593: Chapter 588 The True Genius

Li Jing's victory was like a stone tossed into the commercial pond of Binhai City.

The ripples spread quickly.

In the first hour after the verdict took effect,

her private phone exploded with calls.

In the second hour,

her long-abandoned social media accounts were flooded with tens of thousands of private messages.

They were all from headhunters.

And the HR directors of major jewelry companies.

Cartier Greater China.

Tiffany & Co. Headquarters.

Bvlgari.

Van Cleef & Arpels.

Names that resonated like thunder, offering her prices she never dared to dream of before.

Annual salaries, stock options, the position of Chief Designer.

Li Jing looked at the constantly popping notifications on her phone screen.

Her fingers felt a bit numb.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

Three days ago, she was still a single mother agonizing over her daughter's tuition fees.

Now, the whole world had opened its doors to her.

And the turning point for all of this,

was merely because of that man.

Shen Yan.

He hadn't even spared her a second glance.

As if turning her life around was just a trivial matter not worth mentioning.

Hong Kong City.

The headquarters of 'Nirvana Jewelry'.

Shen Yan stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window.

Beneath his feet lay the dazzling lights of Victoria Harbour.

In his mind, the system's prompt tone had just ended.

[Ding!]

[Side Quest: 'The Designer's Redemption' has been completed.]

[Mission Evaluation: Perfect.]

[Mission Reward: One piece of Intermediate Wealth Intelligence.]

[Intelligence Location: Hong Kong City.]

[Intelligence Content: Number Seven in the Old Mid-Levels Villa Area of Hong Kong City conceals in its underground secret room a founding member token of the Hong Kong Jockey Club left by the former owner, along with a priceless piece of land deed.]

Shen Yan lightly tapped the glass with his fingertip.

A coincidence.

A logical reason.

He dialed his sister Shen Ya's number.

Her voice on the other end carried a hint of joy.

A moment later, he called his daughter Youyou's teacher and asked for a few days off.

Bai Ling arranged the private jet's flight application within five minutes.

Heading to Hong Kong City.

Work, and a vacation on the side.

Three days later.

Hong Kong City International Airport.

Shen Yan held his daughter Youyou's hand, with his radiant sister Shen Ya beside him.

Li Jing followed behind them, carrying only a simple suitcase.

She was still somewhat reserved.

This was the first time she had traveled in this manner.

The administrative director of 'Star Brilliance Jewelry' led a group of people, already waiting outside the VIP channel.

All dressed uniformly in black suits, bowing ninety degrees.

The scene made Li Jing slightly uncomfortable.

Shen Yan, however, walked straight toward the motorcade without looking aside, holding Youyou's hand.

As if such a procession was his usual affair.

The Design Department of 'Nirvana Jewelry'.

The atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Li Jing's arrival was like a catfish stirring up the originally calm pond water.

A Chief Designer.

An airborne woman from the Mainland.

Brought personally by the boss.

The veterans in the design department wore professional smiles on their faces.

But their eyes held unconcealed scrutiny and disdain.

The design circle in Hong Kong City had its own pride.

The Design Director, Vera, a middle-aged woman dressed exquisitely with her chin held extremely high, was the first to challenge her.

She pushed a proposal document in front of Li Jing.

It was the theme for the company's next quarter's flagship collection, 'Pearl of the Orient'.

'Miss Li, your reputation precedes you.'

'Why don't you use this theme to let us witness your capabilities?'

Vera's words sounded polite.

All the surrounding designers stopped working, their gazes converging.

This was a show of force.

An undisguised test.

Li Jing said nothing.

She simply picked up a pencil from the desk and an A4 sheet of white paper.

The office instantly fell silent.

Only the rustling sound of the pencil rubbing against the paper remained.

She didn't think.

She didn't sketch a composition.

It was as if countless inspirations were already surging within her chest.

The tip of the pen touched down.

The lines were smooth and precise.

The dawn over Victoria Harbour.

The sharp facets of the Bank of China Tower.

The structural aesthetics of the HSBC Main Building.

