Chapter 10, Premonition

In front of Xia Hongyuan, Ranran did not want to embarrass her stepmother, so she could only nod and take Shao Mingze to greet the guests at the banquet and the company's executives. She walked around the venue with Shao Mingze, introducing nearly everyone she knew, leaving only the executives from the branch company. Those were people she did not know herself, let alone introduce them to Shao Mingze.

A drunkard was then crammed into the front passenger seat. My colleague was already informing the taxi driver of the destination and added, "Driver, I appreciate your trouble; please take them back and drive slowly on the way."

Xia Hongyuan's face darkened, and he said coldly: "Peng Jing, do not be unreasonable!"

In fact, he should also have a childhood sweetheart with whom he grew up, right? She momentarily cannot articulate what she truly feels inside; clearly, it should be a sigh of relief, yet this breath seems to have been lost somewhere.

Xia Hongyuan took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the anger within him, and explained to Peng Jing: "Do not jump to conclusions; this is a family member of one of my clients. That client is currently not in the country, which is why he entrusted me to take care of his family member."

Ranran mockingly curled her lips and then turned to observe Lin Xiangan's reaction. His expression first showed astonishment, followed by a layer of anger. After his gaze shifted between them several times, he said coldly: "Ranran, come here, I have something to discuss with you"

Her figure stiffened slightly, and without turning her head, she said: "Thank you for your reminder, but this is a personal matter for me"

Shao Mingze slowly nodded and said, "Alright"

Ranran couldn't help but smile, turning her head to gaze at the brilliantly lit city in the night, and softly said: "I feel quite similar to Cinderella"

Su Mo, without further ado, pulled Lin Xiang'an away to another place

Just before falling asleep, she faintly heard the sound of the door on the balcony. After an unknown amount of time, he returned to her side, bringing with him a chill. Unconsciously, she curled up and moved to the other side of the bed. Moments later, however, he suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Seeing him like this, Ranran couldn't help but laugh in anger. She raised her eyebrows and looked at him, asking: "Mr. Lin, what do you want to say to me? Or are you saying that you and Miss Su are just ordinary good friends? Don't make me laugh, Miss Su has already admitted it, what is there for a grown man like you to feel embarrassed about?"

Upon hearing this, Shao Mingze could not help but slowly tighten his grip on the glass in his hand, yet his expression remained calm as he said lightly: "We have met twice already, and I have heard people say that she is very shrewd and capable, handling many business matters herself."

Hmm. Rǎn rǎn nodded, "Do you know him too?"

With a gentle smile, I am at a loss for what to say next

Upon exiting the building, the sky outside had already begun to brighten. Ranran did not hail a taxi, but instead walked slowly along the street by herself. Gradually, more people appeared on the road, most of whom were out for morning exercises, while a few, dressed in suits and looking hurried, seemed to have just finished their night shifts and were returning home

Shao Mingze turned his head upon hearing this, looked at her quietly for a moment, and gently asked, "Why did you suddenly say this?"

Ranran extended her arms to embrace his waist and whispered, "I understand the reasoning, but sometimes I just can't control myself"

Chen Luo had been an assistant to Xia Hongyuan for several years, and although he had a decent tolerance for alcohol, he could not withstand being pressured to drink excessively. Consequently, he soon became somewhat inebriated. However, the others were not willing to let him off easily; after dinner, they insisted on dragging him to karaoke. Ranran initially planned to sneak away, but unexpectedly, she was caught and had no choice but to follow along.

Regardless of the reason, she does not want Ms. Han to know about this matter

"Do not fall in love with Shao Mingze," he suddenly said from behind

His body moved slightly away from her as he lowered his gaze and asked, "Do you no longer love Lin Xiang'an?"

"Xiang An!" Su Mo suddenly interrupted his words and looked up at Ran Ran, "I apologize, Miss Xia, I was not very clear before. Xiang An and I have indeed been in a relationship all along"

Su Mo averted his gaze and replied softly: "Yes"

After delivering the person to the location, the colleague's wife was already waiting downstairs. Ranran got out of the car and helped the person into the elevator, and only then did she return to the car, panting. The driver, full of energy, said: "Hey, it's a good thing you had someone else in the car. Did you notice that guy's wife was trying to peek into the car just now? If you had taken him back alone, he would definitely face an interrogation at home"

After Peng Jing finished speaking, she slammed the door and left the office. Xia Hongyuan was so furious that he smashed the computer monitor on the desk with a water cup.

Chen Luo let out a light and brief scoff: "But will he love you? If he loves you, why can he tolerate your staying out all night?"

This Chen Luo was unlike any Chen Luo she had ever seen. Ranran felt a mix of surprise and a hint of anxiety; unwilling to show weakness, she could only summon her courage through anger. Thus, she glared at him fiercely and mockingly asked, "Chen Luo, is this what they call liquid courage? Do you even realize what you are saying?"

Ms. Han's reaction to this arrangement was completely opposite to that of Xia Hongyuan. She coldly questioned Ranran: "Didn’t I tell you to start engaging with the decision-making level before? Why suddenly go to the marketing department? What’s wrong with your thinking? Didn’t Chen Luo leave? Why not take over his position?"

