108. Calculation
Regarding the issue of Ke Ji City project, An Ran had never directly replied to Huang De Xing. And about the collapse of the sample room and the missing blueprint, she actually wanted a thorough investigation, and even forward it to the police, but it was rejected by Huang De Xing as he did not want to break out the negative side of the company during this sensitive period of time with the opening of Ke Ji City.
Although An Ran was doubtful regarding his irrational approach, she did not press the issue any further.
Because of the exercise manor case, work had been extremely busy, but because the sample room had collapsed and the blueprint was lost, it immediately gave An Ran some free time, and she had absolutely nothing to do.
From time to time she would hear Ling Lin and Xiao Xiao’s gossip, but as long as the mouth is on another body, listening to it or not is the other person’s privilege, to listen to it or not is the other person’s choice. In fact these past two days she had been thinking a lot, whether or not she should listen to the faint answer in her heart or not. Although it has almost been 7 years, when she thinks back on Jing Cheng, unexpectedly she isn’t that reluctant to leave the place, whether it was the people, or the work.
At this time, the cellphone on her desk starts to ring. It was an unfamiliar number. An Ran frowns. Due to her mood at the moment she didn’t feel like picking it up, but it seemed like the other person was very persistent, so they ended up sending her a text.
An Ran sighs, and reaches out to grab the phone. She opens the text, and her eyes widen. The text was very simple, including the punctuation there were only eight characters.
The text had said, “Gu jie, I am Chen Cheng.”
After her shock, An Ran quickly memorizes her number and calls back. It seemed like Chen Cheng was on the other side waiting for her call, as she picked up the call after one ring.
“Chen Cheng?” An Ran was still unsure, her tone carried a hint of doubt. There is no such person who would steal something and take the initiative to go back to the person who they had stolen from, that would be unreasonable.
The other line stayed silent for a while, when Chen Cheng finally makes a faint sobbing sound, as if she were struggling for a long time. Then she finally starts to say, “Gu jie…..”
An Ran tightens her hold on the phone, and asks, “Did you take the blueprint?”
Chen Cheng doesn’t say anything for a while, but An Ran can faintly hear her sob. She doesn’t say anything, and just clenches the cell phone, calmly waiting, waiting for her to give her reply.
A while later, Chen Cheng finally opens her mouth, and just says, “Gu jie, can we meet up and talk.”
“Huh.” An Ran sneers. She has no intention of meeting. “Is there something we need to talk about? Talk about how you took the blueprint from my office?” Her tone was angry with sarcasm.
“Sorry.” Chen Cheng seemed to be remorseful, but was insistent on meeting her. “Gu jie, let’s meet and talk. I have some things I want to tell you.”
When An Ran had arrived at the coffee shop that Chen Cheng had chosen, Chen Cheng was already there. She was sitting by the windows, in front of her a cup of coffee, and she had her head turned towards the window as she watched the cars and passer-bys. Her gaze seemed to be fleeting, as if she wasn't focusing.
An Ran walks over to her, and finally pulls out a chair opposite to her to sit. She places her bag on her seat, looks at Chen Cheng, and faintly starts to say, “Hand me the blueprint.” Her tone was very flat, she was not angry or indignant, but very cold, ice cold.
Chen Cheng then turns her head, stares at An Ran, and bows her head with guilt, “Sorry!”
An Ran hadn't replied yet. The waitress approaches them promptly, carrying the menu and a smile and says, “Excuse me, may I take your order?”
An Ran glances at Chen Cheng, turns to the waitress and says, “Give me a cup of water, thanks.”
“Sure. Just a moment please.” The waitress smiles and nods.
An Ran then turns her line of sight to Chen Cheng, fixes her gaze at her, and asks, “Why? Can you give me an explanation?”
Chen Cheng lowers her gaze, and tightens her grasp on the coffee cup. Only after a while does she faintly open her mouth, and says, “I needed money. Someone gave me a price, said that I only needed to take away the blueprint of the exercise manor, and he will give me 100 000 dollars. I, I really did need money, so I accepted.”
She knew that doing this was incredibly wrong, but she really had no other way. Her family had given her the news that her mother’s illness had worsened, and she needed surgery. However they had no money, last year because of mother’s illness, they completely emptied out their banks. They thought that her mother’s illness was gone for good, at the least the next few years her life would be no problem, but suddenly she received a call saying that her illness has worsened, and every day the hospital urged for surgery. Ultimately her dad and brother had no other way, and called her, thus making her pressed for money. At the time when she was unable to find a solution, that person told her that so long as she was willing to take the blueprint to the Exercise Manor, then disappear for a few days, then he would give her one payment of 100 000. She truly needed the money, if she had this 100 000, her mother could operate. Although she wasn’t sure how long her mother would live after the surgery, perhaps a few years, or perhaps a few months, but if she had looked on helplessly as her mother suffered while she did not think of another way, then being her child, how could she repay her. For her mother, she had harmed An Ran.
An Ran doesn’t speak, and just stares at her, seeming to wait for her to continue.
“I went back to my hometown for the past few days. I came back to Jiang City today, and also learned today that something happened to the template room the day that I left.” Chen Cheng said quietly, facing her shame made her feel uncomfortable. She knew that in this situation An Ran was the most innocent, and those people undoubtedly wanted to leave no leeway for An Ran. She felt that she must tell An Ran what she knew, so at least she could be on guard.
“Who told you to take away the blueprint?” An Ran faintly asked. Actually, in her mind she had a vague idea.
Chen Cheng looks at her for a while, then finally starts to say, “It was Director.”
One day Huang De Xing had called her into his office. Apparently he had gotten someone to investigate into her family situation, and said that he was willing to give her 100 000, as long as she took An Ran’s blueprint and give it to him, he would give her the cash on the spot. Additionally even if the incident was exposed he could protect her, and would not permit officials to perform an investigation into the matter. So, as she received one urging call after another from home, she truly had no other way. That evening her older brother called her once again to say that if they delayed the surgery again then the hospital will have to give them a critically ill notice. She could only painfully hide at the staircase and cry. That evening she waited for An Ran to leave and called Huang De Xing, telling him that she could steal the blueprint for him however he must give her the 100 000 that evening, because she really could not wait any longer.
Huang De Xing very readily agreed. That night at 9 o’clock they met at the coffee shop in front of the firm. She handed over the blueprint to Huang De Xing while he handed over the money that was promised. That same evening she gave him a verbal resignation, and the next day she took the train and hurried home. Over the past two days her mother’s condition had improved, and the more she thought about the situation the more she felt that it was fishy, thus she returned to Jiang City, and first thing she did was call the office assistant Xiao Li, to ask about the state of the company. Then she found out that the day that she left, the template room had collapsed, and they had lost the project. She did not understand what was Huang De Xing’s aim in doing this. The exercise manor was such a huge project, if they succeeded not only would they have reached their target for the second half of the year, they could even have expanded their market overseas. However he had personally plotted to ruin the project! It truly was baffling, outrageous.
“Heheh.” An Ran laughs coldly. She just faintly says, “Really.” She was only guessing that Huang De Xing might have known, but she really did not expect that he was the mastermind behind it. It truly was ridiculous.
“Gu jie?” Chen Cheng looks at her, and asks worriedly, “You… Are you okay?”
An Ran turns her head, and just slightly looks at her. She steadily says, “The blueprint is in Huang De Xing’s hands now, right?” Her tone was very flat, so flat that one could not detect any emotion in it.
“I’m not sure, but when I took the blueprint I did give it to Director.” As to who he had given the blueprint to after that, she has not a clue.
An Ran did not speak again. The waitress brought over the glass of water to their table, and she raises her head to take a sip. Then she stands up, and faintly looks at her, just saying, “Thanks for telling me today. However, may I offer a bit of advice. From now on, please do not go against your conscience for money’s sake.” After speaking, she turns her head and does not look back.
When she returned to the company, as she entered the hall, she bumped into Huang De Xing who was on his way out.
Before An Ran had said anything, Huang De Xing started to smile at her and greets her, “Just coming back after rushing out?”
An Ran nods, and does not say much. Her expression towards him immediately turns cold.
He seemed to be in a hurry to leave, and just reminds her to think it over and hope that she will give him a reply soon.
Returning to her office, An Ran sat in front of her desk, dazed as she thought about many things.
About Huang De Xing’s proposition, she did not have to think much about it. She hated these dishonest and shady businesses, she always felt that things should be fair and realistic, your strength will win, as long as you have strength, there is no need to be worried about not winning. Doing things behind people’s back by using back-door relationships is simply violating the principle of fairness and impartiality. Of course she knew that there are many people who do things that way, but other people are other people, and she was unwilling to become them. Call her old-fashioned, not understanding on how to be flexible, she admits that she has always been an awkward person.
She began to think about leaving, but if she had left this way, she reckons Jing Cheng will investigate and find blame for the accident and the loss of the blueprint.
Huang De Xing’s move was very despicable, but at the same time it was quite brilliant. At the moment she was trapped, if she doesn’t leave, then she will have to listen to him and get Su Yi Cheng’s Ke Ji City project. If she was determined to leave, then all these years in the construction business have been in vain. And even after that her reputation in the industry would be tainted because of this incident, because if her guess was correct, Huang De Xing was not willing to make the incident public now, but if she left, then all the blame would be on her. At that time the collapse was not due to human intervention, and the blueprint was not stolen, but rather it was a design failure, and then they would purposely destroy the blueprint to shirk responsibility!
She pinches her sore brows. She really hated this kind of calculation and speculation. She had said that she was not dumb. The things that she doesn’t seem to understand, it’s only because she does not want to understand or get to know them. She only wanted to design quietly and peacefully, regarding the business side of the company, she doesn’t want to hang out with unnecessary people, on account of gaining more favors for herself. That is not the life that she wants, but obviously, she is not interested because of the unnecessary troubles those relationships will bring. Yet there are people who will do all sorts of calculations to pressure her for those relationships, she truly, truly hated that!
“Ai!”
With a sigh, she really did not want to think about those annoying things. At the moment she was an unnecessary idler in the company, rather than doing work, might as well say that she came to sit in the office and be lost in thought.
Since she was in her office in idle, she might as well go to the hospital and see if the report of the examination was out. So she planned just to do that, An Ran takes her briefcase from the desk, and was planning to leave directly, but when she raised her hand she caught sight of the ring on her finger. The corner of her mouth faintly raises.
When she reached the hospital An Ran did not go to the 8th floor where Lin Xiao Fens' ward was, but instead went to the 7th floor where the office of the doctor in charge was, and came to inquire to see if her mother’s health was normal before seeing Lin Xiao Fen.
Because Su Yi Cheng had called the president of the hospital, the president had specially made it clear that Lin Xiao Fen’s case was very important, thus, each and every examination were in-depth, so the original plan of allowing Lin Xiao Fen to stay for 2 days for observation turned into 5 days of examinations. During that period her company was not at ease, and had specially came to see her. After visiting her they found out that it was because her husband, daughter and son-in-law would not let her leave and insisted on having her stay for a full physical examination.
“Knock knock knock.” An Ran knocks on the door, only to see Lin Xiao Fen’s doctor, Doctor Zhang, standing in front of the fluorescent board, looking earnestly at the CT scan images. His brows were wrinkled.
“Doctor Zhang.” An Ran softly calls out. She enters.
Hearing something, Doctor Zhang then turns his head, and sees her entering. He says, “You came right on time. Please take a seat, regarding your mother’s health, I would like to speak to you about it.” As he spoke he takes down the two images of the CT head scans, and places it down onto his desk.
An Ran sits in front of him. This time she has a bad feeling. She cautiously asks, “Doctor Zhang, is there an issue with my mother’s health?”
Doctor Zhang nods, and says, “Indeed there is an issue.” As he spoke he hands her the CT scans, and points at it to let her see, “Your mother has a pituitary adenoma.”
Hearing that, An Ran was taken aback. Even a while later, she could not respond. She stares at him, her voice trembling, “D-doctor, what did you say? Pituitary adenoma?”
Seeing her nervous manner Doctor Zhang knew that she had misunderstood. He explained, “Do not be nervous. Your mother’s adenoma is not big, and it is a benign tumor. Even if not removed it will not cause a harmful threat to your mother’s body.”
She shakes her head. Everything that he had said did not make sense to her.
“I will explain it more simply.” Doctor Zhang sits down again, and explains once more, “The tumor that your mother has is a benign one, in other words it will not grow or worsen. Some in the medical field even say, over time it may be gone, disappear, so basically it is not life threatening.”
Hearing him say that, An Ran was then relieved, “Then what does Doctor Zhang want to discuss?” It’s a benign tumor, it isn’t necessary to have an operation. Then that doesn’t need a discussion, and also doesn’t need to let the patient and their family be worried and afraid.
“It’s like this. Your mother’s pituitary tumor is in this position, and this position is quite close to the optic nerve. If the tumor was slightly displaced, then it will most likely compress the optic nerve, thus it will easily cause blindness.” Dr. Zhang said truthfully.
“Then, then what about it?” An Ran asks. Her tone was anxious and uneasy.
“In the case that it compresses the optic nerve, then we can only excise the tumor. But when the time comes, with your mother’s age, I’m afraid she won’t be able to withstand the operation.” Dr. Zhang confesses, “Of course, there is a possibility that the tumor will never grow or be displaced, then naturally everything that I had talked about would not occur.”
An Ran frowns. She looks at him and asks, “Then you’re leaning towards surgery?”
Dr. Zhang nods, and says, “Right now is the best time, your mother’s health is good, performing this kind of operation is not something to worry about, the success rate of such surgery also very high. Of course, as with any craniotomy operation, there are some risks. You should carefully discuss this with your family, whether to go through with the operation or not.”
An Ran frowns, nodding in understanding. She asks once more relevant question about the operation, and if there was anything else about Lin Xiao Fen’s health. Once she understood more clearly, she then turned about to leave the doctor’s office. Because of Su Yi Cheng’s connection, Lin Xiao Fen’s hospital room was moved from an ordinary one to a luxurious VIP ward. Compared to the ordinary room, the VIP room was pretty good, what was more important was that it was quiet, it wasn’t noisy like before, and made a wonderful place for a patient to recover in.
When An Ran arrived at Lin Xiao Fen’s room the door was ajar. She pushes the door to go in, and at the entrance, she hears Gu Heng Wen speaking with her mother, the pair talking about something. An Ran was about to call out to them, when she heard one of them say her name. An Ran pauses, and thinly listens to the dialogue between the two people.
“Heng Wen, what do I do. He came to see me, and already knows about An Ran’s past.” On the bed, Lin Xiao Fen’s tone was frantic. She grabs onto Gu Heng Wen’s hand and holds it firmly.
Gu Heng Wen pats her hand, and with a soft voice consoles her, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
“I don’t want to let An Ran know, even more I don’t want An Ran to have any relation with him, I’m scared if An Ran knows she will blame me.” Lin Xiao Fen said in a depressed tone.
“He will not take the initiative to find An Ran, rest assured.” Gu Heng Wen consoles her as he pats her hand, “Right now he has his own family, he will not take the initiative to find An Ran and talk to her. This will threaten his family, with his status right now, it’s unlikely that he will do that.”
“Really?” Lin Xiao Fen was still unsure. She knew that he was right, just wanted to get confirmation from him. She was truly afraid, this was a secret that she had guarded intensely for 20, almost 30 years!
“Really.” Gu Heng Wen nods confidently.
Lin Xiao Fen pulls in her lips, but wasn’t able to pull up a smile. Even though he was certain, she after all was still afraid, “Heng Wen, tell me, if An Ran finds out, what should we do?”
“An Ran will always be my daughter!” Gu Heng Wen looks at her in a tone that certainly had no doubt in the slightest.
An Ran clutched onto the CT bag. She came at the wrong time, listening to things she should not have heard. She doesn’t know what they are talking about, but she can faintly surmise what it was. Carrying the bag she quietly withdrew from the room, her movement was very light, so light that no one had heard a sound, as if she hadn’t been there at all.
She sits down on the bench outside beside the door. She was still clutching onto the plastic bag, her father’s confident words still ringing in her ears.
“An Ran will always be my daughter!”
Wasn’t she always his daughter?
When did that change? In addition to mother’s anxiousness, who will know what? Why is her mother so worried that she will know something? Was she afraid that she will find out that she wasn’t her father’s daughter?
An Ran was afraid of her thoughts, and was unresponsive for a while. She quietly talked to herself, “How, how could that be. That’s just absurd.” The more she thought about it the more afraid she became. She pats her face, and attempts to stop her thoughts, incessantly comforting herself, “If I am not dad’s daughter then who is, do not scare yourself, do not scare yourself.”
She sat outside for a while, and tried her best to pacify herself. Then she gets up to go to the ward. She was about to open the door, when at this time, the door was opened. From inside Gu Heng Wen was surprised to see her, his expression was somewhat panicked, “Ran, Ran Ran, you, when did you get here.”
Although Gu Heng Wen’s reaction made the uneasiness in An Ran’s heart grow, but An Ran still tried to make her expression as natural as possible. She pulls on her lips, and faintly smiles as she says, “I just came back from Dr. Zhang’s office, I brought over the examination report.” As she spoke she hands over the report and the CT scans to her father, “Dad, are you going out?”
Gu Heng Wen quickly shakes his head, and explains, “N-no, I was about to go see Dr. Zhang to ask about the results of the examination. Since you’ve brought it over, I don’t need to go there. Oh, that’s right, what did Dr. Zhang say, are there any issues with mother’s health?” Saying that, An Ran’s expression gets heavy. Her brows were also slightly wrinkled. She looks at her father and says, “Dad, let’s go in and talk.”
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Monday, 6 August 2018
First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 107 Translation
107. Ring
Lin An Jie was surprised to see An Ran at the hospital. Actually, before and after meeting An Ran, he had continued to go on dates, with girls younger than An Ran, some were prettier than An Ran, some were not. Those who were younger and prettier than An Ran, their job wasn’t good, they were only a small office worker. The others, who had better jobs than An Ran, were more stable, but were not as pretty as An Ran. In any case, after a few dates, he could not find anyone suitable. In the end, An Ran had the most advantageous conditions.
He did not expect that they would run into each other here. Recently his family had been urging him, so perhaps Gu An Ran is the best marriage partner. Although her character is a bit old-fashioned, and her age is a little old, but she has a respectable job, and she is quite pretty.
An Ran was also surprised to run into Lin An Jie here, but after that unpleasant event, regarding this man, An Ran doesn’t have a favorable impression. She just slightly nods at him.
Making a note, Lin An Jie goes over to her, and says sleazily, “What a coincidence. Are you here to see someone?”
An Ran does not intend to stay and chat with him, so she excuses herself, “Sorry, I still have matters, will have to go first.”
“Hey, An Ran, wait.” Seeing that she wanted to leave, Lin An Jie quickly calls out.
“Excuse me, is there anything else?” An Ran said impatiently, her tone indifferent, her expression aloof. Anyone within sight, could see from her face that at this moment she was annoyed.
However Lin An Jie was not an average person, he was more outrageous, even narcissistic, his ego was large.
He smiles at An Ran and says, “I think everyone had a small misunderstanding last time, I was too impulsive last time, please do not worry.”
Hearing that, An Ran faintly looks at him, her face expressionless as she says, “What happened last time, I had already forgotten about it.” If he hadn’t called out to her, she wouldn’t have recognized him. Some things are senseless, thus she wouldn’t spend a great deal of effort making sense of it.
Contrarily, her reply made Lin An Jie misunderstand, thinking that she agreed with him. So he quickly laughs and says, “You are still single right. Actually during this period I have been seeing people, but they were basically not good enough. I think that perhaps we could try to get along.”
An Ran was taken aback. She finally understood his intention after a minute. This man is just hilarious, where does he have the confidence to think that after such a thing, anyone would accept him?
“Sorry, I’m married, I think you have the wrong person.” An Ran glances at him, and turns to leave.
Lin An Jie was taken aback. He looks at her empty ring finger, and laughs, “I know that at your age you are in a rush to get married, that is not a problem. I don’t mind dating with marriage in mind.”
Her back facing him, An Ran helplessly rolls her eyes. This man really can’t help but just see himself, huh.
Seeing her not speak, Lin An Jie thought once again of himself, and continues, “Although your work is not bad, you are also considered pretty, but your age is a bit high. Perhaps if you were younger you would be able to find someone better, but right now, after all, you are almost 30, and women age faster than men, and men the older the more attractive they become. Thus, those who are wealthy will look for the young and the beautiful, at an age such as your’s, would be awkward.” As he spoke he continued to walk over to her, “Although my conditions aren’t extremely well, but I have a house, a car in Jiang City and I am not considered lacking. I don’t care that your age is a little old, because what I care more about is the personality. After all in ten years won’t we all be the same. If you want to get married as soon as possible, that is no problem either, as we are dating with the intention of getting married. Sooner or later will be the same, don’t you think?”
