Chapter 246: Lin Xiuyuan goes to collect

By the roadside.

Lin Xiuyuan's car came to a smooth, sharp stop in front of Li Shaoxi, the sound of tires gripping the pavement ringing out clearly in the quiet afternoon.

Li Shaoxi stood frozen, as if unable to process the scene before her; the bag she was holding hung in mid-air, her knuckles slowly turning white from the force of her grip.

It wasn't until the window rolled down and Lin Xiuyuan's familiar voice came from inside that she blinked rapidly, as if waking from a dream, biting her lip as her eyes filled with the emotions she had been holding back.

For the first time in so many years, someone had stood up for her, and for the first time, someone had come to pick her up.

In that instant, grievance, surprise, and a sudden surge of security all crowded into her chest, making her nose sting.

"Yes... Oppa."

She replied in a small voice, her tone trembling with a mix of surprise and profound grievance.

The girls surrounding her immediately shifted their expressions.

The condescending looks they had worn just moments ago turned stiff, and they exchanged hurried, awkward glances, their postures filled with discomfort and embarrassment.

Having just finished their shift, they clearly hadn't expected this "country bumpkin" to actually have someone coming for her.

Moreover, the person who arrived was a man with such a commanding presence, dressed in casual clothes that still looked clean and sharp.

Even worse, sitting in the back were Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin of Tara—big stars they usually only dared to watch on television.

Although Tara was currently being anti-ed by the entire nation in Seoul, that was limited to fan circles; most passersby were still visual-driven, and beauty was justice.

So, while they felt a flicker of excitement, they were quickly intimidated by the look on Lin Xiuyuan's face, the pressure he radiated making them uneasy.

The girls nudged each other and quietly backed away, fearing that staying any longer would only lead to further humiliation.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't spare them a second glance. After finishing his sentence, he pushed the car door open and stepped out.

He walked steadily to Li Shaoxi's side, his gaze sweeping quickly over her to ensure there were no obvious marks, before reaching out to take her suitcase to put it in the trunk.

"Let's go." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable certainty.

"Oppa, I can do it myself." Li Shaoxi reached out instinctively to stop him, her eyes filled with panic, as if she didn't dare to trouble anyone.

"Enough talk, get in the car." Lin Xiuyuan curled the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying a light, teasing quality that was nonetheless reassuring.

The suitcase made a dull thud as it was placed in the trunk, as if sealing away all the grievance, fear, and helplessness Li Shaoxi had felt just moments ago.

Li Shaoxi stared at the scene, her chest aching, her throat feeling as if it were blocked by something, unable to even utter a "thank you."

It wasn't until Lin Xiuyuan closed the trunk and called out to her again, "What are you staring at? Get in."

She snapped back to reality, hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes, and carefully pulled open the passenger door to sit inside.

Her movements were exceptionally light.

Not far away, the few girls had retreated even further, whispering to each other with complex expressions.

There was unwillingness, shame at being slapped in the face, and even a hint of unconcealable envy.

They envied Li Shaoxi for having someone to stand up for her, and for being picked up by someone like Lin Xiuyuan.

Yet, if they had dared to look in a mirror and compare themselves to Li Shaoxi—whose eyes were red-rimmed but who still looked clean and beautiful—they might have understood why Lin Xiuyuan was willing to help her.

Again, beauty is justice.

Back to the car.

After getting in, Li Shaoxi's first reaction was to sit up straight, her hands placed neatly on her knees.

She then turned her head and gave a deep, small bow to the two in the back, her voice filled with the respect one shows a big star. "Hello, my name is Li Shaoxi."

"Hello there~" Park Jiyeon smiled sweetly, her voice filled with friendliness.

"Hello." Park Hyomin's smile was more casual; she studied Li Shaoxi for two seconds, seemingly confirming that the girl who had just been surrounded was truly alright.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just pushed the door shut and sat down, heard the exchange of honorifics and couldn't help but laugh. "I really will never get used to the honorifics over here."