She closed the door and turned around to look at Chen Luo, who was lying on the sofa. He was sleeping very peacefully; if it weren't for the strong smell of alcohol on his breath, he wouldn't seem drunk at all. She stood silently in the living room for a moment, then went to the bathroom to fetch a towel. First, she wiped his face with cool water, and then gently patted his cheek while softly calling out: "Chen Luo, Chen Luo, wake up, go back to bed to sleep"

A colleague beside her gently bumped her shoulder with a smile and said, "Let's go, Ranran, think carefully about how to persuade General Chen to part with some funds."

He is on a business trip, and he does not know that I have not returned all night long. Ranran said in a calm tone

Ranran's thoughts were still focused on Lin Xiang'an and Su Mo, and she did not notice Shao Mingze's expression. She turned around, took his arm, and pulled him in front of the two, smiling as she introduced him: "This is my fiancé, Shao Mingze. Mingze, you should know Miss Su, right? They have a collaboration with Yimei as well. This is Mr. Lin, um, Miss Su's boyfriend? I am not mistaken, am I, Miss Su?"

Before coming to Hongyuan, her world was very simple, akin to the most primitive computer language, consisting solely of zeros and ones; even when there were compromises, they merely represented the midpoint of 0.5. She once loved Lin Xiangan deeply and for a long time, but now she no longer loves him. She admires Shao Mingze's maturity and steadiness, and is even more grateful for his protection and tolerance; she is attempting to love him. She compromises with Ms. Han and seeks to please Xia Hongyuan; regardless of whether this is of her own volition, she is clear-headed and has a definite goal. She admires Shao Mingze's maturity and steadiness, and is even more grateful for his protection and tolerance; she is attempting to love him. She compromises with Ms. Han and seeks to please Xia Hongyuan; regardless of whether this is of her own volition, she is clear-headed and has a definite goal.

As I passed by Chen Luo's office, I happened to catch a few colleagues helping him move things. Upon seeing Ranran, they greeted her with a smile, saying: "Assistant Chen has been promoted. Let's ask him to treat us tonight, and we can have a good feast at his expense. Ranran, don't leave right after work!"

On the afternoon of the second day, Ranran still felt somewhat lethargic, yet a colleague complimented her on her good complexion and inquired about the brand of foundation and blush she used, completely unable to tell that she had overslept that morning and had only washed her face with plain water before coming out

Su Mo!" Lin Xiang'an couldn't help but exclaim

The fire had long since ignited in Ranran's mind, leaving it in utter chaos. When the most intense wave of pleasure struck, her entire body felt as if all the blood had been drained from it, her mind blank. A tingling sensation surged from her heart along the blood vessels to her limbs, then reversed through her pores, causing her entire being to constrict layer by layer

Shao Mingze smiled and patted Ranran's hand, saying, "You go ahead, I happen to have a few friends over there, and I will go chat with them for a bit." As he spoke, he gestured towards the location of his friends and then took his drink and headed in that direction

She learned about this matter inadvertently from Xia Hongyuan's secretary

Ranran had always thought of herself as quite the actress, but at this moment, she truly witnessed what real acting was. She felt inferior to others, suppressing the nausea and discomfort within her, and while pretending to tidy her hair, she discreetly withdrew her hand from Peng Jing's grasp and stepped aside a couple of paces without leaving a trace.

The two of them tumbled onto the bed, entangled with each other, their torn clothes scattered all over the floor. He was on the verge of action, yet he held back, pressing his forehead against hers and hoarsely asking her: "Who am I? Tell me, Ranran, who am I?"

His embrace was warm and strong, allowing her to float as her heart finally found a place to rely on. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, she tiptoed to kiss his lips, first gently touching them, then cautiously probing with the tip of her tongue. He seemed momentarily stunned, then responded passionately.

He asked again: "So do you love Shao Mingze?"

With a soft and repeated utterance of "thank you," she finally managed to get Chen Luo into the house with the help of the driver. Looking at Chen Luo, who was completely inebriated, the driver couldn't help but click his tongue and said, "Miss, I’m not trying to criticize, but with your friend in this state, it’s best to have someone around to look after her. Drinking to this extent can easily lead to trouble."

Ranran was taken aback for a moment, suddenly feeling very curious. It was almost 3:00 AM, yet the master still seemed so energetic.

Seeing that everyone was in such high spirits, and knowing that they all had to interact with each other in their daily work, and with Chen Luo about to leave the company headquarters, Ranran felt she could not appear too different from the others, so she could only smile and go along with it

Her arm coiled around the back of his neck like a snake, her fingers weaving into his short hair, continuously pecking at his lips, she breathed out in response: "Mingze, Shao Mingze"

Lin Xiangan and Su Mo also saw her, and their steps seemed to pause in unison

She was somewhat surprised that he would suddenly bring this up, but upon reflection, it made sense since Shao Mingze was now taking over Shao's real estate sector. In the future, he would be responsible for collaborating with Hongyuan Group on the development of the Nanjiao project, so it was normal to ask about this. Initially, Xia Hongyuan had a covert agreement with Yimei Company, or rather with Su Mo, where Yimei helped Xia Hongyuan secure the Nanjiao project, and in return, Xia Hongyuan was to entrust the subsequent service projects of the Nanjiao project to Yimei Company.

The two had been living together for a long time, yet they had never been as intense as this time. He tightened his grip around her waist, and she clung to his neck with all her strength, pressing herself against him. He kissed her lips fiercely, sucking on her tongue, and she responded even more aggressively, biting his lips.

She tilted her head to look at him, but he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. She had the courage to confess to him, but what about him? Did he dare to be honest?

