From the expression on Old Man Xian's face when he saw Zhou Shufen just now, he looked quite afraid of her appearance. Perhaps it was due to an incident of Xiaoyi called Xian Zihao 'daddy' and why he didn't attend the wedding ceremony. Xian Zihao must have already told his reason; otherwise, Old Man Xian definitely wouldn't have looked at Zhou Shufen with an estranged smile on his face.
Xiaoyi was pitiful, but what was Zhou Shufen's motive for doing this? Old Man Xian probably saw it very clearly too.
Jiang Ruolan went straight to find Xian Zihao. When she arrived on the sixth floor, she realized that the Old Man's room was on the sixth floor too, because Chaoxiang was lying at the door, holding Xian Zihao's pants in its mouth as it moaned pitifully.
'Good heavens, Old Man, you're really a weirdo. You even bring this dog along when you're out of the house!'
It seemed like this little guy was really closed with the Old Man. It would be able to hitch a ride to Beijing. "How is Old Bai?" Jiang Ruolan immediately asked as she walked closer.
Xian Zihao closed the door and pulled her into his embrace. "He's already gone to sleep. After all, he's already old and has high blood pressure. Old Bai only has this chance to come to Beijing, but he can't keep standing around and socializing for a long time."
As he spoke, he caressed her face. "Why do you look so pale?"
"Maybe because I smiled for too long, so my face became stiff? Who would have thought that grandpa had so many friends? He keeps smiling every time he sees one!"
It was rare for Jiang Ruolan to act like a spoiled child. Since there's no one in the corridor, she took this advantage to lean into Xian Zihao's arms and transferred her weight to him.
Xian Zihao sighed, "Then after the banquet ended, I will take you home. But first, go rest. Our room is there."
"It's alright. Oh, by the way, grandpa just called you from the lobby."
Jiang Ruolan coquettishly wrapped her hands around Xian Zihao's shoulder, and when she saw the gentleness in his eyes, she grinned.
"I'll go take a look." Xian Zihao patted her shoulder and glanced at her pale face again. Then, he took out their room card and opened the door to a room not far away. "Go rest. I'll come to pick you up once the banquet ends."
Jiang Ruolan nodded. She was indeed tired, so it was good to find a room to lie down for a while.
It wasn't until Xian Zihao took the elevator down that Jiang Ruolan glanced at Chaoxiang, who was lying in front of the Old Man's door.
Jiang Ruolan narrowed her eyes and walked over. She bent down and patted its head. "Hey, buddy, did you miss me?"
Chaoxiang shook its tail at her. Jiang Ruolan smiled and squatted in front of it, trying to continue making this little brat, who had already submitted to her, into her best friend.
She touched its head and said with a gentle and ingratiating voice. "Ah Xiang, you are really lucky for having Old Man Xian as your master. Only someone like the Old Man would have the courage to bring you out to see the world."
Jiang Ruolan thought that it wouldn't understand, but who knew that it would suddenly explode and shout at her. "Woof! Woof! Grrr! Woof!"
All right …
"Ah Xiang, let's have the Old Man take you out into the wilderness tonight. Let's light a bonfire and roast the meat."
Chaoxiang wagged its tail at her cheerfully.
Jiang Ruolan teased Chaoxiang for a while. She then turned around and entered the room. She originally wanted to lie down and rest, but when she entered the room, she stopped.
Just now, there seemed to be a figure there.
Jiang Ruolan took a step back from the door and looked outside. Sure enough, she saw a slightly well-dressed, half-bald man in his fifties standing by the elevator. He was looking left and right as if he was checking if there was anyone around.
Jiang Ruolan narrowed her eyes and looked at the man. Thinking that it had nothing to do with her, she started to walk back in.
"Miss Jiang!" The man suddenly called her.
Jiang Ruolan paused for a moment and looked back, only to see the man striding towards her in quick steps. She didn't know this man, so she was wary of him. She glanced at the camera in the corridor, then looked at the alarm before her, thinking that if this man acted maliciously, she would definitely call for help.
