Starting as a Magical Girl, I Alone Shall Rule for Eternity

Chapter 188: The Undomineering CEO and the Unconventional Him

"Oh, what a coincidence."

Bingtang blinked her eyes, showing a smile like she'd been caught doing something bad. "Little sister caught us."

Jiang Si snorted but didn't say anything.

He glanced at the sky. It was already dusk. The time flow between the Curse Realm and here was different, and it was already about to get dark when they came out. Now the stars and moon were shining brightly, and many houses had turned on their lights. "Why are you out so late instead of being at home?"

"Buying groceries..."

Keke, who had just answered, looked at the smiling Bingtang and immediately shouted again, "You, you get down right now! This is mistress behavior! My brother already has a girlfriend!"

"I know, I know."

Bingtang laughed and jumped down from Jiang Si's back. "We're just friends, no need to be so nervous."

"As friends, you should at least have some sense of boundaries, right?" Jiang Keke looked at her with full hostility. "What would Teacher Shion think if she saw you like this?"

"Shion and I are also very good friends."Bingtang thought for a moment, then said as if teasing, "The kind who wouldn't mind sharing a boyfriend."

"She'd be happy to see it too."

"Teacher Shion is definitely not that kind of person!" Keke shouted, grabbing her brother's arm, trying to pull him away. "Don't hang out with this kind of girl! Big brother! Teacher Shion and Mom and Dad will be sad!"

"Friends are just friends, big brother! Friends can't do things lovers do!"

"Bingtang."

Hearing Jiang Si call her name, Bingtang immediately became obedient, not daring to joke with Keke anymore. "Actually, I sprained my ankle and it's inconvenient, so I had Jiang Si carry me for a bit. Sorry, I took the joke too far."

Keke, who had been about to question further, froze for a moment, then scratched her head somewhat awkwardly. "Huh?? Is that so?"

She glanced at Jiang Si. Her brother didn't say anything, leaving Keke momentarily at a loss.

Her earlier aggressive momentum vanished instantly. She lowered her head and said softly, "If that's the case, then... there's nothing to be done. But I'll still tell Teacher Shion. Don't think you can trick me."

"Mhm, I won't trick you. You can ask Shion then."

As she spoke, Bingtang extended a hand. "My name is Bingtang. Very happy to meet you, Keke little sister. Jiang Si always talks about you proudly. Good grades, the popular new star of the Disaster Control Bureau, the Hope of Beihai, a super amazing Magical Girl, and very cute too."

With just two sentences of praise, Keke became completely dazed. She scratched her head. "It's... it's not that much."

Then she immediately snapped back to reality and became serious again. "Don't think a few flattering words will make me change my opinion of you. Anyway, I will definitely tell Teacher Shio..."

"Got it, got it." Bingtang laughed and tidied Keke's hair. "You were so angry just now, your hair got messy. This way is even cuter."

Oh no, I can't get angry at a smiling face like this at all!

Teacher Shion, I'm sorry, Keke is useless...

This older sister named Bingtang smiles way too beautifully, just like those big celebrities in advertisements! And she's not as glaringly bright, very gentle, and speaks so nicely. Keke really likes her...

Wait, Bingtang?

Keke paused for a moment. "Are you... the young lady of the Ice Color Era Group?"

"Forget about 'young lady.' My parents often say I have no upbringing at all. Forget being a young lady, I'm not even as good as an ordinary girl." Bingtang then took out her business card from her pocket, which had her phone number on it. "If you don't mind, we can keep in touch more in the future."

"Oh, oh..."

She dazedly took the card and looked at it.

She really is the young lady of the Ice Color Era Group...

She looked up again at the young lady gently looking at her.

She felt a little dazed.

Her mouth seemed a bit crooked.

It was just an illusion.

Although the Ice Color Era Group is still mainly run by her father now, it's obvious that her dad, the founder and controller of the Ice Color Era Group, intends to groom Bingtang as the successor.

She's been in the news several times, and some of the Ice Color Era Group's businesses have even been transferred to Bingtang's name.

She's a super famous, super rich, and super powerful young lady!

Keke kept glancing at her brother.

