Chapter 78 My sister's voice hasn't gotten better yet; she's been shouting too much...

Jiang Mei came out of the room and saw her daughter and Tang Ran. She quickened her pace and walked over. "Ranran and Zhixu are back."

"Aunt Jiang," Tang Ran greeted her with a smile.

Jiang Mei smiled and took her hand, looked at her daughter and then at Tang Ran, her face full of relief, "Ranran, thank you for taking care of Zhixu."

She has been video chatting with them frequently these past few days and knows that Tang Ran is the one taking care of her daughter.

Tang Ran smiled.

“Your mother came this morning too,” Jiang Mei added.

The news of the fire at the Song family's old house was kept secret; apart from Tang Wanru, no one else knew about it.

Knowing that Jiang Mei and the others had returned from their hometown, Tang Wanru came to visit them immediately.

After discussing the fire, Jiang Mei also brought up Tang Ran and Song Zhixu's marriage to Tang Wanru.

The two children have a good relationship, and Tang Wanru has no objections, only saying that it's up to Tang Ran and the others to decide.

Jiang Mei chatted with Tang Ran for a bit about everyday things.

Mr. Song chimed in, smiling as he asked Jiang Mei, "Xiao Mei, does Huayu own a villa there?"

Jiang Mei understood what he meant and nodded in response, "Yes, Lao Hang asked us to invest last year."

"Give the black box of the house to Zhixu and the others. The house is close to the Song and Tang families, so it will be convenient for the children to live there."

After finishing his sentence, Grandpa Song said to Song Zhixu and the other man, "Find someone to design it and decorate it in a style you both like."

Huayu is a high-end villa area. Giving them the black box and letting them design and decorate it according to their own preferences is clearly intended to make it their wedding home.

They openly give away houses, but secretly they're pressuring each other to get married.

Old Master Song was calculating his plans meticulously.

Tang Ran had a gut feeling that if they accepted the box today, the two families would have to sit down together tomorrow to discuss the wedding date.

She didn't say anything.

Putting aside the fact that she and Song Zhixu had only been engaged for a short time before getting married so quickly, just the fact that Huayu was the house she and Song Wuqi had lived in in her previous life made Tang Ran feel disgusted, let alone want to live there again.

Tang Ran gently poked Song Zhixu's hand, which was placed beside hers.

Song Zhixu turned her head to look at her, Tang Ran gave her a look, Song Zhixu smiled and took her hand.

Tang Ran bit her lip, thinking that Song Zhixu hadn't understood her meaning, and secretly pinched the soft flesh of Song Zhixu's palm, preparing to speak herself.

Song Zhixu hooked her fingers around Jiang Mei's and called out to her as she got up to get the key box, "Mom, you don't need to get the key box."

"The scenery at Huayu is so-so. I have a vacant house in Yulan Bay. I'll take Ranran to see it later."

Yulan Bay is a riverside villa community, not far from Huayu. The community has better quality and location, and any one of them is worth more than a small fortune.

Both the scenery and the living experience are superior to those of Huayu.

“Then it’s more comfortable to stay at Yulan Bay.” Jiang Mei stopped and looked at Grandpa Song.

Grandpa Song didn't insist either.

The main purpose wasn't to give them a house; the real intention was to test whether they had any plans to get married.

When Song Wuqi returned from the side hall, he saw the whole scene in the living room.

She lowered her head, her tightly clenched hands revealing grotesque veins.

They had to go to work the next day, so after dinner, Tang Ran and Song Zhixu didn't stay overnight and returned to Shengming Mansion.

After arriving home, Tang Ran received a message from the private investigator and learned who the person Song Wuqi claimed could help negotiate with Gonghua Technology was.

Song Wuqi befriended District Chief Huang of the North New District of Beijing, and even personally sent Ye Xiaoyu to District Chief Huang's bed for this reason.

In her previous life, Song Wuqi went to the capital after getting married. At that time, Song Zhixu had his trachea damaged by a fire and was recuperating abroad.

Song Wuqi became the general manager of the Beijing branch and also temporarily assumed some of the president's duties.

At that time, she also got involved in the North New District industrial development project by getting close to this District Chief Huang, and secured her position as acting president.

I remember once, Tang Ran went to Beijing to see Song Wuqi, and it just so happened that she and District Chief Huang had just finished a social engagement that day.

