Many people were still gathered at the broadcasting headquarters even after the recording had ended. Some of them were reporters who directed their cameras toward Aria. Someone said, "Can I send in an application to Carver Group too, Ms. Carver? I'm a technician!""Will Carver Group's niche be reconstructed after this, Ms. Carver?""Carver Group has never entered the entertainment industry. If a new path is developed just for Leon alone, will this affect Carver Group's business strategies that follow?""Don't listen to him, Ms. Carver! Look at me! Give me a trending topic!"They were both expectant and ill at ease at the same time. They wanted Aria to look at them but didn't want her to develop a grudge toward them. After filming this variety show, there was nothing more to hide. Aria looked somewhat tired—this was just how she looked most of the time, like an unpleasant daughter from a rich family. However, she was smiling gently when she looked at the reporter who'd just spok
Some executives, who slacked off all day and left all the work to their subordinates, were having the worst time right now. "Wait, didn't you say that a company like Carver Group wouldn't affect us in any way?""Mr. Levington, the scale of our company is totally incomparable to that of Carver Group, and we specialize in different fields.""Why are all of them talking about resigning, then?""I-I… Ms. Carver's words were too effective.""Can't you replicate her marketing tactics?"At this point, the employee was numb. How were they supposed to copy Aria when she was in a completely different position than them?Their boss, Alex Levington, had said that Aria wouldn't be a threat—she was merely an ordinary young woman from the countryside. He'd also laughed at her for failing to join the local social circles.Aria didn't need to get to know those socialites in the first place, not when her goal was the heads of these listed companies!Carver Group had a rival company that was sl
At the broadcasting headquarters, Landon was still exchanging polite words with Reginald Tarson, the director of the TV station. One couldn't tell who was keeping who company. Reginald was still speaking with a smile, and Landon would nod along occasionally. Despite the smile on his face, he looked like an employer supervising operations at the store, although Reginald was of high status as well."You've recovered a lot. Your grandpa won't have to worry about you the whole day now," Reginald said."Yes, Mr. Tarson." When Landon talked to someone more senior than him, he did so politely. "My fiancée," Landon said with a chuckle, "the young woman onstage. She saved me."The calm, serene smile on Reginald's face showed signs of cracking upon hearing Landon's words. When he wasn't smiling, he became more intimidating than before. "I didn't know your fiancée was so good at what she does.""Yes, she is, Uncle Reginald." Only after confirming that no one was nearby did Landon refer to R
Someone said that the perpetual bad weather was the result of the Dragonlock breaking down. Forged long before the founding of Farshya, those chains had anchored the west of the country. Now, dark clouds roiled above, a shroud of gloom suffocating the sky."Did you hear about what happened behind the TV network's headquarters?" a passerby asked."Yeah. That alley... you always felt like someone was following you whenever it rained, didn't you?""Exactly. One of my colleagues came down with a fever after walking through it. It's been days, and it won't break. He keeps muttering about how he answered the wrong question.""We should leave now. Let's not wait until the afternoon. Something is seriously off.""You think Mr. Tarson would take that route?""Probably not. Even the guys working in the building across from us are taking a longer detour." "Good," the employee thought. It was unlikely anyone would venture into that alley today. But optimism was a fickle thing. Landon str
Landon said nothing. With a subtle shift of his umbrella, he cast a downward glance, cold and menacing.Draco's eyes gleamed with the thrill of a predator as he studied Landon's flawless features. "Do my eyes look like a dragon's to you?"Landon's stare swept over him briefly before turning away as if the majestic lizard were beneath his notice. His voice was frigid. "No."The black fog swirling around Draco thickened, and scales began creeping up his neck. Thunder cracked across the sky as he asked again, his voice sharper, more demanding, "Do my eyes look like a dragon's to you?""No." Landon didn't even deign to look at him this time.The majestic lizard's fury ignited, causing Draco's fingernails to darken to a sickly green-gray, and the black mist slithered menacingly toward Landon's legs as if preparing to consume him. "I'll ask you one last time. Do my—""You talk too much." Landon didn't give the majestic lizard a chance to finish. With a flick of his left wrist, he sen
Landon glanced down at the majestic lizard, raising a brow. "Do I look that stupid to you?"The majestic lizard, trembling on the ground, had no idea why Landon asked such a question. It lay prostrate, barely breathing, fearing even the slightest movement.The crow cawed. Its master was the smartest man in the world, after all, unmatched in both wit and cunning. Evidently, no one could outdo the crow in the art of flattery.Landon said slowly, "Why did the lizard lie to me?"The majestic lizard shuddered, its fear escalating as it saw lightning about to descend upon it. It screamed frantically, "My lord! Please hear me out! I-I was forced out by humans! "If they hadn't dumped toxic waste into the sea, disturbing my peaceful existence, I would've never needed to consume human spiritual forms!"Someone summoned me to harm you—that's why I emerged from the sea! I swear it's the truth!"Landon's gaze grew colder, more distant as if the majestic lizard's words held no meaning to h
