Chapter 3, A Narrow Encounter

Chen Luo seemed to have guessed her thoughts, showing a hint of embarrassment on his face, and explained: "President Xia once mentioned to me that you have a poor stomach and cannot eat cold or hard foods, and you must not go hungry for long"

Ranran was taken aback; it was not surprising that Ms. Han would mention Lin Xiang'an, but what she did not expect was that Chen Luo would also be brought up. She and Chen Luo were not even ordinary friends; they had only met a few times due to their connection with Xia Hongyuan. Aside from tonight, the total number of words exchanged between the two was minimal.

Chen Luo followed her指的方向 and asked with a smile, "What, do you still want to hide and not show up?"

She was filled with doubt in her heart and momentarily did not respond

Ruan Ruan increasingly felt that today's events were like a joke. Neither of the two men knew how to introduce her to Su Mo; Chen Luo was hesitant because she was the daughter of his boss, while Lin Xiang'an was unsure because she was his ex-girlfriend. She chuckled mockingly, withdrew her hand from Lin Xiang'an's palm, and introduced herself to Su Mo on behalf of Lin Xiang'an: "Lin Xiang'an and I are alumni from the same college; if we were to be more familiar, I should call him Senior Lin."

"Drive slowly on the road," Ranran politely reminded once more before bidding farewell to Chen Luo. As she watched his car disappear around the corner of the driveway, she lowered her head and walked towards the entrance of the building. After taking just a couple of steps, she was stopped by someone.

She closed her eyes, wanting to cry out loud, but realized that her eyes were completely dry, and she could not even shed a tear.

Ranran smiled to herself and simply leaned her head back against the sofa, closing her eyes. So much had happened today that she needed to sort out her thoughts before facing Ms. Han's interrogation. After another quarter of an hour, once she had removed the mask and washed her face, Ms. Han finally asked her with a serious expression: "Why do you look down on Shao Mingze?"

Chen Luo observed that Ranran had hardly eaten anything and gently asked her, "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

Ranran had been wearing high heels all day, and in the evening, she forced herself to walk such a long distance that several of her toes were already in excruciating pain. When Mrs. Han asked her this way, she lowered her head and replied evasively, "Let's talk about it upstairs, my feet hurt." After saying this, she did not care about her reaction, took off her shoes, held them in her hands, and walked past her into the building

Thus, Chen Luo extended his hand, affectionately pressing on the back of her head, compelling her to nod at Lin Xiang'an and Su Mo: "Ranran, say goodbye to Senior Brother Lin and Su Mo."

Ranran was still staring at the woman, but her mouth responded before her brain could: "Alright"

She did not think much and casually replied: "Not yet"

In the darkness of the night, her figure appeared increasingly slender, as if it could be pierced by a gust of wind. The sharp, thin heels of her shoes made a rapid and flustered tapping sound against the pavement

Su Mo shrugged indifferently, then waved to the distance, signaling the person in the car to come over

Lin Xiangan's expression clearly froze for a moment, and the warm smile on his face became momentarily stiff

Ranran was unwilling to let Ms. Han notice that she had just been crying. As soon as she entered the room, she rushed into the bathroom and spent nearly half an hour inside before finally coming out, her face covered with a beauty moisturizing mask. Seeing that Ms. Han was still sitting on the sofa waiting, she tilted her head back and sat down on the sofa, mumbling, "What do you need from me?"

"I just got off work and came by to grab a bite before heading back," the woman replied. Perhaps sensing that Ranran had been observing her, she smiled kindly at Ranran and then jokingly asked Chen Luo, "Brother Chen, aren't you going to introduce me to this beautiful lady by your side? What’s the matter? Are you reluctant to share her, wanting to keep her all to yourself?"

Ranran also curved her lips slightly, although it was evident that it was quite forced, at least it could be considered a smile.

"Not far," Chen Luo said with a smile as he turned the steering wheel, merging into the left turn lane. "I will treat you; this kind of guest is still within my means to host."

Ruan Ruan suddenly felt a strong urge to laugh. There were indeed not many similarities between her and her mother; even her height did not inherit the tall stature of Ms. Han.