Although her brother isn't ugly, especially when he's not talking and not going crazy, he's quite handsome.

According to Yiyi, he could pass for a literary youth if he wore glasses.

But still, not enough to make so many girls fall head over heels for him, right...

Shion, Bingtang, Yiyi.

Without her knowing, her brother was surrounded by girls who were ridiculously outstanding.

Mom and Dad used to worry that Jiang Si couldn't find a girlfriend.

Turns out her brother can just pick and choose!

There won't be others who like my brother too, will there?

Yiyi, not only does our chance of winning seem a bit low, but there are also quite a few opponents. What do we do...

She carefully moved to her brother's side and tugged his clothes. "How did you and Miss Bingtang meet?"

"Deskmates."

"Huh?"

Bingtang beside them laughed and said, "We say we're deskmates, but Jiang Si basically never comes to class, so we haven't actually been deskmates that many times."

"Ahaha, that's just how my brother is..."

So not only are they friends, they're also deskmates!

Such a classic manga setup. Yiyi, didn't you realize such an opponent existed when you were at school?

Yiyi, are you getting early-onset dementia...

Not to be too rude, but maybe we should prepare Teacher Shion's clothes for Yiyi...

Suddenly she remembered that Yiyi also said her brother's deskmate was some kind of big shot.

Yiyi seemed to have mentioned the name, but because she was in a cold war with her brother back then, she didn't pay much attention and didn't think too much about it.

Of course, mainly because she didn't know Bingtang at all. Even if the name was mentioned, she wouldn't have connected it immediately.

After all, who could immediately associate it with the young lady of the Ice Color Era Group?

The difference between her family and Bingtang's family is like heaven and earth!

A dragon and a maggot!

Speaking of which, according to romance manga, it should be the girl who comes from an ordinary family, and the boy's family who has immense power and wealth.

Then the ordinary girl has a beautiful inner self that makes the young master of the wealthy family fall for her.

Conquering the domineering CEO with personality charm and looks...

Finally divorcing and splitting half the assets.

Big brother, why are you doing it the opposite way?

Speaking of which, if big brother marries and divorces Bingtang, can he get half the assets...

Keke couldn't help but let her thoughts run wild.

After all, a super-rich young lady and her ordinary, average-family brother... there are just too many possible developments, making her thoughts run wild for a moment.

The plot in her mind quickly developed to the final property dispute after divorce, with Teacher Shion making a last-ditch effort to win her brother back. Then, using half of the Bingtang family's assets, they fly far away to live a happy life. Meanwhile, the young lady who became the loser can only sit on a swing indoors, facing the direction her brother left...

Wait, then wouldn't Yiyi have to hang herself from a southeast branch...

Can she even reach the branch?

"I'll go call a car for you."

Jiang Si looked at Bingtang, who was limping and planning to keep up the act. "Wait here for me."

Bingtang obediently nodded.

Keke noticed that this Miss Bingtang really seemed to obey her brother completely.

"Do you really like my brother?"

Watching Jiang Si go to the roadside to hail a car, Bingtang, upon hearing Keke's question, nodded without hesitation. "Of course I like him."

But my brother has a girlfriend.

That sentence felt a bit pointless, since Bingtang definitely knows about Teacher Shion.

She had to change her approach. "My brother does whatever he wants and never cares about others. What do you like about him?"

"Well..." Bingtang touched her chin and thought. "Jiang Si's 'doing whatever he wants' is very cool. I've liked people like Jiang Si since I was little—people who aren't bound by constraints, who can boldly ignore the gazes of those around them and do what they want to do. That's an amazing thing, so I super like it."

"Huh?" Keke said blankly. "Does not going to school count?"

"Of course it counts." Bingtang smiled. "After all, Jiang Si doesn't skip school because he doesn't want to go to school. It's because he knows he has more important things to do than go to school. What's more, even without going to school, he didn't miss the college entrance exam."

"Simply not going to school naturally has no charm and isn't cool. What's charming is what he did after not going to school—having a purpose, achieving results, and finally smoothly completing the college entrance exam. Someone who can control their own life and grasp their own future is really charming."

Keke fell silent, unable to deny it for a moment.

