Chapter 8, harboring doubts

Unconsciously, it feels somewhat unexpected

Ranran tilted her head and shot him a glance, remaining silent, only letting out a dissatisfied hum through her nostrils

What he did not expect even more was her relationship with Su Mo

Ranran was aware of his temperament, so she did not bother to be polite with him. She turned the car around and headed towards her residence. After driving for a short while, she casually asked him, "Are you thirsty?" Without waiting for his response, she slowly pulled the car over to the side and said, "You must be thirsty after drinking so much. There is water in the trunk of my car; wait a moment, I will get two bottles for you."

Ranran and Xiaoxiao walked aside with their colleagues and sat down

Xia Hongyuan places great importance on the Nanjiao project and has specifically invited a professional real estate appraisal consulting company from outside to prepare the bid documents. This was something Ranran had known for a long time, so she did not think much of it and casually asked, "Do we need to provide the other party with information about the Nanjiao project?"

Ranran smiled and shook her head as she sat down opposite him: "It was just a joke, after all, being alone together in a room late at night, it is inevitable to feel a little tense, please understand"

During this period, the two had considerable interaction at work. Ranran's attitude had always been very good, so Su Mo thought she was an open-minded and generous girl. This prompted her to come over and discuss Lin Xiang'an's matters with her. However, she did not expect that Ranran would speak so harshly. Su Mo felt both astonished and embarrassed, momentarily at a loss for words.

Shao Mingze raised an eyebrow and asked her seriously, "Oh? Is this all there is to talk about? Is your only purpose in keeping me here just to chat?"

He smiled, got up, and got out of the car, stepping back to the side of the road

Chen Luo scrutinized her carefully, finding no hint of anything on her face, and thus could only give up: "Then let us focus on our work."

This is quite a troublesome matter. What if we arrive at the place and cannot find out anything? Should I take this drunkard to your home or should I send him back to my place? However, since the situation has reached this point, we cannot just push Chen Luo out again. We can only start the car and head to the location as instructed by Sister Li

Chen Luo was too preoccupied to respond to Sister Li, struggling to sit up straight, rubbing his temples with his fingers, and asked Ranran: "Where are we going?"

Ranran earnestly said to him: "Mingze, thank you. I was very scared just now"

Ranran did not respond, merely offering a faint smile, as if she had not heard Su Mo's words, and lowered her head to continue browsing through the leisure magazines provided by the hotel

Ranran did not expect him to pursue this matter at this time, but she truly had not thought of asking him for help. If it weren't for the two call records being too close together, she wouldn't have mistakenly dialed him. She did not want to answer his question directly, so she smiled slightly and deliberately replied in a very casual tone: "I am used to looking for the police uncle when I have something to deal with"

Su Mo had a few drinks, and a blush appeared on her fair face. She smiled and asked, "Ranran, what brings you out?"

Chen Luo couldn't help but let out a low sigh: "Ranran, don't be like this"

For some unknown reason, Shao Mingze suddenly felt a sense of discomfort in his heart

Her hair is not long, and it dries halfway in just a moment. He withdrew his hand, handed her the towel, and asked, "What would you like to talk about?"

Chen Luo remained silent, merely nodding slowly.

He knew that she disliked Su Mo, yet she always wore a proper smile on her face, diligently performing her duties. To her, Su Mo seemed merely a simple partner in collaboration. While she meticulously coordinated with Su Mo's work, she gradually showcased her own capabilities. Whether it was analyzing the value of the land, positioning the project in the market, or the financial proposals provided by Yimei, she was able to offer her unique insights, often hitting the nail on the head.

Chen Luo's mind gradually became clear, and upon hearing this, he said to Ranran: "There is no need to send me first; it is better to send Sister Li first, as she has children at home."

Chen Luo gently curved the corners of his mouth and turned to go out to arrange for someone to book a hotel

She remembered and intends to continue doing so

After she finished speaking, she took a change of clothes to the bathroom to take a shower, leaving Shao Mingze sitting in the living room watching television

Chen Luo's smile momentarily stiffened as he looked at her and asked, "Do you suspect that I am abusing my power for personal gain?"

Ranran suddenly felt like laughing, wanting to tell him not to worry. To her, Su Mo was not a rival in love; and to Su Mo, she, Xia Ranran, was merely a passerby. With this thought, a gracious and appropriate smile actually appeared on her face, and then she extended her hand towards Su Mo: "Hello, Su Mo, we meet again"

It is as if Chen Luo is expressing gratitude to Sister Li

"You didn't think of calling me just now, did you?" he asked again. When Ranran called, he had just finished taking a shower. Hearing her immediately state her address was somewhat strange, but he quickly realized she had dialed the wrong number. Her voice was urgent, and through the phone, he could almost hear her rapid breathing. Even in such a state of fear, she still refused to seek help from him, her fiancé.