Ranran was too lazy to continue the conversation, so she just joined in the silly laughter. However, deep within her heart, an endless bitterness slowly surged forth, bubbling up like spring water, and in just a short while, it filled her chest to the brim

Chen Luo did not know what he could say, so he could only quietly watch Ranran. However, she suddenly turned around, walked around the car, and quickly left.

Ms. Han felt both sad and angry, her fingertips trembling slightly, and it took her a long time to speak, hoarsely saying: "It is precisely because I was blind and married Xia Hongyuan that I do not want my daughter to walk the path I have walked, to suffer the hardships I have endured, to bear the pains I have experienced! There is not a single man in this world you can rely on; the only one you can depend on is yourself! Having money and status is far more useful than having a man! Love and romance are just tricks to fool young girls; marriage is a union of interests. Human hearts are fickle, and only when there is a connection of interests can marriage be stable; this has been true since ancient times!" There is not a single man in this world you can rely on; the only one you can depend on is yourself! Having money and status is far more useful than having a man! Love and romance are just tricks to fool young girls; marriage is a union of interests. Human hearts are fickle, and only when there is a connection of interests can marriage be stable; this has been true since ancient times!

Ms. Han stared at Ranran and replied word by word: "Because you are still the daughter of Xia Hongyuan, and because the Shao family is not yet his Shao Mingze's."

Ranran nodded slightly, looking at Lin Xiangan with a smile that was not quite a smile: "What a coincidence, I haven't seen Senior Brother Lin for several years. Back then, Senior Brother Lin left for abroad in such a hurry that he didn't even have the chance to bid you farewell."

What exactly does she see in him that makes her insist on pairing them together?

Su Mo widened her eyes in surprise and chuckled, "Is that so? What a coincidence!"

The woman smiled and said, "I returned two years ago, but I haven't been in Xiping for long. I've been busy with work matters and haven't had the chance to get in touch with everyone."

The other two both sensed the strangeness between them. Su Mo looked at Ran Ran, then at Lin Xiang An, and asked in surprise: "Do you know each other?"

Chen Luo then realized that he had not yet introduced them. Hearing the woman's joke, a slight flush appeared on his handsome face, but he smiled and said, "Don't talk nonsense, this is..." He paused at this point, showing a hint of embarrassment, as if he did not know how to introduce Ranran properly.

Ranran made a concerted effort to control her trembling hands and gently reached out to shake hers, saying: "Hello"

Ms. Han was already growing impatient, yet upon seeing her like this, she still said: "Let's talk after finishing the face mask"

Chen Luo first asked the woman: "Is it convenient?"

Ranran nodded slightly without concern and said, "Alright"

Ms. Han finally exploded, asking her sarcastically: "So what kind do you fancy? Someone like Lin Xiang'an? Or someone like Chen Luo?"

Over there, Lin Xiangan had already approached, and Su Mo generously introduced both parties: "This is Lin Xiangan. Xiangan, this is Senior Brother Chen and his friend Cici."

The woman nodded with a smile: "Of course it's convenient, let's sit together, it will be more lively."

She finally realized that this was Su Mo. She had seen that Su Mo before, dressed in an exquisite long gown, tall and elegant, and even a casual glance would draw one's attention to her. However, the Su Mo before her now, though dressed simply, was poised and graceful in her demeanor, and her witty conversation made it difficult for anyone to look away.

Chen Luo noticed her movements and turned around to look at her in surprise.

"You are being too polite." Chen Luo maintained a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze and asked her, "Shall we head directly back to your residence?"

Ranran felt a tightness in her chest and instinctively took a step back behind Chen Luo, hoping to use his figure to shield herself

Ranran seemed not to have heard his words clearly, raising one eyebrow to look at him, and asked: "What? Senior brother, what did you say?"

A pair of black deep-mouth leather shoes, standard dark trousers, and above that, a mid-length brown trench coat, unbuttoned, revealing a black turtleneck underneath. Although the styles are quite simple, they exude elegance on Ms. Han. As she walked, her gaze finally settled on Ms. Han's face, which was so exquisitely made up that it appeared somewhat artificial.

Ranran followed Chen Luo into the store, where a narrow space housed more than ten small tables, each occupied by patrons, making it surprisingly crowded.

Ranran fell silent for a moment and retorted, "What is it that you see in him?"