She remembered her brother and Teacher Shion jointly handling the Heart Image Remnant incident.

The destruction of the Jiangming City Witch Association also had her brother's shadow.

Her brother, who gave up his studies and constantly trained to become stronger, now indeed possessed the power he sought.

He could even fight side by side with Magical Girls.

This really was her brother's charm.

He always knew what he wanted since he was little and kept working hard for it.

Even Mom and Dad said that in front of Jiang Si, they seemed a bit immature.

Because everyone else just floats along with the current, living ordinary lives. Strong goals, great wishes...

In countless ordinary days, they gradually vanish without a trace.

Ordinary time is like a filter, screening out that passion and those dreams over and over, tirelessly.

Until everyone becomes gray and empty in the turbulence.

The purpose of living also becomes just living.

But Jiang Si is like a stubborn stone. No matter how many times it's screened, his form never changes.

Compared to the brother she knew when she was little,

What's the difference with the Jiang Si now?

There's not much difference in how he acts.

Neighbors, relatives, they always say her brother is a child who will never grow up.

Always only caring about his own things, cold and childish.

But who said that being polished by daily life into accepting mediocrity counts as growth?

Her brother was more mature than those adults since he was little.

Her parents thought so, and Keke thought so too.

Jiang Si never changed, not because he didn't grow, but because he didn't need to grow.

How can a child who was an adult from the start grow any further?

So, deep down, Keke always believed her brother was the real adult.

Even some middle-aged people, in her eyes, were just giant babies with nothing but age.

When you get down to it, this world is too gentle. Some children grow up confused, pretending to be adults confusedly, and face no punishment.

It's more like there are too many children pretending to be adults, making Jiang Si stand out instead.

Actually, Keke always wanted to become someone like her brother, even during the times when their relationship was bad...

"I admit, my brother does have a bit of charm in that aspect. You really do understand my brother well."

Keke turned her head away, as if admitting this was somewhat embarrassing for her. "Hmph, but what a pity. You're too late. No matter how well you understand my brother, my brother belongs to Teacher Shion!"

"It's just a girlfriend. Actually, even if they were married, it's not certain. As long as you like someone, these difficulties can always be overcome."

"Huh? You want to break up someone else's relationship? A third party has no morals!"

Yiyi is excepted.

Because Yiyi has my support, so she doesn't count!

"Love is war." Bingtang said with a laugh. "All's fair in love and war, little sister Keke."

Seeing Keke's angry look, Bingtang found it amusing and poked her cheek.

Keke slapped her hand away in disgust.

Then, seeing Jiang Si returning, she pinched Keke's cheek gently and said warmly, "Alright, no more joking. I won't act recklessly, don't worry. After all, I really don't want to become Jiang Si's enemy."

Jiang Si came back after calling the car and looked at his pouting little sister, then glanced at Bingtang. "What did you say again?"

"Talking about the charm of Lord Jiang Si with Keke."

"Are you that free?"

"Going back to work right away."

Bingtang then limped to the car Jiang Si had called for her, turned back, and waved at Keke. "Remember to contact me more, Keke."

Jiang Si directly closed the door for her.

Only after the car started and she could no longer see Jiang Si and Keke did Bingtang sit down properly.

She glanced at the driver in front and sighed.

"Why is it you? Probably not a coincidence, right?"

The old butler driving smiled and said, "Of course not. I persuaded several cars to leave before finally letting Mr. Jiang Si choose me to be your driver."

"Just in time, I'm short on funds recently."

"Young lady, you should know that the money of the Ice Color Era Group cannot be spent recklessly. This concerns whether you can truly inherit the Ice Color Era in the end."

After a moment of silence, Bingtang continued, "I naturally won't spend it recklessly."

"In your father's eyes, withdrawing a large amount of cash flow from the company back then to establish your own group, only to end up with no results at all, caused your evaluation in your father's eyes to plummet. This includes using the Ice Color Era Group's channels to sell Grief Seeds, frequently mobilizing relevant personnel to search for information related to the Disaster Control Bureau..."

"What?" Bingtang instead laughed. "Are we settling old and new accounts together now?"

"Not exactly. Your investment returns in Jiangming City were good recently. Your father was quite satisfied."