However, this man didn't seem to have any malicious intent towards her. He quickly walked over and stopped a meter in front of her. With a courteous and respectful gaze, he said, "Miss Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you."
"May I ask who you are?" Jiang Ruolan looked at him doubtfully.
"I am the Deputy Director of the H City's Audit Office. My surname is Duan. When I learned that Old General Xian and the other seniors had gathered here before the Spring Festival, I had asked a friend to reserve a room here for me." With his back facing the camera, he smiled as he looked at Jiang Ruolan's cautious gaze, "Miss Jiang, don't worry. I mean no harm, I just want to ask for your help."
"Although you are from H City, I'm still not familiar with you. I am very curious what kind of help you want me to help you with."
Jiang Ruolan looked at him calmly.
At this time, the man took out an exquisite box from his sleeve, and with his back facing the camera, he quietly handed it to her, "It's going to be the Spring Festival soon. This is a little gift I want to give to President Xian and Miss Jiang."
Jiang Ruolan looked down at the slender box in his hand.
This was the real work of Tang Yin! Wasn't it very valuable?
If she accepted this, it would be a huge problem.
Jiang Ruolan hesitated for a moment and suddenly felt a wave of nausea. She immediately covered her mouth and whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm pregnant. I really wanted to vomit right now."
After saying that, under the man's somewhat astonished expression, she quickly turned around and entered the room. After closing the door, she immediately looked through the peephole.
Jiang Ruolan had been in this business world for years. As a journalist from the Department of Commerce, if she didn't see this man's thought cleary, then she will be stupid.
It was obvious that Deputy Director Duan was not a fool. He stood outside the door for a while before he left.
Jiang Ruolan finally felt relieved when she heard the sound of footsteps walking further and further away.
****
Midnight, at the Hotel lobby.
The place was still bustling with noise and excitement.
When Jiang Ruolan went downstairs, she immediately saw that Xian Zihao was still greeting guests. She walked directly towards him. Just as she took a few steps, a tall figure suddenly appeared beside her.
Seeing that it was Zhou Shufen, Jiang Ruolan stopped in her tracks and calmly glanced at her.
Zhou Shufen seemed to have some resentment towards the slaps she threw that day because normally when she saw her (Jiang Ruolan), she would smile or at least try to smile and appear kind-hearted on the surface.
"I thought you would just leave and only go back after a few years. I didn't expect to see you here." Zhou Shufen was the first to open her mouth. As if out of politeness, she passed Jiang Ruolan a glass of champagne.
Jiang Ruolan took the champagne but didn't drink it. She just smiled, "Then you're wrong, Miss Zhou. If a man wants to find his woman, he doesn't need a few years. A month is enough for him to solve all the troublesome problems, at least for Zihao. Even if I go to America, Argentina, or Africa, how hard can it be for him to find me?"
Zhou Shufen sneered but didn't say anything. Jiang Ruolan saw a bitter smile flash past her eyes. Obviously Zhou Shufen should know what she said was the truth.
With Xian Zihao's strength, if he wanted to find someone, he wouldn't need so many years. A month is his only limit. He waited for her to calm down first before going looking for her.
Otherwise, why would she, Jiang Ruolan turn back so easily?
"Why don't you drink? Are you afraid that I'll poison it?" Seeing Jiang Ruolan playing with the champagne glass in her hand but not taking a sip, Zhou Shufen raised her eyebrows as if she was looking down on her.
Jiang Ruolan's gaze was indifferent. "When Miss Zhou was pregnant with Little Fishie, did you drink a lot?"
Zhou Shufen's eyes stiffened. It was as if she had already known that Jiang Ruolan was pregnant, but she wasn't sure. However, after hearing the words from her mouth, Zhou Shufen immediately lowered her gaze and looked at her (Jiang Ruolan) lower abdomen
