Marking My Arch-Rival [Rebirth] - Chapter 4

The Monday board meeting was a headache.

Ji Shihuan sat lazily at the head of the table scrolling through her phone. Before her, Shu Ni and Dong Zheng were arguing fiercely, their faces flushed.

Ji family’s equity and the influence left by Ji Shiqin were enough to put Ji Shihuan in that position, but her biggest weakness was her complete lack of management experience. Dong Zheng seized on this point, demanding that attendees consider the future operations of Huan Ji and select a better-suited leader.

Shu Ni exposed him: “That sounds nice, but you just want the position for yourself!”

“The capable should lead,” Dong Zheng admitted frankly.

He led the others to look at Ji Shihuan: “Do you truly believe that a young girl like this can manage Huan Ji Technology well?”

Ji Shihuan yawned.

“Miss Ji,” Dong Zheng took two steps closer to her, his expression mocking. “Is this meeting very boring for you? You really don’t have to do things you’re not good at, causing trouble for yourself and harming us all.”

Ji Shihuan straightened up slightly.

She started to stand, but Shu Ni pressed her down firmly.

Shu Ni had already spent most of her energy fighting Dong Zheng, but she still used a soft voice to coax her, like a mother to a child: “Ah Huan, don’t be intimidated by him. Give me some time; I’ll handle it.”

She was perfectly satisfied with Ji Shihuan’s detached manner, which seemed oblivious to the outside world, and she even anticipated that similar conversations would be repeated frequently in the coming years.

But unfortunately, things did not go as she expected.

“I have a proposal,” Ji Shihuan pulled her hand free, shoved it into her pocket, and slowly stood up under Shu Ni’s confused gaze.

“Since everyone lacks trust in each other, let’s sign a ‘VAM’ agreement (Valuation Adjustment Mechanism).”

Dong Zheng: “A VAM agreement?”

Ji Shihuan hummed in affirmation.

She was tall and had an excellent posture, half-closing her eyes as she looked down at the crowd.

“I will serve as the CEO of Huan Ji. If the company’s profit fails to achieve positive growth this year, I will immediately resign and take the blame.”

Although Huan Ji was still making money these past few years, its profits were decreasing annually due to impact and suppression from competitors. Ji Shiqin was under immense pressure because of this, to the point where he needed medication to maintain emotional stability.

Dong Zheng frowned: “Are you saying we have to play house with you for an entire year?”

Ji Shihuan curled her lips into a cold smile.

The next second, she threw out a lure he couldn’t refuse.

“…and reduce the Ji family’s stake in Huan Ji to 40%.”

Shu Ni was too slow to intervene. Dong Zheng, now realizing the opportunity, slammed his hand on the table: “Deal!”

He gave Ji Shihuan no chance to back out, immediately asking his secretary to draft the contract. That afternoon, both sides signed and stamped the documents. Dong Zheng looked at the terms set in black and white, his smile nearly stretching to his ears.

“Then I wish young CEO Ji the best of luck in achieving her goal.”

Ji Shihuan’s expression was calm: “No need to be so hypocritical.”

She looked at Dong Zheng: “If I achieve my goal, wouldn’t that mean your wish has failed, Uncle Dong?”

The smile on Dong Zheng’s face immediately vanished.

Other shareholders nearby tried to smooth things over: “We are all looking out for Huan Ji’s best interest. If CEO Ji can bring us profit, we’ll be happy.”

Another voice added: “I recall that CEO Jiang from Hongxin Technology was also around this age when she became CEO.”

“Our young CEO Ji might also shine just as brightly as her!”

Dong Zheng couldn’t stand listening anymore.

“CEO Jiang is a legitimate business school graduate and worked at Hongxin’s grassroots level for two years before becoming CEO.” He scoffed, giving Ji Shihuan a sideways glance. “Comparing her to CEO Jiang, aren’t you going too far in flattering yourself?”

Ji Shihuan had been about to leave, but she stopped at these words.

Dong Zheng didn’t hold back, sneering again.

“Truthfully, only her face can barely compete with CEO Jiang’s.”

Ji Shihuan raised an eyebrow, her tone neither cold nor warm.

“It seems Uncle Dong greatly admires the methods and face of the CEO across the street.”

In this fight between titans, the surrounding small fry didn’t dare breathe.

But following her reminder, everyone realized—Dong Zheng was publicly praising a competitor in a Huan Ji board meeting, clearly deflating their own side’s morale and boosting the rival’s spirit.

Dong Zheng also realized his slip-up and stammered, unable to speak: “I, I…”

Ji Shihuan watched him coolly.

Some of the more perceptive subordinates tried hard to shrink their shoulders and minimize their presence, while inwardly wondering how this new CEO Ji was even more intimidating than the previous one.

