Chapter 31 It's so nice to have a younger man, so sweet and considerate...

Xia Mo came to pick up his sister for dinner and also invited Tang Ran and Qiu Yuan, who were traveling with him. The two of them didn't make plans for the evening, but they didn't refuse either, and went to Taoyuan together.

Once seated, Xia Xin'er couldn't wait to pull her older sister aside to share her joy.

"Sister, you have no idea, Ranran is really amazing, this afternoon..."

In front of big shots like Xia Mo, Tang Ran felt that her childish tricks were like showing off her limited skills to an expert.

She tried to stop Xia Xin'er, but Qiu Yuan was in the way, and her arms weren't long enough.

Listening to Xia Xin'er's vivid description of what happened at the orphanage, Tang Ran felt a little embarrassed.

She pretended to drink water, avoiding the gazes of the three people opposite her.

"We didn't even have to lift a finger; they started fighting amongst themselves. Letting them fight each other is much more satisfying than giving them a good beating."

Tang Ran only looked up when Xia Xin'er was finally about to finish speaking, and also secretly glanced at Song Zhixu.

How come I always run into her every time I do something wrong?

I wonder what Song Zhixu will think of her.

If I leave her with the impression that I'm cunning, will she be unwilling to help me anymore?

Song Zhixu was also listening to Xia Xiner speak. He must have sensed her gaze, because he turned his head to look in her direction, with a smile that was neither too deep nor too shallow on his face.

Tang Ran quickly lowered her head and continued drinking water.

Judging from her expression, she probably doesn't dislike it.

However, Song Zhixu's polite demeanor and the smile on her face did not necessarily mean that she was not disgusted.

Tang Ran was very melancholy.

God has already given her a second chance at life, so couldn't she be a little luckier and not let Song Zhixu run into her doing something bad?

"Sister, don't you think Ranran is very smart?"

Both her older sister and Lu Shuyang are intelligent people, and Xia Xin'er has a natural affinity for intelligent people.

"Yes, Miss Tang is very smart." Xia Mo looked at Tang Ran and smiled.

Tang Ran is not only smart, but also very interesting. Xia Mo was deeply impressed by the time she forced that little assistant to hide in the closet.

Tang Ran didn't know how to respond, so she smiled and continued drinking water.

"If you drink any more water, you'll be full," Qiu Yuan whispered teasingly in her ear.

Despite being a few years older, Tang Ran always presented a mature side to Qiu Yuan. Seeing her blushing and embarrassed yet adorable appearance for the first time made Qiu Yuan like her even more.

"You're making fun of me." Tang Ran frowned and raised her hand as a warning to hit her.

They played together several times, and Tang Ran began to consider her a friend.

Qiu Yuan laughed and dodged away, raising her hands to beg for mercy, "I was wrong, I was wrong, sister, please spare me."

Tang Ran gave a soft snort and lowered her hand.

Watching the two bickering across from her, Murong Yi raised an eyebrow at Song Zhixu. "Oh, is there some new development?"

Song Zhixu glanced at it indifferently and said nothing.

"Tang Ran is beautiful and interesting. My little niece doesn't cherish her. She'll regret it sooner or later." Murong Yi was just watching the show.

Murong Yi came from an ordinary working-class family and has come this far. She has seen a far greater diversity of people than Song Zhixu and Xia Mo, who were born into privilege.

Although Song Wuqi and Song Zhixu are somewhat similar in appearance and personality.

But Murong Yi couldn't like her when she first met her, always feeling that her true personality was not like what she showed.

Watching Qiu Yuan serve food and water to Tang Ran, Murong Yi smiled and sighed, "Younger women are so nice, so sweet and considerate, and they even know how to make their older sister happy."

As if sensing the gaze from the other side, Tang Ran quickly stopped what she was doing.

She had to be more composed in front of Song Zhixu, otherwise if she went around badmouthing Song Wuqi, it would be seen as her throwing a tantrum.