An Ran was truly defeated by his formidable confidence, “I’m really sorry Mr. Lin, you must not have heard that I am already married?”
“You don’t even have a ring on your finger.” Lin An Jie stares at her as he spoke, confident that she wasn’t married.
An Ran was taken aback. She looks down at her own hands. It really does not have a wedding ring. As their marriage was rushed, she and Su Yi Cheng did not prepare a ring. Over time, they forgot about it, and had not even thought about going to buy or try out a wedding ring.
“But she has a husband.” When An Ran was still out of it, a magnetic voice appears from behind.
Hearing that, Lin An Jie raises his head, only to see Su Yi Cheng come over from behind An Ran. He naturally draws in An Ran’s shoulder, and faintly looks at him. He lowers his head and looks at An Ran sweetly, asking, “Why are you at the hospital?”
An Ran stares at him blankly. It was such a surprise that he appeared here. “Why are you here?”
“Secretary Zhang hasn’t been so well these days so I told him to see a hospital. I took advantage of my break to come and bring him here.” Su Yi Cheng said faintly. He reaches out to her and pushes aside some stray hair.
Lin An Jie at the side, was shocked and speechless. His eyes were wide as he looked at Su Yi Cheng. He recognized Su Yi Cheng, because Su Yi Cheng would occasionally come down to do some investigations, and he had once received a warning from him! He never would have thought that he would be Gu An Ran’s husband!
It took a while for Lin An jie to return to his senses. He looks at Su Yi Cheng embarrassed and laughs, “Sp-special assistant Su…..”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him briefly but doesn’t speak. Secretary Zheng had already come up and was beside him. He looks at Lin An jie and sneers, then kindly reminds him, “That’s Deputy Mayor Su now actually.”
Lin An Jie turns cold. The corner of his mouth twitches into a smile, that smile was unsightlier than crying.
Su Yi Cheng did not even glance at him, even more does not have the time to discuss it with him. He looks at An Ran and asks, “Why are you at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?”
An Ran shakes her head, and says, “It’s mom. She suddenly fainted at work.”
Hearing that, Su Yi Cheng frowns, and asks, “How’s mom?”
An Ran smiles at him, “The doctor says it’s just fatigue, there’s nothing hindering. But just to be safe, she has to stay in the hospital for a few days, and do a physical examination.”
Upon hearing that, Su Yi Cheng then relaxes his frown, and says, “I’ll come with you to see mom.”
“I was planning on going to the market to buy some healthy food for mom.” At the least she has to buy towels or washbowls etc.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and says, “I’ll come with you.” He turns around, and instructs Secretary Zheng, “If there’s anything give me a call, I won’t be returning to the office today. Also keep an eye on the tenders, inform them, that tomorrow morning at 10 we will have a group conference.”
Secretary Zheng nods, replies seriously, “Alright, I understand.”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him, doesn’t say much more, and turns to take An Ran by the hand out the hospital and towards the supermarket.
By the time they got back to the hospital, Gu Heng Wen was sitting in front of the bed and was speaking to Lin Xiao Fen about something. When he saw them come in, he quickly shuts his mouth, as if he were afraid that An Ran had heard.
He then sees Su Yi Cheng beside her, and the both them looked shocked. Lin Xiao Fen glares at An Ran, and says, “Why did you bring Ah Cheng, I’m fine. Ah Cheng must be busy with work, it’s not good to leave like that.”
“That’s right, An Ran, you didn’t need to interrupt Yi Cheng’s work.” Father Gu also agreed. Ever since the two families had dinner, they knew from the start that Su Yi Cheng was not working at some international corporation, but was the young leader of the municipal committee, an official. This had shocked them, as they had never thought of their daughter to be so great. No matter the status, as long as he treated An Ran well, that is enough, but they never expected that she would have relations with such big wigs. It felt like a mirage, made them feel like it wasn’t true.
Fortunately, apart from Su Yi Cheng’s extraordinary job, there was nothing else unusual about him. There was no general dandyism, towards An Ran and towards them he spoke well and did not speak badly of them, thus they were relieved.
An Ran glances at Su Yi Cheng, looking pleased, as if she was saying, ‘See, I knew it.’
In fact, while they were on their way back, An Ran had made a bet with him. She said that Lin Xiao Fen wouldn’t be happy to see him, while Su Yi Cheng did not agree, and countered, saying that Lin Xiao Fen would definitely be laughing and smiling from ear to ear upon seeing him.
“Mom, dad, don’t blame An Ran. I just happened to be here at the hospital to see the director, and bumped into An Ran at the lounge.” Su Yi Cheng places the stuff in his hands onto a table, then walks over to Lin Xiao Fen and says, “Mom, even if I didn’t run into An Ran today, you and dad shouldn’t hide these from me, after all I am also your son. How could you conceal the news that your health isn’t well.”
Lin Xiao Fen sighs, “Your work is special, and anyways I’m fine. Not only is it bad that I am wasting your time to work, you are serving the people, of course, the interest of everyone is important.”
Su Yi Cheng chuckles. He advances and takes Lin Xiao Fen’s hand, smiles and looks at her in a serious manner, “Mom, I am the people’s servant, but I am also An Ran’s husband, and your son-in-law. In old times they call the son-in-law the half-son. I don’t just see you and father as just my half-parents, as far as I’m concerned, you and father are like my own parents, I just need to know that you and dad are healthy and great, only then can I do my work well for everyone’s benefit. You guys are my strong backing, ah.”
Hearing that, Lin Xiao Fen stares at him, and was almost touched to tears by his words. She suddenly felt like Heaven had treated her and An Ran too well, giving them such great men.
“Ai, I was just worried that I was inconveniencing you.” Lin Xiao Fen pats his hand as she spoke.
Su Yi Cheng chuckles, and says, “What kind of child would think that their parents are troubling.”
Hearing that, Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen look at each other, then smile gratefully.
In the afternoon Su Yi Cheng called the president of the hospital, and asked him to get the best doctor in the hospital and do a comprehensive examination for Lin Xiao Fen. Finally the hospital agreed, and they will begin the examination tomorrow, and arranged for the best doctors and nurses for her.
An Ran and Su Yi cheng returned home at night. Originally An Ran wanted to stay overnight, but Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen did not approve, said that they still have to work tomorrow, so they must go home early and rest. An Ran was helpless, and could only follow Su Yi Cheng home. Before leaving she incessantly reminded, that Lin Xiao Fen has to rest a lot, and if anything comes up Gu Heng Wen must call her first.
The two did not drive here, and the night was late. It wasn’t yet 7pm, but the sun had already set, and now the sky was completely dark.
They did not call a taxi immediately. The two held hands as they slowly walked down the street. An Ran turns to look at him, and suddenly laughs.
Su Yi Cheng looks back at her, and smiles as he asks, “What? Why so happy?”
An Ran laughs, the smile on her face was even more joyous. She looks straight ahead, and doesn’t say anything.
“En?” Su Yi Cheng deliberately scratches the palm of her hand, stares at her, as if he absolutely had to know the reason.
An Ran stops her steps, looks at him and laughs, “I realized that you truly are suitable to be a leader. You always know how to make your words beautiful, know what to say to touch people’s heart and pull their strings.” Clearly they were not sweet words, but the more ordinary and warm they were, the more they touched people, making others unable to oppose him.
Su Yi Cheng pinches her nose, and leads her hand and continues forward. “What I said was truth, and the truth is always the most pleasant to hear.”
An Ran pouts, “You are a man with extensive experience. One look and you can already see through people, say the right things depending on the person, without thinking you can just open your mouth and speak.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs, but doesn’t deny it, because it was exactly as she had said. He can already tell what a person is like, what to say to each person, however there aren’t a lot of people who he speaks well to. He does not need to win other’s favour, but he does want to win the favour of her and her parents.
There is no more in-depth explanation of the issue, so Su Yi Cheng diverts the topic by asking, “How did things go at the company? Is it really thorny?”
Speaking of that, An Ran’s smile slowly gathers up, and she turns quiet.
Su Yi Cheng turns to look at her, and can naturally see the difference in her. He just faintly says, “Do you want to talk to me about it? Even though I may not be able to help you, but at least I can be a good listener.”
An Ran raises her head to look at him, and forces a small smile. A while later, she says, “The exercise manor case, was thrashed.”
Su Yi Cheng was shocked. He heard her say that this project, was the one that she had been busy working on for this period of time.
“The sample room suddenly collapsed, and the blueprint disappeared. Even the intern student that I was working with suddenly disappeared.” An Ran continues, “I suddenly feel really tired.” She stops her steps and stares at him, “Yi Cheng, do you think I’m a failure? Aside from Lin Li, it seems like I don’t have any other friend. My relations with people seem to be really bad.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs, and reaches out to rub her head, “It is they who don’t have the foresight. And not everyone has the talented acumen that I have.”
“Pfft—” An Ran guffawed at his narcissism. She asks in jest, “Leader Su, may I ask are you praising me or praising yourself?”
“Of course I am praising my own foresight!” Su Yi Cheng’s face was serious, that earnest expression made An Ran laugh, no longer did she have that gloomy, powerless look.
Su Yi Cheng looks at the An Ran who is laughing happily. He likes this kind of An Ran, the large smile spread across her face is very pretty, the smiling her is more beautiful than the unsmiling her. She is more suited to smile, the sad and gloomy expression does not suit her face.
After laughing, An Ran’s mood seemed to be a lot better than before. She looks ahead, and while walking, says, “Huang De Xing wants me to look for you, and wants me to capture the Ke Ji City project. That would make up for my mistake, my penance.”
Su Yi Cheng understands clearly. So that was what she was talking about from her call earlier.
An Ran continues, “It’s funny don’t you think, the theft, the collapse, unexpectedly the company didn’t respond, didn’t make a report, and don’t even talk about investigation, apparently this incident wasn’t an accident to them, as if it was prepared.” Right now, thinking back, Huang De Xing’s reaction was too dull, so dull that it made people feel suspicious.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t speak, just listens to her, and doesn’t give her his opinion. But his hold on her slowly strengthens, as if he were giving her strength.
“I’m not bright, but I am not foolish either. Not saying it’s incontestable but it’s just a thought, but it seems like everyone’s taking me as a fool.” An Ran laughs at herself.
Suddenly Su Yi Cheng stops his steps, turns his body to face her and pulls her in. He looks at her and says, “An Ran, do you want to stay at home and let me work?”
An Ran also looks back at him. She understood his meaning, but after all, she has been with Jing Cheng for almost 7 years, ever since she graduated she had foolishly stayed there, even through the bad times she has some attachments. If she said she really wanted to leave, she really would hate to do so.
Su Yi Cheng does not push her to make a decision immediately. He reaches out to stroke her face, and takes her hand again. “Come, let me bring you to this place.”
Not waiting for An Ran to reply, he pulls her hand and takes her towards the city center.
“Where are we going?” An Ran asks puzzled.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t turn his head, and just faintly laughs as he says, “You’ll know when we get there.”
The night market had already started, and there were a lot of people on the streets, so she allowed Su Yi Cheng to shuttle her around the crowd.
An Ran looks at the side of his face. His side profile was just as good-looking as his front, his strong outline, his deep eyebrows, how is it that he gets more charming the more you look at him. Actually, not thinking of anything, letting him lead her the way felt quite good. It felt as if they had been long-time lovers. His hands were large, his palm could completely wrap around her hands, it felt fantastic.
When An Ran was completely dazed and in her thoughts, Su Yi Cheng stopped his steps. An Ran did not notice, and nearly bumped into him. Luckily, Su Yi Cheng was swift and caught her. He laughs and mocks her, “You are like a child, don’t you look while you’re walking?”
An Ran spit out her tongue, and asks, “Are we here?” As she asked she looked around, only to see that they were in front of a jewellery shop. Confused, she turns to look at him, “Why did you bring me here?”
Su Yi Cheng lifts her hand up, looks at her bare finger, and says, “I feel like I should buy a ring for you and at the same time warn other men that you are already taken, they better not have any reckless plans.”
An Ran was taken aback. She finally gets a reaction from the meaning behind his words, and recalled their encounter with Lin An Jie at the hospital, “Can I assume that you got jealous?”
Su Yi Cheng noncommittedly nods, “of course!”
An Ran laughs as a result of his earnesty. She takes his hand, and does the same thing by looking at his bare ring finger, “Then don’t you think I should buy you a ring to safely harness you, otherwise I’m afraid there would be someone coveting my beloved husband.”
“I’d be extremely honoured.” Su Yi Cheng laughs, and stares at her eyes. His face was tender, and the two enter the jewellery shop with their fingers entangled. The jewellery shop had a lot of rings, pure gold, diamonds, gems, everything that should be there was there. The styles were very comprehensive, but ultimately the pair decided on a very average silver ring. It looked very simple, not at all gaudy, but it was something that the both of them liked very much.
The buying and choosing of the ring went smoothly, only when it was time to pay, there was a little drama.
“Let’s split it, both of us pay our own part.” She looked at the staff as she was preparing to package the rings.
Hearing that, Su Yi Cheng raises his brows, and looks at her funnily.
“Uh.” An Ran’s request baffled the attendant. She forces and smile and laughs awkwardly, “Sorry, miss, these rings, have always been bought together, it’s never been sold separately.”
An Ran frowns, and compromises, “Then use two cards.”
The corner of the jeweler’s mouth twitches. They were both buying the same thing, using two cards, it’s not like taking off your butt and farting, so much more!
An Ran, don’t make it hard for others. "I’ll pay first, you can return the money to me when we get home alright?” Su Yi Cheng reasons with her.
An Ran looks at him in the eyes, and sternly refuses, “No. When we get home you will definitely say that we are husband and wife, will not split it. What’s your’s is mine, and I can’t counter. In any case today I will definitely pay for the ring today, otherwise you will pay for the ring, so how can I use this ring to harness you.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs heartily. He reaches out and strokes her head, then turns to the jeweler and says, “My wife insists, then I can only bother you.”
The client was so insistent, after all they are a business, they still need to sell things. The jeweler gives them a professional smile and nods at them, “No worries.” Saying that she grabs two paper bags from under the counter, and puts the two rings in each of the bag respectively, and pushes the bag to both of them.
An Ran straightforwardly fishes her credit card from her bag, and Su Yi Cheng chuckles as he shakes his head. He does the same thing and uses his credit card to pay. From the paper bag she takes out the case, opens it up and takes the ring inside. In front of everyone, in front of the store, her face slightly flushes. She pulls his hand, and gently slips the ring on him. From now she only has this man, this time it seemed to become very sacred. An Ran’s expression, although it was bashful, was extremely sincere.
After putting the ring on him, An Ran then raises her head to look at him. Her small face was flushed, “Are you going to put it on me?”
“Very happy to do so.” Su Yi Cheng smiles, and likewise takes the ring out. He gently puts the ring on her, a very simple movement, but he was very gentle, and slow, so much that it looks like it was a very important moment to him.
When An Ran was staring at her ring, seemingly out of it, the quiet store suddenly bursts out an enthusiastic applause, people were even starting to heckle.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss…!”
The group applauds, the entire store seemed to have become lively, even attracting unknowing passerbys to stand in a circle and watch.
An Ran turns extremely red, and embarrassingly buries her head into Su Yi Cheng chest.
After all being seen by such a crowd, regarding this spectacle, he had a smile on his face that he was unable to hide. He wasn’t at all uneasy or uncomfortable, and raises his hand to calm everyone down. Then he lifts up An Ran’s head, looks at her in the eye, and says, “Although I’m also not used to having this many people watch our intimate action, right now I really want to kiss you.” Saying that, he does not give An Ran a chance to retort or reject, and picks up her chin, lowers his head and covers her pink lips.
Then the crowd bursts out an enthusiastic applause and cheer, right now, everyone was their witness!
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Lin An Jie was surprised to see An Ran at the hospital. Actually, before and after meeting An Ran, he had continued to go on dates, with girls younger than An Ran, some were prettier than An Ran, some were not. Those who were younger and prettier than An Ran, their job wasn’t good, they were only a small office worker. The others, who had better jobs than An Ran, were more stable, but were not as pretty as An Ran. In any case, after a few dates, he could not find anyone suitable. In the end, An Ran had the most advantageous conditions.
He did not expect that they would run into each other here. Recently his family had been urging him, so perhaps Gu An Ran is the best marriage partner. Although her character is a bit old-fashioned, and her age is a little old, but she has a respectable job, and she is quite pretty.
An Ran was also surprised to run into Lin An Jie here, but after that unpleasant event, regarding this man, An Ran doesn’t have a favorable impression. She just slightly nods at him.
Making a note, Lin An Jie goes over to her, and says sleazily, “What a coincidence. Are you here to see someone?”
An Ran does not intend to stay and chat with him, so she excuses herself, “Sorry, I still have matters, will have to go first.”
“Hey, An Ran, wait.” Seeing that she wanted to leave, Lin An Jie quickly calls out.
“Excuse me, is there anything else?” An Ran said impatiently, her tone indifferent, her expression aloof. Anyone within sight, could see from her face that at this moment she was annoyed.
However Lin An Jie was not an average person, he was more outrageous, even narcissistic, his ego was large.
He smiles at An Ran and says, “I think everyone had a small misunderstanding last time, I was too impulsive last time, please do not worry.”
Hearing that, An Ran faintly looks at him, her face expressionless as she says, “What happened last time, I had already forgotten about it.” If he hadn’t called out to her, she wouldn’t have recognized him. Some things are senseless, thus she wouldn’t spend a great deal of effort making sense of it.
Contrarily, her reply made Lin An Jie misunderstand, thinking that she agreed with him. So he quickly laughs and says, “You are still single right. Actually during this period I have been seeing people, but they were basically not good enough. I think that perhaps we could try to get along.”
An Ran was taken aback. She finally understood his intention after a minute. This man is just hilarious, where does he have the confidence to think that after such a thing, anyone would accept him?
“Sorry, I’m married, I think you have the wrong person.” An Ran glances at him, and turns to leave.
Lin An Jie was taken aback. He looks at her empty ring finger, and laughs, “I know that at your age you are in a rush to get married, that is not a problem. I don’t mind dating with marriage in mind.”
Her back facing him, An Ran helplessly rolls her eyes. This man really can’t help but just see himself, huh.
Seeing her not speak, Lin An Jie thought once again of himself, and continues, “Although your work is not bad, you are also considered pretty, but your age is a bit high. Perhaps if you were younger you would be able to find someone better, but right now, after all, you are almost 30, and women age faster than men, and men the older the more attractive they become. Thus, those who are wealthy will look for the young and the beautiful, at an age such as your’s, would be awkward.” As he spoke he continued to walk over to her, “Although my conditions aren’t extremely well, but I have a house, a car in Jiang City and I am not considered lacking. I don’t care that your age is a little old, because what I care more about is the personality. After all in ten years won’t we all be the same. If you want to get married as soon as possible, that is no problem either, as we are dating with the intention of getting married. Sooner or later will be the same, don’t you think?”
An Ran was truly defeated by his formidable confidence, “I’m really sorry Mr. Lin, you must not have heard that I am already married?”
“You don’t even have a ring on your finger.” Lin An Jie stares at her as he spoke, confident that she wasn’t married.
An Ran was taken aback. She looks down at her own hands. It really does not have a wedding ring. As their marriage was rushed, she and Su Yi Cheng did not prepare a ring. Over time, they forgot about it, and had not even thought about going to buy or try out a wedding ring.
“But she has a husband.” When An Ran was still out of it, a magnetic voice appears from behind.
Hearing that, Lin An Jie raises his head, only to see Su Yi Cheng come over from behind An Ran. He naturally draws in An Ran’s shoulder, and faintly looks at him. He lowers his head and looks at An Ran sweetly, asking, “Why are you at the hospital?”
An Ran stares at him blankly. It was such a surprise that he appeared here. “Why are you here?”
“Secretary Zhang hasn’t been so well these days so I told him to see a hospital. I took advantage of my break to come and bring him here.” Su Yi Cheng said faintly. He reaches out to her and pushes aside some stray hair.
Lin An Jie at the side, was shocked and speechless. His eyes were wide as he looked at Su Yi Cheng. He recognized Su Yi Cheng, because Su Yi Cheng would occasionally come down to do some investigations, and he had once received a warning from him! He never would have thought that he would be Gu An Ran’s husband!
It took a while for Lin An jie to return to his senses. He looks at Su Yi Cheng embarrassed and laughs, “Sp-special assistant Su…..”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him briefly but doesn’t speak. Secretary Zheng had already come up and was beside him. He looks at Lin An jie and sneers, then kindly reminds him, “That’s Deputy Mayor Su now actually.”
