled a thin stream of smoke. The dim light and swirling haze gave the room an eerie weight. "Siya's twenty-four too. She went abroad at sixteen, finished graduate school, and came back. A man like you, with such an excellent daughter, must really appreciate bright young women like her."
"…Yes." The man was sweating now, regretting everything. "Of course."
"Good." Yuan Xin crushed out her cigarette, smiling faintly. "I'm Yuan Xin, owner of Huan Yuan Security. Siya's one of my employees. I heard there was some trouble here, so I came to check on her."
The man swallowed hard, glancing around.
Everywhere he looked, tall, sharp-eyed men were glaring at him. Even the women looked ready to throw punches. And sitting beside him—the red-haired woman with heavy eyeliner—looked more like a gang leader than a businesswoman.
"W–What trouble? No trouble at all," he stammered, forcing a grin. "I, uh, must've had too much to drink. Said some nonsense. Please don't misunderstand, President Yuan."
Yuan Xin nodded politely, poured herself a glass of wine, and took a sip.
Then, very softly, she said, "Close the door."
The latch clicked.
Before he could react, her fist sank into his gut.
He doubled over with a strangled grunt.
"Sorry," she said pleasantly, rubbing her wrist. "My vision's bad when I'm drunk. I thought you were a punching bag."
"You don't mind, do you?"
"N–not at all," the man gasped, clutching his stomach, terrified to move.
He believed it now—Huan Yuan wasn't a company.
It was a front.
And Yuan Xin?
Definitely not a boss—she was a boss lady.