Provoking the Obsessive, Cold, and Aloof CEO - Chapter 2

The black Maybach glided smoothly along the road, bathed in the warm March sunlight that streamed through the half-open window.

A breeze lifted her long black hair, revealing a pale, refined jawline. Behind gold-rimmed glasses, her pale, glass-like eyes seemed as deep and fathomless as the ocean’s depths.

Her slender, fair hand rested casually on the leather seat, a diamond-studded platinum wristwatch peeking out from beneath the tailored dark suit sleeve.

Ruan Taoran glanced at her again and again, racking her brain for the hundredth time, but she still couldn’t place the woman.

Ruan Taoran gave the address, yet the car drove unerringly to the Ruan family’s villa district—Longhua Tianyu.

The gated community’s entrance was tightly secured, as befitting a high-end residential area.

Before Ruan Taoran could lower the window, the gate swung open automatically.

The license plate must be registered, she thought. Is she a neighbor?

But Longhua Tianyu was vast, comprising twenty-eight villas and numerous residents.

The car stopped thirty to fifty meters from the Ruan family’s villa.

The driver asked, “President Ji, should I take you to the door?”

“No need. This will do,” Ji Qingyun replied coolly.

Ji’s Group’s newly built mega-mall, Xingyue City, was currently signing tenants. The Ruan family’s jewelry brand, Serphine, had submitted its application.

Xingyue City catered exclusively to high-end luxury brands. Seraphine, having nearly vanished from the jewelry scene in recent years, clearly didn’t meet the criteria.

If the matter reached the Ji Family, it would inevitably be brought up. Ji Qingyun currently had no desire to interact with them.

“President Ji, Ji…” Ruan Taoran’s eyes widened.

Was there another Ji in Jiang City?

Ji’s Group was one of Jiang City’s most formidable and long-established conglomerates, rivaled only by Lu’s Ludi Group.

While Ludi focused on high-end luxury goods and real estate development, Ji’s Group specialized in real estate and investment, maintaining a roughly equal standing in Jiang City.

In recent years, Ludi Group had appointed a “Young President Lu,” and the company had experienced fluctuating fortunes, at times threatening to surpass Ji’s Group. Ultimately, however, they failed to completely overtake their rival.

This was because Ji’s Group had also appointed a new leader—Ji Qingyun—a woman of shrewdness and determination who swiftly stabilized the company’s position.

Ji Qingyun was known for her lack of scandals. What truly captivated public attention was her remarkable rags-to-riches story.

The Ji Clan was vast, especially given the previous president’s flamboyant lifestyle. He had four publicly acknowledged wives and over a dozen children, not to mention numerous illegitimate offspring.

Ji Qingyun was one of these illegitimate daughters. Her mother died early, and when she was brought into the Ji Clan, she was treated as a mere shadow, completely overlooked by everyone.

Yet, through sheer force of will, she rose to become the most outstanding among all the Ji Clan’s children.

From childhood, Ji Qingyun had consistently won awards in various competitions. At fifteen, she was admitted early to a top-tier business school. After returning to China, she transformed a seemingly insignificant project entrusted to her into a resounding success.

Following her father’s death, she leveraged her own abilities and Old Master Ji’s favor to ruthlessly reorganize the Ji Clan’s chaotic affairs, ultimately seizing control as its leader.

The Ji Clan and Ruan Family rarely engaged in commercial dealings. If not for the driver’s casual “President Ji,” Ruan Taoran doubted she would have remembered Ji Qingyun’s name even if she had been told to meet her next year.

Ruan Taoran couldn’t help but scrutinize Ji Qingyun. She vaguely recalled Ji Qingyun from their childhood—a thin, quiet girl who always sat in the corner, barely noticeable, utterly unlike the striking woman before her now.

The current Ji Qingyun stood out in any crowd. Her regal bearing and commanding presence made her even more captivating than a movie star.