Ranran suddenly woke up, gritted her teeth, looked up at the driver and said "I'm sorry," then turned and got out of the car

It was as if the previous events had never occurred, and Ranran effortlessly raised her eyebrows: "I suddenly came to an understanding, so I came back again"

Chen Luo took a bottle of water from the innermost part and became much quieter when he returned to the car. Ranran looked at him in confusion and asked, "What's wrong, do you have a headache?"

Chen Luo pressed his lips together and said: "Ranran, I will let you go back to rest for half a day today, but I will not approve your leave."

I am somewhat disappointed in myself," Ranran said again, leaning her head back and gazing absentmindedly at the high ceiling. "I used to be very good at studying, and my grades were quite good. After I started working, aside from the interpersonal relationships at the workplace giving me a bit of a headache, I never found the work itself to be difficult, so I always thought of myself as relatively smart. But now I realize that I am quite foolish; despite my efforts, I still cannot keep up with others' pace.

Indeed, she is being deliberate. There is clearly water in the car, yet she asks him to go to the trunk to look for it, isn't it just to make him see the clothes she has prepared for Shao Mingze? If she could previously think that his many acts of kindness towards her were merely because she is Xia Hongyuan's daughter, when he said that day, "Ranran, this is the only way I can think of to prevent President Xia from approaching you," could she continue to feign ignorance?

Ranran did not respond, merely leaning against the door and quietly observing him. His hair was still somewhat damp, indicating that he had just taken a shower; he was wearing a grayish-white T-shirt on top and black athletic shorts on the bottom; however, he was wearing leather shoes without socks, which appeared somewhat incongruous. She scrutinized Shao Mingze from head to toe and suddenly smiled.

Shao Mingze nodded slightly: "Hmm, it is evident that the phone number was dialed incorrectly, which shows that he was truly flustered at that time"

The elegant individuals admired Chen Luo for his youth and gentle temperament, and they all began to pour him drinks. Naturally, the people from Hongyuan wanted to protect him, and thus, amidst the clinking of cups and exchanging of toasts, the two sides quickly became entangled in a chaotic melee.

Ranran smiled apologetically and stepped aside to open the door: "Come in and have a seat, I will go get you something to drink, would you prefer ice water or beer"

Ranran met his gaze and calmly admitted: "Indeed, I dislike her."

When Ranran woke up, she was in bed, and the outside was already bright. She lay sprawled in the center of the bed, with no trace left by Shao Mingze beside her. Dazed, she climbed up and leaned over to look at the sofa, but still saw no one. If it weren't for a few beer cans scattered on the coffee table, it would seem as if he had never entered the door last night.

When Shao Mingze arrived, the farce had just ended. Ranran stood at the door waiting for him, watching the numbers on the elevator display light jump continuously, finally stopping at "19". The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing Shao Mingze's figure inside. He stood very close to the elevator door and hurriedly stepped out before the doors had fully opened.

Ruan Ruan's English listening comprehension has never been very good; she can only understand a few words in a sentence and struggles to grasp the general meaning. After attempting to listen to a few sentences, she gave up and simply watched the constantly changing images. She did not know when it started, but the drowsiness that had long since disappeared returned once more. Her mind began to feel a bit hazy, and gradually, she could not even take in those images.

Ranran lightly furrowed her brows and said, "Dad is very stubborn and refuses to listen to any advice."

At that time, she had not yet come here to work, so naturally there was no information about her at the front desk. Ranran felt an indescribable mix of relief and disappointment in her heart, but hearing these words from Su Mo made her feel quite uncomfortable

"Ranran!" Chen Luo called out to her.

Ranran came out quickly, not wearing pajamas, but dressed in a T-shirt and shorts similar to Shao Mingze's, making her appear even more like a child. She randomly rubbed her hair with a towel covering her head and inadvertently caught him looking at her, casually asking, "What's wrong?"

Chen Luo did not get out of the car, sitting quietly there for a while, and suddenly said in a low yet clear voice: "Ranran, you have been too obvious; it is actually unnecessary."

Sister Li secretly tugged at Ranran, immediately set the plan into motion, and ultimately managed to snatch Chen Luo from the crowd, stuffing him into Ranran's car. Ranran looked at Chen Luo, who was slumped in the back seat of her car, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and turned to Sister Li, who had just gotten in the car, asking: "Sister Li, do you know where Chen Luo lives?"

