When she arrived at Xian Group, Jiang Ruolan quickly went through the plaza while holding the folder. Suddenly, a woman's voice came from behind as if she were calling to her."Excuse me, are you a reporter?"
Jiang Ruolan stopped and turned her head to look at the woman not far behind her. When she saw the woman's face, a moment of wonder passed in her eyes. At that moment, her memory of what Xian Guiying had said exploded in her ears.
'Her name is Zhou Shufen, a woman who killed my brother's heart.'
The woman in the picture had a round face and round eyes. She was beautiful, not the type that was beautiful to the point where one cannot draw their gaze away from her, but she was the kind of girl who made people feel very close.
The woman in front of her had faded away in the baptism of time. She was dressed in a simple and generous manner, her entire body exuding spirit energy. Her eyes were black, and she was smiling as she looked at her.
From the look in her eyes, she probably didn't recognize her.
The moment Jiang Ruolan saw her, she felt a hundred twists and turns in her heart. She had no idea how many emotions were instantly mixed in her heart and felt even more incredulous.
She already had some guesses two days ago because of the little girl, but she did not think that the woman was really the Zhou Shufen that Xian Guiying was talking about.
"Are you a reporter?" Zhou Shufen smiled at her and pointed to the work card hanging in front of her. "Are you a reporter from the business reporting department? If so, then can you take me to Xian Group to find someone?"
Zhou Shufen's eyes were brimming with confidence. She seemed to be begging for her help, but there was a look of certainty on her face as if she would definitely not be rejected.
****
Xian Group, 18th floor.
"President Xian, my laptop has been attacked by a virus and in the meantime, I can't open or extract electronic data. I just called Miss Jiang and she has a folder regarding this matter in her hand. She will send it immediately."
Xian Zihao's gaze did not shift from the file in his hands, but when he heard Jiang Ruolan's name, he immediately closed the file before glancing at Assistant Bai. "She will come here?"
"Yes, Miss Jiang originally left this matter to the assistant at G City, but the assistant could not send the data now. Fortunately, Miss Jiang still has a copy, otherwise, my mistake will definitely be recorded. The computer has long needed to be fixed, but before I could send the data, the computer was attacked." Assistant Bai smiled awkwardly.
Xian Zihao nodded indifferently. He stood up and walked to the French window overlooking Xian's Plaza and looked outside.
Assistant Bai was about to leave quietly, but at the same time, she was surprised to see President Xian suddenly turn around and walk out of the office. She didn't notice his expression the moment he walked past her. She only felt a gust of wind passed before her.
Jiang Ruolan, who was still standing in front of the Xian Group, observed Zhou Shufen's expression without batting an eyelid. She was calm because she didn't know what position she should place Zhou Shufen.
Who is Zhou Shufen in Xian Zihao's heart?
Does he still love her?
"That's right, I'm a reporter from the Business Department, but Miss, I'm sorry, but I don't have the authority to bring strangers into Xian Group. If you want to find someone, you can find them through other means." Jiang Ruolan was unable to see through this woman's thought.
Zhou Shufen had a very generous and proper smile on her face. Jiang Ruolan did not know what the past between Xian Zihao and her was like, so she naturally would not act rashly.
Zhou Shufen's gaze slightly shifted to her body. Her gaze suddenly shifted to the wedding ring on Jiang Ruolan's ring finger. However, her expression remained unchanged.
She raised her head to look at the person behind Jiang Ruolan with a slightly curled on her lips. When she saw a tall and straight figure walking out of the Xian Group, she shifted her gaze back to Jiang Ruolan.
There was a bit of a smile in her eyes, a bit of interest, and a bit of satisfaction.
When Jiang Ruolan saw that Xian Zihao had actually come out, her heart violently shook. She watched as he walked down the stairs.
Why did he suddenly come out?
Did Xian Zihao see her?
Or was it because he saw Zhou Shufen?
It was as if she didn't need to think about it and didn't need to ask because at that moment, she already knew the answer.
Xian Zihao walked towards her, but his gaze was not on herself. Instead, it was on the person behind her.
His gaze was impartial, and he continued to stare in the direction behind her.
Jiang Ruolan suddenly felt as if her entire body was frozen. The chill spread from her heart to her limbs and bones in almost an instant. It was as if her feet were frozen, and she could not move at all.
It was as if someone had restrained her breathing, and her heart felt as if a heavy blow had struck it. She abruptly tightened her grip on the folder.