Lin An Jie turns cold. The corner of his mouth twitches into a smile, that smile was unsightlier than crying.
Su Yi Cheng did not even glance at him, even more does not have the time to discuss it with him. He looks at An Ran and asks, “Why are you at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?”
An Ran shakes her head, and says, “It’s mom. She suddenly fainted at work.”
Hearing that, Su Yi Cheng frowns, and asks, “How’s mom?”
An Ran smiles at him, “The doctor says it’s just fatigue, there’s nothing hindering. But just to be safe, she has to stay in the hospital for a few days, and do a physical examination.”
Upon hearing that, Su Yi Cheng then relaxes his frown, and says, “I’ll come with you to see mom.”
“I was planning on going to the market to buy some healthy food for mom.” At the least she has to buy towels or washbowls etc.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and says, “I’ll come with you.” He turns around, and instructs Secretary Zheng, “If there’s anything give me a call, I won’t be returning to the office today. Also keep an eye on the tenders, inform them, that tomorrow morning at 10 we will have a group conference.”
Secretary Zheng nods, replies seriously, “Alright, I understand.”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him, doesn’t say much more, and turns to take An Ran by the hand out the hospital and towards the supermarket.
By the time they got back to the hospital, Gu Heng Wen was sitting in front of the bed and was speaking to Lin Xiao Fen about something. When he saw them come in, he quickly shuts his mouth, as if he were afraid that An Ran had heard.
He then sees Su Yi Cheng beside her, and the both them looked shocked. Lin Xiao Fen glares at An Ran, and says, “Why did you bring Ah Cheng, I’m fine. Ah Cheng must be busy with work, it’s not good to leave like that.”
“That’s right, An Ran, you didn’t need to interrupt Yi Cheng’s work.” Father Gu also agreed. Ever since the two families had dinner, they knew from the start that Su Yi Cheng was not working at some international corporation, but was the young leader of the municipal committee, an official. This had shocked them, as they had never thought of their daughter to be so great. No matter the status, as long as he treated An Ran well, that is enough, but they never expected that she would have relations with such big wigs. It felt like a mirage, made them feel like it wasn’t true.
Fortunately, apart from Su Yi Cheng’s extraordinary job, there was nothing else unusual about him. There was no general dandyism, towards An Ran and towards them he spoke well and did not speak badly of them, thus they were relieved.
An Ran glances at Su Yi Cheng, looking pleased, as if she was saying, ‘See, I knew it.’
In fact, while they were on their way back, An Ran had made a bet with him. She said that Lin Xiao Fen wouldn’t be happy to see him, while Su Yi Cheng did not agree, and countered, saying that Lin Xiao Fen would definitely be laughing and smiling from ear to ear upon seeing him.
“Mom, dad, don’t blame An Ran. I just happened to be here at the hospital to see the director, and bumped into An Ran at the lounge.” Su Yi Cheng places the stuff in his hands onto a table, then walks over to Lin Xiao Fen and says, “Mom, even if I didn’t run into An Ran today, you and dad shouldn’t hide these from me, after all I am also your son. How could you conceal the news that your health isn’t well.”
Lin Xiao Fen sighs, “Your work is special, and anyways I’m fine. Not only is it bad that I am wasting your time to work, you are serving the people, of course, the interest of everyone is important.”
Su Yi Cheng chuckles. He advances and takes Lin Xiao Fen’s hand, smiles and looks at her in a serious manner, “Mom, I am the people’s servant, but I am also An Ran’s husband, and your son-in-law. In old times they call the son-in-law the half-son. I don’t just see you and father as just my half-parents, as far as I’m concerned, you and father are like my own parents, I just need to know that you and dad are healthy and great, only then can I do my work well for everyone’s benefit. You guys are my strong backing, ah.”
Hearing that, Lin Xiao Fen stares at him, and was almost touched to tears by his words. She suddenly felt like Heaven had treated her and An Ran too well, giving them such great men.
“Ai, I was just worried that I was inconveniencing you.” Lin Xiao Fen pats his hand as she spoke.
Su Yi Cheng chuckles, and says, “What kind of child would think that their parents are troubling.”
Hearing that, Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen look at each other, then smile gratefully.
In the afternoon Su Yi Cheng called the president of the hospital, and asked him to get the best doctor in the hospital and do a comprehensive examination for Lin Xiao Fen. Finally the hospital agreed, and they will begin the examination tomorrow, and arranged for the best doctors and nurses for her.
An Ran and Su Yi cheng returned home at night. Originally An Ran wanted to stay overnight, but Lin Xiao Fen and Gu Heng Wen did not approve, said that they still have to work tomorrow, so they must go home early and rest. An Ran was helpless, and could only follow Su Yi Cheng home. Before leaving she incessantly reminded, that Lin Xiao Fen has to rest a lot, and if anything comes up Gu Heng Wen must call her first.
The two did not drive here, and the night was late. It wasn’t yet 7pm, but the sun had already set, and now the sky was completely dark.
They did not call a taxi immediately. The two held hands as they slowly walked down the street. An Ran turns to look at him, and suddenly laughs.
Su Yi Cheng looks back at her, and smiles as he asks, “What? Why so happy?”
An Ran laughs, the smile on her face was even more joyous. She looks straight ahead, and doesn’t say anything.
“En?” Su Yi Cheng deliberately scratches the palm of her hand, stares at her, as if he absolutely had to know the reason.
An Ran stops her steps, looks at him and laughs, “I realized that you truly are suitable to be a leader. You always know how to make your words beautiful, know what to say to touch people’s heart and pull their strings.” Clearly they were not sweet words, but the more ordinary and warm they were, the more they touched people, making others unable to oppose him.
Su Yi Cheng pinches her nose, and leads her hand and continues forward. “What I said was truth, and the truth is always the most pleasant to hear.”
An Ran pouts, “You are a man with extensive experience. One look and you can already see through people, say the right things depending on the person, without thinking you can just open your mouth and speak.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs, but doesn’t deny it, because it was exactly as she had said. He can already tell what a person is like, what to say to each person, however there aren’t a lot of people who he speaks well to. He does not need to win other’s favour, but he does want to win the favour of her and her parents.
There is no more in-depth explanation of the issue, so Su Yi Cheng diverts the topic by asking, “How did things go at the company? Is it really thorny?”
Speaking of that, An Ran’s smile slowly gathers up, and she turns quiet.
Su Yi Cheng turns to look at her, and can naturally see the difference in her. He just faintly says, “Do you want to talk to me about it? Even though I may not be able to help you, but at least I can be a good listener.”
An Ran raises her head to look at him, and forces a small smile. A while later, she says, “The exercise manor case, was thrashed.”
Su Yi Cheng was shocked. He heard her say that this project, was the one that she had been busy working on for this period of time.
“The sample room suddenly collapsed, and the blueprint disappeared. Even the intern student that I was working with suddenly disappeared.” An Ran continues, “I suddenly feel really tired.” She stops her steps and stares at him, “Yi Cheng, do you think I’m a failure? Aside from Lin Li, it seems like I don’t have any other friend. My relations with people seem to be really bad.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs, and reaches out to rub her head, “It is they who don’t have the foresight. And not everyone has the talented acumen that I have.”
“Pfft—” An Ran guffawed at his narcissism. She asks in jest, “Leader Su, may I ask are you praising me or praising yourself?”
“Of course I am praising my own foresight!” Su Yi Cheng’s face was serious, that earnest expression made An Ran laugh, no longer did she have that gloomy, powerless look.
Su Yi Cheng looks at the An Ran who is laughing happily. He likes this kind of An Ran, the large smile spread across her face is very pretty, the smiling her is more beautiful than the unsmiling her. She is more suited to smile, the sad and gloomy expression does not suit her face.
After laughing, An Ran’s mood seemed to be a lot better than before. She looks ahead, and while walking, says, “Huang De Xing wants me to look for you, and wants me to capture the Ke Ji City project. That would make up for my mistake, my penance.”
Su Yi Cheng understands clearly. So that was what she was talking about from her call earlier.
An Ran continues, “It’s funny don’t you think, the theft, the collapse, unexpectedly the company didn’t respond, didn’t make a report, and don’t even talk about investigation, apparently this incident wasn’t an accident to them, as if it was prepared.” Right now, thinking back, Huang De Xing’s reaction was too dull, so dull that it made people feel suspicious.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t speak, just listens to her, and doesn’t give her his opinion. But his hold on her slowly strengthens, as if he were giving her strength.
“I’m not bright, but I am not foolish either. Not saying it’s incontestable but it’s just a thought, but it seems like everyone’s taking me as a fool.” An Ran laughs at herself.
Suddenly Su Yi Cheng stops his steps, turns his body to face her and pulls her in. He looks at her and says, “An Ran, do you want to stay at home and let me work?”
An Ran also looks back at him. She understood his meaning, but after all, she has been with Jing Cheng for almost 7 years, ever since she graduated she had foolishly stayed there, even through the bad times she has some attachments. If she said she really wanted to leave, she really would hate to do so.
Su Yi Cheng does not push her to make a decision immediately. He reaches out to stroke her face, and takes her hand again. “Come, let me bring you to this place.”
Not waiting for An Ran to reply, he pulls her hand and takes her towards the city center.
“Where are we going?” An Ran asks puzzled.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t turn his head, and just faintly laughs as he says, “You’ll know when we get there.”
The night market had already started, and there were a lot of people on the streets, so she allowed Su Yi Cheng to shuttle her around the crowd.
An Ran looks at the side of his face. His side profile was just as good-looking as his front, his strong outline, his deep eyebrows, how is it that he gets more charming the more you look at him. Actually, not thinking of anything, letting him lead her the way felt quite good. It felt as if they had been long-time lovers. His hands were large, his palm could completely wrap around her hands, it felt fantastic.
When An Ran was completely dazed and in her thoughts, Su Yi Cheng stopped his steps. An Ran did not notice, and nearly bumped into him. Luckily, Su Yi Cheng was swift and caught her. He laughs and mocks her, “You are like a child, don’t you look while you’re walking?”
An Ran spit out her tongue, and asks, “Are we here?” As she asked she looked around, only to see that they were in front of a jewellery shop. Confused, she turns to look at him, “Why did you bring me here?”
Su Yi Cheng lifts her hand up, looks at her bare finger, and says, “I feel like I should buy a ring for you and at the same time warn other men that you are already taken, they better not have any reckless plans.”
An Ran was taken aback. She finally gets a reaction from the meaning behind his words, and recalled their encounter with Lin An Jie at the hospital, “Can I assume that you got jealous?”
Su Yi Cheng noncommittedly nods, “of course!”
An Ran laughs as a result of his earnesty. She takes his hand, and does the same thing by looking at his bare ring finger, “Then don’t you think I should buy you a ring to safely harness you, otherwise I’m afraid there would be someone coveting my beloved husband.”
“I’d be extremely honoured.” Su Yi Cheng laughs, and stares at her eyes. His face was tender, and the two enter the jewellery shop with their fingers entangled. The jewellery shop had a lot of rings, pure gold, diamonds, gems, everything that should be there was there. The styles were very comprehensive, but ultimately the pair decided on a very average silver ring. It looked very simple, not at all gaudy, but it was something that the both of them liked very much.
The buying and choosing of the ring went smoothly, only when it was time to pay, there was a little drama.
“Let’s split it, both of us pay our own part.” She looked at the staff as she was preparing to package the rings.
Hearing that, Su Yi Cheng raises his brows, and looks at her funnily.
“Uh.” An Ran’s request baffled the attendant. She forces and smile and laughs awkwardly, “Sorry, miss, these rings, have always been bought together, it’s never been sold separately.”
An Ran frowns, and compromises, “Then use two cards.”
The corner of the jeweler’s mouth twitches. They were both buying the same thing, using two cards, it’s not like taking off your butt and farting, so much more!
An Ran, don’t make it hard for others. "I’ll pay first, you can return the money to me when we get home alright?” Su Yi Cheng reasons with her.
An Ran looks at him in the eyes, and sternly refuses, “No. When we get home you will definitely say that we are husband and wife, will not split it. What’s your’s is mine, and I can’t counter. In any case today I will definitely pay for the ring today, otherwise you will pay for the ring, so how can I use this ring to harness you.”
Su Yi Cheng laughs heartily. He reaches out and strokes her head, then turns to the jeweler and says, “My wife insists, then I can only bother you.”
The client was so insistent, after all they are a business, they still need to sell things. The jeweler gives them a professional smile and nods at them, “No worries.” Saying that she grabs two paper bags from under the counter, and puts the two rings in each of the bag respectively, and pushes the bag to both of them.
An Ran straightforwardly fishes her credit card from her bag, and Su Yi Cheng chuckles as he shakes his head. He does the same thing and uses his credit card to pay. From the paper bag she takes out the case, opens it up and takes the ring inside. In front of everyone, in front of the store, her face slightly flushes. She pulls his hand, and gently slips the ring on him. From now she only has this man, this time it seemed to become very sacred. An Ran’s expression, although it was bashful, was extremely sincere.
After putting the ring on him, An Ran then raises her head to look at him. Her small face was flushed, “Are you going to put it on me?”
“Very happy to do so.” Su Yi Cheng smiles, and likewise takes the ring out. He gently puts the ring on her, a very simple movement, but he was very gentle, and slow, so much that it looks like it was a very important moment to him.
When An Ran was staring at her ring, seemingly out of it, the quiet store suddenly bursts out an enthusiastic applause, people were even starting to heckle.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss…!”
The group applauds, the entire store seemed to have become lively, even attracting unknowing passerbys to stand in a circle and watch.
An Ran turns extremely red, and embarrassingly buries her head into Su Yi Cheng chest.
After all being seen by such a crowd, regarding this spectacle, he had a smile on his face that he was unable to hide. He wasn’t at all uneasy or uncomfortable, and raises his hand to calm everyone down. Then he lifts up An Ran’s head, looks at her in the eye, and says, “Although I’m also not used to having this many people watch our intimate action, right now I really want to kiss you.” Saying that, he does not give An Ran a chance to retort or reject, and picks up her chin, lowers his head and covers her pink lips.
Then the crowd bursts out an enthusiastic applause and cheer, right now, everyone was their witness!
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Sunday, 15 July 2018
First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 106 Translation
106. Accidents ensue
The call earlier was from Worker Chen, he had said, “The sample room, collapsed!”
After An Ran had washed up and changed, she saw a mess of a scene. The room’s ceiling was completely collapsed, and had smashed a lot of things. The entire scene looked tragic. The only good thing that came out of this was that there wasn’t any one in the room so no one was injured. It was said that the collapse had happened early morning. Two workers had come by in the morning, they hadn’t even left the building yet, when they heard a loud ‘bang’. Then they turned back, opened the door and went in, and the scene was already like this.
“Architect Gu, what do you think should be done now, next week is the inspection deadline. Now that it’s like this, renovating is impossible. If we construct everything according to the blueprint again, we won’t finish on time!” Looking at this mess, worker Chen did not want for the deadline to come.
An Ran stared at the large chunk of the fallen ceiling, as well as the desks, chairs, buckets, etc that were smashed by it. An Ran’s heart was still beating wildly. She advances, reaches out to feel the pieces of chair and desk, and faintly says, “How could this be?”
“I don’t know either. Everything was done according to the blueprint, if there was a problem with the blueprint, then my construction—” As he said that, worker Chen felt that he had said too much, and shut his mouth, looking slightly embarrassed.
An Ran faintly looked at him, doesn’t say anything.
The so-called happy occasion did not come so misfortune would spread a thousand miles. When she returned to the company, nearly everyone in the company knew about the issue with the sample room. Seeing her come in, the receptionist, worried, asks, “Gu jie, are you okay?”
An Ran looks at her, and powerlessly shakes her head. “I’m okay.”
As she entered the hall, she sees Ling Lin looking quite pleased as she gets up from her seat and walks over to her, smiling as she says, “Heh, surprisingly your blueprint’s design collapsed. And you are considered our top architect?”
An Ran stares at her, and just says, “We haven’t found the cause of it, so I would have to trouble you to please speak carefully.”
“Heh.” Ling Lin sneers and glares. “Then I wish you good luck, hope that the result of the investigation ends up with a problem with your design.” After speaking, she turns around and returns to her seat.
An Ran was beaten as she drags her body back to her office. However, right before she opened the door she happened to bump into Xiao xiao who was leaving her own office. Seeing her unsmiling smile, looking at her, she fiddles around as she leaves.
An Ran takes a seat on her chair, and looks up as she leans back on her chair. Right now she was especially tired, this inexplicable tiredness.
She doesn’t understand at all why the model had collapsed! She does not believe that there was a problem with her design, but she also doesn’t doubt Worker Chen’s construction. After all these past few days they have been investigating together, and she had spent more time in the template room than in her office.
She suddenly sits up, and was about to open her drawer to take a good look at her blueprint, but when she opened it up she discovered, that the blueprint that was supposed to be in there had disappeared without a trace, she could not find it at all!
As An Ran was turning tables to find the blueprint, somebody had knocked on the door. It was the receptionist, telling her that Huang De Xing would like to see her.
An Ran nods. He doesn’t want to look for her, but wants her to go to him. This incident, certainly needs an explanation. For the company, for the project, for herself, all of them need it.
Suddenly she remembered something, and called out to the receptionist that was about to leave, “Wait, is Chen Cheng outside?” When she returned she did not see her at all, and the model was such a big matter. She was at the scene for more than an hour, but did not see her come over.
“Uh.” The receptionist blanked out, and tried her best to recall. She shakes her head, “I don’t think I saw her today. She can’t be late could she?”
An Ran turns quiet. She has a bad feeling. In fact, she has always admired Chen Cheng. She has a talent in designing, her ideas were very special, she was even thinking that if she trained her well, no more than two years, after she had accumulated enough experience, she expects that Chen Cheng would surpass even herself. Only, did she believe wrongly?
She gets up and in large strides leaves the office, and stops in front of Chen Cheng’s seat.
She reaches out to knock, “Knock knock knock.”
From inside, Huang De Xing raises his voice and answers, “Come in.”
An Ran pushes the door and enters. Huang De Xing was seated behind his desk, raises his head to see her enter. He frowns slightly, and faintly says, “Sit.”
She pulls out a chair and takes a seat. Huang De Xing leans back against the chair, stares at An Ran and says, “When I arrived I dropped by the scene of the accident. How could things turn into this, could you give me an explanation?”
An Ran lowers her head, then raises it to look up at Huang De Xing again. She somewhat forces a smile and says, “I will take full responsibility for this matter.”
Huang De Xing frowns and asks, “So, are you saying that there was a problem with the design?”
“No.” An Ran shakes her head, “Regarding the blueprint, I have absolute confidence that there isn’t a problem.” The scale of the blueprint when it was drawn, is able to tolerate any pressure etc, she had calculated everything accurately. There absolutely isn’t a problem. After all the foundation is the construction, later for people to live and move about the place, if you were inattentive and an accident occurs, the accuracy of the blueprint is the main responsibility and bearing.
“Well, if it isn’t a problem with the design, how can you say that the responsibility is your’s?” Huang De Xing asks.
An Ran forces a smile, and faintly says, “Even if there wasn’t an accident, I still have to account for this project, because the blueprint, is gone.” An architect who has lost their blueprint, is there anything more ridiculous than that?
She doesn’t know if it was Chen Cheng who had taken the blueprint, because when she gave Chen Cheng a call, she did not pick up at all.
“What!” Huang De Xing looks at her shocked, “The blueprint, isn’t the blueprint with you, how could it be gone!”
An Ran shakes her head, and helplessly says, “I don’t know. I left it in a drawer in my office, but when I went to look for it, it was gone.”
“Did someone steal it?” Huang De Xing asks.
She raises her head to look at him, and says, “Chen Cheng is gone.”
Huang De Xing frowns. This was very unexpected, “Are you suspecting that Chen Cheng has something to do with the model collapsing and the missing blueprint?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have evidence, and I can’t find Chen Cheng. I’m unable to confirm whether or not she really has something to do with it.” An Ran states. She will not talk carelessly about false things. Even if she had some doubts, in the end she had no evidence.
Huang De Xing turns silent. A while later he starts to speak, “An Ran, you must know how important this project is to us. I had to stand up to the resistance and fight in order to give this project to you. I know that you have a way of designing and are talented, and your work is also good. But those are not the important points, the main point is that we must seize this case, because that is our target for the second half of the year. But now that something like this has happened, how should I explain this to the board of directors?”
An Ran looks at him, and asks, “What does Director want me to do?”
Huang De Xing looks at her. A while later he starts to say, “You also know, it doesn’t matter why this had happened, the outcome is already here. Even if it really was Chen Cheng who had stolen the blueprint, we had already started on the template room, none of those are the main point. The main point is that this case is certainly no longer our’s, all our efforts have been wasted.”