Shao Mingze smiled as he caught the towel, gestured for her to sit beside him, and while helping her dry her hair, he chuckled softly, "Actually, I measure less than 1.75 meters barefoot, but when others ask, I always say I'm 1.76 meters. It's quite normal to exaggerate a bit about height."

Please share some reasoning," Chen Luo said

Chen Luoshen looked at her with a complex expression for a moment, then silently stood up, walked to her desk, and pushed the slightly cooled porridge box in front of her, saying: "Eat something, your stomach is not well, do not let yourself go hungry"

All the gloom within her was about to explode because of him, and she replied fiercely: "Of course, it’s not for chatting. I plan to first violate you and then kill you, kill you and then violate you, violate and kill you a hundred times! How about that? Is this answer satisfactory?"

Chen Luo had not spoken for a long time again

With Xia Hongyuan's departure, the atmosphere at the table became even more lively

Halfway through the journey, Chen Luo in the back seat suddenly woke up. Sister Li heard the commotion and turned around, exclaiming in delight: "Xiao Chen, you’re awake? How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable? That group from Yi Mei is really something; who pours so much alcohol on someone!"

Ah? Shao Mingze suddenly nudged her with his arm, waving the already empty mineral water bottle in front of her, "Why don't you pause for a moment, get up and bring some beer over? It’s better to have that while chatting, and once we finish, it gives us an excuse for some reckless behavior after drinking"

Ranran was not foolish; she immediately understood the unspoken words. It was precisely because of Su Mo that Xia Hongyuan did not bring up this matter with her. Clearly, for Lin Xiangan, Su Mo, as the current girlfriend, held far more weight than her status as the former girlfriend.

Well, since that's the case, I will go find my father and let him see how his trusted assistant is abusing power for personal gain, and how such an important project is being entrusted to a completely unqualified junior sister to handle

Ranran sat up and slowly drank a beer. Shao Mingze was sitting less than a foot away from her, seemingly focused on a program on the television. Neither of them spoke, and the only sound in the living room was the voice of the male host on the TV, speaking in English at a somewhat fast pace, as if introducing the scenery of a certain place

Who else is there? Shao Mingze asked

She stood by the door, turning back to look at him, waiting for his final choice

Chen Luo let out a soft "hm" and opened the trunk of the car. Inside, there were many items, all mixed together. In addition to a storage box, there were several bags of clothes piled up. Thanks to the light from the roadside, he could easily see the labels on them, which indicated men's clothing. The bags contained various men's clothing brands, including formal wear and underwear. He was momentarily taken aback and suddenly felt a slight heaviness in his chest.

Ranran was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what to say

Shao Mingze did not ask anything, he simply nodded and said: "Alright"

Su Mo seemed to be making a great effort to control her emotions. She took several deep breaths, but her voice still carried a hint of stiffness: "Ranran, in fact, Xiang An and I are not together; we are just very good friends. Back then..."

Chen Luo arrived earlier than her and was sitting in front of the computer handling some emails. Upon seeing her enter, he simply greeted her with a "Good morning" and then said, "There is a meeting with the third-party bidder at 10 o'clock. Please prepare for it and attend as well"

Ranran couldn't help but let out a chuckle, thinking that Shao Mingze was indeed a fine man. It would be even more perfect if he could conveniently tidy up her room as well

Shao Mingze picked up the bottle of water from the coffee table again, drinking it casually, and said softly, "Then let's discuss them one by one, slowly."

Shao Mingze slightly lifted his eyelids to look at her, and calmly asked, "Are you trying to make me prove my gender?"

Ranran believed that Xia Hongyuan did not bring up this matter because of the marriage alliance with the Shao family. She thought that he was considering her dignity as his daughter... However, it turned out that everything she thought was merely her own assumption. Just like now, she thought she would be angry, yet her chest felt empty, devoid of any fluctuations.

"I can't drink too much water, I still have to drive later." Shao Mingze sat down on the sofa in the living room, slightly raising his head to survey the small apartment. Although the two were already engaged, he rarely came to her place; even when he came to pick her up before, he mostly waited downstairs.

This is the first formal meeting between both teams, aimed at allowing each side to become familiar with one another, thus not involving too much substantive content, only a brief introduction of the project situation. After the meeting concluded, the colleague in charge of reception arranged for everyone to go out for lunch together. Ranran did not want to go and, taking advantage of others' inattention, turned around and returned to the office.