Due to her earlier outburst, her breathing was still somewhat rapid, and her eyes had unknowingly turned red. To prevent her tears from falling, she slightly tilted her face upward and fiercely asked Chen Luo: "So what if it's embarrassing? Why should one compromise oneself for the sake of so-called grace? Clearly, I have already lost my teeth; why must I swallow the blood along with it? I am still not feeling good inside; why should I make them feel good?" Clearly, I have already lost my teeth; why must I swallow the blood along with it? I am still not feeling good inside; why should I make them feel good?"

If she were Lin Xiang'an, she would also fall in love with such Su Mo

Ranran raised her eyebrows nonchalantly and said, "I don't care whether he has a future or not."

Ranran felt a chill in her heart, yet could not find a retort, so she could only say: "I can do without Xia Hongyuan's money; without money, I can live a life without it. I have a stable job, and as long as I am willing to work hard, I will never starve."

Chen Luo said nothing, only smiled and shook his head

How could he have the audacity to ask such a question! How could he have the nerve to inquire in such a concerned tone! Ranran could only suppress a cold laugh upon hearing this, forcing herself to hold it back, and merely raised an eyebrow to look at him: "What does my being so thin have to do with Senior Brother Lin?"

Ranran did not dare to speak, for she had indeed witnessed Mu Qing's embarrassment. Due to a lack of money, she could only watch helplessly as her loved one's life slowly slipped away; because of the lack of funds, Mu Qing sat alone in the corridor, secretly crying. She looked at Mrs. Han and asked, somewhat confused: "Will marrying Shao Mingze solve all the problems? Can Xia Hongyuan leave his fortune to me?"

Ms. Han furrowed her brows, clearly on the verge of losing her temper, yet she forcibly held it back and patiently explained: "Shao Mingze is young and talented, and with the Shao family as his backing, he will have an immensely promising future."

Ranran finally averted her gaze, yet she did not speak, merely tilting her head slightly to observe the uneven tiles on the ground

Ruan Ruan had already been holding back her breath, and upon hearing her mention Lin Xiang'an again, she became anxious and retorted, "I am willing, I can like whoever I want, and I can date whoever I want! It's none of your business! If you like Shao Mingze, then you go marry him! Don't say I don't know how to judge people; you aren't any better yourself. If you had any discernment, you wouldn't have married Xia Hongyuan!"

Chen Luo glanced inside and instructed the waiter: "We will eat here, please help us find two seats."

Chen Luo was helping Ran Ran wipe the tableware when he heard this and smiled as he asked, "Was I really that annoying back then?"

Ranran knew that Ms. Han was right. If anyone in this world understands Xia Hongyuan the best, it would be Ms. Han; no one would dare to claim the first place if she took the second. They had known each other for over thirty years, and every temperament had been thoroughly understood. Xia Hongyuan was indeed a person with a serious preference for sons over daughters. Before Ranran, Ms. Han had given birth to a son, who unfortunately passed away due to illness, and only later did she have Ranran. When Xia Hongyuan saw that they had a daughter, he pressured Ms. Han to continue having sons. However, Ms. Han had already suffered physically from two childbirths, and she was also internally resistant to the notion of treating women as mere reproductive tools. Thus, she was unwilling to comply. Because of this, the conflicts between the couple deepened. Later on, Xia Hongyuan simply took a mistress outside and stopped returning home.

The three of them finished eating and came out together. Chen Luo wanted to see Su Mo off, but Su Mo smiled and declined: "Senior Brother Chen can just send Cici, someone is here to pick me up." As she spoke, she pointed with her delicate white fingertip at a car that was slowly coming to a stop not far away.

Ms. Han observed her daughter for a moment without saying anything, then stood up, picked up her bag, and walked out. She could take a step back for now, but that did not mean she could compromise. The reasoning had already been made clear to her daughter; regardless of her daughter's willingness, in the end, it must be according to her wishes. It was this way in the past, and it must be this way in the future as well

These two words made Ranran shiver; she instinctively looked up to find the person with that name. She saw a young woman with a ponytail standing up beside a small table in the front side, smiling as she called out, "Senior Brother Chen."

