RAHHSFL - Chapter 81
Chapter 81
There was a direct flight from S City to Los Angeles, a thirteen-hour journey. Unlike the lively trip to Switzerland, Ruan Nan was alone, requesting a blanket from the flight attendant in English, the view outside her window shifting from light to dark, then back to light again.
She arrived in Los Angeles at around 5 p.m. local time. After disembarking, she switched to her local SIM card and was greeted with a flurry of WeChat messages.
None from Qin Juran.
Worried she had missed it, Ruan Nan meticulously checked all her notifications, but there was nothing from Qin Juran.
She didn't reply to any of the messages, just grabbed her luggage and left the airport. For this exchange program, the accommodation options were flexible: host family, dormitory, or private rental. Ruan Nan had chosen a duplex apartment near campus.
A program representative, an elderly gentleman, was waiting for her at the airport. He enthusiastically helped her with her luggage. Ruan Nan exchanged a few pleasantries with him, then excused herself, saying she was tired and wanted to go straight to her apartment.
She had been to other parts of the US before, and although this was her first time in Los Angeles, the climate was similar enough.
Just as she settled into the car, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Qin Juran. [Ah Ruan, the AC in the car might be strong. Use the scarf in your bag.]
??
Ruan Nan glanced at the air vent above her and the bag beside her. [Did you put a tracker on me?]
Qin Juran sent a laughing emoticon. [Based on your flight schedule, you should be on your way to the apartment now. And knowing my Ah Ruan’s proud personality, you’d be slightly upset not seeing a message from me right after landing, but you wouldn’t say anything. So I had to check on you~]
Ruan Nan pursed her lips, glancing at the time in China. It was morning there, time for work. [Are you at the office? Don't you have a meeting today?]
[I finished everything last night, working overtime. I’m just observing the planning department’s meeting today.]
[So you're playing with your phone during a meeting?]
[Yes. Remotely monitoring your journey.]
Ruan Nan chuckled and sent a playful "hitting" emoticon. [Focus on the meeting! I'll send you a picture of my dinner.]
Knowing Ruan Nan had arrived safely, Qin Juran relaxed, swiveling in her chair and replying, [Okay.]
Ruan Nan's apartment was fully furnished, the only adjustments needed being to the slightly different food and living habits. Classes started on Monday, and many of her finance classmates were also on the program. A girl added her on WeChat and invited her to a group chat, suggesting they could go to classes together.
Qin Juran continued her routine of juggling university and work. Being present was essential for many business dealings, although her "student" status shielded her from some unnecessary socializing. However, some obligations were unavoidable.
Her company, naturally, had its fair share of attractive employees. Qin Juran, without hesitation, hired a team of security guards for 24/7 coverage, making their security the tightest in Xinghui Tower. This seemingly small gesture showed the company’s focus on employee well-being, offering influencers privacy and a sense of security.
With her own striking looks and the viral videos, Qin Juran was occasionally recognized around campus and at the company. She usually ignored the attention. Ruan Nan had left both cars with her, and Qin Juran usually drove the Range Rover.
Although she tried to minimize unnecessary socializing, some investment-related matters required her personal attention.
At a small industry gathering, Qin Juran hadn’t initially planned to attend, but she heard that the CEO of a rival company, who had been eyeing Ju Nan, would be there. He had a reputation for choosing successful MCN companies to invest in, almost like he had a Midas touch.
Qin Juran decided to attend. As they arrived, however, she changed her mind, stopping Feng Qing at the door. "You can wait outside. Contact me if I need anything."
Feng Qing, looking down at her carefully chosen professional attire, her face crumpled. "President Qin, are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"
Qin Juran glanced at her but didn’t explain, simply reiterating that Feng Qing should stay outside.
As Feng Qing sat outside, bored enough to almost beat all the levels of her puzzle game, a loud crash came from the private room, followed by a man’s angry shouts. She rushed inside to find Qin Juran holding a broken beer bottle.
A potbellied, balding man clutched his bleeding head. The waiters, shocked by the blood, stood frozen. One of Qin Juran’s shirt buttons had been ripped off. Feng Qing cursed under her breath and rushed over to check on Qin Juran.
Qin Juran's eyes were icy, as sharp as daggers. She adjusted her shirt, dropped the broken bottle, grabbed her bag, and turned to leave. The man pointed at her and yelled, "You little bitch, playing hard to get? Want investment? You’ll be begging for scraps, you..."
Qin Juran ignored him, the scene too bloody. She slung her bag over her shoulder and pulled Feng Qing, who was still standing there dumbfounded, along with her. "Let's go."
