Miss Beautiful C.E.O and her system

With Athena's advantage, Ling Qingyu held damning evidence against the troublemakers, giving her leverage to bend them to her will. However, this power came with risks. It was a double-edged sword that could breed disgust among the elite circle.

Every member of the elite had skeletons in their closets, and most were far from clean. Once exposed, there was no return. If Ling Qingyu wielded this weapon, she would become a pariah. No one liked someone who unearthed buried secrets and laid them bare for public scrutiny.

The unspoken rule of the game was clear: once Ling Qingyu crossed this line, her advancement within the circle would come to a screeching halt.

Previously, when she was weaker, exposing others' dirty dealings would have been viewed with less disdain—perhaps as a desperate move by someone fighting a stronger opponent. Dislike was inevitable, but it was understandable.

But the current Ling Qingyu had transcended such desperate measures. If she still resorted to flipping the game board when faced with challenges, no one would play with her anymore. She couldn't behave like a certain ruler, constantly threatening to press the red button whenever faced with unfavorable moves.

Speaking of, before she transmigrated, the invasion had reached a matter of more than a month. She still didn't know if the resisting nation secured its independence and freedom.

While others were despairing on the first day, she believed the turning point would emerge after three days. Just as expected, the country's cohesion and morals rose after a few collapses and chaos.

A certain someone believed that he could walk his army like backyard and to his despair, he lost after a week.

Back then, she might not have the ability to guesstimate and lacked the experience to predict the outcome, but after she transmigrated here, now, with her sharpened intuition, Ling Qingyu understood the war should end after three months if the fascist country wanted to stabilize and ensure its rear.

Ling Qingyu understood that any prolonged conflict would cripple even the most arrogant of rulers. Victory demanded strategic foresight, not impulsive reactions.

Statistic had proven the war machine's vitality of a nation. Modern era conflict could be studied and predicted through data collected.

How could Ling Qingyu know that there was no way out for a certain dictator and he could be shameless? His arrogance and pride were now the reasons for his nation's downfall.

He couldn't accept the defeat and minimized the losses while he still could. The country's face was totally in shambles.

She didn't witness the coming downfall of a nation led by a similarly reckless dictator. Despite his arrogance, his plans crumbled within a week due to the resilience and unity of the people he sought to oppress.

Nonetheless, war raged on and ceased to stop. What should have ended didn't when one's emotion reigned over the national interest.

…

In addition to navigating the treacherous waters of elite politics, Ling Qingyu faced challenges in scaling production. Supply shortages threatened to derail her business, but Athena's nanoprinter filled the gap, ensuring the company broke even during its weakest moments.

Thanks to her warehouses stocked with extra supplies, Ling Qingyu managed to mitigate the crisis. New factories promised to stabilize future production, especially for clothing and beauty products.

While manufacturing clothes—both plain and intricately designed—proved relatively straightforward, beauty products were a different beast. Drug regulations posed ethical dilemmas, making it unwise for Ling Qingyu to rely solely on Athena's capabilities for self-manufacturing.

Although Athena assured the safety of her creations, Ling Qingyu knew there was more at stake. Without rigorous clinical testing and quality control, the products' legitimacy could be questioned.
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Luckily, her beauty product line operated through a separate production channel unaffected by the supplier disputes. Though these channels couldn't immediately meet demand, Ling Qingyu remained unbothered.

Ling Qingyu aggressively poached workers with enticing offers, draining her enemies' labor force. Yes, they were now her enemies. A group that once collaborated with her for mutual gain had switched allegiances, driven by greed and betrayal.

She was willing to spend lavishly on other measures to counter them—but not a single cent to directly support or pay her adversaries.

Though betraying employees wasn't favored by her, Ling Qingyu didn't dwell on blaming them.

Inwardly, she might look down on their disloyalty, but she acknowledged the broader reality: corporate culture shaped such behavior. When companies showed no care for their employees, why should loyalty be expected in return?

Unlike these cutthroat corporations, Ling Qingyu's group fostered a supportive environment. She treated her staff well, recognizing their value beyond mere profit margins. In contrast, most corporate entities prioritized interests above all else, creating a cycle of indifference and opportunism.

She had Athena monitor them so that she could see these 'new' employees' truest nature. If they never ceased to change their utilitarian behavior despite her homely treatment, Ling Qingyu would not tie them to her faction completely. Each took what they required, purely business.

For distributors dealing in foreign products, Ling Qingyu pursued direct negotiations with primary manufacturers. However, her current prestige wasn't sufficient to secure favorable deals, making the process laborious.

Unsuccessful, Ling Qingyu pinched her nose and decided to halt these sales. Anyway, sooner or later in her plan, she would venture in the pharmaceutical sector with stronger background.

