Chapter 50050 represents a full five years of his life.
After the New Year, Meng Ran and Jiang Yuqing prepared for the expansion of the studio together.
After Jiang Yuqing returned from Hainan, the two decided to draft a contract, officially becoming partners.
Previously, Jiang Yuqing had always seen herself as an employee, temporarily helping Meng Ran out. If Meng Ran needed her, she would continue working; otherwise, she would look for other jobs.
Although her previous job was busy, the company had a high level of recognition for her, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to find a well-paying job again.
But Jiang Yuqing is an extremely loyal person. Although she says she only cares about the account operation, she has never stood idly by when Meng Ran encounters any difficulties.
Meng Ran also felt that without Jiang Yuqing, as a newcomer to the workforce with only one year of actual work experience, it would be impossible to successfully run the studio.
Therefore, Meng Ran took the initiative to propose that the studio be operated as a partnership between the two of them, with profits split proportionally.
Jiang Yuqing wasn't one to hesitate; she agreed after considering it for a day.
The two quickly agreed on a rough profit-sharing ratio, with Meng Ran taking the lion's share.
Jiang Yuqing had no objections at all. The original idea for starting a business was proposed by Meng Ran, and Meng Ran was also responsible for providing the funding.
Moreover, there are countless lessons learned from the blood and tears of our predecessors. No matter how good the relationship is between friends who start a company together, they must identify a core leader and cannot discuss everything.
Otherwise, if any disagreement arises, the partnership will soon fall apart.
Regarding the contract, Jiang Yuqing suggested that Meng Ran seek help from Chen Sulin.
Meng Ran was surprised: "Didn't you always dislike him?"
Seven years after arriving, Jiang Yuqing has never stopped complaining about Chen Sulin.
Jiang Yuqing took a sip of her milk tea: "Hengyue is such a big company, its legal team must be very strong. Since the wife is starting a business, why not make use of the husband's resources?"
“Besides, he definitely wouldn’t dare to cheat me,” Jiang Yuqing said with a smile. “Otherwise, I would haunt you, Ranran, like a ghost every day, and turn your husband into a bitter, resentful man.”
Meng Ran was amused by Jiang Yuqing.
Sometimes Meng Ran felt that Jiang Yuqing and Chen Sulin had reached a delicate balance, and she was the fulcrum that maintained this balance.
That evening, back in the bedroom, Meng Ran told Chen Sulin about the lawyer.
After saying that, she added, "It's okay if it's inconvenient for you, I'll figure something out myself."
Chen Sulin looked at her.
Meng Ran: "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Chen Sulin: "Did Jiang Yuqing send you to find me?"
Meng Ran was stunned for a moment, her face showing astonishment: "How did you know?"
Although Chen Sulin could often guess her thoughts, this time, she felt that she hadn't given anything away.
“It’s very simple.” Chen Sulin said calmly, “Since you started your own business, you have never asked me for help.”
Meng Ran was stunned.
She never realized it.
Upon reflection, it seems that since the establishment of the studio, she has encountered numerous difficulties, both large and small, none of which have been resolved by Chen Sulin.
When faced with a problem that is difficult to solve, her first reaction is to try to find a solution herself, search online, and only consult with Jiang Yuqing if all else fails.
“I…” Meng Ran said, “I didn’t intentionally avoid coming to see you, it’s just that… I’ve gotten used to it.”
Moreover, she was lucky. Since she started her business, small problems kept popping up, but she never encountered a major problem that she couldn't solve.
So much so that she never even considered asking Chen Sulin for help.
Chen Sulin: "I know."
“But as your husband,” he said, “I don’t mind if you use me as a resource for your business ventures.”
Meng Ran blinked.
At this point... shouldn't she say something?
After thinking for a moment, Meng Ran tiptoed and lightly touched the man's lips: "Thank you, husband."
Chen Sulin's eyes suddenly darkened.
Seeing him lean over, Meng Ran reached out to stop him: "Wait a minute..."
