Miss Beautiful C.E.O and her system

A few minutes after Lin Fan's flight touched down, Ling Qingyu's Airbus landed and taxied to its designated spot.

Thanks to her privileged status—both as someone about to communicate with the nation's leaders and Athena's discreet manipulations—she enjoyed early access and additional benefits.

Like now. Instead of going through the usual immigration process, a staff member came aboard to check passports and handle the necessary registrations for her group.

The procedure was seamless. Money truly made everything possible—at least, for those with wealth close to Ling Qingyu's level.

Even she had no idea what exactly Miss System had done behind the scenes to make officials cater to her demands so efficiently.

Another reason they bypassed conventional border checks was their decision to bring over their own vehicles.

Why make herself suffer unnecessary hassle when a few extra cents could smooth the process and improve her mood?

Of course, Carlo's warning still lingered in her mind.

Country E was notorious for its lawlessness, corruption, and ongoing conflicts. The possibility of an attack was all too real.

Through the window, she caught sight of a familiar flight number.

She raised a brow and voiced her suspicion. Athena promptly confirmed—it was Lin Fan's flight.

Ling Qingyu's eyes widened in shock.

That troublemaker caused disasters wherever he walked!

Given Carlo's concerns and now the sheer coincidence of Lin Fan's arrival, how could she not think something was amiss?

Her premonitions were rarely wrong—so much so that they often manifested into reality.

And right now, every fiber of her being was screaming that something was about to happen.

If Lin Fan could hear her inner thoughts, he'd no doubt shift the blame back onto her.

Sure, he attracted trouble—but never anything too big. However, if she was nearby, that trouble would escalate into something catastrophic.

Together, they were a walking calamity.

After all, when protagonists crossed paths, peace was never an option.

Despite her formal role as a harem member, Ling Qingyu had acquired immense fortune through Miss System's intervention.

Luck ensured a smooth future—but only if the universe deemed her worthy.

At least, that's what fortune-tellers would claim. Whether reality actually worked that way was another matter entirely.

For now, she and her group remained aboard, waiting for their documents to be officially stamped. Meanwhile, under the attentive care of the beautiful stewardesses, they enjoyed their time in comfort.

Ling Qingyu muttered under her breath, half-joking, half-wary, "Damn, I don't want a robbery at the airport."

She highly doubted that security here would be so lax.

And as for criminals in Country E? They shouldn't have leveled up from novice village just yet.

Athena, hearing her mother's grumbling, rolled her eyes.

As an advanced AI lifeform, she trusted data—not superstition.

Yet, time and time again, her mother's intuition had proven eerily accurate.

So, despite her skepticism, Athena dared not dismiss it outright.

Mo Yunxi and Yin Jingfei quickly noticed Ling Qingyu's shift in demeanor.

"What's wrong, Sister Ling?"

"Yeah, is something bothering you? Even Sister Yunxi—who usually struggles to read emotions—picked up on it," Yin Jingfei added. "Sister Qingyu, you can trust us."

"Just call me dumb if you want to," Mo Yunxi swatted Yin Jingfei's shoulder playfully.

"I think 'low EQ' is a better term," Xiao Yue chimed in.

Ling Qingyu, who had been deeply lost in thought, couldn't help but laugh at their banter.

Yeah. Why was she worrying so much?

She had already prepared for everything.

The rest was up to fate.

Still, fulfilling Carlo's request might be harder than she initially expected.

As Mo Yunxi and Yin Jingfei bickered—blissfully unbothered by their respective ranks as doctor and nurse—Xiao Yue quietly observed.

Unlike the others, she understood Ling Qingyu's concerns on a deeper level.

She approached Xiao Yue and gestured with her chin.

Ling Qingyu bit her lip before confiding her suspicion in a low voice, barely audible to the other woman's ears.

Xiao Yue's brow furrowed deeply.

She had expected Ling Qingyu to be facing a serious problem.

But it turned out to be… superstition?

Perhaps her expression was a little too intense, because Ling Qingyu smacked her thigh and screeched, "Listen to me! There's no doubt my premonition is getting stronger. Believe me—it doesn't hurt to be prepared!"

