C13 The next Door may Not be Wang!

The butterfly orchid remained nestled in its tiny pot, its roots firmly entrenched, dominating most of the space. Next to it, in the fertile black soil, a Sorrow Orchid the size of a matchbox was growing exuberantly. Its leaves were flawless, their delicate beauty irresistible, compelling one to protect it at all costs.

In the heart of the Sorrow Orchid, a slender stem had given rise to a silver-white bud, which was already halfway to blooming. The sight of the gently closed petals made Little Ye involuntarily think of her first love—the boy who, as a high school freshman, had braved the pouring rain to stand outside her dorm window with a rose in hand...

The bittersweet memories of that first love surged, leaving a lingering sweetness. Although it was a part of her past, the experience was deeply etched in her heart, carefully hidden in its deepest corners.

The Sorrow Orchid's bloom somehow brought to mind that first love, reviving cherished feelings she thought had been forgotten for years. In the presence of Qin Fann, emotions ran deep, and Little Ye abandoned all pretense, wiping away the wetness at the corners of her eyes before turning to Qin Fann.

"Master Qin, is this really a Sorrow Orchid?"

Holding the small flower pot in his hand, Qin Fann casually replied, "Great things are meant to be shared. Unfortunately, it seems I might be the only one who knows why it's called a Sorrow Orchid. The ephemeral beauty of youth, the vanished past—love remains forever in the heart."

"Please, Master Qin, no more," Little Ye interrupted, her fingers once again brushing the corners of her eyes as tears threatened to spoil her makeup.

"Lil' Ye, about those recent ferry hijackings... Lil' Ye, what's the matter?"

The internal line buzzed again. Fighting back tears, Lil' Ye turned and composed herself to respond, "Director Tang, I'm fine. I'll send the items over right away. And I have some good news—I know it might disrupt your meeting, but the Sorrow Orchid has bloomed. And it's right next to the butterfly orchid..."

"Really?" Tang Ruoyan's voice carried a hint of exceptional surprise. "I'll be right out. Don't let anyone touch it, I'll be there immediately... My apologies to all the board members, but today's meeting will have to be adjourned for now..."

The line went dead, and Qin Fann pulled back, handing the potted plant to Little Ye.

The CEO's assistant, Little Ye, instinctively reached out to take it, as if she were handling something hot, worried that such a beautiful treasure might be ruined in her hands, which would be an unforgivable mistake.

Qin Fann smiled, "No worries, it can bloom all summer long."

"Really? That's fantastic." Little Ye carefully embraced it, as if she were cradling a newborn baby.

Though she placed it on the table, her fingers remained close, ready to protect it from any breeze that might cause it to fall and become damaged, leaving behind a regrettable blemish.

This time, Little Ye's smile was sincere, and when she looked at Qin Fann, it was filled with a deep sense of apology.

"I'm sorry, Young Master Qin, I..."

"It's okay, let's talk about something else."

"Sure, thank you, Young Master Qin. By the way, where is your hometown? Is it really filled with Sorrow Orchids?"

"It's very far from here, and by far, I mean not reachable by plane or ship. There, when summer comes, Sorrow Orchids truly cover the hillsides. However, they're not sorrowful. They caress your cheeks with the gentlest breeze, and when the wind gets stronger, the leaves rustle and tinkle."

Little Ye's eyes lit up with excitement. "I believe you now, Young Master Qin. I was working late the other night and heard the Sorrow Orchids making a tinkling sound. At first, I thought I was mistaken and even told Director Tang, but she didn't let me work overtime for a week after that."

"Hahaha... She cares about you and thought you were too tired and hallucinating. But you're right, the leaves do make a tinkling sound when they rub together. If she doesn't believe it, wash the Sorrow Orchid leaves with warm water, then blow on them with a fan before the droplets dry. You'll definitely hear it then."

"It's truly magical. Oh, Young Master Qin, Director Tang has come out. She's going to be thrilled!"

As Little Ye hastily stood up, a graceful silhouette emerged from the direction of the conference room. The woman's beauty was beyond words, a sight so captivating that even the most eloquent descriptions would fail to do her justice. Perhaps only those who have had the privilege of seeing her could understand the profound impact of her presence, leaving one's spirit utterly enthralled.

Without her, one would surely be restless, their peace and comfort elusive.

Tang Ruoyan's beauty eclipses them all.

"Little Ye, where is it?"

"Director Tang, right here, and Young Master Qin is here too."

The beautiful figure hurried past Qin Fann and stopped beside Little Ye, in front of the Sorrow Orchid. Tang Ruoyan admired the Sorrow Orchid with the affection one would show a cherished treasure. Little Ye, caught up in the excitement for the umpteenth time, suddenly realized she had been neglecting Young Master Qin and quickly coughed to remind the CEO.

Roused by Little Ye's distinctive cough, Tang Ruoyan finally spoke, "Little Ye, what's going on here? How come there are two pots of Sorrow Orchid? And this tiny one has bloomed? What's happening? Can you explain it to me, please?"

In front of the flower, she shed her usual icy CEO facade and became like a girl playfully seeking attention.

Little Ye felt a surge of exasperation. Director Tang, I've been coughing my lungs out trying to get you to greet Young Master Qin. It's his doing, after all...

"Director Tang, actually, this pot..."

"Ruoyan, it's started to rain outside. I've brought an umbrella," Qin Fann interjected, giving Little Ye a knowing glance to shift the conversation.

Still captivated by the Sorrow Orchid's bloom, Tang Ruoyan was brought back to reality by Qin Fann's presence and quickly regained her composure with a simple nod.

"Ruoyan, is something the matter?" A stranger's voice echoed from the direction of the conference room.

Upon seeing Qin Fann, and Qin Fann seeing him, both felt a twinge of annoyance.

Wu Ying, one of Tang Ruoyan's suitors, is also the strongest contender, boasting both "proximity to power" and "absolute strength"—without a doubt, he stands alone at the top. The Tang family dominates Zhonghai, but China's vast territory is teeming with elites. In Yanjing, the formidable Wu family, a household name, possesses the strength to vie for a spot among China's top ten.

Wu Ying, the exceptional second son of the Wu family, was a business prodigy. By the age of fourteen, he had already dived into the world of commerce and was fast-tracking his education with dual doctorates. Over thirteen years, he tackled internal issues while eliminating external threats, laying a solid foundation for the Wu Enterprises in Yanjing's southern district.

The elders of these two powerful families had once planned to bring Tang Ruoyan and Wu Ying together through marriage, hoping to create an unparalleled alliance that would reach the pinnacle of China's business world. However, unpredictable twists of fate intervened, and Tang Ruoyan's sudden and prolonged coma turned this ambitious plan into nothing more than a mirage.

Despite this setback, not all was lost. Tang Ruoyan found herself in a nominal marriage to a man of enigmatic origins. Observers speculated that Ruoyan could never truly love Qin Fann. In a loveless marriage, they reasoned, there was still an opportunity for someone else to step in. Seizing the guise of business interactions, Wu Ying made his move.

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