RAHHSFL - Chapter 93
Extra 1 (Part 1) - Daily Life
"Do you want this?"
Noon, after lunch, in their luxurious apartment in S City's new district.
Qin Juran, lounging on the sofa, held a small, white ice cream bar, her gaze fixed on the little girl with two pigtails sitting on the floor, her hands behind her back.
The little girl stared longingly at the ice cream, her big, three-year-old eyes filled with suspicion as she glanced at Qin Juran. Unable to resist the temptation, she nodded slightly.
"Then give me a kiss," Qin Juran said, pointing to her cheek.
"You have makeup on~," the little girl mumbled, her pronunciation slightly unclear.
...
Qin Juran patted her own smooth, youthful cheeks. "I'm not wearing any makeup. See?"
Seeing the ice cream starting to melt, the little girl swallowed, then, closing her eyes, leaned forward and planted a loud, wet kiss on Qin Juran's cheek.
Qin Juran, unfazed by the saliva, smiled and, seemingly out of nowhere, produced another "ice cream bar" and handed it to the little girl.
It was a slice of steamed bun, white and square, soft and fluffy, its only flaw the crumbs falling onto the floor.
The little girl, having traded a kiss for this treat, put it in her mouth.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
"Waaah!"
A loud wail echoed through the living room.
Hearing the commotion, Ruan Nan hurried downstairs, still in her bathrobe, her hair damp from her shower. The little girl, seeing her, rushed into her arms, crying even louder as Ruan Nan comforted her.
Ruan Nan's bathrobe was low-cut, the little girl nestled against her chest, her cries even more dramatic, still clutching the "evidence" of Qin Juran's betrayal in her hand.
Ruan Nan looked at the steamed bun in the little girl's hand, then at Qin Juran, who was enjoying her actual ice cream. "Ju Ju, why are you bullying her~"
Qin Juran shrugged. "She already had a scoop of ice cream earlier~ Too much cold food isn’t good for little tummies.”
She did have a point.
The little girl, not quite understanding, but seeing Ruan Nan's expression, quickly wiped her tears. "Ruan Mommy, kiss, Juran needs a kiss.”
"Hey, don't call me Juran! And don't touch…"
"Waaah! Ruan Mommy~"
The two continued to bicker, Ruan Nan feeling like her head was about to explode. She chuckled, holding the little girl protectively. She playfully swatted Qin Juran's backside. "There, there, little one. Juran Auntie was being naughty, so Ruan Mommy punished her. Don’t cry anymore, okay?"
Qin Juran let out a dramatic "ow," rubbing her backside.
The little girl, barely three years old, couldn't see through the millennial fox spirit's act, looking back and forth between them before burying her face in Ruan Nan's chest again.
Ruan Nan smiled, stroking the little girl's hair and lifting her up. "Ruan Mommy will braid your hair and get you a pretty dress, okay?"
"Okay~"
Ruan Nan stood up, mouthing to Qin Juran, "Ju Ju, go take a shower. Have Feng Qing send the documents to the venue. There’s a press conference after the launch event. Leave early if you can. Meet me at the amusement park entrance at 6:00 PM."
Qin Juran, jealous regardless of age, watching Ruan Nan holding the little girl, mouthed back, "Ah Ruan, I want a kiss too.”
Ruan Nan rolled her eyes, ignoring her. "Don’t be childish. Aren’t you embarrassed, arguing with a little girl?"
"I don’t care. I want one," Qin Juran said, pouting.
Just then, the little girl, nestled in Ruan Nan’s arms, her back to Qin Juran, let out a loud fart.
...
Qin Juran and Ruan Nan got ready and went downstairs. Ruan Nan adjusted the little girl’s white dress and gave her some instructions. "Be good with Juran Auntie. If she bullies you, go find Feng Qing Auntie, okay?"
The little girl tugged on her sleeve. "Is Ruan Mommy leaving?"
"Ruan Mommy has some things to do. I’ll come find you later, okay?"
"I don't want Ruan Mommy to leave~," the little girl whined, her little face crumpling, her eyebrows furrowing, on the verge of tears.
Ruan Nan quickly adjusted her pigtails. "Don’t cry, don’t cry. Ruan Mommy will bring you your favorite cream puffs, okay? Strawberry flavored~ Two of them, the big ones~"
As she mimed holding a large cream puff, distracting the little girl, Qin Juran, dressed in a smart suit and sunglasses, scooped the little girl up and placed her in the back seat of the Mercedes.
"Come over when you’re done. I’ll order some food,” Qin Juran said to Ruan Nan.
"Okay. Be good with little one. No fighting, okay?”
President Qin, looking at the little girl with her bottle, scoffed. Fighting? Who would fight with her? At most, I’ll just knock over her bottle.
Qin Juran got into the car. The little girl sweetly greeted Feng Qing, who, charmed, handed her a lollipop.
Having been forbidden from sweets and ice cream by Qin Juran all week, the little girl, lollipop in hand, glanced at Qin Juran.
