“As your sister, isn’t it natural for me to care about you?” Wen Ran naturally sat down at the office tea table and poured herself a cup of tea.
After taking a sip, she frowned delicately and asked, “Why is this stale tea?”
Xu Shi’an said irritably, “If you want to drink, make it yourself.” He wasn’t going to serve the young lady.
Wen Ran glanced at the Affection points above the man’s head – it was actually forty-five. How interesting.
Among the three romance targets, this was the one with the highest Affection points for the original host, yet it still didn’t reach the passing mark.
Xu Shi’an had no blood relation to the Wen family; he was an adopted child. The original host’s parents were no longer around, and she had gotten married. Currently, he was the acting CEO of Wen Corporation.
The original host used to frequently visit her father’s office to play, and the layout here hadn’t changed. Wen Ran reached to pull open the drawer under the tea table – this was where the tea leaves were stored.
When she opened the drawer and saw that the space originally meant for tea leaves was now filled with various brands of cigarettes, Wen Ran slightly frowned and said to Xu Shi’an, “Father has only been gone for a year, and you’ve already thrown away all his treasured tea leaves?””
Xu Shi’an said, “I didn’t throw them away. I gave them to some clients who have good relationships with the Wen family.”
Wen’s father loved tea, and those tea leaves of his were quite valuable. Since Xu Shi’an didn’t drink tea himself and found them taking up space, he had given them all away.
Wen Ran looked around the office environment, feeling both familiar and strange. She noticed a large wine cabinet and walked over to open it. The moment she pulled open the cabinet door, a chill drifted out, revealing it was filled with various famous liquors.
Seeing her casually rummaging through his territory, Xu Shi’an said in an unfriendly tone, “Wen Ran, did no one teach you not to touch other people’s things randomly?”
“You’re not others; you’re my brother.” Wen Ran said somewhat angrily, “How are you still drinking? This is really irresponsible.”
“I’ve only been gone for half a year, and you’ve been constantly smoking and drinking?” she said. “Have you forgotten that your body can’t handle alcohol?”
Xu Shi’an had severe stomach problems. When the original host was still with the Wen family, she had always been particularly concerned about this aspect and kept strict control over him.
“You’d be better off worrying about your own affairs with this time.” Xu Shi’an was only a few months younger than Wen Ran. It was one thing in the past, but now that he was already the CEO of Wen Corporation, he still had to listen to her scolding.
“Ding, Xu Shi’an’s Affection points -5.”
Whenever any romance target lost points, Zha Zha would always jump out to curse a few words, “Stinky man, he doesn’t appreciate concern when shown.”
Wen Ran, however, smiled. Her true intention wasn’t really to care about him. When being good to someone, it’s not about one-sided willingness that the other party must accept. The original host’s family had been exceptionally good to this adopted son, yet hadn’t seen Xu Shi’an show much gratitude, had they?
What you give only counts when the other person appreciates it.
Seeing that his emotions were fluctuating, Wen Ran immediately changed her approach, “I’m just concerned about your health. You’re my only family left in this world now.”
“If you don’t like it, I won’t say these things anymore.”
Hearing her say this, Xu Shi’an’s previously prepared retort got stuck in his throat. Seeing the sincerity in Wen Ran’s eyes, he momentarily didn’t know how to respond.
Wen Ran could tell that Xu Shi’an seemed not to have expected her to yield. He seemed completely awkward about it.
“Ding, Xu Shi’an’s Affection points +5.”The points that had just dropped rose back again. Wen Ran continued with concern, “Have you been getting your regular health checkups this year?”
Xu Shi’an said, “The company’s been too busy. Haven’t had the time.”
Hearing this, Wen Ran knew he hadn’t gone. Xu Shi’an was famously known in the book as a playboy. Talking about being busy with work? More likely he was spending every night partying at clubs.
The scenario where the female lead met him was a classic trope often seen in many romance novels.
