As soon as she left, Bao Jingyuan couldn’t help but remark with distaste, "Su Ruanruan, you really know how to climb the social ladder. Are you looking down on our Bao Family’s status?"
She let out a mocking laugh, "The affectionate display between you and Madam Gu earlier would have fooled anyone into thinking you were mother and daughter!"
Su Ruanruan’s lips quivered.
This time, Mrs. Bao spoke out: "Jingyuan, watch your words! Madam Gu comes from a prestigious background, and the Gu Family’s import and export business is doing very well. Many people are eager to establish a relationship with them!"
Bao Mingyuan smiled faintly, remaining silent.
This was precisely why he married Qi Meiyu after his wife’s death; Qi Meiyu was very understanding and considered the Bao Family’s interests.
As expected, Qi Meiyu continued, "Since Madam Gu is fond of Ruanruan, we should send an invitation and ask her to attend the ball! Mr. Gu cherishes his wife so he might come along too."
She smiled softly, "Doesn’t this bring the relationship a little closer?"
Bao Mingyuan stroked his wife’s arm in approval, "My wife is absolutely right."
Mrs. Bao had other ideas in her heart. It was fine to invite Madam Gu, but afterwards, she would not allow Su Ruanruan to interact with her.
She intended to groom Su Qionglin.
Su Qionglin was to be her future daughter-in-law.
As for Su Ruanruan, she was just a disposable piece to be used and discarded.
Due to Madam Gu’s appearance, the luncheon at the Bao Family house took on a different flavor.
The elderly lady, having heard that Su Qionglin was also coming, feigned illness to avoid attending, and Bao Jingyan also called to say he had matters to deal with at the company.
When Bao Mingyuan hung up the phone, he was visibly worried, "Jingyan won’t make it either, it’s probably because the experiment isn’t going well."
Su Ruanruan was preoccupied with whether or not he had harmed her second elder brother, so her meal was tasteless.
After enduring till the end, everyone left.
When she was alone, Su Ruanruan called Su Ru’an’s phone.
Nobody answered after several attempts.
She then called Bao Jingyan’s mobile, and after a few tones, it was picked up.
His voice was hoarse and gravelly from the other side, "Have you eaten?"
Su Ruanruan asked tentatively with a bitten lip: "Where are you?"
On the other end, Bao Jingyan sat on the villa couch with a cigarette in his mouth, chuckling softly: "At home."
He coaxed in a low voice: "Come over and have dinner with me."
Su Ruanruan, with her head hanging low, persisted: "What did you do to my second brother?"
"We just had a little exchange," Bao Jingyan’s voice grew even huskier, "You’re so concerned about others, why don’t you care for your man?"
She was both embarrassed and infuriated, tempted to hang up the phone.
Bao Jingyan’s voice became gentler: "I’ve sent the driver, come over in the car."
She wanted to refuse, but as she looked up, a car had already stopped in front of her.
The driver got out of the car, simple and polite: "Miss Su, Young Master Jingyan sent me to pick you up."
Su Ruanruan didn’t want to go.
But the driver scratched his head, looking troubled: "Young Master said if Miss Su can’t be persuaded, I don’t have to come to work tomorrow."
"He’s a tyrant!" exclaimed Su Ruanruan angrily.
In the end, she still got into the car.
The driver closed the car door for her, then jogged to the other side, got in, and started the vehicle.
He smirked to himself: Young Master Jingyan really knew how to handle Miss Su’s tender heart.
The black limousine swiftly brought Su Ruanruan to Bao Jingyan’s villa, and as Su Ruanruan got out, the butler greeted her respectfully: "Sir is waiting for Miss Su to start the meal."
Su Ruanruan, with her small handbag, walked into the hall.
Bao Jingyan leaned on the sofa reading a magazine, now dressed in white house attire.
Except for a scar at the corner of his mouth.
Su Ruanruan was furious, "Bao Jingyan, how childish can you be!"
Throwing the magazine aside, Bao Jingyan watched her quietly for a while before slowly asking: "Are you worried about me or your second brother?"
"Of course, it’s my second brother," she said, which struck a nerve in Bao Jingyan.
With one pull from him, she toppled into his arms.
Then, his lips closed in to kiss her, heedless of his own pain.
"I’ll make you worry!"
"Wuu... Bao Jingyan... let me go!"
"Let you worry! I’ll make sure you do!"
His dark eyes fixed on her.
Deep and enigmatic, betraying no emotion.