Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 2

“It’s an honor to finally meet you, Reporter Lu. I’m Gu Xianyue, General Manager of Yunqing Group.”

Lu Zhao knocked on the door of the news center director’s office.

Wei Ning: “Come in, Lu Zhao. This is Director Shen.”

“Director Wei, Director Shen,” Lu Zhao greeted with a calm smile, though inwardly she was surprised. This matter seemed more complex than she’d initially thought, requiring the director’s involvement.

“I’ve called her in for you. I’ll take my leave now,” Wei Ning said, rising from his chair. He gave Lu Zhao a meaningful look before quietly closing the door behind him.

“How’s your leg recovering, Lu Zhao?” Shen Tianlin, a man of advancing years with slightly graying temples, still possessed a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through her.

“It’s healing well, Director Shen. Thank you for your concern,” Lu Zhao replied with a polite smile.

“Good. I won’t waste your time, Lu Zhao. Let’s get straight to the point.”

Time had left no visible marks of aging on this woman. Though fine lines had begun to etch around her eyes, her gaze remained sharp enough to see through any pretense.

Shen Tianlin chuckled. “Yunqing Medical Group wants to collaborate with our station. We’ll endorse their new products to increase their visibility, and they’ll provide us with financial support.”

“Their representative specifically requested you to be their spokesperson and host the press conference.”

“Choose me?” Lu Zhao asked, slightly surprised. Instead of a celebrity? After a moment’s thought, she understood.

“Their new product is prosthetics, right?” Lu Zhao smiled faintly.

Shen Tianlin nodded approvingly, his eyes filled with admiration for her.

“Choosing you was an excellent decision. During your two years as a war correspondent, you produced invaluable frontline reports and even protected the lives of children in conflict zones. Your positive influence is undeniable—you’re a true heroine. If I were in their position, I would have chosen you too.”

Despite this smooth barrage of praise from her superior, Lu Zhao remained grounded.

Her smile was warm, but she didn’t immediately agree.

She met Shen Tianlin’s gaze directly. His attire was simple yet elegant: a tailored black suit fit him perfectly, accented only by a quartz watch on his wrist. The absence of other accessories gave him a sharp, efficient air.

“Thank you, Director Shen. However, I’d like to thoroughly understand their product before the station endorses it.”

“Of course. But Yunqing is a well-established national brand in medical devices—there shouldn’t be any issues. The quality inspection reports and certifications have already been reviewed by the station. If you’re still concerned, you can communicate further with their representatives.”

“Okay.”

Stepping out of the office, Lu Zhao took a deep breath.

She was now a living golden brand. As long as she remained at the Provincial Television Station, a steady stream of sponsorships would come knocking.

Even in this era where traditional media was being challenged by emerging platforms, they still had opportunities to transform and find breathing room.

Shen Tianlin understood this perfectly. Like Wei Ning, he wanted her to live well, though their motivations differed.

A message popped up on her corporate WeChat: Shen Tianlin had recommended her contact information to the person in charge of this collaboration.

“Gu Xianyue…” Lu Zhao murmured, reading the name on her phone screen. The General Manager of Yunqing Group.

She tapped the screen to respond to the greeting.

“Free to chat? I’m in your company’s reception room.”

Lu Zhao was surprised by how quickly this person had moved.

Then again… Yunqing’s headquarters weren’t far from the Provincial Television Station.

Before her office chair had even warmed up, Lu Zhao was already getting up again.

A sharp pain shot through her leg, likely caused by friction between the residual limb and her prosthetic.

She lifted her pant leg to reveal the swollen stump, her expression remaining calm as she lowered the fabric back into place.

In the reception room:

“Reporter Lu, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Gu Xianyue, General Manager of Yunqing Group.”

The woman before him had long, smooth hair that cascaded naturally over her shoulders. Her tailored black suit hugged her figure perfectly, accentuating her curves.

She extended her left hand to Lu Zhao, her long, alluring eyes deep and mysterious. Her striking features radiated both beauty and a hint of sharpness.

Lu Zhao returned her smile, extending her own left hand to shake hers.

A left-handed person? Lu Zhao thought.

“Hello, I’m Lu Zhao, a reporter for the People’s Livelihood Channel.”

Lu Zhao preferred the title of “reporter” over “Minister.”

After Lu Zhao sat down, Gu Xianqing picked up a file from the sofa and handed it to her.

