"What are you thinking about, you little rascal?" Watching Lin Chen daydreaming, Xue Ying asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Lin Chen shifted his gaze and gave a sheepish smile.

"Are my legs too irresistible?" Seeing Lin Chen's blushing face, Xue Ying teasingly swayed her fair, tender foot between his legs with a mischievous grin.

"Sis, I know you're full of charm, but please stop teasing me," Lin Chen couldn't stand Xue Ying's seductive charm and pleaded.

"Hmph, since you behaved well today, I'll let you off," Xue Ying chuckled and then withdrew her foot.

"Sis, I want to partner with you in the future. I'll handle the production, and you handle the sales. What do you think?" Lin Chen proposed after a moment of thought.

After all, Lin Chen was just a high school student, still attending school, and he lacked market control skills; hence partnering with Xue Ying was the best choice.

Upon hearing Lin Chen's proposal, Xue Ying was initially stunned, then a relieved smile spread across her face.

Indeed, Xue Ying could see Lin Chen's value, but she feared that suggesting a partnership herself might put him off.

Xue Ying's help for Lin Chen stemmed from gratitude and a peculiar feeling she had for him; she didn't want to mix business with personal feelings.

However, since Lin Chen initiated the partnership, it was different, which touched Xue Ying; she at least knew that she was the most trustworthy person in Lin Chen's heart.

"Lin Chen, since you trust me, I'm willing to partner with you. How about a split of seven for you, three for me?"

"No, fifty-fifty. Sis, although I'm in charge of the formulas, there's a lot about management and sales I don't understand and will need your help, so it must be fifty-fifty."

"You're too honest. If it weren't for meeting me, someone would have taken advantage of you," seeing Lin Chen insist, Xue Ying shook her head helplessly and agreed.

"Haha, because I know how good you are, Sis, that's why I wanted to partner with you!" Seeing Xue Ying agree, Lin Chen also heaved a sigh of relief.

The two then discussed the planning of the barren land, the positioning, and sales of future merchandise. With Xue Ying's advice, many of Lin Chen's troublesome issues were resolved, enlightening him.

In the end, the company was named Starlight Corporation, and the 18-year-old Lin Chen became its chairman, while Xue Ying served as the general manager.

In the high school, while the rich and officer's kids were still showing off and chasing girls, nobody would have imagined that the obscure Lin Chen had become a chairman.

The development of that barren land was divided into three parts: one part as a factory, one as a plantation, and another built into a resort village.

All the advertising and sales of the products were handed over to Xue Ying.

The two continued discussing until it got dark before finally establishing the general framework of the whole company.

The company's main businesses were pharmaceuticals and cosmetics sales, with the secondary business being the resort village; of course, Lin Chen also had his little side business—a restaurant.

Lin Chen couldn't help but admire Xue Ying's business acumen. What was initially a haphazard concept in his eyes had begun to take shape under Xue Ying's design.

The two were chatting when Lin Chen's phone suddenly rang.

Hearing Zhao Xiaowen's anxious voice on the phone, Lin Chen's face, originally smiling, suddenly darkened.

Xue Ying, seeing Lin Chen's unpleasant expression, asked, "Lin Chen, what happened?"

Lin Chen nodded, "Ying Sis, would you mind driving me to the city? I have some personal matters to attend to."

"What is it, do you need my help?" Xue Ying, noticing Lin Chen's flustered appearance, asked with concern.

Lin Chen shook his head, "It's a minor issue, I can handle it myself."

"Alright then, let's talk in the car." The two quickly got into the car.

In DY City, inside the newly opened small restaurant of Lin Chen, a blonde guy sat on a chair with his legs crossed.

He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, "Old Zhao, from now on, the protection fee is five thousand a month. If you pay, we'll leave you alone; if you don't, I can assure you that your shop won't be able to operate."

"Brother Da Fei, wasn't our protection fee just five hundred? How did it suddenly increase to five thousand? That's ridiculously high."

Today, as soon as Da Fei entered the door, Zhao Gang realized that this guy wasn't here to collect the protection fee; he was here to cause trouble.

Da Fei threw his cigarette on the ground, "The cost of living has gone up. Five hundred is nothing but spare change. I'm telling you, not a cent less than five thousand will do."

"We don't need your protection at all. Why should we pay you a protection fee? Let's call the police; I don't believe the police can't handle you," Zhao Xiaowen angrily said from the side.

"Oh wow, this little sister is quite pretty. Why do you want the police to arrest me, haha, I'm so scared!"

Da Fei stood up and walked toward her, his sleazy eyes sizing up Zhao Xiaowen from top to bottom.

"Brother Da Fei, don't be angry, the kid doesn't understand anything." Seeing Da Fei's lewd expression as he looked at Zhao Xiaowen, Zhao Gang started to panic.

"Old Zhao, I didn't expect your girl to be so charming. Now, I've changed my mind. How about this—let her spend a night with me, and I'll waive this year's protection fee," Da Fei coldly smirked as he stared at Zhao Xiaowen.

"Brother Da Fei, that really shouldn't be done." Hearing Da Fei express his desire toward Zhao Xiaowen, Zhao Gang's heart sank.

Just as he was about to step in and stop Da Fei, he was blocked by two thugs.

At that moment, Da Fei reached Zhao Xiaowen and hooked her chin with his finger, "Sweetheart, come with me, I'll make sure you enjoy it."

"Get your dirty hands off me!" Zhao Xiaowen extended her hand and swatted Da Fei's hand away.

"Oh, the little lady has quite the temper. I like the fierce ones; they make the game more interesting." Saying that, his hands began creeping toward Zhao Xiaowen's chest.

Zhao Xiaowen hurriedly stepped back two steps, but there was a wall behind her; she had no room to retreat.

Da Fei's mouth, full of gold teeth, grinned, "Such a tender little lady, I've never played with one before. How about you entertain me well tonight?"

"You bastards—I'll fight you." Seeing Da Fei physically harass Zhao Xiaowen, Zhao Gang finally lost his patience and grabbed a stool nearby, ready to fight the thugs.

But Zhao Gang, nearly fifty years old, was no match for these thugs.

Before he could even throw his stool, he was pinned down by several thugs and beaten with punches and kicks.

Zhao Xiaowen, seeing her father being hit, also panicked and tried to rush over, but Da Fei caught her hand with his right hand.

"Sister, keep me company, and I'll let that old man go," Da Fei held Zhao Xiaowen's delicate hand and smiled.

"Get lost, you bastard."

Zhao Xiaowen suddenly remembered the self-defense class at school; a police officer taught them moves, and she kicked Da Fei hard in the groin with a lifting kick.

"Ow!" Da Fei had not expected this frail girl to strike so fiercely; he crouched on the ground, wailing in pain.

"Damn it, catch this little bitch; I'm going to play her to death today," Da Fei wailed and cursed.

At that point, the thugs who were beating Zhao Gang turned around, and two of them caught Zhao Xiaowen as she tried to rush out.

"Take her back; I'm going to deal with her properly," Da Fei, grimacing in pain, stood up leaning against the wall and cursed.

"Xiaowen, let go of my daughter, you beasts," Zhao Gang roared as he saw the thugs about to take Xiaowen away. But he was outmatched and helpless as he watched Zhao Xiaowen being pushed toward the doorway by the thugs.

Zhao Xiaowen struggled desperately, but how could a girl overpower several thugs?

Being dragged outside by several thugs, Zhao Xiaowen felt hopeless. If she really were violated by these thugs, she wouldn't want to live anymore.