The Creator's Grace - Chapter 2

Tonight’s press conference was held at ILLI, a luxury hotel brand under the Chi Group.

By seven in the evening, all invited media and Chi Group staff had arrived at the hotel. The Chinese restaurant was set up with electronic screens and projectors installed, name tags and various materials arranged, and small gifts for the media neatly placed on round tables.

Ladders were secured, cameras positioned.

Partners from the energy industry and the Chi Group passed through the crystal doors of the outer area, signed and took photos in front of the display boards before entering the venue, chatting over drinks while waiting for the main event to begin.

Chi Yu sat in an inconspicuous corner, holding a glass of wine. For now, no one around noticed her.

Rich floral aromas and the scent of sweet biscuits occasionally drifted from the glass into her senses.

She only smelled the wine, not drinking it.

She liked this particular wine, but she needed to stay sober.

“Is it true that Wang Yan, the CEO of Epoch Technology, was run over by a truck last night while drunk driving?”

“You heard about it too? I think there’s something fishy about this.”

Two media personnel sat at the round table next to Chi Yu, placing their cameras and phones on the table. After taking a few sips of water from their backpacks, they began whispering gossip.

One of them, a man with a crew cut, said, “I’d believe it if it were someone else, but Wang Yan? I don’t buy it.”

The other, a bespectacled young woman, didn’t understand: “Why?”

“This guy Wang Yan chased his precious wife for so many years, just got married last year, and spends all his time at the gym trying to bulk up. He values his life too much to risk drunk driving.”

“What are you implying?”

“Most likely, it’s because of the competition over Lunar Zone energy resources. That woman surnamed Ran probably…”

The crew-cut man made a swift chopping motion with his hand. The bespectacled girl paled:

“That woman is that terrifying? This is murder. We live in a society governed by law. It’s just business—why resort to killing?”

“Don’t be naive. Lunar Zone energy is a massive pie that the whole world is eyeing. Whoever gets it will dominate the new energy market for the next fifty years or even longer. That’s the future of Earth! Taking out a person is nothing. You’re still young and don’t understand. These capitalists aren’t afraid to risk their necks for profit, let alone eliminate a few people. That woman surnamed Ran—not only does she target competitors, but to secure the top seat in the Chi Empire, she even…”

As the crew-cut man was spinning his wild tale, he noticed a refined and beautiful woman watching him from nearby.

Chi Yu was naturally bright-eyed and charming, her eyes always seeming to carry a smile. Even when expressionless, she radiated a friendly warmth.

Captivated by such a beauty’s smile, the crew-cut man, eager to show off his insider knowledge, spoke even more enthusiastically:

“Rumor has it that Ran Jin’s former lover, Chi Li, didn’t commit suicide at all—Ran Jin was the murderer. That woman’s private life is extremely messy. Right after her lover passed, she went straight to the police chief’s house, staying overnight. And then, naturally, Chi Li’s cause of death report was labeled ‘suicide’…”

The bespectacled woman gasped sharply, “Hiss, I never would’ve guessed. But I actually had a pretty good impression of this Miss Ran. I once followed her for a shoot at an event—she’s truly beautiful. Honestly, among current top-tier celebrities, few can match her looks. She might be a bit cold, but how should I put it? She feels quite sincere.”

“Hah, sincere? A venomous snake like her specializes in deceiving clueless youngsters like you.”

As they spoke, a commotion arose in the distance—Ran Jin had arrived.

The two immediately grabbed their gear to start shooting, while Chi Yu set down her wine glass and followed them.

The buzz-cut man clicked away with his camera, then sighed as he reviewed the photos:

“Beautiful she is, and poisonous she is indeed. Look at this face—who wouldn’t love it? She’s the darling of the public and the treasure of capital. With her lover dead, those clueless fools are both heartbroken and excited, practically willing to pile mountains of gold and silver before her just to earn a smile, spending fortunes without hesitation. That she managed to secure the Lunar Zone’s energy resources this time is all thanks to her exceptional social skills.”

The bespectacled woman whispered in his ear, “Could it have been exchanged through… special transactions?”

The buzz-cut man grinned slyly, “Who can say for sure?”

