Volume 1, Chapter 7: Already in Country Y, There Is No Need to Endure Any Longer

"Ruanruan, I heard that Country Y is quite chaotic. You must stay safe, and if anything happens, contact me immediately."

Lin Jie could not hide her worry upon hearing that Tang Ruan was going to Country Y. Even without looking into it specifically, she had seen plenty of reports about the country. Unlike China, where everyone is bound by law, Country Y—while having its own legal system—mostly restricts ordinary people; the upper-class nobility are completely beyond its reach.

With Tang Ruan heading to such a place, Lin Jie was incredibly uneasy.

"I will."

Lin Jie’s gaze swept across the venue inadvertently, and she let out a soft "Oh?" "Why is my brother here?"

She spotted Lin Wen not far away. Tang Ruan glanced over and explained, "Brother Wen is here with some friends; he’s probably trying to secure a project." Before Lin Jie arrived, she had seen Lin Wen handing documents to those people.

Lin Jie looked over the group, covered her mouth with her hand, and muttered, "How do those people look so unreliable..." They all had the air of spoiled second-generation heirs; what kind of good projects could they possibly offer? Her brother must be truly desperate to be grasping at straws like this. He used to be such a calm and self-composed person... Thinking of this, Lin Jie lowered her head, feeling a tightness and ache in her chest.

Tang Ruan followed her gaze and noted, "They aren't all unreliable."

Lin Jie looked at her, confused.

"Look at the one sitting in the center. If I’m not mistaken, he’s from the Wang family of Jiangcheng." The Wang family in Jiangcheng held a position equivalent to the Tang family in Nancheng.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jie’s almond-shaped eyes widened slightly. She had assumed they were just a group of idle rich kids; she hadn't expected someone from the Jiangcheng Wang family to be among them. So, her brother wasn't just grasping at straws! Thinking of this, when she met the gaze of the person looking their way, Lin Jie’s eyes curved into a smile, and she returned the gesture.

Not far away, Wang Chengzu paused, the curve of his lips deepening.

—

The next evening.

Tang Ruan leaned back in her chair, eyes closed in a light nap. A small suitcase sat by her feet, and Luo Yu was beside her. Outside the window, planes took off and landed one after another.

A sweet female voice came over the intercom: "Passengers for China Southern flight NY1299 to Country Y, please proceed to Gate 9 for boarding..."

"Little Tang—" Before Luo Yu could finish, Tang Ruan had already opened her eyes.

"Let's go." She stood up and wheeled her suitcase toward the boarding gate. Luo Yu hurried to keep up.

Just then, Tang Ruan’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, then hung up without a moment's hesitation.

Behind her, Luo Yu bit his lip in shock. Little President Tang actually hung up on Young Master Huo? Moreover, she had frowned slightly while doing so, clearly showing impatience.

Before Luo Yu could think further, Tang Ruan’s phone rang again. He snuck a peek. It was Young Master Huo again. Tang Ruan’s brows furrowed deeper, and she rejected the call a second time.

A moment later, a WeChat message popped up.

【Huo Yanchuan: Tang Ruan, what is the meaning of this? You actually hung up on me!】

Tang Ruan ignored it, found her seat, switched her phone to airplane mode, and put on an eye mask to rest.

When she woke up, she had landed in Country Y. It was morning there, and the sunlight felt warm against her skin. As soon as she turned off airplane mode, a string of missed call notifications flooded in—all from Huo Yanchuan. WeChat was also filled with his messages.

【Huo Yanchuan: Where are you? Come out, I’m at your door.】
【Huo Yanchuan: Tang Ruan?】
【Huo Yanchuan: ???】
【Huo Yanchuan: Tang Ruan, you’ve got some nerve! You actually dared to stand me up!】
【Huo Yanchuan: Did you forget I told you we were going to the old house to have dinner with Grandfather today?】
...
【Huo Yanchuan: Tang Ruan, is this your way of saying you don't want to marry into the Huo family?!】

Marry into the Huo family?