Chen Luo had not spoken for a long time, merely gazing at her quietly. Just when she was about to give up, he suddenly smiled faintly and asked, "Ranran, you really dislike Su Mo, don't you?"

Shao Mingze did not smile, but quietly gazed at her.

Chen Luo smiled faintly: "Perhaps I misread the situation, but I still want to remind you that it is best not to bring personal emotions into work, as it is not advisable"

Shao Mingze nodded slightly: "Hmm, as expected, is there anything else?"

Such a posture and such a question clearly indicate his intention to compromise. Ranran could not help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, yet she did not dare to relax mentally in the slightest, tightening her voice as she said: "It's very simple, either replace Yimei or replace Su Mo"

Ranran raised her head and smiled at him: "Chen Luo, may I request a few days off?"

Chen Luo paused, quietly observing her for a moment, and suddenly asked: "Ranran, do you often bring personal emotions into your work?"

Chen Luo raised his face to look at her, his voice low and weary: "Do you still remember the matter I reminded you about? General Manager Xia intends for you to establish a connection with Lin Xiangan regarding the Nanjiao project."

"This is how I am," Ranran said resentfully, "I have always been like this. I will say it again, either replace Yimei or replace Su Mo. It doesn't matter whether she has wronged me or how innocent she is, I simply do not want to see her, I do not want to work with her. Don't talk to me about keeping public and private matters separate; I cannot distinguish between the two!"

The sound of water splashing came from the bathroom, prompting him to instinctively glance in that direction. Through the frosted glass partition, the blurred, slender figure inside appeared somewhat petite, resembling a child who had not yet grown up. Only occasionally, when she turned to the side, could one catch a glimpse of the unique, rounded curves characteristic of a woman.

He smiled faintly, said nothing, turned around to watch television, and sipped beer intermittently

He asked softly: "But what do you dislike about her? Just because Lin Xiang'an likes her? But what does that have to do with Su Mo? The one who hurt you is Lin Xiang'an, not Su Mo. She has never done anything wrong to you. Ranran, please do not vent your anger on her, and do not bring personal emotions into your work."

There is also a fellow named Chen Luo, who is a master at manipulating others' emotions, always able to subtly guide you towards the direction he has predetermined. However, she did not want to tell Shao Mingze about this, so she merely smiled slyly and said, "There is no one in particular, just a general reference. It wouldn't be appropriate to directly say 'you are truly frightening,' as that would be too targeted."

Ranran felt a bit embarrassed and retorted, "How could that be? You must have misread the situation. I've been in a pretty good mood these past couple of days. Besides, I just arrived at the office today, and you can already tell that I'm enthusiastic about my work? Who knows, I might even sneak out early this afternoon."

She nodded slightly, surprisingly becoming truly focused and immersed in her work

Su Mo's makeup was very subtle, and her long hair was neatly styled into a bun at the back of her head, giving her a spirited and capable appearance. She seemed somewhat surprised to see Ran Ran, but quickly regained her composure, smiling as she extended her hand and said: "Ran Ran, hello"

Hmm?

Ranran found it quite strange, as Chen Luo had already turned around and returned, opening the passenger side door and sitting down. His movements were swift, and apart from a slight smell of alcohol on him, he showed no signs of being drunk at all. Ranran couldn't help but laugh and said, "You sobered up quite quickly!"

Although Xia Hongyuan claimed it was just a simple celebration, he has always been aware of Xia Hongyuan's vanity, so he arranged for a small banquet hall at the hotel. To show his appreciation for the partners, Xia Hongyuan made a special trip to attend; however, due to a more important dinner engagement later that evening, he only had a drink at the beginning before leaving, leaving Chen Luo to take care of things on his behalf

He shook his head, closed his eyes, leaned back in his seat in silence, and after a while suddenly asked her: "Have you been living together with Shao Mingze?"

Ranran came out of the kitchen with a bottle of water, tossed it to him across the coffee table, and joked, "I thought at this time, every man would choose to have beer."

Ranran was momentarily stunned, then covered her forehead with her hand and fell back onto the sofa, groaning in pain: "Shaomingze, I have been completely defeated by you"

Chen Luo was somewhat surprised by her return and asked, "Why are you back again?"

At the center of Ranran's chest, it is filled to the brim, difficult to articulate what it is that fills her—jealousy, resentment, or perhaps the anger and grievance of being deceived by others

Of course, of course, as long as we can secure this project, there will certainly be more opportunities for collaboration in the future. Xia Hongyuan laughed heartily and turned to Chen Luo, saying, "Please make proper arrangements. Everyone has worked hard for so many days, so let's all relax a bit. Today, let's have a simple celebration, and once we successfully secure the project, we will hold a grand celebration banquet."

