"Brother, what brings you here?" Hu Xueyan asked in surprise when he saw the visitor.
Shu Yan curiously sized up the other person. He resembled Hu Ruixue in some ways, but his features were more defined and masculine. He was a handsome and dashing man.
"Hello, I'm Ruixue's brother, my name is Hu Ruiyang." Hu Ruiyang didn't answer Hu Ruixue's question, but instead greeted Shuyan first.
When faced with a handsome man, every woman subconsciously restrains her true nature. Just like now, Shu Yan's voice lowered two decibels, "Hello, my name is Shu Yan, and I am Rui Xue's friend."
"I've heard Ruixue mention you. If you don't mind, you can call me Big Brother like Ruixue does," Hu Ruiyang said warmly.
Calling him "Big Brother" seemed too intimate, calling him "Brother Hu" was too strange, and calling him "Brother Yang" seemed even more intimate. For a moment, Shu Yan really didn't know what to call Hu Ruiyang.
“Although Shuyan and I are sisters, it’s too easy for you to just come here and try to take a younger sister away. Shuyan, ignore him and just call him Brother Ruiyang.” Hu Ruixue stepped forward to help Shuyan out of the predicament.
"I was being presumptuous," Hu Ruiyang said apologetically, realizing his mistake. "I've often heard Ruixue mention you before. She always says how she would feel if she had a younger sister like you. Over time, I've come to regard you as my own sister. Besides, I admire your courage and business acumen."
Shu Yan's heart skipped a beat. Was it really just abrupt? Someone like him would think before he spoke, and would never say whatever came to mind. Was he testing her?
This is also why Shu Yan doesn't like to associate with wealthy people; they always seem to think that others approach them with ulterior motives. They might be testing you with every word they say, making it incredibly tiring to be around them. Of course, Hu Ruixue is an exception, or perhaps it's because they share a similar plight that Hu Ruixue is kinder to her?
These are all just speculations. As things stand, Hu Ruixue is a very worthwhile friend to have. True friends shouldn't harbor doubts and suspicions, but Hu Ruiyang isn't a friend, so his words are certainly worth questioning.
Sitting in a corner of the sofa, Shu Yan somewhat awkwardly picked up her glass and took a sip of water. Hu Ruiyang sat beside her, and Shu Yan felt a lot of pressure.
"Brother, what brings you here?" Hu Ruixue asked again.
"Nothing much, I just happened to be passing by and took care of some business, so I thought I'd drop by and see you. Your company is doing pretty well, how's it going? Any difficulties?" Like many parents, Hu Ruiyang hoped his child would have a smooth and successful life, and wished he could clear all obstacles for her.
"Not yet, don't worry. Don't you trust me that much?" Hu Ruixue said half-jokingly.
“That’s not what I meant. I was worried that you might encounter difficulties in your first business venture. Don’t try to tough it out; you can ask me for help.” Hu Ruiyang patiently persuaded him.
"Really, no need. I'll definitely call you if I need to. Don't you have something to do? Then hurry up and go, don't delay." Hu Ruixue indirectly urged Hu Ruiyang to leave.
Hu Ruiyang seemed not to hear him, and changed the subject, "The day after tomorrow is Grandma's birthday, Shuyan, are you coming? My grandma has been wanting to meet you for a while."
"Me?" Shu Yan pointed to herself, somewhat surprised.
“Yes. You and Ruixue are good friends. Ruixue has been mentioning you at home. Grandma has said several times that Ruixue should bring you home for dinner. This is a good opportunity.” Hu Ruiyang looked at Shuyan sincerely.
"No, thank you." Shu Yan quickly shook her head. Why would she join in the fun at a rich family's banquet? Would she want to be made a clown? She wasn't interested in marrying into a wealthy family, and she really had no interest in so-called high-society banquets. "Look at my face. I don't even dare to go out now, how could I dare to attend a banquet?"
Hu Ruiyang seemed to only then notice Shu Yan's face, "What happened?"
"It's nothing, I just had laser treatment to remove my freckles. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. I need to pick up my child from school later." Shu Yan didn't plan to continue talking to Hu Ruiyang; she was too tired.
Hu Ruixue usually takes Shu Yan to eat with her, but today she didn't, instead seeing Shu Yan off to the elevator.
"I'm sorry, my brother isn't usually like this. He only gets really nervous when it comes to things involving me," Hu Ruixue said apologetically.
"It's alright. You are you, and he is him. I'm making friends with you because I'm doing business with you." The implication was that Shu Yan already knew about Hu Ruiyang's probing and was somewhat angry about his behavior, but she wouldn't be angry with Hu Ruixue.
Watching Shu Yan leave, Hu Ruixue's smile vanished, and she returned to her office with a stern face. "Big brother, what are you planning to do?"
Hu Ruiyang still had a smile on his face. "Didn't I say that I just happened to be passing by and wanted to see what was going on with your company so I could give you some advice?"
