The luxury sedan pulled up to the resort's private entrance. Mei Lin stepped out, her movements hesitant. She looked out of place in her simple dress, her hands still faintly smelling of earth and jasmine. She was nervous. The invitation from the formidable CEO, Han Yue, had been delivered with the speed and certainty of a corporate subpoena.
She carried a small, wrapped bouquet of her finest gardenias, a tribute of gratitude for the strange, sudden stroke of luck that had transformed her life. She didn't know the exact mechanism, but the Luck had started flowing the moment she spoke to the kind stranger yesterday.
A security detail escorted her through the opulent lobbies and up to the penthouse suite.
Inside the suite, the three main characters were tense.
Han Yue sat rigidly on a plush sofa, reviewing the detailed report on Mei Lin's abrupt financial reversal. She saw a competitor, not a simple florist. She had to understand the purity of this new Luck Flow.
Han Qing was nestled in the corner, watching the door with deep suspicion. She had secured her position as the Guardian of the Conduit through near-death experience. She was ready to use her illness to defend her territory.
Zhao Min stood awkwardly between them, trying to focus on a new corporate report. He was relieved that Han Yue had not followed through on his ex, Li Mei, but he was confused by the sudden obsession with a flower seller. He just saw an opportunity to finally thank the woman who had received the luck he wished he had.
The door opened, and Mei Lin was shown in.
Mei Lin took a deep breath. She walked toward Han Yue, offering the flowers. "Ms. Han, thank you for inviting me. I wanted to thank you and your company for the incredible contracts. I don't know why, but my flowers are suddenly in high demand."
Han Yue took the bouquet, but her eyes were fixed on the florist's face. "The scent is indeed... unique, Ms. Lin. But I understand you did not receive the initial inspiration from my company."
Mei Lin's gaze immediately found Zhao Min. He stood apart from the sisters, looking tired but genuinely happy to see her.
"No," Mei Lin said, her voice soft but sincere. "I was feeling low. No one was buying. Then a very kind gentleman came by. He saw my hard work. He was the first person in months to truly appreciate the simple beauty of my gardenias." She looked directly at Zhao Min. "His kindness changed everything. It felt like a miracle."
Zhao Min smiled. "I'm just glad you got the luck you deserved, Mei Lin."
This simple, genuine exchange Zhao Min's Sincerity and Mei Lin's Gratitude was immediately registered by the System.
[Good Luck Conduction System]
Target: Mei Lin. Affection Level increased to +20 (Open Gratitude).
LUCK FLOW: Sustained.
Han Yue watched the sincere admiration in Mei Lin's eyes and felt a powerful, cold wave of jealousy. She had spent millions securing Zhao Min; this florist had stolen a piece of his essential kindness with ten Yuan and a simple flower.
"Mr. Zhao is a very busy man, Ms. Lin," Han Yue said sharply, setting the flowers aside. "His time is valuable to my firm. You must understand that any further communication must go through my office."
Han Qing, seeing the threat, immediately slid off the sofa and rushed toward Zhao Min, grabbing his arm tightly.
"That's right!" Han Qing snapped at Mei Lin, her voice arrogant again. "He's not a kindness machine for strangers! He's my guardian! I need him here, or I get sick! You just want his attention because he made you rich!"
Mei Lin took a step back, shocked by the sudden hostility. "I... I just wanted to say thank you."
"Your thanks is a disruption!" Han Qing shot back, tightening her grip on Zhao Min. "Stay away from him!"
Zhao Min, feeling Han Qing's desperation and seeing Mei Lin's pain, immediately pulled his attention away from both sisters. He spoke to Mei Lin, ignoring the tension around him.
"Qing is just scared, Mei Lin. She doesn't mean to be rude," Zhao Min said gently. He gave Mei Lin a reassuring look. "You just focus on your flowers. They're wonderful."
His kindness stabilized Han Qing, but his open defense of the florist sent a clear signal to both sisters: he would not be controlled by their jealousy. He would always defend the simple, the kind, and the pure.
Han Yue recognized the danger. Her open hostility, fueled by jealousy, was pushing Zhao Min away. If she fought Mei Lin, she would risk losing her own claim. She had to switch tactics immediately from rivalry to Inclusion.
She walked over, placing a calming hand on Han Qing's shoulder, forcing the girl to back down.
"That is enough, Qing. Apologize to Ms. Lin," Han Yue commanded, her voice now calm and authoritative.
Han Qing glared, but the fear of Han Yue's retaliation and the risk of upsetting Zhao Min further made her comply. "Sorry," she mumbled to Mei Lin.
Han Yue turned to the florist, her voice changing to a smooth, corporate tone. "Ms. Lin, I see your flowers are a unique resource. We want to secure a long-term partnership with you. Nova Consulting owns the largest luxury resort chain in the region. We want you to be our exclusive supplier. We will pay you handsomely. We will buy you a new shop. We will secure your future."
Mei Lin looked stunned. "But... why? My flowers are simple."
"We believe in simplicity," Han Yue lied smoothly. "And we believe in supporting talent. I want you to work directly with us. You will have an office, a salary, and full freedom to create. You will be part of the Nova family."
Han Yue was not offering a contract; she was offering a cage of gold. She was bringing the new Luck Conduit into her controlled environment, ensuring that Zhao Min's positive emotional flow toward Mei Lin would only benefit Nova Consulting.
Mei Lin looked at the wealth offered, then at Zhao Min. He looked back at her, his face earnest.
"That's a fantastic opportunity, Mei Lin," Zhao Min said, genuinely happy for her. "You deserve it."
His endorsement was all the encouragement she needed. Mei Lin looked back at Han Yue, a grateful, simple smile on her face. "Yes, Ms. Han. I accept. Thank you."
The deal was sealed with a handshake. Mei Lin was now officially a part of the Harem's orbit, a third pole of Affection and Luck.
Han Yue smiled, a cold, predatory smile. "Welcome aboard, Ms. Lin. We will set up your new studio immediately. It will be located... very close to my office."
Han Qing watched the exchange, her expression turning from anger to calculating acceptance. She realized that Mei Lin, though simple, was a genuine threat. Han Qing looked at her sister, a shared understanding passing between them: they could not fight Zhao Min's kindness; they could only control the beneficiaries.
Later that afternoon, Han Yue pulled Zhao Min aside. "You like Mei Lin," she stated, not as a question, but as a fact.
"She's a kind, hardworking person," Zhao Min confirmed. "She finally caught a break."
"Then she stays," Han Yue said firmly. "We will protect her success. Because protecting those you care about is what brings us stability."
Han Yue's strategy was now fixed: she would build a stable, prosperous Harem of Harmony around Zhao Min. Every woman he genuinely appreciated would be integrated and secured by Nova Consulting. This would maximize his positive emotional output, creating an unbreakable shield of luck for her empire.
She had secured the CEO (Herself), the Guardian (Han Qing), and the Artist (Mei Lin).
But as the complexity of his life deepened, Zhao Min retreated further into his only source of safety: his own, quiet kindness. He pulled out his phone, guilt returning as he thought of Li Mei, alone and terrified. He couldn't help her directly, but he knew he couldn't leave her to suffer.
He needed to send a lifeline not money, but information. A small, helpful detail that would ease her suffering without triggering a massive Karma backlash.
He opened his contacts, ready to betray Han Yue's command for the sake of his old love's safety.