Chen Sulin: "I already know about the contract. I'll contact a lawyer for you tomorrow morning."
Meng Ran: "You're just giving me the runaround..."
"What do you mean by 'just giving me the runaround'?" Chen Sulin said. "Or do you want me to call a lawyer right now?"
Meng Ran: "Of course that's not what I meant..."
It's almost bedtime, how could I possibly disturb them so late?
Chen Sulin: "I will convey your request to the lawyer tomorrow. I will then have the other party add your contact information, and you can arrange a time yourselves."
As they were talking, Meng Ran's shawl slipped off and was caught by Chen Sulin and thrown onto the bed.
"Is that right?" Chen Sulin said, enunciating each word clearly. "Is Boss Meng satisfied?"
Meng Ran's heart raced at the man's dark eyes and the rising intonation in his voice: "...Mmm."
Chen Sulin's voice was slightly hoarse: "Then stop thinking about work and spend the rest of your time with your husband."
As he spoke, he lifted her chin and kissed her lips.
Her teeth were quickly pried open, and his tongue plunged in, relentlessly sweeping over every inch of her mouth.
Their breaths mingled, and Meng Ran hummed a soft sound.
Her period had just ended, and she hadn't been intimate with Chen Sulin for some time.
Being kissed so passionately, Meng Ran quickly became aroused.
Sensing her desire, Chen Sulin carried her to the bed.
The hem of her skirt bunched up, and his nose brushed against the tip of her breast, making her even more restless.
Having been with Chen Sulin for so long, Meng Ran is finally not as easily shy as she was at the beginning.
She pressed down on the back of his head, drawing him closer to her, greedily absorbing the heat emanating from his body.
Chen Sulin's body temperature was always slightly higher than hers, and she liked having her skin pressed against his like that.
She also loved the way his burning lips lingered on her body.
Both of them had been holding back for too long, and it was rare for her to take the initiative like this.
Chen Sulin, unusually, lost his usual patience and, after feeling her wetness, slumped down.
After many days of complete acceptance, the two sighed in unison.
Meng Ran hugged him tighter, feeling the deep thrusts one after another.
Her pupils gradually lost focus, and she called his name: "Chen Sulin..."
Another one.
Chen Sulin's voice was deep and hoarse: "How did you call me just now?"
Meng Ran bit her lip, her brain almost completely losing the ability to think.
She didn't answer, but he wouldn't let her go.
Just as Meng Ran was feeling so comfortable that she almost cried, he suddenly stopped and asked her the same question again.
She grabbed him angrily, her nails digging into his neck, but Chen Sulin seemed oblivious to the pain.
Having no other choice, I had to go along with his wishes.
Meng Ran: "...Husband."
The words had barely escaped her lips when they broke apart and were swallowed up by her intermittent gasps.
Meng Ran found it almost unbearable, yet she became completely absorbed in it.
Her gaze was unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if a dazzling white light flashed before her eyes.
...
The next morning.
When Meng Ran woke up, Chen Sulin was already dressed.
Seeing her get out of bed, Chen Sulin said, "Perfect timing, help me pick out a tie?"
Meng Ran gave him a disapproving look.
What do you mean by "just right"? It's not just right at all.
Chen Sulin's brow twitched.
"What's wrong? Was it last night..." he asked, "Was there anything that made you uncomfortable?"
Meng Ran bit her lip.
It's not that I feel uncomfortable, it's that I feel too comfortable.
This led to excessive indulgence.
Except for special circumstances like when Chen Sulin just returned from a business trip, most of the time, only one item in the bedside table drawer is used up each day.
Otherwise, even if Chen Sulin could handle it, Meng Ran wouldn't be able to bear it, even if it happened several times every night.
But last night, perhaps because of the long interval, both of them lost control.
And then there was that "husband" she called out...
In short, after waking up today, Meng Ran felt the soreness in her legs again, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Anyway, you choose," Meng Ran said. "I'm going to wash my face and brush my teeth."
After saying that, she ignored him and went straight into the bathroom.
