Chapter 29 You are not a stubborn rock, but a rough gem covered in dust.
Stepping out of the gate of Qizhu, a cool evening breeze greets you.
Su Ruan was led by Yan Tingnan, the evening breeze blowing her stray hairs, her almond eyes reflecting the warm yellow lanterns under the eaves of the bamboo grove.
"Mr. Yan, is your mouth blessed?"
"Specifically, strike the thinnest part of a person's skin?"
Yan Tingnan stopped and looked down at her, but did not loosen his grip on her wrist.
"Assistant Su's mouth is just as sharp."
"When it comes to educating people, don't they also deliberately stab at the heart of the matter?"
"To be in front of President Yan is nothing but showing off one's limited skills before an expert, and will only make one a laughing stock."
Her tone was light and cheerful, with a hint of smugness, but her fingertips tentatively scratched his palm.
"Boss, I don't have a car, can I hitch a ride?"
She looked up at Yan Tingnan, the glow of the streetlights dancing in her eyes, revealing her cunning thoughts.
He neither said yes nor no, but simply gestured for the driver waiting nearby to bring the car over.
The black phantom slid in front of me.
"Keep up."
He opened the car door and stepped aside to make room.
Su Ruan bent down and sat in the warm car. A cool, sandalwood scent filled his nostrils, a unique aroma emanating from him.
She watched as Yan Tingnan walked around the back of the car and sat on the other side. The space instantly became cramped, and an invisible tension quietly tightened in the air.
The car started smoothly and merged into the city's river of lights.
Su Ruan watched the dazzling neon lights outside the window rush past, and gently tapped her index finger on her knee.
She suddenly turned her head and looked at the man beside her who had closed his eyes to rest.
"President Yan, what you just said in front of them..."
She paused, carefully choosing her words.
"Do the terms 'exclusive display,' 'deep integration,' and 'VIP preview' still count?"
She asked directly, but her heart was pounding in her chest.
Were those words just casual remarks to show support, or were they a firm promise?
Yan Tingnan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze behind his glasses turning to her, calm as the deep sea.
"Su Ruan".
"When I, Yan Tingnan, do things, it's either all or none."
He paused, his gaze lingering on her face.
"I agreed to your offer, accepted your gift, and granted you permission to cooperate."
Yan Tingnan spoke slowly and deliberately, each word striking a chord in her heart.
That's all.
Su Ruan's breath hitched slightly, and the huge weight that had been hanging over her heart suddenly fell, leaving an excited echo.
It's done!
The windfall has far exceeded expectations and arrived in full force!
She tried to suppress her excitement, her lips moved slightly, and her face was full of sincerity.
"Mr. Yan, thank you."
Whatever his reasons, this support is a tremendous opportunity for the fledgling SoftVoice.
"What are you thanking me for?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded particularly deep and magnetic in the enclosed space.
"Thank you for dealing with that family for me, and thank you for giving SoftVoice this opportunity."
"Thank you for believing me."
Yan Tingnan leaned forward slightly, and an invisible sense of oppression instantly enveloped him.
The crisp scent, mixed with the cool notes of agarwood, enveloped her completely.
"You earned your reputation, and you straightened your back."
"I just happened to be standing where I could see it."
"Your proposal and your capabilities are your credentials to stand before me."
"The Wen family discarded you like trash; they are blind."
"You are not a stubborn rock, but a rough gem covered in dust."
"What slapped them in the face today wasn't just a few words from me."
His gaze was deep and fixed on her.
"It's yourself."
Su Ruan was stunned.
My heart skipped a beat and then pounded heavily against my chest.
A surge of heat spread from her heart, making her eyes slightly hot.
These words struck her heart more deeply than any ambiguous probing or promise of benefits.
Like a beam of light suddenly bursting into your heart in the dead of winter, burning your heart with a sense of panic.
After awakening, all she wanted was to shed the labels of being an abandoned daughter of the Wen and Su families, a simp for Yan Yunye, and a pretty face.
She wanted to stand tall and proud, to be recognized for her own abilities.
Yan Tingnan saw it.
It's not about looking beyond those unsavory labels, but about getting straight to the core essence she's painstakingly honed.
What he gave was not charity, but a platform.
He wasn't supporting a dependent, but a collaborator he approved of.
Or rather, prey?
She took a deep breath, suppressing the slight lump in her throat, and a genuine brightness shone in her eyes.
