Before seven o'clock in the morning, rustling sounds came from the dark live broadcast room. The towel covering the camera was lifted, and Qiao An's outrageously handsome face was thrust in front of the camera.
He seemed to be in a good mood. He snapped his fingers at the camera and pointed to the treadmill in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, indicating that he was about to start exercising.
Qiao An ran for about half an hour with her headphones on. When the door to the master bedroom opened, Du Xiaoruo and the two little ones came out of the room yawning.
"Good morning." Qiao An didn't stop moving and raised her hand to greet him.
"Good morning, Dad." After greeting him, Lele took the warm water that Du Xiaoruo handed her and drank it all in one gulp.
Du Xiaoruo glanced at Qiao An, her face flushed, and she cursed him as a lecher in her heart before tilting her head back and drinking the half-full glass of water.
Qiao An knew that Du Xiaoruo was upset because of what happened last night. She got off the treadmill, walked to the kitchen, and tried to make conversation.
"What do you want for breakfast? Do you want me to help you prepare it?"
Du Xiaoruo put down her water glass, her face clearly displaying the message: "Refuse to chat."
Lele stood to the side, secretly observing the interaction between the two. Something seemed off. Seeing that Qiao An had been rebuffed, Lele felt sorry for her father and tried to explain.
"Dad, we're going to eat soup dumplings later, it's what Xiaoshu wants to eat."
“Yes.” Little Shu, a short little guy, stood next to the cabinet, his body just hidden by the protruding part of the cabinet. It wasn’t until he spoke that everyone realized the little guy was in the kitchen.
Xiao Shu squinted, seemingly savoring the delicious taste of the steamed buns.
"It's one of those thin-skinned xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) that burst with juice when you bite into it. Dad, do you want some?"
Before Qiao An could answer, Du Xiaoruo directly took over Xiaoshu's words.
"Mr. Ha's father has to go to work, we can go by ourselves."
Joan, “…”
Viewers in the live stream also felt that something was off.
[Xiaoruo and Ha Zong's interaction today was so strange. Did the couple have a fight?]
[Could they have gotten into a fight? I think I noticed Xiaoruo's forehead is a little red.]
"Impossible, I, Ha, would never hit a woman, but... look closely, isn't Ha's forehead a little red too?"
[Hahaha, I know why, everyone go watch the pinned video on my account.]
Most of the viewers in the live stream quickly left to watch the explanation video.
The video is dark. After you click in, follow the instructions to turn the volume up to the maximum. There is no sound for the first three seconds. Then there is a rustling sound, which sounds a bit like walking barefoot on the ground, but trying to be careful not to make any noise.
After the footsteps faded away, a very clear male voice came through.
"You're acting like you're making contact with the underground Communist Party."
Although the voice was a bit hoarse, you could still definitely recognize Mr. Ha's signature lazy and magnetic voice.
Then the video went silent again, with only some very faint crackling sounds, like the slight tapping of fingers on a phone screen.
After a while, they heard Mr. Ha chuckle softly, his voice even hoarse, as he said...
I really want to kiss you.
The netizens listening to this audio gasped, blushing and straining to hear what was about to happen.
But instead of the blush-inducing tsk-tsk sound I had imagined, I heard a muffled "thump."
The audio ended there, and viewers returned to the live stream, imagining the scene that had just occurred in the comments section.
[Weren't the two little ones clamoring to sleep in the big bed yesterday? I'm guessing Ha Zong slept on the sofa later, and Xiao Ruo came out to cuddle with her husband after the two kids fell asleep. That's why Ha Zong said he was like a secret agent, and then he even said he wanted a kiss, hahaha, so sweet!]
[No, no, if that were the case, the two of them should have been even more inseparable today, but this morning Xiaoruo was clearly arguing with President Ha.]
Didn't you guys notice the "thump" sound behind us? Did Ha bump into someone's forehead while they were kissing?
[Oh right, this plot point matches the fact that both of their foreheads were a little red today.]
[Hahaha, that unlucky guy, how did he manage to bump someone's forehead while giving them a kiss?]
No wonder Xiaoruo was angry. When she asked my boyfriend to kiss her, he bumped my forehead like that. I felt like tearing him apart.
