Chapter 42: Ah~ It Hurts~

Lin Ran laughed and said, “You’re finally off work. I told them I was coming to pick up my girlfriend, but no one believed me.”

Wang Ting was incredulous. “You’re here to pick up Jian Wei’an after work?”

Lin Ran nodded. “If I weren’t picking her up, I wouldn’t have the time to watch you argue with your boyfriend.”

“I don’t believe you. You just agreed to be my boyfriend.”

Wang Ting had rejected Li Tai to cling to Lin Ran. Now you say you have a girlfriend—what am I supposed to do?

Lin Ran ignored her.

“So Lin Ran is Jian Wei’an’s boyfriend. This is going to get interesting.”

“She was so determined to break up with her boyfriend, but it turns out she just saw Jian Wei’an’s boyfriend had money.”

“Didn’t you see her clinging to Jian Wei’an’s boyfriend’s arm? Shameless.”

The colleagues chattered amongst themselves.

Jian Wei’an, smiling brightly, said, “I heard everything from the sound studio just now. Don’t misunderstand. Tingting is an independent woman. She didn’t want to be with Li Tai, the rich guy, for fear of being labeled a gold-digger. So in a moment of desperation, she claimed my boyfriend was hers. I understand. It’s fine. Independent women are admirable.”

A stifled laugh escaped from the group.

That was sarcasm, right to her face.

Wang Ting’s lips twitched. No matter how eloquent she was, facing Lin Ran’s real girlfriend now, she could only stare helplessly.

Jian Wei’an stepped forward. “Now that you’ve successfully broken up with your boyfriend, mine doesn’t need to be your shield anymore. Shouldn’t you let go of his hand?”

Wang Ting wanted to hold on, but at this point, she had no choice but to release Lin Ran’s hand.

Just then, the elevator arrived.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

Jian Wei’an took Lin Ran’s hand and invited everyone into the elevator.

Wang Ting, distracted and crestfallen, stepped inside.

The elaborate plan she’d worked so hard to set up was undone by Jian Wei’an, just like that.

A total defeat.

Jian Wei’an was formidable, giving everyone the sense that if someone wanted to pursue Lin Ran, the super-rich heir, they’d have to get past her first—and that wouldn’t be easy.

Who would dare challenge Jian Wei’an after this? Was there anyone like her?

Would a true champion ever appear?

Inside the elevator, colleagues remarked, “Jian Wei’an, you’re so affectionate calling him ‘husband’ again and again. Your relationship must be great.”

Jian Wei’an replied, “Of course. Right, darling?”

Each ‘darling’ made Wang Ting’s heart flutter with anxiety.

Lin Ran smiled. “Of course our relationship is good—she’s my wife, after all.”

No one spared Wang Ting another glance.

The elevator reached the ground floor, and the group exited the office building chatting and laughing.

Lin Ran said, “Ladies and gentlemen, if Jian Wei’an becomes a regular employee, dinner’s on me.”

“Great!” Everyone applauded.

Lin Ran then took Jian Wei’an’s hand and headed toward the parking lot.

The blue Bentley Continental’s headlights flashed, illuminating a bright future.

Lin Ran opened the passenger door. Just as Jian Wei’an was about to get in, she turned back, smiling radiantly at Wang Ting in the crowd. “Keep it up, independent woman!”

Wang Ting trembled with anger.

She thought that passenger seat would be hers, but now she’d become the clown.

Lin Ran drove Jian Wei’an away in the Bentley, leaving behind a trail of envious gazes.

At that moment, Li Tai walked out of the office building. Wang Ting rushed over. “Li Tai, I was wrong. It was a misunderstanding earlier. I still love you.”

“Get lost, you gold-digging tramp!” Li Tai shoved her away in fury.

...

The Bentley cruised down the road.

Lin Ran’s left hand gripped the steering wheel, his right hand reached over to rest on Jian Wei’an’s fair thigh.

Jian Wei’an said, “What are you doing? Focus on driving.”

Lin Ran chuckled, “I spent millions on this Bentley—don’t I get at least this privilege?”