Qin Juran nodded, giving her permission.
The little girl happily took the lollipop, unwrapped it, put it in her mouth, then, her duty done, turned her back on Qin Juran and ignored her.
…
President Qin gritted her teeth.
Feng Qing, watching the two from the rearview mirror, chuckled. "President Qin, why do you look so tired?"
Qin Juran glanced at the little girl beside her. "You think so?”
"But I thought little one has been clinging to Chairman Ruan all week. I thought Chairman Ruan was the one taking care of her.”
Qin Juran sighed. That was the little girl's cunning strategy.
Whenever she wanted a snack, a hug, or attention, she went to "Ruan Mommy." But whenever she needed the bathroom, a drink in the middle of the night, or help getting comfortable in bed, she came to Qin Juran.
"Call Zhou Ziqing again. Ask him when he’s picking up his daughter. He resents me, and now even a three-year-old is bullying me."
Feng Qing couldn’t help but laugh. "President Qin, you really don’t like little one?”
Qin Juran paused, reaching over to cover the little girl's ears. "Yes, I don't like her."
Feng Qing, seeing this in the rearview mirror, smiled. A 26-year-old woman lying to a three-year-old.
They arrived at the venue. Feng Qing gave Qin Juran her documents and took the little girl outside, Qin Juran reminding her not to give the child any junk food or let her get cold before heading inside.
The press conference was from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Ruan Nan had promised the little girl a trip to the amusement park. This conference was also a subtle bidding war for resources, which Qin Juran wasn't particularly interested in.
The beautiful CEO, having made a name for herself since starting her business in her junior year, had led Ju Nan to even greater success in the past five years. With a keen eye for media trends, the company was thriving, its roster of influencers growing, and now she was considering expanding into the entertainment industry. Attending this conference was simply a courtesy to a friend.
A staff member escorted her through the VIP entrance. Qin Juran, her sunglasses still on, simply nodded at those who greeted her.
"Whoa, who was that? Some CEO's mistress? Or a celebrity?" a staff member whispered.
Her colleague replied, "That’s Qin Juran, CEO of Ju Nan. Don’t you recognize her?”
"With those sunglasses, who could tell? She thinks she’s a celebrity or something,” the first one said, rolling her eyes.
Her colleague nudged her. "Keep your voice down. That’s just her style. Whether you like it or not is your problem.”
Qin Juran overheard their conversation but didn't react, continuing towards the venue.
She had faced criticism from the very beginning. In this industry, trying to please everyone was futile. She had her own style, and those who didn't like it could deal with it.
The staff member led her to the VIP section. Qin Juran greeted a few people and sat down for the conference. It was rather dull, several projects having already been rejected and now being presented again as a formality. They were just there to make an appearance.
Halfway through, Qin Juran, bored, sent a message to Ruan Nan, who, busy as always, didn't reply.
She put away her phone, listened for a while longer, then, sensing the meeting was winding down, slipped out during a transition.
The conference was on the 16th floor. This building was in the financial district, primarily used for business events, several floors housing large conference halls. Waiting for the elevator, Qin Juran noticed several stopping on the 14th floor.
Another event downstairs?
As she waited, a middle-aged woman rushed out of the conference hall. Seeing Qin Juran, she looked surprised. "President Qin, are you leaving too?"
Qin Juran recognized her. It was Mrs. Wang, wife of the vice president of a jewelry company. They had met at a fashion show. "Something came up, Mrs. Wang?"
Mrs. Wang pointed downwards. "The art exhibition downstairs is almost over. I need to go and snag a few pieces. President Qin, care to join me?" Despite her wealth, Mrs. Wang was surprisingly down-to-earth.
Hearing her use the word "snag," Qin Juran assumed it wasn't a formal exhibition. She was about to decline when she glanced at the time. It was still early, before 6:00 PM.
"Can I go in without an invitation?"
"Of course, just come with me.”
Qin Juran nodded, following her to the 14th floor. The exhibition was less commercial, not the usual auction-style event for wealthy patrons, but a genuine display of art, its minimalist design creating a comfortable and artistic atmosphere. Several people strolled through the gallery, wine glasses in hand, quietly discussing the artwork.
As Mrs. Wang and Qin Juran entered, a few of her friends greeted them. Qin Juran exchanged a few pleasantries, then, wine glass in hand, began to browse.
Although she didn't paint herself…
Her appreciation for art was also lacking.
…
So Qin Juran chose paintings based on intuition.
They had two paintings at home, both chosen by Ruan Nan. They still needed one for the living room. Qin Juran had offered to hang one of her own creations, but Ruan Nan had said their apartment had good feng shui.
No need for warding off evil spirits.
President Qin strolled through the gallery, many of the paintings undeniably beautiful, their titles and descriptions adding to their charm.
As time passed, the crowd thinned. Qin Juran was about to leave when, rounding a corner, a painting caught her eye.
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