Capítulo 21: Blonde prince II
Yuan Cao and Julian shook hands with feigned courtesy, an invisible tension existing between them. Each had their own thoughts about the other, none of them pleasant.
⟦ "Luck Parasite" activated. Target: Yuan Cao. ⟧
⟦ Luck Points (LP): 1 → 3 ⟧
During that brief handshake, Julian didn't miss the opportunity. He felt a slight tingle run through his body, an unmistakable sign that he had successfully stolen a sliver of Yuan's luck.
Julian sensed the coldness in Yuan Cao's handshake, as if he were touching a marble statue rather than a person. Meanwhile, the CEO looked at the young man before him with hidden disdain, wondering why Kim Yura was introducing him to someone so insignificant.
Kim Yura observed the interaction between them with a subtle smile on her charming face. She knew the situation was uncomfortable for them, but it seemed to be within her expectations. What was she thinking at that moment?
Julian released the CEO's hand and, for a moment, glanced at Yura, feeling like she was plotting something, though he couldn't yet guess what. Perhaps their raw intelligence scores were vastly different (7 vs. 20), but one should never underestimate the cunning of an evil man.
"Yuan Cao, I met this young man not long ago, but I can assure you, he has a lot of potential" Yura finally said, breaking the silence with a soft yet firm voice. "He's going through a tough time right now, but I think he'd be a valuable addition to your company. How about giving him a chance?"
Kim Yura's voice was melodic, but her tone carried an air of authority that was hard to ignore.
Yuan Cao, however, wasn't so easily convinced. His eyes, cold as steel, darkened at the suggestion from his beloved. A part of him couldn't help but feel uneasy about the idea of opening the doors of his company to someone so inexperienced.
"Oh, really?" Yuan responded with a tense smile, his gaze becoming even more critical as he sized up the young man with golden eyes. "Tell me, Julian, how old are you? What qualifications do you have?"
Julian swallowed hard, feeling a bit pressured by the CEO's cold question. His academic life was far from stellar, but he hadn't expected to be evaluated so directly, especially since he had only come to train.
"Well... I'm 17 years old. And I don't have any special qualifications. I'm still finishing high school" Julian scratched his head, feeling embarrassed. "I repeated a year last year…"
The confession dropped like a cold bucket of water. The air between them grew even denser, as if Yuan Cao had anticipated it and, at the same time, was more displeased than expected. The CEO raised an eyebrow, clearly disapproving of Julian's lack of preparation.
"Yura, while I would like to consider your suggestion" Yuan Cao said, turning his gaze towards her, "Julian doesn't seem... ready for the working world. He's too young, and at my company, we have very high hiring standards. Our employees need university-level qualifications and extensive experience to meet our goals."
Julian sighed internally. He knew Yuan Cao was right, but just as he was about to give up, Kim Yura intervened again, this time with unshakable confidence.
"Yes, yes, that's all fine" Yura replied, waving a hand dismissively. "But Julian is special. The normal standards don't apply to people like him. I'm serious, Cao-Cao. When have I ever been wrong? Just trust me. I'll take responsibility if he causes any problems."
Yura's attitude was charming and charismatic, as only a protagonist could be.
Normally, Yuan Cao was an apathetic man, but faced with Yura's insistence, his eyes wavered slightly. His mind was in great conflict. He had always been a cold, impartial, and efficient CEO, like a well-calibrated machine. However, now, the woman he loved was asking him to do something against his nature. He felt his control over the situation slowly slipping away.
"I..." Yuan exhaled, as if this decision was costing him more than it should. "I can get him a position. But I won't protect him if he messes up. It will be entirely up to him. Now, if we're done here, I have matters to attend to…"
Yuan walked away with heavy steps, leaving them alone. Though his face remained expressionless, Julian sensed that he was truly angry.
Julian could barely believe what had just happened. Without barely saying a word, he had just landed a job at one of the country's most prestigious companies. Was this part of his trainer's plan?
Kim Yura approached Julian, her smile now broader, almost feline.
"Did you like the surprise?"
"…I didn't need it, but thanks" Julian said coldly, though inside his mind was racing. *Is she trying to tie me to her side? To keep me under control through her CEO boyfriend?*
*This woman...*, he thought *is far more dangerous than I ever imagined.*
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interfere. I know you can handle yourself, but my system gave me a mission. I had to fix your financial situation. It seemed like you were in trouble" Kim Yura said, tying her ponytail in a gesture that seemed casual but emphasized her curves and the perfection of her athletic body.
Julian, trying to keep his mind clear, watched her out of the corner of his eye. Just being close to her made his self-control weaken.
"So, I guess I should thank your system. Did you get the rewards yet?"
"No, not yet. All the conditions haven't been met. You need to be officially hired with a decent salary" She laughed with a contagious smile. Julian didn't want to be influenced by her charm as a female protagonist, but it was really difficult. "I'll make sure Yuan Cao pays you well. I want those points!"
Julian couldn't help but smile slightly, though it wasn't entirely sincere. He understood that Yura always thought about her own benefits, even when she seemed to be helping others. What intrigued him was her ability to manipulate situations to her advantage without losing her charisma. But he was also playing his own game. If he had learned anything in his short life, it was how to read between the lines, and at that moment, there was something more he needed to know.
"You two seem to have a great relationship. Are you a couple?" Julian's tone showed genuine interest. He already knew they were lovers, but he wanted to know more details about their relationship.
"Something like that. He was my first student, and I helped him inherit his company. But we haven't formalized anything. I have other things on my mind."
When Yura said she had "other things on her mind," she was clearly referring to her harem. A woman like her didn't want to commit exclusively to anyone; on the contrary, she wanted to enjoy all kinds of handsome guys while growing more powerful with her system.
"Enough gossip. We should train now" Yura said suddenly, crossing her arms as she looked Julian in the eyes. "Ready for another hellish session?"
Julian's response came without hesitation.
"Offended by the doubt. Let's do this!"
⟦ Kim Yura (trainer) has activated "Training Mode" (★★★★☆☆☆) on the user. ⟧
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder