40. The Moon Hides the Egret

It's difficult to give an objective evaluation because it's based on subjective preference.

Li Xiran's work schedule is always very full. At the beginning of the year, he would receive a work schedule for the first half of the year prepared by Chen Ti.

Cheng Guoan and his group of Empress Dowager supporters were an unexpected event he had to account for every year, but he never expected that all sorts of things, big and small, would come crashing down on him this year.

He's not a god; he gets tired sometimes too.

The plane landed in the early morning, and Li Xiran didn't have time to go home and rest for a moment. He could only wash off the dust of his journey at the company.

The sofa in his office, ironically, held more of his dreams.

At five o'clock in the morning, when the rain was still drizzling and Jinpu Beach was still shrouded in darkness, the transnational conference was proceeding in an orderly manner.

His life, which unfolded day after day like a clockwork mechanism, never allowed him to consider himself a capitalist standing atop a skyscraper, looking down upon everything.

This land of Shanghai is teeming with hidden talents, and its future is full of promise.

Everyone hates the smell of iced Americano that permeates the area, but that doesn't stop hundreds of millions of graduates from flocking to this market every year.

Looking down at this cluster of high-rise buildings made of reinforced concrete, you'll find that it never distinguishes between sunny and rainy days.

Even in the face of severe weather like thunderstorms and scorching heat, it does not prevent financial professionals from appearing in their bright and stylish cubicles.

He was just lucky, thanks to his mother's planning, his father's support, and his mentor's favor and assistance.

I also happen to have some business acumen, which makes me a survivor biased view of a promising future.

Li Xiran pinched the bridge of his nose, lost in thought for a moment, and when he looked up again, asked a seemingly incongruous question, "What else is on the agenda this morning?"

Even Chen Ti, his longtime assistant, was stumped by the question. She hurriedly checked her schedule and reported, "There's a shareholders' meeting at ten o'clock, and I have lunch with Vice President Li of Qiao's Bank."

Li Xiran remembered that this was the time they had arranged before his business trip. "Could you cancel the lunch appointment for me?"

“But, Li…you should make the call yourself.” Li, the deputy general manager of Qiao’s Bank, is also his cousin. She’s invited him to dinner under the guise of work, probably because of the Chen family again.

"Okay." Li Xiran didn't want to make things difficult for Chen Ti over family matters. "How's the progress with the Chen family?"

Chen Shaoyi was able to form a stable Empress Dowager faction within the Lai family not only because of the support of Lai Qianyun's will, but also because of the help from her maternal family.

“The Chen family should have been prepared. Our people didn’t get a single clue, and the equity transaction didn’t make any progress.” Chen Ti answered truthfully, “They want to protect Madam Chen, but they don’t want to break ties with you.”

After all, the Li family is not what it used to be; they have a complex network of relationships both domestically and internationally.

Li Xiran is no longer the illegitimate son who couldn't be brought to the table; he now has his own place in Shanghai.

"I see."

"There's one more thing. Ruici Group is having a fashion show in the Arts District today, and Chairman Rui is interested in inviting you to be a judge."

Li Xiran let out a low laugh, "I work in real estate finance, so I'm fairly good at investing. I'll pass on being a judge."

"But this is the company that Miss Xixi recently joined."

"There should be no one in Shanghai who doesn't know about our uncle-nephew relationship. With me sitting there, what are others supposed to say?"

Chen Ti also smiled, "I just heard that Miss Xi Xi invited Miss Nuan Nuan to be a model for the exhibition. If you want to avoid any suspicion, I will decline in a while."

"who?"

"Warm and cozy."

Li Xiran leaned back in his chair and tossed the pen he was holding at Chen Ti. "Did you do that on purpose?"

"I just saw that you looked too tired, and I thought we could change the subject and relax a bit," Chen Ti replied. "It's raining heavily today, and it takes more than an hour to get from here to the Arts and Administrative District. You can take a nap."

As it turned out, Li Xiran had no time to rest at all; his phone kept ringing from the moment he got in the car.

He didn't switch his phone to Do Not Disturb mode until he was seated on the judges' panel and the host announced the official start of the competition.

-

Shang Xinuan walked to the end of the roundabout, where Li Xiran was sitting perpendicular to her.

The dim lighting created an ambiguous atmosphere, as did his gaze.

Those amber and jade-like eyes were both affectionate and gentle.

The hand that was casually placed on the table trembled unconsciously with its index finger when she looked over.

According to the rehearsal, Shangxinuan will only be frozen here for one second.

So when she turned around, she was unaware that the affectionate yet self-destructive gaze lingered until she disappeared around the corner of the runway.

Only after the final group of models returned to the stage did she consider her request for Qiao Xi complete.

However, Qiao Xi had to stay in the front field to wait for the game results, so she arranged for her assistant to accompany her and Ruan Songyi to change clothes.

No sooner had the young lady stepped out of the fitting room than her assistant, who was carrying a cup of coffee, spilled it all over her.

The white dress was instantly stained with a dark brown stain.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" The assistant panicked and didn't know what to do. "I'll go find Sister Xixi right now. Please wait for me in the fitting room."

Shang Xinuan held onto the corner of her skirt to avoid getting it all over the place, so she had no choice but to go back to the fitting room to wait for a solution.

Fortunately, the assistant returned quickly, carrying a brocade box with an antique feel. "This is a gift from Chairman Li."

"Aren't there any clothes for Nuannuan to change into?" Ruan Songyi asked casually while still tying the straps of her ballet-style high heels. "Why did Li Xiran give them to her?"

"The clothes for the competition are made of inconsistent quality fabrics, and they attract a lot of dust because they are hung on mannequins every day. Chairman Li was worried that Miss Shang might have an allergic reaction, so he happened to have a set in his car."

