Landlord in the Arctic

"Everyone at the company is an outsider. I can’t bring myself to entrust the finances to them. What if someone tries to secretly skim money? I can’t rest easy without one of our own people there." Seeing that direct persuasion wasn’t working, Feng Mountain immediately played the sympathy card, his eyes filled with sincerity. "We finally managed to start a company. Of all our younger siblings, you’re the only one with a higher education and some basic accounting knowledge. If you don’t help me, who else can I count on?"

"Am I supposed to let Black Hide do it? We’d be lucky if he got sold and *didn’t* help the buyer count the money."

"Or should I rely on Hu Zi? With that foul, short-fused temper of his? Plus, the office is full of beautiful women. Do you really think I can let him go there? And Black Egg just got out and doesn’t know the first thing about anything."

Hearing Brother Shan say this, Xiaohua bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, a flash of conflict in her eyes.

"Well... I’ll try. But let me say this first, I’m afraid I’ll mess up and get laughed at!"

"Whoever dares to laugh at you, I’ll fire them!" Seeing Xiaohua give in, Feng Mountain quickly put down his chopsticks and waved his hand grandly. "I’ll find an accounting teacher to guide you. It’ll definitely be fine. So it’s settled! Our Hua’Er is the one I can count on after all!"

With the company’s finance position settled, a weight was lifted off Feng Mountain’s shoulders.

Worried that Hua’Er might think it over and change her mind, he wasted no time. He quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen until he found Ouyang Xue’s number and dialed.

The phone rang a few times before it was answered. Ouyang Xue’s cool, clear voice came from the other side.

"President Feng?"

Feng Mountain cleared his throat. "Vice President Ouyang, I plan on assigning my sister to the company’s finance department. However, her foundational knowledge is a bit lacking. Could you help find an accounting teacher to mentor her?"

A moment later.

Ouyang Xue responded from the other end of the line, "No problem. I’ll hire a professional accountant from a Hai City financial firm."

Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Feng Mountain’s lips. "I’ll leave it to you, then. I’ll bring her to the company in a bit."

Ouyang Xue agreed. They exchanged a few more words, then hung up.

Feng Mountain put his phone back in his pocket and turned to look at Xiaohua’s miserable expression. He encouraged her, "Hua’Er, study hard. Your big brother believes in you!"

"!!!" Xiaohua was speechless.

’I feel like I’ve been tricked, but I can’t quite put my finger on what’s wrong.’

....

「Guangmao Building.」

The elevator doors slowly opened.

Feng Mountain stepped out. Beside him, Xiaohua wore an uneasy expression, her eyes filled with nervousness.

The hallway was bright and spacious, with exquisite promotional posters hanging on the walls. Through the glass, they could see the busy work environment inside.

"President Feng, Vice President Ouyang sent me to receive you. I’m her assistant, Zhu Qian." A female employee in a business suit hurried over, a friendly smile on her face.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Xiaohua’s slightly protruding belly, but her polite smile never wavered.

"Alright. Has the teacher arrived?" Feng Mountain nodded slightly.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Yes, she has. Vice President Ouyang specifically hired a certified public accountant from the best financial firm in Hai City. She’s in the finance office right now," Assistant Zhu Qian answered quickly, her voice crisp and clear.

"Let’s go. I’ll take you to meet your teacher." Feng Mountain’s tone was calm and steady. He naturally patted Xiaohua’s head as if to encourage her.

Xiaohua flinched slightly, then looked up at Feng Mountain, a bit of reassurance appearing in her eyes.

Seeing the big boss affectionately pat the new colleague, Assistant Zhu Qian’s heart skipped a beat, and she began to speculate privately.

’Is this pregnant girl the boss’s sister?’

’Are siblings usually this intimate?’

’Or perhaps...’

At this thought,

the assistant’s smile grew even more brilliant, taking on a fawning quality. Her eyes were filled with a clear desire to curry favor.

Afterward, Assistant Zhu Qian led the way, her high heels making crisp CLACKING sounds on the floor.

Arriving at the door to the finance office,

she knocked lightly. After receiving a reply, she pushed the door open and entered.

Inside the finance office, a middle-aged woman was sitting upright at her desk, which was covered in documents.

Seeing someone enter, the middle-aged woman quickly stood up and adjusted her cuffs.

"President Feng, this is Teacher Liu. She has 30 years of experience in finance." Assistant Zhu Qian quickly stepped forward to make the introduction, her eyes darting back and forth between Feng Mountain and Xiaohua as she spoke.

