Chapter 4, Attempting to Engage

Ranran couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and ask, "How so?"

"Did you handle Huaxing Technology?" she asked

Upon reflecting on these matters, Xia Hongyuan felt both anger and exhaustion. Looking at his daughter, who graduated from a prestigious university, he felt a rare sense of comfort and spoke a few heartfelt words: "Ranran, why don't you quit your job and come help your father at the company? You are my only daughter, and the company will eventually be handed over to you. Come over to gain some experience first, so that you can take over the company in the future"

She did not hold back with him and directly stated her demands: "Mr. Shao, I do not wish to investigate what kind of person you were before marriage or what your past entails, but I hope you can remain faithful after we are married, at the very least in a physical sense. We are both adults; although it is not guaranteed that we will develop feelings for each other after marriage, there will inevitably be physical contact. I cannot tolerate sharing a man with other women; it is quite repulsive."

Such a relationship is neither too close nor too distant; it entirely depends on how the two individuals parted ways back then. As long as the breakup was not due to a complete falling out, there will always remain a unique sentiment between them.

Ranran dared not walk slowly, wishing she could step out of Xia Hongyuan's office in one stride. Little did she know that she would run into Chen Luo, who was just entering from outside. Seeing that Xia Hongyuan wanted to find a driver to take Ranran home, he smiled and said, "Why don't I give Ranran a ride? It happens to be on my way."

She was momentarily taken aback, understanding the principle of starting from the bottom, yet somewhat puzzled as to why she had to go to a branch office in another location instead of the headquarters. After pondering for a moment, she asked: "Why must we go to the branch office?"

Shao Mingze looked at her and slowly nodded, "That makes sense"

Ranran noticed that Xia Hongyuan had something to say, and it seemed that it was not easy for him to bring it up. Given that it was something that made Xia Hongyuan feel embarrassed to speak, it was highly likely that it was not a good matter. She deliberately pretended not to notice, handed the newly bought shirt to Xia Hongyuan, and said: "Dad, I saw this while shopping and thought it would suit you, so I bought it. Take your time eating, and after you finish, make sure to rest early. I have a chat scheduled with my classmates online, so I will leave first." After saying this, she did not give Xia Hongyuan a chance to respond and hurriedly walked out.

Ranran had no objections, stood up and shook hands with him to say goodbye: "Then let's settle it this way for now, we will communicate about specific issues as they arise"

"It has already been sent to the hospital. I apologize, Ranran, I have to rush over now. Will you continue to browse for a while or head back right now?" Shao Mingze asked

Chen Luoqi questioned, "I remember that General Xia is from Xuan'an. How is it that you have been to Guangxi?"

Shao Mingze slightly raised his eyebrows, still waiting for her response

Xia Hongyuan was extremely busy, and during the short time that Ranran was here, he received calls one after another. Ranran felt it was inconvenient, and seeing that Xia Hongyuan had already finished asking about Shao Mingze and had no further instructions, she quickly found an excuse to leave.

Ranran thought to herself that this was indeed the case, and couldn't help but smile: "That's right, I am truly a princess. If anyone dares to make things difficult for me, I will fire them without hesitation"

Chen Luo smiled politely and replied, "You are too kind, General Manager Xia."

Chen Luo turned around and smiled, responding: "Alright, I will consider your suggestion"

However, these words did not reach Ranran's ears. Since resigning, she has returned to the workplace twice: once to hand over her work and once to sort out her belongings. Chinese people tend to gossip behind others' backs, and those who jump around the most when the person is not present are often the most cowardly. When they finally stand in front of the person, most of them lack even the courage to let out a fart

The taxi was just about to pass Wanhe Road, and it was not yet very late. She decided to call Xia Hongyuan's office, intending to deliver the shirt as well. The call was answered by the secretary, who said that Xia Hongyuan had been in a meeting.

Since the topic has been opened up, it became much easier to continue. Ranran asked about the situation when Chen Luo first joined the company. Chen Luo, while driving, shared a few interesting stories with her, making her laugh from time to time. Ranran noticed a hint of a southern accent in his speech and casually asked, "Where are you from?"

