Finally, everything was tidied up.
Ruo Xiaozhen gathered the wet clothes she had changed out of and the used bath towel into a bundle.
She held the pile of laundry, preparing to take it to the bathroom.
As she turned, her gaze involuntarily fell on the topmost item—the large bath towel that had just been wrapped around and used to wipe Yan Yu’s entire body.
A pure white, fluffy, soft cotton bath towel.
But Ruo Xiaozhen’s fingertips seemed to still recall the sensation of wiping that delicate skin with it.
Before her eyes, the image flashed again—the faint blush rapidly spreading over that fair skin, and the eyes glaring at her with shame and annoyance…
Her heart gave a sudden, heavy thump.
A wave of scalding heat spread rapidly from the depths of her heart, making her cheeks flush as well.
This towel… was bought brand new today, clean and fresh.
Even if… it was used on Little Yu…
If she took it back now… and kept it for herself…
It should… be fine, right?
This thought popping into her head startled even Ruo Xiaozhen herself.
She subconsciously tightened her grip on the clothes in her arms, her fingers sinking into the soft fibers of the bath towel.
The bright bathroom light shone on her slightly flushed face.
She stood at the bedroom doorway, pausing for several seconds.
Then, she took a deep breath and walked quickly towards the bathroom.
She didn’t put the pile of laundry directly into the dirty clothes hamper.
Instead, she very quickly pulled out that large white bath towel alone, folded it several times in a flash, and stuffed it into her cloth bag hanging behind the door.
After doing this, she threw the remaining wet pajamas into the hamper and began washing her hands as if nothing had happened.
The cool water flowed over her fingers, but it couldn’t completely wash away the lingering soft sensation on her fingertips or the inexplicable flutter in her heart.
She looked up at her reflection in the mirror—the girl with slightly red cheeks and a somewhat unfocused gaze.
Her heart was still pounding uncontrollably fast in her chest.
—–
The grand hall was brilliantly lit, filled with the scent of perfume and the clinking of glasses.
Celebrities from various fields, dressed in haute couture gowns and bespoke suits, held crystal-clear glasses, chatting and laughing softly to the tune of elegant string music.
The air was thick with the intermingled aromas of expensive perfumes, cigars, and fresh flowers.
In the center of the hall, Su Heng, Chairman of the Su Group, stood side by side with Bai Zhenye, the head of the Bai Family.
Both were middle-aged men of extraordinary presence.
“Brother Bai, the smooth progress of the Eastern New District Joint Development Project this time is all thanks to the sincere cooperation between our two families,” Su Heng said, gently swirling his red wine glass with a refined smile, his eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a seasoned businessman.
“Brother Su, you are too modest,” Bai Zhenye raised his glass in response, his voice booming with his customary hearty tone.
“It’s your Su family’s team that is professional and efficient, with a brilliant project plan that got the green light all the way.
Especially the tricky relationship management and resource integration in the early stages…”
He paused, looking meaningfully at Su Heng.
Su Heng smiled understandingly, his expression filled with undisguised pride and satisfaction.
He slightly raised his voice, ensuring the several guests nearby who were intentionally or unintentionally eavesdropping could hear clearly.
“To be honest with you, Brother Bai, from the initial conception to the specific execution of this project, especially the difficulties you just mentioned, it was almost entirely spearheaded and handled by my daughter, Qinghan.
Young people these days have ideas and are willing to work hard.”
“Oh?”
Bai Zhenye promptly showed a mix of surprise and admiration.
Of course, he knew Su Heng’s intention at this moment—to showcase his heir and pave the way for deeper cooperation.
“So it was Niece Qinghan’s achievement!
Well, indeed, a tiger father does not beget a dog daughter.
Brother Su, you have truly nurtured an exceptional successor.
Such courage and talent are truly rare among the younger generation.”
He shook his head with emotion, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
“What a pity, what a pity.
I also have a daughter.
If I, Bai Zhenye, had a son, I would certainly have the audacity to propose a marriage alliance with your Su family, to bring such an excellent young lady like Qinghan into my home.
Then I could retire early with peace of mind and enjoy my grandchildren!”
Upon hearing this, several of the influential figures nearby let out good-natured laughs, chiming in with praise.
The smile on Su Heng’s face deepened.
He quickly waved his hand, but his tone became even more composed.
“Brother Bai, you flatter me too much.
Who doesn’t know that your Yan’er is the true pearl?
Although her interests lie elsewhere and she has little interest in business matters, her talent and accomplishments in the arts are universally acknowledged.”
The two men looked at each other and smiled, clinking glasses again.
The atmosphere was harmonious and lively.
The flattery and laughter around them grew even stronger, as if foreseeing an even tighter bond of interests between the two powerful families in the future.
Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner on the second-floor gallery, half-concealed by heavy velvet curtains.
Bai Yan’er leaned against the cool marble wall.
The seemingly cordial yet subtly sharp conversation between her father and Su Heng downstairs drifted into her ears, word for word.
Especially her father’s unstinting praise for that “Su Qinghan” felt like tiny, fine ice needles, densely and relentlessly pricking at her heart.
Su Qinghan.
She silently chewed on the name, as if a cold, metallic taste spread between her teeth.
This was the woman who had captivated her sister, Yan Yu, who had made her sister lose herself in love.
Not only had she bewitched her sister, but now even her father, who had always been so demanding, praised her so highly.
What is so good about her?
Bai Yan’er’s mind flashed to the few encounters she had had with Su Qinghan.
Her looks were, at best, considered delicate and pretty, far from her own radiant and striking beauty.
Her demeanor was cold, aloof—nothing like her own wholehearted warmth and attentiveness towards her sister.
Yet, it was precisely this woman who had stolen all of her sister’s attention and tenderness, who made her sister willingly linger time and again outside the Su Group building, just for a “chance encounter.”
Jealousy, like vines growing wildly in the dark, coiled around her heart, tightening more and more, bringing waves of dull pain and icy anger.
Why?
Sister Yan deserves to be cherished and protected, not to pine away sadly for a Su Qinghan!
“Young Miss, what are you doing here?
Your father is looking for you downstairs.”
A gentle male voice sounded not far away.
It was Liu Wenyan, her father’s chief secretary.
He had approached unnoticed, his face wearing a professional look of concern.
Bai Yan’er snapped back to reality instantly.
Almost in an instant, all the cold gloom and hatred on her face receded like a tide, replaced by an innocent, slightly lazy, sweet smile.
She turned around, her posture elegant, as if she had merely been stealing a moment here to look at the scenery downstairs.
“Secretary Liu,” she said, her voice clear with a touch of charming naivety.
“It’s nothing.
It was a bit stuffy downstairs, so I came up for some air.
Actually, there’s something I’d like to trouble you with.”
Liu Wenyan gave a slight bow.
“Please go ahead, Young Miss.”
Bai Yan’er took two steps forward, leaning against the carved railing.
Her gaze swept seemingly casually over her father and Su Heng chatting and laughing downstairs, and her tone became somewhat downcast and worried.
“I may be completely clueless about business matters and have no interest in them, but seeing how Dad has been constantly attending social events for the company lately and always coming home exhausted… it makes me feel… quite upset.
“I want to share a little bit of his burden, even if it’s just understanding some of the situation, so he doesn’t have to explain everything to me?”
She lifted her eyes to look at Liu Wenyan.
“Secretary Liu, could you do me a favor?
Could you help me simply gather some information on the Su family’s recent business movements, and… especially the projects currently being primarily handled by that Miss Su Qinghan.
“I just want to understand what amazing things this peer, whom my father praises so highly, is actually doing.
Perhaps… I can learn something from it?”
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