An Ran doesn’t say anything. She just listens silently.
Huang De Xing continues, “The company will find somebody to investigate the true cause of the accident. Regarding who takes responsibility for it will be determined after the investigation. The main thing we have to do is determine how to redeem the situation.” As he says that, he looks at her again, and continues, “This exercise manor has been the central goal of the company for the second half of the year. Now that it’s like this, the template was destroyed, the blueprint is lost, ruminating over these will be useless. This project, even though we are unwilling, there is no choice but to renounce it. So on one hand, the board members will not be able to hand it over, but if we had to hand it over, then it’s not impossible. Perhaps there is another way.” In between speaking, Huang De Xing fixes his gaze on An Ran, his expression indicated a deeper meaning.
An Ran follows up with a question, “What other way is the Director pointing to?”
Huang De Xing smiles, looks at her and says, “An Ran, you know what I am saying. If you could ask Special Assistant Su, uh, no, right now he is Deputy Mayor Su, represent the company and capture some major projects for Ke Ji City, then I believe the board of directors will have no complaints.”
An Ran doesn’t say anything, just stares at him. This is the first time that she felt that there was such a huge gain in marrying Su Yi Cheng. She had made such a huge mistake, yet she could use this method to remedy it. She truly does not know if she should laugh or cry.
Huang De Xing could see her hesitation. Regarding this matter, An Ran had never forthright responded to him. Always evading it, had no intention of helping. He doesn’t force her, and just faintly says, “Think it over. You must be clear of it, that if this were a true tender, our company has the ability to capture it. Doing it this way is just to ensure it.”
An Ran does not reply, and just nods her head. She gets up and retreats from Huang De Xing’s office.
Returning to her own office, An Ran helplessly looks up as she leaned back against the chair. At this time, Su Yi Cheng’s call came in. She grabs her phone and answers the call, “Hello.”
Su Yi Cheng seemed to hear the difference in her voice, and asks, “Did something go wrong at work?”
An Ran faintly nods, and only responds a while later. Suddenly she had regret, and couldn’t help but ask, “Su Yi Cheng, you told me that if I wanted to go back and let you support, how would it sound?”
Su Yi Cheng chuckles. He doesn’t ask for the origin, and just chuckles as he says, “Sounds good.”
An Ran also laughs. That was the best thing that she had heard today. After laughing, An Ran suddenly went serious, “Su Yi Cheng.”
“Have I told you that I like to hear you call me Yi Cheng?” Su Yi Cheng says earnestly.
An Ran found his serious tone funny. She nods and replies, “You’ve told me.”
“Then why are you still calling your husband by his last name?” Su Yi Cheng counters.
An Ran chuckles. Faintly, but it came from the heart. A while later, she then calls out, “Yi Cheng.” Her voice was soft, unlike the manner before as with strangers, awkward, even shy.
Su Yi Cheng chuckles through the phone. He answers, “En.” From his voice one could tell that he wasn’t in a bad mood. No, it should be that he was in a very good mood.
After chuckling, An Ran returned to the subject of her question, restraining her smile, she just says, “If I asked you to use your authority for private interests, would you do it?”
On the other line, Su Yi Cheng went silent. A while later, he asks, “You would do that?”
An Ran chuckles, and shakes her head, “No.” Even though she’s reached that step, she still would not involve Su Yi Cheng’s power to make a tender. Doing things fair and square has always been one of her principles, otherwise she wouldn’t have repeatedly declined Huang De Xing’s invitation.
Su Yi Cheng also laughs. He faintly starts to say, “Since it’s unlikely, why would you ask. Isn’t this superfluous.”
“I thought you would say yes.” An Ran jokes.
Su Yi Cheng turns silent for a while, then starts to say, “An Ran, if there’s anything you can tell me, alright?”
An Ran was taken aback. Then she starts to talk, and lowers her voice, “A problem popped up at work, making me feel powerless.” She suddenly felt like she had been knocked down. She only had one friend Lin Li, and did not have any other good friends. She actually quite admired Chen Cheng, but did not expect things to end this way. She does not understand why she would do something like this. Arguably, as a newcomer, others would not let them draw for half a year, or even let her participate in such a huge project. This was equivalent to giving her a stage to show herself off, but everything was a little different from how she had imagined it.
“If you are tired, I don’t mind having you stay home and I work. My savings is enough to cover you for the rest of your life, of course, if we’re not extravagant.” Su Yi Cheng replies, his tone confident.
As An Ran was listening her heart warmed up. Apparently knowing that she has such a man behind her to support her she felt no fear. She smiles and states, “I already knew that, I’m not trying to politely ask.”
“Good.” Su Yi Cheng laughs in reply. The couple continued to chat for a while, until Secretary Zheng entered and told him that the meeting would start soon, the two then ended the call. Sometimes things would be like that, things would come all at once, following one after another, not giving you a break, making people feel unprepared.
It was noon when she received another call saying that Lin Xiao Fen was admitted to the hospital. The person who had called was her colleague Auntie Zhang. She said when Lin Xiao Fen started working, she suddenly started to feel dizzy, and now she is being brought to the hospital by another colleague.
An Ran immediately felt her heart drop, then slowly started to recover. She hangs up the call and grabs her bag and hurries to the hospital, not even hearing Huang De Xing call out to her as she went out the door.
When she reached the hospital Lin Xiao Fen was still in the emergency room, the doctor was still examining her. Lin Xiao Fen’s colleagues had already left and went back to work, only Auntie Zhang had stayed behind with her. An Ran slowly escaped the outside and went in, catching sight of Auntie Zhang on the plastic chair. She quickly asks, “Auntie Zhang, how’s my mom? What happened? Why did she suddenly faint?” The series of questions revealed her nervousness and concern.
Auntie Zhang pulls on her hand, and pacifies her, “An Ran, calm down a bit. The doctor hasn’t come out yet, your mom will be alright. Don’t worry.”
“She, why did she faintly so suddenly. Her health has always been good.” An Ran quickly started to feel tears coming up.
Autnie Zhang patted and comforted her. She pulls An Ran towards her side and has her sit down on the plastic chair. She can only gently console her, “It will be nothing, don’t worry.”
An Ran buries her face into her palms, and only lifts her head up a while later, asking Auntie Zhang, “Auntie Zhang, what about my dad?”
“Oh, the first thing I did when Xiao Fen fainted was call him, but he was in the middle of a class. When he was returning I already told him, right now he should be on his way to the hospital.” Auntie Zhang stated.
An Ran nods, frowning. She turns and looks on worriedly at the curtain pulled up on the emergency room.
“Swish---”
At this time, the curtain to the emergency room was pulled open. The white-coated doctor comes out, looking at An Ran and speaking as he pulls off his mask, “Are you patient Lin Xiao Fen’s family member?”
An Ran quickly nods, and quickly asks, “Yes yes yes, I am her daughter. Doctor, how’s my mother?”
“Rest assured, your mother is fine. This time I think she is tired which is why she had fainted.” The doctor states. He turns to look at the emergency room, and continues, “However, I suggest that you guys stay in the hospital a few more days for further observation. Then we will do a physical examination, after all the patient is not young."
Hearing the doctor say her mother was fine, An Ran can finally let out a relaxed sigh. She quickly nods, “Okay, I will follow the doctor’s suggestion.” Her mother’s age was quite up there, doing a physical examination is a necessity. Otherwise if she faints out of nowhere again, it would frighten people.
In emergency room, Lin Xiao Fen at this time had woken up. However she was still disorganized. She turns her head for a while, then asks, “Where is this?”
The young nurse beside her smiles and answers her, “Auntie, this is the hospital. You fainted, that’s why you were brought to the hospital.”
Lin Xiao Fen frowns, and tried her best to think back. She could only remember that she was occupied with verifying accounting records, but suddenly her head felt dizzy, then she can only remember everything going black, and nothing else after that.
“Mom.” An Ran comes in, looks at Lin Xiao Fen, fear still perhaps lingering, her nose starts to feel sour, her eyes starts to burn.
“An Ran!” Lin Xiao Fen was surprised, looking at her, she asks, “Why are you here?”
“You tell me, you scared me to death.” As she said that, the tears in her eyes couldn’t help but come down. She truly scared her to death, when she got Auntie Zhang’s call, she can’t recall how she got herself here.
“Ai, Xiao Fen ah, it’s good that you’re okay. You gave everyone in the office a scare, even now my heart is still leaping.” Auntie Zhang also enters, seeing that she was awake, she was also relieved.
Lin Xiao Fen, embarrassed, says, “Sorry, I troubled you guys.”
“What are you even saying, it’s fine as long as you’re okay.” Saying that, she raised her arm to take a look at her watch, “Alright, since you’re okay, An Ran is also here, I will take my leave first, I should go back and tell everyone the good news, I believe they should still be worried.”
Lin Xiao Fen nods, “Please thank everyone for me.”
Auntie Zhang waves her hand, and just says, “Take care of yourself and rest well, don’t worry about anything else, I will do your work for you.” As she said that she turned to An Ran and says, “An Ran, take good care of your mother.”
An Ran nods, and gets up to send her off, “Auntie Zhang, I will accompany you out.
“That’s okay, you don’t need to send me off. It’s not like I don’t know the way.” Auntie Zhang said frankly, “Stay behind and keep your mom company.” When she was done she turned around and left the emergency room. When the emergency room only had An Ran and Lin Xiao Fen left behind, An Ran was still worried and asks, “Mom, do you still feel unwell?”
Lin Xiao Fen smiles at her, pats her hand, and says, “No, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“Then—” An Ran still wanted to say something, when suddenly she heard Gu Heng Wen call from outside the emergency room, “—Xiao Fen, Xiao Fen?”
“It’s dad.” An Ran gets up and leaves, and sees that Gu Heng Wen was anxiously standing outside, his face was filled with worry and uneasiness.
“Dad.” An Ran calls out, and walks over to him.
Gu Heng Wen turns around, and finally sees An Ran behind him, “Your mother? What did the doctor say, why did she suddenly faint?”
“The doctor said it might be fatigue, which is why she suddenly fainted. Everything's okay. However, he suggested that we stay in the hospital for 2 days for further observation, and to do a physical examination.” An Ran stated.
Hearing that, Gu Heng Wen finally felt relief, and asks, “Your mom? Where is she?”
An Ran brings her over to Lin Xiao Fen’s side. She sees him look at her mother for a while, but was unable to say anything. Finally, he sits down by the bedside, and reaches out to hold her hand, and in a low voice he says, “It’s good that you’re okay.” These words to her, was also to himself.
The three did not stay in the emergency room for long, as the nurse had already arranged a ward for them, and lead them to the ward.
As Gu Heng Wen was there to go with Lin Xiao Fen, An Ran footed the bill and did the paperwork, and she also wanted to go to the market beside the hospital and buy some health products and what not.
When An Ran was done with the hospital preparations and was about to leave the hospital, she walked out the door, when suddenly someone called out from behind.
“Gu An Ran?”
An Ran was confused as she turned around, only to see a medium height man behind her. He was dressed in an full-black suit, his hair combed neatly. Now as he was looking at her, he seemed to be very surprised.
An Ran stares at him, and had to think for a while until she could finally remember who this man was. As a matter of fact, this was the ‘high-quality man’ that she had gone on a blind date with – Lin An Jie!
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Gah, sorry guys, the days went by faster than I thought! And what is this, why are they making Lin An Jie appear again =.=
The call earlier was from Worker Chen, he had said, “The sample room, collapsed!”
After An Ran had washed up and changed, she saw a mess of a scene. The room’s ceiling was completely collapsed, and had smashed a lot of things. The entire scene looked tragic. The only good thing that came out of this was that there wasn’t any one in the room so no one was injured. It was said that the collapse had happened early morning. Two workers had come by in the morning, they hadn’t even left the building yet, when they heard a loud ‘bang’. Then they turned back, opened the door and went in, and the scene was already like this.
“Architect Gu, what do you think should be done now, next week is the inspection deadline. Now that it’s like this, renovating is impossible. If we construct everything according to the blueprint again, we won’t finish on time!” Looking at this mess, worker Chen did not want for the deadline to come.
An Ran stared at the large chunk of the fallen ceiling, as well as the desks, chairs, buckets, etc that were smashed by it. An Ran’s heart was still beating wildly. She advances, reaches out to feel the pieces of chair and desk, and faintly says, “How could this be?”
“I don’t know either. Everything was done according to the blueprint, if there was a problem with the blueprint, then my construction—” As he said that, worker Chen felt that he had said too much, and shut his mouth, looking slightly embarrassed.
An Ran faintly looked at him, doesn’t say anything.
The so-called happy occasion did not come so misfortune would spread a thousand miles. When she returned to the company, nearly everyone in the company knew about the issue with the sample room. Seeing her come in, the receptionist, worried, asks, “Gu jie, are you okay?”
An Ran looks at her, and powerlessly shakes her head. “I’m okay.”
As she entered the hall, she sees Ling Lin looking quite pleased as she gets up from her seat and walks over to her, smiling as she says, “Heh, surprisingly your blueprint’s design collapsed. And you are considered our top architect?”
An Ran stares at her, and just says, “We haven’t found the cause of it, so I would have to trouble you to please speak carefully.”
“Heh.” Ling Lin sneers and glares. “Then I wish you good luck, hope that the result of the investigation ends up with a problem with your design.” After speaking, she turns around and returns to her seat.
An Ran was beaten as she drags her body back to her office. However, right before she opened the door she happened to bump into Xiao xiao who was leaving her own office. Seeing her unsmiling smile, looking at her, she fiddles around as she leaves.
An Ran takes a seat on her chair, and looks up as she leans back on her chair. Right now she was especially tired, this inexplicable tiredness.
She doesn’t understand at all why the model had collapsed! She does not believe that there was a problem with her design, but she also doesn’t doubt Worker Chen’s construction. After all these past few days they have been investigating together, and she had spent more time in the template room than in her office.
She suddenly sits up, and was about to open her drawer to take a good look at her blueprint, but when she opened it up she discovered, that the blueprint that was supposed to be in there had disappeared without a trace, she could not find it at all!
As An Ran was turning tables to find the blueprint, somebody had knocked on the door. It was the receptionist, telling her that Huang De Xing would like to see her.
An Ran nods. He doesn’t want to look for her, but wants her to go to him. This incident, certainly needs an explanation. For the company, for the project, for herself, all of them need it.
Suddenly she remembered something, and called out to the receptionist that was about to leave, “Wait, is Chen Cheng outside?” When she returned she did not see her at all, and the model was such a big matter. She was at the scene for more than an hour, but did not see her come over.
“Uh.” The receptionist blanked out, and tried her best to recall. She shakes her head, “I don’t think I saw her today. She can’t be late could she?”
An Ran turns quiet. She has a bad feeling. In fact, she has always admired Chen Cheng. She has a talent in designing, her ideas were very special, she was even thinking that if she trained her well, no more than two years, after she had accumulated enough experience, she expects that Chen Cheng would surpass even herself. Only, did she believe wrongly?
She gets up and in large strides leaves the office, and stops in front of Chen Cheng’s seat.
She reaches out to knock, “Knock knock knock.”
From inside, Huang De Xing raises his voice and answers, “Come in.”
An Ran pushes the door and enters. Huang De Xing was seated behind his desk, raises his head to see her enter. He frowns slightly, and faintly says, “Sit.”
She pulls out a chair and takes a seat. Huang De Xing leans back against the chair, stares at An Ran and says, “When I arrived I dropped by the scene of the accident. How could things turn into this, could you give me an explanation?”
An Ran lowers her head, then raises it to look up at Huang De Xing again. She somewhat forces a smile and says, “I will take full responsibility for this matter.”
Huang De Xing frowns and asks, “So, are you saying that there was a problem with the design?”
“No.” An Ran shakes her head, “Regarding the blueprint, I have absolute confidence that there isn’t a problem.” The scale of the blueprint when it was drawn, is able to tolerate any pressure etc, she had calculated everything accurately. There absolutely isn’t a problem. After all the foundation is the construction, later for people to live and move about the place, if you were inattentive and an accident occurs, the accuracy of the blueprint is the main responsibility and bearing.
“Well, if it isn’t a problem with the design, how can you say that the responsibility is your’s?” Huang De Xing asks.
An Ran forces a smile, and faintly says, “Even if there wasn’t an accident, I still have to account for this project, because the blueprint, is gone.” An architect who has lost their blueprint, is there anything more ridiculous than that?
She doesn’t know if it was Chen Cheng who had taken the blueprint, because when she gave Chen Cheng a call, she did not pick up at all.
“What!” Huang De Xing looks at her shocked, “The blueprint, isn’t the blueprint with you, how could it be gone!”
An Ran shakes her head, and helplessly says, “I don’t know. I left it in a drawer in my office, but when I went to look for it, it was gone.”
“Did someone steal it?” Huang De Xing asks.
She raises her head to look at him, and says, “Chen Cheng is gone.”
Huang De Xing frowns. This was very unexpected, “Are you suspecting that Chen Cheng has something to do with the model collapsing and the missing blueprint?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have evidence, and I can’t find Chen Cheng. I’m unable to confirm whether or not she really has something to do with it.” An Ran states. She will not talk carelessly about false things. Even if she had some doubts, in the end she had no evidence.
Huang De Xing turns silent. A while later he starts to speak, “An Ran, you must know how important this project is to us. I had to stand up to the resistance and fight in order to give this project to you. I know that you have a way of designing and are talented, and your work is also good. But those are not the important points, the main point is that we must seize this case, because that is our target for the second half of the year. But now that something like this has happened, how should I explain this to the board of directors?”
An Ran looks at him, and asks, “What does Director want me to do?”
Huang De Xing looks at her. A while later he starts to say, “You also know, it doesn’t matter why this had happened, the outcome is already here. Even if it really was Chen Cheng who had stolen the blueprint, we had already started on the template room, none of those are the main point. The main point is that this case is certainly no longer our’s, all our efforts have been wasted.”
An Ran doesn’t say anything. She just listens silently.
Huang De Xing continues, “The company will find somebody to investigate the true cause of the accident. Regarding who takes responsibility for it will be determined after the investigation. The main thing we have to do is determine how to redeem the situation.” As he says that, he looks at her again, and continues, “This exercise manor has been the central goal of the company for the second half of the year. Now that it’s like this, the template was destroyed, the blueprint is lost, ruminating over these will be useless. This project, even though we are unwilling, there is no choice but to renounce it. So on one hand, the board members will not be able to hand it over, but if we had to hand it over, then it’s not impossible. Perhaps there is another way.” In between speaking, Huang De Xing fixes his gaze on An Ran, his expression indicated a deeper meaning.
An Ran follows up with a question, “What other way is the Director pointing to?”
Huang De Xing smiles, looks at her and says, “An Ran, you know what I am saying. If you could ask Special Assistant Su, uh, no, right now he is Deputy Mayor Su, represent the company and capture some major projects for Ke Ji City, then I believe the board of directors will have no complaints.”
An Ran doesn’t say anything, just stares at him. This is the first time that she felt that there was such a huge gain in marrying Su Yi Cheng. She had made such a huge mistake, yet she could use this method to remedy it. She truly does not know if she should laugh or cry.
Huang De Xing could see her hesitation. Regarding this matter, An Ran had never forthright responded to him. Always evading it, had no intention of helping. He doesn’t force her, and just faintly says, “Think it over. You must be clear of it, that if this were a true tender, our company has the ability to capture it. Doing it this way is just to ensure it.”
An Ran does not reply, and just nods her head. She gets up and retreats from Huang De Xing’s office.
Returning to her own office, An Ran helplessly looks up as she leaned back against the chair. At this time, Su Yi Cheng’s call came in. She grabs her phone and answers the call, “Hello.”
Su Yi Cheng seemed to hear the difference in her voice, and asks, “Did something go wrong at work?”
An Ran faintly nods, and only responds a while later. Suddenly she had regret, and couldn’t help but ask, “Su Yi Cheng, you told me that if I wanted to go back and let you support, how would it sound?”
Su Yi Cheng chuckles. He doesn’t ask for the origin, and just chuckles as he says, “Sounds good.”
An Ran also laughs. That was the best thing that she had heard today. After laughing, An Ran suddenly went serious, “Su Yi Cheng.”
“Have I told you that I like to hear you call me Yi Cheng?” Su Yi Cheng says earnestly.
An Ran found his serious tone funny. She nods and replies, “You’ve told me.”
“Then why are you still calling your husband by his last name?” Su Yi Cheng counters.
An Ran chuckles. Faintly, but it came from the heart. A while later, she then calls out, “Yi Cheng.” Her voice was soft, unlike the manner before as with strangers, awkward, even shy.
