Chapter 54 Reborn after so long, I've finally waited for...
The setting sun casts a golden glow, its afterglow spreading across the sky in a vibrant red and orange hue.
"Nine o'clock, right? I remember."
Tang Ran entered the elevator while talking on the phone, and subconsciously walked to the button.
She had just raised her hand when someone took the lunchbox from her.
Tang Ran turned around in surprise, and when she saw the person beside her, a bright smile bloomed on her face.
"Okay, okay, I understand."
"I'm in the elevator. The signal isn't very good. I'll ask you to send me your flight information on the green bubble later."
Tang Ran hung up the phone and asked Song Zhixu with a smile, "Why are you up so early today?"
These past few days, Song Zhixu has been coming back around 7 or 8 o'clock.
The elevator arrived at the 19th floor.
"I have to go on a business trip unexpectedly. My flight is tomorrow morning, so I'd better come back and rest early tonight."
Song Zhixu carried the lunchbox in one hand and took Tang Ran's hand with the other as they exited the elevator.
Seeing that she was about to walk to her own house, Tang Ran stopped her, "Let's go to your place, you can eat there and then pack your luggage."
The two turned and walked towards 1901.
Miao Tiantian's flight information has been sent over.
Tang Ran glanced at her phone, then put it away and asked Song Zhixu, "What time is your flight tomorrow?"
"9:30."
"That's perfect. I'll go to the airport with you and pick up Miao Tiantian on the way."
This makes it seem like sending Song Zhixu off was the main thing, and promising to pick her up at the airport was just a side job.
"Okay," Song Zhixu replied with a smile.
She opened the door and went inside, placing the food box on the entryway. She asked Tang Ran, "Shall I register your fingerprint? It'll be easier for you to open the door when you come over. I'll be troubling you to come water the flowers again these next few days."
"So kind of you~" Tang Ran placed her finger on it, turned to look at her, and said in a strange tone, "So, am I going to receive another gift?"
The longer Tang Ran spent together, the more accustomed she became to the fact that they were preparing for an engagement.
Entering the fingerprint lock was just like taking someone else's house key; it was a normal interaction process, and Tang Ran accepted it without any qualms.
When Song Zhixu goes to her place, she will also register Song Zhixu's fingerprints.
"Mmm." Song Zhixu smiled and tapped her forehead. "I'll bring you back a panda."
"Sure, if you dare to give it to me, I dare to accept it!"
Tang Ran also reached out and tapped her shoulder, then quickly took off her shoes and ran into the house.
Song Zhixu straightened her shoes, took the slippers and walked over, saying, "Be careful not to catch a cold."
After dinner, Tang Ran started talking about the machine agency.
She also had a private investigator check it out, but they didn't find anything.
In fact, there will be no problem as long as the Tang family does not continue to cooperate with the agency in this life.
But Tang Ran couldn't swallow this insult.
We must find evidence to take down this fraudulent company.
Song Zhixu asked her for basic information and said he would help her look it up.
Tang Ran sat on the small sofa, propping herself up with her hands as she watched Song Zhixu pack her luggage.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
His tone was exactly the same as when Song Zhixu said, "I'll have to trouble you to water the flowers again these next few days."
Song Zhixu put the toiletries in her suitcase, turned around and smiled, saying, "So, will I receive a gift too?"
"It's not impossible," Tang Ran said, her eyes darting around. "Then I'll give you a little leopard."
Song Zhixu gave her a panda, and she returned a leopard—how fitting!
Song Zhixu stood up, looked at Tang Ran, shook her head, and her light brown eyes were full of smiles. "I already have one."
Tang Ran was momentarily stunned by her laughter, and it took her a while to realize what she had said.
"Huh?" Tang Ran squatted down next to Song Zhi. "You're raising a leopard?"
She guessed that Song Zhixu might have participated in animal protection activities, such as adopting a snow leopard.
"Not really." Song Zhixu sorted the clothes and zipped up the net bag.
"Huh? This will work?"
Tang Ran was extremely curious. She grabbed her hand, stopping her from tidying up, and demanded that she answer her question first, "How does it work?"
Song Zhixu stopped what she was doing and looked at her, her tone light and cheerful, "I tricked you into coming here."
"I'm asking you a serious question!" Tang Ran slapped her hand, feeling that she was being fooled.
Song Zhixu explained, "We followed the proper procedures and obtained the certificate legally."
Tang Ran nodded knowingly. "Is she good-looking? Do you have a picture? Let me see."
If it's cute, she'll adopt one herself.
"She looks pretty." Song Zhixu nodded with a slight smile, then looked at her with a hint of regret and said, "I haven't taken any photos of her yet."
"Is it the one from the brooch you gave me?"
"no."
"Oh, then remember to show me your photos later."
"good."
"Huh? You said you got bitten last time, was it this that bit you?"
"yes."
The next day, when Tang Ran was taking Song Zhixu to the airport, Xinghelou called.
Ask her if she has time to go to the restaurant today to try the dishes for Song Wuqi's birthday banquet.
Tang Ran replied that she had already tried it last time, so there was no need to try it again.
Manager Wang sent her the menu again for her confirmation.
Tang Ran glanced at it casually and replied: No problem.
She didn't care at all about what the dishes were for the birthday banquet. If the birthday banquet wasn't still useful, she wouldn't have given Song Wuqi a chance to celebrate.
After replying to Manager Wang's message, Tang Ran then opened the small group chat and sent an invitation message.
The group chat was flooded with messages expressing envy for Song Wuqi.
Tang Ran didn't see it; she had set the group messages to "Do Not Disturb."
I locked my phone and realized the car was almost at the departure point.
She turned her head, and Song Zhixu was looking at her.
To avoid trouble, Tang Ran didn't plan to get out of the car to see her off, but simply held her hand and said, "Come back soon."
Song Zhixu told her that the return date was uncertain, but it should take about three days.
But Tang Ran wanted her to come back soon.
“Okay,” Song Zhixu replied softly.
August 12th.
Song Zhixu is still away on a business trip.
Around 9 p.m., Tang Ran video-called her; Song Zhixu had just returned from a dinner party.
At a typical social gathering, Song Zhixu only drank two glasses of red wine, but Tang Ran still ordered her some lime and honey water.
Song Zhixu took a sip and told her it wasn't as good as what she made.
Tang Ran said she was a liar, and that she would make her lime water with double the amount of honey when she returned.
After eating with Song Zhixu many times, Tang Ran discovered that she didn't have a particular fondness for sweets.
The lime water she made must have been sweet to Song Zhixu.
Near the end of the video call, Tang Ran casually asked her how things were going.
Song Zhixu said there were still some loose ends that needed to be dealt with.
Tang Ran casually changed the subject, not showing her disappointment.
August 13th is Song Wuqi's birthday.
Seeing the message from Song Wuqi saying "Waiting for you downstairs," Tang Ran's lips curled up into a smile.
She slowly turned off her computer and went downstairs.
He couldn't hide his excitement.
In a few hours, she and Song Wuqi will no longer be in a romantic relationship.
After being reborn for so long, I've finally waited for this day!
The birthday banquet was all arranged by Manager Wang. Manager Wang had no idea about Tang Ran's plans; he reserved the best private room at Xinghe Restaurant and even decorated it with an exquisite birthday theme.
When deciding on the menu, Tang Ran removed a few dishes that required more thought. The dishes for the birthday banquet were not the most luxurious, but they were still acceptable and decent.
"You actually bothered to throw a birthday party for that bastard? You must have a lot of free time!"
Miao Tiantian glanced sideways at Song Wuqi, who was smiling like a chrysanthemum, and nudged Tang Ran's leg with her knee in disgust.
Tang Ran used a serving spoon to scoop a piece of fish and placed it on Miao Tiantian's plate. "Wild yellow croaker, just caught last night. I know you love it, so I added this especially for you."
"My sisters still love me the most!"
Miao Tiantian's face immediately brightened, and she happily ate the fish. Then she suddenly squinted at Tang Ran.
"Do you need something from me?" he asked with certainty.
"Just a small favor." Tang Ran smiled and moved closer to her.
Miao Tiantian's brows furrowed more and more tightly at first, then slowly relaxed, and finally a glint of light flashed in her eyes as she gave Tang Ran a thumbs up.
"As expected of you!"
When Song Wuqi returned from drinking, Tang Ran handed her phone to Miao Tiantian, who gave him an OK sign with her fingers.
Tang Ran served food to Song Wuqi, and Song Wuqi turned to talk to her.
Miao Tiantian seized the opportunity to take several photos, edited them, and posted them on Tang Ran's WeChat Moments.
"I even posted it on your WeChat Moments for you, sister, that's fast, right?" Miao Tiantian said proudly.
Tang Ran was stunned for a second, then immediately took back her phone and changed the settings of that post on WeChat Moments to be visible only to Ye Xiaoyu.
"Hehe." Miao Tiantian seemed to realize something as well, and teased softly, "It's only been a short while, Song Zhixu probably didn't see it."
Tang Ran: ...
She wasn't afraid of Song Zhixu seeing it; she just wanted Ye Xiaoyu to see the message.
"Even if you see it, you can explain it properly later, and Boss Song won't be angry anymore." Miao Tiantian gave an ambiguous smile.
The explanation she gave was definitely not suitable for children.
Tang Ran: ...
Tang Ran knew that Miao Tiantian had misunderstood because of the phone call in Beijing, but she was too lazy to explain.
She scooped another spoonful of fish for Miao Tiantian, saying, "If you want your sisters to take you to eat fish again in the future, then shut up."
Miao Tiantian made a special gesture of pulling a zipper with her mouth.
After a hearty meal and drinks, the atmosphere in the private room grew increasingly lively.
While playing games and chatting, the topic unknowingly drifted to Song Wuqi and Tang Ran's engagement.
"When are you getting engaged?" someone asked.
The couple hasn't sent out invitations yet, and they don't know the exact date of their engagement.
Song Wuqi looked at Tang Ran tenderly and said with a smile, "Twenty-nine."
Tang Ran pretended not to hear and continued talking to Miao Tiantian.
"Then it will be soon."
"Um."
At this moment, someone suggested that Song Wuqi and Tang Ran have a drink.
Once someone starts it, others join in the teasing and jeering.
Song Wuqi took the wine bottle, poured some into his glass, and then looked at Tang Ran with a smile.
Tang Ran kicked Miao Tiantian with her calf and stood up with her wine glass in her hand.
Miao Tiantian immediately understood, picked up her chopsticks, prepared to pick up some food, and accidentally knocked over her wine glass.
Most of the wine was spilled, so Tang Ran quickly called the waiter to clean it up.
This interruption completely changed the subject of our plan to have a drink together.
Knock knock knock!
After someone knocked on the door of the private room, a person entered.
The private room was bustling with activity, and no one noticed the commotion at the door.
When Miao Tiantian saw Ye Xiaoyu, she deliberately exclaimed "Eh?" and asked loudly, "Assistant Ye?"
The noisy private room quieted down for a moment, and everyone looked towards the door.
Those present were all friends who had gone to Turtle Island together last time, and they all recognized that the person who came in through the door was Song Wuqi's assistant.
Seeing so many eyes looking at her, Ye Xiaoyu instinctively felt fear.
She composed herself and looked at Song Wuqi. "Manager Song, I have something important to discuss with you, but I can't get through to you on the phone."
She spoke calmly, and given her role as an assistant, it was normal for her to need to contact Song Wuqi urgently.
The friends present did not notice anything amiss.
"It might have been accidentally muted."
Song Wuqi's expression remained unchanged. She offered an explanation, naturally put down her wine glass, and walked towards Ye Xiaoyu.
Song Wuqi's body was facing away from the dining table, which conveniently blocked Ye Xiaoyu's view.
Her brows furrowed, her low voice full of accusation: "Do you know what kind of occasion this is?! Why do you have to say this now?"
Every time she was with Tang Ran, Ye Xiaoyu would come up with all sorts of reasons to call her away.
Song Wuqi knew her little thoughts and enjoyed the feeling of her being jealous of him.
But given the circumstances today, it's impossible for her to leave Tang Ran behind and go with her.
She felt that she had spoiled Ye Xiaoyu too much, which had made Ye Xiaoyu lose her sense of propriety.
Ye Xiaoyu bit her lip, her eyes filled with grievance, "Life imprisonment, I really have something to tell you, it's about Xiang..."
She came here to find Song Wuqi with ulterior motives, but she also had good reasons.
Even if Song Wuqi is really angry, he won't blame her later.
"Don't call me that in public!" Song Wuqi interrupted her, glaring at her as he reminded her.
Upon hearing her words, Ye Xiaoyu's eyes immediately reddened.