As he spoke, he started the car and pulled away from the curb, heading toward the Tara dormitory.

The car was quiet at first, save for the low rumble of the engine and the wind rushing past the windows. Sunlight spilled in, gilding everyone's silhouette in a warm glow.

Li Shaoxi sat in the passenger seat with her back straight, not even daring to breathe too loudly, her fingertips nervously clutching her hem; it was clear she hadn't fully recovered from the scene just now.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her sideways, a faint, imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth. "Don't be so nervous, we don't eat people."

Seeing her stare at him, he paused before continuing, "From now on, you'll be with Jiyeon. Sometimes she needs help running errands, coordinating work, and arranging trivial matters. Basically, you'll be a life assistant."

"Life assistant... me?" Li Shaoxi froze for several seconds, her pupils dilating as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"But, Jiyeon-sunbaenim, am I qualified?" she asked cautiously, her voice filled with self-doubt.

Park Jiyeon, sitting in the back, was stunned by the "sunbaenim" address. She then curled her lips into a smile, her eyes brightening as she imagined the future.

She leaned forward toward the front row, her eyes filled with a touch of pride. "Oppa didn't explain it clearly. The 'life assistant' he mentioned isn't just for my idol persona, but for the company as well."

She blinked, the corners of her mouth lifting. "I'm not just an idol, you know. I also started a small company with Oppa. I'm usually too busy with schedules to handle administrative matters, so I need you to help me keep an eye on things."

"Wow... Daebak!" Li Shaoxi's eyes went round, her mouth opening as if to confirm she hadn't misheard. "That's amazing."

Her voice was filled with genuine admiration, her eyes shining, which lightened the mood in the car significantly.

Park Hyomin, sitting on the other side, raised an eyebrow and joined the conversation with a smile. "Xiuyuan, have you decided where she's going to live? She's not from our company, so there's no dormitory arrangement for her."

Li Shaoxi immediately spoke up, "It's fine, I can sleep anywhere."

Lin Xiuyuan kept one hand on the steering wheel and tapped the door panel with the other, his tone flat. "That's simple. Just rent a place near your dormitory; it'll be convenient for her to go to work for Jiyeon every day."

As soon as he finished, Park Jiyeon sat up straight, her eyes lighting up. "No need to rent! Remember that office we rented for the company that's been sitting empty? There's a small suite in the back with a bathroom and a small kitchen. It's perfect for Shaoxi to move into. There's a computer and a landline in the front, so if she runs into any issues, she can work right there."

"Eh? Is that okay?" Li Shaoxi's eyes brightened, her voice filled with unconcealable anticipation.

"Of course it is." Park Jiyeon reached out and patted her shoulder, her tone softening. "You just need to work hard, and we'll handle the arrangements."

Li Shaoxi felt a heavy weight lift from her heart; the heart that had been hanging in the air finally found a place to land.

After letting out a quiet sigh, she relaxed completely, her back no longer stiff, and even her fingertips slowly uncurled.

Beside her, Lin Xiuyuan teased, "Jiyeon, do all bosses naturally turn into capitalists? You're making her stay on call 24 hours a day without letting her rest."

"Ah, I didn't!" Park Jiyeon's eyes widened in shock, and she huffed in annoyance, patting the back of the seat and glaring at Lin Xiuyuan through the rearview mirror. "Oppa, you're talking nonsense."

Park Hyomin laughed even more heartily, leaning back against the seat with interest. "Oh my, our Jiyeon really knows how to be a boss. Who would have thought our little maknae would be so capable now?"

Her eyes held a sly smile, clearly enjoying the show.

Only Li Shaoxi, the newcomer, sat as properly as a small animal, not even daring to laugh out loud for fear of disturbing their conversation.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her sideways, seeing her eyes shining with what looked like overflowing gratitude, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

He reached out to roll down the window, letting the breeze of late summer and early autumn blow in, which lightened the mood in the car and dissipated the lingering tension.

"Alright, it's settled then." He said it decisively, his tone sounding like he was finalizing a new beginning for her.

