Chapter 478 SHIELD Security

Penelope pursed her lips tightly, her fingertips curled slightly, as if she was thinking, or struggling. After a few seconds, she lowered her eyes, shook her head, and smiled softly, but that smile was more bitter than crying.

"What else can I plan?" Her voice was slightly hoarse. "Let's go back to the Muggle world... Let's just treat magic as a dream."

Xie Lin sighed, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"Miss Clearwater, I don't know if I should say these words... With your talent and appearance, you don't need to go this far." He paused, his eyes calm but firm, "Percy, that fool, gave up on you. He has no vision. One day, when he wakes up in the middle of the night, he will regret his decision to abandon you."

Penelope was startled for a moment, then raised her head and stared into Xie Lin's eyes.

"If you really can't find a job, I can help you." Xie Lin leaned back in his chair and said casually, "I know a lot of people. If it's just arranging a job, it won't be difficult for me."

Penelope's eyes trembled slightly, and her expression was complicated. She stared at Xie Lin, as if trying to figure out why he wanted to help her. In the end, she couldn't help but ask: "...Why are you so nice to me?"

Xie Lin smiled faintly, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

"You think too much, Miss Clearwater." His tone was as casual as if he was talking about a trivial matter. "For me, this matter is just a piece of cake. Really, it doesn't take me much effort."

Penelope looked at him, his confident and calm appearance, and couldn't help but think of Percy in those days. She had seen that look before, but now when she recalled it, her mood was completely different. Her eyes were hot, and crystal tears filled her eyes again, but she raised her head stubbornly to prevent them from falling.

Xie Lin looked at Penelope's tearful face, shook his head slightly, and said with a helpless and teasing tone: "Miss Clivard, there is a saying that time is like an arrow that has been shot, it has gone but never returned. Instead of dwelling on the past, it is better to live freely and express yourself. This is the best revenge for those bastards who made you sad."

There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "If you keep crying like this, be careful not to cry your eyes blind. Then I won't be able to help you."

Penelope was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. Her smile still had some traces of tears, but a trace of true relief finally emerged in her eyes.

She stared at Xie Ling, her eyes flickered, a blush quietly appeared on her pretty cheeks, and she said softly: "Xie Ling, can you... stop calling me 'Miss Crivard'?"

Xie Lin raised his eyebrows slightly and looked into her clear eyes.

"My family and friends all call me 'Penny'..." Her voice was low, with a hint of shyness and anticipation, "Can you call me that, too?"

Xie Lin looked at Penelope quietly. There were still undried tears hanging on her long eyelashes. She looked like a dewy flower or a lotus emerging from water, so beautiful and charming. Xie Lin couldn't help but feel an inexplicable throbbing in his heart.

A soft "Penny" escaped her lips.

When this name came out of his mouth, there was a hint of tenderness that he himself didn't even notice.

Penelope opened her eyes wide, her heart skipped a beat, her eyes trembled slightly, and the blush on her face spread to her ears. She opened her lips slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing and just looked at him quietly.

Xie Ling did not look away either.

The air between the two of them suddenly became sticky, like an invisible thread quietly entwining and pulling them one step closer to each other.

The fire in the fireplace flickered, casting tiny spots of light in Penelope's eyes. Her eyes were moist and clear, as if there were still traces of tears, but also with some indescribable emotions.

Her breathing was a little rapid, and she subconsciously tangled her hands together, kneading the corners of her clothes with her fingertips. She was nervous, but she did not retreat.

Xie Lin looked down at her, his eyes unconsciously falling on her slightly trembling lips.

Those were lips that he had never really paid attention to before, soft and rosy, and now slightly pouting due to the ups and downs of emotions, revealing a hint of fragile beauty that made people want to touch it.

The air seemed to become thinner and thinner, and even the candlelight flickered vaguely.

Penelope's fingers moved slightly, her eyes wandered uneasily over Sherin's face, and then - as if mustering up her courage, she slowly leaned forward a little.

The distance between them was so close that if they got just a little bit closer they would cross a certain line.

Xie Ling's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and a dangerous throbbing rose in his heart.

No.

His reason suddenly tightened at the last moment, allowing him to steady himself in time.

His eyes dimmed slightly, but he did not retreat. Instead, he smiled faintly, gently stretched out his hand, and his fingertips fell on Penelope's forehead. He tapped it lightly with a hint of playfulness, breaking the overly hot atmosphere.

"Don't look at me like that, Penny." His voice was low and smiling, with a sense of deliberate distance, "I don't want to take advantage of anyone."

Penelope was stunned, as if she just realized how bold her action was. The blush on her face instantly spread to her neck. She shrank back almost reflexively, and hurriedly adjusted the hem of her skirt. She lowered her head in embarrassment as if she was burned by fire.

"I, I'm not..." She stammered, her heart beating so wildly that it was about to burst out of her chest.

Xie Ling did not let the awkwardness continue. He quickly changed the subject and his voice returned to its usual casual and calm tone.

"Okay, Penny, don't dwell on what happened just now." His tone was like soothing, but also like a reminder, "Rather than this, let's talk about your work."

Penelope was stunned for a moment, not yet fully recovered from her previous emotions, and blinked in confusion for a moment.

"Work?" She looked at him hesitantly. "That's right." Xie Lin leaned back in his chair, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and looked at her calmly, as if the ambiguity just now disappeared in an instant. "Didn't you say that you couldn't find a job? That's great, I can help you find one."