In childhood photographs, the majority are of the three of us together, aside from a few specific date photos such as those taken at one month or on the first birthday. At that time, Xia Hongyuan had not yet gained weight, and Ms. Han still had a smile on her face. Her greatest worry was merely getting her new dress dirty or being pressured by Ms. Han to practice the piano again

"Alright then, I will go to the hospital first and call you later," Shao Mingze said calmly, taking a credit card out of his wallet and handing it to Ranran. "I will cover the cost of the gift; you can also pick a few things you like yourself"

Ranran turned her head back and looked at him without any guard, her gaze filled with inquiry: "Hmm?"

Xia Hongyuan was indeed pleased to hear this. The more he looked, the more he felt that it was still his daughter who was considerate. It was a pity that she was not a son. If Ranran had been a son, the subsequent troubles with Peng Jing would not have occurred.

Ranran was momentarily taken aback, thinking to herself: this man truly holds a grudge. She had merely made a casual remark to him that day, yet he has remembered it until now

How significant was the affection in the past? She chuckled in silence, for it must not have been substantial; otherwise, Lin Xiang'an would not have so decisively abandoned her to follow Su Mo.

Xia Hongyuan couldn't help but laugh: "Hey, these people are really persistent. If it doesn't work, just change the number."

Ruan Ruan mechanically flipped through the photographs arranged in chronological order, tears suddenly gushing from her eyes

"Ladies first," Shao Mingze said politely

The overall plan for the southern suburbs wetland in the city has nearly been finalized, and several plots of land there are to be put up for tender. Mr. Xia is determined to secure them. Lin Xiangan's father happens to be the head of the planning bureau, and Mr. Xia has always wanted to leverage his connections, but unfortunately, he has not been able to establish a relationship. Recently, Mr. Xia somehow learned that you and Lin Xiangan had a past relationship. Chen Luo paused for a moment, slightly lowered his eyelids to avoid Ranran's gaze, and said in a low voice, "I suspect Mr. Xia might bring this up with you; he may ask you to connect with Lin Xiangan. It would be better for you to be prepared in advance." Recently, Mr. Xia somehow learned that you and Lin Xiangan had a past relationship. Chen Luo paused for a moment, slightly lowered his eyelids to avoid Ranran's gaze, and said in a low voice, "I suspect Mr. Xia might bring this up with you; he may ask you to connect with Lin Xiangan. It would be better for you to be prepared in advance."

Chen Luo listened quietly, neither advising her nor speaking up on her behalf

"A person from Guangxi?" Ranran was somewhat surprised, "What a coincidence, I am quite familiar with Guangxi."

Xia Hongyuan furrowed his brows, tapping the table leisurely with his index finger, and asked Chen Luo: "Does he have any particular hobbies?"

She picked up her bag and was about to leave, but just as she reached the door, she was called back by Shao Mingze. She turned around to look at him and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Ranran felt her heart racing, yet she maintained an indifferent expression and said in a playful tone: "I am not interested in the company's affairs, so why would I come here to toil? Besides, my father is in the prime of his life; why would he want to retire now? I think you should dismiss this thought and serve the people for several more decades."

Ranran tugged at the corner of her mouth with effort, forcing out a weak smile: "What could possibly be wrong with me? It's just a bit difficult to ask someone for help, especially Lin Xiangan. You know that I have already broken up with him, and I really do not want to deal with him anymore"

Ranran was clearly taken aback, the hint of joy in her eyes dissipating completely in an instant as she stared blankly at Chen Luo. However, she quickly regained her composure, making an effort to conceal the emotions in her eyes, and looked at him calmly, wanting to ask what he meant by that. What could have happened between her and Lin Xiang'an? Even if Xia Hongyuan knew, what difference would it make... Yet her mouth felt as if it were glued shut, unable to open.

Shao Mingze was waiting outside, and when he saw her come out, he got out of the car, took the organizer box from her hands, and casually asked, "Have you finished handing over your work?"

