Chapter 23: The Strong Woman

Thick blackout curtains blocked the morning light, leaving the bedroom in near-complete silence. A figure on the bed stirred; Guo Jinshu slowly opened her eyes.

Years of discipline had been ingrained into her bones—no alarm was needed, she woke up at her scheduled time.

She didn’t get up immediately, instead lying quietly, letting her consciousness fully detach from the deep darkness of sleep.

The phone on the right side of her nightstand lit up, the faint glow piercing the dim room.

It wasn’t her own phone.

Her gaze lingered on the lit screen for two seconds, calm and unflinching. She didn’t reach for it immediately; instead, she sat up deliberately, smoothing her silk robe with measured motions.

Only after a moment did she extend her hand naturally and pick up the device.

Fingerprint unlock was effortless. The screen displayed a private message from an ID named “Aiyo Wei”:

“Your Majesty, here is my upcoming paid content. Please give it a listen and share your feedback. [Audio Attachment]”

Guo Jinshu’s eyes scanned the message, then flicked through the previous chat history with swift precision.

A few seconds later, her furrowed brows relaxed, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a faint, sardonic smile.

“Hmph.”

“So this is just a sleep-aid streamer making a living off her voice… and feet.”

Her cold eyes swept the chat, noting the obvious flattery and innuendo. Her irritation dissipated almost entirely.

Such a minor player wasn’t worth her attention.

She set the phone down.

“I only peeked because I didn’t want her to be scammed… she’s too naive. I won’t allow accidents to happen.”

“After all… I am one of the owners of this body. I won’t let some disgusting man touch it.”

Ever since that man left the country to pursue his freedom—leaving behind a girl of uncertain parentage—he had been selfish as expected.

Her fingers tapped the screen, marking the message from “Aiyo Wei” as unread, and she returned the phone to its original place on the nightstand.

Satisfied, she picked up her own phone from the other side, unlocked it, and began rapidly scanning filtered company briefs and critical emails.

Rising from the bed, she moved with efficiency.

Outside the door, her maid silently rolled in a breakfast cart, laden with perfectly prepared milk, toasted bread, and a small portion of butter.

Guo Jinshu’s habit was efficiency above all—never wasting time on idle waiting.

She walked toward the bathroom while sipping milk, nibbling a piece of bread. Breakfast was finished before she even reached the door. The maid remained standing respectfully outside the bedroom—entry forbidden.

In the spacious, bright bathroom, the mirror reflected a well-maintained, sharp-featured face. She began her daily, unyielding cleaning routine: precise water temperature, cleansing, brushing teeth, all executed with razor-sharp focus.

By the time she left her home, she was on schedule to the exact minute.

Her secretary, Lin Wei, and the driver were already waiting. Lin Wei, having served Guo Jinshu for years, knew the boss’s obsession with punctuality and had never been late.

“Good morning, Ms. Guo,” Lin Wei greeted, opening the low-profile luxury car’s rear door. She moved with professional poise.

Guo Jinshu gave a slight nod and settled in. Lin Wei followed into the front passenger seat. The car glided smoothly away.

“Today’s schedule,” Guo Jinshu’s voice cut through the cabin, cold and precise. No small talk.

Lin Wei immediately began the briefing, speaking clearly and methodically:

• 9:00 AM: Video meeting with Taihe Capital
• 10:30 AM: Third-quarter internal financial review
• 1:00 PM: Technology Park groundbreaking ceremony
• 3:30 PM: …

Guo Jinshu closed her eyes, fingers tapping lightly on the leather armrest, processing information at lightning speed.

• “Focus on cash flow projections for the financial review.”
• “Amend the third clause of the ceremony speech.”

After the briefing, the cabin fell into brief silence. Lin Wei, glancing at her resting boss through the rearview mirror, hesitated for a moment, then added casually:

“Also, Ms. Guo, regarding Miss Zi Mu… she seems to have caught Director Chen Yi’s attention. He is casting for a new film, and her image and temperament apparently fit one of his roles.”

A few seconds passed before Guo Jinshu responded. She remained calm, eyes closed, showing no discernible emotional reaction.

Her faint “hm” was all that indicated acknowledgment.