Chapter 47. Opportunities to be alone are so easy, but they're a bit tiring to handle.
Before the Qingming Festival holiday, Luo Yan was tidying up her workstation and putting project materials away when she received a call from Zeng Rong.
"Yanyan, do you have any plans for the holiday? President Luo is going to Zongxian to inspect the launch of a new project. The scenery there is beautiful in spring. How about we go for a spring outing together? We can hitch a ride, so why not go!"
Zong County? Isn't that where Jiang Sui is currently staying?
Zeng Rong's sudden suggestion to go there for a "spring outing," especially with Luo Muyang, makes it hard not to suspect it's a setup.
"Okay, when and where do we depart?"
Perhaps it was her insistence on that answer, or perhaps it was just her stubbornness that drove her, but Luo Yan finally made up her mind. What kind of business was it to keep hiding? By the time Jiang Sui returned, it would be a long time coming, and by then it would be too late. If there was a grudge, she should settle it on the spot... no, she should strike while the iron is hot.
It's best to get straight to the point and make things clear, whether it's life or death, give us a swift and decisive answer.
"We'll pick you up at nine o'clock the day after tomorrow. You'll be staying for three days, so please bring your things. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll help you prepare..."
"Okay, okay!"
OK, see you on time!
Zeng Rong was surprised that she completed the task so easily. After hanging up the phone, she happily ran to report the good news to Luo Muyang.
The day we arrived in Zong County, the continuous rainy weather cleared up.
When they arrived at the project command center, Jiang Sui was indeed there.
He seemed a bit thinner, dressed in simple casual clothes, yet still stood out among a group of local officials and Feiyang project personnel. Upon seeing Luo Yan and Luo Muyang's group, his gaze swept over them, lingering briefly on Luo Yan's face before he resumed his conversation with the locals.
Luo Yan's heart sank. He looked calm, as if nothing had happened between them.
Luo Muyang was full of enthusiasm, patting Jiang Sui's shoulder hard: "Little Jiang, you've worked hard! Are you getting used to it here? Oh my, look at you, you've lost weight!" He said loudly while also winking at Luo Yan as if it were natural.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luo Yan rolled her eyes and turned her face away.
Don't look at me, this conspicuous bag isn't my dad's, I don't recognize him, I've never seen it before.
When Luo Yan checked into the hotel that evening, she was stunned when she received the room key—it was a single room. She looked at Zeng Rong in confusion, "Weren't we sharing a room? How did it become a single room? This is such a waste!"
"President Luo specifically instructed that you prefer a quiet environment."
Zeng Rong smiled broadly: "I'm going to have a video call with Lao Fang tonight, and I'm afraid it will disturb your rest."
"Don't worry, Mr. Luo has given the instructions. Just tell me what to do."
Luo Yan turned around to open the door and go into the room when the door next door opened and Jiang Sui came out. He was obviously stunned when he saw Luo Yan, and Luo Yan was also stunned. Then the two of them reacted at the same time and looked at Zeng Rong.
Zeng Rong pretended to answer a call on his phone, "Hello? What? My signal isn't very good here, speak louder!" Then he turned and ran away, like a rabbit being chased by a wolf.
Luo Yan turned to look at Jiang Sui, a strange unease creeping into her heart under his gaze. "It wasn't my request! Old Luo took it upon himself to do it..."
"Yeah, I guess so," Jiang Sui replied casually. "It seems they all know."
Luo Yan: "..."
Not only did they find out, their intention to matchmake was blatantly obvious, and incredibly clumsy at it.
It's no wonder that Luo Muyang couldn't win back Xu Jingfei even after more than 20 years, given his limited abilities.
The next morning, Luo Muyang took Jiang Sui to the project site, while Luo Yan and Zeng Rong went for a spring outing to the nearby famous wetland park.
Zongxian County is indeed beautiful in spring, with its newly green reeds and fluttering water birds.
The two strolled along the country road. Along the way, Zeng Rong kept taking selfies in various poses with his phone, but Luo Yan felt that although the scenery was beautiful, it always seemed to be missing something.
Lost in thought, she was interrupted by a loud commotion of gongs, drums, and firecrackers coming from not far away. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw that a villager's family was holding a wedding, which was very lively.
Luo Yan raised her phone to capture the scene, and then she and Zeng Rong stood aside with great interest to watch the spectacle. As they watched, the scene gradually became more and more absurd.
A group of young men, acting as groomsmen, groped the bridesmaid, used vulgar language, and even tried to tear her dress. They also shoved her at the groomsmen. The bridesmaid was clearly unwilling, her face showing embarrassment and fear, but she dared not retaliate because of the situation. At this moment, a tall groomsman picked up the bridesmaid and pretended to throw her into the pond. The bridesmaid screamed in terror, her face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes, while the villagers and tourists watching the spectacle continued to laugh.
"Make as much noise as you can, the more lively it will be!"
Luo Yan's anger flared up. "This is too much!"
Zeng Rong quickly grabbed Luo Yan's arm and whispered, "Forget it, Yan Yan. Customs are different in the countryside. Let's not meddle in other people's business..."
"What kind of ridiculous custom allows people to act like hooligans?"
Luo Yan shook off Zeng Rong's hand and stepped forward to stop the man carrying the bridesmaid: "Isn't that enough? Can't you see they don't want to?"
The noise subsided slightly, and everyone's attention focused on Luo Yan.
