Provoking the Obsessive, Cold, and Aloof CEO - Chapter 10

In the gentle spring sunlight, a soft breeze rustled through the cineraria in the garden, carrying the fresh scent of spring foliage.

Light footsteps hurried past, followed by a thump and then soft sobs.

Ruan Taoran set down her design drafts and followed the sound of crying.

A little girl, about four or five years old, lay sprawled on the ground, her pink silk dress with butterfly bows crumpled around her. Tears streamed down her face like rain on pear blossoms.

Butler Zhou fussed anxiously, wiping away her tears with his hands. “There, there, don’t cry anymore. You’ll disturb the Madam.”

His words had the opposite effect; she only cried harder.

“Her knee is scraped. We need to disinfect it first,” Ruan Taoran said, crouching down to examine the injury.

Butler Zhou quickly apologized, “Second Miss, I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I’ll take Youyou away immediately.”

Ruan Taoran looked at the little girl and smiled brightly, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re Youyou? What a lovely name.”

Youyou’s hair was styled in two small braids, but after running around, some strands had come loose.

Seeing a stranger, Youyou instinctively shrank back.

Her pair of dark, glistening eyes stared timidly at Ruan Taoran as she burrowed into Butler Zhou’s arms.

Wrapping her arms around Butler Zhou’s neck, she whispered, “Daddy, it hurts…”

She looked like she was about to burst into tears again. At only four or five years old, she couldn’t control her sobs.

Butler Zhou gently soothed her, “Daddy knows, sweetheart. Don’t cry, don’t cry now.”

He was growing anxious. It was Rao Man’s nap time, and disturbing her rest would be a problem.

Ruan Taoran’s eyes darted around before she removed a pearl hairpin from her hair. “Youyou, look at this. Isn’t it pretty? Do you like it?”

Youyou’s timid gaze shifted to the hairpin. Focused on talking to Ruan Taoran, she momentarily forgot to cry.

The delicate hairpin lay in Ruan Taoran’s palm. Youyou whispered, “I like it.”

“If Youyou is brave and stops crying, Sister Ranran will give this to you.” Ruan Taoran held the hairpin out to Youyou and winked.

Her smile was warm and inviting, her voice gentle. Yet Youyou hesitated to reach out, glancing at Butler Zhou. “Daddy…”

“Second Miss, this…” Butler Zhou didn’t dare let Youyou take it.

“As long as Youyou stops crying, she can have it,” Ruan Taoran said, placing the hairpin directly into Youyou’s hand.

The little girl clutched the hairpin, turning it over in her palm. Finally, she cradled it carefully, her cheeks dimpling with a faint smile. “Thank you, Sister.”

Butler Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Second Miss. We’re sorry to have disturbed you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. She’s just a child,” Ruan Taoran replied, unconcerned. Youyou was actually a very well-behaved little girl.

Ruan Taoran patted Youyou’s head. “Go put on your medicine with Daddy. If you’re a good girl and don’t cry, Sister will braid your hair nicely, okay?”

Youyou’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Like Sister’s beautiful braid?”

Ruan Taoran’s light brown hair was woven into a scorpion braid, adorned with the pearl hairpin, making her look like a little princess from a movie.

Ruan Taoran never minded going the extra mile. She always dressed beautifully, making herself a pleasure to look at.

“Of course! I’ll braid your hair just like mine,” Ruan Taoran said, coaxing a smile from Youyou with just a few words. “And besides the hairstyle, there’s a delicious drink too!”

“What kind of drink?” The little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

After Butler Zhou finished applying the medicine to Youyou’s wound, Ruan Taoran kept her promise and braided Youyou’s hair, securing the pearl hairpin in the braid.

The little girl cradled the grapefruit peach sparkling water in her hands, utterly captivated.

This was Ruan Taoran’s secret recipe: peach sparkling water infused with grapefruit pulp, rich in vitamin C and layered with complex fruity aromas.

Ruan Taoran had always loved children, and Youyou was particularly well-behaved. When it was time for Youyou to leave, both the adult and the child felt a pang of reluctance.

Clinging to Butler Zhou’s neck, Youyou whispered, “Daddy, can I come play with Sister Ranran again?”

“You like Sister Ranran?” Butler Zhou asked with a smile.

