Chapter 10: Dinner and Schemes

After handing the items to Su Qingcheng’s secretary, Mo Ran was just about to pick up a stack of documents to study the project in detail when his phone vibrated—someone had messaged him.

“Mo Ran, are you free today? I want to thank you properly for saving me.” It was Xiao Xiao who had taken the initiative to text him.

“Didn’t Uncle Xiao already thank me last night? Why again?” Mo Ran was a little puzzled.

“That was them thanking you, this is me thanking you. It’s not the same thing, got it?” Xiao Xiao’s reply came quickly, complete with a disdainful emoji.

“Alright, today works. I’m at Su Group. Send me a location and I’ll come over at noon.” Seeing this, Mo Ran didn’t stand on ceremony and agreed directly. It so happened he wanted to ask Xiao Xiao about the Port of Hucheng project.

“Su Group, huh? Wait right there.” Xiao Xiao muttered softly when she saw those words, then quickly decided on a restaurant. Once everything was settled, she sent him the location.

The morning slipped by in a flash. Soon it was 11:40. Su Qingcheng was nowhere to be seen, busy with something unknown since morning.

Alone with a glass of water, Mo Ran sat in the empty conference room poring over the bidding documents. He read through everything, searching online for anything he didn’t understand, eventually grasping the project’s general outline.

He had no idea that every move he made in that conference room was under Su Qingcheng’s watchful eye. In her private office, Su Qingcheng held an exquisite, delicate coffee cup in her left hand, sipping elegantly. By connecting the conference room’s global surveillance camera to her large computer screen, Mo Ran was entirely exposed before her.

“This fool—how can he be so calm?” Su Qingcheng stared at the screen, watching Mo Ran read the bid documents with a leisurely air, and grew increasingly annoyed. She had painstakingly set up two scenarios that morning precisely to prompt Mo Ran to reach out to the other party himself.

But soon, her efforts bore fruit. On the screen, she saw Mo Ran glance at his phone, tap a few times, and then her own phone rang.

So, this so-called couple, married for three years, were really only married in name— they didn’t even have each other on WeChat, and relied on a string of numbers for contact.

“Hello, Mo Ran. What is it?” Su Qingcheng deliberately answered in a hoarse voice, giving the impression she was too busy even to drink water.

“Qingcheng, I need to go out. Xiao Xiao invited me to lunch to thank me personally for saving her. Do you want to come with me?” Mo Ran detected something off in her voice, hesitated, then asked.

“I... I’d better not. My position is a bit sensitive. If I go with you and someone sees, rumors might start that Secretary Xiao is having private dealings with Su Group. It’s a sensitive time for the bidding. You go—after all, you saved her life, it’s perfectly reasonable.” Su Qingcheng forced down her revulsion and feigned understanding.

“What about you? You sound unwell.” Mo Ran asked.

“Probably just too much work and not enough water, my throat’s a bit dry. I’ll drink more later. You go, don’t keep her waiting.” Su Qingcheng frowned, annoyed at his endless questions, but replied considerately.

“Alright, don’t forget to eat. I’ll head out now.” Mo Ran, reassured, said a few words and hung up.

“Stupid lapdog. As if I’d forget to eat when I’m hungry. If you really cared, you’d bring my meal to the office.” Su Qingcheng spat contemptuously at the screen, watching Mo Ran’s back as he walked toward the elevator. “Once I secure this project, you can get lost.”

Unaware of any of this, Mo Ran took the elevator down to the first floor. As soon as he stepped out of the private lift, he felt all eyes on him—suspicious, disdainful—wondering what a useless, good-for-nothing man like him was doing here, all dressed up.

Feeling certain he was finally earning Su Qingcheng’s acceptance, Mo Ran was actually in high spirits and paid no mind to the stares, striding confidently out of the building.

He’d barely reached the entrance of Su Group when he spotted a red Mini Cooper pulling up in front of him. The passenger window rolled down, revealing Xiao Xiao’s beautiful face.

“Wasn’t I supposed to go myself? Why did the precious daughter of Secretary Xiao come in person?” Mo Ran asked in surprise.

“Don’t call me that. Just call me Xiao Xiao. My father is my father, I’m me, his power has nothing to do with me.” Xiao Xiao frowned, clearly displeased.

“Sorry, my bad.” Mo Ran relaxed. After so much chatting online, there was no need to be formal. He opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.

“Where are we going to eat?” Watching Xiao Xiao gun the accelerator at every green light, driving her tiny car like a sports coupe, Mo Ran grew nervous, remembering the electric car that caught fire the other day.

“What are you scared of?” Xiao Xiao glanced at the right mirror, catching his tense look, and pouted.

“I—I’m not scared.” Mo Ran coughed awkwardly, forcing an explanation. If this weren’t someone else’s car, he’d have carved a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor by now.

“Yeah, sure. Alright, I’ll slow down. I just want to eat sooner, you know? If you’re not eager for food, there’s something wrong with your brain.” Xiao Xiao grumbled at his expression.

“I’ve never heard that saying before.” Mo Ran scratched his head in embarrassment. Had three years as a live-in son-in-law made him out of touch with the world?

Soon enough, the Mini Cooper sped along the city streets and finally stopped outside a rustic courtyard house.

“We’re here! Eat as much as you want, you’re not allowed to leave till you’re full.” Xiao Xiao pulled the handbrake as she got out.

“What is this place?” Mo Ran was curious at the sight of the elegant, classically inspired courtyard. In a city like Hucheng, where every inch of land is precious, anyone who built a low, garden-style house instead of a tower must have real power.