The weather has gradually become hot, and every time I come back from outside, I am drenched in sweat. Ranran simply took a quick shower, and after coming out, she sat cross-legged on the bed, flipping through the old photos in that box. The box is a large, pink, semi-transparent plastic container used for cakes in the 1980s, filled to the brim with her photos from childhood to the present.

Alright, rest assured

The more she procrastinated, the more Xia Hongyuan felt that this daughter was good, at least she was not solely fixated on his assets. Moreover, his daughter was a graduate of a prestigious university, having stood out among hundreds of others, which indicated that she certainly had abilities; she was just a bit lazy at the moment. As for girls, this could hardly be considered a flaw; it could be addressed gradually through teaching.

Xia Hongyuan smiled again at the words and said, "Of course, Dad will not retire just yet, but you should come to the company to learn a bit about management and help your father. The company has developed well in recent years, and I can't manage it all by myself."

The space in the elevator was cramped, and Ranran felt even more uncomfortable. After a moment of hesitation, she asked Chen Luo, trying to make conversation, "Have you been busy with work lately?"

She said this, but Shao Mingze merely curled the corners of his mouth slightly and deliberately asked, "Then how do we have children? Even if we only maintain a superficially normal marriage, having children is still necessary. Since I am married, I do not wish to divorce in the future unless there is a compelling reason, so this issue still needs to be resolved"

Due to the events of that evening, Ranran felt somewhat awkward upon seeing Chen Luo. She quickly nodded and forced a smile, saying, "I need to go talk to Dad about some matters. You carry on, I will leave first." After saying this, she hurriedly walked towards the elevator, as if someone were chasing her, and rushed into the elevator.

Very well. Shao Mingze decisively stated, "Since we have a relatively consistent view on this matter, why don't we try dating for three months first? If there are no major issues, we can get engaged and marry a year later. What do you think?"

Ranran smiled and said, "Then I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation"

His action took her by surprise. Although Shao Mingze had been the one to cover the expenses for their dates since they started dating, he had never directly given her a credit card like he did today. What does this mean? Is it a compensation for not being able to accompany her shopping? Does he really regard her as he did his previous girlfriends?

There were not many belongings, and a small storage box contained all her items. She declined her colleague's offer to see her off and slowly left the office, holding the storage box.

After dragging it out for more than a month, Ranran finally submitted her resignation letter to the company after being urged several times by Xia Hongyuan. Once the news spread, some in the company envied her, some looked down on her, and others despised her, saying that she was merely relying on her father's wealth and had no abilities of her own. There were also suspicions that she had paid to get into the company in the first place

Wearing a green hat, raising someone else's son, any of these rumors would be a scandal, and they must all be kept under wraps. Even Peng Jing cannot be informed, lest she be driven to desperation. If that woman were to lose her face and cause a scene, even if he were in the right, he could not afford to lose that reputation. Therefore, the only course of action now is to handle things coldly, distancing himself from Peng Jing while not completely extinguishing her hopes. When the day comes that he dies, he will leave not a single cent to that mother and son, and at that time, let them be left dumbfounded!

At the beginning, he took her to a concert. She sat there quietly, her gaze focused, without speaking a word, and her posture remained unchanged. He thought she was captivated by the music, until he noticed her nodding off involuntarily, which made him realize she was actually dozing off. In a mix of amusement and exasperation, he couldn't help but admire her ability to do so.

Ruan Ruan casually glanced at the goods on the shelf, and inadvertently turned her head to take a look, only to see Shao Mingze's expression gradually becoming somewhat serious. When he finished his call and walked over, she first asked, "Is there something wrong?"

Ranran was somewhat surprised and asked, "Is it serious?"

Ranran wished to express her concern with a few more words, but truly did not know what to say, so she could only say: "Well then, take care of yourself."

Xia Hongyuan did not have time to say anything else and hurriedly shouted from behind: "Wait a moment, I will have the driver take you."