His lips finally came to a stop, yet they did not leave the hollow of her shoulder

She could not help but call out to him: "Mingze?"

Ranran was keen on building good relationships with her colleagues. Just as she was about to agree, her phone on the table rang again. She could only smile and shake her head at her colleague before answering the call

Ranran was quite surprised that he would say such an obvious defense for Su Mo, and couldn't help but look at him a few more times in astonishment. She then smiled and asked, "If it weren't for Lin Xiangan, do you believe that Su Mo could have achieved her current results solely based on her personal efforts? She has only been back in the country for less than two years. No matter how smart or hardworking she is, in a place like Xiping, without any background, who would give her face?"

She could not respond and did not wish to answer

Their reaction took Ranran by surprise; she was momentarily stunned and could not quite articulate what she felt inside. After a considerable amount of time, she finally revealed a faint bitter smile and quietly asked Shao Mingze beside her, "Am I being particularly childish?"

I see it now. Shao Mingze smiled helplessly and said, "Ranran, you made it too obvious; even a fool could see it."

"Foolish, and yet foolishly brave." Shao Mingze stood up and walked to her side, habitually reaching out to ruffle the top of her head, "Ranran, I..."

After Chen Luo was transferred, Xia Hongyuan discussed with her the idea of having her gain some experience in the subordinate business department. From the very beginning of her time at the company, she had intended to start from the ground up. Upon hearing Xia Hongyuan's suggestion, she immediately agreed to his arrangement and was transferred to the marketing department as an ordinary planner

Not long ago, there was a personnel adjustment within the Shaw Group, and Shaw Mingze was appointed to oversee the real estate sector. Ranran had already learned this from Shaw Mingze, and upon hearing it, she simply nodded and said, "Alright, Dad, I will talk to him."

Shao Mingze, upon hearing this question, reached out to tousle her short hair and said, "Hey, silly girl, what are you daydreaming about again? It's not like I can't afford to support you."

She opened her eyes in a daze, and before she could clearly see his face, he had already lowered his head to kiss her. His lips were extremely cold, with a faint scent of smoke lingering in his mouth, yet his movements were filled with an unprecedented passion. She had been in a muddled sleep, and before she could fully awaken, he had already stirred her mind into a heated frenzy.

Shao Mingze seemed to have suddenly awakened: "Oh, it's nothing, just a bit tired, my focus is somewhat scattered." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Shao's has also assigned a few new projects to Yimei. I was a bit surprised; Yimei has been gaining momentum recently, securing quite a number of service projects from real estate companies."

Ms. Han, after listening, only scolded her with a single word "foolish" and then hung up the phone

A sober person paired with two intoxicated individuals, Ranran, you haven't had much to drink, are responsible for taking these two drunks home. Don't worry, I took a picture of the license plate, everything will be fine. " A colleague said with a smile, casually shoving another person into the car, who was none other than the completely out of it Chen Luo.

Ranran felt a bit stifled in her heart. She could not understand why a dispute had arisen between Su Mo and Shao Mingze. Was it due to the differences in male and female thinking, or was it a matter of their differing perspectives on people? Nevertheless, regardless of the reason, she was merely a woman unrelated to either of them, and there was absolutely no need to jeopardize the harmony between the two for her sake

Her half-hearted attitude infuriated Ms. Han even more, prompting her to retort: "You have to listen to what he arranged? When did you become so obedient? Don't you ever stand up for yourself?"

She felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, patiently exchanged a few jokes with her colleagues, and then shifted the topic to work. Having just transferred a few days ago, there were many things she needed to learn from scratch. She thought that since she was here, she had to learn something substantial.

In the evening, Ranran emerged from the bathroom after taking a shower, while Shao Mingze was still at the computer handling work. She stood quietly behind him for a while, and after much hesitation, she finally said: "Lin Xiangan was once my boyfriend"

She took a deep breath and continued in a stiff, flat voice: "I have a well-matched fiancé, and we are getting married next year. You are about to become the head of the branch office, and your future is also bright. It has not been easy for both of us to reach this point, so do not do anything you might regret in the future"

The driver then suggested to Ranran: "Miss, I recommend that you help him answer the phone, so that his family can come out to pick him up."

She climbed onto the bed to sleep, while he sat at the desk and turned on the computer. The computer screen emitted a faint glow, casting a bluish light throughout the room. Unable to fall asleep, she couldn't help but quietly complain that such an open layout was inconvenient for two people to live in, as it left no privacy for anyone.

Chen Luo paid no attention to her anger, his hot lips gently brushing against her neck as he softly yet firmly said: "Isn't it something you already know? Ranran, you have feelings for me too, don't you?"

Ranran was taken aback for a moment, and then she realized that this was Shao Mingze's cousin. Although she was engaged to Shao Mingze, her interactions with the Shao family were limited, especially with this elder cousin who had been pushed aside by Shao Mingze, with whom she had hardly exchanged any words. The sudden phone call from this person today caught her completely off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond, so she could only say lightly: "Oh, hello"

Perhaps the cool towel had an effect, as he became somewhat more alert, opening his eyes and looking at her in confusion: "Ranran?"

She had indirectly asked Shao Mingze whether, if she were not the daughter of Xia Hongyuan and could not inherit his company, he would still be with her and still be engaged to her. As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt foolish. If she were not Xia Hongyuan's daughter, it would have been impossible for her and Shao Mingze to sit together because of a blind date, let alone the subsequent engagement.

