Miss Beautiful C.E.O and her system

In the end, Ling Qingyu picked out five candidates—three women and two men. The rest were not considered due to their lack of moral standards.

Being overly interest-driven wasn't her ideal choice. Though it might seem more profitable to overlook moral values, she would never risk her group's growth by relying solely on capital preferences.

A true foundation and a strongly rooted association grew from bonded, like-minded builders.

Not to mention, she highly doubted their loyalty. She was convinced that if she handed over her budding group to these unscrupulous managers, her empire would collapse from a loss of reputation and weakening bonds.

Their behavior could breed negativity and create an unhealthy culture, destroying the hard-earned corporate values she had built to cater to her employees' psychology and needs.

After choosing her candidates, Ling Qingyu contemplated their roles and prepared accordingly to suit their skills.

She had numerous industries in her plans that were yet to materialize due to a lack of connections and manpower.

For now, she wasn't in a rush to set up several companies simultaneously. There was still time before her mother-in-law would participate as a presidential candidate.

Rushing wasn't necessarily a bad idea to ready herself as Gu Yi's ally, but taking one step at a time didn't hurt either.

Besides, she could observe the candidates more deeply before entrusting them with significant responsibilities. She never intended to overburden herself by working to exhaustion.

The most she vowed to work was when she grew bored of a leisurely life. After all, what was the use of wealth if it drained her energy and left her exhausted?

There was no need to hasten her decisions, even if a journey of a thousand miles began with a single step.

So be it; these five candidates were reserved for positions in the next chip industry, pharmaceutical industry, and heavy industry. Her head hurt just thinking about the future prospects.

Fortunately, Athena accompanied her, easing many complicated tasks. She dared not imagine how she would manage a vast empire in the future without her dependable "daughter."

She had many friends, but few matched her ambition. While loyalty and capability were undeniable blessings, they were insufficient for what she envisioned.

Her confidantes currently around were enough to serve as an overseer for each industry but nobody could accomplish anything alone.

Athena facilitated everything, allowing a small number of people to control a larger network—an achievement impossible through conventional means or human understanding.

This included complex checks and balances that eased Ling Qingyu's worries. Athena had already revolutionized Ling Qingyu's day-to-day operations. By automating tedious processes and identifying potential risks, the AI allowed Ling Qingyu to focus on high-level strategy. Recently, Athena had even flagged an internal issue—an employee subtly leaking data to a competitor. Without Athena's intervention, the leak could have gone unnoticed until it became catastrophic. These small victories reassured Ling Qingyu that her choice to rely on advanced technology wasn't just wise—it was indispensable.

After all, she knew that an organization's downfall often began with internal contradictions and corruption.

When she owned only a single fashion and beauty company, she could manage and supervise personally to ensure everything ran smoothly.

However, now the stage kept rising like a surging storm without signs of decline or pause. The momentum showed an unstoppable trend.

In other words, she was biting off more than she could chew. Her rapid expansion needed solidification to prevent potential future troubles.

Without Athena, continuing at this pace would lead to inevitable failure. Luckily, the goddess of fortune seemed to favor her.

Ring! Ring!

A phone call interrupted Ling Qingyu's thoughts. She reached for the device and glanced at the screen.

The call was from her mother-in-law, bringing joy to Ling Qingyu's face. She remembered the promise Gu Yi made once Spirit Fox accomplished its mission.

Not only was the operation beautifully completed, but it also exceeded the requirements and stunned Gu Yi's expectations.

Gu Yi had even offered an additional favor, but Ling Qingyu declined, considering their close relationship.

Taking a step back was, in truth, a significant step forward. Gu Yi understood this and didn't mind, as her gesture of goodwill could only be fulfilled once she assumed a higher position.

Nonetheless, Gu Yi had promised Ling Qingyu a gift, and a week had passed.

Gu Yi had been busy with upcoming affairs and hadn't had the time to appease her daughter-in-law.

Ling Qingyu understood her difficulty and didn't mind much. Now that Gu Yi was calling, Ling Qingyu was genuinely happy.

A private air base in Province N, with permission to order Y-20 aircraft and other military vehicles. Ling Qingyu had no idea how Gu Yi obtained such confidential materials.