Shao Mingze raised an eyebrow but remained silent, only lowering his head to take a sip of coffee

Not long ago, Xia Hongyuan took advantage of the fact that the son of Director Lin was returning to the country and asked Chen Luo to find an opportunity to send a car to him. Although it was said to be lent to Young Master Lin for fun, everyone understood that this was essentially equivalent to giving the car to Director Lin. However, Director Lin has now returned the car, clearly indicating that he does not intend to accept Xia Hongyuan's goodwill

There is no wall that does not let the wind through. The fact that Ranran and Shao Mingze started dating came as a surprise to Xia Hongyuan. He specifically called Ranran to his office to inquire in detail: "Didn’t you say you were not interested in Shao Mingze? How did you end up dating him?"

The elevator went directly down to the basement, and Chen Luo led her towards his car, smiling as he turned back to ask her: "That depends on what your purpose is."

This question left Shao Mingze at a loss for words. He has been officially dating her for nearly two months, meeting once or twice a week, and their relationship has remained lukewarm.

Chen Luowei sighed softly and asked her, "Are you alright?"

She had no reaction, and only after a moment did she suddenly awaken, turning her head to look at him and asking, "What?"

Ranran's eyes rolled around, and she tentatively said, "If you can't manage, just find someone else to do it. I think Mingze would be quite good; you can call him over to help with things in the future"

Ranran could no longer persist and had no choice but to follow Chen Luo out. The two walked in silence, the sharp click of Ranran's high heels on the floor mingling with Chen Luo's steady and deep footsteps, creating a strange harmony. It was somewhat late, and there were not many people left working overtime in the company; the elevator quickly ascended from the ground floor. Chen Luo, who had originally been standing at the front, politely stepped aside, waiting for Ranran to enter the elevator before following her in.

As Chen Luo was passing by the assistant's office, she happened to come out holding a folder and almost collided with her. Upon seeing the person in front of her, Chen Luo was slightly taken aback, but then she smiled gently and greeted her, "Are you here to see General Manager Xia?"

"Well, everything is taken care of. I would like to adjust at home for a few days before coming to work," Ranran smiled and asked, "So I would like to consult you on where I can get started quickly?"

Since then, the only thing the two could do when they met was to have a meal together. However, she was picky about her food and had a small appetite, taking just a couple of bites of anything before claiming to be full. They could hardly even share a meal together. It seemed as if there was no way for them to connect, making every step forward extremely difficult.

Xia Hongyuan was eager to discuss Lin Xiangan with his daughter, but he was unsure how to broach the subject. Several times he opened his mouth to speak, only to hesitate and refrain from doing so.

The air conditioning in the room was set to a high level, and the cold air penetrated through the thin nightgown, seeping in layer by layer from the surface of the skin, from flesh to bone, until it chilled the very heart of the person. The tears were still warm when they were in the eye sockets, but by the time they flowed down to the face, they had already turned cold

Shao Mingze paused for a moment and asked, "I remember that Miss Xia has specific requirements regarding the height of her marriage partner. Clearly, my height does not meet the standard. What made you change your mind?"

Shao Mingze pondered for a moment and retorted to Ranran, "What do you want to do?"

Chen Luoxian habitually raised the corners of his mouth before replying: "It's fine, however, the general plan for several plots of land in the southern suburbs has been outlined, and General Manager Xia is keeping a close eye on it"

Chen Luo agreed and then reported some other matters to Xia Hongyuan. Just as he was speaking, his mobile phone in his pocket rang. He glanced down at the caller ID and immediately pressed the reject button

Seeing her expression, Shao Mingze immediately said: "Since you enjoy this job, then just continue doing it. Why do you want to resign?"

She nodded thoughtfully and asked him, "If I want to work in the company, which department would be better to join?"

Since then, the only thing the two could do when they met was to have a meal together. However, she was picky about her food and had a small appetite, often taking just a couple of bites before claiming to be full. As a result, they could hardly even share a meal together. It seemed as if there was no way for them to connect, making their interactions extremely difficult.

These thoughts could not be shared with Shao Mingze, so she merely offered him a faint smile before turning her head away, lost in the sights along the street. The dense buildings and the pedestrians passing by flashed away one by one, the scene before her changed in a myriad of ways, yet her emotions unexpectedly began to settle down slowly.