Lin Xiangan pressed his lips tightly together in anger, making a concerted effort to control his temper. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke: "Ranran ... ..."

Xia Hongyuan over there has finished his speech, and Peng Jing warmly approached him. After a moment, she walked over with Xia Hongyuan, reaching out to gently wrap her arm around her shoulder, and affectionately said: "Ranran, there are many guests today, please help your father take care of them, and also take Mingze around to introduce him to everyone."

"Lin Xiangan?" Shao Mingze inquired

On this night, both individuals were quite wild. In the end, she turned onto him, firmly pinning him down, allowing her desires to rise and fall freely. This complete lack of control over pleasure tormented him, causing him to oscillate between heaven and hell. Yet, she lowered her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling like a beautiful little leopard, provocatively curling her lips in a proud smirk.

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then replied calmly: "Because we agreed on this before, that we should be honest with each other and not guess each other's thoughts while living our lives. I didn't expect Su Mo to bring him over; I thought I had already let it go and could be indifferent. However, when we met, it still..." She paused, unsure of how to continue.

Ranran slowly closed her eyes and said softly, "Chen Luo, let me go."

Ranran rested her head against him and, after a long silence, softly asked: "Mingze, do you think we will love each other in the future?"

Perhaps Xu Hongyuan also felt somewhat guilty towards his daughter, so he thought of compensating her in other ways. Not only did he become increasingly generous with money towards Ranran, but he also specifically wanted Ranran to accompany him to the annual dinner of Hongyuan Group.

Lin Xiangan looked at Ranran, opened his mouth as if to speak, but Ranran had already turned around to call out to Shao Mingze in the distance: "Mingze, come here for a moment, I have a friend I want to introduce you to"

They quickly tasted the flavor of blood, yet could not distinguish whose it was. In the final moments, he gasped and whispered in her ear: "Ranran, we are together"

She hesitated for a moment and replied softly, "I will fall in love with him"

Shao Mingze suddenly felt a kind of fear he had never experienced before, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue were thus suppressed. He stood silently for a moment, gently sighed, and reached out to cover her bright and clear eyes, as if saying to himself: "The emotions that have existed, whether they are love or hate now, will leave some traces. What we need to do is not to force ourselves to forget, but to face it head-on."

She politely declined, of course, she did not forget to bring out the great Buddha, Xia Hongyuan, for use.

The driver, however, was quite talkative, continuously chatting all the way, discussing everything from the current international situation to the latest urban anecdotes. Just as he was talking about the impact of the current economic crisis on China's import and export enterprises, a colleague in the front seat, who was already quite drunk, had his phone ring. That colleague could only mindlessly shout "Hello, hello, hello" into the phone, unable to say anything useful.

Shao Mingze let out a low, muffled groan, suddenly pulling her into his embrace with such force that it seemed as if he wanted to embed her entire being within himself, calling her in a daze: "Ranran, Ranran..."

A colleague nearby was already tidying up her belongings in preparation to leave work. Seeing her put down the phone, I leaned over and warmly asked her: "Everyone is discussing going shopping later, would you like to join us?"

The little secretary heard everything outside, trembling in fear, and habitually hid in the tea room to call Chen Luo for help. However, she was caught eavesdropping by Ran Ran outside the door. Ran Ran did not know how Chen Luo had instructed the little secretary; she simply returned to her office along the way, pretending to be completely unaware.

R quietly gazed at the contradictions and struggles, the astonishment and hesitation in his eyes, until he slowly closed them. She knew that he had finally made a choice between his future and her.

Shao Mingyuan was indifferent to her attitude and asked with a light laugh, "Does Miss Xia have time now? I happen to be downstairs at your company. Could you come out for a moment? I have some matters I would like to discuss with Miss Xia."

Ranran intended to explain the entanglement between herself, Lin Xiang'an, and Su Mo, but when she opened her mouth, she found herself at a loss for words

After several instances of this, Shao Mingze said: "Ranran, you don't need to wait for me at night, go ahead and sleep by yourself. You have to work as well, no need to stay up with me."

Shao Mingze seemed to suddenly come to his senses, raising his eyes to look at her, but he was clearly somewhat distracted: "Hmm?"

As she persuaded herself, she also regulated her emotions, taking the initiative to show a gesture of compromise towards him. She gently placed her hand on his arm, leaned her head on his shoulder, and said, "Let's not mention anything about the company at home, shall we?"

She helped him up from the sofa: "Just hold on a bit, let's go back to bed to sleep."

Ranran smiled and handed him a cup of hot milk, saying, "I didn't wait specifically; I can't sleep anyway."

Ranran lowered her eyelids and replied, "Chen Luo's position is not something that just anyone can take over; I currently do not have the capability for that. Moreover, this was arranged by my father, what can I do about it?"

She is not a good-natured person at all, nor is she as obedient and understanding as she appears. She once spread her arms in front of his car, shouting at him to have the guts to run her over; she once struggled with a knife in his embrace, wishing she could rush out and stab her stepmother... No matter how much she thinks she has changed, she has always been that silly girl with extremely strong feelings of both love and hate.

By the time everyone finished having fun at the KTV, it was nearly 2 AM. Aside from a few individuals who had a good tolerance for alcohol and still seemed relatively sober, the rest were quite drunk, unable to walk in a straight line. Ranran had also been persuaded to drink a few beers, and she felt a bit dizzy, worrying about how to get back. Suddenly, she was muddled and pushed into a taxi.

