RAHHSFL - Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Early Sunday morning, Qin Juran received a call. Feng Qing said a woman had called, offering to donate a substantial sum to Ju Nan, with no strings attached.
Feng Qing, assuming it was a scam, had promptly lectured the caller and hung up.
"President Qin, can you believe it? Offering Ju Nan three million yuan, asking for nothing in return. Did she think I was stupid?"
"A woman?" Qin Juran asked.
"Yes, sounded like she was in her thirties or forties. Unfamiliar number, not one of our clients. President Qin, why would she call me? Did she really think I would fall for that?"
Feng Qing’s tone was a mix of nonchalance, disdain, and a hint of self-satisfaction.
Qin Juran couldn’t help but smile. "Actually, she achieved her goal.”
Qin Juran hung up. The caller was likely Gu Ying. Three million yuan, offered through Feng Qing, was a clear message to Qin Yuan, asking him to retract the story he was planning to leak to the press. Quite a shrewd tactic.
However, Ruan Nan had indeed asked Qin Yuan not to expose the whole truth.
Full exposure would be devastating for Juyue, leaving no chance for recovery. Knowing Gu Ying’s manipulative nature, a cornered animal was dangerous, capable of anything.
Better to hold it as leverage. As long as the story remained hidden, Gu Ying wouldn’t dare to target Ju Nan again.
Even if Juyue went bankrupt, Ruan Huyue’s personal assets were enough to ensure a comfortable life for his family. Whether his two sons would still receive a top-tier education, whether they would still benefit from their father’s connections, whether their futures would be rewritten, that was up to them.
Qin Juran ruffled her little wife’s hair. "Have you been secretly reading business strategy books?"
Ruan Nan tilted her head, dodging Qin Juran’s hand, and looked at her pointedly. "President Qin, you should call me 'Chairman Ruan' during the day.”
Qin Juran smiled, getting out of bed. "Alright."
She walked to the closet, pulled out two pairs of underwear from the organizer, and held them up. "Chairman Ruan, would you prefer the grayish-pink lace one with the bow, or the white one with the fluffy bunny tail?"
"Qin Juran!"
It had been a while since Ruan Nan had been so flustered. She blushed, throwing a pillow at Qin Juran.
Qin Juran laughed, catching the pillow, tossing the grayish-pink underwear to Ruan Nan, and holding up the other one. "We'll save this one for tonight," she whispered in Ruan Nan’s ear.
To avoid suspicion from Qin Haotian and Zuo Yanzhen, they hadn't gone home last night, instead staying at a well-equipped guesthouse in A City.
Ruan Nan got out of bed. Qin Juran, wanting to cook breakfast, rushed into the bathroom first. Ruan Nan knocked on the door, and Qin Juran’s playful voice called out, "Want to join me?"
Ruan Nan’s hand lingered on the doorknob. A few seconds later, she opened the door and walked in.
A while later, President Qin emerged, shivering slightly, wrapped in a bath towel.
She had taken a shower to cool down, not to heighten the tension. Now she had to take another cold shower, thanks to a certain someone.
Ruan Nan emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed, applying lotion. "Let's have lunch at home, then drive back to the company?"
Ruan Nan's flight back to S City was tomorrow night, which meant they only had about thirty hours left together.
Qin Juran nodded, taking out the toast and eggs from the oven.
After breakfast, they got ready. Ruan Nan put the gifts she’d brought from America for Qin Haotian and Zuo Yanzhen – health supplements, cosmetics, etc. – into the trunk and glanced at her watch. "I wanted to get a belt for Uncle Qin. They didn't have the one I wanted in America. Should we stop by the mall?"
Qin Juran also checked the time. "Another day.”
They had plenty of time. Ruan Nan, noticing Qin Juran’s deliberate avoidance, asked, "Do you have other plans?"
Qin Juran gave a vague answer, telling her to get in the car.
Ruan Nan remembered overhearing Qin Juran's phone conversation last night. She had heard something about A City. Perhaps it was related to this?
She didn't press the issue, just got into the car and fastened her seatbelt. As they drove, Ruan Nan realized they weren’t heading towards Ju Tavern.
After about half an hour, they arrived at what looked like a developing area, a mix of rural and urban landscapes. The old restaurants and shops along the highway were being renovated, soon to be transformed into A City's new tourist district.
Qin Juran stopped the car and sent a WeChat message. A young woman emerged from one of the shops and waved excitedly upon seeing her. "Juran!"
Ruan Nan stopped walking.
It was Qin Juran’s best friend from high school, Zheng Xiaofan.
Qin Juran waved back. "Xiaofan~"
Zheng Xiaofan, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, ran over and hugged Qin Juran briefly. "Juran, I thought you'd forgotten all about me after becoming a CEO.”
Qin Juran chuckled and shook her head, taking Ruan Nan's hand. Ruan Nan was still staring at Zheng Xiaofan. "So, do you believe me now?" Qin Juran asked.
Zheng Xiaofan and Ruan Nan hadn't been on good terms in high school. Seeing her best friend holding hands with her former rival, she seemed slightly uncomfortable.
