RAHHSFL - Chapter 73
Chapter 73
After getting off the plane, Qin Juran and Ruan Nan went home to pack. They then drove back to S City through the night. On the way, Qin Juran contacted her team members and learned the full story. Xia Jin, along with the guy who had been investing in them, had abruptly announced their departure from the team.
Well, not entirely without warning.
During Qin Juran’s trip to Switzerland, while she was six hours behind, Xia Jin had stolen the passwords to their two most active accounts, changed them, and posted some content.
One of the most viewed videos was still up. In it, Xia Jin explained that there had been some operational issues and that she regretfully had to leave the team, asking those who liked their content to continue their support.
Qin Juran stared at the screen, realizing for the first time how sarcastic the phrase "Thank you for your love and support, a new day begins with you all" could sound.
It was sickening.
Having started her own business in her past life, Qin Juran wouldn't overlook the importance of contracts. Even though they hadn’t officially registered the company, all team members had signed agreements with specific clauses regarding the jointly operated accounts.
Any action causing losses to the team could be pursued as a civil liability case.
Qin Juran considered this, then tried logging into the two "stolen" accounts. She got in.
Which meant that, while she was away, Xia Jin had changed the passwords, taken control of the accounts, posted a series of videos, including the one about their differing operational philosophies, creating drama and gaining a wave of traffic, then, before Qin Juran could take any action, changed the passwords back.
If Xia Jin had kept the accounts, pursuing civil action would have been straightforward.
But Xia Jin was clever.
Instead of a direct legal confrontation, she chose a more insidious approach.
Suing for account retrieval was pointless if the accounts had already been returned. And pursuing action for damages caused by data manipulation was tricky; quantifying the losses in traffic and potential revenue was difficult.
Shortly after, Ruan Nan received a call. She mouthed to Qin Juran that it was the lawyer Uncle Chen had helped her find.
Qin Juran took the phone and briefly explained the situation.
"Miss Qin, based on your description, you could pursue legal action, but it's not advisable.”
"Firstly, as you mentioned, your former team member has returned the account passwords, and the initial agreement stipulated joint operational rights. So, despite the losses incurred, even if you win, it would only be monetary compensation. And the other party is likely to argue that the reason for her actions was a difference in operational philosophy."
"Therefore, Miss Qin, if I were you, I would focus my energy on your current accounts and, before she completes her exploitation and manipulates public opinion further, do your utmost to protect your own interests.”
Qin Juran thanked the lawyer and hung up. He was right. At this point, it wasn't just a civil case; it had escalated into a small-scale business war.
Qin Juran put on her glasses and took over the driving from Ruan Nan for the remaining two hours to S City. As soon as they got home, both their phones rang almost simultaneously. Qin Juran answered; it was Qin Haotian, asking if they had arrived and reminding them to reheat the food he’d packed for them.
Qin Juran had told her family she had urgent business to attend to and hadn’t even stayed for dinner. While she was packing and showering, Qin Haotian and Zuo Yanzhen had quickly cooked a few dishes and packed them in insulated containers for her and Ruan Nan.
Knowing that telling her family the truth wouldn’t help and would only worry them, Qin Juran hid her anxieties, saying only that she had some matters to handle, the outcome of which was uncertain.
Ruan Nan also received a call from Ruan Huyue. She couldn’t hide her emotions. Ruan Huyue was home when she arrived and immediately demanded to know where she had been and if she knew how worried they had been.
He continued his tirade, following her into the living room. Ruan Nan threw her bag on the floor and glared at him. Ruan Huyue, realizing he had gone too far, began to apologize. “Nan Nan, I didn’t mean to yell. I was just worried. You disappeared to Switzerland without a word. If I hadn't asked Zhou Ziqing, I would have been frantic! And now, you’re leaving again so soon. You look upset. Did something happen?”
"Does it even matter to you if something happened?” Ruan Nan asked pointedly.
"Nan Nan, what are you saying?" Ruan Huyue asked, genuinely concerned now.
Ruan Nan scoffed. "Wouldn't you have to discuss everything with Aunt Gu anyway? Sorry, but my affairs have nothing to do with her."
Ruan Nan packed her things and left. Later, after Qin Juran finished consulting with the lawyer, he informed Ruan Huyue about the trouble at Ruan Nan’s classmate’s studio.
"Nan Nan, you rushed back to S City for your classmate’s studio?” Ruan Huyue asked on the phone.
"Is there a problem?"
"I didn't know. If you wanted to start a business, you could have told me! I could have given you a company to practice with. If you didn’t like any of those, I would have invested in you, we could have started something together. Doing it with classmates like this… you’re just asking for trouble. See, this is what happens! Listen to me, don’t get involved in these meaningless ventures.”