Chen Luo!" Ranran suddenly interrupted him loudly, casting an annoyed glance at him, "I see that you are about sober enough, no need for me anymore, you should rest early, I am going back.

Where could Ranran still find the words to say, her heart filled with a desire to simply throw this drunkard to the ground and let him fend for himself! She suppressed her anger and took several deep breaths, finally enduring the wave of pain, gritting her teeth as she said: "You should exert some effort yourself, do you want to tire me to death?"

Chen Luo turned his head slowly and asked her in a muffled voice, "What is wrong with you?"

Xia Hongyuan nodded and said, "I heard that the Shao family is sending Mingze to manage the real estate sector. This is better; it will make our cooperation more convenient. You go back and tell him to do a good job, and if he encounters any difficulties, he can come to me. We are family."

He finally could no longer endure it, sitting up forcefully, gripping her slender waist with both hands, regaining the initiative, controlling the rhythm between them, while indulging himself wantonly, he also brought her to the peak of pleasure time and again

Chen Luo's gaze swept across her face, and he smiled slightly, whispering, "I am willing."

Shao Mingze smiled helplessly and said, "Emotions, if they could be so easily controlled, would be called rationality."

Before he finished speaking, Su Mo had already tightly grasped his arm: "Xiang An, we are already late. Let's go over there to greet General Manager Xia first and then come back to chat with Miss Xia!"

Xia Hongyuan was very pleased with his daughter's attitude, and after soothing her with a few kind words, he finally allowed her to go out

Shao Mingze looked at her in confusion, but she raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "Have you ever seen Yi Mei's popular figure, Su Mo?"

Xia Hongyuan specifically called Ranran to the office and said earnestly: "Ranran, your father knows that you have been wronged recently, but Hongyuan does not belong to others; it belongs to our Xia family. One day, your father will grow old and will hand over Hongyuan to you and your brother. The business world is like a battlefield; there are no permanent friends or enemies among people, only permanent interests. Whether it is with Su Mo or Lin Xiangan, we must look forward and not be held back by the past. The business world is like a battlefield; there are no permanent friends or enemies among people, only permanent interests. Whether it is with Su Mo or Lin Xiangan, we must look forward and not be held back by the past. Having more friends and broader connections will only bring benefits and no disadvantages for us in business.

Before Ranran could voice her objections, the car had already driven off. As it took a turn, the speed increased slightly, causing inertia to knock Chen Luo beside her onto her. She let out a muffled grunt from the impact and couldn't help but curse inwardly: "This is truly bizarre; why is it always her who has to take the drunken Chen Luo home"

Ranran hesitated for a moment, thinking that even out of courtesy, she should go down for a bit, so she replied "Alright" and got up to go downstairs

Chen Luo did not respond, so she turned her face back to look at him and asked: "Do you love me? Chen Luo, do you love me? Are you brave enough to marry me? If you dare to say you love me now, dare to give up everything you have, dare to take my hand and leave the Hongyuan Group, dare to face the oppression from Xia Hongyuan, dare to say that regardless of future wealth or poverty, you will not complain or regret, then I will go with you, I will no longer be Xia Hongyuan's daughter, I will endure hardships and suffer with you! I dare, but, Chen Luo, do you dare?" I dare, but, Chen Luo, do you dare?

Xia Hongyuan was very pleased, patting his daughter's shoulder and encouraging her: "Ranran, you are a very outstanding girl. Do your best, and your father will be waiting for you to achieve new accomplishments"

A strange man's voice came through the phone: "Hello? Is this Miss Xia? I am Shao Mingyuan"

Ranran could not help but gently push him and softly asked, "What is wrong?"

Chen Luo leaned his entire body against her, silent and quite calm, yet the colleague in front was incessantly chattering, mumbling about something. The driver chuckled after hearing a couple of sentences and said to Ranran, "This guy is so drunk yet still remembers to apologize to his wife; he must be under strict control at home!"

Ranran could not help but envy Mu Qing's freedom, both in spirit and in body

Her body stiffened slightly, and she forced a smile as she stood up from beside him: "Alright, I will go to bed first, you should also rest early."

Peng Jing sneered when she heard it. She picked up a photo from the table and showed it to Xia Hongyuan. She asked aggressively, "Is this how you take care of your clients' family members? Taking care of them to the point of going to their homes, even to the gynecology department? Xia Hongyuan, do you think I'm stupid? I've been to the hospital and checked it myself. That woman's belly is already four months pregnant. Last time you even specifically asked someone to do an ultrasound, and it's a boy, right? Look at the silly way you're smiling. You already have a son, is it necessary?" "I've been to the hospital and checked it myself. That woman's belly is already four months pregnant. Last time you even specifically asked someone to do an ultrasound, and it's a boy, right? Look at the silly way you're smiling. You already have a son, is it necessary?"

Ranran indeed had this intention, so she simply pushed Chen Luo, who had been leaning on her shoulder, aside and leaned forward to snatch her colleague's phone. As expected, it was a call from her colleague's wife, who was anxiously speaking on the line. Ranran briefly exchanged a few words with her, clarified the specific address, and then hung up the phone, placing it back into her colleague's pocket.

