Quan Yu’s thin lips came close to her ear. "Remember, you are mine. Going on dates with other men—that’s not proper."
After speaking, he circled around Ning Guiwan and walked down the steps where Zhan Yan and Ming Yi were waiting. Both had their heads bowed, their expressions utterly composed, making it unclear if they had witnessed the recent scene.
Even if they had seen it, they wouldn’t have altered their expressions. A mere kiss was nothing; even if something more intimate occurred right in front of them, they would remain as steadfast as mountains, keeping watch for the pair.
"Miss Ning, why are you standing in the wind? Aren’t you cold?" a servant asked, coming out with several bags of trash to throw away.
Ning Guiwan’s face and body felt warm; she didn’t feel cold at all.
Patting her face, she entered the house. Quan Yu said that going on dates with other men was not proper.
Dates?
When did I ever go on a date with another man?
"Boss Ning," Ren Xiaofei interrupted Ning Guiwan’s thoughts, "what do we do now?"
Ning Guiwan snapped back to reality. Tan Xi and Ren Xiaofei were both looking at her from across the table.
They had just been discussing Ning Rongyue’s entry into a rival company.
Kang’an Group was a large, comprehensive enterprise that had once stood shoulder to shoulder with Ruiyin Group. It had extensive operations and competed with Ruiyin in many fields.
The Kang Family’s patriarch passed away early, and the company was handed over to his eldest son, Kang Jianbo. Kang Jianbo lacked the ambition to expand the business and wasn’t very adept at maintaining its existing success, leading Kang’an into a gradual decline.
However, more than a year ago, Kang Jianbo proactively handed over the reins of the company to his younger brother, Kang Sutong. Young and skilled, Kang Sutong immediately made several significant moves upon taking office, causing quite a stir in business circles.
Ning Guiwan had learned these details while researching corporate competitors. Kangcheng Group had a construction subsidiary, and she remembered this clearly because the Kang Family... had once been Quan Yu’s grandmother’s marital family.
Kang Jianbo and Kang Sutong were both children of the woman who had destroyed Quan Yu’s grandmother’s marriage.
Ning Rongyue was now working as a project director in one of Kang’an Group’s construction companies, responsible for a tender in early April. So many coincidences, it seemed, were deliberately arranged.
She had been at Tianchi Group for several years, knowing Tianchi like the back of her hand. This tender might not go so smoothly.
Moreover, who knew how many people inside the company were still in contact with her?
"I also really hope to secure this project, but we must simply do our best," Ning Guiwan said. She paused, then added, "However, we still need to be vigilant about not leaking any confidential information."
Tan Xi said, "Rest assured, I’ve picked trustworthy people for this project, and Changfeng will personally oversee everything, so the chances of a leak are slim."
Ning Guiwan nodded. "I trust how you handle things."
After wrapping up their serious discussion, Tan Xi suggested, "How about we go out for a meal after work? Let’s go to the food street near the commercial street. We can eat, then stroll around the mall before heading back."
Ren Xiaofei knew that Tan Xi and Song Changfeng were a couple and lived together, having once bumped into the two of them shopping for household goods at the supermarket.
Ren Xiaofei said teasingly, "Aren’t you going to buy groceries after work to cook something nice for Boss Song to help him recover? He’s been working so hard lately."
Tan Xi, propping her chin on her hands, said, "That’s precisely because he’s so busy. He has social engagements almost every night and gets back late. I get quite bored by myself."
Ning Guiwan didn’t want to go back early either. After calling Lai Yang, the four of them ate hotpot at the food street and, coincidentally, ran into Zhang Ziyan, who had brought her team there for dinner.
Zhang Ziyan greeted her team members and then sat down at Ning Guiwan’s table. Ren Xiaofei’s eyes lit up as she whipped out her notebook and pen for an autograph.
Although Zhang Ziyan was known for her many scandals, her acting talent was undeniable. She had played several popular roles and amassed a significant fanbase.
For some reason, Tan Xi felt a sense of aversion towards Zhang Ziyan’s alluring smile, but she didn’t say anything and barely spoke to her.
After dinner, as Ning Guiwan and her friends planned to go shopping, Zhang Ziyan smiled somewhat sheepishly and said, "I’m actually looking to buy some skincare products. Would you mind if I joined you?" Her expression was one of someone terrified of being rejected.
She looked so much like her former self.
Ren Xiaofei spoke up almost immediately, "Of course! What brand of skincare products do you use? Your skin looks great! Can you recommend some for me?"
Zhang Ziyan smiled like an ordinary girl. "Of course. Your skin is nice too, just a little dehydrated. Let me recommend a few hydrating masks that work wonders."
"Oh, that would be great! Please do!" Ren Xiaofei gushed.
... Official source is NoveI★Fire.net
Later, around nine o’clock, Tan Xi received a call from Song Changfeng.
"...coming to pick me up?" Tan Xi sounded surprised. "You have time tonight? And so attentive all of a sudden."
Song Changfeng’s voice was laced with laughter. "Is it a bad thing that I’m coming to pick you up?"