The groomsmen were taken aback. Seeing that it was a beautiful, unfamiliar girl, they grinned and said, "This city girl is quite feisty! We always have this kind of lively atmosphere at weddings here, it's all for the sake of celebration."
"A celebration is for everyone to be happy, not for you to bully people!" Luo Yan said without backing down. "They're already very uncomfortable, so let's stop now."
"Hey, a rich girl from the city, quite the busybody!" another groomsman chimed in, reeking of alcohol. "If you don't like her, then come and take her place!"
Several groomsmen surrounded T, their eyes filled with hostility.
Zeng Rong was so frightened that he quickly grabbed Luo Yan: "Yan Yan, forget it, let's go!"
Luo Yan retorted, "Customs are not an excuse for breaking the law! Forcing others is wrong!"
"Damn it, looking for trouble, huh!" A tall best man reached out and shoved Luo Yan.
The scene instantly descended into chaos. Some people were pulling and shoving, others were shouting and cursing. Luo Yan didn't know who was pushing her, but she suddenly tripped, lost her balance, and stumbled, crashing heavily into the corner of the table where the wedding banquet was being held. A sharp pain shot through her.
Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, village officials rushed over to break up the fight, and their persuasion finally calmed things down temporarily.
Luo Yan sat on the ground, rolled up her sleeves and looked down. Her arm was bruised and scraped, and it was burning with pain.
Zeng Rong's face changed drastically upon seeing this. Her hands trembled as she dialed Luo Muyang's number, sobbing uncontrollably, "President Luo! Something terrible has happened! Yanyan...she...she's injured!"
"Why are you crying... I'm not dead yet!"
Luo Yan looked at Zeng Rong's tearful face and wanted to laugh, but her wounds were tearing open with pain.
Well, one loves to add unnecessary drama, and the other loves to overthink things. I guess Luo Muyang probably thinks she's already in the ICU and about to receive a critical condition notice.
In the evening, Luo Muyang and Jiang Sui rushed to the health center.
Luo Yan had finished treating her wounds. Her arm was wrapped in gauze, her face was a little pale, but her expression was calm. Zeng Rong, on the other hand, was pacing anxiously to the side.
"What happened? What's going on?" Luo Muyang was both anxious and angry. He rushed over and pulled Luo Yan up and looked her over from all angles, stamping his feet in distress.
Zeng Rong embellished the story, emphasizing how Luo Yan acted bravely and how the villagers were unreasonable.
Luo Muyang's blood pressure soared: "Nonsense! This is utterly lawless! My daughter, a noble lady... no, a civil servant, has encountered such a terrible thing since coming to Zong County. We must call the police!"
"Come on, Lao Luo, calm down, it's not that serious." Luo Yan withdrew her hand and waved it nonchalantly, "I'm not porcelain, I won't break if you touch me."
Jiang Sui looked at Luo Yan's arm, his brows furrowing deeply. He asked the doctor in a low voice, "How is she?"
The doctor said, "There's nothing serious. The wound has been disinfected. Just don't get it wet for the next 24 hours."
Luo Muyang suddenly straightened up, looked around, and shook his head with a smirk.
"The conditions here are too basic. Yan Yan, let's go to the county hospital, get a blood test, a urine test, an MRI, a CT scan, and an X-ray..."
Are you mistaking me for a Japanese person and subjecting me to radiation?
Luo Yan interrupted him impatiently: "It was just a bump, a minor scrape. If you had come any later, the wound would have healed by now."
Seeing that she was indeed alright, Luo Muyang finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Zeng Rong, saying, "Call Secretary Huang and tell him that I won't be going to dinner tonight. I'll go back and rest with Yanyan first."
Jiang Sui then said, "President Luo, this project is under Secretary Huang's personal attention and is crucial to its future progress. It wouldn't be appropriate for you not to go. I'll take Luo Yan back to her hotel."
Luo Muyang glanced at Jiang Sui, then at Luo Yan, his eyes darting around before he immediately went along with it: "Yes, yes, yes! Work is the priority! Xiao Jiang, Yan Yan's hand is not in a good position, so I'll trouble you to take good care of her."
Luo Yan weakly interjected, "Can't Granny Rong come back with me?"
“Secretary Zeng is coming with me to a social event, and my stomach… I need her to drink on my behalf.” Luo Muyang frowned, clutching his stomach, and kept giving Zeng Rong meaningful glances.
"Ah, right, right, right!" Zeng Rong immediately understood what his boss meant and nodded vigorously. "President Luo drank so much at the last business dinner that he had a stomach hemorrhage and was in the hospital for three days!"
"The car is still waiting outside, so we'll be leaving now. Xiao Jiang, Yan Yan is in your care."
Fearing that prolonged arguing would cause Luo Yan to resist to the death or give Jiang Sui a chance to back out, Luo Muyang grabbed Zeng Rong, who still wanted to say something, and ran away in a flash.
Jiang Sui bent down and scooped Luo Yan up in his arms.
"Put me down, I can walk by myself!" Luo Yan struggled and punched him. "My hand is injured, my leg isn't hurt, what are you pretending to be, this domineering CEO?!"
"Shut up." Jiang Sui snapped, tightening his grip on her and pulling her outside.
His embrace was still warm and strong, and the familiar scent of mint filled her nostrils. Luo Yan instantly quieted down, burying her face in the crook of his neck, her heart pounding loudly.
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