Ruan Nan also felt a twinge of awkwardness. Unpleasant memories from high school resurfaced, a sense of unease settling in.
Qin Juran released Ruan Nan's hand and turned to Zheng Xiaofan. "Is it here?"
Zheng Xiaofan nodded. "He said it’s here."
Qin Juran nodded. Zheng Xiaofan, still worried, said, "Juran, I'll wait outside. Call me if you need anything. And if he’s still being difficult, don’t take it to heart. You were both victims in that incident.”
Qin Juran nodded, walking towards an outdoor café and pushing open the door. She turned to Ruan Nan, who was still standing there, slightly dazed. "Ah Ruan, come."
Qin Juran walked through the café and out into the courtyard. In a secluded corner booth sat someone Ruan Nan hadn't seen in a long time.
Unlike the other patrons, this young man sat in a wheelchair.
Jiang Chen.
The same boy whose legs had been broken by thugs because of Qin Juran.
The same incident that had made Ruan Nan resent Qin Juran for so many years. Even after they got together, she had always avoided thinking about their high school days, carefully skirting around the topic.
Qin Juran also froze upon seeing him. Just for a moment. Then she walked towards him. She wore a white blouse and pencil skirt, a formal blue ribbon tied at her collar.
She stopped in front of Jiang Chen and extended her hand, slightly bending down so he wouldn’t have to look up.
Jiang Chen had been reading. He hadn't seen her in years and hadn't recognized her until she stood before him. He put down his book, his gaze complex behind his thick glasses.
He didn't take her hand, instead wheeling his chair back slightly.
Qin Juran wasn't surprised. She nodded, stepping aside and gesturing to Ruan Nan, who was watching the scene unfold, a stunned expression on her face. "Ah Ruan, sit."
Ruan Nan felt her legs heavy as she walked towards them, as if in a trance.
They sat down. A waiter came over to take their order. Jiang Chen didn't speak, nor did Ruan Nan. Qin Juran ordered three iced Americanos.
The waiter left. This was a newly developed area of A City, and it was Sunday morning, so the café was almost empty, just two people working on their laptops at a nearby table.
Qin Juran steepled her fingers. "I didn’t expect you to agree to meet so soon."
Jiang Chen looked at her. He had hated her for years, but at the same time, he had spent years imagining what she would be like. Now, seeing her again, she seemed like a completely different person.
His voice was cold and indifferent. "I didn’t expect someone like you to want to see me again.”
Qin Juran bit her lip, looking down, then back up at him. "I haven’t forgotten about what happened.”
Jiang Chen scoffed, looking at Ruan Nan. "Miss Ruan? Mrs. Qin? I’ve heard about you two. Don't worry, Ruan Nan, I don't blame you. Qin Juran has always been charming. I lost my legs for her, and you went from rival to lover, right?"
Ruan Nan felt her ears burning, unsure what to say.
Qin Juran noticed Ruan Nan clenching her fists again.
She didn’t speak, instead placing a document she’d brought from the car on the table. "Jiang Chen. It’s been six years. I came here today to talk to you calmly, rationally, about what happened.”
"This is the perpetrator's confession, along with eyewitness testimonies. I’ve also created a timeline of the events, as accurate as possible. I don't know if you ever looked at these before, or if you just focused all your hatred on me. I just want to say, if you read this, you’ll realize that what happened wasn’t intentional on my part.”
She then placed an envelope on the table. "I know you had good grades, and you were interested in finance. Your physical condition has always been your biggest obstacle. This is a letter of recommendation from a well-known HR professional. You can use it as a stepping stone, try applying to these companies in A City. I’ve included a list of company names in the envelope.”
She pushed the documents towards him.
Jiang Chen stared at the files for a long moment, then looked up at her, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So you’re telling me that what happened was just bad luck, that I was at fault, that you were just a minor, insignificant factor? And now, you’re here, offering me your professional connections, your pity, your charity? Are you expecting me to be grateful?"
"No," Qin Juran interrupted him, her voice cold.
Both Ruan Nan and Jiang Chen were startled by her sudden change in tone. She stood up and looked at him. "Jiang Chen, I came here today to apologize, an apology you’ve probably been waiting six years for."
She bowed deeply, her voice sincere and serious.
"Jiang Chen, I’m sorry."
She held the bow for a long time, Jiang Chen frozen in place. She had always pretended to be fragile, putting on a facade of vulnerability, while secretly believing herself superior to everyone.
Even though she hadn't anticipated the incident, she had always avoided it, even disdained it.
Jiang Chen, an ordinary, even unattractive boy. His pursuit had embarrassed her, the campus beauty. After his accident, she might have felt a flicker of regret, but mostly relief.
And now, under the bright June sun, on a lush green lawn, the campus beauty, the CEO, the woman he had hated for so long, was bowing before him, offering an apology six years too late.
He stared at her, his hand trembling on his wheelchair, his voice almost cracking as he shouted, "What good is an apology? Will it make me walk again?!"
"Would not apologizing make you walk again?" Qin Juran straightened up, looking at him.
...