Ms. Han mistook her daze for a guilty conscience pricked by the truth, which only made her more furious. She stood up and exclaimed: "You look down on a suitable match, yet insist on entangling yourself with these chaotic individuals! Do you think Chen Luo is a good person? With your limited insight, he has more wisdom slipping through his fingers than you possess! First it was Lin Xiang'an, and now another Chen Luo. Xia Ranran, can you not use your eyes to discern people?"

Chen Luo glanced at her and continued to ask: "Have you had dinner?"

Ms. Han seemed to have heard an extremely funny joke and couldn't help but chuckle softly. She settled back into the sofa and asked leisurely, "Oh? Is that so? Then does Mu Qing not work hard in life? Why is she then forced into a corner by a mere few hundred thousand? Oh, right, she needs money because her mother is seriously ill. You need not worry about this; if I fall ill, I won't spend a single penny of yours. But what if you fall ill? What if your future child falls ill? Would you still dare to say that you can live without money?"

Ranran immediately felt a bit regretful for having spoken so harshly. After all, she was her own mother, and it was truly inappropriate to poke at her scars like that. Seeing Ms. Han in this state, she intended to say a few soft words, but felt unable to lower her pride. She opened her mouth but then closed it again, only lowering her gaze.

Chen Luo turned to Ranran and suggested, "Let's eat here; if we take it back and reheat it, the flavor won't be as good."

Ranran asked again: "Then what does Shao Mingze want to Marry me for?"

He suddenly said this to Ranran, which took her by surprise. She had little interaction with him, and they could hardly be considered acquaintances, let alone friends. How could he know that her stomach was not well? And why would he want to take her out for dinner so late at night?

Ranran's temper flared up, and she stubbornly turned her head away. Before she could say anything, Chen Luo had already firmly pulled her towards the parking area. As she stumbled forward with Chen Luo, she reluctantly glanced back at Lin Xiang'an and Su Mo. They stood there in silence, the man handsome and the woman beautiful, both tall and slender, truly a picture of harmony.

Chen Luo then turned to Ranran and suggested, "Ranran, let us sit here."

She finally realized that this was Su Mo. She had seen that Su Mo before, dressed in an exquisite long gown, tall and elegant, and even a casual glance would draw one's attention to her. However, the Su Mo before her now, though dressed simply, was poised and graceful in her demeanor, and her witty conversation made it difficult for anyone to look away.

"Really?" The woman nodded and then asked Ranran with a serious expression, "Cici, I wonder if Senior Brother Chen is feeling better now. If he dares to bully you like that, please be sure to let me know. Our classmates had all paid a deposit before, and it should still be within the service period now."

Ranran thought to herself that he finally recognized her. For some reason, the power that had just been drawn away seemed to slowly return to her. She smiled gently and, with an air of composure, placed her fingers on his hand: "Hello, Lin Xiangan, long time no see."

Ranran understood his embarrassment and continued for him: "I am Chen Luo's colleague, just call me Cici."

He followed her all the way to the bottom of her building. Only then did she turn around to take a glance, hesitated for a moment, and walked over to his car, tapping on the car window.

"Please come in with me," the waiter said as he led them deeper into the shop

Chen Luo drove the car, following her from a distance. He noticed her occasionally raising her hand to wipe her face, suggesting that she must have been crying

Ranran suddenly realized. He could be considered a trusted confidant of Xia Hongyuan, and his actions were naturally at Xia Hongyuan's behest. In order to alleviate his embarrassment, she smiled and said: "I did have a bout of gastrointestinal issues for a while. Where is the restaurant you mentioned? Is it far? If you are treating, I will go."

What is wrong with Shao Mingze? He is young, comes from a good family, is good-looking, and capable; he is truly an excellent candidate for marriage, more than sufficient for her. Since he can calculate and weigh the pros and cons with his parents, does he still expect to seek true love in marriage? What exactly is she still fantasizing about? What is she hoping for?

She was waiting for the bus, feeling utterly bored, and upon hearing the words, she got on the vehicle and politely thanked Chen Luo, saying: "Thank you"

Lin Xiangan pressed his lips tightly together, silently gazing at her

The woman smiled again at Chen Luo, then turned to Ranran and said: "At that time, the instructor was so busy that he didn't have time to take care of us undergraduates, so he left everything to Senior Chen. We thought Senior would be easier to deal with, but who knew he was even stricter than the instructor, which almost made us unable to graduate. Everyone was so angry that we wanted to pool money to hire someone to beat him up at the library."

