Chapter 64 Tuantuan didn't kick you just now...
Autumn has arrived in the blink of an eye. The flowering season of the hydrangea has long passed, and most of its branches and leaves have withered, adding a touch of desolation to the courtyard.
Jiang Shiyuan's belly was already noticeably protruding, and her movements were becoming increasingly cumbersome.
Since she started feeling fetal movement, her schedule has been packed with activities, including body care, prenatal exercise, and early prenatal education.
Huo Lan stayed by Jiang Shiyuan's side at all times. He witnessed and clearly understood every stage of Jiang Shiyuan's physical changes. Unless it was a very important meeting or decision that required his personal involvement, he rarely left the Bell Pavilion.
But these past few days have been unusual. The Huo family’s annual important high-level meeting is about to begin, and almost all of the Huo family’s uncles and collateral relatives will be attending. As the head of the Huo family, Huo Lan cannot possibly be absent.
Lin Lang arrived at Lingdang Xiaozhu early with work materials to urge Huo Lan to leave. His boss had spent almost half a year at home with his wife.
All matters that could be handled online were moved online, and non-critical matters were handled entirely by him and several other special assistants. Huo Lan only needed to sign, review, and make decisions, and rarely appeared in the company anymore.
But today is really special because Huo Lan has not attended various meetings for a long time and has also turned down many media interviews and international summits. Many Huo family members who hold important shares in the group are starting to get restless. They are afraid that if he doesn't show up soon, things will start to change.
Lin Lang stood anxiously under the eaves, only to see his boss still in the living room, embracing his wife and checking on her recent studies.
His boss seemed to have forgotten that he had a whole group of more than a dozen companies and tens of thousands of employees waiting for his orders. It seemed that all he had to do every day was serve his wife, both day and night.
The Huo family elders who guarded the company only dared to swagger around at these lowly employees within the company, but none of them dared to come to Huo Garden to directly confront the head of the Huo family.
He'd come several times but hadn't been able to persuade them to leave. If he didn't get them to the company today, he really wouldn't be able to withstand their barrage of criticism.
Huo Lan accompanied Jiang Shiyuan attentively, but Lin Lang still didn't dare to step into the house. He just looked at the bluestone path in the courtyard and called out from the doorway with his back to him, "Mr. Huo, we really have to go this time. If we don't go, Xiao Lin will really be killed in battle."
Huo Lan wasn't oblivious to what was going on outside. Ever since he and Jiang Shiyuan got their marriage certificate and Xu Feixuan announced her identity in high society circles, although he rarely heard any unpleasant comments, he knew that several of Huo's uncles didn't accept it and were even trying to find ways to make trouble over the matter.
Huo Lan's reaction was to ignore, disregard, and disregard everything. Several months passed in this manner, and Jiang Shiyuan stayed by his side the whole time, without hearing any negative comments.
The past six months have been enough for a few suicidal individuals to begin implementing their plans and tampering with things, so he had already sent people to investigate several shady characters, just waiting to close the net today.
Jiang Shiyuan breathed a sigh of relief after reciting the last definition.
With the postgraduate entrance exam drawing ever closer, she was determined to succeed.
It's just my stomach...
When she walks into the exam room with a big belly, everyone will take a second look, right?
Looking at her protruding belly, Jiang Shiyuan couldn't help but sigh slightly. Getting pregnant before completing her studies would really cause her a lot of trouble.
Seeing that Jiang Shiyuan's mind was blank after memorizing the knowledge points, Huo Lan gently shook her as she sat on his lap to bring her back to her senses.
"Shi Yuan, what are you thinking about?"
Jiang Shiyuan replied directly, "I'm thinking about what clothes would be appropriate to wear on the day of the exam."
Huo Lan knew what she was worried about. "The weather will be very cold then. You are slim, so it won't be noticeable when you wear a thick coat."
Jiang Shiyuan nodded, feeling quite relieved by Huo Lan's words.
"By the way, Assistant Lin seemed to be calling you just now?" Jiang Shiyuan was focused on reciting her lessons at the time, but she only vaguely heard someone calling Mr. Huo at the door, so she didn't stop.
"Yes." Huo Lan put Jiang Shiyuan on the sofa. "Come to the company with me. This meeting may take a long time. I'm worried about leaving you alone at Lingdang Xiaozhu."
Jiang Shiyuan felt somewhat helpless, not understanding why, even after so much time had passed, he still refused to relax his surveillance on her.
"How could I be alone? There are so many servants in this little house, and a whole maternity team is with me at any time."