Shao Mingze was still looking at her, she gently tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a faint smile, but in the end, she said nothing

Her gaze was intense, as if on fire. The flames reflected in his eyes, causing his pupils to contract with each wave of heat. Her words were like flying knives, piercing his heart one by one. She said she dared to leave with him, dared not to be Xia Hongyuan's daughter, and asked if he dared... Did he dare? Could he really do it? He had worked hard for more than a decade, planning meticulously, step by step, to get to where he was today. He had gained Xia Hongyuan's trust and the opportunity to control everything. Could he really just give it all up like this? Could he really do it?

She suddenly had an inexplicable premonition, as if there were some things she did not know quietly happening, like a terrifying monster lurking beneath the water, unseen yet silently approaching her, ready to emerge unexpectedly at any moment.

What about Chen Luo? He initially appeared in her life inconspicuously, influencing her unknowingly, until eventually she did not know how to position him in her life. He began to make her anxious, to confuse her, and to leave her somewhat at a loss.

Ranran's fingers gently caressed his arm back and forth, her head seeking the most comfortable position in the nook of his shoulder. However, Shao Mingze gently patted the top of her head and said softly, "Ranran, you should go rest early; I still have some work to handle"

She was unsure whether she could fully disclose these matters to Shao Mingze. After some thought, she vaguely replied: "It seems so. Yimei has been quite helpful in the bidding process, and my father is relatively satisfied with their services, so he intends to continue the collaboration. Why, does Shao's company want to cooperate with others? If so, they can directly bring it up with my father. After all, this project is a collaboration between Shao's and Hongyuan, and any issues should be mutually respected and resolved through negotiation."

Ranran felt a sudden heaviness in her chest, and she simply said, "Whatever you want," before turning to find Shao Mingze at the banquet hall. However, on her way, she unexpectedly encountered Su Mo and Lin Xiangan. As a representative of Yimei Company, which has a partnership with Hongyuan Group, Su Mo's presence at the dinner was not surprising to Ranran; she just did not expect her to bring Lin Xiangan along.

Chen Luo still smiled, his eyes, washed by the mist of wine, appeared even brighter. He asked, "Have you ever wondered why they always ask you to send me?"

Xia Hongyuan is certainly unwilling to divorce Peng Jing now, as divorce would mean dividing their assets. How could he possibly share his money with someone else's son? If he wants to give Peng Jing less money, there is a way to do it, but that would require exposing the fact that Chenchen is not his son. He cannot afford to lose face!

Ranran's body was clearly very stiff, yet it could not stop trembling. She slowly released her tightly bitten lower lip, trying her best to speak in a steady voice: "Chen Luo, please have some self-respect. I have been drunk before and have done things in a drunken frenzy. I know that your mind is not confused at all right now, so do not do anything that we will be unable to face in the future."

She spoke as she swung her hand and walked out, but he suddenly grabbed her from behind. He forcefully pulled her back and pinned her against the wall, then pressed his body against hers, leaning in to whisper seductively in her ear: "Ranran, what are you afraid of?"

The good news of the little lover's pregnancy must be kept under wraps for the time being, but the achievements within the company deserve proper rewards. According to prior arrangements, Chen Luo has been appointed as the general manager of the branch office in the neighboring city. Those involved in the bidding process have received various forms of commendation, and Yimei Company, which made significant contributions during the evaluation process, has secured a new contract with Hongyuan Company.

The warm scent of wine sprayed onto her face, causing her to involuntarily tilt her head slightly as she replied: "I no longer love you"

Since moving out of Chen Luo's office, Ran Ran has been intentionally and unintentionally avoiding Chen Luo, trying to minimize contact between the two. When she heard her colleagues say this, she just smiled, intending to find an excuse to brush it off, but Chen Luo had already turned around to look at her: "Let's all go out together in the evening, you should come along."

As he passed through the bedroom door, he stumbled again, causing her to collide with the door frame. Her hip bone struck the wooden edge, causing her to let out a muffled groan, and in an instant, tears streamed down her face

Lin Xiangan, however, stubbornly continued to gaze at Ranran, refusing to budge in the slightest

Ranran suddenly found the situation quite amusing. Su Mo had specifically explained to her that he and Lin Xiang'an were just ordinary friends, and Lin Xiang'an had also sought her out to say that he was not in a relationship with Su Mo. Yet, these two who insisted they were merely good friends always appeared in front of others in a couple-like manner. Ranran took a deep breath, made an effort to curve her lips upward, and greeted Su Mo with a smile: "Welcome, Miss Su, Mr. Lin"

He only mentioned Ranran, but did not call Shao Mingze to go along.

She gently turned over and stole a glance at his back, seeing him sitting there quietly, not moving for a long time, as if he were just staring blankly at the computer. In fact, he probably just wanted to be alone right now. Although she did not understand why problems suddenly arose between them, she suddenly had an inexplicable premonition, as if some things she did not know were quietly happening, like a terrifying monster hidden underwater, invisible yet silently approaching her, ready to suddenly appear in an unexpected place. Although she did not understand why problems suddenly arose between them, she suddenly had an inexplicable premonition, as if some things she did not know were quietly happening, like a terrifying monster hidden underwater, invisible yet silently approaching her, ready to suddenly appear in an unexpected place.

Shao Mingze slowly lowered his gaze and said: "We have only met twice and have not had much interaction."

Chen Luo let out a low "mm" and obediently stood up with her. However, his legs felt weak and he could barely support himself, almost putting all of his weight on her shoulders. She was too small and frail, and as she supported him, they swayed unsteadily, nearly toppling over several times.

