Chapter 5, Parents' Matchmaking

Since both parties' elders have no objections, the remaining task is to have the two parties involved go through this process. Shao's mother personally went to Shao Mingze's office, asking him to take Ranran to meet with Old Master Shao for his approval, in order to finalize the marriage between the two as soon as possible

Old Master Shao took a few deep breaths to steady his emotions, then turned to look at the silent Shao Mingze and asked: "Mingze, are you afraid that your elder brothers might resent you?"

Although they had been dating for nearly two months, apart from the provocative peck she gave him on the corner of his mouth at the very beginning, they had not engaged in such intimate actions or words since. She was clearly taken aback, and after he finished speaking, he also felt somewhat uncomfortable. They both unconsciously chose silence, each lowering their heads to feign interest in the menu in their hands

Shao Yunping, feeling deeply emotional, said: "Father, you and Mother have only us four children. Yun'an left us early, and the youngest sister has always been playful, never caring about family matters. You may not know how much pressure Yun Kang and I faced in the past few years; at times, I truly wished I could grow three heads and six arms to manage everything. It was only after Mingyuan and the others grew up and could help with family affairs that we were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Over the years, we have been observing in secret and both know that Mingze is the most outstanding among the brothers; the future of the Shao family will depend on him. However, no matter how excellent he is, he cannot support such a large family business alone; he will always need the support of his brothers. Haven't you often said that a single tree cannot form a forest? Only when the brothers unite and stand together can they prevent outsiders from bullying them."

That was the silhouette of a woman, tall and slender, carrying a large single-shoulder bag, walking briskly towards the end of the corridor, and after a moment, she disappeared around the corner

However, Shao's mother misunderstood him, thinking that he was making excuses. She earnestly advised him: "Mother has carefully considered this. That girl has a good appearance and character, she is also clever and quick-witted, and she has no bad habits, which is quite rare. The Xia family may not have a prestigious background, but they are wealthy and influential. Moreover, there is also the Han family; although they have fallen from grace now, their reputation still remains. Both of these can serve as support for you in the future, and you will certainly need them. Over the years, what has allowed your uncle and third uncle to suppress you? Isn't it just that they are taking advantage of the fact that we, as orphans and widows, have no one to rely on?"

Shao Mingze did not speak, only turning his head to glance at her and her son. That gaze was very light and faint, yet the normally talkative woman felt a chill run through her body under his look, instinctively closing her mouth. By the time she came to her senses, Shao Mingze had already entered the ward alone, while her son still stood timidly to the side, not daring to take a step closer. She couldn't help but feel both angry and frustrated; wanting to vent her anger but finding no outlet, she could only resentfully pinch her son a couple of times and scold softly, "Useless! What are you afraid of?"

The waiter softly and slowly recommended the newly launched dishes to the two of them. Shao Mingze casually ordered a few items, returned the menu to the waiter, and then casually asked her: "I have had some changes at work recently and haven't had the chance to ask about your situation. Have you started working? Where did you go?"

Shao Mingze held onto Ranran's hand tightly, yet his expression remained calm and composed. He slightly nodded towards Shao Mingyuan and called out "Elder Brother" in a neither warm nor cold manner

This time, the Shao family members arrived in full force. Except for Shao Mingze's third uncle, Shao Yunkang, who is currently abroad and could not make it in time, the rest of the family members were basically all present. This group of sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters numbered more than ten, each one anxiously watching the elderly Mr. Shao on the hospital bed. In particular, Shao Mingze's eldest cousin, Shao Mingyuan, the one who had caused Mr. Shao to suffer a heart attack, displayed a face full of worry and concern, pressing his body tightly against the glass wall, wishing he could pass through it.

Ms. Han was very clear about the differences, but her daughter's tone made her feel angry, so she sternly reprimanded her: "Xia Ranran, let me tell you, the better the things in this world, the less likely they are to be given away for free. If you want something, you must fight for it yourself! No one will remember what tricks you used or what means you employed; they will only see whether that thing is in your hands in the end"

Ranran smiled faintly, and said in a soft and slow voice: "My father does not expect me to be of much help to him; he just wants me to familiarize myself with the company's situation, so that in the future I won't be completely in the dark and know nothing."