Dong Zheng desperately searched for a way to compensate, cold sweat still beading on his forehead.

Just as he was about to speak, he felt a weight on his shoulder—Ji Shihuan had rested her hand there.

“You…”

“What a coincidence.” Ji Shihuan cut off his defense with a faint smile.

She said: “Me too.”

Me too, what?

Before anyone could react, Ji Shihuan turned and left.

Nie Zheng was waiting outside and led her to the office when she emerged.

Ji Shihuan reviewed the company’s recent projects while he stood by, explaining and answering questions, helping her get up to speed as quickly as possible.

But soon, Nie Zheng’s initially relaxed expression gradually became serious.

As Ji Shiqin’s confidant, he naturally knew that the boss’s sister was a bona fide art student. Over the weekend, Nie Zheng had spent two days preparing, hoping to use simple and easy-to-understand language to explain the company’s operating mechanisms and the various complex issues within the projects to Ji Shihuan.

But he hadn’t expected Ji Shihuan to be completely unlike an outsider. She read incredibly fast, asking about project scheduling, budgets, and contingency plans. Every question hit the core problem. In just an hour, Nie Zheng had wiped sweat off his brow three times.

Ji Shihuan didn’t lose her temper with him. In fact, having managed the company once in her previous life, she knew that the current chaos was not the work of a single day. Nie Zheng having a basic understanding of most of the company’s current projects was already commendable.

To help ease his tension, she even deliberately chose a project close to completion.

Before they could discuss much, there was a knock on the office door. Shu Ni, in her urgency, pushed the door open without waiting for an answer.

“Shihuan!”

Ji Shihuan’s question was interrupted. She looked at Shu Ni with a slight frown.

Meeting her gaze, Shu Ni felt a subtle unease.

She changed her expression, her eyes reddening as she walked up to the desk.

“Why did you sign a VAM agreement with them without consulting me first? Do you know that if you lose, the family business your brother worked so hard to protect for years will be handed over to someone else?”

Shu Ni was not a shareholder of Huan Ji. When the VAM agreement began to be discussed, Dong Zheng had subtly instructed his subordinates to ask her to leave.

Of course, if Ji Shihuan had insisted, she could have stayed. But she had desperately tried to signal to Ji Shihuan at the time, and Ji Shihuan had been completely unresponsive, like a block of wood.

Ji Shihuan gave Nie Zheng a look, and he discreetly left.

Once the door was closed, Ji Shihuan leaned back in her chair.

“Didn’t you say that to avenge brother, I must take office as quickly as possible?”

“But not in this way!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ji Shihuan twirled her pen carelessly, looking like a naive, empty-headed socialite who had never experienced the harsh realities of life. “You’re here to help me, aren’t you? We won’t lose the VAM agreement.”

“You…” Shu Ni hesitated.

Ji Shihuan looked up and smiled at her: “Is that too difficult for you?”

“Of course, I’ll help you with all my might, but things aren’t as simple as you think,” Shu Ni took a deep breath. “Besides, I’m only the head of the finance department. When it comes to making money…”

Ji Shihuan interrupted her: “That’s why I’m preparing to promote you to Company Vice President.”

“Vice President?” Shu Ni’s eyes immediately lit up as she realized the offer.

She smoothed her hair, trying to feign concern but unable to suppress the smile on her lips: “…That might not be good. Changing the Vice President right after taking office will cause complaints from the people below.”

Ji Shihuan held up a document in her hand.

“I have a plan.”

Shu Ni looked at her.

“Zhou Guoquan is old and about to retire. I can persuade him to hand over the project he is currently handling to you.”

Ji Shihuan was referring to a low-end chip trade deal between Huan Ji and Country D. As the buyer, they had prepared all the goods and only needed the person in charge to accompany the shipment to Country D, confirm delivery with the buyer’s company, and collect the final payment.

This business had been ongoing for several years and was considered a stable source of income for Huan Ji.

“Once you complete the project and return, I will transfer the shares my brother promised to give you after marriage into your name. That way, no one can object to you becoming Vice President.”

Shu Ni no longer masked her delight, grinning widely and nodding repeatedly.

She had previously harbored some doubts about Ji Shihuan, wondering if she would slip out of her control. Now, knowing that Ji Shihuan had her best interests at heart all along, she had no other concerns.

“I understand… Since Ah Huan needs me so much, I will certainly not fail your expectations!”

Ji Shihuan forced a strained smile in return.

Shu Ni spun around lightly: “I’ll go back to work first. Since you’re the new CEO, the company will host a grand welcome dinner for you.”

