SAG -Chapter 38 Laying the Groundwork

There had always been countless theories about how Huo Zhiyuan had suddenly become the owner of Kangshilan.

But most of them were nothing more than speculation, with no real evidence.

Now, hearing Huo Zhiyuan personally say that Kangshilan wasn’t hers at all—but Zhang Ran’s—left both Meng Zixuan and Zhao Jingyu struggling to accept it.

Especially Zhao Jingyu.

She had worked at the company for seven years and had served as Huo Zhiyuan’s executive secretary, yet she hadn’t even known who her real boss was.

“Wait a second, Aunt Huo.”

Meng Zixuan suddenly remembered something.

“When Uncle Zhang disappeared, you should only have been fifteen years old.”

“But everyone says you officially took over Kangshilan when you were eighteen.”

“How does that work?”

Instead of answering directly, Huo Zhiyuan smiled faintly.

“Who told you I only took over Kangshilan at eighteen?”

“…Uh…”

Meng Zixuan was speechless.

Indeed, no one had ever heard Huo Zhiyuan personally confirm that.

People simply assumed that because she publicly became the company’s president at eighteen, that must have been when she became its owner.

Huo Zhiyuan explained calmly, “Before your Uncle Zhang disappeared, Kangshilan had already completed its ownership transfer.”

“At that time, I was already its owner.”

What she didn’t say was that back then she held only five percent of the shares.

The remaining ninety-five percent still belonged to Zhang Ran.

At the time, for various reasons, Zhang Ran had chosen her to enter the cosmetics industry.

Although the company was legally registered under her name, his original plan had been to let her finish university, gain more experience, and only then gradually take over management.

No one had expected fate to intervene.

“Then why did you only become Kangshilan’s president at eighteen?”

Meng Zixuan blurted out.

Her mind was still in chaos.

Huo Zhiyuan smiled.

“Do you really think a fifteen-year-old girl could manage a company?”

“Especially one who knew absolutely nothing?”

Her voice gradually softened as memories resurfaced.

When she learned that Zhang Ran had disappeared…she had nearly broken down.

During the darkest period of her life, it had been that man who had sheltered her.

He had given her light again.

Just when she thought she could spend the rest of her life safely standing behind him…that bolt from the blue shattered everything.

At that time…she had even thought about dying alongside him.

She couldn’t imagine living in a world without him.

But then…she remembered Kangshilan.

It was the gift Zhang Ran had left her.

It was also proof that Zhang Ran had once existed in this world.

So she had to make Kangshilan succeed.

From that day onward…

Huo Zhiyuan completely changed.

Once, she had merely been a country girl from the mountains—timid…self-conscious…too shy even to speak loudly.

But she wanted to protect the legacy Zhang Ran had left behind.

She wanted the world to remember that such a man had once existed.

So she threw herself into it with everything she had.

Over the next three years—from entering high school until graduating university—she never once slept more than five hours a night.

In just three years…she transformed from a timid village girl who barely dared raise her voice…into one of the new generation’s most formidable businesswomen.

Who knew how much hardship she had endured?

How much suffering she had experienced?

No one.

Yet Huo Zhiyuan never felt lonely.

Nor did she feel wronged.

She was simply happy.

Happy to watch herself grow stronger.

Happy that she could finally help him in some small way.

Whenever she felt she could no longer endure…she would take out the only photograph she had with Zhang Ran.

Looking at the warm, gentle smile of the man in that picture…her heart would once again fill with endless courage.

Even if a mountain of knives or a sea of flames lay ahead…she would walk through it alone without hesitation.

Meng Zixuan and Zhao Jingyu stared blankly at Huo Zhiyuan.

A sweet smile unconsciously rested on her lips.

Perhaps only now did they truly understand…just how much Zhang Ran meant to her.

After a long silence, Huo Zhiyuan looked toward Zhao Jingyu.

“Jingyu.”

“This afternoon, go to Zhang Siyan’s cosmetics shop.”

