“You’ve misunderstood, that’s not what I meant.” She didn’t know how to explain further.
This was her family matter; there was no need to explain so much to Zhai Yu.
Ruan Ning’s mind raced as she stared at him. “Then what about you? What were you doing in a place like this just now?”
The man chuckled lightly, lighting a cigarette. “Just passing by. I happened to see a sneaky little mouse and followed it.”
“If it was up to something bad, I could report it right away.”
Who was the mouse? He was the mouse—his whole family were mice.
She bit her lip. “You’re the mouse.”
A passing cold wind swept through, reddening the tip of Zhai Yu’s cigarette and tousling Song Ruannin’s hair.
She raised her hand to tuck the stray strands behind her ear, unaware that the gaze of the man watching her had darkened slightly.
“Song Ruannin, what exactly were you doing following a man in the middle of the night?” Zhai Yu’s voice was low and heavy.
Song Ruannin looked into his inscrutable eyes. “What I do has nothing to do with you. This is my own business.”
Zhai Yu took a drag from his cigarette, snorted coldly, his expression still unreadable.
Song Ruannin sighed, her eyes fixed on his dark pupils.
After careful consideration, she finally spoke.
“Zhai Yu, if you’re holding a grudge over what happened six years ago and keep picking on me because of it, then I apologize. I shouldn’t have threatened you back then or caused you any inconvenience.”
“I’m sorry,” she said sincerely.
“I was young and immature at the time, but now it’s all in the past. I’ve invested in Yunmeng, and you’re my boss.”
She took another deep breath. “Let’s just pretend nothing ever happened before, put aside our past grievances, and be friends, okay?”
As she spoke, she extended her hand.
Making peace with Zhai Yu would make her path forward steadier.
Her slender, pale hand hung in the air for a long time.
Zhai Yu glanced at it but showed no intention of shaking it. Instead, he pinched the cigarette between his fingers.
Ruan Ning’s hand turned bright red in the cold wind.
From deep in his throat, Zhai Yu let out a disdainful snort. “Song Ruannin, what makes you think you’re qualified to be my friend?”
He swatted her hand away and walked off without looking back.
Song Ruannin watched the tall, lean figure disappear into the distance, the glowing red ember at his fingertips gradually vanishing from her sight.
She wasn’t surprised at all. She had long known how terrible Zhai Yu’s temper could be.
When she first entered Yan University, she witnessed the previous campus belle confessing her feelings to Zhai Yu in public.
The campus belle had said, “Classmate Zhai, can we be friends?”
Zhai Yu didn’t even glance at her. He walked straight past her, leaving behind two words: “No.”
Back then, she hadn’t understood why he was so arrogant.
Now she knew—Zhai Yu indeed had the capital to look down on others.
He was Zhai Yu, the youngest son of the Zhai family in Yan City.
In all of Yan City, the number of people qualified to be his friend could be counted on one hand.
And what was she now?
Just someone who, years ago, used shameful means to threaten him, forcing him into a two-year relationship.
In Zhai Yu’s heart, she was his dark history.
After that day, Song Ruannin didn’t see Zhai Yu for several days.
For nearly a week, Ruan Ning had been learning about Yunmeng’s company structure from Shen Yi.
Having invested in Yunmeng and transitioned from an employee to a boss, Song Ruannin hired Zhou Ying as her assistant.
The group discussed Yunmeng’s future development trends and the newcomers the company would focus on nurturing and incubating.
As they were deep in discussion, a commotion erupted outside the conference room.
As the group stepped out, they happened to see Bai Yuwei push open the main door and swagger in.
“Where’s your boss? Tell your boss to come out.”
The new receptionist was startled. Just as Song Ruannin was about to step forward, Shen Yi stopped her and walked ahead himself.
He stopped in front of Bai Yuwei. “What’s the matter?”
Bai Yuwei didn’t even bother to stand up. “Draft a contract. From now on, I’m part of your company.”
Shen Yi sneered coldly. “I’m the boss. How come I don’t know about this?”
Bai Yuwei stood up, glaring at him angrily, then glanced at Song Ruannin. “Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for my brother investing in your little company, I wouldn’t even bother coming here. You’re nothing but a dog by my brother’s side. He’s the real boss of Yunmeng now.”
Shen Yi clenched his fists. He had long disliked this sister of Zhai Yu.
Song Ruannin stepped forward, positioning herself between the two.
After what happened last time, Bai Yuwei was now somewhat intimidated by Song Ruannin.
Song Ruannin said, “The legal representative and chairman of the company are both Shen Yi. No one else’s words count except his.”
“If you want to join Yunmeng, it’s impossible without his approval.”
“You!” Bai Yuwei stood up angrily from her chair, then suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “I won’t talk to you two adulterers. I’ll speak with my brother.”
With that, Bai Yuwei turned to leave, but Song Ruannin grabbed her hand and said darkly, “Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”
“Apologize.” Her voice was firm and resounding.
Bai Yuwei’s face turned pale with anger.
As the two stood locked in a stalemate, the company door was pushed open.
Zhai Yu walked in wearing Italian handmade custom leather shoes and a deep gray suit, his suit jacket draped over the arm of the woman behind him.
Bai Yuwei broke free from Song Ruannin’s grip and ran to Zhai Yu’s side, pushing the woman behind him aside.
“Brother!” She pointed at Song Ruannin and Shen Yi. “They won’t let me join your company.”
“Brother, didn’t you say you’d give me a birthday gift?” She looked at Song Ruannin with a smug expression. “I want to join Yunmeng.”
Zhai Yu’s cold gaze swept across Song Ruannin’s face.
Song Ruannin didn’t look at Zhai Yu. Instead, her eyes fell on the woman who had entered with him.
She recognized her at a glance.
Lin Qianyu, the daughter of Yanda University’s president, the campus belle who had confessed to Zhai Yu back then.
She quickly averted her gaze.
Zhai Yu walked up to Ruan Ning, looking down at her coldly. “Let her join the company.”
Song Ruannin was taken aback, biting her lip. “I can’t decide something like this.”
Seeing this, Shen Yi stepped in front of her, gently patting her shoulder to comfort her. “It’s okay, I’ll handle it.”
Song Ruannin smiled and nodded at him, hiding behind him.
Shen Yi met Zhai Yu’s icy gaze, which sent a chill down his spine.
The office heating was quite strong—was he catching a cold?
Clearing his throat, he said, “Mr. Zhai, Miss Bai doesn’t fit Yunmeng’s style.”
Yunmeng produced pure, natural-style influencers. Letting someone like Bai Yuwei, who leaned toward provocative and flashy content, join would be like ruining their own reputation.
“Who gets to decide—you or me?” Zhai Yu didn’t even lift his eyelids, his tone growing even colder. “Let her join the company.”
Shen Yi gritted his teeth, staring at Zhai Yu.
After a long moment, he had no choice but to yield to Zhai Yu’s oppressive authority. He turned to his assistant beside him and said, “Go draft the contract.”