The ripples left by the Star Ferry cutting through the water.

These most representative elements of Hong Kong City were dissected and reconstructed under her pen.

Finally, they merged into a brooch with a bizarre yet perfectly harmonious design.

The morning light pierced the clouds, transforming into the sparkle of crushed diamonds.

The outline of the architecture became a platinum base.

The ripples on the water were the gentle curves of sapphires.

The entire process took less than ten minutes.

The moment Li Jing put down the pencil.

The entire design department was dead silent.

Vera's pupils contracted slightly.

Her proud team had stayed up for two full nights working on this theme, and none of the few proposals they produced had satisfied her.

Yet, this woman before her,

Ten minutes.

A piece of scrap paper.

A single pencil.

Had produced a final draft sufficient to crush all other proposals.

No.

This wasn't the final draft.

This was just an impromptu sketch.

But it already possessed a soul.

Vera looked at the astonishing creativity and design sense on the drawing, and the expression on her face shifted from contempt, to gravity, and finally, only astonishment remained.

She understood.

Why the boss personally brought her here.

This kind of talent.

Was a true genius.

Li Jing secured her footing.

In the most direct and powerful way.

Shen Yan did not appear at the company.

He entrusted professional matters to professional people.

At this moment, he was sitting in the Peak Tram with Youyou and Shen Ya.

Youyou's small face was pressed against the glass, letting out gasps of amazement as she watched the scenery receding outside the window.

Shen Ya sat beside her, a gentle smile of relief on her face.

She looked at her brother, then at her niece.

Feeling that everything right now was beautifully unreal.

Shen Yan wasn't looking at the scenery.

His gaze rested upon his sister and daughter.

This was what he strove with all his might to protect.

The Peak.

The wind was strong.

Youyou held a cotton candy, smiling like a little sun.

Shen Yan's phone vibrated once.

It was a message from Bai Ling.

[Boss, Miss Li Jing's design draft has silenced everyone.]

Shen Yan put away his phone, his expression unchanged.

Everything was under control.

His gaze swept over the crowd on the observation deck, cast toward the distance.

The scattered villa area on the Mid-Levels.

One unremarkable, old building caught his eye.

Number Seven, Old Mid-Levels Villa Area.

The marker from the system map flashed across his retina.

He held Youyou, pointing in that direction.

As if introducing the scenery to his daughter.

Youyou followed his finger but only saw a patch of green trees and houses.

She didn't know.

That her father was using a way incomprehensible to ordinary people.

Easily incorporating a buried gold mine into his own territory.

Night fell.

They went to Temple Street.

And ate authentic Typhoon Shelter crab at a noisy open-air food stall.

Youyou ate until her mouth was covered in oil.

Shen Ya continuously wiped her mouth, her eyes full of doting affection.

Shen Yan peeled shrimp shells for them.

His movements skilled and natural.

Surrounded by the clamor of voices, the aroma of food, and the flashing neon lights.

The vibrancy of ordinary life.

The next day.

Shen Yan appeared alone at the membership office of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

What he produced was not a check.

But a rusty metal badge that looked like an antique.

It was the token found in the secret room of Villa Number Seven.

The manager on duty was initially perfunctory with professional courtesy.

When he saw that badge,

His expression instantly changed.

He put on gloves, carefully held up the badge, and confirmed it repeatedly.

Finally, he looked at Shen Yan with an almost reverent gaze.

That was the token of a founding member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

There were no more than five in all of Hong Kong City.

Possessing it meant possessing the supreme status within this top-tier club.

An hour later.

Shen Yan's name appeared on the Jockey Club's most core member roster.

He also took care of that long-sealed land deed.

The location: Central.

The last undeveloped piece of prime land next to Victoria Harbour.

Its value was incalculable.

When Shen Yan left.

The entire senior management of the Jockey Club came out to congratulate him.

They looked at the young man's retreating figure.

Only one thought remained in their minds.

Hong Kong City was about to experience a regime change.

But Shen Yan called Youyou.

Asking her if she wanted to go to Disneyland or Ocean Park that evening.