"Hello, Teacher Liu. I’m entrusting my sister to you. If she needs to be criticized, criticize her. Don’t be polite!" Feng Mountain said, gently nudging the pouting Xiaohua beside him.

Xiaohua pursed her lips and reluctantly took a step forward.

"You’re too kind!" Accountant Liu smiled slightly, her gaze friendly as she looked at Xiaohua.

She then took Xiaohua’s hand, led her to the computer, bent down, and began quietly asking her about her basic financial knowledge and experience.

"Is Vice President Ouyang in?" Feng Mountain turned to the female assistant, his eyes questioning.

"She is. Vice President Ouyang is currently negotiating travel routes with several travel agencies, so she couldn’t come over." The female assistant quickly explained Ouyang Xue’s absence, her tone a bit cautious.

"It’s fine. Work is more important." Feng Mountain nodded slightly, his gaze shifting back to Xiaohua. "Hua’Er, go home by yourself after work. I’m leaving now!"

Feng Mountain understood the company’s priorities. In his eyes, saving face was far less important than the actual work.

Besides, he knew that if he ran into Ouyang Xue,

he’d probably be dragged into dealing with the travel agency matters, which would go against his original intention of being a hands-off boss.

With that said, Feng Mountain didn’t linger. He turned and strode away, walking briskly toward the company exit.

He disappeared from everyone’s line of sight.

He had just reached the elevator lobby when a cool female voice suddenly broke the silence.

"President Feng."

Feng Mountain froze on the spot.

From behind him came the crisp CLACK of high heels on the marble floor, drawing closer with each step, carrying Ouyang Xue’s unique, oppressive aura.

Feng Mountain’s heart tightened. He forced a smile onto his face and turned around.

He came face to face with Ouyang Xue’s icy eyes.

Her black business suit made her posture ramrod straight. The pearl earrings at her temples glinted with a cold light, looking like two miniature icicles at this moment.

He watched as the elevator doors slowly opened. He had been just one step away from getting inside, but now he was forced to stop.

Feng Mountain reluctantly turned back around. Looking at Ouyang Xue’s cold and aloof expression, he gave an awkward laugh. "What a coincidence!"

"Yes, it is. It’s so rare to see *you*!" Ouyang Xue deliberately dragged out her words, pointedly emphasizing "you." Her eyes were full of dissatisfaction, as if she were silently roasting him.

She crossed her arms, a delicate eyebrow arched.

Even the warm air from the central air conditioning couldn’t disperse the chill surrounding her.

"How could that be? I’m here right now, aren’t I?" Feng Mountain subconsciously took half a step back, smiling sheepishly and scratching his head. "I just came out for a breath of fresh air. It’s too stuffy inside the office."

Ouyang Xue suddenly let out a soft laugh and stepped aside to clear a path.

Her black skirt suit swept across the floor, revealing the lower half of her slender calves, yet it carried no warmth. "Has our great President Feng become forgetful? The proposal for the new year’s travel routes is still waiting for your final approval. You haven’t forgotten where your office is, have you?"

"What are you talking about? Of course I know where it is!"

Feng Mountain watched the elevator doors slowly close, sighed in resignation, and listlessly started walking back into the company.

As he passed the front desk, he caught a glimpse of several receptionists hastily lowering their heads, their shoulders shaking as they tried to suppress their laughter. He couldn’t help but let out two embarrassed coughs.

At this, Feng Mountain sighed inwardly at his bad luck. He could only brace himself and walk back, each step of his shoes feeling like a form of self-inflicted torture.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Xue, who was accompanying him, walked with an elegant gait. Hidden in the arc of her swinging black skirt was the faint hint of a smile.

They walked into the office.

Sunlight refracted by the glass curtain wall passed through the blinds, cutting alternating stripes of light and shadow across the office floor.

Ouyang Xue was just about to tell Feng Mountain to take the boss’s chair when he strode over to the guest sofa and sat down. He said with a straight face, "I’ve said it before. This office belongs to you."

’This is the first time I’ve ever seen a boss act like such a rascal,’ Ouyang Xue couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

As a vice president who had been brought in from the outside, she had seen too many bosses make a show of delegating power.

But President Feng had truly handed all the company’s decision-making power over to her in one go.

This trust was like a heavy pair of shackles. She was happy about the immense faith placed in her, but at the same time, she felt suffocated by the pressure she would have to bear.

A sudden knock sounded, and the sales director and operations director walked in from outside.

Each of them was carrying a thick stack of documents.

...