Sister Li still wanted to be polite, but Chen Luo insisted, "I am fine now, and there is no need for Ranran to see me off. After I take her home, I will take a taxi back myself. It is not safe for a girl to drive alone late at night."

Ranran was not interested in listening to her further words, smiled at her, and directly got up to leave the lounge. Upon returning to the dining table, the drinking game was already nearing its end. As soon as she sat down, Sister Li beside her nudged her with her arm and leaned over to ask in a low voice: "Are you going to sing with them later?"

"Of course I have to go, it's what the big boss instructed us to do," Ranran said with a smile while organizing the meeting materials. After working so hard for so many days, we are so close to the finish line, why would we pull back now?

His voice was deep and hoarse, causing a tremor in Ranran's heart. She looked up in some astonishment, only to see in his eyes an emotion that frightened and troubled her. She stood there in a daze for a moment before softly saying "thank you," then lowered her head and slowly turned to walk back to her seat.

Ranran felt a tightening in her heart, her hand instinctively gripping the steering wheel, yet she spoke lightly: "Yes, I plan to live together for a while before getting married to see how it goes. In case there are any irreconcilable differences in our daily lives, it would be better to discover and resolve them in advance."

Her mood was low and gloomy, but suddenly she heard his words, which infuriated her and lifted her spirits. Without thinking, she reached out and punched him, scolding, "Nonsense! If you want a drink, get it yourself!"

Ranran listened, raising her eyes to look at Chen Luo across from her, just in time to catch him looking back at her. She noticed that although a familiar smile lingered at the corners of his mouth, his eyes were somewhat hazy, lacking the usual warmth and restraint, indeed resembling someone who had drunk too much.

After waiting for a long time without receiving a response from Ranran, the taxi driver turned around and looked at her with a strange expression, prompting her with a voice: "Miss?"

Her unyielding demeanor, her calm composure, her keen intelligence... all made Chen Luo look at her with new eyes. He deeply felt that Xia Ranran was growing rapidly, while her dependence on him was also swiftly diminishing

In the end, Ranran still conceded defeat. She compromised and shrugged her shoulders, candidly stating: "Yes, it is too late, and I do not wish to trouble you. To put it negatively, one could say that I am being too distant with you, but on a positive note, it could also be said that I am understanding and considerate."

Chen Luo looked at her, shook his head slowly, and said, "This won't do, you should calm down."

She said she would get out of the car to help him get some water, but he smiled and opened the car door to get out first: "I'll get it."

"I will take you home," Ranran replied

Chen Luo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled as well and said, "Let's go, I will escort you back."

She reminded, "The water is at the bottom, you should turn it over."

This kind of perception made him feel both surprised and somewhat melancholic.

"Not bad, in the bidding team, I am indeed just one of your subordinates now, but..." Ranran sneered slightly, "Assistant Chen, do not forget, this company belongs to my father. As the future heir of the company, I have the right to inquire whether the employees are abusing their power for personal gain"

Unknowingly, Ranran gradually shed the role of a trivial data clerk and truly engaged in the design of this project. It seemed that everyone had forgotten she was merely an "imperial princess" who had come in as an intern, and instead regarded her as a formal member of the team. Her voice evolved from silence to presence, slowly becoming increasingly prominent within the team

The taxi driver repeated the question once again: "Miss, where are you going?"

Shao Mingze believes that his demands are not unreasonable. Regardless of their respective pasts, since the two have decided to hold hands and walk the path ahead, they should strive to bring each other closer. He slowly withdrew his gaze and focused on a travel adventure program.

Chen Luo smiled and said, "Ranran, you are not in a position to interrogate me right now. Even if I were to explain, you would not be the appropriate person to address. I am your superior now."

Ranran shouted from the car: "Have you found it?"

I have just checked the background information of Yimei Company. It is not the best real estate and land appraisal consulting firm in the industry, nor has it completed any outstanding cases, and Su Mo is not one of the most prominent asset appraisers among them. Why choose Yimei Company

Chen Luo's posture was relaxed and casual. After listening to Ranran's words, the corners of his mouth gently lifted, returning to the gentle and polite Assistant Chen of the past. He asked her: "What do I need to explain?"

It was already past midnight, and there were hardly any decent programs left on television. Shao Mingze held the remote control and scanned through the channels from beginning to end, yet he could not find a single program that would entice him to stop and watch for a while.