“Tell her the company is restructuring its distributor network.”

“She has been selected as a candidate.”

“Bring her into the company for training.”

“Open every sales channel to her.”

“Let her learn the entire distribution system and understand how everything operates.”

Zhao Jingyu’s expression immediately changed.

Her voice became strained.

“Miss Huo… are you…”

She had already guessed what Huo Zhiyuan intended to do.

Huo Zhiyuan smiled gently.

“These things belonged to the Zhang family from the beginning.”

“I’ve only been keeping them in trust.”

“Now that their rightful owner has returned…”

“…it’s time to give them back.”

Silence filled the room.

Only the sound of heavy breathing remained.

Zhao Jingyu didn’t know whether Huo Zhiyuan had struggled before making this decision.

But putting herself in Huo Zhiyuan’s position…she knew she would never have been able to let go.

Unfortunately, she was only an employee.

Her duty was simply to obey.

Meng Zixuan’s emotions were even more complicated.

She had never imagined that something as simple as her surname could hide so many stories.

She couldn’t help wondering—

What if she really had taken the Zhang surname back then?

What would her life look like today?

Then another question surfaced.

Just how extraordinary was Uncle Zhang?

Both her father, Meng He…and Huo Zhiyuan…had prepared to return enormous fortunes the instant Zhang Ran came back.

Could it be…had Zhang Ran left behind even more companies?

Meng Zixuan suddenly recalled the circle of influential figures that Meng He and Huo Zhiyuan had associated with over the years.

A shocking thought flashed through her mind.

It frightened even herself.

But she quickly shook her head.

Impossible.

She laughed bitterly at her own imagination.

There was no way that could be true.

She did realize one thing, however.

Huo Zhiyuan had already made up her mind.

She was preparing Zhang Siyan to become her successor.

While Meng Zixuan envied Zhang Siyan, she also couldn’t understand something.

Why had Huo Zhiyuan told her about the surname issue beforehand?

Wasn’t she afraid Meng Zixuan would become jealous or resentful toward Zhang Siyan?

Zhao Jingyu had the same question.

After Meng Zixuan went upstairs to change clothes, Zhao Jingyu finally voiced it.

Huo Zhiyuan asked instead, “Do you know why my previous secretary left?”

“I heard…”

Zhao Jingyu replied carefully, “…that she didn’t know her place and leaked some company secrets.”

“That’s right.”

Huo Zhiyuan nodded.

“She said things she shouldn’t have.”

“She revealed things that should never have been revealed.”

“So she had to leave.”

Only then did Zhao Jingyu understand.

There were no true secrets in this world.

Even if very few people knew something—or even if you believed only you knew—that wasn’t necessarily true.

Rather than letting Meng Zixuan hear the truth later through someone else…

it was better for Huo Zhiyuan to tell her herself.

Everything Huo Zhiyuan was doing now served a single purpose: to return the company in perfect condition.

She intended to hand over a complete, healthy enterprise.

Finally, she said, “Go handle the arrangements.”

“During this period, think carefully about which department you’d like to work in.”

“You’ve earned that opportunity.”

Zhao Jingyu’s lips moved slightly.

In the end, she said nothing.

Huo Zhiyuan had already made up her mind.

Before Zhang Siyan officially took over, she intended to clear every obstacle from the path.

Even Zhao Jingyu herself was among those being repositioned.

Suddenly, Zhao Jingyu found herself envying Zhang Siyan.

Without knowing anything…someone had already begun paving the road for her to one day lead an entire corporation.

She also sighed inwardly.

This restructuring would undoubtedly affect many innocent people caught in the crossfire.

As for why Huo Zhiyuan planned to return everything through Zhang Siyan instead of giving the shares directly back to Zhang Ran…that wasn’t a question a secretary should concern herself with.

Still, Zhao Jingyu understood one thing.

Huo Zhiyuan undoubtedly had her own reasons.