RAHHSFL - Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Qin Juran froze. Ruan Nan smiled and walked over, pulling her into a hug.
Instead of her usual short dresses, Ruan Nan wore a professional-looking blouse and skirt, her high heels making her almost as tall as Qin Juran.
After a few seconds, Qin Juran instinctively tried to push her away.
Ruan Nan loosened her grip. "What's wrong?"
Qin Juran, looking at Ruan Nan’s elegant attire, then at her own pajamas and messy hair, stammered, "I... I need to get ready..."
"Qin Juran!" Ruan Nan looked at her reproachfully.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, the months of separation and the underlying longing colliding in their gazes. After a brief moment of awkwardness, Qin Juran smiled and pulled Ruan Nan into a tight embrace.
"I thought you were busy and didn't have time for video calls," Qin Juran mumbled, her voice muffled against Ruan Nan's shoulder.
Ruan Nan chuckled. "Feeling neglected? Upset?"
"A little..."
"I'm back."
Qin Juran held her for a while longer, as if finally registering that Ruan Nan was really there.
She didn't ask why Ruan Nan was back, just hurried to get ready and made her breakfast. Ruan Nan, still adjusting to the time difference, planned to take a nap after eating.
While Ruan Nan was showering, Qin Juran’s fingers lingered on the drawer of the nightstand. She hesitated, then decided against opening it.
It’s fine. She just got off a long flight, she must be tired. I can wait.
Qin Juran went to the living room and unpacked Ruan Nan's suitcase, neatly arranging her shoes. As she placed them on the shoe rack, she noticed something unusual. Ruan Nan usually only wore small, three-centimeter heels. These were at least six centimeters high.
Qin Juran stared at the high heels for a moment, then went to the other closet where they kept their winter boots and rearranged the shoes, hiding the high heels at the very back, a pair of snow boots strategically placed in front.
There. Much better.
When Ruan Nan emerged from the shower, Qin Juran, still in her pajamas, drew the curtains, turned off her phone, and focused all her attention on her wife.
Ruan Nan didn't mention anything else, and Qin Juran didn’t press her. They cuddled and played in bed for a while before Ruan Nan fell asleep.
Qin Juran covered her with a light blanket and tiptoed to the living room to work.
Ruan Nan woke up in the evening. Qin Juran had cooked dinner. Although not a culinary masterpiece, it was authentic Chinese food.
Ruan Nan, clearly missing home-cooked meals, ate with gusto, even commenting that Qin Juran’s cooking was starting to resemble Qin Haotian’s.
After dinner, Qin Juran asked, "Why are you back so suddenly?"
"Took a week off."
Qin Juran paused. Taking a week off from a short-term study abroad program required a lot of paperwork and approvals, even a re-evaluation upon returning.
So…
They sat in silence, unsure how to broach the subject. Ruan Nan, however, was direct. "You didn't tell me before because you were worried about my studies?"
She was referring to Ruan Huyue and Juyue Group.
"Yes." Qin Juran didn't deny it. "Did he ask you to come back?"
Ruan Nan looked away, considering the question. "Did he come to see you too?"
Qin Juran hesitated, then nodded.
It was almost July, the evening air warm and pleasant. Ruan Nan walked onto the balcony, where Qin Juran had filled the white, ornate plant stand with baby's breath of various colors.
The old wind chime had been replaced with a light purple one, its gentle tinkling carried by the breeze.
Ruan Nan looked down as Qin Juran walked over with two small glasses of red wine. The evening traffic in S City was heavy, headlights streaking through the twilight. People in light summer clothes strolled along the streets, enjoying the city's vibrancy.
Ruan Nan took a glass, smiled at Qin Juran, and they clinked glasses, taking a small sip of the mellow wine.
Qin Juran put her arm around Ruan Nan's waist, and Ruan Nan leaned her head against Qin Juran's shoulder.
The city’s hustle and bustle seemed both distant and close. Being together like this, they felt connected to the city's rhythm, a part of its growth.
After a long while, Ruan Nan finally spoke. "Ju Ju, why do you think people change so much?"
Qin Juran knew what she meant and pulled her closer. "Because of their environment, their experiences, and all sorts of coincidences. Sometimes you intend to go left, but the temptation on the right is too strong, and you stray from your path.”
"And if they stray, can they ever come back?"
Qin Juran pursed her lips. "Maybe. But sometimes, they don't realize they've strayed. Or perhaps they won’t realize it until they reach another crossroads, another choice to make."
Ruan Nan nodded. "Okay."
Qin Juran gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Ruan Nan's ear. "Ah Ruan, no matter what, I'll always be behind you."
Ruan Nan chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "Qin Juran, you said it wrong."
"What did I say wrong?"