Ranran still did not respond, and Su Mo paused briefly before continuing to speak: "Ever since that time I saw you, he has been looking for you. Senior Brother Chen refused to disclose your contact information, so he went to the company to find you, but the front desk said that there was no one by your name in the company."

Shao Mingze chuckled nonchalantly and actually got up to fetch a beer from the refrigerator, returning to toss a can to her: "That’s nothing. A new company, a new job, everyone needs an adjustment period. Once you get through it, everything will be fine. Now, go ahead and tell me the next thing."

Shao Mingze smiled, reached out to tousle her messy short hair, and said softly: "This is much better."

Ranran turned her head to look at Su Mo, interrupting her words: "Su Mo, although our collaboration at work has been quite good, I believe you can see that I actually do not like you." She maintained a polite smile on her face, yet her words were quite blunt, "Therefore, if it is not work-related, please keep your distance from me, alright?"

Moreover, how could Su Mo be considered a former rival of hers? She has never even had the opportunity to confront Su Mo alone. Lin Xiang'an has always kept Su Mo well hidden, securely placed in the deepest part of his heart, only revealing during their breakup that the one he loves is Su Mo, who is his soul, his spirit, his life, his true love

Ranran was momentarily taken aback, suddenly forgetting the anxiety in her heart, and angrily threw the towel in her hand at him.

Ranran, feeling a bit self-conscious, touched her face and asked him, "Is there?"

Ranran did not want to argue with him on this matter. With her eyes downcast, she pondered for a moment and said, "Since that is the case, I will not be polite with you any longer. If there are no urgent matters tomorrow, then don't leave tonight. Stay and keep me company, chat with me; I am quite afraid of being alone right now."

Ranran was taken aback, raising her head to look at him: "What did you say?"

Chen Luo nodded slightly and returned to his seat: "Let's talk."

The emotions between men and women are sensitive and elusive, quietly changing flavor without one knowing when it began. If she were still single, she could easily enjoy this ambiguity, but she is already engaged to Shao Mingze, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they are set to marry next year. At this moment, how could she possibly embark on another ambiguous relationship

Chen Luo's lips were slightly pressed down, and there was no trace of his usual smile on his face. After a moment, he spoke: "President Xia is aware of this matter. Although the collaboration with Yimei was my suggestion, it was ultimately President Xia who made the final decision." At this point, he paused slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm. "You should know your father well; he is a profit-driven businessman. If he did not see any benefits, how could he possibly sign a contract with Yimei?"

Chen Luo responded and went to make arrangements. As he passed by Ran Ran, he couldn't help but ask her in a low voice: "Are you going?"

Perhaps it is because his attire is not as formal as usual, his entire demeanor has softened considerably, and there is much less sharpness in his eyes, which have become even deeper, making it impossible to see the bottom. He looked at her and said: "But we are not just a lonely man and woman; we are also an engaged couple"

Isn't it? Then why choose Yimei and choose Su Mo? If I remember correctly, Su Mo is your junior from university, and your relationship has always been quite good. If you did not sign this contract to take care of your junior, then please provide me with a reasonable explanation as to why we chose to cooperate with them

He laid her innermost thoughts bare, each word striking at her sore spots. Ranran bit her lips tightly, staring at him intently, her eyes betraying a hint of redness, unclear whether it was from anger or grievance

"That's just perfect." Sister Li was very satisfied and secretly signaled Ranran to look across. "Look at Xiao Chen, he has been completely intoxicated by them. He hasn't even had a chance to eat anything, and now they are dragging him to the KTV to drink more. How can his body handle this! In a little while, I will make an excuse that I have children at home and need to go back early. You, on the other hand, can say that you are driving me home, and then we can take the opportunity to bring Xiao Chen back as well, so he won't have to endure any more drinking."

Sister Li indeed has a warm heart and is always willing to help, but Chen Luo is the person in charge on the Hongyuan side. Unless he is so drunk that he is completely unconscious, it would be inappropriate for him to leave the group in such a situation. Ranran merely smiled faintly, but did not respond.

Chen Luo said nothing, but quietly and compassionately looked at her

The anger of Ranran intensified: "I will not reason with you. Since I now have power and influence, I demand to live comfortably and freely!"

Since he has said so, Sister Li could not say anything else and let them take her home first. Ranran drove the car to the entrance of Sister Li's building, and Chen Luo got out to escort Sister Li into the building. The two exchanged a few more words, and one could only see a faint smile on Chen Luo's face, while Sister Li also smiled and waved her hand repeatedly.

