Volume 1, Chapter 10: Driving the CEO to Work

Xiao Yudie wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt as though Li Ya had changed slightly—he seemed more handsome, his presence more commanding and sharp.

His eyes, in particular, were incredibly bright, as if they contained a swirling galaxy, yet beneath that brightness lay the dormant spirit of an ancient, ferocious beast.

"Thank you for your hard work," Li Ya said with a polite nod.

"You are too kind, Young Master. It is my honor to serve you..."

Before Xiao Yudie could finish her sentence, her gaze drifted down from Li Ya’s face. A crimson blush instantly spread from her ears down to her neck.

Fresh from the shower, Li Ya was wearing nothing but a bath towel loosely wrapped around his waist, the water still clinging to his skin. His muscles were well-defined and prominent, radiating raw, explosive power.

Xiao Yudie stood frozen in place, utterly flustered. She had never expected the Young Master to have such an impressive physique.

"Ahem, perhaps you should step out so I can get dressed?"

With only a towel covering him, even someone as thick-skinned as Li Ya felt a bit self-conscious under Xiao Yudie’s unrelenting stare.

"Ah! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!"

Coming back to her senses, Xiao Yudie let out a shriek and fled toward the stairs with her hands covering her face.

Li Ya shook his head helplessly, then changed into simple casual wear before heading downstairs.

Breakfast consisted of simple soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, and sandwiches. They were still warm, emitting a savory aroma.

"I didn't expect to find someone selling breakfast in the high-end residential area of Yunhu Yayuan."

Li Ya picked up a dough stick and took a bite; it was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and rich with the fragrance of wheat.

"It’s not like that, Young Master. I made them fresh this morning," Xiao Yudie said softly, the blush still lingering on her cheeks.

Li Ya looked up in surprise; he hadn't expected the female CEO of the Luoshen Group to be such a capable home cook. Not only were her everyday meals delicious, but she even knew how to prepare traditional breakfast items like this.

"I don't usually fry dough sticks, but I wanted you to try them today. I wonder how they taste?" Xiao Yudie looked at Li Ya with a hint of expectation.

Li Ya smiled without speaking, simply nodding as he picked up another dough stick to show his approval.

Seeing this, Xiao Yudie’s smile widened, blooming like a red rose.

If the young masters of the wealthy families in Luocheng were to see this, their jaws would surely hit the floor. Xiao Yudie, revered as the "Ice Beauty" of the Luocheng business world, had never displayed such a charming smile, let alone cooked for a man.

Sipping the warm, sweet soy milk and enjoying the hot, crispy dough sticks, Li Ya felt quite satisfied.

Damn it, only heaven knows what kind of life he had been living when he was with Su Yunjin!

When he discovered that night that Su Yunjin had gone to see Zhao Qian’an, Li Ya had felt as if his heart were being pierced by a blade. But now, he had come to terms with it. Discovering these things before marriage was a blessing in disguise.

Su Yunjin had always been pining for Zhao Qian’an, which was why she never officially registered their marriage before the wedding. He had felt dissatisfied then, but looking at it now, it couldn't have been better.

After breakfast, Li Ya watched as Xiao Yudie finished cleaning up and prepared to leave.

"Your car is still at the office. How about I drive you?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yudie’s heart began to race again. However, after a moment of thought, she shook her head. "No need, Young Master. You should just rest at home."

Although she desperately wanted to accept, she knew her place as merely a CEO. The man before her was not just the actual power behind the Luoshen Group, but also the Young Master of the Li family of Tianzhou! She didn't dare let such a prominent figure drive her; she still hoped to maintain her standing in Luocheng.

However, Li Ya would not take no for an answer, and he followed Xiao Yudie out the door.

"Let's go. I don't have anything to do lately anyway, and since you are the person I trust most at the Luoshen Group, consider this a joyride for me."

Hearing this, Xiao Yudie felt a surge of secret joy and didn't refuse again.

Along the way, Li Ya’s limited-edition Rolls-Royce drew significant attention, turning heads everywhere they went.

"Does our group have company cars? This Rolls-Royce is a bit too high-profile..."

Li Ya understood the old man’s intentions; throwing the Luoshen Group to him was meant to encourage him to secretly cultivate his own influence and investigate the truth behind the events of the past. He didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to himself right now.

"Young Master, there are company cars in the underground garage. You can just pick one up whenever you like."

Li Ya nodded. "By the way, from now on, don't call me 'Young Master.' Just call me Li Ya. If that’s not appropriate, 'Boss' or 'Chairman Li' will do."

It wasn't yet time to reveal his connection to the Li family; the title "Young Master" would inevitably attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Xiao Yudie nodded. "Understood, Young Mas... understood, Boss."

She wanted to use his name, but being a shrewd woman, she knew her boundaries; their relationship hadn't reached that point yet.

The car soon pulled up in front of the building. Seeing the handsome man and beautiful woman stepping out of the Rolls-Royce, the surrounding crowd widened their eyes in shock.

While they didn't recognize Li Ya, Xiao Yudie was a household name. She was constantly pursued by countless men, yet she had never shown interest in any of them. No one expected the famous "Ice Beauty" to arrive at work with a man in the same car.

The gossip mill among the Luoshen Group employees began to turn rapidly.

However, when Xiao Yudie’s secretary saw Li Ya, she ran over, looking respectful. "Chairman Li! Everything you ordered yesterday has been implemented. We have completely severed all ties with Jinxiu Company."

Hearing the secretary address him as "Chairman," the employees finally realized that this young, handsome man was actually a director of the group. The smiles on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by respectful bows.

The display made Li Ya uncomfortable. "Alright, get back to work. I don't need this kind of formality."

Li Ya stayed at the company for a while longer, reviewing a few files Xiao Yudie brought him. After confirming everything was in order, he handed them back to her.

"I said it before: I trust you completely. You managed to make the Luoshen Group thrive before I took over, so you handle the company's affairs as you see fit. Only come to me if you encounter a real problem."

With that, Li Ya turned and left. Having mastered the Nine Dragons Imperial Spirit Technique, he only wanted to return and focus on his cultivation.

Although his internal spiritual energy was constantly circulating now that he had reached the first realm, meditating with full concentration would be much more efficient. He knew that the forces behind his mother's tragedy were vast and terrifying—so powerful that even the Li family had been unable to find any leads for years. The road ahead would be dangerous, and he needed to be ready.