Penelope was stunned for several seconds, as if she had not yet fully adapted to the sudden change in the atmosphere. She pursed her lips, looked at Xie Lin with complicated eyes, and finally chose to continue his topic.

She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and asked softly, "What kind of job can you help me find?"

Sherin smiled slightly, a gleam in his eyes, and slowly said: "Penny, I have a shop at 93 Diagon Alley - Malfoy Armor Shop."

"Malfoy Armor Shop?" Penelope frowned slightly and repeated in a low voice, "It sounds like... a shop that sells armor?"

Xie Lin laughed and nodded, "Almost. But to be more precise, we sell magical protective equipment, such as bracelets with armor charms, cloaks with fire and water invulnerability charms, gloves with anti-disarming charms... and some special escape props, such as the Peruvian dark powder that I specially imported exclusively from Peru."

Penelope's brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of interest flashed in her eyes: "This sounds quite practical. After all, in this era... safety is the most important thing."

"Yes." Xie Lin nodded, leaning back in his chair casually, looking at the jumping flames in the fireplace with deep eyes. "However, this store has been in a loss since it opened. That's because I didn't pay much attention to this store. I just let a few illegitimate children of the Malfoy family take care of it. To be honest, they don't know how to do business. I don't plan to publish advertisements and promote it at this time. I think now is not the best time to promote protective equipment. But when the situation really becomes turbulent, business will come uninvited."

He turned his head and looked at Penelope deeply. "So, I need a truly smart and capable person to manage it and be its person in charge. He needs to formulate a business strategy for its operation and sales so that it can operate more efficiently and quickly occupy the market when the real opportunity comes."

Penelope was stunned, then stared at Xie Lin blankly: "You mean... you want me to take over?"

Xie Lin nodded, still with a faint smile on his face: "You used to be the female president of the Student Union of Hogwarts. You are capable and smart. More importantly, I trust you."

Penelope's heart skipped a beat.

"I do!" She said almost without hesitation, her tone so firm that even she was surprised.

She couldn't lose this opportunity. It was her only chance to stay in the magic world and her only chance to control her future. She had to seize it firmly. Moreover, her eyes fell on Xie Lin's face, and a different emotion quietly rose in her heart - perhaps, this was also an opportunity for her to take her relationship with Xie Lin to a new level.

Xie Lin didn't seem surprised by her reaction. He nodded slightly, his tone still calm: "Very good, Penny, I believe you won't let me down."

Penelope took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and suddenly said, "But... Xie Lin, your business methods need to be improved."

Xie Lin raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Penelope smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling with confidence: "I am of Muggle origin, my parents are businessmen, I have been influenced by them since I was a child, and I have some experience in business." She gently stroked her hair, her tone was steady, and her eyes showed a hint of confidence, "First of all, the name 'Malfoy Armor Shop' is too limited. It gives people the feeling that it is an ordinary store that only sells armor, but what you sell is much more than that - you sell safety."

She paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up and she said in a decisive tone, "So, I suggest changing the name to 'SHIELD Security Consultants' - this is the image we should have."

Xie Lin looked at her thoughtfully: "SHIELD?"

Penelope smiled slightly. "Yes, it was inspired by Muggle comics. But the message it conveys is clear - this is an organization that provides a full range of security solutions, not just a store that sells magical items."

Xie Lin looked at her with interest: "Go on."

Penelope nodded, her eyes sparkling. "In addition to protective equipment, we can also expand our business, such as various escape props, such as Peruvian Dark Powder, Invisibility Dust, etc., and even magic alarm devices, such as peepholes, magic mirrors, or more complex security spell services."

She became more and more passionate as she spoke, her whole body immersed in her own thoughts, her eyes flickering: "But the most important thing is that we can't just sell goods, but provide complete security consulting services."

"Consulting services?" Xie Ling raised his eyebrows.

"That's right!" Penello said seriously, "We can provide one-stop service and tailor-make personalized security solutions for customers. For example, if a customer wants to strengthen the security of their home, we can not only sell them the corresponding alarms, but also help them develop the best installation layout to ensure that there are no blind spots in the entire house."

"If a client needs additional security, we can also recommend a reliable bodyguard team, such as those companies that offer services such as hiring trolls to guard the door."

"We can even develop into a more comprehensive security consulting agency, providing those wizarding families with magical defense training, escape drills, and even 'Guidelines for Preventing Dark Magic Attacks' - making our brand a true symbol of security in the wizarding world."

Penelope's voice became more and more firm, with excitement flashing in her eyes: "Xellin, what you need to do is not to open an ordinary armor store, but to build a brand - a security consulting agency that wizards can trust and rely on!"

Xie Lin looked at her quietly, a smile slowly forming at the corner of his mouth.

This woman was smarter than he thought.

Not only did she accept the position, but she immediately demonstrated her unique business acumen. More importantly, her ideas were… really valuable.

Penelope noticed Xie Lin's gaze and couldn't help but tense up for a moment. She bit her lower lip lightly and said, "What do you think..."

Xie Lin smiled slightly, his eyes deep: "Penny, I suddenly feel that handing this store over to you may be the best decision I have ever made."

Penelope blushed slightly, but she quickly straightened her back and held out her hand solemnly: "Then it's settled, Boss."

Xie Ling looked down at her outstretched hand, paused slightly, then raised his hand and gently held her fingertips.

"It's a pleasure working with you, Penny." (End of this chapter)