Xia Hongyuan was quite speechless, truly unable to understand his daughter's little thoughts. However, Shao Mingze came from a good family background and was a very promising young man, which he somewhat admired. If they could engage in a serious relationship, it would not be a bad thing. Moreover, the competition for the land in the southern suburbs was fierce, and the Shao family was involved. If they could join forces with the Shao family, their chances would significantly increase. With this in mind, he solemnly advised Ranran: "Since you are dating, you should take it seriously. If it truly feels right, both families should meet and settle things early."

Xia Hongyuan was on the phone. Upon seeing him enter, he slightly nodded in acknowledgment and gestured with his hand for him to place the documents on the desk first and to wait a moment before speaking

Ranran thought to herself that although Xia Hongyuan earned a lot of money, it was not easy at all. She wanted to show her filial piety, so she specifically asked the taxi to stop by the roadside, got out to buy some late-night snacks for Xia Hongyuan, and then went to the company

Chen Luo smiled faintly and explained, "No, it is an unrelated investment company that insists on recommending financial products to me. I don't even know how they got my phone number."

Is this to use her identity as his former girlfriend to approach Lin Xiang'an, exchanging his past guilt towards her for benefits? What about dignity? Where is her dignity to be placed?

After a while, Shao Mingze called. His voice was already somewhat deep, and at this moment it carried a hint of hoarseness as he spoke softly: "I apologize, I've been a bit busy and forgot to call you. Are you still awake?"

Ranran pondered for a moment and countered with a question: "What were you like at that time?"

Hmm. Shao Mingze rarely curved the corners of his mouth, and a hint of youthful spirit was added to his brows. "At that time, I happened to have a few good friends, and we all discussed and started a business together. The initial period was quite difficult, but once we got through it, things gradually improved. Seeing the potential of the company, my father directly invested funds into it, which led to the establishment of Huaxing Technology as it is today"

Xia Hongyuan smiled after listening and instructed: "You should thoroughly investigate this Young Master Lin. If the old path is unfeasible, we will find a way through the younger generation."

She smiled, waved her hand with great grandeur, and said without looking back: "Oh? Then next time I will try to lift myself a little higher."

Seeing this, Shao Mingze said no more and turned his head to focus on driving. While waiting for the red light at the intersection, he turned back to look at Ranran and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

Ranran's demeanor finally returned to normal, and she politely thanked Chen Luo before going upstairs alone

Ranran smiled slightly, did not take the card, kept her hands in her pockets, and said: "The essence of a gift for a friend lies in the thought behind it; how can one spend someone else's money to give a gift? As for myself, I have nothing in particular that I wish to buy, so there is no need to trouble yourself."

Chen Luo stood silently to the side, watching as Xia Hongyuan hung up the phone, and then spoke up: "Director Lin asked someone to bring the car back."

Currently, personal information security is indeed not guaranteed, and it is unclear where the leaks are coming from. Regardless of what is being sold, they can find you, which is indeed quite annoying. Xia Hongyuan nodded in agreement, quickly glanced at the document that Chen Luogang had just brought over, and signed his name.

Have the resignation procedures at the previous workplace been handled smoothly

No. Rǎn Rǎn paused for a moment, pressed her lips together firmly, and finally managed to squeeze out the words that contradicted her true feelings, "I am somewhat concerned about your situation. How is Mr. Shào doing now? Has his condition stabilized?"

Ranran pretended to be shy and said in a delicate voice: "Oh dear, Daddy, when did I ever say that I look down on Mingze? You mustn't speak carelessly, or Mingze will get angry."

Having finished speaking, she released her hand and had only taken a few steps when she heard Shao Mingze leisurely say from behind: "What you just kissed was the chin."

Shao Mingze had no objections, so he first took Ranran to eat something, and then accompanied her to the shopping center. They had only been shopping for less than half an hour when Shao Mingze's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, said "sorry" to Ranran, and then walked aside to answer the call

Ranran had to admit that Shao Mingze had an exceptional ability to read people. Although Xia Hongyuan appeared to be rough and careless, he was, in fact, a person with deep-seated suspicions. He had a strong desire to compete and dominate, insisting on having everything firmly in his own hands to feel secure. Given his temperament, he would never easily entrust the company to others unless it was absolutely necessary, not even to his only daughter.