Song Wuqi was completely drunk and complained to Tang Ran that this District Chief Huang was particularly perverted in private and had a penchant for torturing people.

Tang Ran truly never imagined that Song Wuqi would actually send Ye Xiaoyu to her bed.

While feeling sorry for Ye Xiaoyu, Tang Ran also found it quite ridiculous.

In her previous life, Ye Xiaoyu held her child and repeatedly told Tang Ran that she and Song Wuqi were true love.

Oh!

Screw true love, who would give their true love to a pervert?

After seeing all this, Tang Ran felt utterly disgusted.

Song Wuqi was far more shameless and despicable than she knew.

However, besides feeling disgusted, Tang Ran was also quite surprised. She didn't expect that Song Wuqi, who had gone to Beijing more than half a year early, would be able to connect with District Chief Huang.

It seems she let her guard down too early.

Having schemed so hard to rise to power in his previous life, Song Wuqi certainly wouldn't give up so easily now.

District Chief Huang, Gonghua Technology, North New District Development, Fire.

Tang Ran pondered it carefully and figured out the connection.

After Blue Whale acquired Chip+, Gonghua Technology was Song's first choice, but negotiating with them was very difficult.

If Song Zhixu's health deteriorates and he needs to rest at this time, and Song Wuqi can successfully negotiate with Gonghua Technology to resolve the Song family's urgent needs and development concerns, then he can take this opportunity to regain the trust and support of Old Master Song.

After that, Song Wuqi could take advantage of the development of this large project in the North New District and, just like in his previous life, take the position of acting president.

Thinking about it this way, Tang Ran felt even more strongly that the fire at the Song family's old house was started by Song Wuqi. No, not just this one, but the one in her previous life was the same.

It's a pity she didn't realize it sooner; otherwise, if she had prepared in advance, she would definitely have been able to catch Song Wuqi red-handed.

And since Song Wuqi's arson attempt failed this time, could he have other schemes up his sleeve?

The thought that Song Wuqi might hurt Song Zhixu again flashed with a hint of ruthlessness in Tang Ran's eyes.

The bathroom door slid shut.

The darkness in her eyes vanished in an instant, and Tang Ran locked her phone and tossed it onto the bedside table.

Because he was going to relieve himself, Song Zhixu took off his suit jacket, leaving him wearing only a beige tank top.

The asymmetrical, bias-cut shoulder straps reveal a large expanse of snow-white shoulder on one side, while the thin fabric clings tightly to the body, highlighting the delicate curves of the collarbone.

The light camel-colored suit dress, with its three-dimensional waist-cinching cut, perfectly hugs the slender curves of the body, and below the hem that just goes past the knees are a pair of straight and slender long legs.

"The water's ready, go quickly."

Song Zhixu glanced at Tang Ran, then went to the next room to get clothes and a towel, which he placed on the towel rack in the bathroom.

The moment he withdrew his hand, an arm appeared around his waist.

Tang Ran reached out and gathered Song Zhixu's long hair to one side, then hugged Song Zhixu from behind.

"Hmm?" Song Zhi turned his head and looked back at her, making a nasal sound.

Tang Ran tiptoed, her cheek pressed against her neck, her nose brushing lightly against her earlobe, her voice seductive, "Sister, would you like to shower together?"

A gentle kiss landed on Song Zhixu's shoulder, her pearly teeth picking up the thin shoulder strap and pulling it off.

Steam rose from the bathroom. Song Zhixu leaned back on the headrest, her long, dark hair spreading out like seaweed, the ends submerged in the water, rising and falling with the current.

Her cheeks were flushed from the warm steam, her beautiful eyes were half-closed and dreamy, her long eyelashes trembled gently, and a teardrop clung to the corner of her eye, about to fall.

Her slender fingers retracted, gripping the edge of the bathtub tightly, but she slipped into the tub because she was gripping too hard.

Tang Ran grabbed her hand, placed it on her shoulder, and whispered in Song Zhixu's ear, "Sister, hold on tight to me."

The warm breath sprayed onto Song Zhixu's earlobe, causing a slight shiver.

Song Zhixu opened her eyes. Her eyes were red at the corners, and a light mist filled her eyes, making her extremely charming and seemingly carrying a silent invitation.

Tang Ran raised her hand and gently pinched her chin, then lowered her head to kiss her eyes.