No matter how much Song Wuqi coaxed her in private, the only person he ever said he loved was her.
She remains the one who needs to hide in the closet, someone who cannot be seen in the light.
"I…"
Ye Xiaoyu knew she couldn't cry right now, but she felt so wronged.
She came to me because she really had something important to discuss; something had gone wrong with the project in Rongcheng.
Song Wuqi immediately blamed her, not giving her a chance to speak at all.
"Ye Xiaoyu!" Song Wuqi warned in a low voice.
She regretted not taking Ye Xiaoyu outside to talk to her from the beginning, since so many eyes were watching from inside the private room.
Which of her friends didn't grow up in social circles? Seeing Ye Xiaoyu like this, it's hard to guarantee that no one will guess that their relationship is unusual.
Song Wuqi was barely able to contain his anger.
Clothes, bags, cars, houses—I've given Ye Xiaoyu everything I could. What more could Ye Xiaoyu possibly want? Why did she have to come looking for me at this time?
She suddenly regretted it, wondering how she had gotten involved with someone as greedy and reckless as Ye Xiaoyu.
Compared to the ungrateful Ye Xiaoyu in front of him, Song Wuqi felt that he could tolerate Tang Ran's spoiled princess temper.
At least Tang Ran knows how to distinguish between different situations, and even if she's angry, she won't make things difficult for her in public.
Ye Xiaoyu is making things difficult for her now.
Even if the sky were to fall today, she would not leave with Ye Xiaoyu.
"Ye Xiaoyu, do you not want your job anymore?" Song Wuqi threatened coldly.
It refers to work, but also to the relationship between the two people.
Seeing that she was really angry, Ye Xiaoyu panicked for a moment and took out her phone to show her.
"No, I really have something to do today!"
With a loud bang, the door to the private room was pushed open forcefully.
"Wow, what day is it today? It's so lively!"
Sun Xiao walked in slowly, his hands behind his back.
She took a few steps inside and looked at the slogans posted on the wall.
"Happiness, birthday! Whose birthday is it today?"
Sun Xiao glanced around, reading the words aloud in a sarcastic tone, then his gaze landed on Song Wuqi, "Could it be you, Miss Song?"
She curled her lips into a wicked smile, "What a coincidence! I happen to have a gift to give to Miss Song!"
Judging from Sun Xiao's words, it was clear that he had come here deliberately to cause trouble.
Song Wuqi's expression darkened further. "What do you want to do?"
Everyone in the industry knows the two don't get along, and several of Song Wuqi's close friends have spoken out against them.
"What? Afraid I'll come?" Sun Xiao's eyes were defiant, then he looked at Ye Xiaoyu beside her, "Oh, who's this? Doesn't look like Tang Ran at all."
"Why is this person crying? He looks so wronged!" Sun Xiao looked at Song Wuqi with a half-smile. "Could it be that Miss Song slept with him and doesn't want to take responsibility?"
Her voice was loud enough that everyone in the private room could hear what she was saying.
Song Wuqi's eyelids twitched violently, startling Ye Xiaoyu. She felt a mix of fear and anticipation.
If her relationship with Song Wuqi were really exposed, Song Wuqi and Tang Ran wouldn't have gotten engaged, right?
Aside from Lu Shuyang, the other friends who walked over were all stunned for a moment, and involuntarily looked at Song Wuqi and Ye Xiaoyu.
Some things will go unnoticed if no one talks about them, but once someone raises a concern, everyone will start to think about it.
Seeing Ye Xiaoyu's head down and silence, everyone felt that there might actually be something between Song Wuqi and her little assistant.
Lu Shuyang sighed inwardly.
The truth will eventually come out.
After realizing she had failed to dissuade Song Wuqi, she guessed this day would come.
At this moment, people turned their attention to Tang Ran.
As her friends stood up, Tang Ran also stood up and was already almost next to Song Wuqi.
Upon hearing Sun Xiao's words, Tang Ran stopped in her tracks. She didn't speak, but just frowned as she looked at Song Wuqi and Ye Xiaoyu.
"What nonsense are you talking about? She did something wrong and was afraid I would scold her, so she cried."
Song Wuqi spoke in a deep voice, without a trace of panic, and did not seem like someone had exposed his shameful secret.
This statement is half true and half false, but it makes sense nonetheless.