Landon cast a sidelong glance at the crow, which understood his unspoken command. It fell silent and reverted to its simpler form, a bird whose only sound was a caw.Tasked with notifying the right people about Landon's disappearance, the crow waited patiently for the heavy rain to relent before it took flight from the shadowy alley.Meanwhile, the bodyguards stationed at the alley's entrance were plagued by worry. Their anxiety deepened when they heard the crow's cawing. Despite the risk of angering Landon, they decided they must investigate. However, as they ventured deeper into the alley, they were struck by an eerie stillness cloaked in fog, with no visible end in sight.Realizing the gravity of the situation, they pressed on, only to find that Landon was nowhere to be seen. Their eyes fell upon a lone Charm Coin resting on the ground, and despair washed over them.…Instead of an extravagant residence, Don called an ordinary neighborhood in Janovin home. However, the neighb
Without saying a word, Aria lifted the earrings from the box and examined them closely. She didn't detect any lingering presence of vengeful spirits attached to them. However, she knew that items from ancient Occidentia could harbor hidden dangers, often tied to customs that could not be officially recorded."Where exactly did you go?" she asked, determined to gather more information about the local environment. "Did anything unusual happen during the excavation?"Don retrieved a map, his finger tracing a circle around a specific area. "There are still some aboriginal residents living there. The excavation itself went smoothly, nothing out of the ordinary on that front."He paused, contemplating his next words. "However, there was one strange occurrence. The local residents seemed particularly fixated on a young lady from our team. They never argued with us, but they followed her around everywhere. At first, they were kind, giving her fruit and food and advising her to avoid getting
The entertainment industry was a place where people could rise quickly. It was a world where words could be tailored to suit different audiences, where alliances were formed with the popular, and enemies were kept in check before they could make a name for themselves.On the surface, everyone seemed friendly, but beneath the smiles, subtle rivalries festered.Back then, Fiona wouldn't have noticed such dynamics. She had never been interested in competing with other women, even in school. The term "female competition" hadn't existed in her vocabulary. Fiona simply wasn't concerned with who stood out in the crowd, so she remained unaware of the unspoken tensions around her.But now, things were different. After years of observing the entertainment industry, Fiona had become attuned to the subtle games people played. Every word Priscilla had spoken earlier had an underlying agenda.It was then that Fiona realized how much time had changed everyone. She could barely recognize the wom
Priscilla, it seemed, embodied the capitalist archetype that online critics often despised—one who saw people as mere tools for profit. Her approach to problems was straightforward, ruthless, and without compassion.She had used unapproved injections to boost her earnings, and now, when things went wrong, she wanted to shift the blame onto unsuspecting individuals.The girl's parents, though devastated, were not asking for much. They simply wanted their daughter's suffering to end and for Priscilla to cover the basic medical costs. But Priscilla wasn't concerned with such matters. The success of her medispa in Ludwiten wasn't due to any sense of ethics—it was built on ambition and exploitation.If Priscilla agreed to treat one person's botched surgery, it would open the door to countless others. She couldn't afford to make exceptions; these "victims" would only try to take advantage of her.At that moment, Priscilla reclined in the lounge, a face mask on, preparing for a full-bod
Back then, a rumor circulated that everyone desired the Grisham family's daughter. Audriana had thought it was an exaggeration. After all, no matter how beautiful a woman was, she would inevitably age. Fiona, no matter how stunning, would eventually face the same fate.However, Audriana had come to realize that some people could indeed look like fairies. Yet, she couldn't show her envy, as Priscilla was still watching her."Why do I think she looks so average? She's not nearly as ladylike as you, Priscilla," Audriana flattered her.Priscilla merely gave her a passing glance. "You don't have to try to flatter me. I don't care about that. With plastic surgery so common these days, I can have any appearance I want."What's important is for a woman to have her own career. But I have to admit, her face is quite stunning."Otherwise, Fiona wouldn't have remained relevant for so many years. But it didn't matter now. Fiona was already married, with so many children. Once a woman became a