The gently swaying water lapped against Song Zhixu's body, water droplets sliding down her fair neck, gathering at her collarbone, then overflowing and dripping into the bathtub, splashing out ripples.

Song Zhixu unconsciously gripped Tang Ran's shoulders with both hands, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, and a soft moan escaped his throat.

"My sister's voice hasn't gotten better yet." Shouting too much is bad for her recovery.

Tang Ran lowered her head and swallowed those soft moans.

The steam in the bathroom grew thicker and thicker, and the water vapor covered the glass shower door layer by layer, gathering and condensing into large water droplets.

Finally, the accumulated moisture exceeds the maximum tension that the surface of the water droplet can withstand, and slides quickly down the glass, leaving a wet watermark.

As dawn broke, the sun slowly rose from the horizon, and sunlight lazily streamed into the room through the window.

My phone on the bedside table vibrated.

The person in her sleep gently turned over, the blanket slipped off her body, revealing her round, snow-white shoulders and the mottled red marks on them.

Tang Ran paused in her act of getting out of bed, silently reflecting on her somewhat unrestrained behavior the day before.

She bent down and gently covered Song Zhixu with the blanket again.

Song Zhixu frowned slightly as he woke up from his dream.

Tang Ran saw her open her eyes and asked, "Did I wake you up?"

"Hmm," Song Zhixu responded softly, her voice hoarse. "What time is it?"

Tang Ran glanced at her phone. "It's 7:05. Would you like some water?"

Song Zhixu nodded.

Last night, after coming out of the bathroom, Tang Ran kept teasing her for a while, and now her throat was dry and tight.

She propped herself up on her arms, and when she strained her shoulders, she pulled on the skin of her chest, causing her to frown.

Noticing her unusual behavior, Tang Ran realized that she had gone too far last night.

She carefully placed the cushion behind Song Zhixu's back, then turned around, picked up the thermos from the bedside table, unscrewed the lid, handed it to her, and whispered, "I'll be more careful in the future."

Song Zhixu didn't speak, but raised her eyes to glance at her cheek and gave her a light reproachful look.

"What do you want for breakfast? Shrimp dumplings or wontons?" Tang Ran touched her nose, changing the subject. "Or maybe a sandwich?"

"Either is fine." Song Zhixu gently pinched her cheek and let her go.

Around 4 PM, Tang Ran was thinking of messaging Song Zhixu to ask her what she wanted to eat for dinner when Miao Tiantian called, asking her to go shopping together.

"Dada's daughter is having her one-month celebration next week. Have you prepared the gifts yet?" Miao Tiantian's voice was weak and listless, with a strong accent.

"not yet."

Tang Ran has been dealing with so many things lately that she almost forgot about it if Miao Tiantian hadn't brought it up.

"Let's go shopping at Baitai after get off work, shall we?"

"OK."

The two arranged a time, and after Tang Ran hung up the phone, she called Song Zhixu.

"Dye".

Song Zhixu's voice was still a little hoarse.

"Have you been busy all this time?" Tang Ran asked with concern.

"It's alright." Song Zhixu coughed lightly.

"Have some water first."

"Um."

A rustling sound came from the microphone.

Then, Song Zhixu's soothing voice came through the receiver, "I was just thinking of calling you, but I have a business dinner tonight and can't have dinner with you."

Tang Ran: "Sweetie also invited me to go shopping at Baitai and have a meal together."

"The place I'm going to isn't far away. Should I pick you up after I'm done?" Song Zhixu asked.

The small social engagement should have ended relatively early, probably around the same time as Tang Ran's engagement.

"Then call me when you're done."

"good."

"Don't drink alcohol," Tang Ran instructed.

Song Zhixu's cold hadn't fully recovered, and Tang Ran was worried that drinking alcohol would cause it to relapse.

"knew."

His voice was tinged with laughter.

The Song family.

Through the sparkling clean glass window, Assistant Jiang glanced at her boss, who was beaming as he made a phone call, then looked down at the documents she had just printed out. Her expression was indescribable.

After Song Zhixu hung up the phone.

She took a deep breath, stood up from her workstation, grabbed the newly printed documents, and knocked on the boss's office door with a look of grim determination.

Du, du.

"Go in." Song Zhixu's gaze remained fixed on the screen.

Assistant Jiang walked to the desk, cleared his throat which was even more nervous than on his first day at work, and said, "Boss, the owner information for the shops on Chaoxi Street has been changed."