Old Master Shao nodded in satisfaction and finally concluded: "It is settled this way, Mingze will report to the company next week, Yunping, please take good care of him."

Shao Mingze indifferently opened his hand and said, "Alright, then I will wait."

Old Master Shao angrily said: "Who among them can allow me to live in peace?"

Ms. Han then learned about the old Mr. Shao's hospitalization and immediately called Ranran, asking: "Do you know that the old Mr. Shao from the Shao family is in the hospital?"

She had many questions in her heart, yet felt it was inappropriate to ask him, so she only inquired: "Is it a family arrangement?"

Shao Mingze smiled and, taking the opportunity to bring the fruit plate to Grandpa Shao, leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Grandpa, I really like this girl, please don't scare her away."

Her eyes were wide open, and her mouth was slightly agape, displaying a face full of astonishment and surprise, as if she had just discovered some earth-shattering event. Shao Mingze had just finished dealing with a mountain of work, and in a good mood, he couldn't help but laugh upon seeing her like this. Without a second thought, he leaned over and pinched her cheek, teasingly saying: "You are the least qualified to comment on others losing weight; just take a look at yourself."

Ranran neither refutes nor argues, only occasionally responding with a "mm" to indicate that she is listening. She acknowledges Ms. Han's viewpoint, yet she is unwilling to express her determination to Ms. Han or to discuss her next course of action.

Ranran couldn't help but roll her eyes, pointing her finger at Shao Mingze's chest, mocking him: "A real man, can't this place be a bit more spacious? What was that saying again, a man's heart is broader than the sky. Let's not hold onto that matter for a lifetime, shall we?"

The classmate had no choice but to give up the bed in the duty room to him

Indeed, I heard Shao Mingze's third aunt say: "Elder brother is getting older and has been tired for most of the day. Why not rest with us for a while? Let the younger generation stay here to keep watch; it will also be convenient for running errands and such. What do you think, second sister-in-law?"

As it was morning, the corridor was still empty. A glance across revealed only the high-hanging signboards, one arrow after another, making the already intricate corridor resemble a maze. He stood there, gazing blankly at those arrows, unsure of which path to take to continue his pursuit, much like that deep night many years ago when he drove aimlessly through the streets of this city, frantically searching yet still unable to find the way that would lead him to her. He stood there, gazing blankly at those arrows, unsure of which path to take to continue his pursuit, much like that deep night many years ago when he drove aimlessly through the streets of this city, frantically searching yet still unable to find the way that would lead him to her.

Shao Mingze listened but shook his head in disagreement, asking: "Have you decided which department you want to go to?"

Old Master Shao nodded slowly and said: "Your father has a point. It is not easy for the previous generation to start a business, and we cannot raise children to be ignorant and entitled second-generation heirs."

The classmate had only seen Shao Mingze during the day and knew that his father was still in the ICU. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Why aren't you staying by your father's side to show filial piety? What are you doing here with me?"

Shao Mingze's body stiffened slightly, and a cold light shone in his eyes

Such an arrangement indeed leaves one at a loss for words. Old Master Shao has a total of three sons and one daughter. The second son, Shao Yunan, passed away early, and the third son, Shao Yunkang, has not yet returned. Only the eldest son, Shao Yunping, and the youngest daughter, Shao Yuntai, are present here, leaving their two biological children to guard the bedside in a legitimate manner. However, in the event that something unfortunate were to happen to Old Master Shao, the absence of the second and third families would undoubtedly lead to a disadvantage.

Old Master Shao listened quietly, his expression somewhat sorrowful, as if he were utterly exhausted, and he slowly closed his eyes

Shao Mingze had been watching this farce with a cold eye, and upon seeing the situation, he couldn't help but gently tug at the corner of his mouth before turning around and leaving alone. He had a classmate who worked as a doctor in this hospital, and coincidentally, he was on night duty today. He went over and woke his drowsy classmate, saying bluntly: "Get up, find a place for me to rest first."