"Well then, that's that."

"But..." The old man hesitated. "If you told your father about the achievements of the Azure Cloud Sect, I think the evaluation would be even higher, and things would be easier."

"The Azure Cloud Sect is self-sufficient. Although it doesn't make much profit, the cash flow is healthy. There's no need for Ice Color Era's involvement for now."

"Last time you mentioned expansion, to assist the branch operations in various cities, you increased the activity funds for the true-transmission and inner disciples. Although it's still relatively healthy now, the pressure has clearly increased. You've already invested a lot of your personal funds."

The old butler advised, "The risk is a bit too high. If the cash flow can't be recovered in the end, you might lose everything. Your father is also asking why there's only a card with three hundred thousand left in your account."

"He doesn't need to worry about it."

"The current status and influence of the Azure Cloud Sect are undeniable. If you tell your father, I'm sure you'll get full support..."

"The Azure Cloud Sect isn't my company." Bingtang interrupted him. "I've said it before, I'm just an employee. The Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect is Jiang Si. He's the boss. I asked him, and he's not willing."

The old butler let out a deep sigh.

Actually, Bingtang herself wasn't willing either. After all, once Ice Color Era gets involved, some things are bound to change.

When you get down to it, she's just the heir. The Ice Color Era Group isn't a conglomerate she controls.

Her father is still the one in charge.

Especially now that the Azure Cloud Sect is on track and has established official cooperation with the Disaster Control Bureau, there's absolutely no way to let Ice Color Era take a share.

"Ah well, as long as you're happy. No matter what, I can only do my best to support you."

"Thank you."

Back when she was just a child, establishing an Azure Cloud Sect naturally wasn't easy.

The old butler in front of her was the helper Bingtang found, and the only person she trusted within the Bingdai Group.

After all, he was practically a discard of the Bingdai Group. If she hadn't given him a hand back then, this old butler, who took the blame for several major crimes, would probably still be eating prison food.

And with his status, even if he ran to her father and said he was the founder of the Azure Cloud Sect, he'd be treated as a madman.

Of course, back then the Azure Cloud Sect was newly established with no fame or value. Even if he told her father, it wouldn't have mattered. By the time the Azure Cloud Sect grew and needed secrecy, Bingtang's abilities had already expanded to the point where she could monitor the entire city.

Naturally, she wasn't worried about him betraying her to make a report.

After all, she could see whatever he did.

"Oh, right."

Bingtang took out a small slip of paper from her pocket and copied down the recorded card numbers onto it.

"Go to Huazhou Bank and help me investigate the origins of these cards. See if there are any issues. Of course, it would be even better if you could find out who the holders of these cards are."

The old butler took the slip and glanced at it. "Black Gold Cards?"

"You're quite familiar with card numbers."

"After all, the tail numbers have characteristics." The old butler put away the slip. "No problem, but it will probably take some time."

"No rush."

Bingtang put away the paper and pen, then said, "Also, if the source checks out, use my authority to reissue one card."

"...Your father will probably get angry again."

"If he gets angry that easily, he might as well die from it." Bingtang laughed lightly. "It's just a card."

"This is someone else's card, right? Using your authority to reissue it... why do something like this? There's no benefit at all, only risk..."

Bingtang leaned lazily against the car window. "Consider it a little surprise for a friend."

"Jiang Si?" The old butler looked at the traffic light ahead, stopped the car, and sighed. "With your relationship, do you even need surprises like this?"

Forget a card, even you yourself are practically Jiang Si's. Do you still need surprises like this?

"Wrong. The more familiar you are, the more you need surprises."

Bingtang said softly, "On the contrary, when you're strangers, you don't need surprises because everything is fresh when you're not familiar. After being together for a long time, you need little surprises to provide freshness. Mhm, it can effectively avoid the boredom phase."

Feels more like being a lover than a friend...

The old man glanced up at the rearview mirror at the girl with a faint smile.

No matter what, she looks much happier than when she's at home.

For a moment, the old man also felt it wasn't so bad.

"Have to work harder to make money."

Thinking about those ten Black Gold Cards, Bingtang let out a soft sigh.

"Rich people are just too detestable."