This was the first time Jiang Ruolan had seen Xian Zihao walk as fast as lightning. Although he was usually calm and gathered like the wind, his steps were so fast that it was as if he was afraid the person behind her would disappear in the blink of an eye.
What should he be worried about?
Jiang Ruolan felt as if her breath was stuck in her throat and she couldn't spit it out. She stood on the spot tensely, as if she was waiting in court for the final death sentence. Her heart felt as if a knife had slashed it.
Xian Zihao did not intend to walk past Jiang Ruolan, instead, he abruptly stopped by her side and grabbed her hand. With a strength that was more resolute than ever, he held her tightly and shifted his gaze onto her.
When he saw her pale face, he immediately frowned and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
In just ten or so seconds, Jiang Ruolan's heart dropped from a high place to an abyss and then jumped back to its original place. Sensing the concern in his eyes and feeling the warmth and strength on his hands, Jiang Ruolan couldn't find the words to speak.
"Zihao, long time no see!"
Zhou Shufen's soft, crisp voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
Jiang Ruolan subconsciously looked first at Xian Zihao. He had already shifted his gaze to Zhou Shufen, his gaze was calm and indifferent, without a hint of peculiarity. "What are you doing here?"
Only then did Jiang Ruolan turn around.
The smile in Zhou Shufen's eyes didn't change. She sized up Jiang Ruolan, who was beside Xian Zihao, in an open manner. She wasn't surprised by their intimacy. Instead, the smile in her eyes deepened as her spirited eyes sparkled.
Jiang Ruolan immediately understood. Zhou Shufen knew about her relationship with Xian Zihao. Then, why did she ask her that question in front of the plaza just now? Was she trying to test her?
Zhou Shufen seemed to have Xian Zihao's shadow on her body. She was actually hiding her thoughts with a smile. In fact, there weren't even any signs of emotion. "I'm working in Qin Group right now. I came to H City with President Qin to broaden my horizons."
Zhou Shufen shifted her gaze to Jiang Ruolan. "So you know Zihao. I just wanted to go in there and look for him. Hello, my name is Zhou Shufen."
Zhou Shufen extended her hand confidently. Jiang Ruolan was never a petty person. She returned the gesture with a smile and shook her hand. "Jiang Ruolan."
Zhou Shufen nodded and looked at Xian Zihao in the blink of an eye. Her clear black and white eyes reflected his clear and handsome face.
"I came suddenly and did not know how to entered Xian Group but I didn't expect you would suddenly come out. You didn't come here just to welcome me, did you?" Zhou Shufen smiled at him and said half-jokingly.
Xian Zihao looked at her quietly for a while before a faint smile appeared on his lips. "I'm going out for a walk."
"Going for a walk?" Zhou Shufen didn't react to Xian Zihao's polite words. She raised her elegant brow. "What a coincidence. I just don't know if this Miss Jiang.."
Her gaze turned to Jiang Ruolan, who had been quietly observing from the start.
Xian Zihao tightened his grip on Jiang Ruolan's hand and smiled. "Ruolan is my wife."
Xian Zihao's introduction made Jiang Ruolan feel even more relaxed. She calmly looked Zhou Shufen in the eye and smiled at her.
"Miss Jiang was quite popular. I didn't expect her to be Xian Group's CEO wife. I'm so sorry if I being rude to you earlier."
"It's fine. Miss Zhou is too polite." Jiang Ruolan did her best to control her emotions as she said this with a chuckle.
Zhou Shufen looked at Jiang Ruolan with a smile. In her eyes, there wasn't even a trace of sharpness or the slightest hidden edge of a love rival. The feeling she gave others was that of a cute, straightforward, and completely unscheming little woman.
This was what Jiang Ruolan was most confused about. If Zhou Shufen's appearance was simple and purposeless, then why did she want to probe her just now? If she was here for Xian Zihao, why Jiang Ruolan couldn't see any sadness in her eyes.
There were only two possibilities.
One was that Zhou Shufen was really that simple, and the other was that …
Zhou Shufen didn't view her existence as a threat at all.
When Jiang Ruolan met her gaze and saw the playfulness in it, her heart skipped a beat. Zhou Shufen's smile was like a flower as she said softly, "Looking at Miss Jiang, you must be very happy. But let me tell you, Zihao is not romantic at all. He doesn't understand women's thoughts at all. The heart of a man like him must be firmly grasped. Otherwise, one day, he might suddenly disappear without a trace."