Jian Wei’an turned to look at Lin Ran behind the wheel. “Does that mean every girl who sits in the passenger seat gets the privilege of you touching her thigh?”

Lin Ran answered earnestly, “Of course not. I only touch yours.”

Jian Wei’an smiled sweetly and asked, “If I hadn’t come out just now, would Wang Ting have taken you away?”

Lin Ran laughed. “Impossible. I knew you’d come out. I was just playing along.”

Jian Wei’an nodded. “Smart. I finished all my work today, so I don’t have to go back this afternoon. Tomorrow’s the weekend. Let’s go home, eat, and then think about where to go, okay?”

Lin Ran said, “Not eating out?”

Jian Wei’an replied, “A certain rich gentleman spent a lot on a Bentley. As his girlfriend, shouldn’t I help save a little money?”

Lin Ran patted her fair thigh with a grin.

“Hey, drive properly and stop touching me.”

...

Emerald City, Phase Two.

On Jian Wei’an’s command, Jiang Shuyao rushed into the kitchen to cook.

This full-time housekeeper was very competent.

As long as Wei’an wasn’t working, anything she said went—Jiang Shuyao followed orders without question.

Soon, Lin Ran and Jian Wei’an returned home. Jiang Shuyao appeared at the door. “Welcome home~”

She eagerly handed slippers to Wei’an.

“Not bad,” Jian Wei’an accepted them with a pleased smile.

“Thank you~”

Jiang Shuyao took the bag and trotted behind Jian Wei’an.

Lin Ran tossed the Bentley keys onto the shoe cabinet. “Where are my slippers?”

Jiang Shuyao replied, “This is a girls’ house—how would there be men’s slippers? Go barefoot for now; I’ll buy you some later.”

Lin Ran smiled warmly. “Shuyao really is full-time.”

Jiang Shuyao now treated Lin Ran as family.

Lin Ran no longer wanted to return to his own home in Phase One, preferring to stay at his girlfriend’s and her best friend’s place every day.

The three sat at the dining table. Lin Ran eyed the three dishes and soup: tomato scrambled eggs, shredded potatoes, and twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts.

He tasted the pork. “This twice-cooked pork is excellent.”

Jiang Shuyao handed him a bowl of rice. “Knowing a man needs meat, I made it specially. We usually don’t eat anything this greasy.”

Lin Ran said, “Bonus points!”

“Here you go, darling~” Jiang Shuyao handed another bowl to Jian Wei’an, then sat across from them, eating and watching Lin Ran and Jian Wei’an.

Jiang Shuyao asked, “Why are you two home?”

Jian Wei’an replied, “No work this afternoon, so we’re home to rest and figure out where to go later.”

Jiang Shuyao said, “It’s so hot outside, forty degrees. If you two want to go out, go ahead, but I’m staying in.”

Lin Ran agreed. “It’s far too hot outside. Not suitable for going out. We’ll go out tonight; this afternoon, let’s watch a movie at home.”

Jiang Shuyao asked, “Will my being here get in your way?”

Lin Ran smiled.

Jian Wei’an said, “What’s there to get in the way? Eat your meal.”

After dinner.

Jian Wei’an went to shower.

Lin Ran played “King of Glory” on the sofa.

Jiang Shuyao washed the dishes, then sliced watermelon and grapes, arranged them on a plate, and set it on the coffee table.

“Lin Ran, have some fruit.”

“I’m in the middle of a game. Feed me a grape.”

“Eat it yourself if you want it.”

Jiang Shuyao ate the fruit herself.

Lin Ran pleaded, “Come on, feeding me won’t kill you. Hurry, hurry, I’m about to lose. Feed me a grape and I’ll turn the game around, quick!”

“Do you have no sense of boundaries?”

Jiang Shuyao gritted her teeth but was helpless—what could a full-time housekeeper do?

She peeled a grape and fed it to Lin Ran’s mouth.

Lin Ran bit down.

“Ouch! You bit my finger, ouch~”