Su Yi Cheng chuckles through the phone. He answers, “En.” From his voice one could tell that he wasn’t in a bad mood. No, it should be that he was in a very good mood.
After chuckling, An Ran returned to the subject of her question, restraining her smile, she just says, “If I asked you to use your authority for private interests, would you do it?”
On the other line, Su Yi Cheng went silent. A while later, he asks, “You would do that?”
An Ran chuckles, and shakes her head, “No.” Even though she’s reached that step, she still would not involve Su Yi Cheng’s power to make a tender. Doing things fair and square has always been one of her principles, otherwise she wouldn’t have repeatedly declined Huang De Xing’s invitation.
Su Yi Cheng also laughs. He faintly starts to say, “Since it’s unlikely, why would you ask. Isn’t this superfluous.”
“I thought you would say yes.” An Ran jokes.
Su Yi Cheng turns silent for a while, then starts to say, “An Ran, if there’s anything you can tell me, alright?”
An Ran was taken aback. Then she starts to talk, and lowers her voice, “A problem popped up at work, making me feel powerless.” She suddenly felt like she had been knocked down. She only had one friend Lin Li, and did not have any other good friends. She actually quite admired Chen Cheng, but did not expect things to end this way. She does not understand why she would do something like this. Arguably, as a newcomer, others would not let them draw for half a year, or even let her participate in such a huge project. This was equivalent to giving her a stage to show herself off, but everything was a little different from how she had imagined it.
“If you are tired, I don’t mind having you stay home and I work. My savings is enough to cover you for the rest of your life, of course, if we’re not extravagant.” Su Yi Cheng replies, his tone confident.
As An Ran was listening her heart warmed up. Apparently knowing that she has such a man behind her to support her she felt no fear. She smiles and states, “I already knew that, I’m not trying to politely ask.”
“Good.” Su Yi Cheng laughs in reply. The couple continued to chat for a while, until Secretary Zheng entered and told him that the meeting would start soon, the two then ended the call. Sometimes things would be like that, things would come all at once, following one after another, not giving you a break, making people feel unprepared.
It was noon when she received another call saying that Lin Xiao Fen was admitted to the hospital. The person who had called was her colleague Auntie Zhang. She said when Lin Xiao Fen started working, she suddenly started to feel dizzy, and now she is being brought to the hospital by another colleague.
An Ran immediately felt her heart drop, then slowly started to recover. She hangs up the call and grabs her bag and hurries to the hospital, not even hearing Huang De Xing call out to her as she went out the door.
When she reached the hospital Lin Xiao Fen was still in the emergency room, the doctor was still examining her. Lin Xiao Fen’s colleagues had already left and went back to work, only Auntie Zhang had stayed behind with her. An Ran slowly escaped the outside and went in, catching sight of Auntie Zhang on the plastic chair. She quickly asks, “Auntie Zhang, how’s my mom? What happened? Why did she suddenly faint?” The series of questions revealed her nervousness and concern.
Auntie Zhang pulls on her hand, and pacifies her, “An Ran, calm down a bit. The doctor hasn’t come out yet, your mom will be alright. Don’t worry.”
“She, why did she faintly so suddenly. Her health has always been good.” An Ran quickly started to feel tears coming up.
Autnie Zhang patted and comforted her. She pulls An Ran towards her side and has her sit down on the plastic chair. She can only gently console her, “It will be nothing, don’t worry.”
An Ran buries her face into her palms, and only lifts her head up a while later, asking Auntie Zhang, “Auntie Zhang, what about my dad?”
“Oh, the first thing I did when Xiao Fen fainted was call him, but he was in the middle of a class. When he was returning I already told him, right now he should be on his way to the hospital.” Auntie Zhang stated.
An Ran nods, frowning. She turns and looks on worriedly at the curtain pulled up on the emergency room.
“Swish---”
At this time, the curtain to the emergency room was pulled open. The white-coated doctor comes out, looking at An Ran and speaking as he pulls off his mask, “Are you patient Lin Xiao Fen’s family member?”
An Ran quickly nods, and quickly asks, “Yes yes yes, I am her daughter. Doctor, how’s my mother?”
“Rest assured, your mother is fine. This time I think she is tired which is why she had fainted.” The doctor states. He turns to look at the emergency room, and continues, “However, I suggest that you guys stay in the hospital a few more days for further observation. Then we will do a physical examination, after all the patient is not young."
Hearing the doctor say her mother was fine, An Ran can finally let out a relaxed sigh. She quickly nods, “Okay, I will follow the doctor’s suggestion.” Her mother’s age was quite up there, doing a physical examination is a necessity. Otherwise if she faints out of nowhere again, it would frighten people.
In emergency room, Lin Xiao Fen at this time had woken up. However she was still disorganized. She turns her head for a while, then asks, “Where is this?”
The young nurse beside her smiles and answers her, “Auntie, this is the hospital. You fainted, that’s why you were brought to the hospital.”
Lin Xiao Fen frowns, and tried her best to think back. She could only remember that she was occupied with verifying accounting records, but suddenly her head felt dizzy, then she can only remember everything going black, and nothing else after that.
“Mom.” An Ran comes in, looks at Lin Xiao Fen, fear still perhaps lingering, her nose starts to feel sour, her eyes starts to burn.
“An Ran!” Lin Xiao Fen was surprised, looking at her, she asks, “Why are you here?”
“You tell me, you scared me to death.” As she said that, the tears in her eyes couldn’t help but come down. She truly scared her to death, when she got Auntie Zhang’s call, she can’t recall how she got herself here.
“Ai, Xiao Fen ah, it’s good that you’re okay. You gave everyone in the office a scare, even now my heart is still leaping.” Auntie Zhang also enters, seeing that she was awake, she was also relieved.
Lin Xiao Fen, embarrassed, says, “Sorry, I troubled you guys.”
“What are you even saying, it’s fine as long as you’re okay.” Saying that, she raised her arm to take a look at her watch, “Alright, since you’re okay, An Ran is also here, I will take my leave first, I should go back and tell everyone the good news, I believe they should still be worried.”
Lin Xiao Fen nods, “Please thank everyone for me.”
Auntie Zhang waves her hand, and just says, “Take care of yourself and rest well, don’t worry about anything else, I will do your work for you.” As she said that she turned to An Ran and says, “An Ran, take good care of your mother.”
An Ran nods, and gets up to send her off, “Auntie Zhang, I will accompany you out.
“That’s okay, you don’t need to send me off. It’s not like I don’t know the way.” Auntie Zhang said frankly, “Stay behind and keep your mom company.” When she was done she turned around and left the emergency room. When the emergency room only had An Ran and Lin Xiao Fen left behind, An Ran was still worried and asks, “Mom, do you still feel unwell?”
Lin Xiao Fen smiles at her, pats her hand, and says, “No, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“Then—” An Ran still wanted to say something, when suddenly she heard Gu Heng Wen call from outside the emergency room, “—Xiao Fen, Xiao Fen?”
“It’s dad.” An Ran gets up and leaves, and sees that Gu Heng Wen was anxiously standing outside, his face was filled with worry and uneasiness.
“Dad.” An Ran calls out, and walks over to him.
Gu Heng Wen turns around, and finally sees An Ran behind him, “Your mother? What did the doctor say, why did she suddenly faint?”
“The doctor said it might be fatigue, which is why she suddenly fainted. Everything's okay. However, he suggested that we stay in the hospital for 2 days for further observation, and to do a physical examination.” An Ran stated.
Hearing that, Gu Heng Wen finally felt relief, and asks, “Your mom? Where is she?”
An Ran brings her over to Lin Xiao Fen’s side. She sees him look at her mother for a while, but was unable to say anything. Finally, he sits down by the bedside, and reaches out to hold her hand, and in a low voice he says, “It’s good that you’re okay.” These words to her, was also to himself.
The three did not stay in the emergency room for long, as the nurse had already arranged a ward for them, and lead them to the ward.
As Gu Heng Wen was there to go with Lin Xiao Fen, An Ran footed the bill and did the paperwork, and she also wanted to go to the market beside the hospital and buy some health products and what not.
When An Ran was done with the hospital preparations and was about to leave the hospital, she walked out the door, when suddenly someone called out from behind.
“Gu An Ran?”
An Ran was confused as she turned around, only to see a medium height man behind her. He was dressed in an full-black suit, his hair combed neatly. Now as he was looking at her, he seemed to be very surprised.
An Ran stares at him, and had to think for a while until she could finally remember who this man was. As a matter of fact, this was the ‘high-quality man’ that she had gone on a blind date with – Lin An Jie!
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Gah, sorry guys, the days went by faster than I thought! And what is this, why are they making Lin An Jie appear again =.=
Monday, 18 June 2018
First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 105 Translation
105. Shamelessly drunk
An Ran places the bouquet of flowers into a vase in the bedroom. She sits on the bed and reads, but wasn’t able to absorb anything. From time to time her eyes would wander towards the flowers, look at it and smile like a fool.
For dinner, Su Yi Cheng was cooking again. He made all of her favourite food. In fact, she felt that something was off. She hadn’t told him what she liked to eat, what she doesn’t like to eat, but in every single instance that he made food, he always made something that suited her appetite. She was extremely gratified by his considerate behaviour. As she was eating, her heart was feeling warm and sweet.
As agreed previously, since he had cooked, it was her turn to wash the dishes. This is considered as working together, fair. So after eating An Ran was going to put away the dishes, but a certain someone was extremely generous and stepped forward saying that he would help, but was firmly rejected by him.
However how could Su Yi Cheng admit defeat so easily, so while An Ran was washing the dishes he was standing beside her wiping the dishes and putting it away in the cupboard. As he was wiping them he says, “Wife, let me sleep in the room tonight.” He was used to hugging her as he slept, suddenly making him sleep alone without hugging her, it truly was difficult to fall asleep.
An Ran doesn’t reply, just turns and glances at him, then turns back around. She once again goes back to washing the dishes.
Su Yi Cheng then realized that her temperament was really tough, there was no leeway for discussion at all. He frowns, at a loss.
From the corner of her eyes she could see his confused face. An Ran suddenly had an urge to laugh, but was able to endure it. Then a call from Secretary Zheng came. It seemed like it was something important, as he went into the studio after taking the call, and did not come out again.
For a period of time she wanted to make coffee and go and give it to him, only when she was at the door, she hesitated for a while. She hadn’t knocked, so she turned back around with the coffee.
She puts down the book in her hands, lifts the covers and gets out. She walks over to the vase, lowers her head and smells the flowers. Actually, her anger was already a thing of the past. Since morning she was no longer angry, and now it was difficult to be angry.
She brushes her hand across the delicate petals, her mouth rising to a slight smile. She looks at the tightly closed doors. She didn’t lock it actually, she wasn’t planning to not let him in to sleep. She was already used to sleeping in his embrace, leaving his arms, it was truly hard to fall asleep.
She looks at the clock, it was already late. An Ran wasn’t sure if he was already done with his work, but also doesn’t plan to go out to take a look. An Ran just lifts the covers closes the light and forces herself to sleep by closing her eyes.
By the time Su Yi Cheng left the studio it was almost 11 o’clock. Secretary Zheng had called last minute and said that he had made an error in tomorrow’s materials, so he had to use the whole evening to fix the issue.
He uses the bathroom in the guest room to wash and change into his pyjamas. When he grabbed his keys to open the door to the bedroom, he discovered that the door wasn’t locked at all. He opens to come in, only to see that AN Ran was already in bed, breathing smoothly, steadily, as if she were already fast asleep.
He tried to make his movements as quietly as possible. He doesn’t turn on the lamp, but instead uses the fragments of moonlight peeking through the curtains to grope about. He quietly gets on the bed, and very carefully lifts up the figure’s head, and places his arm underneath the neck, so that she can be like before, having his arm as a pillow. The sleeping An Ran chirps a bit, then turns to get closer to him. Her head rubs against his chest, then, apparently finding her snug spot, sleeps peacefully. Her breathing also gradually returns to level.
Su Yi Cheng looks at the lady in his arms. A soft smile creeps up on his face, he then lowers his head and leaves a kiss on the top of her head. After completing everything, he then closes his eyes, falling into pace with her breathing. Only he didn’t know, that the moment he closed his eyes, the lady in his embrace opened her yes, the corner of her mouth revealed a crafty smile. Sure enough she is accustomed to his embrace, accustomed to his nighttime warmth. Tonight, being embraced by him, An Ran slept superbly, did not even wake up once, and slept through the night until daybreak.
In a daze when she opened her eyes again she only saw a handsome face. Seeing that she had awaken, he raises his brows and says, “Morning.” Then, not waiting for An Ran to reply, he took the opportunity and moved forward, kissing her on the lips. An Ran struggles and swats him, but doesn’t push him away. Then she went along with his passionate French kiss, until they both were out of breath.
Leaning against his chest, it took a while for her breathing to restore its pace. An Ran pushes him away, and pretended to be angry at him, “Why are you in here! Aren’t we in a cold war!”
Su Yi Cheng smiles, and pinches her nose, laughing as he asks, “Then why didn’t you kick me out last night?” He of course knew that when he came in last night she wasn’t asleep!
“I, I was sleeping.” An Ran said, glaring at him, “How would I know that you would shamelessly sneak in!”
“Really?” Su Yi Cheng puts on a charming smile. Looking at her, he reaches out and pushes aside the fringe that was blocking her eyes, and somewhat innocently says, “I that you deliberately left the door for me.”
An Ran glares at him. Of course she wouldn’t admit that she really did intentionally leave the door for him. But she reluctantly admits, “I did not.”
Su Yi Cheng just smiles, not exposing her. He lovingly rubs her head, lifts the covers and gets up. Today he reckons will be a busy day. At the 9 o’clock meeting today, at 8:30 he will be at the office, and will be preparing materials and the speech draft.
As they ate breakfast Su Yi Cheng told her that he will be coming home late, so she can decide on dinner herself, no need to wait for him. An Ran nods, she recalls that he had told her that today he will be receiving orders from above, so she reckons that he will be busy.
News has always traveled fast, clearly their side hadn’t finalized anything yet, but it was already known by everyone outside. An Ran had reached her office and placed her briefcase on the desk. She hadn’t opened the computer yet, when Huang De Xing had entered with a giggle. Seeing An Ran, he quickly congratulates her, “An Ran ah, I heard about Special Assistant Su’s promotion, truly, congratulations ha.”
“Uh. The report just came down, whether it’s a promotion or demotion, at the moment it’s not certain yet.” An Ran faintly smiles.
“Haha, it’s definitely a promotion, definitely a promotion. With Su Yi Cheng’s strategy and capabilities, absolutely no problems at all.” Huang De Xing said confidently.
An Ran just faintly smiles, nods at him, “I will accept Director’s noble words.”
“An Ran, when will you return and ask Special Assistant Su to see, see if our company can be a part of Ke Ji City, if the odds of success for our bid is high.” Huang De Xing said meaningfully.
After all she was still working here, so it was not a good idea to refuse and offend him. An Ran just faintly smiles and nods, and responds, “Then I will go ask and see.” If she can delay it then she will.
“Good, good.” Huang De Xing nods happily. Then he discussed a few things about work, and finally turned to leave An Ran’s office.
In the afternoon An Ran and Chen Cheng went to the sample room together. The project was going smoothly, even going faster than expected. If it continues like this An Ran can be relieved, doesn’t have to worry about not meeting the final evaluation.
Because she knew that Su Yi Cheng will be coming home late today, she wasn’t in a rush to go home. Unwittingly, once she started on her blueprint she forgot about the time, so by the time she tidied up, she only then discovered that the sky was slowly darkening. Luckily the apartment wasn’t too far from her office, just by walking she can arrive home in a few minutes.
She leaves her office, and the place was extremely quiet. The light in the hallway was still on, and Chen Cheng’s computer was still on. Her bag was still on the desk, it was clear that aside from her Chen Cheng was also here.
At first she had planned to wait for her and leave the gates together, but she had waited for some time and did not see her return. Ultimately An Ran gave up and left by herself.
As she was waiting for the elevator, An Ran could faintly hear sounds of sobbing in the corridor. She frowns, and heads over there with curiosity. The sound was getting louder and louder, more and more distinct. From the sound, An Ran felt that it was somewhat familiar.
As she approaches, at a quiet corner of the staircase, an Ran at last could see who was sobbing. While holding down their own emotions, that person wasn’t just anyone, but Chen Cheng.
An Ran stood behind her for a while, and she did not find out. An Ran reaches out and hands her a tissue, Chen Cheng then turns around and sees the person behind her. She quickly wipes the tears off her face, and awkwardly hiccups as she forces a smile. Only that smile, seemed to be more unsightly than crying.
“Gu, Gu jie. You’re still here.”
An Ran nods, and hands the tissue over to her. She faintly asks, “What happened?”
Chen Cheng reaches out and accepts it, but only shakes her head, not replying to her question.
She isn’t saying, she naturally An Ran doesn’t probe. She just nods, not pursuing the subject.
The pair return to the office, and An Ran asks her if she was leaving or not. She just sees Chen Cheng shake her head, and faintly say that she still has some things she hadn’t finished, and will leave after a while.
An Ran nods. She won’t force her, but when she was about to leave, she couldn’t help but turn to look at her, and faintly starts to say, “If there really is something, don’t keep it to yourself, speak it out. Perhaps we won’t be able to help, but at the very least your mind will be at ease.”
Chen Cheng looks at her for a while, nods, her eyes somewhat twinkling.
Returning home, An Ran made herself some noodles for dinner, as she ate she started to hate her own cooking. It really was underwhelming. Perhaps it is because she has recently been raised with Su Yi Cheng’s cooking. In the past she had felt that her cooking was at least bearable, but now she is unable to eat it. She recalls Su Yi Cheng eating with pleasure each time, and eating up all the noodles until there was not a drop left, she suddenly started to pity him. But it was his own fault, because of his behaviour, she started to feel warm.
She didn’t each much, and in the end she couldn’t swallow any more and threw the rest into the trash. Not having SU Yi Cheng around tonight was really boring, bored to death, she sits on the living room sofa aimlessly watching TV. But she had no idea what she was watching. When the actress on TV was crying teary pearls, An Ran watches the tears fall.
“Ding dong, ding dong—”
An Ran was woken up by the doorbell. The door continues to ring, rousing An Ran up. In her daze she couldn’t react. She was sitting blankly for a while. Her head was still dizzy. The pretty actress on the crystal screen was long gone, and now it was broadcasting the midnight news.
“Ding dong—” Seeing that the person inside isn’t responding, the person outside rings the bell once again.
An Ran only then reacts, quickly stands up, looks at her watch. It was almost midnight. She isn’t sure who would visit this late, and promptly smooths out her wrinkled pyjamas. She then goes over to the door, passing the monitor, only to see a man outside holding up Su Yi Cheng, while Su Yi Cheng was frowning, appearing to be unwell.
Upon seeing that, An Ran quickly opens the door. When she opened it, she could smell the strong scent of alcohol. Clearly someone had drunken too much, and couldn’t go home without help.
“Madame, Special assistant he—” Secretary Zheng was going to say something, but thought of something else, and quickly corrects himself, “Uh, no, now it should be Deputy Mayor Su, deputy mayor was too happy tonight, so he had a little too much to drink.”
An Ran nods at the man. She remembers this man, back when she and Su Yi Cheng went to get the certificate she had seen him. Only after did she know that he was Su Yi Cheng’s secretary, and has worked for him for 3 years, he is considered to be his most capable assistant.
“Quickly come in.” An Ran quickly helps Secretary Zheng prop up Su Yi Cheng and bring him to the bedroom.
When Secretary Zheng safely placed Su Yi Cheng down onto the bed, An Ran quickly went over to the kitchen and poured him a glass of water, “Here, have some water.”
As if he truly were thirsty, he accepts the cup and gulps it down. Secretary Zheng seemed to be very tall, but perhaps is a little shorter than Su Yi Cheng. He was on the slender side as well. Su Yi Cheng did not look plump, but he was muscular, he was full of muscle, appearing so probably due to his daily exercises, thus during the journey back, seemed to be quite strenuous to Secretary Zheng.
From his appearance, it seemed like a cup wasn’t enough, so An Ran cautiously asks, “Do you want me to pour you another cup?”
Secretary Zheng hurriedly shakes his head, “No need no need, it’s late, I won’t bother you. Plus my girlfriend is waiting for me downstairs.” He had also drank too much tonight, when the party was over, he was planning to get a driver to take him and SU Yi Cheng home, right then his girlfriend called at that time, saying that she was close, and asking if the party was over, if he wanted to go home together. He figured might as well go with her, have her drop off Su Yi Cheng as well, and thus, she was downstairs waiting for him.
