Chapter 281 Whose Protection Is More Suitable for Her?
Jiang Ranxing chuckled briefly after hearing this: "If you have so much time, why don't you become the director of this charity foundation yourself? Why go through the trouble of going through me?"
Fu Shenyuan stared at her face and asked sincerely, "You really don't know the reason?"
Jiang Ranxing put down her spoon and looked back at him. "I know that giving me a respectable position in your Fu family, and if I can revive the foundation, it seems like it would be entirely beneficial for both the Fu family and me. But—"
Jiang Ranxing's lips curved slightly: "You've overlooked one thing, which is that I have no such intention at all."
"Not to mention that I already have a lot of work to do, even if I have free time, I want to be someone who can enjoy life, drink tea and grow flowers. Isn't it more comfortable than not having to scheme and fight in the business world? Why should I make myself miserable?"
Jiang Ranxing's words were true. Although she had flexible hours, the amount of work she had to handle was only increasing. One reason for this was that she had too many official positions and nominal posts, both domestic and foreign. If she didn't find time to deal with the work that required her approval and feedback, the workload would pile up and multiply the next day.
Moreover, design is a job that requires a lot of mental energy, and she is sometimes so busy with her own work that she really doesn't have time to deal with any extra tasks.
She has long since achieved financial freedom, and her current job is simply in the design field that she likes and is good at. If she were to take on the much more demanding task of managing a foundation, she would probably be extremely busy.
And most importantly, this is the Fu family's foundation, and she doesn't really want to get involved with anything related to the Fu family.
“I’ll take your kindness as an excuse and appreciate it. Go back and tell Grandpa that I’m not capable of taking the job and that we should find someone more suitable.”
Fu Shenyuan seemed to have anticipated that she would say that.
"If you really don't like managing this, just lend your name to it and leave the actual work to me."
Jiang Ranxing looked at him in confusion: "Then you might as well just put your own name on it. Anyway, you're already the president of the Fu Group. There's a chairman above you, so you actually have the control. Why do you have to go through all this trouble?"
Fu Shenyuan didn't say much: "I'll say it again, if you don't want to understand, I won't force you. I just want to do this."
Jiang Ranxing remained silent.
She understood Fu Shenyuan's intentions. On the surface, he gave her opportunities and status, but in reality, he wanted to please her, make her dependent on him, and create an inseparable connection between them.
However, this is no longer the time for her to be attracted to these things.
Jiang Ranxing said calmly, "Perhaps I would have been overjoyed by your care in the past, but it's too late for anything you say now. My heart for you has turned cold and I won't be easily moved."
She saw the light in Fu Shenyuan's eyes visibly dim.
Words spoken can become sharp swords that wound, piercing the heart. At this moment, probably no one understands the true meaning of those words better than him.
His heart ached and felt cold, but what hurt him even more was not these words, but the fact that the Jiang Ranxing who was willing to burn himself to warm him had disappeared. No matter how similar his appearance was, his soul had changed, and he had become a completely different person.
Is it really impossible to go back?
Fu Shenyuan was still affected by this thought, but whenever he thought about it, he would tell himself that Jiang Ranxing was not a heartless person. She had just forgotten her love for him. He absolutely could not be deterred by the current Jiang Ranxing with her incomplete memories.
What he never knew was that even the gentle and tender Jiang Ranxing was actually just as resilient at heart; she simply hid it because of love.
Fu Shenyuan stood up, but still did not take the dark blue invitation to the foundation's dinner.
“I will discuss this with Grandpa, but Grandpa hopes to see you. Please take some time, and I will come to pick you up then.”
Jiang Ranxing didn't refuse anymore. If she didn't give him face, she would be disrespecting Old Master Fu. She wasn't so narrow-minded as to refuse to attend even a business dinner.
"Okay, sure," Jiang Ranxing said, picking up the spoon again before remembering, "By the way, how is your grandfather's health? Is he feeling any better?"
Fu Shenyuan smiled upon hearing this; she still cared about him and his grandfather, and he was in her heart.
"It's not as dangerous as before, but it has taken a heavy toll on my health. Now I can only rest and recuperate. I'm not the same as before."
Jiang Ranxing also felt a pang of regret, lamenting the passing of life.
"I'll visit him when I have time," Jiang Ranxing said, and then started drinking the soup again.
Seeing that Jiang Ranxing seemed to really enjoy the soup in front of him, Fu Shenyuan continued, "I recently learned a new soup recipe. Next time we go back to the old house, I'll cook it for you, and you can try it too."
What Fu Shenyuan didn't say was that he learned to make this soup specifically for Jiang Ranxing.
He didn't know much about kitchen stuff, and he learned everything by asking the chefs for advice and figuring it out on his own. Bumps and burns were inevitable, but as long as he thought that Jiang Ranxing liked it, he seemed to have the motivation.
He genuinely wanted to do something to make Jiang Ranxing happy.
When he was refused when he was asked to make soup last time, he told himself that he couldn't be refused again. Even if he was, there would be a time when Jiang Ranxing would give him a smile. Life is so long, he would still have a chance.
Jiang Ranxing remained uninterested in what he said and didn't bother to refute it.
Just then, a sound came from the entrance of the villa, and a moment later, Jiang Yan appeared at the entrance.
"Xiaoxing, stop being so busy with work. Have you eaten on time?"
Upon seeing Fu Shenyuan, Jiang Yan's expression instantly changed: "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you that you're not welcome here? Or do I have to hang a sign on the door saying 'Fu people aren't welcome here' before you understand?"
Jiang Yan was too aggressive towards him. Fu Shenyuan was so smart that he had already sensed it. Even before he knew that Jiang Ranxing was his sister, Jiang Yan was very hostile towards him. Now that he knew, the hostility was even more obvious.
“Ranxing lives at the Jiang family’s house. I have to come here to find her. I hope you can understand me, brother.” Fu Shenyuan’s tone was normal, without any provocation.
Jiang Yan snorted coldly: "I can't accept being called 'brother' by you, President Fu. You should save your breath."
Jiang Yan handed his suit jacket to the butler standing to the side, and while taking off his vest underneath, he said slowly and deliberately, with a sense of pressure, "Let me tell you plainly, I will not agree to you pursuing my sister again, and you'd better not even have the idea of remarrying."
With a sharp gaze fixed on Fu Shenyuan's face, Jiang Yan said, "You are no longer worthy of my sister."
"elder brother--"
Jiang Ranxing called to Jiang Yan from the restaurant: "Come and eat, I've had it prepared."
"Okay, I'll wash my hands and come right away." Jiang Yan's tone towards Jiang Ranxing softened considerably.
When he looked at Fu Shenyuan again, he still spoke in that icy tone: "Now, please leave my and Xiaoxing's house. We don't want to see you."
Fu Shenyuan had never been looked down upon like this before, but he showed no anger whatsoever.
Jiang Yan is Jiang Ranxing's older brother. After learning about his sister's ordeal, no one would be kind to the so-called culprit. If Yu Qin were wronged like this, Fu Shenyuan would also protect his sister in the same way. Therefore, he could completely understand Jiang Yan's attitude.
"President Jiang, we hope you and Ranxing can attend the Fu family's charity foundation dinner. The Fu family would very much like to welcome you."
Jiang Yan was unaware of the banquet, but then he realized that Jiang Ranxing probably knew, so he paused for a few seconds before walking into the restaurant.
Fu Shenyuan's position allowed him to see the scene inside the restaurant through the openwork screen. When he saw Jiang Yan enter, Jiang Ranxing gave him a sweet and heartwarming smile.
Fu Shenyuan was instantly warmed by that smile, as if a ray of sunshine had shone into the darkest corner of his heart, dispelling all the dampness and gloom.
At this moment, it seemed as if he had nothing left in his heart except for one thought: he must do his best, no matter what, to protect her right to laugh carefree at any time.
Fu Shenyuan smiled slightly, then turned and left.
Two major events involving the Fu family quickly spread throughout City A, especially among the upper echelons of society. As the most prestigious family, the Fu family's eldest daughter's wedding and the old chairman's decision to restart the charity foundation were both considered good things, further enhancing the Fu family's reputation.
The Wen family naturally received an invitation as well. When they received the invitation, Wen Qingrang was with his grandfather in the greenhouse tending to the plants. The grandfather and grandson were chatting about plant care, while the butler waited at the greenhouse door with the invitation in hand.
"Bring it in," Grandpa Wen said. "Qingrang, sit down and rest for a while. Have some tea and try the tea Grandpa just brought back. It's the first batch of tender tea this year. You should like it."
"Okay, Grandpa, please sit down. I'll make some tea."
The two sat on chairs outside the greenhouse. A tea table had been set up on the table. Wen Qingrang picked up the utensils to brew tea, while Grandpa Wen put on his reading glasses and opened the invitation to take a look.
"An invitation? What's it about?" Wen Qing asked while keeping an eye on the fire.
Grandpa Wen and the butler exchanged a glance before looking at Wen Qingrang, hesitating for a moment.
After adjusting the heat and setting the teapot down, Wen Qingrang looked at her grandfather and understood: "—The Fu family's invitation."