The female lead was accompanying investors at a nightclub for business entertainment when she was unintentionally tricked into drinking something she shouldn’t have. In a panic, she stumbled into the room where Xu Shi’an was, and that’s how they first met.
Just as something was about to happen, Si Yan descended like a god, confronted Xu Shi’an, and took the female lead away. That night was not only Ruan Tang’s first encounter with Xu Shi’an but also her first intimate scene with Si Yan.
About eighty percent of the book’s plot revolved around the physical interactions between the male and female leads, with very little substantial storyline. Yet, Wen Ran, familiar with the script, knew every plot point inside out.
At this point, Xu Shi’an didn’t have much feelings for the female lead yet. Soon, however, he would want to use Wen Ran to disrupt the relationship between Si Yan and Ruan Tang.
“What do you really want?” Xu Shi’an didn’t want to listen to Wen Ran’s nagging anymore. Knowing her, she definitely had an ulterior motive.
Wen Ran stayed silent at first, her expression hesitant, but she eventually spoke up, “I want to get a job.”
Xu Shi’an frowned and said, “Is the Si family going bankrupt? Making a woman work to support the family?”
Among the wealthy socialite wives, which one wasn’t pampered by housekeepers, spending their days shopping or traveling abroad? Did she really need to work?
Wen Ran shook her head, “Don’t talk nonsense. How could the Si family go bankrupt?”
“What are you really up to?” Xu Shi’an asked, “Even if Si Yan were so poor he had to let a woman work, what about the dowry your family gave you?”
When Wen Ran got married, her dowry was extravagant, with a considerable amount of cash alone.
Listening to Xu Shi’an’s words, Wen Ran felt exasperated. He really had quite the imagination. She said, “I just think career women are more attractive.”
As she spoke, her voice grew softer, and she even lowered her head slightly, “A-Yan seems to like women with professional competence.”
Seeing her like this and recalling the incident at the nightclub last time—how Si Yan had protectively stood by his Secretary, along with Wen Ran’s recent social media updates—Xu Shi’an understood everything.
He asked, “Did you find out about Si Yan’s affair?”
Wen Ran looked up at him in surprise, “How did you know…”
Xu Shi’an knew because he had accidentally run into Ruan Tang. But based on his understanding of Si Yan, even if he wasn’t cheating now, he definitely would in the future. He had never thought highly of Si Yan from the start.
Who would have thought that Wen Ran, this woman, was all looks and no brains, falling for Si Yan’s cheap flirting tricks.
Xu Shi’an scanned Wen Ran from head to toe. From a normal man’s perspective, he said sincerely, “I’ve seen that woman. You’re much prettier than her.”
Wen Ran felt uncomfortable under his gaze, and upon hearing this, her face flushed instantly.
“R-really?” the woman said, “I think this might be the first time you’ve ever complimented me.”
Xu Shi’an was taken aback. He had known Wen Ran for so long, yet this seemed to be the first time he had ever really looked at her face—and it was to compare her to another woman.The man remained silent, instead observing more intently. He looked at Wen Ran’s white lace dress, which suited her temperament perfectly. A faint blush of shyness still lingered on the woman’s face, making her utterly captivating.
“What are you looking at?” Wen Ran covered her face with her hands, thinking she might have something stuck on it.
Snapping back to reality, the man immediately turned his face away, suppressing the flutter in his heart. His expression was awkward, yet he secretly stole another glance at the woman’s face.
Seeing her still naively rubbing her cheeks, Xu Shi’an chuckled, “Stop rubbing. There’s nothing on your face.”
“Ding. Xu Shi’an’s Affection points +3.”
Wen Ran asked, “How about I work as a Secretary by your side? Once I learn the job, A’Yan is bound to change his mind.”
Hearing this, Xu Shi’an withdrew his smile. “I already have a Secretary and don’t plan on changing.”
He watched Wen Ran putting on this act just to win Si Yan back. Her husband had already cheated—why wasn’t she seeking a divorce sooner? What was she thinking?