Ranran fell silent once again, and after a while, she spoke softly: "Mom, I am very tired today. Please allow me to think it over, and I will give you my answer in a couple of days, okay?"

Chen Luo parked the car a bit far away. By the time they turned the corner, Ranran could no longer see Lin Xiang'an and Su Mo's figures. Her heart was filled with a sourness, yet there was also a surge of rebelliousness swirling in her chest, as if it could not find an outlet. She forcefully shook off Chen Luo's hand and shouted at him recklessly: "Who do you think you are? Are we that familiar? What right do you have to meddle in my affairs? Do you think I would be grateful to you for this?"

Ruan Ruan busily shook her head, responding with "not bad, not bad" as she hurriedly lowered her head to scoop a spoonful of fragrant, glutinous porridge into her mouth, feeling only a slight warmth on her tongue, unable to taste anything.

The car door was pushed open, and a tall and upright man stepped out of the vehicle and walked over this way

Lin Xiangan seemed to be suddenly frozen in place, merely standing there and gazing at her, without any reaction whatsoever. Her fingertips felt slightly cool, yet the temperature of his palm seemed even lower, accompanied by a faint dampness, sending a chilling sensation through her as she touched it.

The corridor was narrow, and in some places, one had to turn sideways to pass through. After turning a corner, Chen Luo, who was walking ahead of Ranran, suddenly stopped in his tracks and greeted someone with surprise: "Su Mo?"

He pressed down the car window and calmly looked at her

The waiter beside them, noticing that they were acquainted, seized the opportunity to say: "This table happens to have only this young lady sitting alone. Since you know her, why not sit together?"

In this situation, Su Mo and Chen Luo have both noticed the awkwardness between them

Ranran nodded slightly

Ruan Ruan's footsteps have become somewhat unsteady, and although she clearly knows that his car has been following closely behind, she has not turned her head even once.

The waiter approached and asked, "Will the two of you be dining in or taking it to go?"

The previous generation of the Shao family had three branches. Shao Mingze is the child of the second branch. Although he has established Huaxing Technology, its scale and financial resources cannot compare to the old industries of the Shao family; it can at most be considered a practice venture. Sooner or later, Shao Mingze will have to join the family business, but it will not be easy for him to take the position of the head. He has older cousins above him and younger brothers below him, all of whom are formidable characters.

In such a family, with such parents, she had indeed contemplated escaping, resolutely deciding to abandon all these shackles. She had once been brave, in those fearless years of youth, where she approached both life and love with abundant passion and endless courage. However, unfortunately, she ultimately remained an ordinary person, a cowardly ordinary person, one who had long bowed her head to life in submission.

He will regard you more favorably because of the Shao family's influence. If you are the only one in the future, naturally, everything belonging to Xia Hongyuan will be yours. However, if another woman bears him a son, even for the sake of the Shao family's reputation, he would not dare to act too ruthlessly. Ranran, we need to leverage the power of the Shao family right now. " Mrs. Han softened her tone, earnestly advising, "You need to wake up to this reality! "

Ranran understood that she should maintain her composure and extend her hand for a handshake at this moment, yet her right hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not lift it to place it in his palm. She exerted all her strength to control herself, forcing the corners of her mouth to curve upward, and then raised her head to say to him: "Hello"

While waiting for a car downstairs at the company, a black sedan slowly came to a stop in front of her. Chen Luo, the assistant of Xia Hongyuan, leaned out of the car and called to her, "Ranran, President Xia asked me to take you home, please get in the car."

Lin Xiangan listened, and even the faint smile at the corner of his mouth could no longer be maintained. He looked at Ranran with a complex expression and suddenly asked softly, "How did you become this thin?"

Ranran fell silent for a moment and then softly said: "Xia Hongyuan's money is enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life; I do not need to find another wealthy man."

Lin Xiangan pressed his lips together and slowly and clearly repeated the question he had just asked: "How did you become this thin?"

Chen Luo smiled as he extended his hand to Lin Xiang'an: "My name is Chen Luo"

Chen Luo then sat down opposite the woman, ordering something for her while smiling and engaging in small talk: "What brings you here alone at night to drink porridge?"