Shao Mingze glanced at her twice and suddenly asked, "Ranran, do you have time tomorrow morning?"

To put it plainly, it is the victor who is king and the vanquished who is the bandit

Hearing Shao Mingze say this, Ranran couldn't help but lower her head to examine her outfit. Since she was to meet Old Master Shao today, she had specially chosen a knee-length dress. The soft pink color contained a subtle luster, which not only complemented her fair and rosy complexion but also made her appear considerably more plump than usual, likely to be pleasing to the elderly gentleman.

The next day, when Shao Mingze went to pick up Ranran, he indeed had prepared gifts for visiting the patient. She glanced back and saw that they were merely some ordinary supplements, so she turned back to ask him: "Will these items seem insufficiently respectful?"

The two of them exchanged a few more words, and seeing a hint of fatigue on the old man's face, Shao Mingze took Ranran and bid farewell.

Seeing her reaction, Shao Mingze's face instead showed a hint of relaxed amusement: "You need not worry, I will prepare everything to be brought tomorrow, you just need to show up."

Through the thick tempered glass, the bustling noise of traffic outside quietly seeped in. Surprisingly, his state of mind gradually calmed down, and even the figure that had lingered in his mind slowly faded away, ultimately replaced by the lively street scene.

Ranran smiled and shook her head: "Since graduating, it has been rare to have such a long vacation. Now that I finally have this opportunity, I must take a few more days before making any decisions."

Old Master Shao suddenly opened his eyes, the weariness that had just been there vanished, replaced by a sharp glint: "Am I to give him another chance? When the Shao family falls, who will give the Shao family another chance? I had turned a blind eye to his past indulgences in spending money to pursue women and keep mistresses. I let it go, but I never expected him to take advantage of my leniency. He actually dares to use the company's business worth over 100 million to win a woman's favor, treating the reputation of the Shao family as a joke! Give him another chance? If I do, the Shao family will be ruined by this prince of his!"

Shao Mingze asked in surprise, "What have you been doing these past few days?"

Old Master Shao lifted his eyelids to look at him and coldly asked: "What, is it that my words no longer hold any weight now? Do you really think that the Shao family belongs to you, Shao Yunping?"

Some people, some matters, once they have passed, are simply in the past; what cannot be let go of is merely the obsession in one's heart. He chuckled self-deprecatingly and turned back to continue his work. He is a person with clear goals, always knowing what is most important. Old Master Shao only gave him one week to hand over the work of Huaxing, and the time was too tight, with too many matters to attend to. He met different people and spoke different words like a revolving lantern, constantly holding large and small meetings, and it was not until Saturday night that he barely managed to finish dealing with Huaxing's affairs.

Ranran had been standing by, stunned, and even after Shao Mingyuan left, she still had not regained her senses. However, Shao Mingze had already composed himself, calmly tidying his clothes, and turned to comfort her, saying, "I didn't scare you, did I?"

After several instances, Old Master Shao cast him a faint glance.

Seeing this, Shao Mingyuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder, laughing heartily: "Don't worry, this time, my brother's taste is different from yours"

Shao Mingyuan did not respond, but when passing by Shao Mingze, he stopped and said in a sinister whisper: "Do not be too arrogant, be sure to be careful, and never let me catch hold of any evidence against you!"

Shaomu would certainly not miss the implication in these words, and quickly interjected: "Our old master has also been mentioning that he wants to meet Ranran. I asked Mingze to take Ranran there; how could it possibly be so busy as this?"

Ranran replied succinctly: "Staying at home, browsing the internet, sleeping, then browsing the internet again, and sleeping again"

Shao Mingze sat leisurely next to her, calmly peeling fruits. Whenever Mr. Shao's questions became a bit tricky, he would proactively take over the conversation for Ranran.

After walking for a while, Ran Ran suddenly asked him, "Working at the company headquarters must be very hard, right?"

Upon seeing Shao Mingze enter, there was finally a glimmer of light in the eyes of Old Master Shao. He called him over and instructed, "Mingze, prepare yourself to go to the headquarters of the group to work."