Feng Qing quickly drove Qin Juran back to her apartment. Qin Juran, surprisingly, didn't tell her to leave. She smelled of alcohol, and Feng Qing didn't dare to leave her alone. Qin Juran went inside and locked herself in the bathroom, retching.
The alcohol, though just a small amount, wasn't enough to make her drunk, but she felt nauseous, as if she were covered in grime. She turned on the shower, fully clothed, the water plastering her white shirt against her skin, her makeup running in the mirror, washing away the filth of the evening.
After a while, Feng Qing knocked softly on the bathroom door. "President Qin, are you feeling better? I made you some honey water.”
"Yes. Put it in the living room, you can go now," Qin Juran replied, not opening the door.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Feng Qing asked, worried.
She wasn't just concerned about Qin Juran being upset; she was also worried about the man’s threats. A new company, targeted like this, would face countless obstacles.
Even bankruptcy.
"I’m fine," Qin Juran's cold voice came from the bathroom.
"Don't worry about what happened tonight. And don't tell anyone at the company. If he really tries to sabotage Ju Nan, even if it means bankruptcy, I’ll make sure you all find new jobs.”
"No, no, President Qin, I didn't mean that! That jerk deserved it. Whatever difficulties we face, we’ll face them together!"
Feng Qing said a few more words before leaving. Qin Juran, hearing the door close, leaned against the bathroom wall and exhaled deeply. The bright overhead light was dizzying. As the water on her skin evaporated, a chill settled in.
After a long while, she emerged from the bathroom, changed into her nightgown, and finally feeling clean, sat on the sofa.
On the sofa was a chubby cat-shaped pillow Ruan Nan had bought.
In the dim, empty living room, she sat there, staring at the pillow.
Close to midnight, Ruan Nan sent a WeChat message: [Good morning, Ju Ju~]
Along with a photo of the breakfast she had made.
Qin Juran stared at the photo, then propped herself up and replied, [Good morning, baby.]
Ruan Nan, on the other side of the world, glanced at the time. Qin Juran wasn't a night owl and usually replied to her morning greetings the next day. [Why are you still awake?]
[Had a dinner meeting.]
[Trying to secure investments again?]
[Yes. Nothing important.]
Ruan Nan figured that meant she hadn’t succeeded.
[It’s okay, Ju Ju. Our company is doing better and better. The other day, in our cultural presentation class, I showed one of our videos. Guess what? Many of my classmates had already seen it! The international market has huge potential. If we keep working hard, we’ll be even more successful.]
The long message, filling the green chat bubble, conveyed her sincerity.
Qin Juran read every word carefully, then pursed her lips.
[Miss you, Ah Ruan.]
[Didn't we just video chat two days ago?]
[Missing you again now.]
Ruan Nan didn't reply with words, sending a selfie instead. She sat at her dining table, bathed in sunlight, a plate of waffles with chocolate sauce in front of her, her warm brown hair loose and flowing.
After taking the photo, she noticed a smudge of yogurt on her cheek.
She quickly tried to retract the photo but accidentally deleted it instead.
Oops.
[Embarrassed cat emoticon]
Qin Juran stared at the photo of her beautiful, smiling girlfriend, the tension she’d been carrying all day melting away.
It was as if, no matter where they were, the sunshine from Ruan Nan’s side of the world could always reach her.
After a long silence, Ruan Nan messaged, [Did you fall asleep, Ju Ju?]
[No.]
[Okay, you should go to sleep. I have class soon, I’ll be late if I don’t leave now~]
[Ah Ruan.]
[I’m coming to see you this weekend.]
Ruan Nan froze, then quickly replied, [Do you have time? Aren’t you filming a video this week?]
[It can wait.]
[...Is President Qin trying to make me a homewrecker?]
[Director Ruan hinted at it first.]
What hint? Ruan Nan was puzzled. Then Qin Juran sent back the selfie Ruan Nan had just deleted.
...
Sometimes Ruan Nan wondered how Qin Juran's mind could conjure up such suggestive thoughts.
She stopped arguing, packed her things, and headed downstairs. Once in the car, she sent a quick message:
[Driving now, can’t chat. Go to sleep. Don't come this weekend if you’re busy with work~]
Qin Juran stared at the message, the light in the living room seeming to dim as the silence deepened.
Exhaustion finally caught up with her. Although the weather was getting warmer during the day, the April nights in S City were still chilly. Wearing only a nightgown, she curled up on the sofa, the thin blanket slipping to the floor sometime in the middle of the night.
On the campus in Los Angeles.
Just after class, on her way to the library, Ruan Nan received a WeChat message. It was 3 a.m. in China. She stopped and opened the app.
The pinned contact, the unique nickname, the bright red notification badge.
[Ah Ruan, I miss you so much.]
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