Chapter 211: Do You Need to Go to the Men

Zhao Yuan's attempt to poach talent failed, and news of his humiliated departure from "New Era" quickly returned to Pandora's headquarters.

In the Ding Ceng Ban Gong Shi, Lilith listened to her subordinate's report; instead of anger, her violet eyes burned with even stronger interest.

"Ten times the salary, Chief Operating Officer… still couldn't sway her?" Lilith leaned back lazily in her chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. "It seems Qin Feng's methods of control are even more sophisticated than I imagined. Or perhaps… he himself possesses a fatal allure."

She dismissed her subordinates, sat in silent thought for a moment, then smiled—a sly, dangerous curve of her lips.

"If hard tactics fail, try soft ones. If direct recruitment fails, then… create an 'accidental encounter.'"

A few days later, "New Era" held a non-public technical standards alignment meeting with several promising upstream suppliers. These meetings weren't high-profile, but they involved some details of "New Era's" future industrial layout, so Qin Feng usually arranged for Su Wenqian to attend on his behalf to show their importance.

The meeting was held in a medium-sized conference room within "New Era"'s external business zone.

The meeting proceeded smoothly. Near midday break, Su Wenqian organized the documents before her and nodded slightly to the attendees: "Thank you all for your hard work. We'll take a one-hour break and resume at two p. m."

She rose, planning to visit the restroom first, then return to her office to handle several urgent documents.

Just a few steps outside the conference room, at a relatively quiet corridor corner, a figure seemed to "casually" approach from the opposite direction and lightly brushed against her.

"Oh, sorry," came a magnetic, husky female voice.

Su Wenqian looked up, her pupils contracting imperceptibly.

Standing before her was Lilith!

Today, Lilith was not as haughty as in that holographic communication; her attire was far more "modest"—a well-tailored champagne-colored business suit, less flamboyant, more efficient, yet her violet eyes still held a mesmerizing power, and a faint, elusive smile lingered at her lips.

How could she be here? This level of meeting? Pandora could never have received an invitation.

"It's fine," Su Wenqian quickly regained her composure, speaking with distant politeness, stepping aside to leave.

"Assistant Su, please wait," Lilith stepped forward, perfectly blocking her path, her face wearing an impeccable social smile. "My subordinate's earlier rudeness toward you was unforgivable—I deeply apologize. I've already punished Zhao Yuan. I hope it hasn't affected your mood."

"Ms. Lilith, you're too kind. It was a minor matter—I didn't take it to heart," Su Wenqian replied without expression, her vigilance at its peak. This woman appearing in person could not possibly be here merely to apologize.

"Good," Lilith's smile deepened, her gaze flowing over Su Wenqian's face like a tangible thing, brimming with unhidden admiration. "I've always wanted to meet you in person. To earn such trust from Qin Feng, Assistant Su must possess extraordinary qualities. Now that I've seen you… indeed… unforgettable."

Her praise sounded sincere, yet always carried an undercurrent of hidden meaning.

"Ms. Lilith, you flatter me. I'm merely doing my duty," Su Wenqian tried to end the conversation. "If there's nothing else…"

"Actually, there is a small matter I'd like to discuss privately with you," Lilith interrupted, her tone still soft but carrying an unmistakable air of refusal. "About… certain personal habits and preferences of Mr. Qin. You see, we have a small wager between us—perhaps you could offer some… non-confidential, friendly advice?"

As she spoke, she moved closer naturally, releasing a crisp, subtly alluring fragrance.

Privately discuss? Inquire about the Master's habits and preferences?

Su Wenqian sneered inwardly. This wasn't just failed recruitment—it was a flanking maneuver, trying to extract information from her, even attempting to sow discord? Or merely to create an opportunity for "private contact" for future maneuvers?

Whichever it was, her intentions were vile.

"Ms. Lilith," Su Wenqian stopped, turned, and faced Lilith directly, her eyes cold as ice. "I believe you've misunderstood. First, regarding everything about the Master—whether confidential or not—I have no authority to disclose even a single detail to outsiders. Second,"

She paused, her gaze sweeping the empty corridor, her voice tinged with faint mockery: "You wish to 'discuss privately'? This hardly seems an appropriate place."

Lilith's violet eyes flickered, thinking Su Wenqian might be softening, preparing to suggest a café or lounge.

But Su Wenqian raised her finger, pointing toward a clearly marked area at the corridor's end, her tone flat, even formulaic—like a mere suggestion:

"If Ms. Lilith truly has an urgent, unavoidable 'private matter' and cannot find a suitable venue…" Her gaze settled on the male restroom sign, her voice devoid of any inflection,

"That way is the men's restroom. Shall I accompany you inside?"

The air froze instantly.

Lilith's perfect smile shattered completely, a crack appearing on her refined mask. She had anticipated every possible reaction from Su Wenqian—outright refusal, feigned compliance, even covert confrontation… but she never imagined the woman would say something so absurd and profoundly insulting, in such a calm tone!

Discuss privately in the men's restroom?

This wasn't a response—it was the ultimate contempt. It rendered all her carefully crafted tactics, all hidden threats and seductions, meaningless—as if they were a crude joke.

Su Wenqian simply watched her, her eyes clear, as if genuinely offering a practical solution to the "venue problem."

Lilith's chest rose and fell slightly, the suppressed rage threatening to burst through her reason. She had dominated the business world, maneuvered among countless factions—how had she ever been treated this way?!

But within seconds, Lilith drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her rising emotions. She could not lose composure here.

"Assistant Su… you have quite the sense of humor," Lilith's voice tightened slightly, her smile returning—but colder than before. "It seems today isn't a good time to talk. Let's… speak another day."

She fixed Su Wenqian with a long look—no more pretense, only icy sharpness and a flicker of furious rage.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, the sharp click of her heels echoing clearly and urgently through the empty corridor.

Su Wenqian watched her figure vanish around the corner, her expression unchanged, yet a cold glint flashed deep in her eyes.

She knew she had permanently enraged this woman. With Lilith's character, she would never let this go.

But so what?

In "New Era," no one could shake her loyalty to Qin Feng. No one could use such crude methods to defile what she protected.

She smoothed her jacket, as if brushing off an insignificant speck of dust, and walked steadily toward her office.

Meanwhile, Lilith, having left the business zone, stepped into her armored luxury sedan, and the ice on her face instantly melted into raw fury.

"Su… Wen… Qian…" she enunciated each syllable, violet eyes flashing with frost.

Very well.

This seemingly cold and calm woman was even more difficult to handle—and far more… interesting—than she'd imagined.

She had originally viewed Su Wenqian as either a talent worth recruiting or an obstacle to eliminate. But now, she changed her mind.

She would personally shatter this woman's hateful calm and loyalty. She would make Qin Feng witness how his most trusted assistant crumbled before her.

This game was becoming increasingly interesting.