Du Xiaoruo ignored Qiao An the whole time. After getting ready, she took the two little ones out. Based on their conversation before leaving, Qiao An knew that they were going to eat delicious soup dumplings and ride bicycles by the river.
After she left, the house became cold and quiet. Qiao An leaned lazily against the counter, drinking coffee. Thinking of Du Xiaoruo's little tantrum in the morning, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.
He had never experienced happiness in the first twenty-seven years of his life. He thought that taking over the Qiao family, holding great power, and seeing Jin Xizhen and Qiao Qingchuan groveling at his feet would be enough.
But during this time, he felt a tiny current of happiness flowing through his heart more than once. These were all trivial things in life, but they made him smile.
The phone beside him rang. Qiao An glanced back at it; it was Secretary Jin calling. He pressed the speakerphone button.
"explain!"
"Mr. Qiao, I have some good news. Mr. Li just called you and said that he and Mr. Wang will be at the company at 9 o'clock to talk to you about the transfer of shares."
"Okay, I understand." Joan tilted her head back and finished the remaining half cup of coffee.
Secretary Kim didn't hang up. After a moment of silence, she went on a gossipy spree.
"I heard you bumped the boss's wife's forehead last night? It's trending on social media today. Is she alright? Your head looks pretty hard."
Joan reached up and touched his forehead; the spot where he'd been hit yesterday still throbbed. He gritted his teeth and uttered a sentence.
"Get lost, don't ruin my mood."
"Okay." Secretary Kim hung up the phone decisively.
Qiao An didn't sleep well last night, and her driver picked her up from work this morning.
Once in the back seat of the Bentley, Joan took out her phone and instinctively clicked on the live stream of Beibei Restaurant.
Du Xiaoruo was having steamed buns with two children at a breakfast stall. She was dressed simply in a white T-shirt, her short hair was loosely tied into a bun, and her wispy hairs fell down her sides. The morning sun shone on her from behind, making her look fluffy. Qiao An stared at her face with great interest, as if she could feel the soft, smooth texture on her fingertips.
Not long after entering the live stream, the three of them finished their breakfast. Du Xiaoru paid the bill and took the two little ones to a parked electric scooter with a sidecar.
These electric vehicles are common along the river. A family of three can rent one and stroll along the riverside promenade for half a day.
Lele originally wanted to ride a bicycle, but Xiaoshu was too small to ride by herself. After discussing it, the group decided to rent a sidecar electric vehicle. Xiaoshu sat in the back, and Lele sat behind her, hugging her mother's waist.
After settling in, Du Xiaoruo took out a pair of retro cat-eye sunglasses from her small handbag, put them on, and twisted the handlebars, sending the electric scooter dashing off.
Du Xiaoruo usually has a gentle and reserved image, but her sudden display of coolness stunned the viewers in the live stream.
Xiaoruo is my wife; she's beautiful and cool.
My wife looks amazing in sunglasses. Her features are naturally cool and aloof, and this simple yet stylish look makes her absolutely stunning.
[Wake up, upstairs! That's clearly my wife.]
As Qiao An watched the comments scrolling by in the lower left corner of the screen, anger gradually crept onto her relaxed and lazy face. She really hated these netizens who had no sense of boundaries.
He quickly registered an account.
If I were Qiao Anxiao, and she were my wife, [I dislike netizens who lack boundaries.]
[Upstairs, you're so high and mighty! Don't think you're really Qiao An just because you randomly picked a name.]
[Ladies upstairs, calm down. He's probably still dreaming. Forgive him; who wouldn't be confused in front of Xiaoruo?]
If I were Qiao Anxiao and she were my wife, [Ha, so arrogant. Just wait until I acquire the animal protection association and see who's going to back you up.]
[You're really something, even acquiring an animal protection association. If you're so capable, why don't you acquire Jinse instead?]
If I, Qiao Anxiao, were my wife, then [you just wait and see.]
The Bentley pulled up in front of the company. Secretary Jin and President Li had just walked to the revolving door when they saw Qiao An's car. The two of them stopped and stood by the door to wait.
