Chapter 31: The Lady Boss of the Firm 

For some reason, despite sitting safely in the passenger seat, Jiang Lai suddenly felt a chill run through her body.  

A tingling sensation spread over her, as if a sharp sword hung over her head, ready to strike.  

It felt like someone was watching her, sending shivers down her spine.  

But the feeling passed quickly, and she didn’t dwell on it.  

On the way home, her mind was preoccupied with what kind of work she could do in her current situation.  

Regarding her household registration, Chi Yingyu had promised to handle it.  

Jiang Lai trusted her sister-in-law would solve the issue.  

With an ID, she could leverage her strengths to find a job.  

Her current advantages were her youth and beauty, but beyond that, she had little else.  

Despite her wealth of knowledge and ability to manage a listed company, without proof of her past achievements, they were mere dust in the wind.  

Her previous education and experience couldn’t be applied to her female identity.  

She couldn’t even prove she’d completed mandatory education.  

In today’s job market, she was essentially illiterate.  

No reputable company would hire her.  

On the ride home, Jiang Lai browsed job listings online.  

With her qualifications, she could only manage roles like a server or odd jobs.  

She never imagined, decades after graduating, she’d face the same confusion and aimlessness of a fresh graduate.  

After years of hard work, the sudden absence of a job brought discomfort and a sense of crisis.  

It gnawed at her mind, an invisible pressure weighing her down.  

Without work, she felt like a parasite, leeching off others with no value.  

Though she hid her dejection well, returning from the mall with apparent energy, Chi Yingyu, always by her side, could sense her inner turmoil.  

At dinner, Chi Yingyu extended an invitation.  

If her brother-in-law didn’t mind, he could work at her law firm.  

“I’m thinking of expanding the firm’s scale.  

Could you come help manage it, brother-in-law?”  

Chi Yingyu knew Jiang Lai’s capabilities were more than sufficient.  

Managing a few employees at her firm would be beneath her talents.  

She was well aware that her firm, once a solo operation, had grown to nearly twenty people with significant influence in the city.  

Much of that was due to Jiang Lai’s contributions.  

He provided startup funds when she founded the firm.  

In the early days, he secured clients and made introductions, allowing her talents to shine.  

When she was still a budding lawyer, Jiang Lai nurtured her growth meticulously.  

If he were willing, Chi Yingyu would hand over the entire firm—and herself—to him.  

Whether she admitted it or not, Jiang Lai was the firm’s true “lady boss.”  

She had the qualifications, but Chi Yingyu knew he’d never accept.  

Nor would he take her.  

In the past, despite all his help, he sought no reward.  

When she offered him profits as dividends, he refused.  

Back then, he’d gently patted her head, happy to see his sister-in-law grow into such an outstanding person.  

That alone gave him the face to meet her late sister.  

Her brother-in-law was exceptional, but in his new identity, finding a job with his former salary—or even a decent one—was unlikely.  

Even if Jiang Lai was willing, Chi Yingyu wouldn’t allow it.  

His talents deserved a grander stage, not to be buried in obscurity.  

When Chi Yingyu proposed her idea, Jiang Lai neither accepted nor refused.  

“I’ll look around first.  

If I really can’t find a suitable job, I’ll come to you later.”  

She set many expectations for herself.  

With less than a month until the New Year, many companies were wrapping up for the holidays.  

Her plan was to find work after the New Year.  

For now, she’d research the market and assess her worth.  

Over the next few days, Jiang Lai explored jobs with low education requirements.  

While delivering lunch to Chi Yingyu, she observed her law firm.  

Though it had fewer than twenty people, their average education was high.  

Even a recent intern was a graduate of a top university.  

This made Jiang Lai determined not to burden Chi Yingyu.  

As a “connected hire,” she’d likely spark resentment among the staff.  

In large companies, this might be overlooked, but in a small, refined firm, one person’s opinion could be amplified endlessly.  

Once such an issue arose, others would assume it would happen again.  

If she had the ability to earn their respect, it’d be fine, but she lacked the qualifications.  

Even if she could use her past credentials, they were competitive then but outdated now.  

She didn’t want to disrupt the firm’s stability or tarnish Chi Yingyu’s perfect image in her employees’ eyes.  

To Jiang Lai, Chi Yingyu was just a sister who forgot to eat on time.  

But to her staff, she was a renowned young lawyer with a terrifying win rate above ninety percent.  

Her striking appearance and formidable talent made her an idol to many peers.  

During her career’s rise, Jiang Lai didn’t want to be a blemish.  

Even by Chi Yingyu’s side, she couldn’t help much.  

She wanted to achieve something on her own, as she had before.  

But job hunting was tough.  

Online job postings rarely matched reality.  

A “clerk” position led her to an interview at a small bar.  

Standing outside, she took one look and turned to leave.  

Such odd interview locations weren’t rare.  

Her decades of experience weren’t for nothing—she spotted red flags easily.  

But she worried about her daughter facing the same job market after graduation.  

She resolved that, willing or not, her daughter should keep studying given the hiring environment.  

As Jiang Lai called to inquire about job requirements, someone quietly noted her desperate search.  

***

In her office, Si Yina reviewed a report on a phone number.  

When she parted with Jiang Lai, she had someone track her down.  

All they found was a temporary number registered at the company.  

It was a secondary card, yielding no further details.  

But recently, that number had contacted over a dozen companies.  

One was a subsidiary of her group, which led to this report.  

Si Yina looked at the name provided.  

“So her name is Jiang Lai…”  

Muttering the name, her mind didn’t first recall the beautiful woman she met.  

Instead, she thought of an unrelated company manager.  

That somewhat charming older man was also named Jiang Lai.  

Si Yina had little interest in men, so she never paid him much attention.  

Her only impression was that he hadn’t shown up to work in half a month.  

She’d been looking for chances to streamline the company’s executives, collecting dirt on them.  

But this Jiang Lai was flawless, almost unnaturally perfect.  

Now, she’d found her opportunity.  

Once he was fired, she could focus on luring the beautiful Jiang Lai to her side.