My Perfect Female CEO

Zhao Gongming’s expression was shadowed, his face pale.

"We agreed I’d only handle minor tasks within my capabilities. I’ve always cooperated fully, but now you’re making me do something big like this. Isn’t this pushing me into a deathtrap?"

"Damn it, how could it come to this?"

"How could it come to this?"

Zhao Gongming screamed hysterically, as if trying to vent all his dissatisfaction and anger.

Yes, the one who received the order to steal the key was him.

"Hunter Cat, damn you, I’ll kill you."

"Cheng Mu, you faithless bitch."

Zhao Gongming was overwhelmed with anger and fury. The names he mentioned, Hunter Cat was the enemy leader, and Cheng Mu was his superior.

Speaking of the name Cheng Mu, it’s not unfamiliar. The name on the promissory note that implicated Liu Anping’s death was this woman named Cheng Mu.

Hunter Cat was the mastermind behind the crisis the research institute was facing, planning everything behind the scenes.

Hunter Cat was a man with an extremely secretive identity, and even Zhao Gongming had only heard his voice and never actually met him.

In the past, Zhao Gongming only handled trivial tasks, like tampering with surveillance, taking photos, or helping to steal small items.

But this time, Hunter Cat directly ordered him to steal the key.

Zhao Gongming knew the seriousness of the situation, so how could he not be furious?

Hunter Cat and Cheng Mu had promised he wouldn’t have to handle serious matters.

But now, the order had been given.

Zhao Gongming was stuck; he had no choice now.

He sadly realized his path had already been chosen by someone else.

He wasn’t allowed to bargain; he only had the role of executing the order.

"I regret not realizing it sooner; I should have known. Once trapped, there’s no escaping unscathed. I just didn’t want to admit it. Now it’s all too late." Zhao Gongming’s expression was lifeless, a pathetic revelation dawning on him.

It turned out that he had been consoling himself, thinking he wouldn’t get involved in a life-threatening event.

But ever since he started colluding with the enemy, he couldn’t turn back.

"What else can I do?"

"I guess this is the only way?"

"My late reputation is marred, and there’s no peaceful end in sight."

"The tragedy is, I considered myself smart, but never thought my cleverness would backfire." Zhao Gongming’s expression wavered, overwhelmed by pain, caught in an agonizing decision.

"Li Dingguo, the key." Ultimately, Zhao Gongming made his choice.

He aimed his target at Li Dingguo, slowly closing his eyes, though his eyelids still trembled.

The fact showed Ye Fan’s preemptive decision was correct.

Ye Fan pushed Zhao Gongming away from major affairs of the research institute, forcing him into a secondary role.

It wasn’t that Ye Fan mistrusted Zhao Gongming, but the research institute and action team’s commands had to be unified; Ye Fan wouldn’t allow another voice besides his to issue orders in the institute, hence the arrangements.

This arrangement, coincidentally, relegated Zhao Gongming from a frontline position in the institute to behind-the-scenes.

It directly curtailed the power Zhao Gongming could wield, without exaggeration.

...

After a series of integrations, the research institute and action group were tightly fused together.

Ye Fan’s instructions flowed seamlessly.

On the surface, the research institute and action group appeared calm, with everyone performing their duties without any major occurrences.

Beneath the surface, however, only those involved knew what storm was brewing.

On this day, Li Dingguo and his wife left their home, the couple lived in a villa not far from the research institute and always walked.

Halfway, the couple separated; Li Dingguo went to the research institute, and his wife went to the clinic for work.

Liu Qianjin, who lost his wife in middle age and his son in his later years, walked like a living corpse, accustomed to the routine of going to and from work. Exhausted in spirit, he persisted in his work line, unlike before, devoid of any vitality, only a deep sense of twilight.

Yang Shu and Qian Weiguo diligently hovered around Li Dingguo and his wife’s surroundings, taking on the task of covert protection.

Shen Tingting and Gao Qiang secretly protected Liu Qianjin, this respectable and lovable old man.

Shang Xiaoran and Han Zizhen were affectionate couples in the research institute.

On this day, Shang Xiaoran arrived at the research institute in a brand-new outfit, drawing a lot of attention and discussion from colleagues.

"Deputy Director Shang, your coat must be expensive. I’ve been eyeing it in the mall for a long time but couldn’t bring myself to buy it," a colleague said admiringly.

Across the entire research institute, only two could bear the title of deputy director; one was Shang Xiaoran, the other Liu Qianjin.

At the research institute, only Li Dingguo had the title of President Li.

"I don’t know either, my spouse bought it for me," Shang Xiaoran replied with a cheerful smile.

Shang Xiaoran’s words brought further praises from colleagues.

In fact, Shang Xiaoran knew very well the clothing was bought by her.

The reason for saying it was purchased by her husband was simply to give Han Zizhen a good reputation in front of colleagues.

Security guard Uncle Sun observed everyone coming and going at the research institute each day. Unlike before, his eyes grew sharper, like a ghost in the dark, scrutinizing everyone who passed by him.

Two days swiftly passed by.

Everything proceeded orderly, with nothing out of place occurring.

But the more peaceful it appeared, the more Ye Fan sensed it was the calm before the storm.

The enemy remained still, but Ye Fan was unwilling to keep waiting.

He wished to act first.

"Always waiting for the enemy to make the first move is passive. I’ve decided to strike first. What do you think?" Ye Fan sought the opinions of Zhang Lu and Li Tong with a searching gaze.

"At this moment, the enemy must be brewing a plot. If we find the right breakthrough point to strike, we’ll hold an invincible position," Li Tong declared with confidence. "However, this breakthrough point is hard to find and seize."

"Let’s speculate, what does the enemy desperately need now?" Ye Fan asked persuasively.

"The key, the third key in my father’s possession. The enemy painstakingly obtained two keys and will try every means to get the key from my father. It is imperative," Li Tong said with certainty.

"Are you suggesting? Letting Li Dingguo use the key as bait?" Zhang Lu’s eyes were sharp.

"No, what I’m suggesting is that our protective measures and operations are too airtight, lacking an opportunity for the enemy to make the first move. We should give the enemy a chance to act, then trace it back to them," Ye Fan had a plan in mind.