“Reporter Lu, these are the specifications for our new product. We’ve also brought a prototype for you to try. See if it suits your needs.”

Lu Zhao skimmed the document, quickly identifying the key information.

“AI Adaptive System?” she read aloud.

“Yes, this is the first technology of its kind in China. By integrating an AI system into prosthetic limbs, users can freely switch between gait modes.”

Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow.

Gu Xianyue leaned forward, her magnetic mezzo-soprano voice coaxing, “In other words, when you want to run, you’ll feel lighter; when you want to walk, you’ll feel more stable. The AI will adjust the power system parameters based on your thoughts.”

A faint, cool fragrance drifted from Gu Xianyue’s collar—likely her perfume.

Lu Zhao smiled, her eyes crinkling into a harmless and approachable expression. “Sounds great! I can’t wait to try it out.”

Gu Xianyue studied her for a moment before her lips curved into a smile. “Perfect, Reporter Lu. Let me help you put it on.”

Lu Zhao started to rise. “It’s just a small thing, President Gu. No need to trouble you.”

But Gu Xianyue had already risen. She gently pressed down on Lu Zhao’s shoulder—the force was light, but Lu Zhao, off balance, was pushed back down halfway up.

Gu Xianyue said softly, her tone gentle, “It’s no trouble at all. I’m more familiar with the new product. Let me handle the first fitting.”

Lu Zhao looked up, meeting Gu Xianyue’s deep, dark eyes. Beneath those alluring eyes lay an unmistakable air of authority, brooking no refusal.

“Alright, then. I’ll trouble President Gu.”

Gu Xianyue’s thin lips curved into a friendly smile.

Yet Lu Zhao felt a subtle pressure, as if an invisible force prevented her from resisting.

Gu Xianyue knelt before Lu Zhao, gently rolling up her pant leg. With practiced ease, she loosened the prosthetic socket and smoothly removed it.

Lu Zhao’s residual limb was now exposed to the air.

This wasn’t the first time someone had seen her limb. Lu Zhao observed Gu Xianyue’s reaction, noting her expression remained neutral—no pity, curiosity, or even disgust.

Perhaps she’s seen this often, Lu Zhao thought. After all, she works in medical devices.

Gu Xianyue’s movements were gentle. As she removed the prosthetic, her fingertips brushed against the skin of the residual limb. The area was slightly red, swollen, and warm to the touch. When Gu Xianyue touched it, Lu Zhao instinctively flinched.

Gu Xianyue looked up at that moment, her palm lightly cupping Lu Zhao’s residual limb without fully enclosing it.

Seeing her limb held so casually in Gu Xianyue’s hand, as if it were a toy to be manipulated, Lu Zhao felt a surge of discomfort.

The warmth of Gu Xianyue’s hand flowed, barely touching Lu Zhao’s incompleteness.

Lu Zhao swallowed hard, her long lashes trembling slightly. Her fingers curled into a fist against the sofa.

Yet she suppressed the urge to pull away, obediently allowing Gu Xianyue to continue the replacement.

Fortunately, Gu Xianyue’s practiced movements ensured the process didn’t drag on for too long.

Lu Zhao didn’t understand what was happening to her. She had been examined by medical staff countless times at the hospital, yet Gu Xianyue’s touch made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

How pathetic…

She inwardly berated herself, then took a deep breath to regain her composure.

Through a series of movements, Lu Zhao also noticed that Gu Xianyue’s dominant hand was her right—she was clearly right-handed.

So, she shook my hand with her left to accommodate the weaker side of my body?

Soon, the new prosthetic was fitted, and its perfect fit against her residual limb left her stunned.

“All done, Reporter Lu. You can stand up and take a few steps now.”

Gu Xianyue had not only helped her put on the prosthetic but had even slipped on her shoes.

Even the size of the prosthetic foot matched perfectly.

How did she manage this?

Gu Xianyue had been watching Lu Zhao intently. Seeing the peach blossom eyes widen in surprise, she smiled softly.

Typically, each person’s amputation is unique, varying in height, body type, residual limb shape, length, muscle strength, joint mobility, and more. Prosthetics require precise measurements, adjustments, and custom fabrication, often followed by fine-tuning after delivery.

But Lu Zhao had never ordered a prosthetic from Yunqing. Her current prosthetic had been custom-made at a hospital abroad, making it highly unlikely that her personal information had been leaked.