“Oh, I forgot to mention—this is my uncle’s place. His family’s been here for generations; the house was passed down from my great-grandfather.” Xiao Xiao explained.

Mo Ran wisely nodded—whatever she said, he’d just listen.

“Come on in. Uncle, I brought my friend!” Xiao Xiao waved and called as she entered. Soon, a middle-aged man wearing an apron and holding a spatula appeared.

“Well, Xiao Xiao! And this must be Mr. Mo, my niece’s rescuer. Thank you so much!” Her uncle came out beaming. When he saw Mo Ran, he immediately offered a hearty greeting.

“No need to be so formal, just call me Mo.” The title “Mister” from an older man made Mo Ran uncomfortable, and he quickly said so.

“Haha, of course. Come on, private room 666. I’m still cooking, you two sit for a bit.” Xiao Xiao’s uncle laughed and hurried back to the kitchen.

Soon, a mouthwatering aroma wafted down the hallway, and Mo Ran’s stomach rumbled audibly.

Xiao Xiao burst out laughing, making Mo Ran blush.

“Sorry, sorry.” Seeing his embarrassment, Xiao Xiao apologized and led him to the private room.

Seated in the elegantly decorated room, Mo Ran felt a bit out of place, but the feeling didn’t last. Soon the door creaked open.

“Xiao Xiao, Dad said your savior’s here for lunch, so I came to thank him myself.” In walked a man in a suit who looked every bit the professional.

“Cousin, let me introduce you—this is Mo Ran, my lifesaver. Mo Ran, this is my cousin, my uncle’s son, Zhang Lei, a new energy vehicle software engineer.” Xiao Xiao quickly made the introductions.

“Hello, call me Mo, or just Mo Ran.” Mo Ran reached out his hand modestly.

“No need for all that formality. I’m in software—I call it like I see it. I’m a few years older than you, just call me Lei, and I’ll call you Mo.” Zhang Lei, straightforward and hearty, shook his hand with a grin.

After some polite conversation, the food arrived, but Xiao Xiao’s uncle didn’t join them for dinner—he’d vanished somewhere.

“That’s just how my uncle is—he always prefers to eat alone, have a drink. Let’s eat.” Xiao Xiao seemed to read Mo Ran’s mind and explained.

Zhang Lei noted all this with surprise—when had his wild, mischievous cousin become so considerate?

He glanced at Mo Ran again—handsome features, tall and strong—just the type for a “hero saves beauty, maiden repays with her heart” story.

After the meal, Zhang Lei excused himself for work, leaving the two alone in the private room.

Now, with a man and a woman alone together, an awkward silence fell.

Finally, Xiao Xiao noticed Mo Ran seemed to have something on his mind. “Mo Ran, is there something you want to say?”

“How did you know?” Mo Ran was startled—was his expression that obvious?

“You really ought to learn some restraint. Don’t let everything show on your face.” Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes in an adorably exasperated way.

“Got it, I’ll work on that.” Mo Ran smiled, suitably chastened.

“Let me guess—you’re at Su Group today because of the Port of Hucheng bid, right?” Xiao Xiao’s bright eyes flickered as she pieced things together, hitting the nail on the head.

“You guessed that?” Mo Ran was dumbfounded—he hadn’t said a word, yet she’d already figured it out.

“That’s not hard.” Xiao Xiao smiled lightly. “I’d bet your so-called wife, Su Qingcheng, sent you to spy, right?”

“No, it was my idea.” Unexpectedly, Mo Ran denied it.

“Okay, that’s not important. Just let me warn you: whatever happens, don’t be fooled by appearances—don’t make a mistake you can’t undo.” Xiao Xiao gave Mo Ran a complex look, her words full of meaning.

She had her suspicions—Su Qingcheng, the iron-willed businesswoman, must have used some underhanded means to draw Mo Ran unwittingly into her games.

“I understand.” Mo Ran nodded. “I should get going—thanks for your hospitality.” Since everything had been said, he knew it was time to leave.

“No rush, Mo Ran. As I recall, the Su family hasn’t treated you well. Why help them with the Port of Hucheng project?” Xiao Xiao probed cautiously, knowing how perilous the waters could be between politicians and businessmen.

“I…” Mo Ran started to explain, then fell silent, unsure if he should speak.

“You saved my life, I owe you. I’d never hurt you. Besides, do you really think the only daughter of a provincial official would harm an ordinary person like you?” Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Xiao’s heart sank—clearly, Su Qingcheng had played her hand, and Mo Ran, poor soul, was being used without realizing it. She invoked her background, hoping to put him at ease.

After her words, the room fell silent. Time ticked by. At last, Mo Ran spoke.

“Qingcheng promised me that if I could help her win the Port of Hucheng project, she’d share a bed with me and give me a child.” Mo Ran said slowly.

But to Xiao Xiao, this was full of holes—what kind of wife made such a promise? This was just a ruthless businesswoman dangling promises to motivate her employee—the ultimate “carrot on a stick” scenario.

“And besides that? Did Su Qingcheng ask you to use your connection to me to find out the government’s bidding price?” Xiao Xiao asked blandly, though inwardly exasperated.

“No, she’s never mentioned that.” Mo Ran shook his head.

“I see. Would you be interested in testing your wife’s sincerity?” Xiao Xiao mused, Su Qingcheng’s tactics clear as day, and made the suggestion.

Mo Ran hesitated.

“You don’t want to give your all and end up utterly defeated, do you?” Xiao Xiao’s words were the final straw that broke the camel’s back...