Ránrǎn did not think much of it: "I don't see what there is to argue about. Going down to learn some business skills is not a bad thing. After all, the company is right here and won't be going anywhere."

Time swiftly enters the golden autumn of October, a month in which Xia Hongyuan is at his most spirited. First, Hongyuan Group triumphantly secured several projects in the southern suburbs, followed closely by the joyful news that his twenty-one-year-old mistress is pregnant. With success in both the business and romantic arenas, Xia Hongyuan's face is radiant, as if he has suddenly regained more than a decade of youth

She chuckled self-deprecatingly and asked him, "Am I particularly foolish?"

She freed one hand, slowly rubbing her bruised hip while maintaining a serious expression, and said: "You are overthinking it; it was you who got completely drunk, and they asked me to give you a ride back as a favor."

Her consciousness seemed to detach from her body at that moment, her mind a blank after the thunder and lightning, she breathed rapidly, the word "good" was clearly on the tip of her tongue, yet she could not utter it.

Although she has a wealthy father, he has never shown any concern for his daughter

No need for that," Shao Mingze shook his head, appearing somewhat distracted, his gaze fixed on the glass in his hand, unmoving for quite some time.

His words made Ranran feel even more conflicted. After hesitating for a moment, she ultimately could not bring herself to leave just like that, so she could only settle the fare with the driver and send him out. However, as soon as the driver stepped out, she began to regret her decision, feeling that she really should not have stayed. After all, they were a man and a woman alone together, not to mention that they had previously shared a subtle and ambiguous connection.

He was finally satisfied and turned his head to kiss her deeply.

"Am I being unreasonable?" Peng Jing laughed in anger, "Let me tell you, Xia Hongyuan, I am not being unreasonable with you. I am giving you one month to clean up this mess. If you handle this matter properly, then fine; otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next!"

After Shao Mingze was transferred to a new position, he worked overtime for several consecutive days, returning home very late at night. Ranran intended to demonstrate her virtuous and considerate nature, waiting for him to come home each day, preparing some late-night snacks for him, and sometimes engaging in a few casual conversations before finally going to bed.

Ranran then mockingly curled her lips: "Not only is she shrewd and capable, but she is also the dream lover and confidante of the son of the director of the Urban Planning Bureau. With just one phone call, she can make Young Master Lin disregard everything and fly across the ocean with her. With such connections, how could Yimei possibly fail to secure those business deals?"

Fortunately, he is finally leaving

Not long after, Xia Hongyuan proposed that Ranran go to the lower department for training. Prior to this, he had always expressed his intention to keep Ranran by his side and cultivate her as the successor of the company. Ranran speculated that this matter was somewhat related to Xia Hongyuan's mistress being pregnant, but she was still uncertain whether he was clearing the way for the son to be born in the future or if it was merely a compromise between him and Peng Jing

Peng Jing came to the company to confront Xia Hongyuan, slamming a stack of photos on his desk, crying and shouting: "You refuse to come home, you are keeping a woman outside, I have accepted it all, who told me to be blind and follow you in the first place! For the sake of our son, I have endured it, but now you even want to have a child with her, you are really bullying me! Fine! If you look down on us mother and son, then let's get a divorce! Divorce!"

How should this be explained? To say that she has actually long ceased to love Lin Xiang'an, but still feels anger when seeing him with Su Mo, unable to control her temper? However, if she has truly let go, shouldn't she be indifferent and unconcerned? Why does she still feel anger?

Chen Luo turned around and took her to greet the executives from the branch company, introducing each of them to her. He specifically mentioned the bidding for the Nanjiao project, praising Ranran's performance in the bidding process and attributing all the credit for winning the bid to her in just a few short sentences

Until the end of the banquet, she did not see Su Mo and Lin Xiang'an again

He stopped laughing, quietly looked at her, and softly said: "Because everyone can see that our relationship is not ordinary, Ranran, you have been hiding for nothing these days"

Near the end of the workday, Shao Mingze called to say that he had something to attend to in the evening and would be returning home later. He asked her to have dinner alone and not to wait for him. Ranran had already grown accustomed to Shao Mingze's overtime work, so she didn't pay much attention to it, only habitually reminding him a couple of times not to forget to eat.

He slowly turned his head away. She followed his gaze and her eyes landed on the photo frame placed on the bedside table. Inside was a picture of a man and a woman together, standing closely side by side, looking very intimate. She was somewhat nearsighted and instinctively squinted her eyes, only then could she see that it was a photo of Chen Luo and a young woman.

Next comes the task of taking Chen Luo home. He lives alone, so he is not worried about any misunderstandings. However, a problem arises: Chen Luo is over 1.8 meters tall. Although he is slender, his bone structure is quite prominent, and it is indeed impossible for Ranran, with her small frame, to manage taking him home by herself. In the end, the driver could not bear to watch any longer, got out of the car, and said: "Come on, I will see this good deed through and help you get him up."

"Because of the business trip, you haven't even made a single phone call?" Chen Luo asked mockingly, "You have loved before, would you do this?"

She suddenly smiled, gathered all her strength to push him away, and turned to walk outside

He was still staring blankly at the photograph. How did things come to this? Why did he fall in love with her? When the word "love" suddenly sprang to his mind, he was taken aback. He turned around and looked at her in disbelief. Why did he love her? What was there about her that was worthy of his love?