Grandpa Wen nodded and said, "Recently, their family has been making moves. According to etiquette, they invited prominent families in City A. I originally thought Fu Hongkai would be somewhat wary, but I didn't expect the invitations to still arrive."
"Grandpa, it's okay if you don't want to go."
Grandpa Wen said, "Whether we go or not doesn't really matter. Our interactions with them are almost always hostile, so whether we do the formalities or not is irrelevant. However—"
Grandpa Wen looked at Wen Qingrang's profile. The sunlight shone on his handsome and refined face, giving people a sense of peace. Coupled with the leisurely and orderly movements of his hands brewing tea, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. It was as if his heart was not fluctuating at all, and everything was within order.
But in those two seconds, Wen Qingrang hesitated in placing the tea leaves. This was different from his usual calm and collected demeanor. Grandpa Wen immediately noticed that his heart was not at peace at that moment. The lake water would still ripple for a certain person.
Grandpa Wen knew very well who that person was.
He sighed, "Qingrang, you still have feelings for that child Ranxing, don't you?"
Wen Qingrang silently turned his head.
“You’re my child, how could I not know what you’re thinking? Last time I asked you to bring your old friend’s granddaughter to dinner, I wanted you two to spend some time together. After you came back, I understood what you were thinking after hearing what that girl said. You still can’t let go of Jiang Ranxing, can you? Sigh… You’re the kind of child who, once you’ve set your mind on someone, you just won’t let go…”
Wen Qingrang lowered his head and gave a bitter smile. Sunlight fell on his brow bone and long eyelashes, casting a deep, sorrowful shadow on his thin face.
"Thank you for your kindness, Grandpa. I've already talked to that girl, and she wants to focus on her studies, so I don't want to hold her back."
Grandpa Wen said, “It’s not that you don’t want to hold that girl back; it’s that you have someone else on your mind, which is why you don’t want to hold her back. That girl even asked her grandfather to ask me what you were thinking. She had a pretty good impression of you. I’m the one who shouldn’t hold her back. I comforted them and they understood.”
Seeing that Wen Qingrang was about to express his gratitude, Grandpa Wen quickly raised his hand to stop him.
"Stop it, child. Don't keep thanking me all the time. I feel sorry for you when I see you looking so lost. You can't always be like this. Tell me what you're thinking and I'll see if there's anything I can do to help you."
Wen Qingrang smiled, but there was still bitterness in his smile. Grandpa Wen felt that his smile was probably even more bitter than the first brew of tea dregs.
"Probably—there's nothing we can do. Ranxing has her own principles, and I don't want to force her, but I'm willing to wait for her. I believe in her."
Grandpa Wen asked doubtfully, "What do you believe about that child?"
Wen Qingrang said, "I believe she didn't return to Fu Shenyuan's side for power and money. She must have some unspeakable reason. She didn't tell me, perhaps because she was afraid I would worry about her. I want to stay behind her until she is willing to turn around and see me."
Grandpa Wen felt a pang of sadness, and almost shed a tear. He secretly wiped away his tears while Wen Qingrang went to get the missing tea set.
When Wen Qingrang sat back down, Grandpa Wen seemed to have made up his mind.
"Since that's the case, I'll give you both of them. You can go in place of the Wen family, and while you're at it, also check on that kid Ranxing."
Before Wen Qingrang could say anything after he finished speaking, Grandpa Wen couldn't help but wipe away tears in front of him.
As people get older, they often become like children. Wen Qingrang couldn't help but laugh and said with a touch of helplessness, "Grandpa, why do you make me sound like an abandoned puppy?"
"You, you were abandoned! This child is really something, raising you and then just abandoning you, how can you just throw her away like that? It doesn't make sense, how could there be a child like her?"
“Grandpa, Ranxing isn’t that kind of person,” Wen Qingrang said with a smile, trying to defend him.
“I know, I know that child is a good child, I was just saying that,” Grandpa Wen said somewhat embarrassedly, reaching out to the housekeeper, “Bring me some paper, bring me some paper, you old man, you just want to make fun of me.”
The butler sighed helplessly and chuckled to himself, "Sir, you've wronged me. I didn't mean to make fun of you!"
Looking at the old man in front of him who had experienced so much and was now in his seventies but still retained his pure heart, Wen Qingrang couldn't help but smile. He continued brewing tea, while thinking of Jiang Ranxing.
Because he had his grandfather and his parents as role models, he always believed that there are people in this world who, no matter how the world changes or what happens, will never change their original intentions, will always keep their hearts clean and pure, and will live happily in the sunshine.
His grandfather did it, his parents did it, and he followed suit.
Moreover, he believed that Jiang Ranxing felt the same way.
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