As the two huddled together, engrossed in their gossip, Chi Yu walked past them and casually splashed a glass of wine onto their faces, startling them both.

Dazed by the sudden drenching, the buzz-cut man roared, “Are you fucking asking for a beating?!”

Wiping his face with one hand, he tried to grab Chi Yu.

Before his hand could reach her, a man rushed over, sweating profusely, and exclaimed, “Ah! Second Miss, you’re here! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

The buzz-cut man’s hand froze mid-air, his jaw dropping in shock.

The newcomer was one of the Chi family’s butlers, Brother Chen—the very intermediary the buzz-cut man had pulled countless strings to connect with. Without Brother Chen’s introduction, he wouldn’t have been able to enter and shoot tonight.

Could this “Second Miss” Brother Chen referred to be Chi Li’s legendary younger sister?

Chi Yu exchanged a few words with Butler Chen, who nodded and left, casting a wary glance at the buzz-cut man before departing.

Chi Yu didn’t leave. Still wearing a smile, she stood right there, waiting for them to continue the confrontation.

The two exchanged glances for a moment, said nothing, and silently melted into the crowd…

Ran Jin took the stage amidst a crowd of supporters to deliver her speech.

Her black formal suit, as always, had even become her signature attire.

From a distance, Ran Jin appeared to be wearing light makeup. Her naturally bright peach-blossom eyes showed traces of redness, lending her less of a flirtatious air and more of a weary, detached demeanor.

Under the lights, the light makeup looked almost like no makeup at all, but Ran Jin’s features were inherently striking—even truly bare-faced, she would still radiate brilliance and elegance.

Standing before the LED screen, Ran Jin calmly discussed the Lunar Zone’s new energy mining rights, all the data clear in her mind. Without needing her assistant to prepare a PowerPoint, she delivered her speech fluently and confidently.

Ran Jin explained how the new energy would bring transformative changes to the world in the future.

It would be applied in fields such as aerospace technology, terrestrial and oceanic exploration, and nuclear power, while also penetrating daily life through heating and electricity supply, information transmission, and smart homes. Moreover, it would give rise to countless intelligent technologies beyond imagination.

Ran Jin unveiled the Chi Group’s major plan for an undersea amusement park—a project certain to be realized within the next five years—leaving the audience in awe.

The ambitions of the Chi Group had never been small, but no one expected that the sudden passing of Chairman Chi Li would have little impact on the conglomerate. Under Ran Jin’s leadership, this behemoth instead began to move faster and more freely.

Chi Yu sat at the very back of the crowd, gazing intently at Ran Jin, who stood under the spotlight.

“…I believe that the next fifty years will belong to new energy—and to the Chi Group.”

Ran Jin placed the electronic pen on the podium, leaned forward with both hands on the surface, her eyes sharp and bright: “This is a new starting point for the Chi Group and for the global energy industry. All you need to do is one thing—follow closely in the footsteps of the Chi Group.”

Ran Jin’s words were incisive, brimming with confidence, even carrying an aggressive edge—a dismissive aggression toward other energy enterprises.

This woman was only twenty-nine years old, yet she had already become a formidable new force in the business world, one that inspired fear.

Ran Jin’s series of statements excited the media.

Tonight’s live broadcast and press releases were sure to strike a nerve with many, stirring up a storm in the energy industry—a scene the media was all too eager to witness.

After the live broadcast concluded, Ran Jin discussed a few important matters with the Chi Group’s shareholders. Then, Xiao Yang from the planning department approached to invite Ran Jin to the dance.

“A dance?” Ran Jin refused outright. “I never dance.”

“Um…”

Xiao Yang, young and new to the planning department, was usually lively but now felt flustered after being unexpectedly rejected by Ran Jin in such a grand setting. She hurried back to seek help from their department manager, Xu.

Upon hearing this, Manager Xu immediately put on a bright smile and came over to persuade Ran Jin: “Ran, I already talked to you about the dance earlier. Didn’t you agree? Why are you backing out now? No, you absolutely must dance tonight—I’ve already tipped off the media!”

Manager Xu, a woman in her early forties, well-maintained and with a pretty face, combined a mix of assertiveness and coquettishness before whispering in Ran Jin’s ear: “After that tough speech you just gave, don’t you want to win back a bit of a positive image? Please!”

