Despite Lin Yun's loud and piercing scream, Luo Chao remained indifferent.
He slowly withdrew his fist from the painting and then extended it straight towards Lin Yun.
Lin Yun glanced at Luo Chao's expressionless face and his fist, still smeared with some blue-black paint, and couldn't help but feel angry.
"You bastard, you actually ruined my favorite painting, the Blue Lotus!"
Although the original Blue Lotus is housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France, the one in Lin Yun's office is a high-quality replica by a famous British artist.
Three hundred thousand British Pounds, not cheap at all.
Moreover, with Lin Yun's wealth level, she was not concerned about the money but about the beauty and the artistic conception of the painting.
Whenever she felt tired from work, she would sit quietly in her office and admire this masterpiece.
Therefore, seeing such a beautiful painting being destroyed by Luo Chao without a word naturally made Lin Yun's anger evident.
However, Luo Chao did not speak. He opened his palm to reveal three black button-like objects.
"What... are these things?"
Seeing these items, Lin Yun restrained her anger, furrowed her brow, and gave Luo Chao a questioning look.
She knew this must be the reason why Luo Chao had damaged the painting.
"A U.S.-made K236 military-grade listening device, weighing 6.2 grams, about the weight of a one-pound coin, yet effectively eavesdropping within a fifty-meter radius! The signal transmission is carried out by a dedicated spy satellite, allowing the listener to easily obtain desired information even if they are abroad," Luo Chao said calmly.
"A bugging device!"
The moment she heard this term, Lin Yun's expression changed to one of sudden realization.
She muttered to herself, "No wonder, no wonder! No wonder some company secrets have been leaking recently! I initially thought there was an inside traitor, but after careful investigation, I found nothing."
"I even specifically enhanced the company's security systems, but to little avail. Turns out someone installed a listening device!"
Luo Chao thoughtfully nodded, then crushed the listening device in his hand.
After ensuring the device was completely destroyed, he continued, "Just now, while observing the painting, I noticed something unusual. The central part of the painting is about 0.8 millimeters higher than the surroundings, leading me to suspect someone had installed a bug in it!"
"Right, do you remember how you got this painting?"
"How did I get it?"
Lin Yun's fair, jade-like hand pinched her delicate chin, furrowing her brows as she tried to recall.
After a short while, Lin Yun seemed to remember something.
She patted her forehead, looked up at Luo Chao, and said, "I remember now, this painting was a gift from Sun Bowen, the oldest son of the Sun Family in Huahai City, during a gathering of young entrepreneurs in Huahai City last year!"
"That guy has been pestering me ever since I became the CEO of Haichen Group, but I've never had any interest in him. Still, that day, with so many elites present, I couldn't bear to refuse his gift outright."
"When I got home and unwrapped the painting, I really liked its peaceful and elegant style, so I hung it in my office. Little did I know, it hid a secret!"
The business world is like a battlefield, and Lin Yun didn't expect that even as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, she could still suffer a setback.
If it weren't for the bodyguard her father assigned her, named Luo Chao, she might have remained in the dark her entire life!
After all, Lin Yun was fond of this painting and wouldn't destroy it for no reason, nor would she imagine someone hid a bug inside!
"Sorry, I wrongly accused you earlier..."
Realizing this, Lin Yun finally let go of her pride as a CEO and softly apologized to Luo Chao.
"Just doing my duty."
Luo Chao's first response was normal, but what he said next nearly made her break down.
"Wife, you just need to ensure you give me a bunch of healthy babies in the future. Of course, I don't care whether they're boys or girls."
But this remark reminded her of her relationship with Luo Chao.
In practical terms, Luo Chao was just a bodyguard her father Lin Guohai had hired for his only daughter, Lin Yun.
But legally speaking, Luo Chao and Lin Yun were a pair of legally married spouses!
"Hmph, you shameless rogue, don't be happy too early! Who's your wife?!"
"This was just a sudden decision by my whimsical father, and besides, getting a divorce these days isn't so hard!"
"Also, you did find the bug, but couldn't you have removed it more gently? Did you have to ruin my painting?! How are you going to compensate me for the thirty thousand pounds loss?"
Lin Yun crossed her arms, pouting angrily as she spoke.
"This is our marital property. Technically speaking, even if we divorce, I should be entitled to a portion of Haichen Group's shares. If you insist on compensation, just deduct it from my shares."
Luo Chao pulled a redwood comb from his military coat, combing his messy hair while speaking nonchalantly, clearly having thought this through.
"You... Haha, I expected you to say that, but unfortunately, Haichen Group is a company wholly owned by my father. Even though I'm the CEO, I'm technically just working for him!"
Lin Yun laughed like a little devil, as if her scheme had succeeded.
"This..."
This was the first time since they met that Luo Chao didn't know how to respond.
Momentarily speechless, Luo Chao cursed in his mind, "Darn it, that old guy Lin Guohai tricked me? What about splitting the assets! Can I sue him for fraud?"
In reality, it wasn't Luo Chao's fault. Those listening devices were placed in the painting using a highly sophisticated method, all for the sake of concealment!
Unless the painting was given to someone unrelated or simply discarded, retrieving the listening devices would inevitably damage the painting!
And just from a business competition perspective, discovering a bugging device that was leaking trade secrets, thereby saving the company from potential loss of revenue, far surpassed the mere thirty thousand pounds!
Knock, knock, knock!
Just then, someone knocked on the office door, marking it as normal working hours.
At the same time, a young woman's voice sounded from outside the door, "Lin, it's me, Lu Xiaoxiao."
"Come in."
Upon hearing this voice, Lin Yun's face darkened, and her tone reverted to its usual coldness.
The door opened, and a demure-looking beauty walked in.
She wore a professional outfit, her figure slender and petite, with short hair dyed a light pink that complemented her delicate face.
Her shapely legs were wrapped in thick white stockings, and the light makeup highlighted her already striking features.
"Director Lu, what's the matter?" Lin Yun asked coldly again.
"Lin, regarding the design you wanted..."
Lu Xiaoxiao hadn't finished speaking when she noticed Luo Chao standing in the corner of the office, holding a black bra, and couldn't help but pause, looking at Luo Chao and Lin Yun with a peculiar expression.
Alone together, and this man was holding a bra; could they be doing something suggestive?
She never imagined Lin Yun to be such a bold woman!
They say in corporate settings, when busy, the secretary works; when not, the secretary... But who thought a female CEO could be so carefree too!
Could this somewhat handsome man be Lin Yun's newly hired "male secretary"?
Thinking of this, Lu Xiaoxiao sized Luo Chao up and down and cautiously inquired of Lin Yun, "Lin, who might this be?"
However, before Lin Yun could respond, Luo Chao suddenly lunged forward, instantly closing the gap to stand directly in front of Lu Xiaoxiao!
Luo Chao was very close to Lu Xiaoxiao, looking down at her, smelling the sweet fragrance from her hair, while glancing at her cleavage.
Then, Luo Chao seriously stared at Lu Xiaoxiao's chest and eerily asked, "Miss, did you hear a couple of slaps?"