He also made an appointment with Ranran to have dinner together. When he hurriedly rushed over, Ranran had been waiting for him for a while. When she looked up and saw him, she exclaimed, "Why did you suddenly lose so much weight?"

Then I will come to pick you up tomorrow morning.

Shao Mingze only woke up then, turned around and chased after the woman, but when he caught up to the corner, the woman's figure was already gone.

Shao Yunping didn't dare to respond, and was so scared that he became silent, but sweat slowly seeped out from the tip of his nose.

It was their first time holding hands while walking. He did not exert any force on his hand, just lightly holding her fingers. Ranyan hesitated for a moment, then grasped his palm and secretly adjusted her pace to keep up with his steps. Then she felt that he seemed to tighten his grip on her hand slightly.

With so many grandchildren, Grandfather singled out one to meet him, clearly showing that he is different from others. Everyone envied and admired him. Shaomingze's third aunt hurriedly pushed her eldest son and said with a smile, "Hurry up, aren't you worried all night too? Go in and see Grandfather with your brother Mingze. Grandfather loves you the most on ordinary days."

The phone that had been held tightly in his hand rang again. He lowered his head and glanced at it, realizing it was his mother's call. She must be urging him. He no longer had time to think about what happened many years ago. Determinedly, he turned around and ran towards the ICU ward.

Shao Yunping was momentarily stunned by his question, although deep down he was itching with hatred. However, he had to put on a tolerant and magnanimous face as an elder: "What kind of question is this, child? In my eyes, you and Mingyuan are both children of our Shao family. What difference does it make!"

Ran Ran just smiled and did not respond.

苒苒 was somewhat surprised. The headquarters of the Shao family has always been controlled by Shao Yunping, the elder uncle of Shao Mingze. When Shao Mingze just graduated, he worked at the headquarters for a period of time, but he couldn't bear the suppression and exclusion from his elder uncle, so he started his own company, Huaxing Technology. Why is it that when Shao's father was hospitalized, he wanted to return to the Shao family headquarters?

Shao Mingze took over the conversation and began talking about work. He said that he had already finished handling all the work at Huaxing Technology. Finally, a smile appeared on the old man's face. He instructed him, "Be respectful to your uncle and avoid direct conflicts with him. I know what's going on in my heart."

Shaomingze's third aunt had nothing more to say, quickly signaling to her own son and daughter. The children from the third household all expressed their unwillingness to leave, wanting to stay here to watch over their grandfather. Amidst the chaos and noise, Old Lady Shao became anxious and angrily declared: "Everyone stay, no one is to leave, we will all guard together here"

That position originally belonged to Shao Mingyuan, the eldest grandson of the Shao family, and can almost be regarded as specifically designated for nurturing the future successor of the Shao family. Shao Mingze's expression was calm as he simply nodded slightly and said, "Alright"

Ms. Han was taken aback by her own thoughts, sitting in a daze for quite a while before regaining some composure. She then called Mrs. Shao: "I asked Ranran, and she said the two of them get along quite well. However, my girl has a rather mild temperament and is extremely shy. She mentioned that a few days ago she was thinking of visiting your old man in the hospital, but Mingze has been very busy lately, and she didn't want to take up his time, while she herself felt too embarrassed to go."

Shao Mingze turned to Shao Yunping and asked, "Will my uncle resent me?"

Shao Mingze suddenly found this situation somewhat amusing, genuinely wanting to advise his cousin to avoid it for the time being; otherwise, if Old Master Shao woke up and saw him first, he might fall ill again

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes calm, yet the slightly pursed corners of his mouth revealed the determination within him: "I am no longer that naive young man who just graduated from school, unable to withstand pressure or endure hardship. No matter what they do now, they cannot hinder my progress."

Old Master Shao listened, let out a low, cold snort, but his expression softened a lot. He said to Ranran, "It's good for a girl to be ambitious at work, but family should still come first. I think your previous job was quite good, both leisurely and not completely detached from society, better than going to your father's company."