She actually does not particularly like this job. In the past, when faced with troubling matters, she had once said to Mu Qing something like, "I won't serve those bastards anymore, I'm done with this." However, now that she is truly about to leave, she unexpectedly feels a sense of melancholy.

Ranran responded one by one, and then flattered, saying: "Dad, please keep a close eye on me. I have too little social experience and am afraid I might misjudge people, ultimately having to ask you for advice."

Chen Luo took the documents to handle the matter, and before he had even left Xia Hongyuan's office, his phone rang again. This time, he didn't even look at it and simply hung up.

Chen Luo pondered for a moment and seriously suggested, "Then let's go to the Marketing Management Center. Whether it's the Marketing Department or the Sales Department, both are great for personal development. In fact, no matter where you go, your true identity cannot be completely concealed; there will always be someone who knows the inside story and discreetly looks after you."

Ranran noticed Shao Mingze suddenly stop in his tracks, as if he was about to turn around, which startled her. She quickly withdrew her hand and put on a gentle smile. Fortunately, Shao Mingze did not turn around; he merely paused for a moment before quickly leaving.

After all, in front of outsiders, Xia Hongyuan found it inappropriate to mention Lin Xiangan to his daughter, so he dismissed that thought for the time being. He nodded at Chen Luo and said: "Alright, then I will trouble Chen Luo to take Ranran back. It is not safe for a young girl to be out alone at night"

Chen Luoshen was slightly taken aback, and then replied: "People from Guangxi"

Later, they attempted to watch a movie together, but the one she liked he could not endure, while the one he appreciated she claimed she could not understand

Perhaps it is merely a fear of the changes that lie ahead, which makes it necessary to summon great courage to let go, even when the previous job was unsatisfactory

Shao Mingze smiled and said, "I suggest you start from the grassroots level and work your way up slowly. Uncle Xia is in good health and not very old, so he won't be letting go of the company in the short term. You have just the right amount of time to build a solid foundation."

Ranran shook her head with a smile: "I have never been there, but I had a pen pal from Guangxi during high school, and we corresponded for a long time."

During the weekend, Ranran directly met with Shao Mingze and laid everything on the table: "Since we are both aiming for marriage, let's first discuss the matters after marriage openly, and present our respective requirements and bottom lines to avoid unnecessary troubles in the future, what do you think?"

As he turned and walked away, Ranran finally retracted the faint smile on her face, exaggeratedly pouting at his back and making a dismissive gesture with her hands. Little did she know that all of this was captured in the reflective glass and fell into Shao Mingze's eyes, causing him to pause slightly in surprise.

As he spoke further, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted again, and a gentle smile spilled from his lips

Chen Luo smiled faintly and followed her lead to discuss the customs and culture of Guangxi. This topic was even more relaxed and enjoyable to talk about. By the time the car arrived at Ranran's building, the atmosphere between the two had become very easygoing and harmonious. Ranran smiled as she unbuckled her seatbelt, thanked Chen Luo, and was just about to open the car door to get out when she suddenly heard him call out from behind: "Ranran"

Seeing his reaction, Ranran smiled sarcastically and continued, "If Mr. Shao feels that this is truly impossible to achieve, then there is another option, which is a sexless marriage. We would not need to fulfill any obligations typical of a married couple, merely maintaining a marriage on paper, with no interference between us. This way, you can do whatever you like outside, as long as it remains undisclosed. What do you think?"

Ranran then asked: "Did you speak first or should I speak first?"

Gradually, the figure of Xia Hongyuan disappeared from the photograph, and Ms. Han's lips were always slightly pressed together, rarely willing to curve upwards. Moreover, her eyes reflected an undeniable stubbornness and rebellion.

The saying "men are unreliable" was once spoken to her by Ms. Han, and now it comes out of Xia Hongyuan's mouth, making Ranran feel that the world is truly ridiculous. Ms. Han considered this a lesson, while for Xia Hongyuan, it should be regarded as experience.