The building's security guard opened the car door, and Qiao An stepped out. She was dressed in a sharp suit, exuding an air of nobility, and looked nothing like the person who had just been sarcastically criticizing netizens.
As soon as the group entered Qiao An's office and sat down, President Wang arrived uninvited. After Secretary Jin put down the tea, she turned and left the office, leaving only Qiao An and the two shareholders sitting opposite each other.
Joan crossed her long legs, leaned back elegantly on the sofa, and calmly sipped her tea, waiting for the two shareholders to speak.
Mr. Wang picked up the hot tea, blew on it, put it back, and spoke first, angrily.
"Mr. Qiao, you probably already guessed why we're here today. We really can't hold on any longer. We're losing hundreds of thousands every day as soon as we open our eyes."
"That Qiao Qingchuan, he's a piece of trash."
Mr. Li also joined in the cursing.
“When Jinse was in Old Qiao’s hands, we never worried about the stock price. He’s only been in charge of Jinse for a few years, and he’s already ruined the group.”
Because of Qiao Qingchuan, Jinse's stock price is almost as low as it was 10 years ago. Amidst their cursing and swearing at Qiao Qingchuan, the two shareholders completed a preliminary stock transfer agreement with Qiao An.
Joanne personally escorted them to the office door.
Having enjoyed the dividends from the shares for decades, the two shareholders still feel empty inside now that the shares have been suddenly transferred.
Noticing their disappointment, and seeing that no one was around, Joanne spoke up to comfort them.
“Your transfer of shares now may not be a loss. Qiao Qingchuan is now involved in that scheme. Once this scandal is exposed, you will really be stuck with it.”
Mr. Li and Mr. Wang looked at each other in disbelief. They never expected that Qiao Qingchuan, who usually appeared so respectable, was actually rotten to the core and had absolutely no bottom line when it came to being a scumbag.
Thinking of this, President Wang practically regarded Qiao An as his savior, and warmly grasped Qiao An's hand.
"Mr. Qiao, you and your wife are both good people. You didn't kick us when we were down. It was only because your wife told my husband the truth yesterday that we came here today."
"Don't tell anyone about this," Qiao An said with a troubled smile. "After all, it's a family scandal, so it's best not to air it in public."
The two shareholders quickly nodded in agreement, but they had already planned in their hearts that even if they didn't say it openly, their close friends would still share the information.
After everyone had gone far away, Qiao An recalled what President Wang had said earlier. What did Du Xiaoruo say to President Wang's wife yesterday? She hadn't had time to ask earlier, but now that she thought about it, she was at least on her side. Otherwise, President Wang and President Li wouldn't have taken the initiative to come to her door today.
Qiao An unconsciously touched his forehead. The collision last night had stunned him. Now, thinking back, Du Xiaoruo had come to him in the middle of the night to talk about the illegal acquisition of shares.
Is she showing concern for me?
Once the thought popped into her head, a smile involuntarily crept onto Joanne's lips.
Secretary Jin brought in the fabric purchase contract and saw Joan standing by the door, a blindingly happy smile on her face. He immediately handed the contract over.
"Approval, signature." I can't stand seeing my boss happy; I have to find something to make him unhappy.
Qiao An took the contract and casually asked, "How do you usually appease a girl when she's angry?"
Secretary Kim stood expressionless in front of Joan's desk like a wooden post. "How should I know? I don't have a girlfriend." Secretary Kim even felt that Joan was mocking him by asking such a question: "You don't have a girlfriend? My wife is beautiful and cute," and so on.
Joan ignored Secretary Kim's sour tone, signed his name on the approval page of the contract, and casually mentioned...
"If the share acquisition is successful, you may become Jinse's assistant. Of course, it may not be; it depends on my mood."
Secretary Jin's eyes lit up, and she immediately took out her phone and presented it to Qiao An, a fawning smile spreading across her usually expressionless face.
"Although I don't have a girlfriend, I have the all-knowing Baidu. As Jinse's future assistant, there is absolutely no question that can stump me."
Ten minutes later, Joan received a slick, polished list of sweet nothings to say to his girlfriend from Secretary Kim.