“Why… does it fit so perfectly?” Lu Zhao asked directly, unable to hide her shock.

She stood up, marveling at the prosthetic’s exceptional comfort and fit.

It was as if… they knew her body intimately.

“Reporter Lu’s publicly available basic information, combined with recent interview footage, allowed Yunqing’s R&D department to make a rough estimate of the ideal prosthetic model for you,” Gu Xianqing explained. “Our research team is quite thorough.”

Lu Zhao’s height was similar to Gu Xianqing’s, while Gu Xianyue was slightly taller. When they stood, their eyes met almost at the same level. Gu Xianqing smiled, gazing into Lu Zhao’s clear, bright peach-blossom eyes.

Lu Zhao blinked. The explanation was barely plausible, but far from simple.

Accurately estimating human body data from video footage was no easy task. Camera distortion required repeated comparisons and calculations, which must have taken Gu Xianyue considerable effort.

To achieve such a perfect fit without Lu Zhao ever visiting Yunqing’s clinic…

It seemed Gu Xianyue had meticulously studied her incomplete body countless times, scrutinizing every detail until she knew it intimately.

As if reading Lu Zhao’s thoughts, Gu Xianyue added, “Reporter Lu and Provincial Television Station are important partners. It’s only natural that we put in extra effort.”

Lu Zhao nodded, her expression remaining calm, but a tingling chill crept up her spine, and her fingertips began to tremble.

How could this be…? Could it be happening here…?

Gu Xianyue said, “Reporter Lu, your prosthetic maintenance isn’t quite up to par. Next time we meet, I’ll bring some medication and teach you better maintenance techniques. Try these out for a while. The instructions and reports are here. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.”

Lu Zhao maintained her smile, though her face had already paled. “Alright, thank you for your kindness, President Gu. I won’t bother you any further. The reception staff will escort you out shortly.”

Lu Zhao rose and hurried out of the office ahead of Gu Xianyue, her retreating figure appearing somewhat flustered, her uneven gait causing her to limp slightly.

Gu Xianyue watched Lu Zhao’s retreating figure, her gaze filled with scrutiny.

Ignoring the pain from her hurried steps, Lu Zhao rushed to the restroom, bent over, and began to dry-heave.

As an accomplished former war correspondent, Lu Zhao had a considerable public profile.

The thought of Gu Xianyue scrutinizing her countless times, staring at her missing limb, ignited a chain reaction, forcing her to relive the battlefield memories of documenting bodies torn apart by shrapnel.

She had lost a leg, but she had seen far more mutilated bodies, some reduced to a single limb.

Lone children were a common sight on the battlefield, lacking the means to protect themselves. As a result, many of the disfigured and incomplete corpses Lu Zhao documented belonged to children.

During the day on the battlefield, her professional training sustained her, allowing her to meticulously record these brutal scenes.

At night, however, these images transformed into nightmares, trapping her in dreams filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the pitch-black walls of the orphanage where she had spent her childhood.

As her somatic symptoms flared, she felt her breathing quicken, her heart race erratically, and her body begin to convulse.

She suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Even though the war was in another country, witnessing such scenes firsthand—the kind she had only ever seen on screens—had left an indelible mark. She could never bring herself to be indifferent to those lost lives.

Her own disability seemed to act as a trigger, causing sudden episodes without warning.

With trembling hands, Lu Zhao pulled a small pill bottle from her pocket, poured the pills into her palm, and swallowed them dryly.

Therapy with a psychiatrist had proven largely ineffective, leaving medication as her only means of managing her condition.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her chest gradually calming.

Apart from Wei Ning, no one knew about her mental illness. It only flared up occasionally.

The stares people gave her prosthetic limbs weren’t triggers. She had long grown accustomed to those gazes—a mixture of pity, curiosity, and disgust—and her inner self wasn’t so fragile.

So why did Gu Xianyue’s gaze provoke such a strong reaction?

Was it because Gu Xianyue knew her so intimately?

Gu Xianyue’s deep, dark eyes resurfaced in her mind, and that inexplicable sense of oppression surged through her again. But then, the woman in her memory smiled warmly, and Lu Zhao’s heart inexplicably relaxed.

Her heartbeat raced like a roller coaster, and that familiar tremor returned. She forced herself to stop thinking, suppressing the feeling.

She resolved to avoid thinking about anything related to Gu Xianyue for the rest of the day, until she got home.