There wasn't a need to bootlick cold butts and suffered with grief, enduring other's bullying. She held the grudge and took note of them.

They were destined to be her targets to attack in the future. Well, not destroy but becoming their opponents was certain with her rise.

Meanwhile, her network of small stores across Country C remained largely unaffected.

Overall, Ling Qingyu sidelined cosmetics to focus on clothing during this tumultuous period. Her intricate designs gained acclaim in fashion shows, keeping her brand in the spotlight.

The turning point came with the emergence of Imperial Resort, a reward from Miss System. This development resolved Ling Qingyu's challenges entirely. The Resort's channels, coupled with her scaling production capabilities, allowed her to establish a self-sufficient supply chain.

The Qin family's public opinion assault posed a different challenge. Ling Qingyu had mixed feelings about the public's unpredictable nature—sometimes insightful, sometimes naïve.

Netizens appeared too smart most of the time but they were also like idiots, their nose led around by others with purpose. Unlike the Ling Yunxiang case, she couldn't rely heavily on Athena to suppress negative news.

Attempting to block criticism could backfire. Instead, Ling Qingyu played the role of the underdog, a strategy that worked to her advantage. Her past good deeds surfaced, swaying public sentiment in her favor.

When the tide of opinion shifted, Ling Qingyu struck decisively. Clothing-related issues were easy to handle, but rumors about her beauty products causing skin diseases created complications.

If not for her positive public image, these rumors could have snowballed into a catastrophic scandal. Drug-related issues were no laughing matter.

Athena, however, swiftly countered the rumors by anonymously leaking irrefutable evidence online. Detailed records of bribes and bank transactions left no doubt about the malicious intent behind the accusations.

Public opinion turned sharply in Ling Qingyu's favor. Ordinary people, now armed with the truth, rallied to defend her.

Without her unique advantages, Ling Qingyu wondered whether she could have resolved this struggle so swiftly.

During this arduous journey, she encountered a like-minded businesswoman with idealistic views. This woman, Meng Han, specialized in affordable women's products, prioritizing service to impoverished communities. Despite coming from a humble background and being twice Ling Qingyu's age, Meng Han exuded a quiet success that left a profound impression on Ling Qingyu.

Their conversations illuminated a gap in Ling Qingyu's approach. While she often relied on financial power to address challenges, Meng Han demonstrated the importance of serving the broader public. Though their industries overlapped, their priorities diverged significantly: Ling Qingyu pursued elitism, pragmatism, and profit, while Meng Han operated on razor-thin margins, driven by an unwavering commitment to those in need.

In this light, Ling Qingyu felt humbled. Her lofty ambitions might surpass Meng Han's in scale, but they lacked the latter's grounded humanity. This encounter inspired Ling Qingyu to reevaluate her methods, realizing that her ventures could and should extend their benefits to ordinary people.

Ling Qingyu began integrating these ideals into her future business projects. To support Meng Han's vision, she invested heavily in her enterprise. When Meng Han offered 20% of the company in gratitude, Ling Qingyu declined, settling for just 10%.

Unfortunately, Meng Han's selfless approach to business made her a target for powerful adversaries, likely competitors unsettled by her impact. Upon learning this, Ling Qingyu resolved to stand by her new ally. Their shared struggles deepened their bond, and Ling Qingyu's resolve to protect Meng Han strengthened. She wouldn't back down, even if her enemies proved as formidable as the Qin family.

Meng Han, ever modest, initially resisted Ling Qingyu's intervention but eventually accepted it. Her sincerity and idealism were rare traits that Ling Qingyu vowed to cherish. This partnership became a treasured gift, reminding Ling Qingyu that ideals often outlast interests.

"An ancient saying teaches that interests may forge relationships, but they pale in comparison to ideals. Faith, however, endures for eternity," Ling Qingyu reflected, concluding the chapter with a contented sigh.

Gu Yi listened intently, absorbing every word without interruption. As an elder, she, too, learned from Ling Qingyu's battles of wits and resilience. Comparing Ling Qingyu to Yang Qingyue, Gu Yi couldn't hide her disappointment. The two were worlds apart—there was simply no comparison.

Yang Qingyue: "Excuse me, are you comparing me to that monster?"

Gu Yi: "Well, you still need my help for everything."

Yang Qingyue: "That's unfair. I'll conquer her and claim the world."

Gu Yi: smirks "And you'll still need my help."

Yang Qingyue: "…"

A/N: I hope this passage isn't confusing. It's just an elongation of the previous chapter, staging Ling Qingyu's coming philosophy and enlightenment. Please, do comment if you have any advice because I like to perceive different viewpoints.