Bai Ruanruan did not have time to see Huo Yuzhou.
Even after applying hand cream and keeping his slender fingers Ruanruan and white, and after changing his clothes several times, he finally found one that best complemented his pure and innocent image.
But plans change much faster than reality.
His remarks had such a huge impact that even the Greater China president, who had previously agreed to give him the status of a Givenchy brand ambassador, unusually informed Zheng Ming that the cooperation would be temporarily suspended.
Zheng Ming had just gotten rid of the mess that Nan Qing, and now he was planning to make a big splash, so naturally he couldn't let this easy prize slip away.
He took Bai Ruanruan to meet the other party. Fortunately, with the system's support, Bai Ruanruan and the person in charge got along very well. He then weakly punished himself by drinking three cups, choking and getting teary-eyed, to express his sincerity.
By the time she had calmed the other person down, it was nearly evening. Bai Ruanruan returned home reeking of alcohol and bumped into Bai Yanxiu right in front of her.
What happened to you?
Bai Ruanruan looked like a frightened little white rabbit, her eyes slightly red.
"I was originally going to apologize to Nan Qing, but President Jiang I had already finalized a cooperation agreement, is very unhappy because of today's public opinion. He wants to terminate the contract with me, hold me accountable, and blacklist me from the entire industry."
"I can't afford to offend him, and I don't want to implicate the Bai Family, or my father's and my two older brothers' careers. So I went to apologize in person, drank a lot of alcohol, and he even... he even..."
Bai Ruanruan's eyes reddened even more, as if she found it difficult to speak.
"But my agent protected me, and he didn't try to terminate my contract, so I won't drag the Bai Family down with me."
"Also, I will apologize to President Gu, and I will personally go to see President Huo. President Huo admires me very much, and he will definitely help me..."
Bai Ruanruan's eyes were blurry with tears, but for some reason, she felt that Bai Yanxiu's gaze was strange, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Bai Ruanruan sobbed again.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have said those things to Nan Qing, but I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to retaliate..."
" Nan Qing has always targeted me. Even if I'm a clay figure, I still have my own temper. But I never expected Nan Qing to be so scheming. If I had known this earlier, I would have knelt down and apologized to Nan Qing."
"I don't care if I suffer any more grievances, but I can't hold Father and my brothers back. My eldest brother has already worked very hard abroad for the past six months, and my second brother, you've been leaving early and returning late for your career, giving up your most cherished hobby..."
Bai Yanxiu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he sighed.
"It's not your fault, Nan Qing is just too vindictive."
Although Ruanruan has his own little schemes, he is not a completely bad person. He is the only person in this family who understands him and supports him.
He loved art so much that he could talk to me about Hieronymus Bosch until midnight, from the Renaissance to the Reformation, from dogmatism to paradoxical aesthetics. How could someone with such refinement be a bad person?
"That's all, go change your clothes."
Bai Yanxiu glanced upstairs, signaling to him,
"Big brother is back."
Bai Ruanruan's eyes widened, her gaze quickly sweeping upstairs, appearing exceptionally obedient.
"Okay, Second Brother."
Bai Ruanruan washed himself up faster than he ever had in his life, getting rid of the smell of alcohol and even spraying a breath freshener. He then changed into clean, understated home clothes before rushing downstairs.
He was a little afraid of his older brother; he couldn't let the other man find any fault with him.
Bai Ruanruan was the first person to arrive at the restaurant. Her father happened to see her helping the kitchen staff carry the tableware, and she then humbly served soup to the two elders.
Such filial piety drew praise from the family's nanny, and even Bai's father's anger subsided considerably.
Bai Ruanruan was accepting the praise with her lips pursed when suddenly, a sharp gaze fell on her.
Bai Ruanruan composed herself and said obediently, "Big brother."
Qin Mubai, wearing a dark gray shirt, frowned slightly, ignored him, and pulled out a chair to sit down.
This time, without Bai Ruanruan having to say a word, Bai Yanxiu over her and embellished the story of Bai Ruanruan enduring humiliation that afternoon, telling it to several people.
Mr. Bai sighed, "This industry is too chaotic. The family doesn't need you to make such sacrifices. Otherwise, you should come back and work for your second brother."
Bai Ruanruan squeezed out the tears she had prepared beforehand.
"My adoptive mother's last wish was to see me play the piano on television. I wanted to be a pianist, but I injured my hand..."
Thinking about how he injured his hand, Bai's mother felt a pang of pity.
"Good child, Mom knows you're a filial child, you've been wronged."
