The interior of the Hongqi car was a world away from the dusty, chaotic noise of the Textile Fair. Here, the air was cooled by a modern air conditioner, a luxury almost unheard of in 1995—and smelled of expensive leather and Ye Feng's signature sandalwood.
Li Hua sat in the plush rear seat, her charcoal-grey skirt rustling softly as she adjusted her posture. Beside her, Ye Feng remained a silent, imposing shadow. He didn't look at her directly, yet his presence felt like a physical weight against her skin.
"You're shaking," Ye Feng said suddenly. His voice was low, vibrating through the quiet cabin.
Li Hua looked down at her hands. Her fingers, now slender and elegant thanks to her -15kg total transformation, were indeed trembling slightly. But it wasn't from fear.
"It's adrenaline, Mr. Ye," she replied, her voice steady. "The feeling of finally standing on the neck of those who thought I was a stepping stone... it's more addictive than any wine."
Ye Feng finally turned his head. His silver-rimmed glasses caught the sunlight, obscuring his eyes, but his gaze was intense. He reached out, his gloved hand hovering over hers for a fraction of a second before he pulled it back, a rare sign of hesitation from a man who controlled empires.
"The Director of the Education Bureau, Old Man Sun, is a traditionalist," Ye Feng warned. "He doesn't care about 'fashion'. He cares about 'spirit'. He wants the city's school uniforms to reflect the strength of the new generation. If you go in there talking about French magazines, he will throw you out."
Li Hua turned to him, her almond-shaped eyes flashing with a sharp, predatory intelligence. "I don't need French magazines to understand the 'spirit' of the 90s, Mr. Ye. I grew up in a textile mill. I know exactly what kind of armor these children need to feel like they can conquer the future."
Ye Feng leaned closer, the scent of his cologne enveloping her. "Armor. I like that word. If you pull this off, Li Hua, you won't just have 10,000 Yuan. You'll have the monopoly on every student's back in this province. Are you ready to become a target?"
"I've been a target my whole life," she whispered. "Now, it's my turn to be the hunter."
[Ding! Favorability from Ye Feng +20! Reward: 'Negotiation Mastery' (Level 1) & 'Eye of the Designer' (Level 2).]
The car stopped in front of the Government Hall. As Li Hua stepped out, she saw the Gu family's battered old van parked nearby. Gu Yan and Lin Meimei were frantically dragging their bolts of "Eternal Bloom" fabric toward the meeting room, looking sweaty and desperate.
When Gu Yan saw Li Hua step out of a Hongqi car accompanied by the legendary Ye Feng, his face turned a sickly shade of green.
"Li Hua!" Gu Yan shouted, running toward them. "You... you're using this man to interfere with our business! This contract belongs to the Gu family! We've been the suppliers for years!"
Li Hua didn't even stop. She walked past him as if he were a ghost. "The past belongs to you, Gu Yan. The future belongs to me."
Inside the meeting room, the atmosphere was stifling. Director Sun sat at the head of a long mahogany table, surrounded by stern-faced cadres.
"The Gu family proposal is... adequate," Director Sun grunted, looking at the cheap, scratchy polyester samples Gu Yan had laid out. "But the price is high and the material is thin. What do you have, Young Lady?"
Li Hua stepped forward. She didn't open a briefcase. Instead, she took a single, perfectly tailored uniform from her bag, a deep navy blazer made of the high-density cotton-lycra blend she had found at the market.
"Director Sun," Li Hua began, her voice ringing with authority. "This isn't just a uniform. It's an investment in the dignity of our students. Feel the weight. It's warm enough for our damp winters, yet breathable enough for the summer. It has reinforced elbows for the studious and hidden pockets for their lunch money. But more importantly..."
She flipped the collar to reveal a small, embroidered flame, a symbol of the city's history.
"It represents the fire of progress. The Gu family offers you 'Eternal Bloom', a fabric that will wither in a month. I offer you 'The Eternal Spirit', a uniform that will last until these children graduate into the leaders of tomorrow."
[System Skill: 'Negotiation Mastery' Activated!]
The room went silent. Director Sun picked up the garment. He pulled at the seams, they didn't budge. He felt the softness of the collar—it didn't scratch. He looked at the price Li Hua had calculated: 20% lower than the Gu family because she had eliminated the "middleman" (her step-mother's skimming).
"10,000 units," Director Sun said, his voice booming. "A deposit of 10,000 Yuan will be wired to your account by tomorrow morning. Miss Li, you have two months to deliver."
Gu Yan, who had been listening at the door, let out a strangled cry. "10,000 Yuan?! That's impossible! She's a thief! She's..."
"Security," Director Sun barked. "Remove this shouting man. He's disturbing our business."
As Gu Yan and a shrieking Lin Meimei were dragged out of the hall, Li Hua stood at the window, watching them be tossed onto the dusty street like common beggars. She felt the System's warmth surge through her again.
[Ding! Mission Complete: Secure the 10,000 Yuan Contract!]
[Reward: 10,000 Yuan (Cash), -5kg Instant Weight Loss, 'Industrial Workshop' Blueprint Unlocked!]
[Current Weight: 77kg!]
Li Hua turned to find Ye Feng standing behind her. He didn't offer a handshake. Instead, he reached out and tucked a stray lock of black hair behind her ear, his thumb grazing her jawline for a second too long.
"Congratulations, Boss Li," he murmured, his eyes burning with a pride that wasn't strictly professional. "You've just destroyed a family's legacy with a single needle. Shall we go celebrate, or are you already planning your next conquest?"
Li Hua looked at the 10,000 Yuan check in her hand, then at the man who was becoming her most dangerous ally. "The celebration can wait, Mr. Ye. I have a factory to build."