“Shu Yan is gone. I’m your sister, how could I not know you? Why did you do this? I’m sure Shu Yan’s information was already on your desk. She was a woman who shared my plight.” Hu Ruixue paused for a moment. “Brother, Shu Yan and I were friends. I don’t want to lose a friend because of your problems.”
"I was really just concerned about my sister." Hu Ruiyang looked at Hu Ruixue with a slightly aggrieved expression. After a long while, he said helplessly, "Okay, I just wanted to see what kind of person your business partner is."
"What do you mean? She's a woman raising two children alone in Nancheng, what's there to doubt?" Hu Ruixue frowned.
"How can someone who hasn't even finished elementary school for a few years recognize so many characters? And even write proposals that have impressed top advertising professionals in the industry?" Hu Ruiyang believes that there are geniuses in this world, but there are no geniuses who can become successful without learning.
"According to the investigation in her hometown, she didn't graduate from elementary school and always helped her family with farm work. After getting married, she stayed in the countryside to take care of her children. So what's the deal with that advertising plan? Was it really something that someone who hasn't been to school and has never seen the world came up with?" If it weren't for so many suspicious things about Shu Yan, Hu Ruiyang wouldn't have come here today.
"Can't she be a genius? Maybe she's always had this idea, but she was restricted, or maybe she had a sudden realization after her divorce. It can't be that this Shu Yan is fake, can it?" Hu Ruixue retorted, somewhat exasperated.
"Xiaoxue, you need to know that I'm doing this for your own good. If she has ulterior motives, you'll be the one who gets hurt in the end. I just don't want you to get hurt," Hu Ruiyang advised.
"For my own good? Everyone's always said it's for my own good. Because of those words, I've never had any friends. I've never even met a man. That's why I was deceived by Zhang Baizong. Part of my strong desire to marry him was because I genuinely liked him, and another part was because I wanted to rebel. Brother, I'm 27 years old, a mother. Can you please stop treating me like a three-year-old? I have the ability to distinguish right from wrong." Hu Ruixue's eyes welled with tears. "Shuyan is a true friend to me, and that won't change."
“I didn’t mean for you to stop seeing her. I just find Shu Yan a bit strange. Someone who grew up in an extremely patriarchal family, and after so many years in her husband’s family, she’s been weak, incompetent, and completely submissive. So how could she suddenly change so drastically? And this advertising concept…” Hu Ruiyang tapped the back of his chair lightly with his index finger. “I don’t mean anything by it, but if you’re going to work with her, you’d better be careful.”
"Change? A woman would only change because of a major upheaval in her family. Shu Yan's ex-husband had an affair and even wanted to abandon her and their child for that mistress. It's normal for Shu Yan to change. Besides, she never interferes in company matters. Brother, I can only say you've misjudged her this time." Hu Ruixue had spent some time with Shu Yan and could tell that she wasn't the kind of person who was petty or calculating. She loved money, but she loved it openly and honestly; she wouldn't take a single penny that wasn't hers.
"I didn't say she was bad, I just... never mind... It's Grandma's birthday, what are you going to give her?" Every year, birthday gifts are a headache, I never know what to give.
“I’m ready.” Hu Ruixue glanced at him. “Don’t ask me, I won’t tell you.”
Hu Ruiyang chuckled, "I know, I'll be going now." As he reached the door, he added, "Putting aside my suspicions about Shu Yan, I really admire her business acumen."
Shu Yan was unaware that she had already aroused suspicion. She first went to the store to settle yesterday's accounts, and then went home to prepare for her trip to Hangzhou to purchase goods that evening.
The clothing market in Hangzhou is huge, and there are children's clothing and shoe markets nearby. When I took my two children to the south of the city, I only brought a few sets of clothes to change into. A while ago, I bought a few sets of autumn clothes at a store on Fuqian Street, which were a bit pricey. Then I remembered that there was a wholesale children's clothing store next to the clothing market. The weather is getting colder and colder, and it might get colder any day, so I need to prepare winter clothes.
Wu Xiuyue and Lin Hui's children are the same age as Jingjing. They have always helped her a lot, especially Wu Xiuyue. Whenever she needs something, she asks her to help pick up and drop off the children. It is only when there is give and take that people will have good relations. She specially chose two sets of clothes for Wang Chenghan and one set for Lin Hui's daughter.
The next day, when Shu Yan saw Fang Zeyu in the car, she was very surprised, "Last night... I don't think I saw you?"
"I came here the day before yesterday, I had some business to attend to. Are you here to buy goods?" Fang Zeyu wasn't a smooth talker, and after thinking for a long time, he could only ask this question.
"Yes." Shu Yan smiled. After Fang Zeyu left, it took Shu Yan several days to adjust. She wanted to thank him, but she hadn't seen him.
"I've been quite busy lately and haven't been in Nancheng. Oh, by the way, I still have your lunchbox with me. I'll have someone bring it back to you later," Fang Zeyu replied.
"It's nothing, just a lunchbox." Shu Yan glanced at Fang Zeyu. "So, are you done with your business?"
"That's about it."
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