RAHHSFL - Chapter 85
Chapter 85
"President Qin, someone’s here to see you—"
Qin Juran had just finished a meeting with the planning department and was about to head into another one with the finance team, with only a twenty-minute break in between.
Holding a stack of documents, she hurried towards her office. "I'm not free this morning. Tell them to contact the relevant department. If they absolutely must see me, it will have to be after work.”
"I know, President Qin. I told him that, but he said it's not about company business, it’s a personal matter.”
A personal matter?
Qin Juran stopped walking. "His card."
Feng Qing quickly handed her the business card.
The name printed on the white card was unmistakable: Ruan Huyue.
Qin Juran sighed, placing the card in her folder. "Inform the finance department that the meeting will be delayed by twenty minutes.”
Feng Qing, already suspicious of anything related to the surname "Ruan," understood Qin Juran's reaction. "President Qin, will twenty minutes be enough?"
Qin Juran scoffed. "More than enough."
Five minutes later, in the meeting room of Ju Nan Cultural Media Co., Ltd.
This was the first time Qin Juran had met Ruan Huyue in person, and he wasn’t what she had expected. Or rather, he didn’t seem like the kind of man who would be the husband of someone like Ruan Nan’s mother, or the father of someone like Ruan Nan.
Qin Juran observed Ruan Huyue, and he, in turn, observed her.
He sat on the leather sofa with the self-assured posture of a seasoned businessman, then, after a moment of scrutiny, said, "You're not what I expected."
A faint, contemptuous smile played on Qin Juran's lips. "I could say the same to you.”
Implying that he hadn't brought his "chief strategist," Gu Ying, with him.
Ruan Huyue’s face darkened. Before meeting Qin Juran, he hadn't expected a third-year university student to be running such a well-organized company. Her aura of competence and leadership surpassed even that of many seasoned professionals he’d met.
And she clearly wasn't afraid to speak her mind.
Ruan Huyue, choosing his words carefully, cleared his throat and tried to ease the tension. "Has Nan Nan contacted you recently?"
Qin Juran poured him a cup of Taiping Houkui tea. "We message every day and video chat once a week.”
Ruan Huyue looked slightly displeased, then nodded. "Good, good. You and Nan Nan were high school classmates? Why haven't I heard her mention you before?"
"Perhaps we weren't meant to be friends back then. Luckily, we ended up at the same university, giving us a second chance." Qin Juran sat gracefully across from him, not with the deference of a younger person to an elder, but with an air of confidence and composure.
Ruan Huyue made small talk about A City and Ju Nan. After ten minutes, Qin Juran glanced at her watch. "Mr. Ruan, you have ten minutes left. If you’d prefer to continue reminiscing, I don’t mind.”
Ruan Huyue, seeing that the atmosphere hadn’t improved after ten minutes, grew uneasy. He leaned forward, his hands clasped together, and hesitated for a moment. "Juran, I heard you hit Fatty Sun a while back?"
Qin Juran shrugged, a cryptic smile on her face. "You seem quite concerned about me, Mr. Ruan."
Ruan Huyue chuckled awkwardly. "Well, since you and Nan Nan are working together, I’m naturally concerned about her well-being. I have to keep an eye out for her.”
Qin Juran didn't respond. She didn't know how much Ruan Huyue had investigated Ju Nan, how closely he had been watching, but so far, he hadn’t been involved in any of their business dealings.
"Juran," Ruan Huyue looked up, his gaze intense, "I heard that it was CEO Qin of Chengmao Group, Qin Yuan, who resolved the Fatty Sun incident for you?"
Despite his casual tone, the cunning glint in his eyes didn't escape Qin Juran.
Qin Juran frowned. So, it was Qin Yuan that had brought Ruan Huyue all the way from D City to S City.
She leaned back in her chair. The June sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating every dust particle in the air. A few years ago, she might have pulled the curtains closed, letting the harsh light expose every flaw on Ruan Huyue's face.
Today, however, she didn't see the point.
She looked at him, a faint smile on her lips. "I heard. May I ask who told you that?"
Ruan Huyue, seeing her friendly smile, hesitated. "It's quite well-known in Sun's circle. Almost everyone knows."
Qin Juran smiled again. "Mr. Ruan, rumors are so strange. Just because Mr. Qin Yuan and I share the same surname, such stories emerge. How amusing.”
Ruan Huyue shifted uncomfortably. "Rumors?"
Qin Juran nodded. "Indeed. You've looked into my background, haven't you? I grew up at Ju Tavern. I never left A City until university. And even then, I’ve mostly been on campus. This is my first business venture. How would I possibly know someone like Qin Yuan?"
"But... but that’s what everyone’s saying..."
Qin Juran pursed her lips, giving him a condescending look. "And everything ‘everyone’ says is true? I also heard that your wife, Gu Ying, secured her position in the Ruan family by splashing red wine on you. So, is that a rumor, or is it true?"
"You!"
Seeing through Qin Juran's sarcasm, Ruan Huyue stood up angrily. "Have you been playing me this whole time?!"
Qin Juran’s expression turned cold, her voice icy. "I gave you twenty minutes out of respect for Ah Ruan. I know about Juyue's situation. If you came here today hoping Ah Ruan and I would help you out of some sense of filial piety, you wouldn’t be making me feel so disgusted.”
Her words were harsh, exposing his true intentions. A wave of shame and embarrassment washed over him, the fear of Ruan Nan discovering his true motives evident on his face.
He regained his composure. "I didn’t have any ulterior motives. Your small company can't help Juyue anyway. I just heard you had connections with Qin Yuan and came to ask. There’s no need to be so rude, young lady!”