Chen Luo thought to himself, this girl is indeed quite stubborn

Chen Luo drove the car and said casually, "People with poor digestive health should eat on time. Since there are no other plans for the evening, I will take you to eat something first, and then I will take you back, alright? I know a place that specializes in porridge, and it tastes great, which is quite suitable for you."

Although the store is not far away, it is located in the old town. The car drives along a dimly lit narrow road, winding for quite a distance before arriving. The storefront is not large and appears somewhat old, but the name is quite interesting, called "Congee House"

A flicker of surprise quickly flashed in the woman's eyes, but it was soon replaced by a beaming smile as she extended her hand towards her: "Hello Cici, I am Su Mo. I worked on my graduation thesis with Senior Chen during university."

She had long stopped crying, and the traces of tears on her face had been wiped clean, though her eyes were still slightly red. She bent down a little, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and said to him: "I am very sorry for what happened tonight; I lost my composure for a moment, and I hope you won't take it to heart"

Chen Luo leaned against the car door, remaining silent until she had shouted herself hoarse. Only then did she softly say: "Ranran, behaving this way will only make things difficult for yourself."

"The money of Xia Hongyuan?" Ms. Han scoffed, "Are you so certain that Xia Hongyuan will leave all his money to you? Let me tell you, Xia Ranran, don't be too naive. Just because you are currently Xia Hongyuan's only daughter, it doesn't mean he will bequeath all his assets to you! He was able to ignore you for over ten years for someone else, and he can just as easily cast you aside for another person in the future! Although he doesn't have a son now, he has plenty of women, and who knows when he might have another son. At that time, the first person Xia Hongyuan will need to guard against is you, his daughter!"

When a person becomes angry, they often speak without thinking, wishing that every word could pierce directly into the heart of others

Ms. Han has been struggling with her daughter for many years and has long since become accustomed to her attitude, having no choice but to follow behind with a cold expression

Chen Luo asked the woman: "When did you return to the country? Why didn't you even make a phone call to inform me?"

She wore a smile on her face, quietly listening to Su Mo and Chen Luo conversing, yet in her heart, she felt that life was akin to an absurd stage play, where a few characters came and went in a space no larger than a palm, performing their respective roles with exaggerated words and actions. She believed this was life, but in the eyes of those offstage, it was nothing short of a farce

Before she finished speaking, she started laughing by herself. Chen Luo also laughed along and said helplessly, "Su Mo, you rascal"

Ms. Han asked in a tone reminiscent of interrogating a criminal: "How is it that he brought you back?"

Ranran did not go to see Ms. Han off. Hearing the door slam shut with a bang, she didn't even have the strength to get up. Tired, truly tired, from the inside out, from the mind to the body, there was not a single part that was not crying out in exhaustion. Living is truly exhausting, yet she lacked even the courage to die, so she could only continue to live like this.

Lin Xiangan forced a smile, opened his mouth but did not know how to speak

Ms. Han's complexion suddenly turned ashen like paper, and she became completely frozen in place

Hello, Brother Chen. Lin Xiang'an shook his hand and politely extended his hand to Ranran, saying, "Hello, Cici"

Chen Luo's eyes flickered as he smiled and said, "Alright, although we are old friends who haven't seen each other for many days, it is getting a bit late today. Let's catch up another day." With that, he took Ranran's hand, applying a slight pressure to her wrist, pulling her closer to him.

Rǎn rǎn lay quietly on the sofa, gazing at the ceiling light that was fixed above. That simple round light emitted a bright white glow. This lamp was one she had replaced later, and it did not match the decor style of the house at all, but she particularly liked it, feeling that it was bright and cheerful, unlike those ornate and complex crystal chandeliers. Although they had many bulbs, even if all were turned on, the room remained dim and blurry. This lamp was one she had replaced later, and it did not match the decor style of the house at all, but she particularly liked it, feeling that it was bright and cheerful, unlike those ornate and complex crystal chandeliers. Although they had many bulbs, even if all were turned on, the room remained dim and blurry.

Chen Luo led her inside, turning back with a smile to explain: "This restaurant has always been very popular. At this hour, most of the diners are people who have just finished their shifts, and they prefer to have some light congee, which is also good for resting at home."