Huo Lan's expression darkened slightly, and he said, "I'm not at ease even if there are many people around. I need you to be by my side."
At the engagement banquet, there were so many people at Bell Pavilion, yet she still vanished into thin air, didn't she? Such a clever girl like Shi Yuan can't leave his side even for a moment, otherwise he'll feel heart palpitations, go crazy, and feel so miserable he'll want to die.
Let's go.
Before Jiang Shiyuan could refuse, he pulled her to the entrance, personally helped her put on loose and comfortable flat shoes, and then took a thick and soft cashmere shawl to carefully wrap her up. When he looked up, he caught a glimpse of a camel-colored beret.
"This hat actually suits me quite well."
After dressing Jiang Shiyuan up beautifully and keeping her warm, Huo Lan put his arm around her waist and led her out of the hall.
After the patterned glass door was pushed open, the desolate feeling of late autumn rushed in, and the cold wind made people shiver.
But Lin Lang was seen hunched over, already standing at the door waiting for a long time.
Jiang Shiyuan asked worriedly, "Assistant Lin? Why didn't you come in when you got to the small house? It's so cold outside."
Seeing Huo Lan finally leave, Lin Lang was overjoyed and replied, "Shi Yuan, how could I dare to disturb you... If I went in without permission, wouldn't the boss eat me alive?"
He only complained for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. "Mr. Huo, the car is ready outside Bell Pavilion and we can leave at any time."
He quickly handed over the meeting schedule and materials, saying, "These are the main topics to be discussed at this meeting, as well as the latest financial statements. The group's recent affairs have also been thoroughly organized."
"Okay." Huo Lan replied casually, not immediately taking the documents, but instead rubbing Jiang Shiyuan's hands together. "Are you cold?"
Because she was well taken care of by the team, Jiang Shiyuan experienced almost none of the negative reactions that come with pregnancy, but he was still worried that she might feel uncomfortable in some way.
"I'm fine." She had just come out of the Bell Pavilion. She felt the chill outside, but not the cold. "Work is the priority. You haven't left Huo Garden for so many days, and there are people in the company watching you. Be careful at this meeting."
Hearing Jiang Shiyuan's words of concern, Huo Lan unconsciously curled the corners of his lips, "Of course I have to listen to my wife."
The two embraced and went to the car, with Lin Lang following behind looking utterly dejected.
How could he be so stupid? He didn't think to find Jiang Shiyuan first and ask her to persuade Huo Lan to go back and handle work matters. After all, "one should listen to one's wife."
However, it seems he didn't have a chance to meet Jiang Shiyuan alone.
Once they were in the car, Huo Lan began to carefully examine the documents. Jiang Shiyuan obediently stayed by his side, occasionally glancing out the car window.
It seems like it's been several months since she last went out. After leaving Bishui Village, she focused all her energy on studying and preparing for childbirth, and didn't have time to go shopping with Cheng Yan anymore.
Now it's a good opportunity to go out and breathe some fresh air.
Jiang Shiyuan had never been to the headquarters of the Huo family's group, but she had always heard of it because it was the tallest building in the Wancheng CBD area.
She could see the towering building from afar, its glass curtain wall reflecting a dazzling light in the autumn sun. The building was adorned with the simple words "Huo's" and the Huo family crest of hydrangea flowers, giving it an air of unapproachable mystery.
But soon, the car smoothly drove into the underground VIP passage, shutting out all outside sights and noise.
Jiang Shiyuan barely saw anyone along the way before following Huo Lan through the private elevator to the top floor of the building.
The top-floor office offers a panoramic view. Through the massive glass curtain wall, the entire city of Wancheng lies prostrate at your feet, with its most iconic buildings right before your eyes and the famous river flowing through it like a silver ribbon.
In such a prime location, with its unparalleled panoramic view, anyone would feel as if they had the entire city and its territory at their fingertips.
Although this was not an illusion for the Huo family, whose wealth and status were beyond their reach.
"Aren't you afraid of the height? You've been standing here for so long."
Huo Lan embraced Jiang Shiyuan from behind, who was staring blankly at the scenery of Wancheng. His tall figure bent slightly, buried his head in the crook of her neck, and gently rubbed his cheek against hers.
"After all, it's lonely at the top."
Jiang Shiyuan knew what kind of bloody storm he would face at the meeting he was attending today, so she turned around and hugged him back, gently patting his back.
"It's okay, I'm here, and so is Tuantuan. We're all by your side, so you won't be cold."
Huo Lan loosened his embrace slightly, looking lovingly at Jiang Shiyuan's protruding belly. Five months along, the baby's movements were becoming increasingly noticeable; it would probably be a headache after the baby was born.
