The strategy of luring the tiger out of the mountain was simple yet effective, and Qin Ran had no reason not to use it. The greatest asset that Ling and Pei Groups had in China was the richest man. But since the richest man's recent major domestic plans had fallen through, he had shifted his focus to the global market, causing Ling and Pei Group's stocks to plummet.
The Ling Group, in particular, had been severely affected by a series of events—terminating the engagement with Zhao Second Miss, Ling Family's third son being sent to prison, and Ling Family's second son refusing to get involved. All of this not only eroded Ling Family's authority within the company, but it also caused their stock to plummet, making the company's shares easier to acquire.
And with her system, even if the stock prices were high, Qin Ran could easily acquire them. But why should she make it easy for the Ling Group's shareholders? Driving the price down and then slowly acquiring the shares would be far more satisfying.
Qin Ran wasn't just content with that. If the richest man could create shell companies, so could she. She established a shell company overseas and began the acquisition, making it appear as though Ling Group was being besieged from all sides without realizing that Qin Ran was behind it all.
As for the Pei Group, she planned to use the same strategy. However, doing both simultaneously might tip them off to who was behind it, so she planned to stagger the timing, keeping them guessing.
Meanwhile, Qin Ran patiently waited for Yu Shuman to return from filming, and before she knew it, New Year's Day was fast approaching. What she didn't expect was that the agency behind the idol group Yu Shuman had debuted in would send Yu Shuman an invitation to attend the group's two-year anniversary fan meeting.
It was Sister Li who brought this to Qin Ran's attention. She didn't go directly to Yu Shuman with it but consulted Qin Ran first. "So, what do you think? Shuman is focused on filming right now, and getting this invitation out of the blue… I'm not sure what to do. Should I tell her?"
"You'd better not tell her for now. Let me look into it first."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Ran had Wu Tezhu investigate. It turned out the invitation had been initiated by one of the group's members, a celebrity whose popularity had sharply declined. After going solo, she had expected her career to take off, but ironically, she had ended up struggling the most.
Meanwhile, the other members of the group had found success in different ways. The underground idol had always been the most talented and didn't lose any fans even after going solo. Although Ling Miaohan had been plagued by negative press, she had the backing of a wealthy family and Pei Qi's support, so despite everything, she was still doing better than the struggling member. Another member who had also been in a similar position had found love with a wealthy fan, leading to a string of lucrative endorsements and even an engagement announcement.
Yu Shuman, of course, was doing the best of all. Though she had only taken a few acting roles, her popularity and fanbase had steadily grown, making her the breakout star of the group.
Given this context, the struggling member's idea to organize a reunion fan meeting made sense. The TV station was more than happy to jump on the bandwagon for the ratings, and they sent out invitations to the rest of the group. The underground idol was still considering the offer, while the soon-to-be-married member was more than willing, likely hoping to use the event to announce her retirement from showbiz and upcoming wedding.
Ling Miaohan had not yet responded. Ever since the incident with the third Ling brother, her presence in the entertainment world had noticeably diminished. Even her alter ego, Rose, hadn't released any new content.
For Yu Shuman, there wasn't much benefit to attending this event. If she didn't go, she might be labeled as having abandoned her old friends after gaining fame. But given her strained relationship with Ling Miaohan, appearing on the same stage could make things incredibly awkward. Knowing how straightforward Yu Shuman was, she might end up wishing she could crawl under the floor in embarrassment.
Initially, Qin Ran thought about declining on Yu Shuman's behalf, but she had always told her that she just wanted her to be happy, so she decided to leave the decision to Yu Shuman. She called Sister Li back. "Sister Li, go ahead and tell her. Let her decide if she wants to attend."
That evening, while Yu Shuman and Qin Ran were on the phone, Yu Shuman brought up the invitation.
"Are you planning to go?" Qin Ran asked.
Yu Shuman hesitated for a moment before replying, "I don't really want to. I'd rather stay here and keep filming. Besides, we were planning to go on a trip together, and if I take time off for this, it'll delay our vacation."
Qin Ran's assistant had already flown overseas to oversee the final preparations at the private beach she had bought. She was practically daydreaming about strolling hand in hand with Yu Shuman on the soft sand. "Hmm, then let's not go. Don't worry about them. We can't let anything delay our trip!"
In the days leading up to New Year's, Yu Shuman sounded more and more exhausted whenever she and Qin Ran talked on the phone. Sometimes, she even fell asleep mid-conversation. Qin Ran would smile as she listened to the soft sounds of Yu Shuman snoring through the phone, her heart aching with both love and concern.