“Mm-hmm, I like her,” Youyou nodded, turning her head. “Look, Daddy, I’m a little princess today too!”

She blew a puff of air at Butler Zhou and said, “There’s also peach-flavored juice! It’s so yummy!”

“Sister Ranran is… different from the other sister…” Youyou murmured softly.

The “other sister” she had met here before was Ruan Ruyue.

Ruan Ruyue always dressed beautifully, and Youyou loved her dresses. She would watch from a distance, but one day, Ruan Ruyue slammed the door and stormed off.

Butler Zhou chuckled softly. “Alright, next time Daddy will bring you to play with Sister Ranran again.”

Butler Zhou had his daughter late in life, but his wife died during childbirth.

He was usually busy with work and left Youyou in the care of relatives. Only occasionally, when he had some free time, would he bring her over for a visit or two.

He had previously discussed this with Ruan Feng, who had given his permission, stipulating only that she not disturb the family.

But last time, Youyou hadn’t even cried. She had merely glanced at Ruan Ruyue from afar, and he had been penalized a quarter’s bonus for it.

Ruan Taoran was different. Butler Zhou couldn’t help but recall how she had braided Youyou’s hair earlier.

Youyou sat nestled in Ruan Taoran’s arms, both of them chatting with smiles. When something particularly amusing came up, their laughter would ring out in unison.

Since returning home, Ruan Taoran had never made things difficult for anyone. She remained unfazed by teasing and maintained an optimistic and cheerful demeanor throughout the day.

No wonder everyone in the family had grown to adore her.

Yet, as Butler Zhou reflected on this, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.

In this household, the Madam held absolute authority. Given the Second Miss’s complicated background, she was bound to face mistreatment. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the bright, sunny young girl.

Ruan Taoran spent several days revising her design drafts, barely leaving the house during that time.

She occasionally exchanged messages with Ji Qingyun, but they were like stones dropped into the sea—no reply ever came.

After much deliberation, Ruan Taoran decided she needed to express her gratitude for Ji Qingyun’s immense help.

So, she personally brewed rose-infused sweet rice wine and delivered it to Ji Qingyun herself.

Previously, Ruan Taoran had never cooked, not even during her time abroad. Lin Xiaoxiao had always handled the meals.

But as a true Roll King, mere words of concern weren’t enough; her actions had to match her ambition.

Ruan Taoran meticulously followed online tutorials, practicing repeatedly until she crafted the most perfect version of the dish. Only then did she bring it to Ji Qingyun.

Yet, even at the Ji Clan’s grand entrance, there was no response from Ji Qingyun.

Thinking she’d try her luck at the reception desk, Ruan Taoran was surprised when the receptionist, upon hearing her name, immediately asked her to wait and made a phone call.

No appointment needed to make a call? Ruan Taoran marveled at how approachable the massive Ji Clan seemed to be.

Shortly after the receptionist hung up, a woman hurried down from the elevator to greet her.

She wore a pale purple blouse paired with a crisp white pantsuit, her long hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her delicate features and warm smile radiated approachability.

“Miss Ruan,” she greeted, stepping forward. “I’m Han Yue, President Ji’s personal assistant.”

“Assistant Han, it’s nice to meet you. I’m here to see—” Ruan Taoran began.

“I know, I know. President Ji is in a meeting right now. Let me take you to her office first,” Han Yue said, taking the lead.

The elevator ascended smoothly. Ji Qingyun’s office was on the top floor, and Han Yue led her directly to the private elevator, encountering no one along the way.

After escorting her into the office, pouring tea, and settling her in, Han Yue quickly sent Ji Qingyun a message on her phone.

In the conference room, Ji Qingyun glanced at the notification on her phone but showed no reaction as she set it down.

The presenter had just finished their report and cautiously asked, “President Ji, do you have any further suggestions?”

“It’s fine. Next,” Ji Qingyun replied flatly.

The presenter couldn’t help but sigh in relief, hurrying off the stage with the feeling of having narrowly escaped disaster.

His caution was understandable. Over the past two days, seven or eight projects had been rejected and sent back for revisions. He had feared his presentation would meet the same fate.

As the reports continued, Ji Qingyun’s gaze drifted to the darkened screen of her phone, her lashes lowering.

In Ji Qingyun’s office, the floral brooch lay in a drawer. The camellia had withered and dried, its petals crumbling one by one.