Chapter Thirty-Five: She Truly Committed an Unforgivable Act

Shangguan Renran waited until Uncle Xia and Zhen Mi’s agent arrived before leaving.

Upon returning, she instructed Ye Xin and Ye Zuo to rest, then took her recorder and went to find Uncle Yang.

“Miss, you’re back?”

“Uncle Yang, I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Alright, Miss, let’s go to the backyard garden.” The garden was serene, free from interruptions.

The autumn night wind was chilly, but the soft lights in the garden cast warmth upon the tranquil darkness.

Chrysanthemums, osmanthus, begonias, cotton roses, and rosebushes bloomed in abundance. The wind scattered petals, filling the air with autumn fragrance.

“Uncle Yang, I want to talk about Shangguan Miaomiao.”

“Has Miaomiao caused trouble at the company?” Shangguan Yang asked, worried. Though his daughter didn’t live with him, he knew her stubborn nature well. She always demanded the best, and after graduation, entered the company. He had never disciplined her.

“Uncle Yang, forgive my bluntness. In her eyes, company business is child’s play, even life itself—if she chooses to use it, she does so without hesitation. Therefore, Uncle Yang, I have dismissed her from the company. Here is a recorder; I have not handed it in. This is her last chance.” Because Uncle Yang had always treated her with affection, as if she were his own child, she spared Miaomiao this one last time. If it happened again, she would show no mercy.

“This... She... Did she really do something unforgivable?” Shangguan Yang took the recorder, disbelief etched across his face. Was this truly his daughter?

After leaving the garden, Shangguan Renran gave him space. Compared to herself, Uncle Yang felt far worse.

—

The next day, Shangguan Renran convened the sales department.

She listed Shangguan Miaomiao’s offenses: disrespecting the company’s collaborating artists, treating business carelessly.

“I hope the capable will take on more. Hu Ya will handle the next brand collaboration. Ye Zuo is appointed director. The rest will be judged by performance, settled monthly.”

“Yes.”

The sales department occupied the fifth floor of the group’s headquarters. Department heads and directors enjoyed their own offices; now Ye Zuo had one as well.

Ye Xin continued working alongside Shangguan Renran.

Meanwhile, across the city—

At the Bay Villa, Huangpu Shenqing’s private residence.

Huangpu Shenqing was—

“Have you remembered, young master? Ribs need to soak for about half an hour, then wash them, bring to a boil, skim off the foam. Add a bit of oil to the pot, three spoonfuls of sugar, and keep stirring—”

“I know, enough chatter.”

I’m only doing this for you, the butler thought, feeling aggrieved.

Huangpu Shenqing was first learning to make sweet-and-sour ribs—Shangguan Renran’s favorite dish.

Though the steps seemed complicated, once learned, it was quite simple.

“Young master is clever, this is your first time cooking and you’ve followed the steps perfectly. When I first—” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Huangpu Shenqing’s cold gaze fixed on him. It was the first time the butler noticed how talkative he could be.

Huangpu Shenqing stirred slowly, then added two spoonfuls of fragrant vinegar, one of soy sauce, ginger, and other seasonings, covered the pot, and simmered on low heat.

“Here, taste it.” Huangpu Shenqing placed the sweet-and-sour ribs on the table, sat at the head, and tilted his chin in invitation.

The butler, trembling, took up his chopsticks. To have the young master cook for him—he felt his days were numbered.

“These sweet-and-sour ribs are truly perfect in color, aroma, and taste. For a first attempt, this is extraordinary—”

“Then you’ve earned your reward. Now, teach me the second dish.” Huangpu Shenqing, dressed in casual clothes, had set aside his usual cold demeanor, appearing peaceful and refined.

“Young master, what should we learn next?”

“Sour and spicy lotus root.” Renran had eaten plenty of it last time.

“You’ve changed your tastes lately?” The young master usually ate blandly, with no particular favorites.

Even Korean, Japanese, Western cuisine held no special appeal.

“Butler,” Huangpu Shenqing’s voice was icy.

“Yes, young master.” The butler straightened immediately.

“Have you forgotten my rules? I don’t like—”

“Don’t like others paying too much attention to your affairs, don’t like servants talking excessively, and don’t like them gossiping. Young master, for sour and spicy lotus root, first peel, wash, and slice the lotus root, rinse several times, soak, and for the sauce you’ll need white vinegar, sugar—”

...

“Hey, Renran? Please save me—I’ve ended up in the hospital, and my old man won’t let me go, says I stole his most precious painting. He saw the newspaper today, learned I donated it, and it sold for six hundred million. Not only did I scam him, I ruined the family’s fortune.”

“Tell Uncle Xia, I’ll give him something better, far better than ‘Bamboo in the Heart’.”

“Bamboo in the Heart” was her creation at seventeen, inspired by her grandfather’s bamboo grove in the manor. He’d always said bamboo represented uprightness and virtue, the way of the gentleman, and together with plum and pine, they were called the “Three Friends of Winter.”

“Really, Renran? Tell me, are you really acquainted with Master AiCo?”

“Yes, yes, you can rest assured now, can’t you?” Shangguan Renran smiled.

“Then I’m at ease. Renran, I await your good news.”

“Alright.” She planned to paint tomorrow—though what to paint, she hadn’t decided.

Never mind, she’d go out and seek inspiration, and take a day to relax.

She was, at heart, playful, but because of her father’s expectations, she studied finance and management.

Otherwise, perhaps she would have painted every corner of the world.