"How come there were women's clothes in his car?"

Shang Xinuan also became alert and immediately opened the box.

The first thing that catches the eye is a bright red embroidered cheongsam, with double lotus blossoms subtly embroidered in gold thread, which look lifelike under the light.

"I don't know about that." The assistant put down the brocade box and left the dressing room.

Ruan Songyi tied her shoelaces. "You should change into these first. It's more comfortable than wearing a dirty dress."

The silk cheongsam fits the figure perfectly.

Although Shang Xinuan is slim, she doesn't look skinny. Her curves are exquisite, and her skin is as smooth as jade.

"What a beautiful heiress, a pearl of the Jinpu Beach!" Ruan Songyi stared at her, then exclaimed, "I regret not being as rich as Li Xiran, otherwise I would have competed with him for you."

"You can't rob me just because I don't have money?" the young lady said, adjusting the buttons on her chest.

“You are destined for wealth and honor. People without money can’t handle this blessing. A young lady like you should be raised in luxury.” In Shanghai, among this generation, only Li Xiran can possess money, power, looks, character, and ability, while also being able to rival the Shang family’s influence.

"Then as a good sister, I'll just keep you in my pile of fine clothes."

"Oh dear, my lady. Why are you buttoning your clothes yourself? Let me do it, let me do it!"

-

As soon as the two changed their clothes and stepped out of the room, they saw Li Xiran standing outside the hallway.

He leaned against the wall, half-nodding as he looked at his phone; it was undoubtedly another project document.

I turned off the screen only after I saw her come out.

Without the screen's lighting, Shang Xinuan noticed that the dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced.

"Chairman Li, you have quite a wide range of interests; you're involved in the fashion world too." Ruan Songyi, arm in arm with Shang Xinuan, teased, "Who designed this cheongsam? It's so beautiful!"

"The organizers just delivered it, and before it even reached the car, I heard that Nuannuan's clothes got dirty." From the moment the two of them came out, Li Xiran's gaze was fixed on the young lady alone. "She looks very beautiful."

"I asked for you," Ruan Songyi whispered in Shang Xin's ear. "You're welcome."

“...”

"Um, a customer came to my gallery, so I'll head back now." Ruan Songyi didn't want to stay and witness their romance, so she made up an excuse to leave.

"Then I'll take you to the parking lot," Shang Xinuan said.

The two sisters walked side by side, with Li Xiran following beside the eldest sister with his hands behind his back.

Ruan Songyi turned to look at Li Xiran and whispered to Shang Xinuan in what she thought was a very soft voice, "Your Chinese-style outfit, one white and one red, makes you look like a young couple seeing off a friend after a wedding."

The bright red cheongsam worn by Shang Xi Nuan, combined with her glamorous and elegant bridal makeup, made her look especially like a toasting dress.

"..." The young lady heard Li Xiran's low laughter behind her and quickly tugged at Ruan Songyi, "You can shut up now."

“Miss Ruan,” Li Xiran suddenly spoke up, “Professor Ruan’s assistant mentioned earlier that she wanted to hold an art exhibition at the Li’an Hotel during the National Day holiday. I will have Chen Rong contact us later to arrange the specific dates.”

For private events at the Lean Hotel, reservations generally need to be made six months to a year in advance.

Not to mention holidays like National Day, which are even harder to book.

Ruan Songyi hugged Shang Xinuan tightly, "Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Chairman Li! I wish you a long and happy marriage!"

Thank you, Miss, for choosing the richest and most love-obsessed man among all your suitors.

-

After seeing Ruan Songyi off, the two returned the way they came.

As Shang Xinuan passed the floor-to-ceiling mirror in the art hall, she couldn't help but slow down a few steps.

The two people in the mirror, Li Xiran is dressed in a Chinese-style suit, gentle and noble.

She wore a bright red cheongsam, looking dignified and elegant.

With the addition of today's fashion show, the entire hall was filled with various flower baskets, creating a strong wedding atmosphere.

Shang Xinuan couldn't help but think that it really did feel a bit like getting married.

"You know what, it really does feel a bit like getting married." Before her excited thoughts had even subsided, a burning hand was already around her waist.

Li Xiran, who had slowed down a step, put his arm around her slender waist, and the two of them stopped in front of the mirror at the same time.

"It's really beautiful," he exclaimed again. "So beautiful."

So beautiful that his vocabulary became inadequate, and he could hardly find any adjectives to describe that stunning beauty.

"What are you doing? What are you doing!" Qiao Xi had just come down from the awards ceremony and was on her way back backstage when she saw the two strange people.

"Is it over?" Shang Xinuan wasn't used to being too intimate with Li Xiran in front of Qiao Xi, especially since they weren't dating yet.

"Yeah! I got assigned to my favorite senior group, I'm so happy!" she boasted, then looked at Li Xiran and asked, "Uncle, you didn't even tell me you were coming to be a judge, you almost scared me to death."

It was like a school-wide competition, with the elders from the family going to the school and even sitting in the judges' panel.

It's hard for her not to be nervous, hard for her not to care.

"I didn't come here for you."

"Heartless!" Qiao Xi said, hands on her hips. "Then tell me, do you think my ready-to-wear collection looks good today?"

Li Xiran raised an eyebrow, glanced at the young lady standing next to him, and nodded, saying, "It's hard to give an objective evaluation, because I subjectively like the model you chose."

A note from the author:

good evening.

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Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 13:01:04 on May 23, 2023 and 23:06:26 on May 24, 2023!

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 30672006 (10 bottles); 124 (1 bottle);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!