Though the offer was appealing, Ling Qingyu's anticipation waned after Athena and Tang Ziyi showcased Virgin helicopters.

Given enough time, the duo's products could surpass the world's technology in a short span. If more talented researchers joined them, Ling Qingyu dared not speculate on the advancements.

She even wondered if she might feel outdated one day.

Too rapid an improvement wasn't ideal for humanity, especially if moral values didn't advance alongside technological achievements.

Real life wasn't a movie where benefits from lightning-fast advancements came without consequences.

In fact, a seed of destruction was often planted, waiting to grow until civilization collapsed. In her previous life, two countries—China and Japan—had proven this.

China showed signs of instability, with officials busy patching holes in the economy, population, and culture.

There were warning signals, but with appropriate solutions and a gradual timeline for solidification, positive outcomes were achievable.

Japan, on the other hand, attempted to leap from the Meiji Era into modernization but neglected moral development, allowing barbaric tendencies from its past to resurface.

In the end, the country destroyed itself, offending every circle and nearly leading its population to extinction.

In today's timeline, extremism and terrorism had become global crises. Without thorough studies and appropriate solutions, more trouble awaited in the wheel of history.

Who knew whether extremists, equipped with advanced technologies, might bring greater dangers to the world?

Without further ado, Ling Qingyu answered the call:

"Hello, Minister Gu, it's been a while."

Ling Qingyu didn't address her too familiarly, unsure if Gu Yi was calling for a private or official matter.

"Hey, why so cold? Did you forget me when I wasn't needed?" came the pretentious, blaming tone.

Ling Qingyu smiled with ease and teased, "Oh, mother-in-law, isn't it my deep consideration to keep matters discreet? I don't want to trouble you or give your opponents any leverage."

"Thank you, my dear Qingyu. I never expected you to be so thoughtful. Compared to my quarrelsome daughter, you two are like heaven and earth."

Gu Yi coughed and became serious. She was satisfied with Ling Qingyu's behavior.

"Well, I'm envious too. This is the rarest way to express warmth and love," Ling Qingyu complimented her wife, ignoring Gu Yi's scolding.

She knew better than to meddle in family disputes, understanding that intervening could make her the common enemy if things reconciled.

"Alright, let's get serious. Remember our deal?"

"Of course, mother."

"Well, here's the good news. There's a spacious plot of land near your residence. Not too close, but still convenient. I've discussed it with the governor, and he's approved it. A private airfield is acceptable as long as you comply with aviation regulations and allow flight control monitoring."

"That's really good news," Ling Qingyu said, nodding. "But…"

"Yeah, but… The airfield is fine. It's just a matter of the Y-20 aircraft."

"You mean I can't buy it?" Ling Qingyu asked, slightly disappointed but unsurprised.

"No, you can, depending on how you view it," Gu Yi said, pausing. "My friend, General Tang, is allowing a limited quota for purchasing these planes. However, they'll be second-hand, not brand new. We cannot afford to deplete our air force without timely replenishment."

"That's alright. I suppose they're more reliable than shiny new ones," Ling Qingyu laughed, meaning every word.

"I thought you'd protest," Gu Yi admitted, surprised. "After all, the price you're paying could buy two or three more aircraft. You know what's going on behind the scenes."

Ling Qingyu sighed, understanding. Corruption and exploitation. The former was obvious; the latter suggested the military was leveraging the situation for additional funding to expand its fleet.

In simple terms, one aircraft in exchange for two or more—a deal few would refuse.

Gu Yi's negotiation wasn't without obstacles. As a prominent figure, she faced resistance from factions opposing her reforms. Convincing the governor to approve the airfield had required not only political finesse but also leveraging key alliances. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

Without recent reputation gained from a successful rescue mission decided by her albeit privately, Gu Yi wouldn't be able to influence the governor.

Meanwhile, the Y-20 deal involved a delicate balance between Ling Qingyu needs and military priorities. General Tang had faced pushback from colleagues who feared diminishing their fleet's strength, but Gu Yi's persuasive arguments eventually swayed him.

When benefits was surely promised and merely required a sacrifice of time, nobody was a fool. Not to mention, their pockets were rewarded subtly.

However, Ling Qingyu felt there was another catch from General Tang. She got a feeling that her Spirit Fox were attracting her.