“Oh, is that so.” It really is late, so An Ran nods. She doesn’t keep him any longer, and just smiles at him and expresses her thanks, “Thank you for bringing Yi Cheng back, thank your girlfriend on my behalf as well.”
Secretary Zheng smiles at her foolishly and nods, then turns around to leave. An Ran courteously escorts him to the door, and returns to the room after closing the door.
Returning to the room, she only sees Su Yi Cheng lying on the bed. Now there was a faint sound of snoring. His tolerance for alcohol was pretty good, even if he is drunk he wouldn’t do anything to cross boundaries, just lies there peacefully asleep.
An Ran sighs softly, and goes ahead to remove his shoes and socks. She undoes his collar button, so that he could breathe more naturally. After she was finished with everything, An Ran then turns around to go to the bathroom to get some hot water. She wets the towel, wrings it out, and gently wipes his face and hands. As she was wiping she mutters, “I told you not to drink, you didn’t listen at all. Luckily this time you just got drunk, if the next time you drink your stomach illness acts up again, see what I will do to you.” As she said that, she mischievously puts a cross on his forehead. The sleeping Su Yi Cheng starts to frown, and An Ran spits out her tongue at him. Then she gets up to go the bathroom and dump the water out.
Meanwhile, An Ran had not realized, the moment she turned around the person behind her who should be intoxicated suddenly opened his eyes. There was a crafty twinkle in his eyes, there was no sign of intoxication at all.
At night An Ran lies down beside him. She was in light sleep, because she was still worried that during the night he would start to feel unwell, then she would be awake to take care of him.
Su Yi Cheng did not seem to be unwell or show any of those post-drunken behaviour, he just lies there peacefully, with a faint sound of snoring, seeming as if he were sleeping fine.
An Ran once again closes her eyes and dazedly falls asleep, when suddenly she felt something heavy on her. She opens her eyes, only to see that Su Yi Cheng had flipped over, and his thighs were pressing on her legs, his arms tyrannically wrapped around her waist, trapping her body. He looked like he was a sloth, clinging onto her.
He hugs her even closer, nearly choking her. She lightly pats his shoulder, “Yi, Yi Cheng, are you awake?”
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t answer, only snorts, then buries his head into her chest. He tightens his hold around her, his strong thighs rub against her, as if provoking her.
An Ran was starting to get enticed by him, and reaches out about to push him away, but against his strength, she couldn’t help but be skeptical and ask, “Su Yi Cheng, you’re not pretending to be drunk are you!”
Su Yi Cheng still has his eyes closed and does not say anything, appearing to be truly drunk. His head continued to rub against her chest, and his wicked mouth starts to purposely leave kisses on her pyjamas.
“En—” An Ran shivers, reflexively letting out a groan.
“Su Yi Cheng!” An Ran was almost gnashing her teeth, she grabs his face and has him face-to-face with her. This punk better not be playing drunk!
Feigning tipsiness, a certain person’s hand started to feel up An Ran. The large palm that was originally arrested by her had somehow made its way under her clothes, lingering on her silky flesh.
An Ran was flustered by him. Fastening his head at one spot made him unable to take the advantage, and so he took the advantage to use his hands and wander around. She captures his hands once again, even started to grind his hips against her, circulating like that, An Ran was not his opponent at all.
She was still skeptical that he was intoxicated, and looks at his misty appearance. She still wasn’t sure if he truly was intoxicated or pretending!
Last night, in the end, she was still teared down by the belly, on the bedroom floor the pair’s clothes were scattered about. Underneath the quilt, the two were tangled around one another.
When she woke up again Su Yi Cheng was still fast asleep. The sunshine was penetrating through the white window curtains, lighting up the entire room giving it a hazy golden halo, making the people inside it feel like they were in the in-between, a somewhat dream-like aesthetic.
An Ran sighs, looking at his neat child-like countenance as he slept, she couldn’t help but stroke his face. She knew that he wasn’t drunk last night, but was shamelessly pretending, because she remembered that when she was succumbing to his hard to resist instigation, this hateful man purposely asked her if she would forgive him, if she was still mad, if her answer was no, he would deliberately torment her until she was begging for mercy.
Thinking of that, An Ran started to get angry. She scolded underneath her breath, “Scoundrel, big fat scoundrel!” Then she rose, and softly bit his tall nose.
Su Yi Cheng groaned as he woke up. He opened his eyes, and sees this large mien. The tip of his nose was kind of itchy, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist. He flips over to press down on her, and softly pecks her small and graceful lips. He gives her a big fat smile, “Morning!” His mood was great!
An Ran was still angry, and in a low voice scolds him, “You hoodlum, bastard!” Then, peeved, she turns around to deliberately avoid his gaze.
Su Yi Cheng laughs, and deliberately buries his head into her neck, opening his mouth to nip on her smooth shoulders, then softly whispers into her ears, “I’m just acting like a hoodlum for you.” Underneath the quilt, the two were tangled with each other, that additional grip on her waist tightens a bit, making them even closer.
An Ran suddenly turns her head, stares at him. Underneath she can clearly feel the change in him, and quickly pushes him away, “You, get off.”
Su Yi Cheng’s gaze to her turns deeper, there seemed to be a raging flame that had ignited in his eyes. He softly whispers into her ears, “An Ran…..”
An Ran was quickly weeping, her body was still aching, really she won’t be able to stand being tossed around one more time. She was quick to beg for forgiveness, “Su, Su Yi Cheng, I am really tired, let me off okay?”
Su Yi Cheng smiles, buries his head into her neck, taking a deep breath, his voice was taut as he says, “Don’t move, just let me hold you like this for a bit.”
Hearing that, An Ran really did not dare to move. From her past experience, this man gets urges quite easily in the morning, she doesn’t want to fire up ‘that part’!
The two embrace each other like that for a while. She slowly felt that part of his body gradually wane down, then she lightly pats him, “Let, let me get up.”
Not waiting for Su Yi Cheng’s reply, An Ran’s cellphone started to ring. Su Yi Cheng turns over and lets An Ran get up. He reaches out to grab the cellphone and hand it over to her, then turns around and heads to the bathroom.
“hu—” An Ran lets out a long sigh, then answers the phone, “Hello.” Listening to the other person on the line, An Ran suddenly widens her eyes, getting worked up, “What? How could this be!”
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
An Ran places the bouquet of flowers into a vase in the bedroom. She sits on the bed and reads, but wasn’t able to absorb anything. From time to time her eyes would wander towards the flowers, look at it and smile like a fool.
For dinner, Su Yi Cheng was cooking again. He made all of her favourite food. In fact, she felt that something was off. She hadn’t told him what she liked to eat, what she doesn’t like to eat, but in every single instance that he made food, he always made something that suited her appetite. She was extremely gratified by his considerate behaviour. As she was eating, her heart was feeling warm and sweet.
As agreed previously, since he had cooked, it was her turn to wash the dishes. This is considered as working together, fair. So after eating An Ran was going to put away the dishes, but a certain someone was extremely generous and stepped forward saying that he would help, but was firmly rejected by him.
However how could Su Yi Cheng admit defeat so easily, so while An Ran was washing the dishes he was standing beside her wiping the dishes and putting it away in the cupboard. As he was wiping them he says, “Wife, let me sleep in the room tonight.” He was used to hugging her as he slept, suddenly making him sleep alone without hugging her, it truly was difficult to fall asleep.
An Ran doesn’t reply, just turns and glances at him, then turns back around. She once again goes back to washing the dishes.
Su Yi Cheng then realized that her temperament was really tough, there was no leeway for discussion at all. He frowns, at a loss.
From the corner of her eyes she could see his confused face. An Ran suddenly had an urge to laugh, but was able to endure it. Then a call from Secretary Zheng came. It seemed like it was something important, as he went into the studio after taking the call, and did not come out again.
For a period of time she wanted to make coffee and go and give it to him, only when she was at the door, she hesitated for a while. She hadn’t knocked, so she turned back around with the coffee.
She puts down the book in her hands, lifts the covers and gets out. She walks over to the vase, lowers her head and smells the flowers. Actually, her anger was already a thing of the past. Since morning she was no longer angry, and now it was difficult to be angry.
She brushes her hand across the delicate petals, her mouth rising to a slight smile. She looks at the tightly closed doors. She didn’t lock it actually, she wasn’t planning to not let him in to sleep. She was already used to sleeping in his embrace, leaving his arms, it was truly hard to fall asleep.
She looks at the clock, it was already late. An Ran wasn’t sure if he was already done with his work, but also doesn’t plan to go out to take a look. An Ran just lifts the covers closes the light and forces herself to sleep by closing her eyes.
By the time Su Yi Cheng left the studio it was almost 11 o’clock. Secretary Zheng had called last minute and said that he had made an error in tomorrow’s materials, so he had to use the whole evening to fix the issue.
He uses the bathroom in the guest room to wash and change into his pyjamas. When he grabbed his keys to open the door to the bedroom, he discovered that the door wasn’t locked at all. He opens to come in, only to see that AN Ran was already in bed, breathing smoothly, steadily, as if she were already fast asleep.
He tried to make his movements as quietly as possible. He doesn’t turn on the lamp, but instead uses the fragments of moonlight peeking through the curtains to grope about. He quietly gets on the bed, and very carefully lifts up the figure’s head, and places his arm underneath the neck, so that she can be like before, having his arm as a pillow. The sleeping An Ran chirps a bit, then turns to get closer to him. Her head rubs against his chest, then, apparently finding her snug spot, sleeps peacefully. Her breathing also gradually returns to level.
Su Yi Cheng looks at the lady in his arms. A soft smile creeps up on his face, he then lowers his head and leaves a kiss on the top of her head. After completing everything, he then closes his eyes, falling into pace with her breathing. Only he didn’t know, that the moment he closed his eyes, the lady in his embrace opened her yes, the corner of her mouth revealed a crafty smile. Sure enough she is accustomed to his embrace, accustomed to his nighttime warmth. Tonight, being embraced by him, An Ran slept superbly, did not even wake up once, and slept through the night until daybreak.
In a daze when she opened her eyes again she only saw a handsome face. Seeing that she had awaken, he raises his brows and says, “Morning.” Then, not waiting for An Ran to reply, he took the opportunity and moved forward, kissing her on the lips. An Ran struggles and swats him, but doesn’t push him away. Then she went along with his passionate French kiss, until they both were out of breath.
Leaning against his chest, it took a while for her breathing to restore its pace. An Ran pushes him away, and pretended to be angry at him, “Why are you in here! Aren’t we in a cold war!”
Su Yi Cheng smiles, and pinches her nose, laughing as he asks, “Then why didn’t you kick me out last night?” He of course knew that when he came in last night she wasn’t asleep!
“I, I was sleeping.” An Ran said, glaring at him, “How would I know that you would shamelessly sneak in!”
“Really?” Su Yi Cheng puts on a charming smile. Looking at her, he reaches out and pushes aside the fringe that was blocking her eyes, and somewhat innocently says, “I that you deliberately left the door for me.”
An Ran glares at him. Of course she wouldn’t admit that she really did intentionally leave the door for him. But she reluctantly admits, “I did not.”
Su Yi Cheng just smiles, not exposing her. He lovingly rubs her head, lifts the covers and gets up. Today he reckons will be a busy day. At the 9 o’clock meeting today, at 8:30 he will be at the office, and will be preparing materials and the speech draft.
As they ate breakfast Su Yi Cheng told her that he will be coming home late, so she can decide on dinner herself, no need to wait for him. An Ran nods, she recalls that he had told her that today he will be receiving orders from above, so she reckons that he will be busy.
News has always traveled fast, clearly their side hadn’t finalized anything yet, but it was already known by everyone outside. An Ran had reached her office and placed her briefcase on the desk. She hadn’t opened the computer yet, when Huang De Xing had entered with a giggle. Seeing An Ran, he quickly congratulates her, “An Ran ah, I heard about Special Assistant Su’s promotion, truly, congratulations ha.”
“Uh. The report just came down, whether it’s a promotion or demotion, at the moment it’s not certain yet.” An Ran faintly smiles.
“Haha, it’s definitely a promotion, definitely a promotion. With Su Yi Cheng’s strategy and capabilities, absolutely no problems at all.” Huang De Xing said confidently.
An Ran just faintly smiles, nods at him, “I will accept Director’s noble words.”
“An Ran, when will you return and ask Special Assistant Su to see, see if our company can be a part of Ke Ji City, if the odds of success for our bid is high.” Huang De Xing said meaningfully.
After all she was still working here, so it was not a good idea to refuse and offend him. An Ran just faintly smiles and nods, and responds, “Then I will go ask and see.” If she can delay it then she will.
“Good, good.” Huang De Xing nods happily. Then he discussed a few things about work, and finally turned to leave An Ran’s office.
In the afternoon An Ran and Chen Cheng went to the sample room together. The project was going smoothly, even going faster than expected. If it continues like this An Ran can be relieved, doesn’t have to worry about not meeting the final evaluation.
Because she knew that Su Yi Cheng will be coming home late today, she wasn’t in a rush to go home. Unwittingly, once she started on her blueprint she forgot about the time, so by the time she tidied up, she only then discovered that the sky was slowly darkening. Luckily the apartment wasn’t too far from her office, just by walking she can arrive home in a few minutes.
She leaves her office, and the place was extremely quiet. The light in the hallway was still on, and Chen Cheng’s computer was still on. Her bag was still on the desk, it was clear that aside from her Chen Cheng was also here.
At first she had planned to wait for her and leave the gates together, but she had waited for some time and did not see her return. Ultimately An Ran gave up and left by herself.
As she was waiting for the elevator, An Ran could faintly hear sounds of sobbing in the corridor. She frowns, and heads over there with curiosity. The sound was getting louder and louder, more and more distinct. From the sound, An Ran felt that it was somewhat familiar.
As she approaches, at a quiet corner of the staircase, an Ran at last could see who was sobbing. While holding down their own emotions, that person wasn’t just anyone, but Chen Cheng.
An Ran stood behind her for a while, and she did not find out. An Ran reaches out and hands her a tissue, Chen Cheng then turns around and sees the person behind her. She quickly wipes the tears off her face, and awkwardly hiccups as she forces a smile. Only that smile, seemed to be more unsightly than crying.
“Gu, Gu jie. You’re still here.”
An Ran nods, and hands the tissue over to her. She faintly asks, “What happened?”
Chen Cheng reaches out and accepts it, but only shakes her head, not replying to her question.
She isn’t saying, she naturally An Ran doesn’t probe. She just nods, not pursuing the subject.
The pair return to the office, and An Ran asks her if she was leaving or not. She just sees Chen Cheng shake her head, and faintly say that she still has some things she hadn’t finished, and will leave after a while.
An Ran nods. She won’t force her, but when she was about to leave, she couldn’t help but turn to look at her, and faintly starts to say, “If there really is something, don’t keep it to yourself, speak it out. Perhaps we won’t be able to help, but at the very least your mind will be at ease.”
Chen Cheng looks at her for a while, nods, her eyes somewhat twinkling.
Returning home, An Ran made herself some noodles for dinner, as she ate she started to hate her own cooking. It really was underwhelming. Perhaps it is because she has recently been raised with Su Yi Cheng’s cooking. In the past she had felt that her cooking was at least bearable, but now she is unable to eat it. She recalls Su Yi Cheng eating with pleasure each time, and eating up all the noodles until there was not a drop left, she suddenly started to pity him. But it was his own fault, because of his behaviour, she started to feel warm.
She didn’t each much, and in the end she couldn’t swallow any more and threw the rest into the trash. Not having SU Yi Cheng around tonight was really boring, bored to death, she sits on the living room sofa aimlessly watching TV. But she had no idea what she was watching. When the actress on TV was crying teary pearls, An Ran watches the tears fall.
“Ding dong, ding dong—”
An Ran was woken up by the doorbell. The door continues to ring, rousing An Ran up. In her daze she couldn’t react. She was sitting blankly for a while. Her head was still dizzy. The pretty actress on the crystal screen was long gone, and now it was broadcasting the midnight news.
“Ding dong—” Seeing that the person inside isn’t responding, the person outside rings the bell once again.
An Ran only then reacts, quickly stands up, looks at her watch. It was almost midnight. She isn’t sure who would visit this late, and promptly smooths out her wrinkled pyjamas. She then goes over to the door, passing the monitor, only to see a man outside holding up Su Yi Cheng, while Su Yi Cheng was frowning, appearing to be unwell.
Upon seeing that, An Ran quickly opens the door. When she opened it, she could smell the strong scent of alcohol. Clearly someone had drunken too much, and couldn’t go home without help.
“Madame, Special assistant he—” Secretary Zheng was going to say something, but thought of something else, and quickly corrects himself, “Uh, no, now it should be Deputy Mayor Su, deputy mayor was too happy tonight, so he had a little too much to drink.”
An Ran nods at the man. She remembers this man, back when she and Su Yi Cheng went to get the certificate she had seen him. Only after did she know that he was Su Yi Cheng’s secretary, and has worked for him for 3 years, he is considered to be his most capable assistant.
“Quickly come in.” An Ran quickly helps Secretary Zheng prop up Su Yi Cheng and bring him to the bedroom.
When Secretary Zheng safely placed Su Yi Cheng down onto the bed, An Ran quickly went over to the kitchen and poured him a glass of water, “Here, have some water.”
As if he truly were thirsty, he accepts the cup and gulps it down. Secretary Zheng seemed to be very tall, but perhaps is a little shorter than Su Yi Cheng. He was on the slender side as well. Su Yi Cheng did not look plump, but he was muscular, he was full of muscle, appearing so probably due to his daily exercises, thus during the journey back, seemed to be quite strenuous to Secretary Zheng.
From his appearance, it seemed like a cup wasn’t enough, so An Ran cautiously asks, “Do you want me to pour you another cup?”
Secretary Zheng hurriedly shakes his head, “No need no need, it’s late, I won’t bother you. Plus my girlfriend is waiting for me downstairs.” He had also drank too much tonight, when the party was over, he was planning to get a driver to take him and SU Yi Cheng home, right then his girlfriend called at that time, saying that she was close, and asking if the party was over, if he wanted to go home together. He figured might as well go with her, have her drop off Su Yi Cheng as well, and thus, she was downstairs waiting for him.
“Oh, is that so.” It really is late, so An Ran nods. She doesn’t keep him any longer, and just smiles at him and expresses her thanks, “Thank you for bringing Yi Cheng back, thank your girlfriend on my behalf as well.”
Secretary Zheng smiles at her foolishly and nods, then turns around to leave. An Ran courteously escorts him to the door, and returns to the room after closing the door.
Returning to the room, she only sees Su Yi Cheng lying on the bed. Now there was a faint sound of snoring. His tolerance for alcohol was pretty good, even if he is drunk he wouldn’t do anything to cross boundaries, just lies there peacefully asleep.
An Ran sighs softly, and goes ahead to remove his shoes and socks. She undoes his collar button, so that he could breathe more naturally. After she was finished with everything, An Ran then turns around to go to the bathroom to get some hot water. She wets the towel, wrings it out, and gently wipes his face and hands. As she was wiping she mutters, “I told you not to drink, you didn’t listen at all. Luckily this time you just got drunk, if the next time you drink your stomach illness acts up again, see what I will do to you.” As she said that, she mischievously puts a cross on his forehead. The sleeping Su Yi Cheng starts to frown, and An Ran spits out her tongue at him. Then she gets up to go the bathroom and dump the water out.
Meanwhile, An Ran had not realized, the moment she turned around the person behind her who should be intoxicated suddenly opened his eyes. There was a crafty twinkle in his eyes, there was no sign of intoxication at all.
At night An Ran lies down beside him. She was in light sleep, because she was still worried that during the night he would start to feel unwell, then she would be awake to take care of him.
Su Yi Cheng did not seem to be unwell or show any of those post-drunken behaviour, he just lies there peacefully, with a faint sound of snoring, seeming as if he were sleeping fine.
An Ran once again closes her eyes and dazedly falls asleep, when suddenly she felt something heavy on her. She opens her eyes, only to see that Su Yi Cheng had flipped over, and his thighs were pressing on her legs, his arms tyrannically wrapped around her waist, trapping her body. He looked like he was a sloth, clinging onto her.
He hugs her even closer, nearly choking her. She lightly pats his shoulder, “Yi, Yi Cheng, are you awake?”
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t answer, only snorts, then buries his head into her chest. He tightens his hold around her, his strong thighs rub against her, as if provoking her.
An Ran was starting to get enticed by him, and reaches out about to push him away, but against his strength, she couldn’t help but be skeptical and ask, “Su Yi Cheng, you’re not pretending to be drunk are you!”
Su Yi Cheng still has his eyes closed and does not say anything, appearing to be truly drunk. His head continued to rub against her chest, and his wicked mouth starts to purposely leave kisses on her pyjamas.