Ran Jin had always been unable to handle Manager Xu’s public displays of affection. Glancing at Xiao Yang, who stood nearby looking extremely awkward and blushing, she realized she had been too harsh on the innocent young employee earlier.

But Ran Jin was never one to coax others or say pleasantries.

“Just one dance,” Ran Jin relented.

Manager Xu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately called someone over: “Quick, take Ran to change into a dress!”

“No dress,” Ran Jin said. “I’ll dance in this outfit.”

“…Fine.” Having managed to persuade her boss to dance, Manager Xu didn’t push her luck further. Dancing in a stiff suit might just become another talking point.

As the music began, some of the onlookers dispersed, but the media remained, all waiting to capture Ran Jin dancing.

The dance floor was already filled with people from the Chi Group and their partners, dancing gracefully in pairs.

Ran Jin had never been one for entertainment, and dancing was something she truly wasn’t good at.

Lu Siqing made her way through the crowd from the other side, lifting the hem of her dress.

She was the reinforcement Ran Jin had called in.

Originally, Manager Xu had wanted Ran Jin to dance a piece with the CEO, but Ran Jin wasn’t fond of physical contact with others, so she had called Lu Siqing over to help.

“Only remember to call me when you’re in trouble? Good thing I was thinking of you and didn’t leave, otherwise what would you have done now?”

Lu Siqing teased her over the phone.

“Stop joking, this is a matter of life and death, hurry up and come.” After hanging up, Ran Jin soon saw Lu Siqing arriving to save the day.

Lu Siqing was a police officer and had always been fond of beauty. Outside of work, wherever she went, she carried an air of being dressed to the nines, so calling her for a last-minute rescue didn’t make her attire seem out of place.

Instead, it made Ran Jin, dressed in her work suit, appear even more out of sync with the dance floor.

Just as Lu Siqing was about to make her way through the crowd to reach Ran Jin, a pair of dancers glided past her, blocking her view.

When she looked back at Ran Jin, she noticed that Ran Jin already had a dance partner.

“What a boring press conference.”

Chi Yu, dressed in an elegant gown and wearing exquisite makeup, forcefully took Ran Jin’s hand and naturally led her onto the dance floor.

Ran Jin caught a whiff of a familiar perfume, her heart tightening. When she looked up, she saw a young, beautiful, and familiar face.

Narrow eyes carried a bewitching yet dangerous aura, and the faint, ambiguous smile made the color on Chi Yu’s lips appear even more vibrant.

“Isn’t this a banquet? There isn’t even a bite to eat. How did the Chi Group become so stingy once it fell into your hands?”

Chi Yu’s gaze wasn’t fixed on Ran Jin’s face but looked ahead as she gracefully led her in the dance.

When Ran Jin realized who was guiding her and holding her hand, she instinctively tried to pull away.

“I won’t force you,” Chi Yu said. “If you don’t mind the business you worked so hard to snatch falling apart, you’re free to leave.”

Ran Jin’s eyes sharpened, her voice unusually urgent: “You tampered with the lunar orbit?”

“Am I not qualified?”

Chi Yu’s smile was charming and somewhat sweet. Without hearing her words, anyone would have mistaken it for a particularly sweet and joyful conversation with Ran Jin.

Ran Jin knew that Chi Yu had always been studying lunar orbit engineering, surrounded by experts in the field, and had started interning at the renowned Galactic Orbit Administration last year.

Over the past few years, Chi Yu had associated exclusively with authorities in the field of stellar orbits.

Chi Li had boasted countless times about her sister’s capabilities.

No matter how much effort was spent securing the Lunar Zone mining rights, if the lunar orbit was blocked, the Chi Group’s refining and transport ships would be unable to land on the moon, rendering everything futile.

At the same time, the daily exorbitant mining rights fees, docking fees, maintenance costs, and labor expenses… would deal a heavy blow to the Chi Group, which had already over-invested in this project.

Ran Jin stared directly at the still composed Chi Yu: “Is that why you did what you did last night?”

Ran Jin had considered the worst-case scenario, but Chi Yu had pushed that worst-case scenario even deeper and more painfully.