Qin Juran scoffed. "Well, now you have your answer. I have a meeting in three minutes. You can show yourself out.”
As she turned to leave, Ruan Huyue called out, "Qin Juran!"
She stopped and turned around.
"There’s something I haven’t told Gu Ying. I checked with the foundation. The money Ruan Nan’s mother left her has been withdrawn. I don’t have the right to ask how she’s using it, but seeing the scale of your company, and your… unusual confidence, I’m guessing a substantial amount of Ah Ruan’s money has been invested here, hasn’t it?"
Qin Juran's eyes turned even colder. She walked towards him. "So?"
"What exactly is your relationship with my daughter? Why would she willingly invest in your failing company?"
Qin Juran wasn't offended by his dismissive tone. Instead, she chuckled, almost amused. "My relationship with Ah Ruan? Let's just say... if Ah Ruan had a significant stake in Juyue Group, if her financial interests were threatened, I would do everything in my power to help her, regardless of who I had to call.”
With that, she turned and left, ignoring the complex expression on Ruan Huyue’s face.
He wasn't concerned about her relationship with Ruan Nan, only about what they could offer each other, their business value.
Let him stew in his own greed.
After the meeting, Qin Juran's schedule remained packed. In the afternoon, she went to the university to discuss her graduation thesis with her advisor. Having done this in her past life, she was well-prepared and made quick progress.
She had already chosen her topic, related to her company, with easily accessible data. As she was discussing it with her advisor, Secretary Yan walked past the office, then, as if doubting what he had just seen, walked back.
"Well, well, well, isn’t this our busy bee, Qin Juran? Haven't seen you around campus lately. Professor Liu must have some magic touch to lure you back.”
Her advisor chuckled. "She’s my star student, a talent I’ve nurtured since her freshman year. With a student like her, I can brag for the rest of my life.”
Qin Juran smiled politely. She usually wore formal business attire at the company but kept it casual at university, a simple T-shirt and jeans, looking every bit the student, despite her air of sophistication.
"Qin Juran, come to my office," Secretary Yan said, turning to leave.
Qin Juran looked questioningly at her advisor, who nodded. Since Qin Juran won first prize in the national competition, Secretary Yan, though not openly admitting it, had clearly taken her under his wing.
Qin Juran followed him to his office. He turned on his computer, connecting it to a small projector. "Have a seat."
Qin Juran sat on a sofa facing the screen. As Secretary Yan drew the curtains, she teased, "Secretary Yan, we don't graduate until next year. No need to be so sentimental."
Secretary Yan rolled his eyes. "I’ll be throwing a party the day you graduate, trust me."
Qin Juran didn't say anything more. A video, vlog-style, appeared on the screen. The background wasn't familiar. After a few seconds, Qin Juran recognized Ruan Nan's university.
Secretary Yan fast-forwarded a bit, and the scene shifted to Ruan Nan. She was participating in an event, her English noticeably improved, confidently presenting academic concepts and giving a speech in front of a large audience. The afternoon event was followed by an evening gala.
On the lawn, under the twinkling fairy lights, Ruan Nan, in a leather jacket, played the drums, her movements as energetic and fluid as ever. But unlike the first time Qin Juran saw her perform, she wasn't just lost in the music; she was actively engaging with the audience.
Regardless of the nationalities or the cameras pointed at her, Ruan Nan no longer shied away, her smile confident and engaging.
The vlog ended quickly. Secretary Yan turned off the projector. "So, haven't seen that before, have you?"
Qin Juran hadn’t expected Secretary Yan to be so accepting of her relationship with Ruan Nan. She smiled. "Indeed, I haven't."
Secretary Yan looked smug. "Of course not. It's a joint project between several universities, a vlog competition for exchange students. I just received it this morning.”
Qin Juran asked if he could send her the video. He said no, it was confidential until after the competition. Seeing her disappointment, he asked, "Missing Ruan Nan?"
Qin Juran nodded.
"Then channel that longing into your studies! Ruan Nan is working hard and representing our university abroad. You should also participate in a few competitions next semester.”
"..."
Setting her up?
Qin Juran left the university and went home. The morning's encounter with Ruan Huyue had been draining. She ordered takeout but had no appetite. Friday evenings were reserved for their video calls. After showering, just as she was about to call Ruan Nan, Feng Qing called with a work issue.
After a twenty-minute call, Qin Juran finally called Ruan Nan, but she didn’t answer.
[What's wrong, Ah Ruan?]
[Ju Ju, I’m a bit busy these days. I don't have time for a video call today.]
[What about tomorrow?]
[Not free for the next couple of days.]
[Not even for a short call? Sad face emoticon]
[Be good. I'll call you when I'm free. Go to sleep. I have to go to campus now~]
Qin Juran remembered the vlog. Ruan Nan hadn’t mentioned it, so it must be time-consuming. She didn't push it, although she felt a twinge of disappointment. She said goodnight and went to bed.
With a rare free Saturday, Qin Juran stayed home, handling some work calls and watching a few episodes of a TV series.
The series happened to be set in Los Angeles, about a young woman navigating life and career in a big city. The plot was rather dull. Qin Juran watched from afternoon till evening, the house growing increasingly quiet. She fell asleep on the sofa without even turning off the lights, the TV still playing, the protagonist’s face blurring into Ruan Nan’s in her dreams.
On Sunday morning, after a week's worth of sleep, Qin Juran opened her bedroom door and stepped out to find the young woman she had been missing sitting on the sofa.
Qin Juran wondered if she was still dreaming. She rubbed her eyes, about to go back to her room to check her phone, when Ruan Nan, tilting her head, said, "Aren't you going to come and hug me?”
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