"By my side. We'll always be by each other’s side."
Standing side by side, their heights almost matching, the breeze rustling Ruan Nan’s silk dress, it was true. By each other’s side.
"Ju Ju, he asked to meet with me.”
"When?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Should I go with you?" Qin Juran took her hand.
Ruan Nan pulled her hand away and shook her head. "No. Some things, I have to face on my own."
Monday night. Two Porsches drove in opposite directions after leaving a private, high-end café. A black Range Rover, having circled the block, followed the blue Porsche, finally arriving at an apartment complex.
Ruan Nan got out of the Porsche. The streetlights were dim, making it hard to see her expression clearly. Qin Juran gave her a questioning look, and Ruan Nan gave a wry smile and shook her head.
It seemed Ruan Huyue had chosen a different path.
Inside, Qin Juran tried to comfort her, but Ruan Nan had already opened her laptop and started working. She had only taken a week off, and she expected more "developments" from her father.
Qin Juran went to work as usual. On Wednesday, both she and Ruan Nan received invitations. Ruan Huyue was selling his house in A City. Having lived there for two generations, the city held sentimental value for them all.
So, the Ruan family was hosting a farewell dinner, a housewarming party of sorts, a goodbye to the city.
Qin Juran looked at the elegant, European-style invitation. A farewell dinner…
She smiled and made a phone call.
After two days off, Ruan Nan returned to the office. She had previously sent coffee and snacks to the staff while abroad and even organized a team-building event. Her sudden return was met with surprise and excitement.
Feng Qing entered Qin Juran's office and immediately saw the CEO practically on top of Chairman Ruan, about to kiss her. She quickly averted her gaze, shouting, "I didn’t see anything!" while sneaking another peek.
Qin Juran, untangling her hair from Ruan Nan's buttons, said through gritted teeth, "Speak. Now.”
Feng Qing quickly nodded, rushing over with a document. "President Qin, I’ve finished writing that article about the celebrity, the personal one. I think it's pretty good. It’ll probably go viral if we publish it.”
Qin Juran nodded. "Leave it here."
"But President Qin, this celebrity is already past their prime. Although their story is tragic, they're also irrelevant now. Is it worth the effort?"
Qin Juran shook her head. "Don’t worry about it. It’s personal.”
Feng Qing nodded. Qin Juran gave her a few more instructions. Ruan Nan, having not seen Feng Qing for months, watched as Qin Juran spoke. Feng Qing’s eyes kept darting towards Ruan Nan.
Qin Juran lightly tapped Feng Qing with a rolled-up newspaper. "What are you looking at?"
Feng Qing grinned sheepishly. "Looking at Chairman Ruan.”
"..."
Was that even a question?
Ruan Nan beckoned Feng Qing over and asked how her work was going, if she was adapting well. Feng Qing quickly assured her everything was fine, then asked how long Ruan Nan would be staying, when she would be back permanently.
"Just a week this time. I'll be back in August. Why?"
Feng Qing seemed to have been waiting for this question. "Chairman Ruan, you have no idea what it was like while you were gone..."
A loud, deliberate cough interrupted her.
Feng Qing immediately stopped talking, staring at Qin Juran for a few seconds. "President Qin, is your throat sore? I have some lozenges, you can just suck on one and not talk for a while.”
...
Seeing Qin Juran’s defeated expression, Ruan Nan couldn’t help but laugh.
Feng Qing, smitten with Ruan Nan since the interview, stared at her, her infatuation even more obvious.
You’re fired.
Feng Qing proceeded to list Qin Juran's "transgressions" while Ruan Nan was away: never spending too much time alone with any woman, always having Feng Qing present during meetings with female clients, never setting foot outside the apartment except to go to work, and even ordering hair growth products online…
Ruan Nan wasn't fooled; she knew Feng Qing was trying to prove Qin Juran’s loyalty. She smiled, patted Feng Qing on the shoulder, then turned to Qin Juran. "Ju Ju, we need to keep this girl. I might poach her later.”
Feng Qing's eyes lit up. "Chairman Ruan, will you be working at Ju Nan after you return?"
Ruan Nan nodded. "That's the plan, for now."
Feng Qing beamed. "Chairman Ruan, I feel like you’ve changed so much since you came back. You have this mature aura now, almost like President Qin's.”
"President Qin, that gift might not be suitable for Chairman Ruan anymore."
Feng Qing’s sudden remark made Qin Juran cough again. Ruan Nan, catching the word "gift," looked at Feng Qing, who gave her a knowing look, mumbled something about having work to do, and left.
Ruan Nan looked at Qin Juran, who, unfazed, continued to organize the documents Feng Qing had brought.
A gift that was no longer suitable…
Hmm…
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