"Who doesn't have a career in this day and age? She's the only one with no achievements to speak of, and she even went crazy. How does she have the nerve to reconcile with the Grisham family? I don't know whether to call her naïve or just plain dumb," Priscilla remarked, her voice dripping with disdain as she spoke to the person behind her. As she spoke, the woman slowly rose, revealing her identity—none other than Audriana."Perhaps she doesn't realize that the Draycott family is almost as influential as the Grisham family in Ludwiten. Especially you, Priscilla. Everyone knows the medispa you operate. "Fiona hasn't kept up with the times. I once thought she was capable, with her title as Ludwiten's Red Rose. But now, it seems she's all show, no substance." Audriana chuckled, clearly taking pleasure in belittling Fiona while subtly praising Priscilla. Priscilla, clearly pleased, took a sip of her coffee. "It's a shame she didn't listen to me and meet Ms. Kent."Audriana raised
Priscilla twirled her long hair and took a sip of her coffee. "I didn't have much confidence back then. I always followed you, never daring to try things on my own. It's only now, after trying for myself, that I've realized some things."She added, "Opening a medispa has always been my dream, and that's how it all started. Now, all the wealthy women in Ludwiten come to me for fillers and anti-aging treatments. If you're interested, you should come by. I can even fix your nose a little."Priscilla smiled. However, her smile was a little off, perhaps from a recent treatment. She pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I can't smile too much, or I'll get wrinkles. I envy your flawless, youthful face, Fiona. What's your secret?""Probably just staying indoors and avoiding the sun," Fiona replied, carefully omitting the fact that her soul had entered a manifestation.Priscilla's expression darkened, her voice tinged with frustration. "It's all Owen's fault! How could he be so cruel? You're no
Leon typed so quickly that Aria suspected it was a result of his experience arguing with his online haters. Aria couldn't get a word in as Leon flooded the entire group chat. She was speechless—his typing was even faster than a hacker like her. Celebrity Carver: "I'm worried about Aria. I should have gone on the train too!"Aria freed one hand to reply, "No need to worry. Fergus is with me."Celebrity Carver: "Fergus has never been in a relationship himself. What does he know?"Boss Carver: "Leon, aren't you getting too full of yourself lately?"Leon kept his head down, continuing to type. He was filled with worry for Aria.Unbeknownst to anyone, a mysterious person watched Leon with intense focus. The gaze was unsettling as if the person were ready to explode with hatred at any moment.The person only looked away when Leon entered the VIP lounge. Then, they went to the washroom, and standing before the mirror, revealed an eerie smile. There was no rush. After all, there wo
Their positions were reversed in an instant.Landon was pinned down, a few stray strands of hair falling over his face. His long, dark eyelashes gave him a somewhat coy expression. Aria, on the other hand, appeared dominant, with one hand pressing down on his wrist and the other on his shoulder. This was the scene the attendant walked in on. She cleared her throat slightly before speaking, "Sir, here are your fruits."The attendant's voice caught the attention of Fergus, who was seated in the last row. He put down his tablet and glanced over. What he saw was Aria playfully pressing down on Landon's wrist. Fergus couldn't help but rub his temples, unsure how to express his current feelings.When Leon mentioned that Aria was pursuing Landon, Fergus hadn't thought much of it. However, seeing for himself, he could only think of ways to keep Landon around for Aria.But Aria couldn't be too forward as they weren't married yet. At the thought of that, Fergus deliberately coughed.
It was the first time Aria had ever felt this way. The sensation made her dizzy, yet she couldn't get enough of it. Every inch of her mouth was filled with Landon's scent, and his fingers felt astonishingly hot. The sounds around them faded, leaving only the rumble of the train as it passed through the tunnel. There was an undeniable closeness between them. His soft kisses and teasing bites on her lips made her feel a little lightheaded. With her eyes covered, Aria instinctively sought something to steady herself. The rhythmic thump of his heartbeat echoed in her ears, its force making escape seem impossible. His kiss, commanding and intense, contrasted sharply with his calm demeanor. It seemed as though he was determined to pull her deeper into his embrace. Yet, despite the overwhelming sensation, Aria couldn't bring herself to resent it. Instead, she found herself surrendering to it. The sounds around them slowly returned as they emerged from the long tunnel, light creepi
Landon raised his hand and spoke calmly before ending the call. "Go and tell your boss that only Farshyans can manage the Chamber of Commerce."When Westin tried calling back, no one answered. For years, foreigners had enjoyed preferential treatment in Farshya. As Westin mentioned, some universities favored foreign students, offering them special care. Foreigners received priority access to events, complimentary ice cream, and exclusive show tickets at car exhibitions. Many Farshyans were thrilled just to exchange a few words with them.Westin's best friend even had a Farshyan girlfriend who was utterly devoted to him. She tolerated their insults with a smile as long as he promised to take her abroad and secure her permanent residency.This sense of entitlement made foreigners like Westin feel superior to the locals. Westin, in particular, had been flattered by Farshyan businessmen for so long that he'd never experienced such outright rejection.Other suppliers and port officia