“En—” An Ran shivers, reflexively letting out a groan.
“Su Yi Cheng!” An Ran was almost gnashing her teeth, she grabs his face and has him face-to-face with her. This punk better not be playing drunk!
Feigning tipsiness, a certain person’s hand started to feel up An Ran. The large palm that was originally arrested by her had somehow made its way under her clothes, lingering on her silky flesh.
An Ran was flustered by him. Fastening his head at one spot made him unable to take the advantage, and so he took the advantage to use his hands and wander around. She captures his hands once again, even started to grind his hips against her, circulating like that, An Ran was not his opponent at all.
She was still skeptical that he was intoxicated, and looks at his misty appearance. She still wasn’t sure if he truly was intoxicated or pretending!
Last night, in the end, she was still teared down by the belly, on the bedroom floor the pair’s clothes were scattered about. Underneath the quilt, the two were tangled around one another.
When she woke up again Su Yi Cheng was still fast asleep. The sunshine was penetrating through the white window curtains, lighting up the entire room giving it a hazy golden halo, making the people inside it feel like they were in the in-between, a somewhat dream-like aesthetic.
An Ran sighs, looking at his neat child-like countenance as he slept, she couldn’t help but stroke his face. She knew that he wasn’t drunk last night, but was shamelessly pretending, because she remembered that when she was succumbing to his hard to resist instigation, this hateful man purposely asked her if she would forgive him, if she was still mad, if her answer was no, he would deliberately torment her until she was begging for mercy.
Thinking of that, An Ran started to get angry. She scolded underneath her breath, “Scoundrel, big fat scoundrel!” Then she rose, and softly bit his tall nose.
Su Yi Cheng groaned as he woke up. He opened his eyes, and sees this large mien. The tip of his nose was kind of itchy, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist. He flips over to press down on her, and softly pecks her small and graceful lips. He gives her a big fat smile, “Morning!” His mood was great!
An Ran was still angry, and in a low voice scolds him, “You hoodlum, bastard!” Then, peeved, she turns around to deliberately avoid his gaze.
Su Yi Cheng laughs, and deliberately buries his head into her neck, opening his mouth to nip on her smooth shoulders, then softly whispers into her ears, “I’m just acting like a hoodlum for you.” Underneath the quilt, the two were tangled with each other, that additional grip on her waist tightens a bit, making them even closer.
An Ran suddenly turns her head, stares at him. Underneath she can clearly feel the change in him, and quickly pushes him away, “You, get off.”
Su Yi Cheng’s gaze to her turns deeper, there seemed to be a raging flame that had ignited in his eyes. He softly whispers into her ears, “An Ran…..”
An Ran was quickly weeping, her body was still aching, really she won’t be able to stand being tossed around one more time. She was quick to beg for forgiveness, “Su, Su Yi Cheng, I am really tired, let me off okay?”
Su Yi Cheng smiles, buries his head into her neck, taking a deep breath, his voice was taut as he says, “Don’t move, just let me hold you like this for a bit.”
Hearing that, An Ran really did not dare to move. From her past experience, this man gets urges quite easily in the morning, she doesn’t want to fire up ‘that part’!
The two embrace each other like that for a while. She slowly felt that part of his body gradually wane down, then she lightly pats him, “Let, let me get up.”
Not waiting for Su Yi Cheng’s reply, An Ran’s cellphone started to ring. Su Yi Cheng turns over and lets An Ran get up. He reaches out to grab the cellphone and hand it over to her, then turns around and heads to the bathroom.
“hu—” An Ran lets out a long sigh, then answers the phone, “Hello.” Listening to the other person on the line, An Ran suddenly widens her eyes, getting worked up, “What? How could this be!”
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
Friday, 1 June 2018
First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 104 Translation
104. Wife, I was wrong
The business bureaucracy was like a battle field, there were no eternal friends. To put it frankly, everyone is out for their own interest, for power. To be an official is like an art, your weapon was your intelligence, your strategy.
On this battlefield without smoke, no one is your comrade, no one will eternally stand on your side. Perhaps they will support you at first, but the support is merely to exploit you, to create more beneficial conditions for themselves, so there is no eternal support in officialdom. When you have no more use for them, even your status is becoming a threat to them, when that time comes, perhaps it is time for them to dispose you.
When Su Yi Cheng was called into the office by Ling Chuan Jiang, Su Yi Cheng had a bad premonition. Although he wasn’t certain, but the feeling was very strong.
“Knock knock knock…” Su Yi Cheng taps on the door, only to hear a strict voice call out from inside, “Come in.”
Su Yi Cheng then opens the door and enters. He closes the door, and walks over to the man behind the large desk. He speaks in a low voice, “Mayor Ling, you were looking for me.”
Ling Chuan Jiang then lifts up his head. He glances at him, and nods, “Take a seat.” He points at the chair in front of the desk.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t say much more, nods, and pulls the chair out to sit.
Ling Chuan Jiang puts down the document in his hands, then takes off the thick spectacles resting on his nose bridge. He leans back against the chair, and faintly starts to ask, “Yi Cheng ah, how long have you been working for me?”
“3 years and 5 months.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies, his tone stable.
Ling Chuan Jiang nods, and sighs ruefully, “Time really flies by. When I think back to when you first took part in the work on behalf of the county and made a report to the municipal committee, back then you were still green and did not understand anything, and now you can already independently represent yourself. You already have some political achievements, I reckon there is no need to wait for me to retire.. Your accomplishments have already surpassed mine.” Looking at him, Ling Chuan Jiang seemed to have a deeper meaning in his eyes.
“Mayor Ling is flattering me. Everything is because of your promotion of me.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies. He looked straight into his eyes, his expression magnanimous.
Ling Chuan Jiang smiles and shakes his head, and with regret he says, “Back then I thought that you and Ling Ran would get married, and you have always been the son-in-law that I’ve yearned for. Even when Ling Ran left, this thought has never left my mind.” Saying so, he smiles helplessly, “Only, only I didn’t expect that things would end up this way.”
“The world is difficult to anticipate.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies, his expression neither sad nor happy, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing.
Ling Chuan Jiang nods, and sighs regretfully, “The world indeed is difficult to anticipate!” Then he shakes his head, and says, “No matter, no need to talk about those stuff.” He sits up, grabs the glasses from the desk and puts it back on, as he says, “The files from the Inspection Department has come, regarding your appointment, I already received it yesterday. It’s confirmed that you will take up post as Ke Ji City’s ‘Urban Construction Mayor’. The day after tomorrow the municipal committee will formally convene a conference for your post and the Ke Ji City program initiation ceremony.” As he spoke, he picks up the document on his desk and hands it to him, “Take a look at it.”
Su Yi Cheng accepts it, it was his office documents, later he will be promoted from the mayor’s assistant to Ke Ji City’s ‘Urban Construction Mayor’. The position was equal to Jiang City’s Deputy Mayor, the second-in-command!
Ling Chuan Jiang looks at him, smiling yet not as he says, “In the future it will be the youngster’s world. We elderly people, it is time to retire.”
Su Yi Cheng stares at him for a while, but doesn’t say anything.
When Su Yi Cheng returned home, he sees An Ran sitting in the living room, mumbling to herself, and in front of her, spread out on the coffee table was an A4 paper, evidently it was the ‘husband and wife agreement’ that she had specially printed out, only the content had been slightly modified by a certain somebody.
Upon seeing the situation, he naturally understood. He faintly smiles and lays down his briefcase, sits down beside her, and reaches out to hug An Ran, but she had slapped his hand away. She turns around and looks at him coldly, pointing to the ‘husband and wife agreement’, and says, “Would you care to explain what on earth happened!”
Su Yi Cheng subconsciously smiles and rubs his nose, softly calling, “Wife.” He advances and gives her a hug, letting her flap around but not letting go. At the same time he grieves, “Wife, if I had agreed to your agreement, I will implode.”
An Ran glares at him. He still has excuses! She pushes him, puts a hand on her waist, and says, “You’re quibbling!” Then she reaches out and picks up the agreement on the table, pointing out the word ‘Rest’ on the paper, and says, “You tell me, how did you add this word, your conduct was deceitful, maliciously deceitful!”
Su Yi Cheng looks at the word that he had added in. Naturally he wasn’t going to tell her that when he was looking over each word and when she was not paying attention he had added that word. He smiles apologetically and says, “Wife, what do you want to eat tonight, I will make it for you.”
“Don’t you dare change the topic!” An Ran looks at him coldly. She was determined and would not back down at all. Today she must get an outcome, otherwise wouldn’t she fall for his schemes every day!
Su Yi Cheng sighs. He’s afraid that he wouldn’t be able to dodge this today, looking at An Ran, with hidden bitterness he says, “Wife, if I really were to agree, if we really do it once a week, aren’t you afraid I will implode!”
He said it so frankly, hearing it, An Ran’s face heated up. Due to the temperature on her face rising, her little white face also immediately turned bright red. She mutters a scold under her breath, “You rascal.”
In response, Su Yi Cheng took advantage and approaches, and hugs her from behind. His chin rests on her shoulder, he mumbles, “Wife, you are really that heartless that you would implode me, you will miss out on a lot of fortune.”
An Ran felt more embarrassed because of him. Her skin was originally thin, especially in this aspect, she found it hard to speak about. She uses her strength to push him away, blushing ferociously as if she would drip blood. She springs up, and looks at him hatefully, “Sleep on the couch tonight, don’t come on my bed, see if you will implode!” After she was done, she gets up with a red face, and doesn’t turn her head back as she goes into the room with a ‘thump—’ of the door.
Su Yi Cheng blankly stares at the bedroom door. A while later, he finally reacts, and chuckles. He thought that she was just peeved, only needs a little coaxing and it’ll be fine. He gets up to rap on the door, “An Ran, open the door. I admit that I was wrong, isn’t that alright.”
Even after a while no one opened the door. When he raised his hand to knock on the door again, his hand was still in mid-air, when the door opens, but it was at the time when Su Yi Cheng hadn’t yet reacted, so his hand was suddenly stuffed with things, only to hear her rapidly speak, “For you!” Then, not waiting for him to ask what and his hands full of stuff, the door was shut once again, blocking him out.
Su Yi Cheng stares blankly at the door for a while, then finally notices that the things placed in his hands were his bathroom stuff and pyjamas. Looking at them the situation seemed clear, Su Yi Cheng then realized, that An Ran was serious, and he was driven away by his own wife!
The next day, An Ran twists her neck around as she appears from the bedroom. In the kitchen, Su Yi Cheng was busy making breakfast. Seeing her appear from the bedroom, he smiles and says, “Come take a seat, breakfast will be ready right away.”
He turns around once again and puts the vegetables in his hands into the pot to boil.
Not one minute later, he cracks an egg and fries it in the pan, then puts both of it on their plates. He turns around again and pours her a cup of milk, “Here, eat it while it’s hot.” He sits down on the stool, and An Ran mumbles, frowning. She rubs her sore neck. Habits were truly a fearful thing, it hasn’t been that long, but she isn’t used to having him not by her side, and can’t even sleep. And not having his arm as a pillow, when she got up this morning she tragically discovered that she had a stiff neck!
Su Yi Cheng can see that she was unwell. He puts down his knife and fork, and attentively massages her incredibly sore neck, at the same time he asks, “How is it, does this feel a little more comfortable?”
An Ran doesn’t say anything, only the corner of her mouth faintly curves up, betraying her mood.
Su Yi Cheng naturally saw her smile, doesn’t ask much, and continues his hand movements massaging her neck.
Looking at the time, she was afraid that he wouldn’t make it to work on time, so she evades him, and purposely speaks rigidly, “Eat breakfast! Later on you will blame me for wasting your time.”
Su Yi Cheng smiles. Hearing that, he returns to his seat, looks at her, and takes a big mouthful.
An Ran really got angry this time. Until right before Su Yi Cheng had to go to work, he wanted to hug her and give her a kiss goodbye, but was evaded by her. She looks him in the eye, and directly turns around and goes into the room.
Su Yi Cheng rubs his nose helplessly, this time it seemed he fell flat, An Ran’s temperament was bigger than he had thought, there was apparently no use in coaxing her.
This particular day Su Yi Cheng was actually quite busy. Tomorrow he has a conference on his new post, as well as Ke Ji City’s official launch day, so today he has quite a few things to prepare, and write a speech for tomorrow. Besides, tomorrow was the official project launch of Ke Ji City, so they have to start the bidding. For the next few weeks, he reckons that he will be very busy, that is the necessary price of taking a new position.
“Knock knock knock.” Secretary Zheng knocks. He was holding the materials that Su Yi Cheng told him to prepare, and respectfully hands it over, “Special Assistant Su, this the material that you wanted.”
Su Yi Cheng reaches out and accepts it. When Secretary Zheng was about to leave he suddenly calls out to him, “Secretary Zheng, wait a moment.”
Secretary Zheng turns, look at him, and asks, “Is there anything else you would like?”
Appearing as if he were expecting for instructions, Su Yi Cheng recalled the awkward appearance of the little girl at home. He does not want to sleep in the guest room again. The guest room seemed cold, he still feels that he will have to hug her in order fall asleep soundly.
“Cough cough…” He coughs lightly. Su Yi Cheng was a bit embarrassed, after all he did not have experience in this matter, but for his own benefit, nevertheless he stiffly starts to ask, “Secretary Zheng, you have a girlfriend right!” He recalls the three years that Secretary Zheng has been with him, since his transfer as a Mayor’s Special Assistant, he has always been his secretary. He remembers that he has mentioned before, that he had a girlfriend.
“Uh.” Secretary Zheng was expecting instructions for more work, and did not expect this personal question. He was stunned for a few minutes, then nods, replying, “Yes, I do. Is there an issue?” Don’t tell him there’s a new rule that doesn’t allow staff to have girlfriends!
“Then, have you guys had an argument?” Su Yi Cheng asks. He was ready to learn from Secretary Zheng’s experience.
“Uh, we’ve been together for a long time. There have been times when there was conflict.” Although he doesn’t really understand why he was asking, Secretary Zheng nevertheless answers honestly.
“Then, how did you make up?” Su Yi Cheng looks eagerly at him as he asks. How to make up was the key question he had been waiting to ask!
Secretary Zheng was no fool, so he cautiously asks, “Special Assistant Su, did you and the lady have a falling out?” Otherwise why would he ask these! However he was actually curious, Special Assistant Su is so kindly and refined, he always wore a smile, and his character always gentle and considerate above all. What kind of conflict could this sort of person have with his wife?
Su Yi Cheng chokes thanks to his reply, “Cough cough.” He coughs softly for a few times, then says, “P-perhaps. First tell me what you would normally do in this situation.”
Pulling in his lips, he tried his best to suppress a smile. Secretary Zheng says in deadpan, “That depends on who was wrong. If it was you, then first you need to apologize.”
“Apologize?” But it had no use! Su Yi Cheng pondered.
“It is said that, apologies between lovers is also a skill, there is a method.” As he said that, Secretary Zheng seemed to be experienced. He pulls out a chair, and sits his butt on it. “Women are petty animals, she doesn’t care who is right or wrong, in their dictionary, the other person is always wrong, and she is always right. So don’t delve into who is right or wrong, taking the initiative and admitting your mistake is the most important thing. Besides, women love romance and romantic men, if when you apologize you give them a bouquet of pretty roses, all their attention goes to the bouquet in your hands, thereby making it easier for them to accept your apology. Of course after giving the bouquet you must take her to a nice restaurant, go to those romantic Western restaurants, then you guys have a candle-lit dinner, pair it up with red wine and that would be perfection. The night would end with the woman forgetting all unhappy thoughts.” Secretary Zheng said in seriousness.
“Then, according to what you just said I should go buy some flowers?” Su Yi Cheng asks.
“Correct, choose her favourite. If you bought one that she doesn’t like, then it will all fail.” Secretary Zheng said.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and mutters to himself, “So apologizing has this kind of method.” He suddenly thought of another question, and raises his head to stare at Secretary Zheng and asks, “Secretary Zheng, do you always make mistakes?” Otherwise how would he know it so well.
Secretary Zheng stiffens up, and shyly says, “This, it doesn’t matter who was wrong, the man is always wrong. As it is men should be generous, should not be fussy.”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him, a faint smile emerges from the corner of his mouth.
After giving the lecture on the technique of apologizing, Secretary Zheng looked at him curiously, and asks, “Say, Special Assistant, what fight did you guys have?” He always felt that although the beginning of Su Yi Cheng’s marriage was a bit careless, but seeing his attitude towards his wife, it seemed like they were quite harmonious. Not only that it seemed that he really loved and was quite fond of his wife, before he had always came to pick up and drop off his wife for work.
Su Yi Cheng was still pondering on Secretary Zheng’s apologizing procedure. Hearing what was said he raised his head to look at him, and faintly laughs, “Are you very idle? If you are free then don’t mind me if I give you some more work.”
Secretary Zheng felt chills down his back. Su Yi Cheng was clearly smiling as he was talking to him, but he felt like the him right now is a more grave than before and even scarier. He quickly waves his hand and says, “Um, um I still have a few things that I haven’t done, I, I will get busy.” Saying that, he doesn’t wait for him to reply, and hastens to flee from his office.
Su Yi Cheng, left alone in his office, has an unsmiling-smile on his lips, finely polishing through Secretary Zheng’s so-called method of apologizing. Tonight, after work, Su Yi Cheng decided to listen to Secretary Zheng’s instructions. He drove his car down to the flower shop, and asked the staff to bundle up their prettiest roses. While he was wandering around in the flower shop, he happened to see an interesting card on the counter. As a result he had the person pull the card out, asked for a pen, and earnestly wrote a message on the card.
This is the second time that he has walked down the street with a bouquet of flowers. The last time was 7 years ago when he was about to propose to Ling Ran, at Ye Zi Wen’s suggestion he had a diamond ring ready, and had specially bought a bouquet. However even though it was like that, walking down the street while holding a large bouquet, he felt it was incredibly awkward. He had an urge to stuff the bouquet onto Ye Zi Wen’s chest, but unsure of why, this time he surprisingly was excited, looking forward to An Ran’s appearance upon seeing him holding up a bouquet of flowers, would she cry? Would she laugh?
As Su Yi Cheng had almost reached his car, suddenly from behind a figure scuttled away, nearly knocking the flowers from his hands. Luckily he had reacted quickly, and dodged, directly avoiding. However, avoiding was simply avoiding, the person still wasn’t careful and bumped into the bouquet, causing the card resting in the flowers to fall.
Su Yi Cheng caught sight of the person, and couldn’t help but frown, “Yi Jiao!”
Su Yi jiao raised her head. She had some tears left on her face. Meeting Su Yi Cheng was really unexpected. “Brother!”
“What happened? Are you crying?” Su Yi Cheng did not miss the tears that had not yet dried.
“Uh.” Su Yi Jiao was speechless, and quickly uses her hands to wipe the tears on her face. She forces and smile and explains, “N-no, something just blew into my eyes.”
Su Yi Cheng naturally knew how lame her excuse was, but since she doesn’t want to say, he won’t interrogate her. He just faintly asks, “You alright?” His voice was not loud, but his tone was actually concerned.
Scared that he would worry about her, Su Yi Jiao puts on a big smile, and with a clear voice says, “Yup, I’ll be fine!”
Su Yi Cheng nods, and lovingly rubs her head.
Su Yi Jiao then noticed the large bouquet of flowers clasped in his hands, and asks curiously, “Brother, such a large bouquet of roses, is today an anniversary?”
Su Yi Cheng was uneasy, and purses his lips. He nods, and says, “Yeah, our anniversary.” Comparing to this, is much better than letting her know that he had offended her sister-in-law, and is making an effort to apologize!
Su Yi Jiao looks at him oddly, and jokes, “I don’t see it, brother since when did you know how to be romantic?”
He impolitely pats her forehead, Su Yi Cheng impatiently says, “Impolite.” He raises his arm and looks at the time, “Alright, I have to go, your sister-in-law is still waiting for me at home.”
Su Yi Jiao winks at him ambiguously, “Work hard ha, not only is mom waiting to hold a big fat grandchild, I am also waiting to be an aunt.”
Su Yi Cheng had a good laugh, doesn’t reply, and just turns around preparing to walk the few steps to his car.
“Ha ha ha.” Su Yi Jiao laughs out loud. When she was about turn around to walk she happened to see the card on the ground. She picks it up and opens it. She recognizes the writing, it belonged to her brother. However the content of the writing made her eyes pop out.
‘Wife—I’m sorry!’
When Su Yi Cheng reached home, he only saw that the living room was absolutely empty. He changed his shoes, calling out as he walked forward, “An Ran?”