Ranran had a weak stomach and could not tolerate alcohol, yet there were always people coming to invite her to drink. After several attempts to decline and explain, she became somewhat annoyed and simply slipped out when no one was paying attention, hiding in a small rest area around the corner of the corridor. Before long, someone sat down in the empty chair beside her. She turned her head to look and saw it was Su Mo.

Chen Luo continued to gaze at her, the warning in his eyes growing more intense

Chen Luo suddenly realized that she was indeed a remarkably intelligent girl, with a high level of comprehension and a strong work ethic. Although she was the least experienced member of the team, she did not hold anyone back in the slightest

Ranran pushed the porridge box in front of her aside, clasped her hands on the table, and assumed a serious negotiating posture: "I have just checked the background information of Yimei Company. It is not the best real estate and land appraisal consulting firm in the industry, nor has it undertaken any outstanding cases, and Su Mo is not the most prominent asset appraiser among them. Why choose Yimei Company? Why let Su Mo be in charge of this project? Chen Luo, I need your explanation."

With a heart full of thoughts, Ranran momentarily found herself at a loss for where to begin. She settled deeper into the sofa, crossed her legs, slumped her shoulders, and softly said, "A lot has happened today"

Shao Mingze raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at her, asking: "What happened?"

Sister Li was still speaking softly: "It is best for you to handle this matter; if it were someone else, they might not be able to secure the release."

Su Mo's father and Lin Xiang'an's father are old comrades, and the two families have always been close. Lin Xiang'an's parents have also always liked Su Mo, and through her, we can directly establish a connection with Director Lin

Before falling asleep, she suddenly felt a bit confused and thought: in fact, she could have chatted a bit more with Shao Mingze, talked about Peng Jing's insults towards her, discussed Mu Qing's departure, ... talked about how she struggles every day yet does not know what she is striving for ...

Sister Li also asked, "Xiao Chen, where do you live?"

Prepare yourself

Ruan Ruan sat in the car for a moment, lost in thought, before finally steeling herself to press the accelerator and drive into the community. In the rearview mirror, that tall figure gradually became smaller, until it finally disappeared from her sight. For a brief moment, she almost wanted to turn back, but in the end, she held back and smoothly parked the car in the underground garage

"Ranran, we are already engaged, I do not need your kind understanding," said Shao Mingze

Shao Mingze merely smiled in response, neither affirming nor denying her remarks

Ranran could not fathom his thoughts and hesitated to speak, choosing instead to drive in silence. When they arrived at the entrance of the community where Ranran lived, she stopped the car and said to him: "I have arrived, you don't need to follow me inside. Hurry and hail a cab to go back, and get some rest early."

After a short while, Su Mo returned from outside with an air of composure. Some people began clamoring to go to KTV to sing, and this suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement. The group, already in high spirits from drinking, immediately prepared to change venues to continue their "battle." Unexpectedly, at this moment, Chen Luo was truly so drunk that he was barely conscious, needing the support of two people just to stand up.

She once asked Shao Mingze how to work with someone she did not like. Shao Mingze thought for a moment and replied to her: "Then just focus on the work, be polite to the person while maintaining distance, do not involve any personal feelings in the work, and at the same time, do not give the other party a chance to get close."

Ranran stood up to help him turn on the television: "You sit down first, I will take a shower and change my clothes, and then we can chat slowly in a little while."

When she reached downstairs, she realized that she had not brought her car keys. Not wanting to go back to get them, she simply hailed a taxi by the roadside. When the driver asked her where she wanted to go, she was taken aback, her mind blank, unable to even mention a single destination

Ranran stared at him and said calmly and clearly: "You are well aware of what you need to explain"

This brought an indescribable sense of relief to Ranran's heart, as she calmly gazed at Su Mo, waiting for her to leave with a wave of her sleeve. To her surprise, despite experiencing such embarrassment, Su Mo remained seated and did not move.

Is that so? Are you sure? Rǎn Rǎn asked with a smile, "It is better to marry someone who is understanding and considerate."

You were feeling down yesterday, distracted at work, and even took an unauthorized leave. However, your mood today is noticeably much better, and your work attitude has become significantly more positive

Ranran looked at him in confusion and asked, "What benefits?"

Chen Luo did not return until around three or four in the afternoon, and with a stern expression, he placed a box of still steaming porridge on Ranran's table,淡淡地说了一句 : "Eat something."

Ranran smiled gently and shook her head: "I won't go."