Bending down to squeeze toothpaste and brush teeth.
Meng Ran's arm froze as she casually glanced at herself in the mirror.
She slowly opened her eyes wide: When did that hickey above her collarbone appear?
Meng Ran reached out and rubbed it in disbelief, only to find that it couldn't be rubbed off at all.
When Chen Sulin came out of the bathroom after washing up, he had already put on his tie and watch, and was wearing a black suit jacket.
Seeing her approach, Chen Sulin said gently, "I have a meeting at the company this morning, so I have to leave."
“I’ve already contacted the lawyer,” he added. “Keep an eye on your WeChat friend requests; they should add you before noon.”
Meng Ran: "Oh... okay."
Hesitating for a moment, he couldn't say what he wanted to say.
As Meng Ran ate breakfast alone in the restaurant, she regretted it again.
One thing at a time, she should indeed thank Chen Sulin for helping her contact a lawyer.
But that hickey above his collarbone was clearly his fault!
After breakfast, Meng Ran went back to her room to change her clothes.
She has errands to run today and needs to go out.
Fortunately, it's winter, so wearing a sweater with a high collar doesn't look out of place.
Before changing into her sweater, Meng Ran took a picture of her collarbone with her phone.
Meng Ran: [Image]
Meng Ran: [It's all your fault! I have to wear a turtleneck sweater today.]
Meng Ran: [Next time, even if you're going to plant something, could you please choose a place where it won't be visible?]
...
The meeting was about to begin when the assistant pushed open the door to the president's office.
The boss just called him into the office to report on the meeting agenda.
Upon reaching the desk, the assistant asked Chen Sulin whether he should begin the report now.
I waited for ages but didn't get a response.
The assistant then noticed that the boss was looking at his phone screen with a slight frown, as if he hadn't heard him come in.
For Chen Sulin, who is always highly focused and efficient, this was like the sun rising in the west.
The assistant's expression turned serious, and he cautiously asked again, "Mr. Chen?"
The boss looked grave; could something have happened at the company?
Chen Sulin looked up: "You're here. Let's begin."
"Okay, okay," the assistant replied respectfully.
As he began his report, the assistant was thinking to himself.
I need to speak with the others in a bit; the boss might be in trouble today, so we need to be on high alert.
.
Meng Ran went out today to meet Jiang Yuqing to decide together which office building to rent as the future address of their studio.
Both of them had been working from home, so they knew each other well and it was easy for them to meet up when they needed to discuss something.
However, if we hire other employees in the future, renting a formal office will be essential.
After browsing online for a while, the two narrowed it down to a few candidates based on factors such as environment, location, and rent, and came to see them in person today.
They visited two office buildings in the morning. At noon, Meng Ran and Jiang Yuqing found a noodle shop downstairs in one of the office buildings to have lunch.
Meng Ran replied to WeChat messages while eating.
She had just received a friend request from a lawyer surnamed Yao, whom Chen Sulin had helped her contact.
After adding Attorney Yao, the other party indicated that they understood her needs and would draft a preliminary contract.
When they meet again, Meng Ran can offer suggestions for improvement in person if any problems arise.
Jiang Yuqing took a big bite of noodles and asked, "What's wrong? Is it your husband? He started urging you to come home early at noon?"
Meng Ran chuckled: "It wasn't him."
It's unclear what kind of image Chen Sulin holds in Jiang Yuqing's heart.
She herself felt it was fine, and didn't feel that Chen Sulin was particularly clingy.
Has she already gotten used to it?
Meng Ran: "Chen Sulin helped me contact the lawyer, and we are currently discussing the contract."
"Wow, so fast?" Jiang Yuqing exclaimed. "Didn't I just tell you yesterday afternoon to ask Chen Sulin to help you with the contract?"
Meng Ran: "Yes, I told him last night."
Jiang Yuqing: "..."
“Although I’ve always had some issues with your husband,” Jiang Yuqing said sincerely, “I have to admit that he’s a pretty reliable person.”