.

Shao Mingze calmly locked eyes with him and replied, "I want to go, but I need to finish handing over all the work on my hands before I can go."

She thinks that no matter what their purpose is for being together, they will eventually end up together. And if nothing unexpected happens, they may even walk together for several decades. Whether they love each other or not, being able to accompany each other through wind and rain, and walk hand in hand is already enough.

Ran Ran was even more surprised after listening. She knew the name of Shao Mingyuan, who was the eldest cousin of Shao Mingze, the prince of the Shao family, and also a famous playboy in Xiping City. He was already over thirty years old and suddenly sent to further his studies, apparently because he had angered Shao's grandfather for some reason. This involved the power struggle within the Shao family, and she didn't want to say anything, so she simply lowered her head and ate silently.

Shao Mingze smiled and said: "As long as Uncle can think this way, what does it matter whether Eldest Brother resents me or not? I am going back to work under Uncle, not under Eldest Brother. Besides, we are all family; no matter how much resentment there is, it will be forgotten after a while"

Shao Mingze shook his head and said truthfully, "It's okay. The old man wants to see you. These things are just for show. As long as the intention is there, it's enough."

Shao Mingze sat silently on the sofa, with his eyelids slightly drooping and a hint of indifference on his face. After a while, he finally looked up at his mother and said, "Okay, I'll contact Ranran when I have time and ask for her opinion. If she doesn't object, let's set the wedding date for next month."

She first shook her head, then nodded, but in the end, she resolutely shook her head again

Shao Mingyuan suddenly became furious, forcefully grabbing Shao Mingze by the collar and pressing him against the wall, his eyes glaring at him with a blood-red intensity: "Shao Mingze, I admit I've fallen this time, but don't think for a moment that I am unaware of what you've been doing behind my back. I will definitely take revenge for this grudge sooner or later"

Shao Yunping secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His expression remained as sincere as ever as he continued, "By exchanging Mingze for Mingyuan this time, aren't you creating discord between the brothers? After all, Mingyuan is still young and full of energy. Can he really bear no resentment? Who will he blame? Won't he blame Mingze? When Mingze becomes the head of the family in the future, will these brothers still be able to help him without any grudges? Father, let's take a step back and give Mingyuan another chance."

Shao Mingze's voice remained as calm and deep as ever, simply stating: "I am at the hospital, I will be there shortly"

Old Master Shao let out a low cold snort, then turned to Shao Mingze and asked, "Why aren't you speaking? Do you want to go or not?"

Shao Mingze chuckled softly and naturally took her hand: "Let's go"

After pondering for several days, she arranged to meet with Ms. Han for tea and conversation. She subtly mentioned that Old Master Shao was considering having Shao Mingze take over the company, and then tentatively added, "Mingze has been so busy these days that I can't even catch a glimpse of him. I can't ask him anything since I can't find him. How are things between him and Ranran? The two children are not small anymore. If they get along well, it would be better to settle their marriage early, so that we old folks won't have to worry about it."

The eldest of the Shao family, Shao Yunping, looked at everyone and arranged, "I will stay here with my younger sister to watch over Dad, the rest of you should go back first." He then turned to his wife, Gu Wenjing, and instructed, "You and the two younger siblings should take Mom back first and take good care of her."

Shao Mingze sent his mother off, then sat on the sofa for a while before returning to his desk to handle documents. However, he suddenly felt an inexplicable restlessness in his heart. The rows of square characters were clearly in front of him, yet he could not absorb them into his mind. After taking several deep breaths with no effect, he simply threw his pen onto the desk and got up to walk to the floor-to-ceiling window behind him

He hung up the phone, rubbed his cheeks vigorously with both hands, and strode towards the ICU ward. As he passed by the laboratory, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing by in the distance. He was taken aback, abruptly stopping in his tracks, as if he had been struck from behind, his entire body stiffening.