Bai Ruanruan shook her head, crying.
Bai Yanxiu seized the opportunity to speak up, "Dad, Ruanruan has had a tough time too. Don't you know some executives at Ruanruan? Could you put in a good word for her? After all, our Ruanruan is about to become the spokesperson for Givenchy. Could you ask them to give her an ambassadorship? Even a brand ambassadorship would be fine."
Looking at his youngest son crying with grievance, Mr. Bai hesitated for a moment.
I'll give it a try.
Bai Ruanruan was overjoyed and was about to express his gratitude when he heard Qin Mubai's cold voice.
"Is President Jiang harassing you?"
"He is asexual, doesn't have a partner, and feels no desire for anyone."
Bai Ruanruan was suddenly startled when she saw Qin Mubai's cold and disdainful gaze sweep over her.
"A habitual liar."
Bai Ruanruan panicked; under the gazes of several people, his voice trembled.
"Elder brother--"
The moment that address was uttered, Qin Mubai's gaze turned even colder, filled with condescending disgust.
Bai Ruanruan felt a chill in her heart.
Qin Mubai never allowed him to call him brother.
The second brother Bai Yanxiu, always called him "elder brother."
From the moment he met Qin Mubai, only Nan Qing would call him "brother" in a drawn-out, cloying voice that was nauseating to hear.
But later, for some reason, Qin Mubai suddenly stopped allowing Nan Qing to call him that.
Bai Ruanruan quickly changed her form of address.
"Big brother... maybe, maybe I was too nervous and misunderstood..."
"I'm really scared. I've never eaten alone with a strange man before. My adoptive parents say there are many bad people outside, and they've been with me through thick and thin..."
As soon as he said that, Bai Family's parents sighed, a deep sense of guilt flashing in their eyes.
Only Qin Mubai's cold gaze fell on his face, his eyes filled with indifferent detachment.
Bai Ruanruan dared not look him in the eye, and could only keep guessing in her heart.
Qin Mubai is a very strange person.
Unlike Bai Yanxiu, who prides himself on being kind and compassionate, he is the eldest son in his family and is very strict with everyone, to the point of being harsh.
Except for Nan Qing.
He was very indulgent towards Nan Qing. Even though he had witnessed Nan Qing bullying him several times, Qin Mubai only gave him a verbal reprimand, which was not painful at all, and then condescendingly compensated him financially.
He also doted on Nan Qing.
Someone as self-disciplined, polite, calm, and rigid as him would climb a tree to pick fruit just because Nan Qing said she wanted to eat, take off his suit to race with others for a casual reward from Nan Qing, and even tolerate Nan Qing acting crazy in his office, playing games loudly, and throwing snacks all over the floor.
He is a germaphobe and doesn't like being touched by others.
But Nan Qing could climb into his bed and sleep without even saying hello.
Even if Nan Qing had only eaten half a pear and it was covered in saliva, he could still finish it calmly without ever complaining.
After all, Nan Qing was practically raised by Qin Mubai, and they had a very deep bond.
He also heard Bai Yanxiu say sullenly that back when Qin Mubai was receiving lessons from his tutor, Nan Qing was already able to sit on his lap and play with building blocks.
Bai Ruanruan even thought that it would be difficult for him to win over Qin Mubai, an important supporting character.
But the power of the chosen one is so great that one day, Qin Mubai suddenly became estranged from his almost doting younger brother.
His father said that the overseas business didn't require his presence, but he went anyway.
For six months, he resolutely chose not to return to China.
Even when Nan Qing bullied him for the last time, and he woke up in the hospital room crying and saying, "I want Nan Qing to leave the Bai Family. It's either me or him," he was worried that Qin Mubai would stop him.
But Qin Mubai on the other side of the ocean didn't say anything.
The only response was silence.
Bai Ruanruan felt that she had already severed ties between Nan Qing and Qin Mubai, and that the two of them were now sworn enemies.
But for some reason, the moment he met Qin Mubai's gaze, he felt that it wasn't like that at all.
Because Qin Mubai was looking at him with a cold expression, saying:
" Bai Ruanruan, Nan Qing is not my blood brother, but that doesn't mean you can slander him so arbitrarily in front of me."
Bai Ruanruan's expression froze.
Qin Mubai placed his chopsticks on the plate, his handsome and mature face as cold as ever, unmoved by his tears.
His sharp eyes were tinged with coldness, and his tone was icy:
"If I find out you're eyeing him again, I'll personally throw you out of the Bai Family."
"Got it?"