"Understood, boss."
Yan Tingnan didn't speak again, only hummed in agreement, and closed her eyes again.
Silence returned to the carriage.
The lights outside formed a blurry band of light in Su Ruan's eyes.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the calm profile of the man beside her, her heart skipping a beat amidst the lingering scent of sandalwood.
...
Su Ruan slammed the apartment door open with a loud bang.
"Sound! Auspicious omens have descended from the heavens!"
"Sisters! Report the battle situation immediately! How many pounds of Buddha's flesh have been eaten?!"
In the living room, Song Shengsheng was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her hair a mess, holding a cup of instant noodles.
Su Ruan kicked off her high heels, slumped onto the sofa, and sank into the pile of soft cushions, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"It's done."
Two words, light and airy, yet like a depth charge dropped into the ocean.
Song Shengsheng's face mask fell to the ground with a thud.
"Holy crap?! They actually got it?! In the office or in the car?"
"Details! I want to hear the details!"
"What are you thinking about!"
Su Ruan pounced on her, snatched the instant noodle bucket, and slammed it onto the coffee table.
"SoftVoice, the exclusive VIP preview of the 'Breaking the Cocoon' exhibition, is Qingyan's first deep partnership with an emerging jewelry brand."
"Next Monday at 10 a.m., bring the core design series and the complete plan to his office for the final review."
"What the hell?!"
Song Shengsheng swallowed the half-eaten strip in her mouth with a slurp, her eyes widening as big as copper bells.
"Exclusive? Deeply integrated? Qingyan's prestigious brand is being given to us for free?"
"Tell me honestly, did you two really have sex? And was he unusually generous with his post-coital recovery period?"
"It hasn't come to that yet. He drove me back, and he didn't even get out of the car."
Su Ruan poked her forehead in annoyance, but couldn't help but smile.
She finished explaining Qizhu's situation in a few words, leaving Song Shengsheng stunned.
Realizing what had happened, Song Shengsheng slapped her thigh and burst into laughter.
"Pfft, hahaha! Those three from the Wen family must have turned green with envy back then, right?"
"Especially Wen Wanwan, she's hilarious!"
"They're making false accusations right up to the adulterer himself—it's a massive battleground!"
She laughed so hard she wiped away tears, then suddenly leaned closer and mischievously poked Su Ruan's arm.
"But Ruan Ruan, let's get serious."
"Tell me honestly, weren't you even the slightest bit tempted?"
Upon hearing this, Su Ruan was taken aback.
Inside the carriage, his deep voice, calm gaze, and that affirmation that struck right to the heart.
The scene flashed back unexpectedly, and a slight warmth crept into my ears.
She shook her head, suppressing the strange feeling, and replaced it with her usual playful tone.
"Tempted? It's more practical to just take his money."
Song Shengsheng rolled her eyes and patted her on the shoulder.
"Ruan Ruan, admit it."
"Yan Tingnan, with his aloof and ascetic demeanor, is incredibly protective of his own people; who wouldn't be confused by that?"
Su Ruan's smile faded slightly.
"Sheng Sheng, your heart may beat wildly, but your brain must not be flooded with water."
"Playing with fire is fine, but sinking into depravity is not."
"Who is Yan Tingnan? A top-notch hunter who eats people without spitting out the bones."
"Give her a sweet treat now, and she'll be devoured whole, skin and bones."
"Being tempted means handing over your chips, and once those chips are handed over, the rules of the game are no longer up to me."
"No matter how good or attractive Yan Tingnan is, he is still a dangerous quagmire."
"Feelings are a weakness, and being moved is a fatal flaw."
Song Shengsheng was stunned by her clear-headed analysis.
"Ruanruan, your mind is frighteningly clear right now."
Su Ruan pried her hands off and regained her composure.
"Hurry up! Final draft of the Star Trails series!"
"And then there's the business plan; I'll have to grind it out even if it means pulling all-nighters on the weekend!"
"If we mess this up next Monday..."
She made a throat-slitting motion.
"We both need to go to the overpass to get our screen protectors installed."
"Okay, okay, I'll go work on it right now."
Song Shengsheng jumped up and entered battle mode.
"With my sister's amazing design, and you, the femme fatale, seducing the client, we're guaranteed to win!"
"Rich ladies! Wait! SoftVoice is here!"
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