Zhu Xiaoqing closed the video chat with a heavy heart.
The command from the Zhu family patriarch was ruthless, yet unchallengeable.
She knew that all the subordinates brought by Zhu Xiaotian were now searching the entire city for that Korean named Jin Gaoyue.
Why did the sect conflicts of the Korean continent involve the Zhu family, who were far away in Daxia?
Zhu Xiaoqing couldn't understand.
She only wanted to improve Chaoge Academy, using it as a stepping stone to break free from her family and achieve her dream career.
In a way, Zhu Xiaoqing was a very traditional educator.
Alas, she sighed softly and gave instructions to her secretary: "Contact my old friends, old classmates, and have them keep an eye out for any movements from the Koreans."
The secretary had been with her for many years and was also confused: "Dean Zhu, we are responsible for the school, not the military personnel of Dongling Guard. Why do we need to cooperate with their arrests?"
"Because this is a task that City Lord Zhu must complete, and it is his promise to the family. But our patriarch, he does things without any method, only knowing that brute force creates miracles. So, as long as it's a subordinate he can command, everyone must be involved in this matter now!"
Zhu Xiaoqing said earnestly: "You've been with me for many years, and you are also from the Zhu family. You should know the secrets of this world. You must have seen real hell when you were very young, right?"
The secretary fell silent. When anyone from the Zhu family mentioned the word "hell," they would become silent and fearful.
Because they were from the prominent Zhu family and had inextricable ties with holy Buddhist sites like Dongling Temple, they had encountered the world hidden behind reality very early on.
The reclusive clans of the past, the monsters of Lingmeng Mountain, the specters lurking in the darkness...
These were not unusual. When Zhu Xiaoqing was very young, she personally witnessed the scenes of hell during a Buddhist ritual performed by a high monk of Dongling Temple.
It was a painting, said to be "A Picture of Hell" by Wu Daozi, the Divine Painter of the Tang Dynasty.
Even now, after so many years, Zhu Xiaoqing still couldn't forget that scene.
Because her parents had violated a family taboo and were immediately absorbed into the picture of hell by the high monk of Dongling Temple.
The sight of her parents suffering within the scroll was Zhu Xiaoqing's lifelong nightmare.
She suddenly shook her head, splashed cold water on her face, and suppressed these nightmarish memories.
"Dean Zhu, the school-wide assembly is about to begin. The student council president has already taken people there, you need to hurry," the secretary knocked on the door, sounding a bit anxious.
"Xiao Zhu, what's wrong with you?" Zhu Xiaoqing took out a pile of cosmetics and meticulously applied makeup. "At a time like this, you must remain calm. I am the dean appointed by the higher-ups, the number one person. That student Qin is just from the student council. What are you afraid of?"
"It's not that, Dean. That Qin Sheng seems to be giving benefits to the students. I heard he prepared a lot of gifts."
Zhu Xiaoqing scoffed: "This guy is interesting. He's spending his own money to buy small gifts to win people over?"
"Dean, don't underestimate him. What do those students know? They are bought over with a little benefit, and we will be put in a passive position."
"I've already thought about this point!" Zhu Xiaoqing said confidently and took out a list. "Look at this."
The secretary took it and was greatly surprised: "A thousand-yuan top-up card? This, this is a hundred thousand of them?"
"Yes, it's a benefit voucher worth one hundred million, which can be used to purchase any product on the websites of our Zhu family's major enterprises. I used family connections and begged for a long time to get this benefit."
Zhu Xiaoqing smiled triumphantly: "A thousand yuan voucher for each student, isn't this a great benefit?"
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief: "Amazing. So, Dean, you had this up your sleeve all along. I wonder what that Qin Sheng prepared."
"What else could it be? At most, it's stationery or cheap dolls. I estimate they are only worth ten yuan or so."
Zhu Xiaoqing had finished her makeup and emerged invigorated with her secretary.
The all-hands assembly was already prepared.
Students from all departments were in their respective large classrooms, watching the meeting broadcast live in the auditorium.
Chaoge Academy was a first-class vocational school with talented students. This live broadcast used top-tier equipment, allowing for 360-degree viewing of all areas at any time.
The multimedia department responsible for the broadcast even deployed advanced drone photography.
Qin Yexuan, with Anya, stood at the entrance of the auditorium. Not far away, the large sports field had been cleared. Sudan Novel Network.
"Chairman Qin, the things you prepared are about to be delivered," Anya said, holding a notebook and constantly calculating something.
Qin Yexuan directly grabbed the paper and pen from her hand and threw them into the trash can.
"You don't need this. I'll have someone send you the latest tablet with a stylus. You can use that to record."
Anya unhappily picked up the notebook and pen: "I still prefer using a fountain pen and notebook to record. Besides, you shouldn't be so wasteful."
Qin Yexuan nodded: "I'm sorry, it was my mistake. How about this, I'll have them send you a set of better stationery. This notebook of yours is already full of study notes."
He made a phone call, and soon, a car from Tianyi Group arrived. Two people appeared, one holding an exquisite gift box and the other carrying a brown leather bag with a python pattern.
"Assistant Anya, please take a look and see if you are satisfied."
They put down the items and bowed respectfully to Qin Yexuan.
"Alright, you can go back now," Qin Yexuan waved dismissively.
These two, one the financial general manager and the other the administrative CEO of Tianyi Group, now acted like delivery drivers, quickly bowing and backing away.
Anya struggled to open the gift box and was shocked by the box wrapped in calfskin.
"Can I keep this box?"
"Of course, whatever you want."
She took out the item from the large box. It was a small notebook with a leather cover, its exterior in a subdued color, appearing like a small handbag at first glance.
She was delighted. Then she opened the small leather bag next to it, which contained only a silver ballpoint pen.
"Just these two small items, and they used such a large box and leather packaging. How boring."
Anya kept the leather bag as well.
At this moment, the Tianyi Group's car returned. The CEO, wiping sweat from his brow, handed over a card: "We sincerely apologize. To verify the authenticity, we opened the outer packaging and forgot to leave the card."
What card?
Anya took it and almost stopped breathing.
It was a price tag and a silver-plated VIP membership card.
Just looking at the string of zeros on the price tag made the young girl dizzy: "Ten, ten million?"
Qin Yexuan had no mood to study this now. He took it directly: "It's Korean Won, the currency of the Korean continent. It's not worth much."
Anya's mind flashed: "Even with the exchange rate, that's 54,000 yuan... for this pen and notebook? Worth fifty thousand yuan?"
Just then, Zhu Xiaoqing appeared with her secretary and they met head-on.
Before Zhu Xiaoqing could speak, she suddenly saw the leather bag and the box in Anya's hand.
She trembled violently, as if struck by lightning: "Hermès's new model, the new Mars noble stationery set... Where did you get it?"