"Did Tuantuan not cause any trouble just now?"
Jiang Shiyuan shook her head and laughed, "No, Tuantuan is very well-behaved. Tuantuan only stretches out her little hands and kicks her little feet when Daddy is telling stories."
At this moment, Lin Lang had finished the pre-meeting preparations and came over to call Huo Lan to the giant screen conference room.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Huo Lan helped Jiang Shiyuan to the sofa and began to introduce the facilities in the office, as well as the lounge inside. After Jiang Shiyuan was familiar with the place, he kissed her on the forehead.
"Be good and wait for me here. If you're bored, you can read a book or play a game for a while, but you can't look at electronic screens for too long."
Jiang Shiyuan was obedient and responded softly, which put Huo Lan at ease.
"If you get hungry, you can call the internal phone to order. We also have desserts, but you can't eat too many, and you can't eat anything too meaty or greasy..."
Jiang Shiyuan then realized that Huo Lan was also a talkative person, and said with a smile and a helpless expression, "I know, I really know, you can go now."
Huo Lan then got up and left the office, but before leaving, he asked his bodyguard Jiang Chen, who had been following him, to stay behind.
Jiang Shiyuan felt as if she had been in another world when she saw Jiang Chen. At that time, she used an excuse to transfer him away, which gave her the opportunity to escape Huo Garden. Now, it has been half a year.
"Sister Shiyuan, just stay inside and relax. If you get bored, chat with me..."
Jiang Chen still had a lot to say, but when she thought of the reason Jiang Shiyuan transferred her away, which was because he talked too much and was too annoying, she immediately shut her mouth and held back.
He stood at the office door like a sentry, no longer looking at her.
After Jiang Shiyuan returned, Chen Fei and Han Feng, the two people who helped her escape, were dismissed. She learned about their situation through her aunt Huo Lianjing. The Huo family gave them a large sum of compensation, so they were not wronged.
However, she never saw the four bodyguards that Huo Lan mentioned arranging around her; it was as if they had never existed by her side.
Jiang Shiyuan said, "Jiang Chen, if you want to say something, just say it. I'm bored anyway."
"Really, Sister Shiyuan? Ah... no, Madam."
He was afraid that he had used the wrong title and that Jiang Shiyuan would be unhappy again.
"It's alright, just call me by my old name." Jiang Shiyuan first tried asking a few questions, "Are you doing well with Mr. Huo?"
Jiang Chen was overjoyed. "Of course it's great! Mr. Huo is surrounded by amazing people, and I've learned a lot from them."
Jiang Shiyuan felt a little relieved. "That's good."
She then asked, "My husband told me he has four bodyguards with me, but I've never seen them. Do you know where they are?"
Jiang Shiyuan looked around. The top-floor office was spacious, bright, and quiet. Apart from the two of them, there was no one else in sight.
Jiang Chen murmured, "I don't know either. It's said that they are high-ranking retired special forces soldiers that Mr. Huo hired from abroad, and there is also one person who was poached by a private detective agency for a lot of money. They each have their own different responsibilities."
Jiang Shiyuan's heart sank instantly. Although she couldn't see where they were, she felt a chill run through her body, as if countless eyes were staring at her.
"That's really a waste of talent."
Jiang Chen said, "Mr. Huo is in a high position. He can make people rich and powerful with just a flick of his finger. On the contrary, he can also cause people to go bankrupt overnight and break up their families. So it will affect the interests of many people, and there will be many enemies who are eyeing Mr. Huo and want to cause him an accident."
“It is essential for the Huo family to establish its own top-tier security and private armed forces.”
Jiang Chen looked at Jiang Shiyuan with a sincere attitude, "Sister Shiyuan is Mr. Huo's wife, and her status is different from before. As a result, some people will keep an eye on her, so we must arrange for the best people to protect her."
"Mr. Huo was afraid you would feel uncomfortable, so he didn't let them show up. Don't worry, Sister Shi Yuan, Mr. Huo instructed that even if it's surveillance and protection, they must not infringe on your private space."
Jiang Chen added, "Back then, Chen Fei and I often slept in the car downstairs, so I can guarantee that it's just the two of us on the top floor. Otherwise, Mr. Huo wouldn't have asked me to stay here alone with you."
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Author's Note: I've been thinking for a long time about what to call the Huo family's conglomerate, but I can't come up with anything, so I'll just call it "Huo's Group".
The wind is rising, the Huo family should bankrupt the XX family [doge emoji] hahaha
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