Su Ran pulled her hand away without a word.
Xue Yi gave her a meaningful look. “My uncle said he spoke to the CEO of Gaoshan Capital to explain our family’s situation. They’re reconsidering the investment.”
Suppressing her disgust, Su Ran said, “Dad, I already contacted Manager Zhang at Gaoshan Capital a few days ago. He said he’d send over the investment proposal within the next day or two.”
Xue Yi cut in quickly, “Xiao Ran has worked so hard.”
Su Tianlei was in high spirits. “We definitely need to thank President He. He’s the one who helped pave the way ahead of time.”
Xue Yi adopted a humble posture. “My uncle’s help was secondary. It was mainly Xiao Ran’s hard work, running back and forth, that did it.”
Her mother, Song Huiping, walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray. “In a couple of days, Xiao Ran, you and your father should take Xiao Xue and his uncle out for a meal to properly thank them.”
Xue Yi hurried forward to take the utensils from Song Huiping’s hands. “Auntie, you’re being too polite. We’re all family.”
Su Ran couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly.
As the lavish spread of food was laid out on the table, her younger brother, Su Rui, finally came downstairs.
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he said sheepishly, “Sis, those veteran employees came by to press us again yesterday. They were making such a racket I couldn’t even focus on my revision.”
Fearing Su Ran would be troubled, Song Huiping comforted him, “It’s just a few long-term workers. Your father has already calmed them down. Don’t worry.”
Su Rui glanced at Su Ran, hoping she would take the initiative to suggest he move into her place in front of their parents. “Grandma is coming back in a few days. She plays music and does her shadowboxing in the courtyard every day. My exams are less than three months away.”
Su Ran played along. “The postgraduate entrance exam is a big deal. You should move to my place to study first.”
Su Rui placed a piece of tender fish belly onto Su Ran’s plate. “Then will you move back here?”
Xue Yi interjected, “I have a new apartment that’s currently empty. It was intended to be our marital home. Ranran can move in there first. After all, I plan for us to get engaged as soon as possible.”
“Engaged?” The whole family froze.
Su Ran desperately wanted to slap him. He was truly shameless. “I’m not in the mood to talk about personal matters right now. We’ll talk after the factory’s issues are resolved.”
To Su Tianlei and Su Rui, this sounded like Su Ran was using the marriage as leverage to force Xue Yi to settle the financing quickly.
Su Tianlei’s expression immediately hardened. He had always been an upright and straightforward man who couldn’t stand his own family members being manipulative. “Xiao Xue has already done his best. Whether this works out or not, we should be grateful to him. How can you use marriage as a threat?”
Song Huiping hurried to smooth things over. “Xiao Ran didn’t mean it like that. We’ll take things one step at a time. Besides, they’ve only been dating for six months. There’s no rush.”
Su Ran put down her chopsticks. “Xue Yi, come outside with me.”
Su Rui looked at his mother in confusion. He didn’t understand why his sister, who had been fine before, was suddenly acting so coldly toward Xue Yi today.
Fearing Su Tianlei might get angry, Song Huiping whispered soothingly, “It’s probably because Xiao Xue didn’t discuss it with Xiao Ran beforehand, so she’s upset.”
Su Tianlei’s face remained taut. “She’s being headstrong.”
Song Huiping quickly served him a bowl of soup. “She’s been tired lately and in a bad mood. Let them talk it out themselves.”
Out in the courtyard, Xue Yi immediately grabbed Su Ran’s hand, his voice low and sincere. “Xiao Ran, I thought about it all night. It was all my fault. I only did those things because I love you too much. Let’s just turn the page, okay?”
Su Ran shook him off forcefully. Illegal drugging and attempted rape—he thought a simple apology could “turn the page” as if nothing happened?
Not a chance.
“Xue Yi, it’s over between us. If you dare to keep talking nonsense to my parents or mess with my family’s business, I’ll report you immediately. I have other evidence, and I won’t show you an ounce of mercy.”