Shao Mingze said with a calm expression, "I know"

Shao's mother smiled and said, "What’s the point of being so ambitious as a girl? I prefer a calm and steady young lady, more likable than those who are competitive and aggressive"

Ms. Han laughed as she listened, and chatted casually with Mrs. Shao on the phone: "Speaking of which, boys are more motivated. Just look at your son Mingze, he really puts your mind at ease. And then look at our daughter Ranran, she makes me so angry. Her father has been urging her to go back to the company and help out, but this girl reluctantly quit her previous job and still doesn't hurry to go to work. She just stays at home all day. And her father spoils her endlessly, refusing to say a word of criticism towards our daughter. Every time, he makes me be the bad guy." Her father has been urging her to go back to the company and help out, but this girl reluctantly quit her previous job and still doesn't hurry to go to work. She just stays at home all day. And her father spoils her endlessly, refusing to say a word of criticism towards our daughter. Every time, he makes me be the bad guy.

Ranran clearly let out a huge sigh of relief upon hearing this, yet she asked him, "Is this appropriate? Isn't it a bit too much?"

Seeing her son's gaze, Old Lady Shao felt a twinge of reluctance in her heart. While gently stroking her husband's graying hair, she softly advised, "You are already so ill; why worry about these matters? Whatever the issue, let's wait until your health improves before discussing it. Just focus on your recovery."

Shao Mingze smiled, his dark pupils reflecting the myriad of dazzling lights from the luxurious chandelier above, sparkling brilliantly: "It is the old master's decision; Shao Mingyuan is to pursue further studies, and thus I have been asked to return and take over his work"

Shao Mingze smiled and said, "It's nothing."

Ranran was somewhat surprised. Following his gaze, she turned around and saw a man in his thirties standing not far away, his face filled with hostility. His cold and resentful eyes lingered on her for a moment before shifting back to Shao Mingze.

As she stepped out of the ward, Ranran felt a sense of having survived a calamity, unable to help but let out a long sigh. She turned back and smiled at Shao Mingze, saying, "I was really nervous; I have never been this nervous even during a job interview."

Shao Mingze hung up the phone and walked back in silence. Most of the Shao family members were still crowded outside the ICU ward, with Mrs. Shao sitting on a nearby resting chair with red eyes. Instead of moving forward, Shao Mingze took a few steps back and leaned lightly against the corridor wall, with a hint of impatience between his brows, looking coldly at the crowd not far away.

Shao Mingze's mother understood it after a moment's thought and nodded in agreement.

Ranran naturally did not go, responding to Ms. Han in a lukewarm manner: "No, Shao Mingze did not invite me. I can't just go to the hospital by myself. Whether he takes me there or I go on my own, you should understand the difference better than I do, shouldn't you?"

Shao Mingze's expression remained unchanged as he nodded slightly: "Alright, thank you for the reminder, elder brother. I will remain vigilant."

Recently, Ranran has been contemplating this issue and ultimately decided to heed Chen Luo's advice to first go to the sales department below. This choice allows her to start from the beginning and also to keep a distance from Xia Hongyuan, conserving some energy to cope with the situation. Although she has already made up her mind, upon hearing Shao Mingze's question, a look of hesitation appeared on her face as she said: "There are two options: one is to directly enter the administrative department of the headquarters, and the other is to go to the marketing management center. I am a bit uncertain, what do you think?" Although she has already made up her mind, upon hearing Shao Mingze's question, a look of hesitation appeared on her face as she said: "There are two options: one is to directly enter the administrative department of the headquarters, and the other is to go to the marketing management center. I am a bit uncertain, what do you think?"

In the hospital room, although Old Master Shao was still very weak, he had already regained consciousness. Old Madam Shao tightly held one of his hands, softly murmuring something. Shao Yunping, however, remained silent, his head slightly bowed, standing beside them with a pale complexion.

Having received such a definitive statement from him, Mother Shao finally left with great satisfaction

Ranran stopped and looked at him, answering very seriously: "Of course, you may not know, but in this day and age, finding a good man is much harder than finding a good job. Jobs are often available, but good men are not so common."

Upon hearing her tone, Ms. Han could not help but feel her anger rise, and asked her: "So, have you visited the hospital?"