Yu Shuman's breathing was steady, and even through the phone, Qin Ran could hear the rhythm of her breathing. As she listened, Qin Ran lay down in bed herself, switching the phone to speaker mode and resting it next to her ear. It reminded her of a similar night before they had gotten together.
Back then, Yu Shuman had fallen asleep with the phone still connected, and Qin Ran, still harboring her secret crush, had listened to her breathing for hours. She had been torn between the pain of unrequited love and the joy of being close to her. She had even considered recording it so she could play it on loop.
Now, hearing it again, it felt different—more tender, more secure. She missed Yu Shuman deeply and couldn't wait for the day they would be together again.
Qin Ran fell asleep to the sound of Yu Shuman's breathing, imagining that she was lying right next to her. When she woke up, the call had been disconnected.
Time flew by, and soon it was New Year's. Qin Ran had a three-day break and originally planned to visit Yu Shuman. However, Yu Shuman, ever the honest one, told her that she was still busy with filming and wouldn't have time to see her. Lately, her return to the hotel each night had been getting later and later.
Qin Ran knew Yu Shuman was telling the truth and could only remind her to take care of her health and not overwork herself. Without much to do on her short break, Qin Ran decided to travel abroad to inspect her newly acquired private beach and make some final adjustments before their vacation. She also decided that once she returned, she would sign up for driving lessons and get her driver's license.
The day before New Year's, the school went on break, and Qin Ran grabbed her suitcase and flew out of the country, bringing along one of her bodyguards. Her first stop was Russia, where she boarded her private jet, flying along a specially-approved international route to the local airport near her private beach.
In the world of private jets, there were about 149 different models to choose from. Qin Ran had made it clear that she prioritized comfort, and since she wouldn't be traveling with a large group, the plane didn't need to be too big. At most, it would just be her, Yu Shuman, their assistants, and a few bodyguards—a group of ten or so people.
In the end, from the pre-selected options provided by her assistant, Qin Ran chose the Falcon 7X. Why? Because she thought the name sounded cool.
Once onboard, Qin Ran realized just how comfortable it was. It felt similar to first-class, but with even more customization options that made the experience even more enjoyable. If she didn't feel like sitting, she could head to the bedroom at the back and take a nap.
The plane had cost her seven figures, but it was worth it. Compared to larger jets like Boeing's, the Falcon 7X was smaller and more affordable, but for Qin Ran, it was just the right size.
After landing, her assistant and driver were already waiting for her. The assistant handed her a tablet and began briefing her on the current state of the private beach.
"Boss, the villa is nearly finished, the beach has been thoroughly cleaned, and we've hired a team of staff, including a Chinese chef. I believe both you and Miss Yu Shuman will be satisfied with the accommodations and meals."
Since the chef was Chinese, Qin Ran decided to have lunch at the villa. The food was pretty good, but it lacked spice—the dishes were too sweet for her taste. She figured the locals weren't too fond of spicy food, but for her, it just didn't hit the spot.
Qin Ran immediately added a task to her assistant's to-do list. "Can you find me a Sichuan chef? I need someone who can add a little heat to the meals."
Her assistant was on the verge of tears. Where in the world am I supposed to find a Sichuan chef out here?
Seeing her assistant's expression, Qin Ran realized her request might be a bit difficult, but she was adamant about her living standards. "Year-end bonus doubled," she said.
With that kind of reward on the line, her assistant's eyes lit up. "Got it, boss. Don't worry. I'll make sure everything's perfect before you and Miss Yu Shuman arrive."
After lunch, Qin Ran toured the private beach with her assistant. Workers were still busy constructing the pier, while others were sanding and treating the wood. The assistant had instructed them to ensure the wood was completely smooth, and with the high wages Qin Ran was paying, the workers were putting in their best effort.
Qin Ran had already envisioned the perfect scene: after dinner, she and Yu Shuman would take a romantic stroll along the soft sands of the beach. When they were done, they could walk back to the villa via the pier, not even needing to wear shoes.
Since the pier was still under construction, Qin Ran avoided that area and instead walked around the villa, pointing out minor issues for her assistant to fix. There weren't any major problems, but Qin Ran had a knack for nitpicking, and her assistant dutifully noted everything down.
When they reached the backyard, Qin Ran started criticizing again. "We could put a greenhouse here—" she began, but then trailed off, realizing that building a greenhouse in a tropical climate would be absurd. Who builds a greenhouse in the tropics? You'd get roasted alive in there. She frowned and changed her mind. "Forget the greenhouse. Let's plant a garden instead. I want lots and lots of flowers. It's too green around here; it looks boring."
They really should have sent Qin Ran to inspect the pier, her assistant thought with a wry smile. She'd find more faults with that than even the master craftsmen.