"I'm talking nonsense?"
Seeing her make excuses, Sun Xiao became even more interested and felt that he should play with Song Wuqi a little longer.
Oh, no, it's that she played with Song Wuqi a little longer.
“Miss Song, why do I feel like you’re a little guilty?” Sun Xiao’s eyes were meaningful.
Song Wuqi snorted coldly.
She wasn't guilty at all.
Knowing that their relationship was something that couldn't be made public, Song Zhixu would always keep her distance from Ye Xiaoyu in public.
With the cover of her assistant's identity, no one would suspect that she and Ye Xiaoyu had anything going on.
"Sun Xiao." Tang Ran walked over at this moment. "I don't remember inviting you."
Seeing her standing in front of him, Song Wuqi felt even more relieved.
Tang Ran is her girlfriend, and her attitude speaks for itself.
The fact that she stood before him without a shred of doubt at that moment proved that Sun Xiao's words were a deliberate frame-up.
As Tang Ran spoke, she pointed to the door, her meaning quite clear.
Get Sun Xiao out of here.
When facing Tang Ran, Sun Xiao couldn't help but change his expression.
She was in the wrong for drugging him.
But it was only for a moment. When she thought that she hadn't actually succeeded and had even been beaten, she felt that she didn't owe Tang Ran anything.
Seeing Tang Ran so protective of Song Wuqi, Sun Xiao became even angrier.
She pointed at Tang Ran's nose, "Tang Ran, don't be ungrateful. I'm here to help you today!"
"If you don't leave now, I'll call security."
Tang Ran didn't waste any more words with her and picked up her phone.
Sun Xiao wasn't afraid of Tang Ran at all. She grinned and whistled towards the door.
Two people walked into the private room. One was a big guy who was over two meters tall and wearing a vest, and the other was shorter but also very muscular.
The two people locked the door to the private room as soon as they entered.
"Sun Xiao, what do you want to do?"
Tang Ran couldn't make the call; her phone had no signal.
Lu Shuyang also walked over, his expression serious. "Sun Xiao, do you know what you're doing?"
His tone was full of threat.
Others who saw this also came over.
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous!"
Sun Xiao smiled and raised his hand, cupping his fist in a gesture of respect as he explained to the others.
"I'm just here to deliver a birthday present. I'll leave right away after that. I'm sorry for taking up five minutes of your time. I'll treat you all to a meal tomorrow to make it up to you all!"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Sun Xiao was clearly determined to finish the job.
The Sun family is nothing in Jiangcheng, and this group of people are not afraid of her, but they can't stand Sun Xiao, who is a mad dog.
It's still a mad dog that's not so easy to kill.
If they step forward now, she might hold a grudge and retaliate against them behind their backs.
Also, they wanted to see what Sun Xiao was up to.
After Sun Xiao finished speaking, he looked at Lu Shuyang again.
"I brought men with me today, but we're not here to fight. I won't do anything illegal."
She spoke up beforehand to avoid Lu Shuyang bringing up her aunt again.
"This is a personal matter between me and Song Wuqi, so please don't interfere!"
Some time ago, her aunt was sent on a secret mission, and judging from her father's words, the mission should have been successfully completed.
After a while, her aunt will definitely get promoted again, and maybe she can even be transferred directly to Beijing.
She's not afraid of Lu Shuyang at all now.
That's why she dared to cause trouble today.
"Shuyang." Xia Xin'er walked over and tugged at Lu Shuyang's sleeve.
"It's alright, don't worry," Lu Shuyang said, turning around to comfort her.
Xia Xin'er still didn't let go.
She has nothing to worry about.
On the cruise ship, when Zhang Bai returned, he told her that Tang Ran deliberately said, "Don't fight anymore, Wuqi," and she guessed that Tang Ran was deliberately trying to provoke Sun Xiao to report Song Wuqi.
Sun Xiao and Song Wuqi were fighting like dogs, and she was happy to watch the show.
She held onto Lu Shuyang because she didn't want him to get into trouble for standing up for Song Wuqi.
While Lu Shuyang and Xia Xiner were talking, the short, muscular man had already walked to the television in the private room.
Seeing the wicked grin on Sun Xiao's face, Song Wuqi was genuinely starting to panic.
Sun Xiao made such a big fuss, maybe he really got some dirt on her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