Su Mo is undoubtedly outstanding, but Ran Ran's performance is surprisingly on par with hers. She and Su Mo are like two blooming roses in this project, competing to showcase their beauty, each with its own charm

Sister Li thought seriously for a moment: "I roughly know the direction, let's go first and ask him when we get there"

Su Mo smiled humbly and said: "This is the result of the joint efforts of both teams, and I would like to thank General Manager Xia for giving me this opportunity. I hope that in the future, we can continue to collaborate."

Shao Mingze faintly tugged at the corner of his mouth and asked, "Are you really 1.6 meters tall?"

Although it was summer and the sky was bright, it was not yet late. Moreover, in a good mood, she leisurely prepared a simple breakfast for herself and only after finishing did she drive to the company

Chen Luo was still quietly watching her, but Ranran's heart was filled with anxiety and confusion. In the end, she could no longer bear his gaze and had to turn her head away, softly saying: "You can get out of the car."

Shao Mingze turned around to look at her and said, "Who else among people like us?"

Faced with such an attitude from Ranran, Su Mo's face revealed an awkward expression, yet she did not leave. She sat in silence for a moment and suddenly said: "Actually, Xiang An has been looking for you."

Ruan Ruan's body was extremely stiff, and she couldn't even manage such a simple action as nodding. She made an effort and finally managed to utter with difficulty: "I remember, but he never brought this matter up with me afterwards."

Chen Luo did not respond, silently gazing at her for a moment before slowly lowering his gaze: "Ranran, what do you want?"

Ranran remained sitting there in a daze, her mind swirling with a single question: why did she want to escape again? She had done nothing wrong, so why escape? She wanted to flee when she saw Lin Xiang'an, she wanted to flee when she saw Su Mo, and now she wanted to flee in front of Chen Luo—why? What had she done wrong? Why was it always her who turned and fled in despair each time?

I hope we can draw a little closer. Shao Mingze's voice was not loud, yet it carried an unshakeable determination

The alarm clock by the bed rang cheerfully, and according to the programmed settings, it would not stop for five minutes if not turned off. Ranran stretched out her hand to fetch it, habitually stuffing it under the pillow. The slippers were not found by the bedside; instead, they were located in front of the sofa. At the same time, she found a note left by Shao Mingze on the coffee table: If you would allow me to leave a few sets of change of clothes here, I think besides keeping you company for conversation and drinks, I might be able to do more.

Chen Luowei sighed almost inaudibly and said softly: "Ranran, this is the only way I can think of to prevent General Manager Xia from approaching you."

In early September, Yimei completed the preparation of the bidding documents ahead of schedule. The project research, market survey, site analysis, investment estimation, and other contents involved were all exceptionally well done, and the design proposal was particularly in line with Xia Hongyuan's expectations. When the presentation was finished, Xia Hongyuan warmly shook Su Mo's hand and praised her, saying, "The project is excellent, young person, you are outstanding and have a bright future ahead."

Ranran was slightly surprised, not knowing why he would bring this up

"Alright." Ranran responded cheerfully and began to seriously prepare the materials that might be needed for the third-party production bid.

Ranran was somewhat puzzled as to why he would specifically come to remind her of this, until she saw Su Mo, dressed in professional attire, appear at the other party's seat in the conference room, when she suddenly realized the implication in Chen Luo's words. She abruptly turned her head to look at Chen Luo and indeed saw a warning and reassurance in his eyes

Ranran raised her eyes to look at him and said calmly, "Chen Luo, let's talk."

Ranran fell silent for a moment and exclaimed without any context: "People like you are truly frightening; you can easily manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others"

"Has he left?" he asked Ranran, looking around.

The warning was meant to advise her to remain calm and not to bring personal emotions into her work. But what does the comfort signify? Does it imply that he feels sorry for her? But what is there to feel sorry for? Just because she has been kept in the dark by her colleagues, because she has been continuously deceived, only to find out when standing face to face with her former rival that this person will be her future collaborator? But what is there to feel sorry for? Shouldn't this be seen as ridiculous? Just because she has been kept in the dark by her colleagues, because she has been continuously deceived, only to find out when standing face to face with her former rival that this person will be her future collaborator? But what is there to feel sorry for? Shouldn't this be seen as ridiculous?

What was clearly something that left her extremely frustrated was surprisingly dismissed by him with just a few casual words. Ranran couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and said irritably, "That's it, there are no more!"

Ranran was very tired and did not want to say another word; she just wanted to escape from this place as soon as possible. Thus, she compromised and nodded slightly: "Alright, then let's make it half a day." After saying this, she hurriedly picked up her bag and left the office.