Including but not limited to,
A gentle pat on the head, accompanied by a magnetic voice saying, "Sweetie, don't be naughty!"
Does praising her for being pretty and cute give her the right to be capricious?
Take the initiative to admit your mistake, and say to her in a tender tone that a foolish heart is waiting patiently for your forgiveness.
Even Qiao An herself found him greasy, but Secretary Jin, a 28-year-old single, stupid straight man, found it particularly poignant. Qiao An wished she could pick up the contract on the table and shove it into his brain. What use is such a stupid brain?
After kicking Secretary Jin out, Qiao An also called Xia Qing.
First, he talked about the progress of the share transfer, then pretended to inquire about Xia Qing's divorce progress, and finally asked casually...
"Do you have any nice pieces of jewelry in your store lately?"
"Beautiful jewelry?"
Xia Qing thought about it for a long time, then laughed.
"Are you planning to give it to Xiaoruo? You bumped her head, and now you need jewelry to make up for it?"
"Um, um, well," Joan mumbled vaguely, trying to bluff her way out of it.
Xia Qing also readily agreed, "How about this, you go directly to our main store on Luofeng Street, and I'll come find you there."
Qiao An waited in the jewelry store for a while, and then Xia Qing, along with Xiangxiang and the cameraman, entered the store in a large group.
In Xia Qingye's live stream room,
[I came here specifically from Xiaoruo's live stream to see Ha Zong, hahaha.]
[Mr. Ha's head injury was quite expensive; it would take diamonds to fix it.]
【I'm so curious, Mr. Ha, what position did you use to make someone's forehead turn red just from a kiss?】
Qiao An looked at the camera and felt that she had been a little inconsiderate. She originally wanted to give Du Xiaoruo a surprise by buying the jewelry, but now the whole internet knew about it, so what was there to be a surprise about?
Xia Qing also asked the shop assistant to bring out a newly arrived necklace.
On a black velvet lining, a simple platinum chain was placed, with an oddly shaped baroque pearl hanging at the bottom of the necklace.
Joanne glanced at it and thought the necklace was nothing special, so she wasn't very interested.
Xia Qing noticed his concerns and explained,
"This baroque pearl is naturally shaped like a seven-pointed star, also known as the elven star, which represents love and kindness. I think it suits Xiaoruo quite well."
After hearing Xia Qingye's explanation, Qiao An began to look at the ordinary necklace with new eyes. Elf, love, and kindness—these were all beautiful words.
After buying the necklace, Qiao An and Xia Qing thanked them, took the exquisite jewelry box, and left the store.
Just as I reached the car, my phone beeped; it was a text message.
[Mr. Qiao, I've transferred the 21 million to Xiaoruo.]
Qiao An didn't have Du Tiancheng's phone number saved, but she knew from the content of the text message that it was sent by Du Tiancheng.
He got into the car but didn't start it immediately. He rested his hands on the steering wheel, feeling a bit restless and uneasy.
In Qiao An's world, he had never been treated kindly by anyone. Qiao Rukun brought him back, but handed him over to the venomous Jin Xizhen to raise.
He called Kim Hee-jin "Mom," but Kim Hee-jin would prick him with needles—very fine silver needles—until they went right into his bone. He still vividly remembers that excruciating pain.
Qiao Rukun told him that he and Qiao Qingchuan were brothers and that they should support each other and run the Qiao family business together in the future. However, Qiao Qingchuan never let him eat his fill. When Qiao An was extremely hungry, he would go to the kitchen to steal leftovers, and if he was discovered, he would be beaten and kicked.
Growing up in such a harsh environment, Joan found it difficult to trust anyone.
When he discovered the suspicious aspects of Du Xiaoruo, his first thought was that he couldn't keep her around any longer. His plan was to let her go once she received the money, but now that she had, should he remove her from his life?
Joan took the red velvet box, opened it, and inside lay the seven-pointed star necklace, a symbol of love and kindness. A childlike vulnerability and confusion surfaced in his eyes.
The phone rang again.
Qiao An put away the necklace, picked up her phone, and saw another text message.
This time it was Lele who sent it: "Dad, Mom asked me to ask you if you want to come home for dinner."
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