Meng Ran: "When the contract is ready, let's take a look at it together."
Jiang Yuqing: "Okay."
The plan is to visit four locations today, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
The two were next to each other in the afternoon, separated only by a street, so we finished watching them quickly.
After discussing it, Meng Ran and Jiang Yuqing agreed that the last room they saw in the morning was more suitable.
"And the noodle shop downstairs in that office building is especially delicious," Jiang Yuqing said. "We can go eat noodles together when we're tired from work in the future."
Meng Ran chuckled: "You wouldn't be thinking of renting your studio there just because of that, would you?"
"How could that be! Am I that kind of foodie?" Jiang Yuqing said righteously, "It's mainly because the environment and location there are good, and the rent is reasonable."
"Unlike the two we looked at this afternoon, the location is good, but the building is a bit old and there are not enough toilets. We might have to wait in line to use the toilet."
"As for the first place we looked at this morning, although the environment was nice, the surrounding amenities were really poor."
Meng Ran nodded: "I think the same way. Let's go see the second one this morning. I'll talk to the agent."
Jiang Yuqing: "Don't you want to look at anything else?"
Meng Ran: "After looking at them all, they seem pretty much the same. Let's make a decision as soon as possible so we can start recruiting sooner."
Before officially releasing them today, they had already carefully selected them.
Meng Ran didn't want to waste too much time on these minor things; the focus was still on the product itself.
Jiang Yuqing: "Okay!"
"Oh, by the way, speaking of hiring," Jiang Yuqing said, "I posted on my WeChat Moments yesterday, hoping to see if any of my former colleagues would be willing to join us, and guess what?"
"A classmate from our school whom I haven't contacted in a long time asked me if our studio needs a data analyst position. That person is from the same college as you, and you'd never guess who it is!"
Meng Ran: "Who?"
Jiang Yuqing: "Cai Xue! Do you remember her? She was a pretty girl who often participated in various activities when she was in school. I became friends with her at a student council event."
Meng Ran paused for a moment, then said, "I remember."
Jiang Yuqing: "Right. I remember she got married less than a year after graduation. Her husband is quite rich. A few years ago, she often posted pictures of herself having afternoon tea like a rich lady on her WeChat Moments, as well as various photos of her son."
“I thought she was definitely going to be a housewife forever,” Jiang Yuqing sighed. “I never expected that she would actually plan to go back to work. I asked her briefly, and she said that she was preparing for a divorce and fighting for custody, so she needed a job.”
Meng Ran was in a daze for a few seconds.
Jiang Yuqing: "What's wrong, Ranran? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Meng Ran snapped out of her daze: "Actually... I saw her a few months ago."
Jiang Yuqing was completely taken aback: "Huh? When? Where?"
Meng Ran recounted how she met Cai Xue at Chen Miaoying's friend's birthday party.
Some unnecessary details were glossed over, only mentioning the two meeting and later encountering Cai Xue and her husband.
Jiang Yuqing frowned after hearing this: "Huh? Cai Xue's husband is that low? No wonder she wants a divorce. Good thing!"
Meng Ran nodded: "Yes, I also think it's a good thing that she got divorced."
She didn't know Cai Xue's husband, but a man who would give his wife a hard time in public wouldn't be someone she could entrust her life to.
Jiang Yuqing: "So do you think we should hire her? We do need an analyst, and Cai Xue said she knows she got married not long after graduation and has too many gaps in her resume, so she's willing to lower her salary requirements."
Meng Ran thought for a moment and said, "Let's follow the normal procedure and have her come for the interview."
Jiang Yuqing: "Okay, I'll talk to her."
Meng Ran also called the real estate agent to say that they were going to rent the second office they had seen that morning.
The agent and she agreed to sign the contract tomorrow during the day.
I had just hung up the call from the agent when a message from Attorney Yao came in.
Attorney Yao was even more efficient than Meng Ran had imagined; the first draft of the contract was completed in just a few hours.