Xiao Yue nodded. "Understood. But in the face of absolute strength, these things mean nothing."

"I'm not worried about us. I have confidence in myself, in you, and in the others."

Ling Qingyu exhaled, then continued, "What concerns me is the promise I made to my subordinate just hours ago. I don't want it running into trouble."

She quickly explained the additional reason for their arrival in Country E—a last-minute decision she had made after speaking with Carlo.

Xiao Yue took a moment to process, then nodded. "Got it. I'll alert the girls to arm up."

"Go. It doesn't matter if we frightened others."

Ling Qingyu waved her off before patting her own chest in reassurance.

Her gaze flickered toward her bracelet.

Luckily, I've packed everything in here.

The fear of insufficient firepower is a powerful motivator.

She let out a small sigh.

Hopefully, this is just me overthinking.

…========…

While Lin Fan and Ling Qingyu processed their own suspicions, a man in a yellow boonie hat hurriedly laid his backpacks down for the security staff to inspect.

The way the conveyor belt dragged his belongings made his heart clench. He inhaled sharply, exhaled even sharper, and darted his gaze around.

His head stayed low, attempting to conceal the upper half of his face. His erratic behavior should have raised alarms, but the security personnel paid him little mind, continuing their routine checks.

He stole a glance at the door ahead. His last-minute ticket had already been purchased, and he had successfully crossed the immigration checkpoint. Beyond that door was the boarding pathway—his final step to freedom.

The closer he got to crossing the threshold, the more anxious he became.

If Ling Qingyu were here, she would have grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away in an instant.

This man was the target of Carlo's request—her subordinate's nephew.

"Sir, may I check your bag?" A female security officer stepped forward. She was likely a policewoman assigned to airport security.

The man nodded impatiently. A male guard beside her patted him down, running a scanner over his skin. Both officers had dark skin, blending in with the locals.

As the female officer rummaged through his belongings, she pulled out an expensive camera and placed it on the table, locking eyes with him.

His stomach twisted.

Damn.

"What's the problem?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though his fingers twitched against his side. His eyes hovered over the camera despite his best effort to resist the urge.

That camera contained sensitive information. Information that had to be exposed to the world. He was risking his life for this.

"Sir, in Country E, you must register and pay a fee in advance to bring a professional camera into the country," the officer stated.

"Excuse me?" He blinked, momentarily speechless.

"Sir! Please pay the camera tax. Do you hear me clearly?" She repeated, her expression firm.

Internally, he was screaming.

He had faced zero trouble passing through border control and immigration, only to be stopped at the final step over this?

He knew the country was corrupt, but this was blatant. And judging by the indifferent expressions of those around him, this wasn't out of the ordinary.

He had heard stories—passengers extorted, fined, even robbed outright in certain airports.

If he wasn't in a hurry, he would have argued, made a scene, and forced a supervisor to intervene. But time was against him.

Gritting his teeth, he reached for his pocket—

Only to find a few crumpled bills.

His heart sank.

He had burned through most of his cash just getting here.

The two officers' eyes gleamed when they saw him take out money. Their faces soured the moment they realized it wasn't as much as they expected.

They had assumed that a man carrying such an expensive camera must be wealthy.

"That's all I have," he said, suppressing his anger. "Let's not make this difficult. I don't like trouble either. And frankly, this is a matter for the tax bureau, not you. You should know that. Pulling this card won't end well for either of us."

He had no time for this. Every second spent here increased his risk. His tone was sharp, his patience fraying.

The two officers exchanged glances, thrown off by his defiance. They hadn't expected him to push back—let alone be familiar with how things worked behind the scenes.

After a brief silence, the female officer cast a glance toward a nearby small room.

A moment later, a man emerged, holstering a pistol at his waist.

The man in the yellow boonie hat felt his lips twitch.

Seriously?

Just let me through. Why make this a whole damn ordeal?

So, reasoning wasn't going to work.

Robbery it is, then?

Not long ago, he had played along with the corrupt culture of this country, using it to his advantage.

Now?

He hated it.

BOOM! BOOM!

Bang—bang—bang—bang—bang.