Tang Ruan let out a disdainful scoff, opened Huo Yanchuan’s profile, and proceeded to block and delete him. She had wanted to do this for a long time. She hadn't acted sooner only because she feared complications that might affect her business in Country Y. Now that she had arrived, there was no need to endure it any longer.

The hotel they had booked was near TG. The two of them went to the hotel first to drop off their luggage and freshen up before heading to the TG company headquarters. They arrived at exactly nine-thirty. The meeting was set at a café on the first floor of the TG building.

They were received by a middle-aged Chinese woman named Zhang.

"Manager Zhang, this is our Little President Tang," Luo Yu introduced. He had been the one coordinating with TG, so he and Manager Zhang were somewhat familiar with each other.

Manager Zhang looked at Tang Ruan with slight surprise but quickly regained her composure, smiling as she extended her hand. "Hello, Little President Tang. I’ve heard much about you."

"You’re too kind, Manager Zhang."

After some polite small talk, Luo Yu began to probe whether TG had any dissatisfaction with the Tang family’s proposal. Under the expectant gazes of Luo Yu and Tang Ruan, Manager Zhang sighed softly. "Little President Tang, Xiao Luo, to be honest, your proposal is excellent." She paused, lowering her voice slightly, "But the final decision rests with our President."

The implication was clear: she wasn't the one holding up the Tang family’s proposal.

"Manager Zhang, I would like to meet your President."

Manager Zhang looked troubled. "But our President never meets with outside guests." Speaking of this, she was quite puzzled herself. When it came to external cooperation, as long as it met company procedures and standards, the President never interfered much. Only with the Tang family’s cooperation had there been delay after delay. It was as if... he was deliberately finding fault. The terms offered by the Tang family were quite sincere; there was no reason for hesitation. But there was nothing she could do; if the President didn't give the go-ahead, the staff felt it was useless no matter how sincere the offer was.

"I can make an appointment."

Manager Zhang had intended to persuade Tang Ruan to give up the idea, but upon meeting those clear, resolute eyes, the words died on her lips. "I will ask Secretary Chen."

"Thank you, Manager Zhang."

Manager Zhang stepped aside to contact Secretary Chen. Secretary Chen was the President’s secretary; the President was like a dragon who never showed its full form, so company matters were usually handled by contacting the secretary first, who would then relay the information.

Before long, Manager Zhang returned to the booth, her expression and tone filled with undisguised surprise.

"Little President Tang, the President has agreed to see you!"

Manager Zhang was among the first batch of employees at TG and could be considered a veteran. In all her years at the company, this was the first time she had ever seen the President agree to meet an outside visitor. For a moment, her gaze toward Tang Ruan was filled with deep curiosity.

Tang Ruan tried her best to remain calm. "Thank you, Manager Zhang."

Manager Zhang waved her hand quickly. "It’s nothing, really." She hadn't actually done much to help. "Little President Tang, tomorrow at ten in the morning, just go to the front desk and mention you have an appointment with the President, and they will take you up."

"Alright, thank you."

Manager Zhang had other business and did not stay longer. Tang Ruan stood up. "Let's go."

Luo Yu’s expression was conflicted.

"Is something wrong?"

"Little President Tang, I’d like to go to the mall next door to buy something... My girlfriend asked me to pick up some skincare products for her..." By the end, Luo Yu’s voice grew lower, terrified that he might annoy Tang Ruan. They were on a business trip, technically work hours, yet he was taking time for personal errands.

Tang Ruan smiled slightly. "Go ahead." Since there was nothing else to do for the moment, she had intended to let Luo Yu have some free time anyway.

"Thank you, Little President Tang!"

Luo Yu’s smile stretched almost to his ears. After bidding farewell to Tang Ruan, he dashed toward the nearby mall like a gust of wind.

Watching his back, Tang Ruan’s thoughts drifted far away. To be constantly kept in someone's heart—Luo Yu’s girlfriend must be very happy.