Sensing her change, Qiu Yuan looked at her, then at the person opposite her.

Murong Yi smiled at her.

Song Zhixu looked serene, took a sip of tea, and when she looked over, she glanced at her indifferently before turning her gaze to Tang Ran beside her.

A strange sense of crisis arose, and Qiu Yuan couldn't help but compare herself to the senior she had always admired.

In terms of appearance, there's no need for comparison; Qiu Yuan knows she's inferior.

Needless to say, her abilities are unparalleled. Song Zhixu ranks ahead of her on the school's honor roll. He is the current president of the Song Group and a figure on the same level as her father.

A sense of crisis swelled rapidly, and Qiu Yuan's competitive spirit also rose.

She ladled a bowl of chilled fruit and milk soup and placed it in front of Tang Ran, smiling as she said, "Your throat is hoarse from shouting, this soup is just right to soothe it."

After they stopped competing, they went to cheer on the children.

"Three Qs."

Tang Ran thanked her, took a spoonful, and nodded at her with her eyes crinkling, "It's quite comfortable to be icy cold."

While talking to Tang Ran, Qiu Yuan kept glancing at the person opposite her.

She could feel Song Zhixu's gaze lingering on them for a long time before finally leaving.

Tang Ran accidentally got some milk on the corner of her mouth, and Qiu Yuan took out a tissue to wipe it for her.

Seeing the tissue about to reach her mouth, Tang Ran quickly grabbed it, wiped her mouth herself, and said jokingly, "Little one, don't be so considerate. It makes me feel like a little useless person."

Qiu Yuan laughed, concealing her disappointment.

On the other side.

Upon hearing Murong Yi's words, Song Zhixu's gaze swept past Tang Ran's smiling face and looked at Murong Yi.

"Who was it that said last time they would never date someone younger than themselves again?"

Murong Yi was cheated on by his girlfriend, who refused to break up with him, claiming that it wasn't that she didn't love him anymore, but that she had fallen for someone else at the same time.

The other party even complained that Murong Yi wasn't open-minded enough. Who says that three people can't have love?

Murong Yi: ...

She picked up a piece of cucumber in frustration, but the bright green color instantly killed her appetite.

Murong Yi put down her chopsticks and glanced at Song Zhixu. "Is my little niece up to her tricks again?"

Song Zhixu is usually very easy to talk to, and she only speaks harshly when she is in a bad mood.

The acquisition of Da Ning failed not only because Golbol Supermarket offered better terms, but also because news of Ning Hao's troubles leaked out after Song Wuqi discovered the truth.

Chairman Ning was so angry that he called Old Master Song directly. Although he didn't say it outright, his words implied that he was accusing the Song family of kicking someone when they were down.

The Ning family has long been rooted in Guangzhou and has extensive connections in both political and business circles. If things really fall apart with them, not only will Song's Supermarket be unable to expand its market, but other industries under the Song family will definitely be affected.

Song Zhixu made a special trip to Guangzhou last week just to clean up Song Wuqi's mess.

Before dinner, Song Zhixu received a phone call from Song Wuqi. Murong Yi naturally assumed that Song Wuqi had done something to upset Song Zhixu.

"Could it be that Tang Ran deliberately leaked the information about Ning Hao to her?"

Years of experience in the industry allowed Murong Yi to keenly sense the anomaly. Based on the results of the first round of contact between the two parties, the probability of success was very high unless the price was suddenly changed.

Before the second round of negotiations, Song Wuqi learned about Ning Hao's situation and wanted to take advantage of it. However, Ning Hao's situation was suddenly resolved at this time, and then Jiachuang took the lead in proposing cooperation with Gangcheng Golbol.

All of this was too much of a coincidence, and the change began when Song Wuqi learned about Ning Hao's accident.

Judging from what I saw at the Xia family's house that day, Song Wuqi and that assistant must have had an affair.

She guessed that Tang Ran had discovered Song Wuqi's infidelity and then sabotaged the acquisition to get revenge on Song Wuqi.

