"Why are you here in the middle of the night?" Manager Jiang was startled when he saw Qiao Rui walk in.
Qiao Rui had entered directly using his ho’s password, barging in suddenly in the middle of the night—it was truly alarming.
"Not asleep yet?" Qiao Rui noticed he was still wearing the sa clothes from earlier that day, and she seed surprised. "I was going to call you after stepping in, but seeing the lights on, I decided to give you a scare instead. Did I manage to frighten you?"
"You did!" Manager Jiang laughed. "When a beauty shows up unannounced in the dead of night, any man would be startled."
"Oh, shut up!" Qiao Rui shot back irritably.
"I just got back," Manager Jiang finally stopped joking and beca serious. "I was arranging things in the studio earlier, only got ho twenty minutes ago, and then you showed up."
"You’ve been working hard." Qiao Rui walked over and sat on the sofa. "Can you get a glass of water?"
Manager Jiang, seeing her like this, froze montarily before quickly heading over to pour her a glass of water.
As he handed the water to Qiao Rui, he sized her up. "You didn’t happen to visit Muyu just now, did you?"
"I did," Qiao Rui nodded.
"I knew you couldn’t leave her alone."
"She’s doing fine," Qiao Rui said. "I have sothing planned for you."
"Go ahead."
"I’ve made Muyu a shareholder in the Liu Family, and for you, I want you to acquire the Song Family and take the lead."
"Uh!" Manager Jiang was taken aback. "If you do this, Mrs. Song will definitely think I have feelings for Muyu."
"From the way you said that... are you implying you don’t have feelings for her?" Qiao Rui assud he was interested in Muyu but later realized she might have been overthinking. "Are you saying that just because Muyu was once with Song Xun, you think she’s not good enough for you now?"
Manager Jiang was speechless. He stared at Qiao Rui, eting her eyes filled with doubt and naivety. Suddenly, he felt a stab of anger.
"Do you really think I’m that shallow? Do you think I’d reject a woman’s entire life just because she was with soone else before?"
Qiao Rui suddenly smiled, stood up, and walked toward Manager Jiang. She patted his shoulder and praised him, "Not bad, young man—I knew you weren’t soone unreliable. You truly are a mature and dependable man. Whoever marries you in the future will be lucky."
Manager Jiang let out a cold hum. "What’s the point of being mature and dependable? So won don’t even notice."
"Don’t rush it now; your true soulmate hasn’t appeared yet," Qiao Rui said with a laugh.
Manager Jiang fixed his gaze on her. As she lowered her head to drink tea, a tectonic shift seed to crack through his pupils, leaving them dull and empty.
By the ti Qiao Rui finished her water and raised her head, Manager Jiang’s eyes had returned to their usual calm.
He remained silent, not saying a word.
Qiao Rui finally sensed his silence and unease, asking, "What’s wrong? Did I say sothing inappropriate?"
"No, you’re right," he replied quietly, his tone tinged with a faint dejection. "Perhaps my soulmate really hasn’t shown up yet."
"Jinfeng, I didn’t say you have to be with Muyu," Qiao Rui finally grew serious. "Over the years, the three of us have depended on each other. I know the feelings you have for Muyu aren’t romantic. Having you go to the Song Family is because she can’t be a shareholder in both families simultaneously."
"You’re afraid Song Xun might try to entangle her, but more than that, you’re scared that she hasn’t truly let go of him. If you don’t let her go back, it could hurt her even more. That’s why you’ve given her this identity—to help her grow and strengthen herself, because in this world, nothing is more important than personal empowernt."
Qiao Rui smiled and sighed, "Jinfeng, you know so well."
Manager Jiang’s gaze settled on Qiao Rui’s face. "So you’ve finally realized that the person who understands you best is ."
Qiao Rui shrugged. "Indeed."
"Don’t try to butter up!" Manager Jiang said, teasing, "I thought you were all wrapped up with Pei Liyan lately and had forgotten about as your friend."
"How could I?" Qiao Rui replied. "You’re my friend, my brother. As for him—he’s just my plaything for now."
"Though I hate your behavior when you say things like that, I have to advise you—be careful not to play with fire," Manager Jiang said, pouring himself a glass of water and turning his back, his eyes glimring with a hint of despair.
Pei Liyan could never be just her plaything.
The way she looked at Pei Liyan was completely different.
She indulged Pei Liyan—even when he acted unfaithful in front of her, she forgave him.
In this lifeti, the only man she had ever forgiven like that was likely Pei Liyan.
Manager Jiang let out a silent sigh, bitterly smiled, and when he turned back around, he had regained his calm and composed deanor.
As Qiao Rui finished her glass of water, she said, "Don’t worry—I won’t get burned. And even if I do, it’ll be mutual destruction with Pei Liyan."
Manager Jiang froze, his grip on the glass tightening, the bones in his fingers prominent.
He stared at the water in the glass, his lowered gaze filled with shattered pain.
If it was mutual destruction, it should’ve been him and her.
He laughed bitterly, "As long as you’re happy."
Qiao Rui seed to notice his weariness and said, "Your trip to Liancheng must’ve been exhausting. Get so rest—I’m heading back."
"I’ll drive you!" Manager Jiang picked up his car keys. "Let’s go."
"No need—I’ll head back on my own," Qiao Rui replied.
"It’s late and hard to find a cab. Let drop you off."
Seeing his insistence, Qiao Rui nodded, "Alright then, I’ll trouble Manager Jiang."
"Cut it out!" Manager Jiang smiled, looked down at her, and said, "Let’s go!"
"Mm!"
The two headed to the garage and got into the car.
Fifteen minutes later.
Qiao Rui climbed over the wall and returned to Pei Liyan’s residence. She entered the house and went to bed.
It was as if she had never left at all.
At 7:30 AM, Qiao Rui got up, applied makeup, changed into a relatively professional outfit, picked up the phone, and called Gai Yin.
"Pick up at 8:30."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Call President Qiao."
"Yes, President Qiao," Gai Yin imdiately corrected herself.
"Haha, Sister Yin, don’t be so nervous."
"I’m worried Mr. Pei will notice."
"From now on, you’re my assistant—you’ll work with . If he dares to notice you, I’ll smack him imdiately."
"Haha, alright," Gai Yin finally laughed. "I’ll drive over to pick you up shortly."
"Alright." Qiao Rui headed downstairs for breakfast.
Seeing her in formal professional attire, Mrs. Feng and Uncle Feng were both startled. "Young Madam, are you headed to work?"
"How’s the aura?" Qiao Rui spun around to show them.
"Very good," Uncle Feng nodded.
Professional attire needs to be clean and neat, avoiding flashy designs; simple and elegant styles work best.
Thus, Qiao Rui wore a white outfit—a white blazer over a black silk camisole, paired with a white skirt and gray stockings.
Black represents steadiness, gray exudes sophistication, and white conveys refinent, creating an undeniably polished look.
The way she dressed made her appear dignified and stable, yet not overbearing.
Of course, her aura was still very commanding.
It was the kind of presence that inspires trust at a glance.
"That’s good then," Qiao Rui smiled. "Uncle Feng, Mrs. Feng, I’m going to have breakfast first, and then I’ll return to the Qiao Family later."
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