Chapter Eight: Her Name Is Shangguan Renran

Mo Yi immediately went to retrieve the surveillance footage from that day and discovered signs that it had been tampered with. He uploaded the complete video online and issued a public apology.

Finally, he investigated the women in the video and found that one was the daughter of the Xia family, while there seemed to be no trace of the other.

——

“Miss, someone took care of it before we did,” Ye Zuo said. When he sent the complete video to Shangguan Renran yesterday, he realized someone else had already uploaded it, twisting the facts and spreading rumors that Shangguan Renran was an uncultured country girl with no background.

But Shangguan Renran had said, “Don’t worry, someone will take care of it.” So when they checked online again today, there was indeed a public apology.

“Miss, how did you know someone would handle it?” Ye Xin asked in confusion. Wasn’t that woman from yesterday the eldest daughter of the Huangpu family? Why would there be a public apology? Wouldn’t that be slapping her own family in the face?

“If the matter blows up, and if, as the video suggests, they were the bullied party, then fine. But if not, they’d have to look into what really happened, and the company’s team would step in to protect its reputation. That’s how a company operates. No matter what, a company will always seek the greatest benefit for itself. I saw this trick when I was in school.”

“Just wait, this isn’t over yet.”

Online—

“What’s going on? So they were the ones who provoked her first? So what if she’s from the countryside? Did she eat your family’s rice?”

“I told you, this young lady is lovely! Didn’t expect such a twist!”

“So, how about that, eldest daughter of the Huangpu family? Your own family just made you look bad.”

“And who is she, anyway? Our young master Huangpu hasn’t even spoken yet.”

“Go, young lady! We support you!”

…

“President, I’ve already dismissed Manager Wang and notified all major malls to treat Huangpu Qingyin as an ordinary person. No one is to make any decisions without your direct orders.”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “But I didn’t send out the platinum card.”

He had tried to investigate the young woman who was with the Xia family’s daughter, but it seemed her information had been wiped. Not only could he not find her background, he was nearly traced in return.

Huangpu Shenqing looked at him with a questioning gaze, his voice cold as ice: “So what did you find?”

Mo Yi’s heart trembled. “I… I only found her name and… and the university she graduated from. President, do… do you need me to investigate further?”

“What’s her name?”

Huangpu Shenqing signed his name on a document and tossed it aside, looking at the next one.

“Her name is Shangguan Renran. She graduated from the University of Finance and Economics in Country Y.”

“Shangguan Renran,” Huangpu Shenqing murmured. “No need.”

“Ah, yes, sir.” Mo Yi was surprised, but then realized there was no need to investigate further.

“Any other arrangements?”

“There are several documents to sign, a lunch meeting at noon, and an afternoon meeting about the bidding process…”

“Bring the documents in first. Cancel the lunch meeting, move the bidding meeting to tomorrow. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. Clear my afternoon schedule.”

“Yes, sir.”

He wondered what the big boss was up to—this was the first time he’d ever set aside work.

——

“How did you think of inviting me out? That’s not like you,”

Especially during working hours.

Among their group, the eldest brother spent years at the base.

Huangpu was the same age as him, but he had his father above him, so the company could survive without him. Huangpu, on the other hand, had to fight for every step within the company. He didn’t want his father’s hard work to benefit anyone else, not even his grandfather by blood.

Those people were always scheming to get into the Huangpu company, using its name to indulge themselves everywhere. Did they not realize that Huangpu Shenqing’s patience had its limits?

“She wasn’t among the people you gave me,”

Huangpu Shenqing took a sip of his drink. He could no longer taste the liquor—he was even starting to forget the sweet, milky flavor he remembered so well.

Otherwise, why would he feel that Shangguan Renran was so similar? Her eyes were black, not the color he remembered from that little girl.

“Huangpu, is it possible that she’s already…”—gone.

“Impossible. She promised she’d wait for me to find her. She was so afraid of pain. She said she’d wait for me to come back for her.”

Huangpu Shenqing kept drinking, as if trying to numb himself.

“Alright, alright, I’ll keep looking for you. It’s been so many years,” Gong Yi said helplessly.

It was always like this. Every time, after going through the files, he’d come to drink. Once, when Gong Yi didn’t show up, something bad happened—Huangpu drank so much that he suffered a gastric hemorrhage, and no one knew until a waiter called for help.

So he bought out this bar, knocked through the two adjacent private rooms, and had them remodeled so he could rest here if he got drunk. He even hired someone to stay in the room, just in case anything happened.

“No need. This time, I want to look for her myself.”

After all this time, he was afraid of what he might find. He was scared, so he wanted to go to Country Y himself.