But after asking the question, Murong Yi realized she had been overthinking it.

Even if Tang Ran was certain that Song Wuqi would act on his own after learning about Ning Hao's situation, finding the video of Ning Hao's innocence and collaborating with Golbol and Da Ning were not things that Tang Ran, a wealthy young lady from Jiangcheng with no connections in the US or Hong Kong, could accomplish.

Besides, it's just infidelity, not some deep-seated hatred, there's absolutely no need to make such a fuss.

As long as the affair is reported to Old Master Song, Song Wuqi will also be dealt with.

Rather than believing that Tang Ran's revenge against Song was hopeless, Murong Yi was more convinced that Jiachuang had teamed up with Golbol to orchestrate a scheme to seize the Guangzhou supermarket market.

Song Zhixu took a sip of tea, his gaze falling on Tang Ran's slightly curved eyes, and said calmly, "Not sure."

After Song Wuqi returned, Old Master Song deliberately asked her where she got the news. Song Wuqi said that Tang Ran mentioned it unintentionally.

Old Master Song shared the same view as Murong Yi. When he mentioned it to Song Zhixu, he directly said that the person who set the trap was too meticulous and had even taken Tang Ran into the trap.

If Song Zhixu hadn't seen Tang Ran's fierce demeanor more than once, she might have thought the same way.

"Unsure?" Murong Yi turned to look at her.

Song Zhixu is not the type to presume innocence; her saying this must mean she already has a judgment. She even suspects that Song Zhixu has had someone investigate.

After saying that, Murong Yi thought of something else, "The old man didn't suspect you, did he?"

Actually, there are two direct beneficiaries in this matter: one is Golbol, and the other is Song Ji-hee.

After this incident, Old Master Song felt that Song Wuqi was too aggressive in his work and too eager for quick success. He told Song Wuqi to spend a few more years honing his skills in the branch office, as he wouldn't be promoted anytime soon.

Old Master Song was traditional in his thinking and somewhat favored sons over daughters. He originally intended to hand over the Song family business to his son, and even after his son passed away, he still preferred his granddaughter Song Wuqi to his daughter.

Song Wuqi wasn't stupid either. Not only did he find a girlfriend, which indirectly reassured Old Master Song that he wouldn't marry outside the family, but he also chose Tang Ran, the granddaughter of Old Master Song's respected benefactor.

Compared to Song Zhixu, whose daughter had no intention of getting married, Song Wuqi was clearly better at pleasing Old Master Song.

A mischievous glint flashed in Murong Yi's eyes as she looked at Tang Ran and said to Song Zhixu, "I think Tang Ran is quite an interesting girl. Don't you have any thoughts on her?"

Tang Ran doesn't seem to be the type to compromise; it's only a matter of time before she breaks up with Song Wuqi.

Most importantly, she still owns 5% of the shares in the Song family business. Marrying her would not only increase her importance in Mr. Song's heart, but also solidify her voice in the Song family business.

"Putting everything else aside, with her 5% support, you'll save yourself the trouble of working so hard for someone else all these years."

If it weren't for Song Zhixu coming back to support them back then, the Song family might have fallen apart long ago, and they wouldn't have reached their current size. Murong Yi really couldn't stand Old Master Song's favoritism.

"Try it, this new dish tastes good."

Song Zhixu glanced at her lightly, without responding to her words, and simply scooped a spoonful of spinach and tofu for her with a serving spoon.

The white tofu was topped with a puddle of bright green spinach juice, which Murong Yi found offensive and couldn't bring herself to eat it.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Murong Yi glared at her.

If you dislike her idea, just say so. Why make this green blob that annoys her?

The phone on the table lit up, and Murong Yi opened the chat window.

A message came from a cat avatar frantically typing on a keyboard: "President Mu, the new plan is ready, please check your inbox!"

Murong Yi raised an eyebrow, her attention shifting to her phone.