Hearing noise, An Ran came out from the studio, dressed in her home clothes. Her hair trailed over her shoulders. Seeing him coming in with a bouquet of flowers, her expression wasn’t too excessively surprised nor pleasantly surprised, only smiling yet not while looking at him, apparently knowing that he would be coming home with flowers.
Su Yi Cheng held the flowers and walked over to her. He was about to open his mouth and start to apologize, but did not expect to be interrupted by her first.
“Are these flowers for me?” An Ran faintly asks. The corner of her mouth a faint smile, smiling yet not smiling.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and was about to start, “Um---”
Only to see An Ran reaching out and accepting the flowers from his hands, “Thanks, they’re beautiful.” After saying that, she deliberately searches through the bouquet, but did not find anything. She raises her head to look at him and asks, “Where’s the card?”
“Uh.” Su Yi Cheng was speechless. He advances and looks at the bouquet. The card that he had specifically put into the bouquet was gone. But he had suddenly thought of something, and raises his head to look at An Ran, and suspiciously says, “How did you know!”
She seemed to already know, so that was why she wasn’t surprised or pleasantly surprised.
An Ran looks at him. Carrying the bouquet she sits up straight on the sofa, and starts to say, “Just a moment ago Mom called, asking if we had fought, said that you bought a big bouquet and even wrote a card apologizing to me.”
“How did mom---” Suddenly he recalled bumping into Yi Jiao a moment ago. Then everything became clear. He assumed the card had dropped then, and Yi Jiao that brat had picked it up, then blabbed to mother!
Looking at An Ran who was sniffing the flowers, Su Yi Cheng also sat himself beside her, and puts his hand on her shoulder, giggling like a hoodlum, “Wife, don’t be angry okay?”
An Ran glances at him, pats the hand on her shoulder, and craftily says, “No card--I won’t accept the apology.” Saying that, she held the bouquet and got up to leave.
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
The business bureaucracy was like a battle field, there were no eternal friends. To put it frankly, everyone is out for their own interest, for power. To be an official is like an art, your weapon was your intelligence, your strategy.
On this battlefield without smoke, no one is your comrade, no one will eternally stand on your side. Perhaps they will support you at first, but the support is merely to exploit you, to create more beneficial conditions for themselves, so there is no eternal support in officialdom. When you have no more use for them, even your status is becoming a threat to them, when that time comes, perhaps it is time for them to dispose you.
When Su Yi Cheng was called into the office by Ling Chuan Jiang, Su Yi Cheng had a bad premonition. Although he wasn’t certain, but the feeling was very strong.
“Knock knock knock…” Su Yi Cheng taps on the door, only to hear a strict voice call out from inside, “Come in.”
Su Yi Cheng then opens the door and enters. He closes the door, and walks over to the man behind the large desk. He speaks in a low voice, “Mayor Ling, you were looking for me.”
Ling Chuan Jiang then lifts up his head. He glances at him, and nods, “Take a seat.” He points at the chair in front of the desk.
Su Yi Cheng doesn’t say much more, nods, and pulls the chair out to sit.
Ling Chuan Jiang puts down the document in his hands, then takes off the thick spectacles resting on his nose bridge. He leans back against the chair, and faintly starts to ask, “Yi Cheng ah, how long have you been working for me?”
“3 years and 5 months.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies, his tone stable.
Ling Chuan Jiang nods, and sighs ruefully, “Time really flies by. When I think back to when you first took part in the work on behalf of the county and made a report to the municipal committee, back then you were still green and did not understand anything, and now you can already independently represent yourself. You already have some political achievements, I reckon there is no need to wait for me to retire.. Your accomplishments have already surpassed mine.” Looking at him, Ling Chuan Jiang seemed to have a deeper meaning in his eyes.
“Mayor Ling is flattering me. Everything is because of your promotion of me.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies. He looked straight into his eyes, his expression magnanimous.
Ling Chuan Jiang smiles and shakes his head, and with regret he says, “Back then I thought that you and Ling Ran would get married, and you have always been the son-in-law that I’ve yearned for. Even when Ling Ran left, this thought has never left my mind.” Saying so, he smiles helplessly, “Only, only I didn’t expect that things would end up this way.”
“The world is difficult to anticipate.” Su Yi Cheng faintly replies, his expression neither sad nor happy, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing.
Ling Chuan Jiang nods, and sighs regretfully, “The world indeed is difficult to anticipate!” Then he shakes his head, and says, “No matter, no need to talk about those stuff.” He sits up, grabs the glasses from the desk and puts it back on, as he says, “The files from the Inspection Department has come, regarding your appointment, I already received it yesterday. It’s confirmed that you will take up post as Ke Ji City’s ‘Urban Construction Mayor’. The day after tomorrow the municipal committee will formally convene a conference for your post and the Ke Ji City program initiation ceremony.” As he spoke, he picks up the document on his desk and hands it to him, “Take a look at it.”
Su Yi Cheng accepts it, it was his office documents, later he will be promoted from the mayor’s assistant to Ke Ji City’s ‘Urban Construction Mayor’. The position was equal to Jiang City’s Deputy Mayor, the second-in-command!
Ling Chuan Jiang looks at him, smiling yet not as he says, “In the future it will be the youngster’s world. We elderly people, it is time to retire.”
Su Yi Cheng stares at him for a while, but doesn’t say anything.
When Su Yi Cheng returned home, he sees An Ran sitting in the living room, mumbling to herself, and in front of her, spread out on the coffee table was an A4 paper, evidently it was the ‘husband and wife agreement’ that she had specially printed out, only the content had been slightly modified by a certain somebody.
Upon seeing the situation, he naturally understood. He faintly smiles and lays down his briefcase, sits down beside her, and reaches out to hug An Ran, but she had slapped his hand away. She turns around and looks at him coldly, pointing to the ‘husband and wife agreement’, and says, “Would you care to explain what on earth happened!”
Su Yi Cheng subconsciously smiles and rubs his nose, softly calling, “Wife.” He advances and gives her a hug, letting her flap around but not letting go. At the same time he grieves, “Wife, if I had agreed to your agreement, I will implode.”
An Ran glares at him. He still has excuses! She pushes him, puts a hand on her waist, and says, “You’re quibbling!” Then she reaches out and picks up the agreement on the table, pointing out the word ‘Rest’ on the paper, and says, “You tell me, how did you add this word, your conduct was deceitful, maliciously deceitful!”
Su Yi Cheng looks at the word that he had added in. Naturally he wasn’t going to tell her that when he was looking over each word and when she was not paying attention he had added that word. He smiles apologetically and says, “Wife, what do you want to eat tonight, I will make it for you.”
“Don’t you dare change the topic!” An Ran looks at him coldly. She was determined and would not back down at all. Today she must get an outcome, otherwise wouldn’t she fall for his schemes every day!
Su Yi Cheng sighs. He’s afraid that he wouldn’t be able to dodge this today, looking at An Ran, with hidden bitterness he says, “Wife, if I really were to agree, if we really do it once a week, aren’t you afraid I will implode!”
He said it so frankly, hearing it, An Ran’s face heated up. Due to the temperature on her face rising, her little white face also immediately turned bright red. She mutters a scold under her breath, “You rascal.”
In response, Su Yi Cheng took advantage and approaches, and hugs her from behind. His chin rests on her shoulder, he mumbles, “Wife, you are really that heartless that you would implode me, you will miss out on a lot of fortune.”
An Ran felt more embarrassed because of him. Her skin was originally thin, especially in this aspect, she found it hard to speak about. She uses her strength to push him away, blushing ferociously as if she would drip blood. She springs up, and looks at him hatefully, “Sleep on the couch tonight, don’t come on my bed, see if you will implode!” After she was done, she gets up with a red face, and doesn’t turn her head back as she goes into the room with a ‘thump—’ of the door.
Su Yi Cheng blankly stares at the bedroom door. A while later, he finally reacts, and chuckles. He thought that she was just peeved, only needs a little coaxing and it’ll be fine. He gets up to rap on the door, “An Ran, open the door. I admit that I was wrong, isn’t that alright.”
Even after a while no one opened the door. When he raised his hand to knock on the door again, his hand was still in mid-air, when the door opens, but it was at the time when Su Yi Cheng hadn’t yet reacted, so his hand was suddenly stuffed with things, only to hear her rapidly speak, “For you!” Then, not waiting for him to ask what and his hands full of stuff, the door was shut once again, blocking him out.
Su Yi Cheng stares blankly at the door for a while, then finally notices that the things placed in his hands were his bathroom stuff and pyjamas. Looking at them the situation seemed clear, Su Yi Cheng then realized, that An Ran was serious, and he was driven away by his own wife!
The next day, An Ran twists her neck around as she appears from the bedroom. In the kitchen, Su Yi Cheng was busy making breakfast. Seeing her appear from the bedroom, he smiles and says, “Come take a seat, breakfast will be ready right away.”
He turns around once again and puts the vegetables in his hands into the pot to boil.
Not one minute later, he cracks an egg and fries it in the pan, then puts both of it on their plates. He turns around again and pours her a cup of milk, “Here, eat it while it’s hot.” He sits down on the stool, and An Ran mumbles, frowning. She rubs her sore neck. Habits were truly a fearful thing, it hasn’t been that long, but she isn’t used to having him not by her side, and can’t even sleep. And not having his arm as a pillow, when she got up this morning she tragically discovered that she had a stiff neck!
Su Yi Cheng can see that she was unwell. He puts down his knife and fork, and attentively massages her incredibly sore neck, at the same time he asks, “How is it, does this feel a little more comfortable?”
An Ran doesn’t say anything, only the corner of her mouth faintly curves up, betraying her mood.
Su Yi Cheng naturally saw her smile, doesn’t ask much, and continues his hand movements massaging her neck.
Looking at the time, she was afraid that he wouldn’t make it to work on time, so she evades him, and purposely speaks rigidly, “Eat breakfast! Later on you will blame me for wasting your time.”
Su Yi Cheng smiles. Hearing that, he returns to his seat, looks at her, and takes a big mouthful.
An Ran really got angry this time. Until right before Su Yi Cheng had to go to work, he wanted to hug her and give her a kiss goodbye, but was evaded by her. She looks him in the eye, and directly turns around and goes into the room.
Su Yi Cheng rubs his nose helplessly, this time it seemed he fell flat, An Ran’s temperament was bigger than he had thought, there was apparently no use in coaxing her.
This particular day Su Yi Cheng was actually quite busy. Tomorrow he has a conference on his new post, as well as Ke Ji City’s official launch day, so today he has quite a few things to prepare, and write a speech for tomorrow. Besides, tomorrow was the official project launch of Ke Ji City, so they have to start the bidding. For the next few weeks, he reckons that he will be very busy, that is the necessary price of taking a new position.
“Knock knock knock.” Secretary Zheng knocks. He was holding the materials that Su Yi Cheng told him to prepare, and respectfully hands it over, “Special Assistant Su, this the material that you wanted.”
Su Yi Cheng reaches out and accepts it. When Secretary Zheng was about to leave he suddenly calls out to him, “Secretary Zheng, wait a moment.”
Secretary Zheng turns, look at him, and asks, “Is there anything else you would like?”
Appearing as if he were expecting for instructions, Su Yi Cheng recalled the awkward appearance of the little girl at home. He does not want to sleep in the guest room again. The guest room seemed cold, he still feels that he will have to hug her in order fall asleep soundly.
“Cough cough…” He coughs lightly. Su Yi Cheng was a bit embarrassed, after all he did not have experience in this matter, but for his own benefit, nevertheless he stiffly starts to ask, “Secretary Zheng, you have a girlfriend right!” He recalls the three years that Secretary Zheng has been with him, since his transfer as a Mayor’s Special Assistant, he has always been his secretary. He remembers that he has mentioned before, that he had a girlfriend.
“Uh.” Secretary Zheng was expecting instructions for more work, and did not expect this personal question. He was stunned for a few minutes, then nods, replying, “Yes, I do. Is there an issue?” Don’t tell him there’s a new rule that doesn’t allow staff to have girlfriends!
“Then, have you guys had an argument?” Su Yi Cheng asks. He was ready to learn from Secretary Zheng’s experience.
“Uh, we’ve been together for a long time. There have been times when there was conflict.” Although he doesn’t really understand why he was asking, Secretary Zheng nevertheless answers honestly.
“Then, how did you make up?” Su Yi Cheng looks eagerly at him as he asks. How to make up was the key question he had been waiting to ask!
Secretary Zheng was no fool, so he cautiously asks, “Special Assistant Su, did you and the lady have a falling out?” Otherwise why would he ask these! However he was actually curious, Special Assistant Su is so kindly and refined, he always wore a smile, and his character always gentle and considerate above all. What kind of conflict could this sort of person have with his wife?
Su Yi Cheng chokes thanks to his reply, “Cough cough.” He coughs softly for a few times, then says, “P-perhaps. First tell me what you would normally do in this situation.”
Pulling in his lips, he tried his best to suppress a smile. Secretary Zheng says in deadpan, “That depends on who was wrong. If it was you, then first you need to apologize.”
“Apologize?” But it had no use! Su Yi Cheng pondered.
“It is said that, apologies between lovers is also a skill, there is a method.” As he said that, Secretary Zheng seemed to be experienced. He pulls out a chair, and sits his butt on it. “Women are petty animals, she doesn’t care who is right or wrong, in their dictionary, the other person is always wrong, and she is always right. So don’t delve into who is right or wrong, taking the initiative and admitting your mistake is the most important thing. Besides, women love romance and romantic men, if when you apologize you give them a bouquet of pretty roses, all their attention goes to the bouquet in your hands, thereby making it easier for them to accept your apology. Of course after giving the bouquet you must take her to a nice restaurant, go to those romantic Western restaurants, then you guys have a candle-lit dinner, pair it up with red wine and that would be perfection. The night would end with the woman forgetting all unhappy thoughts.” Secretary Zheng said in seriousness.
“Then, according to what you just said I should go buy some flowers?” Su Yi Cheng asks.
“Correct, choose her favourite. If you bought one that she doesn’t like, then it will all fail.” Secretary Zheng said.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and mutters to himself, “So apologizing has this kind of method.” He suddenly thought of another question, and raises his head to stare at Secretary Zheng and asks, “Secretary Zheng, do you always make mistakes?” Otherwise how would he know it so well.
Secretary Zheng stiffens up, and shyly says, “This, it doesn’t matter who was wrong, the man is always wrong. As it is men should be generous, should not be fussy.”
Su Yi Cheng looks at him, a faint smile emerges from the corner of his mouth.
After giving the lecture on the technique of apologizing, Secretary Zheng looked at him curiously, and asks, “Say, Special Assistant, what fight did you guys have?” He always felt that although the beginning of Su Yi Cheng’s marriage was a bit careless, but seeing his attitude towards his wife, it seemed like they were quite harmonious. Not only that it seemed that he really loved and was quite fond of his wife, before he had always came to pick up and drop off his wife for work.
Su Yi Cheng was still pondering on Secretary Zheng’s apologizing procedure. Hearing what was said he raised his head to look at him, and faintly laughs, “Are you very idle? If you are free then don’t mind me if I give you some more work.”
Secretary Zheng felt chills down his back. Su Yi Cheng was clearly smiling as he was talking to him, but he felt like the him right now is a more grave than before and even scarier. He quickly waves his hand and says, “Um, um I still have a few things that I haven’t done, I, I will get busy.” Saying that, he doesn’t wait for him to reply, and hastens to flee from his office.
Su Yi Cheng, left alone in his office, has an unsmiling-smile on his lips, finely polishing through Secretary Zheng’s so-called method of apologizing. Tonight, after work, Su Yi Cheng decided to listen to Secretary Zheng’s instructions. He drove his car down to the flower shop, and asked the staff to bundle up their prettiest roses. While he was wandering around in the flower shop, he happened to see an interesting card on the counter. As a result he had the person pull the card out, asked for a pen, and earnestly wrote a message on the card.
This is the second time that he has walked down the street with a bouquet of flowers. The last time was 7 years ago when he was about to propose to Ling Ran, at Ye Zi Wen’s suggestion he had a diamond ring ready, and had specially bought a bouquet. However even though it was like that, walking down the street while holding a large bouquet, he felt it was incredibly awkward. He had an urge to stuff the bouquet onto Ye Zi Wen’s chest, but unsure of why, this time he surprisingly was excited, looking forward to An Ran’s appearance upon seeing him holding up a bouquet of flowers, would she cry? Would she laugh?
As Su Yi Cheng had almost reached his car, suddenly from behind a figure scuttled away, nearly knocking the flowers from his hands. Luckily he had reacted quickly, and dodged, directly avoiding. However, avoiding was simply avoiding, the person still wasn’t careful and bumped into the bouquet, causing the card resting in the flowers to fall.
Su Yi Cheng caught sight of the person, and couldn’t help but frown, “Yi Jiao!”
Su Yi jiao raised her head. She had some tears left on her face. Meeting Su Yi Cheng was really unexpected. “Brother!”
“What happened? Are you crying?” Su Yi Cheng did not miss the tears that had not yet dried.
“Uh.” Su Yi Jiao was speechless, and quickly uses her hands to wipe the tears on her face. She forces and smile and explains, “N-no, something just blew into my eyes.”
Su Yi Cheng naturally knew how lame her excuse was, but since she doesn’t want to say, he won’t interrogate her. He just faintly asks, “You alright?” His voice was not loud, but his tone was actually concerned.
Scared that he would worry about her, Su Yi Jiao puts on a big smile, and with a clear voice says, “Yup, I’ll be fine!”
Su Yi Cheng nods, and lovingly rubs her head.
Su Yi Jiao then noticed the large bouquet of flowers clasped in his hands, and asks curiously, “Brother, such a large bouquet of roses, is today an anniversary?”
Su Yi Cheng was uneasy, and purses his lips. He nods, and says, “Yeah, our anniversary.” Comparing to this, is much better than letting her know that he had offended her sister-in-law, and is making an effort to apologize!
Su Yi Jiao looks at him oddly, and jokes, “I don’t see it, brother since when did you know how to be romantic?”
He impolitely pats her forehead, Su Yi Cheng impatiently says, “Impolite.” He raises his arm and looks at the time, “Alright, I have to go, your sister-in-law is still waiting for me at home.”
Su Yi Jiao winks at him ambiguously, “Work hard ha, not only is mom waiting to hold a big fat grandchild, I am also waiting to be an aunt.”
Su Yi Cheng had a good laugh, doesn’t reply, and just turns around preparing to walk the few steps to his car.
“Ha ha ha.” Su Yi Jiao laughs out loud. When she was about turn around to walk she happened to see the card on the ground. She picks it up and opens it. She recognizes the writing, it belonged to her brother. However the content of the writing made her eyes pop out.
‘Wife—I’m sorry!’
When Su Yi Cheng reached home, he only saw that the living room was absolutely empty. He changed his shoes, calling out as he walked forward, “An Ran?”
Hearing noise, An Ran came out from the studio, dressed in her home clothes. Her hair trailed over her shoulders. Seeing him coming in with a bouquet of flowers, her expression wasn’t too excessively surprised nor pleasantly surprised, only smiling yet not while looking at him, apparently knowing that he would be coming home with flowers.
Su Yi Cheng held the flowers and walked over to her. He was about to open his mouth and start to apologize, but did not expect to be interrupted by her first.
“Are these flowers for me?” An Ran faintly asks. The corner of her mouth a faint smile, smiling yet not smiling.
Su Yi Cheng nods, and was about to start, “Um---”
Only to see An Ran reaching out and accepting the flowers from his hands, “Thanks, they’re beautiful.” After saying that, she deliberately searches through the bouquet, but did not find anything. She raises her head to look at him and asks, “Where’s the card?”
“Uh.” Su Yi Cheng was speechless. He advances and looks at the bouquet. The card that he had specifically put into the bouquet was gone. But he had suddenly thought of something, and raises his head to look at An Ran, and suspiciously says, “How did you know!”
She seemed to already know, so that was why she wasn’t surprised or pleasantly surprised.
An Ran looks at him. Carrying the bouquet she sits up straight on the sofa, and starts to say, “Just a moment ago Mom called, asking if we had fought, said that you bought a big bouquet and even wrote a card apologizing to me.”
“How did mom---” Suddenly he recalled bumping into Yi Jiao a moment ago. Then everything became clear. He assumed the card had dropped then, and Yi Jiao that brat had picked it up, then blabbed to mother!
Looking at An Ran who was sniffing the flowers, Su Yi Cheng also sat himself beside her, and puts his hand on her shoulder, giggling like a hoodlum, “Wife, don’t be angry okay?”
An Ran glances at him, pats the hand on her shoulder, and craftily says, “No card--I won’t accept the apology.” Saying that, she held the bouquet and got up to leave.
---END OF CHAPTER---
Next Chapter
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