Ruan Nan took a deep breath. "Are you saying what we're doing is meaningless?"
Her voice rose involuntarily. Qin Juran glanced back at her. They both tactfully avoided each other, Qin Juran turning to her computer while Ruan Nan walked onto the balcony, closing the door behind her. Ruan Huyue continued,
“Nan Nan, do you think it's meaningful because you're gaining experience? Your current perspective and practical skills are limited. Later, you’ll realize it was all a waste of time. I’m telling you this for your own good, to help you avoid unnecessary detours.”
“And inheriting your company wouldn’t be a detour? Fine, Dad. I want a company. Go ask Aunt Gu which one I should take and how I should divide the shares with my two dear brothers.”
"Nan Nan! You’ve become so sharp-tongued. Did you learn that from your university friend? Qin Juran, is it? I heard her family runs a restaurant in A City? What kind of narrow-minded influence is she having on you? I need to look into this person.”
Ruan Nan trembled with anger at his condescending remark about her friend. She scoffed. "Dad, I seem to recall Aunt Gu also coming from a 'narrow-minded' family. And you talked about avoiding detours... Are you suggesting I should follow Aunt Gu's example, splashing red wine on a man at a party to get ahead?"
"Nan Nan, how dare you!"
Ruan Nan's voice was icy. "Dad, I didn't ask for your help. Qin Juran is my most important friend. If you try anything against her, be prepared for the consequences.”
The tension between them was palpable. Ruan Nan didn't want to prolong the conversation. Knowing her father’s nature, she added one last thing. "Aren't you always trying to connect with Qin Yuan of Chengmao Group? If so, you might want to think twice about this.”
After the call, the cold air on the balcony chilled Ruan Nan to the bone. Hearing the door open, Qin Juran quickly wrapped a thick blanket around her.
"Argue with your dad?" Qin Juran asked, stroking Ruan Nan's head.
Ruan Nan avoided her gaze. "The lawyer said too much."
Qin Juran fell silent. Ruan Nan knew the priority was the studio and their accounts. Not wanting Qin Juran to worry further, she gently pushed her hand away. "Let’s focus on work. Don't overthink it~"
After Xia Jin's stunt, the studio was in shambles. Two members gone, one quit, leaving only one tech-savvy guy willing to stay.
Qin Juran posted statements on all their social media accounts. Cleverly, instead of a dry, written explanation, she used existing footage to create a short video with music. It started with photos of the team in the early days, full of energy and enthusiasm, everyone smiling, believing in a brighter future.
Then came photos of their meetings and video shoots. The music shifted, and the video cut to a screenshot of the message informing Qin Juran about the stolen accounts, along with timestamps showing her trip to Switzerland.
As expected, the video quickly sparked heated discussions.
"Do you think people will believe us?" Ruan Nan asked worriedly.
Qin Juran leaned back in her chair, shaking her head slightly. "I don't know. For Xia Jin to do this, there must be something else going on behind the scenes, someone backing her financially. In the world of public opinion, drama and plot twists are always more believable. So, whether our evidence is strong enough or not, some people will choose to believe us.”
Qin Juran and Ruan Nan monitored the comments until past midnight. As she predicted, opinions were polarized.
Time ticked by. The long trip, coupled with this sudden crisis, had taken a toll on them both physically and mentally.
Qin Juran turned off her computer and phone, then gently guided Ruan Nan to bed. "Ah Ruan, relax and go to sleep. Don't bring any worries to bed with you.”
Ruan Nan nodded, hugging Qin Juran. "You too. Don't worry so much. There are plenty of solutions. I'm here.”
Qin Juran smiled. "Okay."
They said goodnight, turned off the lights, and went to sleep. Around five in the morning, Ruan Nan stirred, half-awake. She reached out but didn't feel anyone beside her.
She waited, but there was no sound from the bathroom. She put on her slippers and quietly got out of bed. Passing the study, she saw the door ajar, a faint light spilling out. Qin Juran was sitting at the computer, staring at the screen. She was wearing a thin, long sweater, her legs curled up in the chair, the oversized sweater pulled down over her ankles.
Perhaps from exhaustion, Qin Juran’s head rested on her knees. The dim light illuminated her profile, her figure looking small and fragile in the large, black leather chair.
Ruan Nan didn't make a sound, quietly returning to the bedroom.
Around six in the morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered into the room. Ruan Nan picked up her phone and found a contact she rarely used:
[Good morning, Mr. Gao. Sorry to disturb you so early. I’d like to schedule an appointment to discuss some matters.]
Within two minutes, she received a reply: [If I’m not mistaken, this is Miss Ruan of Juyue Group?]
[Yes.]
[Certainly, Miss Ruan. What can I do for you?]
[I’d like to withdraw some money from the foundation my mother left me.]
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