He Jitang got into the black Range Rover and drove to the hospital.
The night was deep, and the hospital office building was very quiet.
He Jitang pushed open the office door.
Su Ruanruan was lying down, asleep.
Hair covering her face, her exhaustion was evident.
He Jitang had seen her in many states, but never like this.
He stood beside her, silently watching for a moment before his gaze fell on the documents on her desk.
Those were YR Group project files.
A thick stack, with markings made by a black fountain pen, the handwriting strong and elegant.
One glance and he knew it was Bao Jingyan’s work.
A jolt went through He Jitang’s heart.
He couldn’t help but recall the image of that man being with Ci’an.
Ci’an sitting in his lap, Ci’an calling him uncle, Ci’an hugging his neck.
He Jitang’s heart quivered slightly.
He even had the thought: to give Ci’an to Ruanruan!
But the thought was fleeting.
Su Ruanruan awoke.
A faint scent of pine was in the air.
Startled, she sat up: "Third Brother?"
He Jitang watched her reaction, nonchalantly asking: "Where’s the secretary? Why is she not here?"
As he spoke, he sat down, quite indifferently: "I just finished entertaining guests, brew me a cup of tea to sober up."
Su Ruanruan breathed a sigh of relief.
She personally brewed tea for him, while saying: "Xiao Hong has only been gone for a little while."
She pondered: She had hit Old Master Huo, surely He Jitang must have guessed and come to settle accounts with her.
Su Ruanruan decided to counter passivity with calmness.
She placed the brewed tea in front of him: "Third Brother, try the tea."
He Jitang sniffed it and asked her: "Aren’t you having any?"
Pretending to joke, half serious, half in jest: "You didn’t spike my tea with laxatives, did you?"
Su Ruanruan went back to her desk to tidy up: "Why would I harm Third Brother?"
She adamantly denied it, and He Jitang didn’t pursue the matter further; after all, the deed had been done.
He slowly savored the tea, saying nothing more.
Nor did Su Ruanruan, who, after putting things away, continued to review documents.
After about the time it took to sip a cup of tea, He Jitang prepared to leave.
Rising to his feet, he said: "Next month, I have an academic conference. I might be away from City B for quite some time. Make sure to visit the elders."
He spoke indifferently, but Su Ruanruan guessed that he was really going to Yangcheng.
She was reluctant to part with Ci’an but could not reveal her feelings.
All she did was smile lightly: "Rest assured, Third Brother!"
He Jitang was serious in entrusting her, "The family also has two elder sisters, but they’re abroad and can’t manage many things. We still need to rely on you, Fourth Sister."
Su Ruanruan hummed an acknowledgment, her tone tinged with nasal sound.
She told him: "In the second half of the year, the Ci’an project will enter the drug trial stage. Third Brother, make sure to stay in touch."
He Jitang merely smiled faintly.
He said: "Good! I’ll remember that, Third Brother."
He Jitang stood up and left, gradually blending into the night.
Downstairs, he ran into Bao Jingyan!
Clearly, Bao Jingyan was here to pick up Su Ruanruan and take her home.
The two men exchanged glances, an unspoken understanding between them.
As they passed by each other, He Jitang said lightly: "Thanks!"
Bao Jingyan understood his meaning and replied indifferently: "You are you, and Ci’an is Ci’an." After saying so, he entered the elevator.
Arriving at the office, Su Ruanruan was pouring out the tea, rinsing the cup.
Bao Jingyan approached, and she asked: "Did you run into He Jitang?"
Bao Jingyan nodded.
Taking the cup from her hand, he helped her put it away: "Uncle has already sent people to Yangcheng. He Jitang can’t sit still anymore."
Su Ruanruan hesitated before telling him: "The last time he came to pick up Ci’an from our house, I asked him to give Ci’an to me, but he didn’t agree!"
Bao Jingyan knew she was upset.
He embraced her, offering comfort for a moment.
Su Ruanruan felt much better, changed her clothes, and went home with him...