Seeing that Ruan Qing'an's expression was unusual, Mo Hong, who was waiting to the side, quickly said, "Miss, the old man is still angry. You two must have a good talk. Family members shouldn't hold grudges overnight."
"...Grandpa Mo, thank you for your trouble."
Ruan Qing'an sighed softly before entering the private room.
Inside the private room, a serious old man and a kind old woman sat side by side by the window. Even though their faces were wrinkled, they still looked very elegant.
The old man's name was Han Chengcai. After returning from studying abroad, he founded his own company, laying the foundation for the group's predecessor and accumulating enormous wealth. He also married Hong Juan, and the couple worked together until old age, eventually having Ruan Qingan's mother inherit the group.
Ruan's mother was a strong and capable woman who continued to expand the group single-handedly. Even when she married Ruan's father, it was only a partnership. This is why Ruan's father had always doted on Ruan Qing'an before.
It wasn't until a month ago, after Ruan's mother passed away, that Han Chengcai was forced to end his retirement and resume management of the entire Han Group.
Tears welled up in Hong Juan's eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Han Chengcai grabbed her hand and said, "Her surname is Ruan, not Han. She and that heartless man are family."
"Speak, Ruan Qingan, what do you want from us?"
Seeing Han Chengcai and Ruan Qing'an facing off, Hong Juan felt heartbroken, but she couldn't say anything. She could only lower her head and wipe away her tears. The entire private room was deathly silent.
Seeing Ruan Qing'an standing blankly at the door, unresponsive, Han Chengcai was even more furious. But just as he was about to speak, a deep voice rang out—
Ruan Qingan actually knelt down on the ground!
Hong Juan couldn't hold back any longer. She shook off Han Chengcai's hand and went straight to hug Ruan Qing'an: "Ruan Ruan, what are you doing here? How could we bear to part with you? Does your knee hurt?"
"If you keep spoiling her like this, something bad will happen sooner or later!"
Han Chengcai was so angry that he glared and cursed at her with disappointment, but Hong Juan said, "Your daughter is already gone, do you want me to lose this granddaughter too!"
"you--"
Han Chengcai was speechless, while Hong Juan held Ruan Qing'an's hand and said, "Ruan Ruan, get up quickly and let Grandma see if you're hurt."
Meeting her aged yet loving eyes, Ruan Qing'an choked up for a moment, but still firmly pushed away Hong Juan's hand and said earnestly, "Grandma, this is what I deserve."
"How can you say such a thing, child!"
Ruan Qing'an lowered his head, his fingertips gripping the hem of his clothes until they turned white: "It's because I misjudged people that I've ended up in this situation..."
Hearing her almost tearful words, Han Chengcai finally looked up and looked directly at Ruan Qing'an, his expression complicated: "Old woman, step aside, I want to see what she has to say."
Hong Juan paused, then sat down again next to Han Chengcai, watching their standoff with growing anxiety.
Compared to Hong Juan's kind heart and easy-going nature, the original owner's maternal grandfather, Han Chengcai, was truly ruthless and heartless. In the original story, even when the original owner's family was destroyed, he never offered any help as long as the original owner was ignorant and hated the Han family.
Ruan Qing'an knew full well that it wouldn't be easy to win over Han Chengcai, and she knelt obediently, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Compared to my mother, I know that I have been disappointing you, my grandparents. Even after my mother died, I wanted to completely sever ties with the Han family."
Ruan Qing'an paused, her petite body even trembling, and leaned down slightly: "If it weren't for my mother's passing, I probably would never have realized that my father was this kind of person."
"...He's always been that kind of person."
Han Chengcai snorted coldly: "I told you before that I couldn't let you follow him, and look what you've been taught to be!"
Ruan Qingan smiled bitterly: "He even told me that my mother passed away because she was overwhelmed by excessive worry and the pressure from the Han Group was too much for her—"
Upon hearing this, Han Chengcai slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "What utter nonsense is this heartless bastard spouting!"
“Grandpa, this is what he always told me.”
Ruan Qing'an's smile was bleak, filled with intense bitterness. Even Han Chengcai, seeing her regretful expression, couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh. A month ago, it wasn't just his daughter who passed away, but also Ruan Qing'an's mother...
Han Chengcai remained silent for a moment, then his attitude finally softened.
With tears welling in her eyes, Ruan Qing'an observed the old woman's reaction with unwavering, leaden eyes. She pressed on, saying, "My mother told me this before, but I'm sorry, it was through her death that I truly learned to grow up."
"Before my mother passed away, she taught me how to be an excellent leader. I listened to my father and said that as long as I was a good young lady, that would be enough. I failed my mother's expectations."
Thinking of her daughter, Hong Juan almost burst into tears. After all, everyone has a heart, and no matter how much of a scoundrel Ruan Qing'an was in the past, she was still their granddaughter and their only relative.
Han Chengcai was somewhat moved, but thinking about recent events, he still harbored some doubts: "...I heard that your father brought Ruan Tiantian home?"
Not only that, but they brought her home and publicized it extensively, even granting her legitimate inheritance rights, putting Ruan Qing'an in an awkward position.
Given Ruan Qing'an's despicable behavior and lack of favor, it's a foregone conclusion that she won't be part of the Hongyuan Group. Is that why she's trying to contact the Han family?
Thinking of this, Han Chengcai's eyes turned slightly cold.
Ruan Qing'an knelt straight on the ground, her knees even bleeding, but she didn't react at all.
“Grandpa, Mom wants me to inherit the Han Group, but I know I have already disappointed you. I am not qualified at all, even though I am your granddaughter.”
"I know I'm in a difficult situation. If my grandparents had helped me, I wouldn't be having such a hard time, but—"
Ruan Qing'an paused, then kowtowed three times forcefully. This action startled both Han Chengcai and Hong Juan. When she looked up again, red marks with blood were clearly visible on her forehead.
Her leaden eyes shone with a resolute light: "Grandpa, Grandma, I will not let Mom's spirit in heaven down."
After saying that, before they could react, Ruan Qingan had already staggered to his feet, bowed again, and then turned and left the private room.
After she left, the entire private room fell into a deathly silence. Hong Juan was sobbing uncontrollably, and Han Chengcai remained silent. Mo Hong rushed in: "Sir, Miss, she—"
Let her be.
"But Miss has really changed!"
Hearing Mo Hong's words, Han Chengcai gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Ruan Qing'an staggered out of the coffee shop, looking much more disheveled than when she went in. Blood was seeping from her fair forehead, and her knees were scraped.
The original owner was pampered and had never suffered such humiliation. After kneeling for only half an hour, her knees were already so badly injured that they were unsightly.
Ruan Qing'an had knelt too hard, and now her knees were aching slightly as she walked, trembling involuntarily. Just then, a hand suddenly stopped her and supported her steadily.
Luo Yuming lowered his voice: "Miss, are you sure you want me to wait for you in the car in this state?"
Ruan Qing'an didn't speak, but just pursed her lips.
He suddenly realized something and asked, "Something's happened?"
Ruan Qingan then nodded slightly.
Without the Han family's support, Ruan Qing'an would likely struggle to win on his own. Luo Yuming's gaze darkened, indicating that the risk of his investment in Ruan Qing'an was increasing...
Sensing Luo Yuming's inner turmoil, 037 became even more anxious.
[Oh my god, this won't do! What if you run out of leverage and the male lead abandons you? Several previous hosts tried to play the victim, but were discarded after losing their usefulness!]
Is love always about making a profit?
Ruan Qing'an looked disapproving: "System, you're too cliché."
037: ...You're aloof, I'm vulgar, I'm truly a slacker.
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