Later on, only she remained in the photograph, whether happy or sad, it was only her.

He nodded slightly: "The phone at home said that the old gentleman's heart disease has flared up."

Chen Luo couldn't help but chuckle, but as soon as the corners of his mouth lifted, they fell again. He gazed in the direction of the elevator, lost in thought for a moment, before finally curving his lips into a faint smile again and turning to walk towards Xia Hongyuan's office

Shao Mingze pondered for a moment and replied: "The situations of the Shao family and the Xia family are different. The family has always been led by the old master, with my uncle and third uncle each taking charge of different aspects. The younger brothers are not divided by households; they are all scattered and placed under the elders to assist. After I graduated, I was sent to my uncle's side. He treated me very well on the surface, but secretly imposed more pressure on me. At that time, I was young and impetuous, and unable to endure it any longer, I impulsively decided to start my own business."

"Let alone such a matter, it is clearly a trade of face for benefits." Ranran scoffed with a smile, then suddenly turned to Chen Luo and asked, "If it were you, would you reminisce about such old feelings for your ex-girlfriend?"

Ranran nodded slightly, then turned back to look longingly at the office building of her workplace, and only then did she let out a heavy sigh before getting into the car with Shao Mingze

Ranran listened with great interest: "Hmm, that's quite inspiring. However, I don't have your abilities and can't start a company."

She nodded in agreement but was unwilling to discuss her father in detail with Shao Mingze, so she changed the subject and asked him: "What are your plans for tonight?"

Xia Hongyuan has recently been troubled by the situation with Peng Jing. He refuses to go home, so Peng Jing comes to his company to confront him, and on several occasions, she even brings their son, Chenchen, along. The older one cries, and the younger one wails, which only adds to his frustration. If it weren't for the fear of causing a scene and losing face, he would truly want to throw the paternity test results in Peng Jing's face.

Xia Hongyuan came out after a while and was deeply moved to see that his daughter had specially brought him a late-night snack, so he immediately began to eat. However, halfway through his meal, he suddenly recalled the news he had just received, which stated that Director Lin's son, Lin Xiang'an, was actually his daughter's university classmate, and the two had once been in a romantic relationship.

Chen Luo shook his head and said: "It is said that this person is very self-disciplined, showing little interest in wealth or women. He has a good relationship with Madam Lin, and they have a son together, who has been outstanding since childhood. After graduating from university, he went abroad for further studies, often mentioned by Director Lin."

Shao Mingze looked at her and said, "Although our meeting this time seems very much like a business transaction, Miss Xia is better than I had anticipated"

Ranran fell silent for a moment and said: "But I do not want to go to another place, I want to stay in Xiping"

Xia Hongyuan listened and said with a sense of helplessness: "What a silly girl. Not only are you and Shao Mingze not married yet, but even if you do get married in the future, the Xia family's company should still be in your hands. Don't trust people too easily, especially men; they are all unreliable."

Ranran placed the photos back into the box one by one, firmly closed the lid, and shoved it back under the bed. The hour hand had already pointed to the top of the clock face; regardless, life must go on. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up her phone and sent a text message to Shao Mingze inquiring about the old gentleman Shao's health.

Xia Hongyuan noticed and teased him, saying: "What’s the matter, have you been entangled by a woman?"

Ranran had remained silent all along. Chen Luo couldn't help but raise his eyes to look at her, noticing that she had lowered her head at some point, her hand resting on the car door, her body stiff as if she were a statue. Suddenly, he felt a pang of tenderness and couldn't help but softly call out to her: "Ranran?"

She once rebelled against her parents' marital discord with defiance, responded to their betrayal of the family with indifference, and expressed her disregard through indulgence. She was stubborn, immature, and selfishly cold... Yet no one knew that if she could, she would willingly be obedient and compliant, willing to exchange everything she had to regain that complete family, to restore the once warm and affectionate household of three, no longer just Xia Hongyuan and Ms. Han, but rather Dad and Mom

She thought for a moment and said, "I have a friend whose birthday is coming up, and I would like to choose a birthday gift for her"

Chen Luo nodded in agreement: "Yes, you have that authority"

It is still early, and she has not yet purchased the gift for Mu Qing, so she said: "You should go quickly; I will return home after I have selected the gift for my friend."

