As He Songquan spoke, his large hand reached out for Shen Lan's thigh.
"Smack!"
Shen Lan slapped away He Songquan's wandering hand, abruptly standing up, her heart filled with rage.
"If you have no sincerity, there's no reason to discuss this order further."
This was not business conversation. He was clearly taking advantage.
Seeing Shen Lan reject him, He Songquan stood up, his smile taking on a sinister undertone.
"Shen Lan, consider well. If this order goes awry, that will spell the end of your studio. Despite how successful a woman is, she's still better off with a good husband. Why wouldn't we marry and merge the companies? I'll manage, you'll design, it'd be a happy union," he propositioned.
A shameless man is indeed invincible in this world.
Was this any different from him earning three thousand and me earning twenty thousand, then us pooling our resources and living together?
"President He, you jest. I'm already married."
"What?"
He Songquan's face paled immediately, following an audible scoff.
"No need for such lies, President Shen. After all, we have to work together. The matter of marriage can be postponed but for the sake of our collaboration… There needs to be some sacrifice, let me enjoy some benefits to ease my heart," he suggested.
After speaking, he reached out to touch Shen Lan's face. Avoiding his touch, Shen Lan made him burst into laughter, unfazed by her rebuke.
"There are three more days until the contract expires. I look forward to you coming to see me. Don't be too late, President Shen. Remember, a man's interest in a woman can easily wear off with time, and women... they lose their worth then. Hahaha…"
He Songquan walked out the door laughing loudly, causing Chen Yan to rush in without giving him another glance.
Only after the footsteps outside disappeared did Shen Lan's legs turn into jelly. Had Chen Yan not been there to catch her in time, she would have collapsed onto the ground.
It seemed the studio was in danger. All their hard work and dedication could flow down the drain.
Chen Yan turned pale looking at Shen Lan's hand scarred due to her nervousness and stress. Her eyes welled up, "Lan Lan, I'm sorry. It's my fault for not being usef...
"It's not all bad. At least they can't take it away yet."
Putting on a brave face, Shen Lan forced a smile. "Please manage the follow-up work, I'll go home for a bit."
She had to leave in a rush and didn't notify Mother Shen. Shen Lan didn't want her to worry.
Midway, the previously clear sky suddenly darkened, and rain started to pour. Shen Lan parked her car on the side of the road, looked up at the sky for a while, grit her teeth, and stepped out into the rain.
In order to save money in her early days, she hadn't even bought a parking spot. Then, when work got hectic, she forgot all about it.
The distance was a few hundred meters at most. Shen Lan didn't think much about it as the trip was just a matter of a few minutes.
However, after an intense confrontation with a ruthless businessman today, she was totally frazzled. As soon as she relaxed, she felt dizzy and faint.
Faced with wind and rain, she could barely see. After shakily making her way for a bit, her phone rang.
She looked down to fish it out, and stumbled upon a step. Shen Lan lost her balance, falling forward and sending her phone flying out of her hand.
For some reason, Shen Lan felt completely defeated.
From a young age, she had understood one principle: Children without umbrellas must learn to run in the rain.
She had been running as hard as she could, even creating an umbrella for herself with all her might. However, fate seemed intent on taking it away from her.
She struggle to get up from the ground, her heel broken. As she attempted to regain her balance, she fell again.
The rain soaked her through. She sat helplessly on the ground, a sense of desolation overcoming her.
Just when the world seemed pitch black, the rain seemed to stop.
She looked up to find an umbrella above her.
Following the hand holding the umbrella, she saw a familiar face she had seen only once before.
"Can you stand up?"
A deep, magnetically attractive voice. Just as seductive as before.
Cheng Yanqing bent down, one hand holding the umbrella, the other resting on her shoulder in a gentlemanly manner.
As Shen Lan confusedly stared at him, her gaze didn't shift from his face.
"It's only been a few days, you don't recognize me?" Cheng Yanqing's palm turned downward, helping her to her feet.
The warmth of his touch penetrated through the fabric of her clothes, seeping into Shen Lan's cold limbs, injecting them with a trace of warmth.
As her vision cleared and she saw Cheng Yanqing, her face blushed red.
She hadn't expected to see him a second time under such humiliating circumstances!
"Weren't you on a business trip?"
Shen Lan tucked her wet hair behind her ears and murmured.
"Yes, I'm back now."
Chen Yanqing picked up her phone after delivering a quick glance at her broken heels, then asked, "Can you walk?"
Shen Lan blinked, reflexively pulling her foot back, and answered vehemently, "Yes!"
After saying this and taking a step forward, she slipped. The ground was slick from the rain, and Shen Lan, forgetting her previous falls, nearly slipped again. This time, she found herself nestled against a broad chest.
Cheng Yanqing looked down at her curiously, raising an eyebrow, "Running straight into my arms?"
Shen Lan's ears turned red, and she avoided his gaze.
He pressed the umbrella into her hand, saying, "Hold this," then bending over and scooping her up into his arms.
The woman in his arms blushed even more, her usually authoritative eyes now filled with shyness. "What... What are you doing! Let me down!"
Shen Lan was not skinny by any means, but all of the extra weight was in just the right places. Her curves were delightful to touch... and she carried a unique sweet fragrance. She felt wonderful in Cheng Yanqing's arms.
Cheng Yanqing's gaze darkened.