CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: IMPRESSED DIRECTORS

Yue Ning’s eyes flickered up to him, widening for a heartbeat. The word wife echoed in her ears. She drew in a sharp breath, forcing a polite smile for the men staring at her.

Inside, however, her mind was racing. Did he just say... wife?

She didn’t expect that he would casually introduce her as his wife. Obviously, Yue Ning didn’t hear the other half of his statement as well.

Or perhaps she did, but chose to ignore it...just like the men.

"So it is CEO Huo’s wife. Who would have thought? It is our blessing to have you in our midst," one of the directors spoke up with a smile, still reeling from the shock of the announcement.

As if on cue, the other directors began greeting her with smiles all over their faces.

Yue Ning felt overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, but she could only force a polite smile. Even her cheeks hurt from smiling a lot.

Huo Feng instinctively frowned when he saw the directors cozy up to her. A few of them were in the same age bracket as he was, and he somehow felt jealous seeing that she was paying attention to them.

He cleared his throat. "That’s enough. It seems you didn’t hear the second half of my statement, she is here to help us with the proposal." He announced.

Once again, the directors all turned to look at Yue Ning with surprise. She looked young, could she be smart?

There were a few people who were doubtful of her capabilities. But in a few moments, they were about to be wowed.

Yue Ning ignored the looks of doubt. She wasn’t worried. After all, she had the skills from the system, there was no way she’d lose today.

With this thought in mind, Yue Ning and Huo Feng took their seats, and the meeting began.

The meeting opened with the head of finance presenting the proposal again. Charts, numbers, and projections lit up the screen.

Yue Ning’s eyes scanned the documents, her mind piecing the information together at remarkable speed.

The skill from the system activated almost seamlessly. What would normally take weeks of analysis compressed into crisp insights.

One of the directors sneered politely. "Mrs. Huo, perhaps you can enlighten us, since CEO Huo has asked for your input." It was clear that he wanted to test her so-called ’acumen’

Yue Ning raised her head, her polite smile never faltering.

"Of course. For starters, this supplier here, "she tapped lightly on the file. "They seem reliable at first glance, but if you compare their last three years of growth rates against their debt structure, you’ll notice the pattern doesn’t add up.

The room fell silent.

Another director frowned, flipping quickly through the documents. "That is true." He murmured.

Encouraged, Yue Ning continued, her tone calm but steady.

"If we pursue this deal without renegotiating their terms, the company risks bleeding unnecessary capital within the first quarter."

"However, if we redirect investment into the secondary option presented here—" she paused, and pointed to a previously overlooked section, "—the projected returns might not be flashy, but they’re stable. And stability is what will secure long-term gains for Huo Corporation."

Gasps and murmurs broke out among the directors. Several leaned forward, scribbling notes as though they’d just been handed a rare key.

Even Huo Feng, who sat composed beside her, felt a spark of pride stir in his chest. Her words were sharp, precise, just like a strategist who had been born into this world of power, not dropped into it overnight.

"She’s right," one of the older directors admitted reluctantly. "We overlooked the debt ratios in favor of surface growth. Mrs. Huo has a sharper vision than most of us."

The room was filled with nods of agreement.

Yue Ning, however, only lowered her lashes modestly, as though what she said was nothing extraordinary.

But beside her, Huo Feng’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. For the first time in a long while, he felt the thrill of someone standing beside him, not behind him.

And it was his wife.

The meeting finally adjourned after two hours, though the air in the boardroom still buzzed with energy.

Several directors lingered behind, unable to stop glancing at Yue Ning as she calmly gathered her notes.

One of the younger directors leaned toward another. "I didn’t expect much when CEO Huo introduced her. But she dismantled the proposal better than our analysts could.""

"Not just dismantled," another corrected. "She offered solutions. That’s rare, most people can point out flaws, but she gave us direction."

A chuckle rippled from the far end of the table.

"CEO Huo’s wife is sharper than she looks. Seems we underestimated her."

"Indeed," said an older director, adjusting his glasses. "If she continues like this, her presence could become a real asset to the company."

Though the words were spoken with admiration, a few of the men wore calculating expressions, as if already reconsidering how they might treat Yue Ning in future dealings.

There was a particular director who had his eyes set on her, and a malicious glint flashed through his eyes. Unfortunately, nobody was able to see this as they were impressed by Yue Ning’s earlier brilliance.

Through it all, Yue Ning kept her poise, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment but offering no arrogance.

From his seat, Huo Feng caught the subtle shift in the directors’ tones. He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of possessiveness glinting in them. They weren’t just impressed, they were interested. And that thought did not sit well with him.

"Meeting dismissed," he said curtly, breaking the atmosphere.

As the directors filed out, their voices trailed behind them.

"A pity she wasn’t in business earlier."

"Huo Corporation will be untouchable with her around."

"Smart, beautiful, and poised. Truly a perfect match for CEO Huo."

Huo Feng’s jaw tightened at the last comment. He didn’t correct them, but the words echoed in his mind long after the door closed. It had to be mentioned that he enjoyed the praise.

After they had all left, Yue Ning turned to stare at Huo Feng.

"Mr. Huo, did I do well?" She asked him, the corner of her lips raised with a teasing smile.

Huo Feng had his gaze on the girl who seemed to be expecting a compliment from him.

There was a flash of admiration in his eyes as he nodded. "You did well. You managed to impress them, only a few people can do what you did today. But don’t think you can surpass me."

While the couple discussed among themselves, they had no idea that Yue Chen had already made her way into the company, and she didn’t have a good expression.