Meng Ran showed the electronic version of the contract to Jiang Yuqing.
After looking at it, Jiang Yuqing said, "I have no problem with it."
Meng Ran: "Attorney Yao said he has time to meet with me soon, would you like to come with me?"
Jiang Yuqing hesitated for a moment and said, "No need, I have to go to the hospital to get medicine for my mother in a while, I don't have time. Besides, the contract is not complicated, I have read it, there are no problems."
Meng Ran: "Okay, then I'll go and confirm the details with the lawyer first. Once everything is confirmed and the final version is ready, we'll schedule a time to sign it together."
Jiang Yuqing: "Okay."
Meng Ran and Attorney Yao arranged to meet at Hengyue.
Jiang Yuqing was going to the hospital, and the two said goodbye.
When they arrived at Hengyue, it was a little after 3 p.m. Attorney Yao arranged a meeting room for the two to discuss contract-related matters.
Attorney Yao is very professional and can provide simple and easy-to-understand answers to any questions Meng Ran raises.
Everything ended smoothly before five o'clock.
Meng Ran left the meeting room and sent a message to Chen Sulin.
Meng Ran: [I just finished speaking with Attorney Yao. He's very professional, and our communication went very smoothly.]
Meng Ran: [You should be getting off work soon too? Shall we pick up Miaoying together later?]
Chen Sulin: [Okay.]
Chen Sulin: [Where are you now?]
Meng Ran: [Just came out of the conference room.]
Chen Sulin: [Then come to my office and wait for me? I'll have Assistant Zhou pick you up.]
Meng Ran: [No need, I know the way.]
She arrived at Chen Sulin's office, and the furnishings were almost exactly the same as when she first came here.
Meng Ran suspected that this place might have remained unchanged for ten years.
She had been to Chen Sulin's office many times before, but each time she was with Chen Miaoying.
This is the first time she has come alone.
For no apparent reason, Meng Ran recalled the first time she came to this office.
While looking for the cup, she unexpectedly found the Polaroid photo.
That same day, her relationship with Chen Sulin suddenly took a turn.
Meng Ran's gaze was somewhat unfocused.
When she came to her senses, she was already standing in front of the drawer where she had first discovered the Polaroid camera.
Perhaps her brain automatically associated her current mood with the scene before her, Meng Ran's heart inexplicably raced.
As if possessed, she slowly pulled open the drawer.
The cup that Meng Ran used was no longer in the drawer; she had placed it on the coffee table in the rest area, and she would use it to drink water whenever she came.
The Polaroid photo wasn't in there either; Chen Sulin took it home and then gave it to her.
Now, only a black leather-covered folder remained inside, lying there quietly.
A sudden thought popped into Meng Ran's mind.
Her cup, and that Polaroid photo, are both things associated with her before she disappeared.
Is this folder... also one?
Chen Sulin never said she was not allowed to touch anything in the office.
Meng Ran pursed her lips, her fingertips hovering above the folder.
Finally, curiosity overcame reason, and she gently picked up the wallet.
It should be okay if I just open it and take a look, without flipping through anything else, right?
Thinking this, Meng Ran opened the folder in her hand.
What came into view was a handwritten notebook, with Chen Sulin's sharp and forceful handwriting.
A long list of place names appeared from top to bottom, from big cities like Shanghai and Wuhan to various small towns, some of which Meng Ran had never even heard of.
It includes several foreign place names.
In addition, her hometown, Yunxi, appeared a total of three times.
Each place name is accompanied by a date to its right.
The top row shows dates from over five years ago, and the dates in each subsequent row are spaced out.
The shortest duration was less than a week, while the longest was five months.
The date on the last line was half a month before she was found.
Meng Ran stared blankly at the lines of text, feeling as if a piece of her heart had suddenly emptied.
She thought she could roughly guess what the place names and dates represented.
It refers to all the places Chen Sulin visited in search of her during the years she was missing.
A thin page represents five long years of his life.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the next chapter will be the final chapter of the main story.
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