Xue Yi’s eyes flickered with unease. His uncle had already looked into it; the man in Room 8086 was Lu Jingxing. His uncle had told him he must keep Su Ran stable and coax her back at all costs.
Xue Yi pulled out an order slip and pleaded submissively, “I’m truly sincere. Look, I’ve already ordered the engagement ring. Xiao Ran, I know you’ve been tired lately and you’re angry. I can wait for you to calm down. Let’s get engaged first, and you can see how I prove myself, okay?”
Su Ran looked down. The slip was for a very expensive diamond ring, paid for three weeks ago.
Hmph. Even if he had a shred of sincerity, the deep affection of a stray mongrel smelled worse than shit.
Xue Yi wanted to explain further, but just as he opened his mouth, Qi Xinxin, an assistant from the marketing department, ran into the courtyard panting, clutching a file folder. “Xiao Ran, Gaoshan Capital sent over the Investment Proposal.”
There was no joy in Qi Xinxin’s voice.
Su Ran felt a sense of dread. “Is there a problem?”
Qi Xinxin’s eyes drooped. “They’re offering a one-time investment of twenty-five million, but they require a 52% stake and full decision-making authority. I hurried over to give it to you and Director Su.”
A 52% stake and decision-making authority? This was effectively handing over the business her family had painstakingly built for years to someone else. This wasn’t an investment; it was an acquisition.
Lu Jingxing was toying with her.
Hearing the commotion, Su Tianlei walked out and asked, “What’s going on?”
Qi Xinxin cautiously repeated the terms.
Su Tianlei’s face instantly darkened, his voice trembling with rage. “Impossible. Even if I have to sell my house and start from scratch, I won’t sell the company.”
Su Ran supported her father, worried about his blood pressure rising. “Dad, don’t be angry yet. I’ll contact Manager Zhang to ask about the situation. Besides, we still have time. We can look for other firms.”
Xue Yi chimed in, “That’s right, Uncle. Everything is negotiable. Xiao Ran and I will go to Gaoshan Capital together tomorrow. Business is just a process of bargaining. With me helping you and Xiao Ran, it’ll be fine.”
Qi Xinxin also whispered comfort, “Director Su, there will be a way.”
Su Ran said, “Xinxin, help my dad inside. I’m going to make a phone call.”
Xue Yi followed up, “I’ll ask my uncle as well.”
Su Ran ignored him. She went back to her room, locked the door, and called Lu Jingxing.
Ten minutes passed. Her message received no reply, and her calls went unanswered. She could only contact Zhang Sheng.
Zhang Sheng listened and replied, “Mr. Lu is personally handling the Tianlei project. The increased investment shows that Mr. Lu highly approves of and values it. If you have any questions, Miss Su, you can contact Mr. Lu directly.”
Su Ran gripped her phone tightly.
The factory wasn’t large, but it was the industry her family had worked their entire lives for. She had watched her parents build it up from a tiny stall ever since she was a child.
If it weren’t for her, Xue Yi wouldn’t be sabotaging them, and Lu Jingxing wouldn’t have this leverage over them.
She was the primary reason the financing was failing.
Su Ran opened her chat window with Lu Jingxing. Her eyes were rimmed with red as she typed: I can agree to your terms.
Her slender fingertips trembled, hovering over the send button. Stubbornness and resentment held her back, preventing her from pressing it for a long time.
As she hesitated, a sharp crack outside the window startled her.
A stray cat had snapped a thin branch and tumbled down with a “meow.”
Su Ran ran to the window and leaned out to look down.
The stray cat stood up among the fallen leaves and shook off the debris. It looked up unbothered, gave its tail a twitch, and lunged back onto the tree trunk. Finding a sturdy branch directly in the sun, it lazily stretched its front paws and curled up to sleep.
When Su Ran pulled her head back in, she realized she had accidentally hit send.
Without a second thought, she immediately retracted it.
Half a second later, Lu Jingxing replied: …?