Ranran shrugged nonchalantly. In fact, she was well aware of why Xia Hongyuan suddenly wanted to transfer her to the grassroots level. It was because Xia Hongyuan's mistress was pregnant, and she had already learned from the doctor that it was a male fetus. Consequently, Xia Hongyuan immediately began to guard against her, his daughter

Ranran quickly understood after a moment of thought, and she couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh: "Ha! Of course, which real estate developer would dare to disregard the face of the planning bureau?"

Just as she was hesitating whether to go over, Chen Luo had already walked over from that side. First, he greeted Shao Mingze with a smile, and then, very naturally, he said to her: "Ranran, come over here for a moment, I would like to introduce you to a few general managers from the branch offices."

Late autumn arrives unnoticed, and the weather gradually turns cooler. Ranran begins to receive postcards sent back by Muqing one after another. By arranging the postcards in chronological order, one can clearly see the route taken by Muqing: starting from Xiping and heading northwest, after making a large loop in the northwest of the motherland, he then turns south.

Chen Luo fell silent for a moment, but then he chuckled softly. Ranran, filled with anger and having no place to vent it, immediately pushed him away upon hearing his voice. He stumbled a few steps to the side, barely managing to lean against the wall to stand, and looked up at her with a light smile: "Ranran, haven't you been avoiding me all along? Why did you come over to take care of me?"

Perhaps because she is the daughter of Xia Hongyuan, even though she is currently just a junior staff member, everyone treats her with great warmth. Whenever she asks a question, whether it is simple or profound, there is always someone eager to explain it to her. Even the deputy general manager of the department specifically invited her to the office, saying in a tone that expressed great appreciation for talent: "Your current position is truly a waste of your abilities; why not come and be my assistant instead"

Shao Mingze, however, said: "It seems that Su Mo is a very hardworking and daring person. Her achievements at Yimei are not solely due to her reliance on Lin Xiangan."

Her mind was still immersed in the previous scene, unable to extricate itself, feeling somewhat chaotic, with many inexplicable emotions intertwined. Although she desperately wanted to sort everything out, she momentarily did not know where to begin

After work, a colleague came to invite Ranran to leave together. A group of people filled several taxis with laughter and headed straight to the pre-booked location. Since it was a private gathering to celebrate Chen Luo's promotion, the atmosphere at the banquet was lively. It seemed as if everyone had agreed in advance to take turns to toast Chen Luo.

Everyone laughed upon hearing this, praising with a few remarks such as "Young people are full of vigor" and "A tiger father does not raise a dog daughter"

Shao Mingze neither affirmed nor denied, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly said softly: "Ranran, you are being somewhat obsessive."

On Shao Mingze's face, there was an unmistakable fatigue. When he raised his eyes to look at her, there was hesitation in his gaze. After glancing at her a few times, he suddenly asked: "Ranran, is it Uncle Xia's intention to assign some of the follow-up work for the Nanjiao project to Yimei Company?"

Ranran did not explain or defend herself, she merely pressed her lips together and smiled faintly. When they reached a secluded place, she calmly said to Chen Luo: "You don't need to do these things for me"

Chen Luo glanced at Ranran and jokingly said to the others: "Our young lady here has one little flaw, which is that she is a bit too strong-willed. President Xia originally wanted her to take my position, but she stubbornly refused, insisting on starting from the business department step by step. This caused President Xia to lose his temper with me several times. In the end, he couldn't go against her will and had no choice but to let her go to the sales department"

No, he does not dare

In the photograph, Chen Luo's face still appears youthful, adorned with a blissful smile that seems somewhat silly; while the woman possesses elegantly shaped eyebrows and striking eyes, exuding a graceful demeanor, as beautiful as a lotus freshly emerged from the water

Chen Luo quietly waited nearby, while Ranran carefully glanced at him twice. She could not discern anything from his face, so she decided not to probe further and simply said, "Let's go"

Shao Mingze remained silent, turning her head to glance at him. She noticed that he slightly lowered his eyelids, his gaze fixed on the wine glass in his hand, while his thoughts seemed to have wandered elsewhere

You used to work in electronics and had little interaction with the planning bureau, so naturally, you would not pay attention to these matters

Shao Mingze fell silent for a moment, then suddenly embraced her tightly: "Yes."

Everyone present was astute; upon hearing Chen Luo's words and recalling Xia Hongyuan's attention to his daughter this evening, they all secretly thought that this young lady, who had been silent for many years, seemed to be far from the inept person people had initially speculated her to be

Shao Mingze was chatting with friends when he heard a voice and greeted them before walking over to Ranran. However, upon seeing Su Mo and Lin Xiang'an in front of her, his expression momentarily froze.

Indeed, he knows everything. A wave of nausea rose in Ranran's stomach, yet she obediently replied, "I know what to do, don't worry, Dad"

Ranran had long surpassed the age of using stubbornness to force her parents into submission, so she cooperatively donned a splendid evening gown, making a dazzling appearance at the banquet as the daughter of Xia Hongyuan. Beside her stood Peng Jing, the current wife of the CEO, who was also elegantly dressed and exuded an air of sophistication. With a graceful and gentle smile, she held her son Xia Chenchen with one hand and grasped Ranran's hand with the other, happily watching her husband deliver a speech to the guests, perfectly embodying the role of a virtuous wife and devoted mother.