Li Shaoxi leaned back against the passenger seat, her heart still racing, but the corners of her mouth finally curled upward. It was the first time she truly felt that she might be able to shake off the shadows and start a brand-new life.

Following Park Jiyeon's directions, Lin Xiuyuan arrived at the office for the first time.

Because most of the company's business was overseas, this Seoul office was essentially a shell, quiet and empty.

The white floor-to-ceiling windows let in the afternoon light, illuminating the spacious area.

Everything was neatly arranged to the point of coldness; there were only one or two files on the desks, and the computer monitors hadn't been touched since they were bought. The air even carried a faint scent of wood.

"I usually coordinate with the overseas company online late at night, so I haven't really used this place," Park Jiyeon explained with a smile as she pushed the door open.

"It's all yours from now on." She turned back and winked at Li Shaoxi, her eyes filled with the relief of finally being able to offload some of her administrative burden.

As for the small suite Park Jiyeon mentioned, it wasn't small at all.

Pushing the door open, one found a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The layout was compact but not cramped, about thirty square meters—plenty of space for one person to live comfortably.

The curtains were half-drawn, revealing the reflection of the shopping mall's neon lights below; it was quiet yet safe. It was the kind of commercial-residential building that wouldn't feel too desolate even at night.

Seeing this, Li Shaoxi's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and she became quite excited.

Next came the issue of salary.

Lin Xiuyuan didn't beat around the bush. He sat down at the desk and said, "As for the salary for a life assistant, let's go with the average monthly salary in Seoul: 5 million won, after tax. Insurance and bonuses are extra."

As he spoke, he pulled a bank card from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Use this card for other company expenses and Jiyeon's daily spending. Just keep the receipts well. I'll check the accounts irregularly. Any problems?"

As for Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin, they didn't have any thoughts about this salary; even if they were currently at a low point in Seoul, this amount was nothing more than the pay for a single performance.

Li Shaoxi froze for a moment, then sat up straight and said repeatedly, "No problems, thank you, Oppa!"

After saying that, she immediately stood up and gave a deep, ninety-degree bow, her movements clean and sharp.

Lin Xiuyuan was so startled by this that he shrank back, waving his hands. "Whoa, no, no, don't do that. Where I come from, such a big bow is for the dead."

This immediately lightened the mood. Park Hyomin laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, and she looked at Lin Xiuyuan meaningfully, as if re-evaluating him.

She seemed to think that a man willing to help a girl like this couldn't be fundamentally flawed.

Lin Xiuyuan then tucked the bank card into Li Shaoxi's hand. "Alright, now for your first task on the job."

"Hmm?" Li Shaoxi blinked, instinctively taking the card.

"Find a standard contract template and draft one for yourself."

He leaned back in his chair, his tone light but serious. "Three years minimum, five is fine, ten is even better. Work should be done formally. That way, if we ever kick you out one day, you can take the contract and sue us."

Li Shaoxi froze, then her eyes grew hot. The feeling of being treated as an equal employee was both strange and solidifying.

Such blunt yet teasing words made Park Jiyeon burst into laughter, her amusement tinged with a touch of reproach. "Ah, Oppa, who says things like that to a newly hired assistant?"

She shook her head as she spoke, though her eyes held a hint of tenderness, as if she were already used to Lin Xiuyuan's unconventional ways.

Li Shaoxi listened to their conversation and bit her lip.

Perhaps it was this unadorned sincerity and ease that made her heart warm up.

She looked deeply at Lin Xiuyuan, then walked to the desk.

The computer, which hadn't been turned on since it was bought, was switched on by her, and with a soft hum, the screen lit up.

Although she was only a high school graduate, who hadn't skipped class to go to an internet cafe in their youth?

Her fingers flew across the keyboard on the familiar interface.

Soon, the contract was downloaded. She lowered her head to check it word by word, made a few simple formatting adjustments, and then printed the document, placing it solemnly before Lin Xiuyuan.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at it, confirmed it was correct, picked up a pen, signed his name cleanly, and handed it back to Li Shaoxi.