Ji Shihuan nodded.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Her voice was cold, but Shu Ni, immersed in the excitement of her promotion, didn’t notice.

A week later, the welcome dinner was held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel near Huan Ji.

Ji Shihuan, by offering to move Zhou Guoquan’s grandson, Zhou Hao, into core management, had successfully persuaded Zhou Guoquan to retire early. Through procedural maneuvering, the chip trade project was legitimately transferred to Shu Ni.

The smart people had already seen her intention to promote Shu Ni. Those with more foresight even anticipated that the true future helmsman of Huan Ji would not be surnamed Ji. They crowded around Shu Ni with Champagne flutes, showering her with “Congratulations” and “Best Wishes.”

Shu Ni handled the attention with composure, asking the waiter to replace her wine with fresh juice and drinking several glasses.

Ji Shiqin had never even mentioned making her Vice President while he was alive, yet Ji Shihuan, immediately upon taking office, wholeheartedly planned this for her.

Shu Ni swirled her wine glass. Even though she hadn’t touched any alcohol, her eyes held a look of intoxication.

After the dinner, she would leave for Country D. When she returned…

Outside the crowd, the seemingly naive Ji Shihuan raised her glass to her from afar.

Shu Ni smiled sweetly, her lips curving into an even more genuine expression.

She thought that when she returned, everything would be different.

What she didn’t know was that Ji Shihuan was thinking the exact same thing.

Young CEO Ji had finished her short, symbolic speech to all the employees. Seeing that Shu Ni was still lost in her pleasant fantasy, Ji Shihuan lost her patience and quietly slipped out, intending to get some air.

Once she reached the quiet women’s washroom at the end of the hallway, she immediately dropped her facade, humming an off-key tune with pleasure while touching up her makeup.

It was in this moment of relaxation that her nostrils twitched, and she suddenly sensed something amiss—

She caught the faint yet unmistakable scent of freesia, carrying an unusual sweetness. It was clearly the smell of Omega pheromones.

Ji Shihuan first stepped outside to confirm she was in the Alpha-exclusive women’s washroom, then re-entered and searched, locating the only closed stall.

She asked through the door: “Is everything alright? Do you need any help?”

The stall was quiet, without any sound.

Ji Shihuan thought for a moment, then turned to leave, intending to find a hotel staff member to handle the situation.

But as soon as she turned, the stall door was opened from the inside.

Ji Shihuan instinctively looked back, meeting Jiang Boyan’s eyes directly.

Jiang Boyan wore light makeup, accentuating her already excellent features to be even more stunning. She wore a halter-neck black evening gown. The fabric fully enclosed her neck, exposing both of her pale, beautiful shoulders. Ji Shihuan’s gaze dropped, fixating on the asymmetrical hemline of her skirt. The silver, diamond-like sequins bordering the hem formed waves, adding a playful touch to the otherwise somber black dress.

Jiang Boyan acted as if she didn’t recognize her, walking straight past. As they brushed shoulders, her steps faltered, and she nearly stumbled sideways. Fortunately, Ji Shihuan was quick, supporting her by the forearm and pulling her into her embrace.

So hot.

Even with the beauty in her arms, this was the only thought in Ji Shihuan’s mind.

The temperature of the skin she touched was too high; she suspected Jiang Boyan might have a high fever.

But the other woman quickly pushed her away, accompanied by a fierce glare.

“You…” Ji Shihuan only managed one word before Jiang Boyan hastened to the sink.

Ji Shihuan followed behind her, her gaze uncontrollably lingering on the covered side of her neck.

She wondered if she was mistaken, but she felt that the exposed skin nearby was an unnatural pinkish-red.

Jiang Boyan didn’t leave immediately after washing her hands. She finally seemed to organize her thoughts, looking up and saying, as a clumsy cover-up: “I was just briefly accosted by an Omega who came out of nowhere.”

Their eyes met in the mirror.

“Oh,” Ji Shihuan understood. “You’re saying that’s where the Omega pheromones on you came from?”

Jiang Boyan frowned: “What else?”

Ji Shihuan shrugged, agreeing: “Perfectly reasonable.”

“…” Jiang Boyan couldn’t tell if she believed her. After thinking for a moment, she used a teasing tone to test the waters: “Miss Ji is a stunning beauty. Haven’t you ever encountered such an awkward situation?”

Ji Shihuan actually thought about it seriously, then shook her head.

“I’ve never met an Omega quite so enthusiastic.”

Jiang Boyan secretly bit her lip.

“CEO Jiang just lets a stranger Omega rub up against her like that?” Ji Shihuan’s eyes held a smile, her clear gaze seemingly seeing through everything.

But she deliberately didn’t expose her, teasing her with a smile: “Quite the lucky encounter, indeed~”