Most of the Shao family members were still waiting outside the hospital room, with only Elder Mrs. Shao and the eldest son of the Shao family having entered. The others waiting outside looked at Shao Mingze with various expressions as he approached, and Shao's mother could not help but quietly complain to her son, saying: "Where have you been, my child?"

Shaoyunping, who was standing by, felt unwilling and hesitated for a moment before earnestly explaining: "Father, you misunderstood my meaning just now. It is indeed good for Mingze to return to work for the family, but suddenly replacing Mingyuan like this will inevitably lead outsiders to speculate, which is not conducive to the stability of the company." He paused, carefully observing the expression of Old Master Shao, and then pleaded, "This time Mingyuan did make a mistake, and it is right for you to punish him. However, he is still young, and if he is pushed to the bottom like this, he may not be able to bear it psychologically. It would be better to give him another chance, so he can rise again from where he fell. By then, even if he is replaced again, he will not be left with any psychological burdens."

His gaze was profound, revealing not a hint of his inner thoughts, and he simply said: "If I have time, I would like to take you to see the old gentleman"

Ruan Ruan sat upright and composed, as if attending a job interview, answering each of Master Shao's questions with great seriousness, striving to present herself perfectly

Old Lady Shao busily advised: "Do not be anxious. The children have made mistakes; it is sufficient to teach them to correct their behavior. After all, they are your own children, so why get truly angry with them?"

Shao Yunping was rendered speechless by him, and could only force a smile and nod.

Shào Yunpíng then cast a pleading glance towards the silent Shào Lǎotàitai. Shào Míngyuán grew up beside Shào Lǎotàitai, and due to his sweet tongue, he has always been the one most favored and cherished by her

Before the words had left his mouth, Shao Yunping beside him had already turned pale, exclaiming in a voice filled with shock: "Father!"

At this point, Shao Yunping knew that no matter what he said, he could not prevent Shao Mingze from returning, so he could only agree and slowly nodded his head

Shao Mingze glanced at her while driving, discerning her thoughts, and said: "That's good, when you meet the old man later, just present yourself like you did when you saw your teacher in middle school. The old man likes well-behaved and quiet girls."

With Shao Mingyuan able to treat him in this manner, it is likely that Shao Yunping is not much better off. Even if he dares not confront him openly due to the relationship with Old Master Shao, it is probable that there is still some suppression and exclusion taking place behind the scenes

The old man became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid. Lady Shao was frightened and hurriedly tried to help him calm down, repeatedly advising, "Don't rush, don't rush, old man, take your time to speak, take your time."

Ranran did not respond immediately; she silently looked at him for a moment before breaking into a smile and nodding, saying: "Sure, I have long wanted to visit the old gentleman in the hospital, but I was afraid it would be inconvenient for you, so I didn't dare to bring it up."

Shao Mingze smiled, and just as he was about to speak, Shao Mingyuan walked over from the corridor. The smile on his face gradually faded, and he simply raised his hand to hold Ranran's hand, gently pulling her to his side

Shao Mingze was momentarily taken aback, his gaze dropping downwards. After a while, he spoke in a calm tone: "I will be returning to work at the Shao headquarters next Monday"

Ranran hesitated for a moment, still somewhat nervously asking: "What kind of gifts would be appropriate? Does the old gentleman have any preferences?"

Shao Yunping's expression was somewhat unsightly, and he said with a stern face: "What can a group of children do? Staying here will only cause more trouble. Everyone should go back first! Once the old gentleman's condition stabilizes, they can come back to take their shifts."

Ranran replied nonchalantly, "I know."

Shao Yunping did not dare to say anything further, repeatedly saying: "Father, please do not be angry, your health is important"

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Ranran, suddenly revealing a sinister smile. He leaned closer to Shao Mingze and whispered, "Is this your new girlfriend? You better keep an eye on her, be careful she doesn't run away again."

Old Master Shao's condition has stabilized and he has been moved to the VIP ward, but his mood has not been very good, and he always appears somewhat gloomy. Shao Mingze brought Ranran in, and he scrutinized her with a critical eye for quite some time before finally gesturing for her to sit on the sofa and inquiring about her family and work situation.