The girl took it and, looking slightly nervous, signed her own name as well.

At that moment, there was a subtle light in her eyes, as if it were the first time in her life she had truly grasped the key to some kind of "future."

Seeing that Li Shaoxi had signed, Lin Xiuyuan tossed his copy into the drawer, clapped his hands, and drew the attention of Park Jiyeon and Park Hyomin, who were chatting nearby.

"Alright," he announced with a smile, "Jiyeon, to celebrate the hiring of the Seoul office's first employee, let's go out for a big meal."

As soon as he finished, Park Jiyeon laughed. "Oh, that's perfect, Oppa. Yoona-unnie and Taeyeon-unnie were just saying in the group chat that they wanted to find you for dinner."

"Hmm?" Lin Xiuyuan was curious. "How are those two so free? Don't they have work?"

"???"

Across from him, Li Shaoxi, who had been staring at the contract in a daze, suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity.

She suddenly realized that her boss seemed even more mysterious than she had imagined.

The women he knew were all extraordinary: Park Jiyeon, Park Hyomin, Sulli, and now Girls' Generation members...

Could he be some low-key second-generation chaebol?

"Who knows." Park Jiyeon rolled her eyes, her fingers tapping on her phone screen as she muttered a complaint. "Unnie tagged you in the group chat, but you never check it."

As a result, her face turned bright red the next second when Lin Xiuyuan replied, "I'd like to check it, but I'm worried about seeing things I shouldn't. The chat history was cleared last time."

Park Jiyeon's face flushed, and she hurriedly glared at him, huffing and refusing to respond, as if afraid that the more she said, the more embarrassing it would get.

Lin Xiuyuan just smiled lightly and didn't tease her further. "Alright then, call them along. It'll be lively with more people. Hyomin, you don't have any objections, right?"

"I'm fine with it." Park Hyomin shrugged, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "As long as we don't form small cliques."

Her words seemed to hide a meaningful warning.

And so, after Li Shaoxi settled her luggage, they headed out again, getting into the car and heading straight for the address Lin Yoona had sent.

Seoul's traffic was as headache-inducing as ever, and the car was soon stuck in the middle of the road.

During a red light, Lin Xiuyuan leaned casually against the driver's seat and glanced sideways at Li Shaoxi in the passenger seat. "By the way, Shaoxi, do you know how to drive?"

"Ah, no." Li Shaoxi was startled by the sudden question and shook her head, looking as nervous as a student who had done something wrong.

Park Jiyeon, sitting in the back, understood what Lin Xiuyuan meant and laughed. "Oppa must want you to learn how to drive so you can be his chauffeur later."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean." Lin Xiuyuan nodded and sighed. "Go learn. The company will cover the costs. I really don't want to drive anymore; Seoul is too congested."

Park Jiyeon heard this and immediately tilted her head, smiling mischievously. "Then, after Shaoxi learns to drive, is Oppa going to buy me a car?"

Lin Xiuyuan curled his lips. "Sure. What kind of car do you like? I'll buy it for you then."

"Wow, Oppa, do you have the money?" Park Jiyeon blinked, asking half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just started the car again, said slowly, "I'll have it after we finish eating."

The car went silent for two seconds.

Li Shaoxi and Park Hyomin: "???"

Why did that sound so much like a gangster going to collect protection money?

Only Park Jiyeon froze for half a second before reacting. She couldn't help but bite her lip to suppress a laugh, her shoulders shaking as she tried to keep from laughing out loud.

Taking advantage of the red light, she quickly operated her phone, tagging Lin Yoona and Kim Taeyeon directly in the group chat, forwarding Lin Xiuyuan's "bold words" verbatim, and adding a mischievous emoji.

Clearly, she intended for the two of them to prepare themselves "mentally" so they could watch the show later.

(End of chapter)

Clearly, she intended to let the two prepare "psychological construction" in advance, and go to watch the show later.

(End of chapter)