Jiang Chen, his face flushed with anger, pointed at Ruan Nan. "What apology? Qin Juran, you’re just putting on a show for her, aren’t you?"
Qin Juran didn't deny it. "I came here to apologize, partly for Ruan Nan to see. This has always been a source of tension between us. And for you, it’s a burden you’ve carried for far too long."
"I’m here to take responsibility for my mistakes, even if it’s just offering an apology. I’m not all-powerful. Some things I can change, others I can only try to make amends for."
Her words were meant for both Jiang Chen and Ruan Nan.
Business wars, family drama, manipulations - they had been through so much. Qin Juran didn't want this incident to remain a wedge between her and Ruan Nan.
So, no matter how difficult, she wanted to face it, to take responsibility.
"Jiang Chen. Like I said, I can't change what happened six years ago, but this apology is for you. Some things are burdens we carry.”
She finished, and they sat in silence.
The sun climbed higher, the light harsh overhead. They didn’t speak, the only sounds the clicking of keyboards from a nearby table and the chirping of birds.
After a long while, Jiang Chen started to laugh, a strange, almost manic laughter that grew louder and louder. Qin Juran watched him intently, waiting for him to speak.
When his laughter finally subsided, as if his stomach hurt, tears welling up in his eyes, he took off his glasses and roughly wiped his face, looking up at Qin Juran. "Qin Juran, your apology does help, a little.”
"But..."
"I won't accept it. You, Fan Chuan, those bastards, I’ll never forgive you. Since you’ve suddenly discovered your conscience, since you understand the burden of guilt, then experience the burden of never being forgiven.”
He threw the documents on the ground and wheeled himself away before Qin Juran could say anything.
Qin Juran and Ruan Nan walked out. Zheng Xiaofan, seeing their somber expressions, tactfully left.
They got into the car. Qin Juran didn’t speak. Ruan Nan turned to her, her voice soft. "Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting Jiang Chen?"
Qin Juran gave a wry smile. "I was afraid. I didn’t want to bring it up until I was certain of the outcome.”
Ruan Nan looked at her, as if at a child. "And were you certain today?"
Qin Juran shook her head. "No.”
Then she thought for a moment. "Not entirely. At least I apologized."
Ruan Nan looked at Qin Juran. So composed and confident in front of powerful figures the night before, now so uncertain. Just like she’d said, she wasn’t all-powerful. There were things she couldn't change.
Since the incident, Ruan Nan, like Jiang Chen, had blamed Qin Juran entirely. But now, thinking back, had Jiang Chen been completely blameless?
A series of mistakes had led to an irreversible outcome. And now, because of their relationship, Qin Juran wanted to take responsibility.
And why had she chosen such a detached, impersonal approach, relying on documents and interviews, as if she hadn't been there?
Suddenly, Ruan Nan felt the car, the stable, familiar space, start to spin. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, the colors swirling around her.
As if in a sudden epiphany, all the strange incidents from the past year flashed through her mind: the torn love letter, Qin Juran knowing about her fear of the dark, her driving skills on their first trip, her always claiming to be 26…
The play rehearsals, the Spanish-speaking couple in Switzerland, Qin Juran never once speaking Spanish. Switzerland, skiing… her effortlessly stopping her on the advanced slope on their first time…
"Ah Ruan..."
"Ah Ruan..."
Qin Juran's voice broke through the swirling thoughts, like someone waking from a nightmare. Ruan Nan snapped back to reality.
"Ah Ruan, are you okay?" Qin Juran looked at her worriedly.
"Quién diablos eres tú?" Ruan Nan asked.
"What?" Qin Juran thought she hadn’t heard clearly.
"Quién diablos eres tú." Ruan Nan repeated.
Qin Juran hesitated. Ruan Nan clenched her fist and shook her head. "It’s the title of my favorite singer’s new album. Haven't you heard it?"
Qin Juran frowned slightly. "Ah Ruan, you never told me about it.”
"Oh, it's nothing then," Ruan Nan said, leaning back in her seat.
Qin Juran didn't press the issue. The silence in the car was heavy. Qin Juran turned on the music. The late June weather in A City was unpredictable. It had been sunny when they left the café, now it was pouring rain as they drove back towards the city.
Dark clouds gathered overhead. Qin Juran slowed down, the drive taking over an hour.
The rain pounded against the car, the temperature dropping. A Cantonese song played on the radio, the scene feeling strangely dramatic.
They couldn’t drive any further when they reached the street behind Ju Tavern. They hadn't brought an umbrella. Qin Juran grabbed a trench coat from the back seat. "Ah Ruan, wait in the car. I’ll get an umbrella.”
She opened the door, the wind and rain instantly drenching her. She pulled the coat over her head, about to run back, when she saw Ruan Nan getting out of the car.
She had no coat, her dress instantly soaked through.
Qin Juran ran over, pulling the coat over Ruan Nan’s head. "Why did you get out? I said I would get an umbrella!"
"Qin Juran," Ruan Nan called out.
The rain streamed down their faces, plastering their hair to their skin. In a matter of seconds, they were both drenched.
Ruan Nan looked at her, her voice clear despite the downpour.
"Who are you?"
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