From Ugly Duckling to Queen_ The Rise of a Busines

Deep within the mountains stands a luxurious Chinese estate.

Although designed in a Chinese style, the basement of the estate is filled with the most cutting-edge scientific instruments.

Tap! Tap! Tap! It was the sound of a walking stick striking the ground.

Soon after, the laboratory door was pushed open, and an elderly man with white hair appeared. "Lizette, come up here for a moment."

Lizette Young removed her protective goggles, quietly gave her assistant a few instructions, and then walked out.

In the garden pavilion, Lizette listened to her grandfather, Scirwode Young. Her mouth fell wide open in surprise. "W-What? You want me to go to Austin City to treat Old Mr. Moore in your stead?"

Scirwode nodded.

"No way!" Lizette suddenly realized something and asked, "Old Mr. Moore's illness has always been managed through conditioning, with you updating his prescription every half a month. There's no need for us to go there in person. Granddad, please be honest. What's the real reason for me to go to Austin City?"

Although Scirwode knew he could not hide it from Lizette, she had already guessed it before he even had a chance to speak.

Lizette is truly exceptionally intelligent.

Scirwode no longer concealed anything and revealed everything in detail.

In their youth, Scirwode and Bryan Moore were comrades in arms. They shared a bond that was forged through life and death situations. As time went by, they each started their own families, and decided to arrange a marriage between their descendants. Unfortunately, their children were not destined to be together, so now they decided to make it happen through their grandchildren.

Lizette was once again taken aback.

She asked, "So you want me to go on a blind date? I won't go. I have so many things to do, and my life is already very fulfilling. I don't need a man at all."

After a moment of silence, Scirwode used his trump card.

He said, "If you agree to go, I'll buy you a mineral deposit so you can build a rare earth element laboratory."

Lizette's eyes sparkled for a moment, but she quickly restrained herself.

She answered, "But what if he doesn't like me? You know, different people have different preferences, right?"

Lizette had her conditions.

Scirwode sighed, "So, what are your thoughts?"

"Six months," Lizette said decisively. "Within six months, if neither of us is fond of the other, then this engagement will be null and void. That way, you'll have fulfilled your promise to Old Mr. Moore. What do you think?"

Scirwode slammed his cane and gritted his teeth, agreeing. "Fine!"

...

The next day at 10 a.m., Lizette arrived in Austin City on a private jet.

The cabin door opened, and Bob Wanye, who had an Afro hairstyle, was instantly wide-eyed.

A cascade of black hair flowed over her shoulders, framing her exquisite features. Her face, however, held an unusually cold expression. Lizette's body boasted the perfect S-curve, and what was even more striking were her long and slender legs with perfectly taut muscles.

I wouldn't mind staring at it for a year.

A thought suddenly popped into Bob's mind.

Lizette frowned as she looked at him.

Bob quickly wiped the blood from his nose and greeted enthusiastically, "Boss! You're finally here! I've missed you so much!"

Lizette raised her finger and effortlessly pushed him away. "Are the things I asked for ready?"

Bob pointed to the black suitcase at his feet and said, "Wigs, old sportswear, makeup... Everything's in there."

Lizette hummed once and continued walking forward.

Bob carried the suitcase and followed behind her. He rambled continuously, "Hey Boss, how long will you be staying this time to treat Old Mr. Moore? Do you want to visit us at the base? Oh, right. Will you be using these things? They smell so bad. Besides, even my great-grandmother won't dress like this. Hey, Boss... Boss, wait for me!"

Lizette kept walking and spoke in a cold voice. "Shut up! If you keep nagging, I'll send you on a mission to Africa."

Bob fell silent in an instant.

...

Two hours later, Lizette walked out of the room after changing her outfit.

Her hair was dry with split ends, and her clothes were too big, with the sleeves rolled up twice. In addition, her skin on both her body and face was dry and yellowish. When she opened her mouth, her teeth were also yellow like her skin.

Bob wished he could immediately blind himself.

I-Is this really that aloof and stunningly beautiful Boss? I've only heard of people trying to make themselves more beautiful. Never have I seen anyone deliberately try to make themselves uglier.

Lizette ignored his dramatic gestures and asked, "Bob, how do I look?"

How else can you look? Even a dog would shake its head in disapproval.

Bob dared not speak up for fear that if he did, he might not live another day.

Hence, he said, "Uhm... When a man look at you, he'll definitely lose those worldly desires. Do you know what I mean?"

That was the most tactful phrasing Bob could think of.

Lizette nodded in satisfaction.

That was exactly the effect she wanted.

...

At 1 p.m., a transformed Lizette arrived at the train station.

Ten minutes later, a Benz minivan pulled over to the side of the road, and a middle-aged man and woman stepped out of the vehicle.

The man was Mike, a driver, and the woman was Fannie, the female butler of the Moore family.

Fannie looked around, but she was unable to spot the right person. She said impatiently, "The train has already arrived! Did she get lost or something? How annoying! Country bumpkins should just stay in the countryside. Why bother coming to the city?"

Mike had a good temper, so he said, "Calm down. Let's wait a little longer."

After Lizette saw the vehicle's license plate number, she walked over to them directly.

As she approached, both Mike and Fannie wore cautious expressions on their faces. Fannie, in particular, seemed somewhat disgusted as she pinched her nose and exaggeratedly took two steps back. She waved her hand at Lizette. "Go away! We don't have money. If you want to beg, go somewhere else."

Lizette was mistaken for a beggar.

However, she did not seem to care but calmly asked instead, "I'm Lizette. Are you here to pick me up?"

Even Mike was taken aback by this that he took a step back in surprise.

Fannie was the first to react. Her eyes were filled with disgust, and she spoke with a sharp and sarcastic tone, saying, "So you're Lizette? What's with your appearance? How long has it been since you last took a bath? Do you have fleas on you?"

Lizette took out a black and white screen cellphone and pulled up a message.

She asked, "How about you give Old Mr. Moore a call to confirm?"

Fannie was contemptous and was unwilling to pick up the phone. Mike glanced over and saw that it was Bryan's personal number indeed.

He turned to open the door. "Hello, Miss Young. Thank you for taking the trouble to come here. Please, get in the car."

An hour later, the car pulled into the Moore Mansion.

Before getting off the car, Fannie grabbed Lizette and whispered a warning, "Once we're inside the mansion, don't touch anything carelessly. This isn't some remote wilderness where you can run wild, understand?"

Lizette turned her head to look out the window.

There were already quite a few people standing at the entrance.

After taking a look around, she made up her mind.

Lizette pushed the door open and got out of the car. She bowed deeply toward the back seat of the car and said loudly, "Thank you, Mrs. Moore. I'll remember everything you said!"

The car stopped at the doorstep of the mansion, and everyone present heard Lizette's words.

Margaret, who stood at the forefront, immediately had a somber expression.

Fannie got out of the car with a panicked expression and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about! When did I ever say I was Mrs. Moore?"

Lizette feigned surprise. "Oh? You've taught me so many rules along the way, and you're wearing such beautiful clothes, so I just thought you were Mrs. Moore!"

Fannie was so furious that she wanted to tear Lizette's mouth apart.

"That's enough!" Margaret said, giving Lizette a disdainful glance.

She had already heard that Lizette came from the countryside, but she never imagined Lizette to be so ugly and unsophisticated.

Margaret could not even stand to look at Lizette for a moment longer, so she furrowed her eyebrows and said, "It's good that she arrived. Mike, take her to the study. Dad's already waiting."