Twelve years ago, when Xia Hongyuan divorced, he never hesitated because of her as his daughter. Why now does she expect him to place her dignity and feelings above his own interests? It is clear that this has been understood for a long time; why, even now, does a trace of hope still linger in her heart?

Ranran then said with a playful smile: "Oh dear, Dad is really nagging, isn't there still Dad! Let's not talk about this for now, please let me go back and think about it. I worked so hard to get into that organization, only a few were accepted out of hundreds, and to resign just like that would be such a pity!"

Chen Luo did not expect Ranran to suddenly ask about him, and for a moment, his gaze became somewhat complicated. After thinking for a while, he replied: "This depends on how deep the past feelings are."

After a slight pause, Shao Mingze did not insist any further, put the credit card back, and politely bid farewell to Ranran

Chen Luoxian first opened the car door for her, then went around to the other side and sat in the driver's seat. He then half-jokingly replied: "Because you are the daughter of General Manager Xia, there are fewer people in the branch office from other places who know you, and your identity might still be kept under wraps. Otherwise, even if you go to the business department as a junior staff member, everyone would be fawning over you, who would dare to give you orders? Who would dare to point a finger at you and scold you? If you don't get reprimanded, don't face criticism, and don't suffer hardships, what is the point of you going?"

Chen Luo smiled but did not directly answer her question. Instead, he replied: "There are two options. One is to go directly to the administration side, which is easier to handle, has more information flow, and more acquaintances; the other is to go to a branch office in another location, starting from the business department and learning gradually over time"

Hearing such a response, Shao Mingze was somewhat taken aback. He gazed at her for a moment, subtly averted his gaze, slowly rotated the coffee cup in his hand, and asked again: "Are there any other requests?"

Ranran thought for a moment and replied: "Honesty. Since we are going to live under the same roof, it is best for us to be open and honest with each other, rather than making each other guess our thoughts as we go about our lives. I believe that even as simple partners, this kind of cooperation will be more comfortable."

Chen Luo replied: "I am not quite sure yet, I only know that after returning to the country, he went directly into the political and legal department. Although he has some abilities, he still relied somewhat on his family's background. I heard that Director Lin and President Wang of the municipal court are old classmates."

Without him by her side, Ranran felt no need to put on a facade; instead, she felt free and at ease. She first chose a crystal bracelet for Mu Qing and casually bought a few items for herself. While swiping her card, she recalled Xia Hongyuan and thought it would be nice to buy him something to win his favor, so she picked out a shirt. Only then did she emerge, satisfied, carrying a large bag and several smaller ones.

She turned around and took a few steps to stand in front of him, grasping his tie with her hand. She stood on tiptoe and gently touched the corner of his mouth: "Because I listened to Mr. Shao's advice. Look at this height difference between us; regardless of whether you are willing to lower your head, as long as I stand on tiptoe, I can reach you. However, if you were to be a few centimeters taller, I would not be able to. Isn't it nice to choose to keep the initiative in your own hands?"

Xia Hongyuan felt a stir in his heart and asked again, "What kind of person is this Young Master Lin?"

Chen Luo pressed her lips together, her heart seemingly undergoing a struggle. After a moment of hesitation, she said: "President Xia is aware of the matters between you and Lin Xiangan."

Shao Mingze did not expect her to say that she was worried about him, which took him slightly by surprise, yet his tone unconsciously softened a bit: "The person has been rescued, but the situation is still relatively stable. You should sleep, there is no need to worry."

Ranran quickly replied: "There is also the option of artificial insemination, and if that doesn't work, we can consider in vitro fertilization. I would be more than willing to cooperate. Although I do not wish to share Mr. Shao's body with others, I have no objection to having a child after marriage who carries your genes, so you can rest assured about this."