Old Master Shao appreciated his straightforwardness, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face as he said: "Good, I will give you one week. You will return to the headquarters next Monday to take up the position of Deputy General Manager."

Shao Mingze replied naturally: "I have a classmate who is a doctor here, and I asked him about my grandfather's condition."

Shao Mingze raised his eyebrows in slight surprise and asked her, "Is it really that important?"

Ms. Han was filled with pent-up frustration, yet she could not express it. By the end of the conversation, she felt drained and hung up the phone in anger. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind: at this moment, her daughter was not as good as the one who had stared defiantly at her, neck stiffened in opposition. Back then, Xia Ranran, though irritable and rebellious, at least seemed real and alive.

This was the answer she had anticipated, and it brought a slight sense of relief to Ranran. Looking at Shao Mingze, she smiled and said, "If it were you, you would probably choose a company that you wouldn't even enter. Being watched and managed by elders, where is the benefit of being in charge yourself?"

The implication is essentially the same: although Ranran is a girl, she is highly favored by Xia Hongyuan and is being groomed as a successor to the company.

An expert came to examine the condition of the elderly Mr. Shao. As soon as he emerged from the ICU, he was surrounded by the Shao family. Faced with the barrage of questions from the family, the expert became somewhat impatient, stating only that the old gentleman's condition was stable, but he would not regain consciousness for the time being. Before leaving, he requested that some family members step away, as it was not necessary for so many to be present.

Shao Mingze thought carefully and replied, "If it were me, I would choose to go to the Marketing Management Center"

Shao Mingze was momentarily taken aback, but finally could not help but chuckle, teasingly remarking, "It's not too bad yet; at least my height hasn't reached the standards of certain individuals."

Hmm? Ranran raised her eyes to look at him

Shao Mingze has been busy handing over his work recently, having hardly had a proper rest for several consecutive days and nights. Upon hearing this, he gently pinched his temples on both sides and said, "Let's talk about it after this busy period. I really don't have time lately; there are a lot of matters at the company, and my grandfather is pressing me hard."

She nodded slowly, but in her heart, she thought that if she truly displayed the demeanor she had when meeting her teacher in middle school, it would probably infuriate Old Master Shao to the point of returning to the ICU. Instead, Mrs. Han's principles of being "generous and composed, gentle and elegant, neither servile nor overbearing, neither arrogant nor impatient" are more reliable.

Old Master Shao showed little reaction. Shao Mingze slightly lowered his eyelids, as if the matter being discussed had nothing to do with him, standing there motionless and listening.

Shao Mingze dozed off until around 6 o'clock in the morning, when his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. He answered the call, and his mother's anxious yet stern voice came through the receiver: "Where have you run off to? Your grandfather has woken up and is looking for you, the whole family is here, yet your figure is nowhere to be seen!"

Xia Ranan, I tell you, the better the things in this world, the less likely they are to be given away for free. What you desire can only be fought for and seized by yourself! No one will remember what tricks you used or what means you employed; they will only see whether this thing is in your hands in the end

The news that Shao Mingze would return to the company headquarters to take over Shao Mingyuan's position quickly spread among the Shao family. Shao's mother felt a mix of joy and concern; she was pleased that her son's abilities had finally been recognized by the old master Shao, indicating that he was to be groomed as the successor of the family. However, she was worried that while others had fathers and brothers to support each other, her son would have to rely solely on his own efforts. Once he returned to the family business, he would face pressure from uncles above and obstacles from cousins below, making every step forward likely to be fraught with difficulties.

Upon hearing this, Shao's mother softened her expression somewhat, gently patting his back and saying: "Go in quickly, your grandfather wants to see you"

Seeing the old lady get angry, everyone was so frightened that they no longer dared to argue. Each person either sat or stood in the corridor, yet no one was willing to leave.

There are many people watching over the old gentleman, and I am just one among them. I have a meeting to attend tomorrow during the day, so please make some space for me to rest for a while