Chapter Forty-Seven: She Actually Climbed in Through the Window

“President, the sofa has been replaced and the office has been thoroughly disinfected,” Mo Yi reported respectfully to Huangpu Shenqing, who was gazing down from above.

The Huangpu Group was now the tallest building in City A, ranking among the world’s premier skyscrapers. With over 120 floors, the pedestrians below looked like nothing more than mere dots. Yet, the view was unique, as if the building brushed against the azure sky itself.

“Has Gong Yi’s team arrived?” asked Huangpu Shenqing.

“Yes, they have. There are more than three hundred people in total, all awaiting your instructions. May I ask, President, what name do you plan to give the company?” He had arranged for the old sign to be removed that afternoon, though he still didn’t know which characters to commission for the new one. For now, their group was left in an awkward state, nameless but at least occupying the highest floors—unseen by those below.

“We’ll call it Nian Ran Group.”

“Which characters should those be?” Mo Yi inquired.

“Just use the homophones,” Huangpu Shenqing replied, leaving the corridor.

Mo Yi was left in distress. Homophones? Nian Ran? Was “Nian” as in longing or missing someone, and “Ran” as in the name Shangguan Renran? How was he supposed to choose the right characters for that? Mo Yi felt his education was sorely lacking.

—

Shangguan Renran awoke shortly after three in the afternoon, and underwent a series of thorough examinations. By the time she finished, her mother had returned.

Her mother was a tall woman, her ash-blonde hair falling gracefully over her shoulders. Her features were delicate and refined; though already forty-five, she showed no signs of age, her face unmarked by a single wrinkle. She wore a loose black suit, cinched at the waist by a black belt adorned at the center with a cluster of fine white crystals.

Worry and exhaustion were etched across her face, but what drew the eye most were those striking blue eyes—so exceptionally vivid.

“Ranran…” The sight of her frail daughter on the hospital bed sent a sharp pain through her heart. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward this child.

“Mother…” Shangguan Renran sat up and embraced Ye Xi, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

She had not cried when she was struck by Huangpu Qingyin; she had not cried when ten people beat her; even when she opened her eyes to see her father, she had held back. But now, she simply couldn’t contain it anymore.

—

“My sweet girl, it’s all my fault. I should have been with you. For you to suffer so much—it’s all because of me,” her mother sobbed, holding her tightly.

The two women wept in each other’s arms, leaving Shangguan Xing awkwardly at a loss.

“Dear... Ranran…” Shangguan Xing tried to approach.

“You be quiet! Our daughter is in this state, and you bear a great part of the blame. I’ll deal with you later,” Ye Xi scolded.

“Yes, yes, it’s my fault. Please don’t get upset, it’s bad for your health,” Shangguan Xing replied.

“What did the doctor say?” Ye Xi gently brushed her hand over the bandage on Shangguan Renran’s forehead.

“Mother, I’m fine now. It just looks frightening, that’s all.”

“But it will leave a scar…” Ye Xi’s tears flowed anew.

“I’ll just cut myself some bangs, Mother. Please don’t be upset,” Shangguan Renran reassured, clutching her mother’s hand.

“What caused the accident, then?” Ye Xi pressed, holding her daughter’s hand tightly.

At this, father and daughter both fell silent.

“Shangguan Xing,” Ye Xi turned to him, her anger clear.

“Ranran, she…”

“Mother, the one who hit me was Huangpu Qingyin of the Huangpu family in City A. She deliberately blocked my way as I was heading back to the company.”

She left out what happened next—how Huangpu Qingyin had called Huangpu Shenqing, and after that, she knew nothing more. Her father said that the person who saved her was a very tall man in a black suit, who waited outside her room and was the last to leave. She guessed that was Huangpu Shenqing.

“The Huangpu family? Do they really think they rule City A single-handedly?” Ye Xi sneered. She despised the great families of City A, always fighting and scheming for power and profit, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake.

“Mother, let’s not judge too quickly. The person who saved me was also from the Huangpu family—his name is Huangpu Shenqing.”

“Huangpu Shenqing? Ranran, do you mean the man outside your room this afternoon?” Shangguan Xing was surprised; Huangpu Shenqing was considered outstanding among his generation, rarely seen in public. As rumors had it, he was not close to the rest of the Huangpu family. But with a family like that, how could anyone be close?

—

“Huangpu Shenqing? Who is he?” Ye Xi asked, unfamiliar with the affairs of City A.

“He’s... we’re friends,” Renran replied, though she herself wasn’t sure.

“He truly is not like the rest of the Huangpu family. But how do you know him, Ranran?” Shangguan Xing was puzzled; as far as he knew, their paths had never crossed.

“Is it really your place to ask how Ranran knows him? When have you ever cared about her before? Now you’re full of questions? Anyway, since he’s her friend and rescued her, we ought to invite him to our home and thank him in person,” Ye Xi declared.

“Yes, yes, you’re right,” Shangguan Xing agreed.

Shangguan Renran smiled genuinely; it had been a long time since she’d felt such happiness.

But she still wondered what happened afterwards. Was Huangpu Shenqing injured?

Her curiosity was quickly answered, for that night, Huangpu Shenqing actually climbed in through her window.

She had urged her mother to go home and rest after such a long day; she could always return the next day. Her father slept in the room next door, ready to come at the press of the call button should she need anything during the night. Two bodyguards were stationed outside her door for the night. Ye Xin and Ye Zuo had left for the company when she awoke. Aunt Zhang had gone home with her mother.

As she slept, a faint noise at the window woke her. Her hearing was keen, and in the stillness of the night, every sound was clear. She sat up to see the tall man approaching, step by step. Even in the darkness, he seemed to glow.

Huangpu Shenqing moved with the utmost silence; he had not intended to wake her, merely to take a look and leave. But now, seeing her awake, he found he wanted to gaze at her in this moment too.