“Don’t want to leave?” Ji Qingyun turned her gaze toward Ruan Taoran.

Startled by their eyes meeting, Ruan Taoran hastily averted her gaze. “No, no… I’ll be right there…”

Ji Qingyun seemed to smile faintly, but when Ruan Taoran looked up again, the smile had vanished.

“I don’t have… your contact information yet,” Ruan Taoran ventured tentatively.

Without a word, Ji Qingyun pulled out her phone, deftly entered a number, and Ruan Taoran’s phone immediately rang.

The driver had already taken Ruan Taoran’s suitcase out of the car when Ruan Taoran hurriedly called out, “Wait!” She opened the suitcase and began rummaging through it.

The suitcase contained only a few items: a few articles of clothing, some books, and clothes that had been washed until they were nearly worn out.

Ji Qingyun’s gaze fell on Ruan Taoran’s clothes—a clean white casual set, but with visible wear at the cuffs.

The Ruan Family hasn’t gone bankrupt in the past two years, has it?

Ruan Taoran finally found what she was looking for: a red velvet jewelry box.

She pressed it into Ji Qingyun’s hand. “Sister, this is… for you.”

“For me?” Ji Qingyun hadn’t mentioned she was picking Ruan Taoran up today, so receiving a gift was unexpected.

So, Ruan Taoran has been thinking of me all this time? Whether I came today or not, she had a gift prepared for me?

Ruan Taoran nodded, her smile radiant. “For you, Sister! I’m so happy you came to pick me up today.”

Her smile was as bright as sunshine, boldly expressing her joy and excitement. She seemed to radiate happiness.

Even such a small gesture made her so happy.

Ji Qingyun accepted the jewelry box. “I understand. Let’s go home now.”

With contact information exchanged and a gift given, the sentiment had been conveyed. Lingering any longer would seem overly clingy.

Ruan Taoran waved goodbye and walked away, pulling her suitcase and glancing back every few steps.

Once she was out of sight of the Maybach, she couldn’t resist rubbing her stiff neck. It was sore from all the craning.

As the car door closed, Ji Qingyun opened the jewelry box. Inside lay a delicate brooch.

The brooch was set with tiny diamonds, forming a pattern of auspicious clouds. Its dazzling brilliance radiated elegance and refinement.

The designer’s signature, “Aling,” was inscribed on the box’s lining.

This brooch was likely the most valuable item in Ruan Taoran’s suitcase.

Throughout the drive, Ruan Taoran had been stealing glances at her, unaware that Ji Qingyun had noticed. The young woman couldn’t even hide her infatuation.

While waiting at the door for someone to answer the bell, Ruan Taoran saved Ji Qingyun’s phone number.

A faint smile tugged at her lips. This was the only finished piece from her spring/summer design collection: auspicious clouds… Qingyun…

Some things didn’t need to be said. She trusted Ji Qingyun would fill in the blanks herself.

The Ruan Family’s sprawling mansion was eerily deserted. Not a single person passed by, and even the doorbell went unanswered. This was clearly abnormal.

Ruan Taoran wasn’t in a hurry. She waited patiently until the afternoon sun began to slant westward.

Finally, a butler in a suit, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, approached her. “Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment?”

“No,” Ruan Taoran replied with a smile. “Hello, Uncle Butler. I’m Ruan Taoran. I’m home.”

The butler couldn’t help but freeze for a moment. After waiting three hours, she still looked so vibrant and full of enthusiasm.

“Ah, it’s the Second Miss,” the butler said, as if suddenly realizing who she was. He hurriedly opened the gate. “Second Miss, please come in.”

A cold welcome right from the start. Ruan Taoran didn’t take it out on the butler; he was just an employee following orders. It was clear someone else was behind this.

As she entered the living room, a gentle, refined woman’s voice called out, “Ranran’s back! Why didn’t you call ahead so we could send someone to pick you up?”

“Hello, Auntie. The airport isn’t far, and I didn’t want to trouble you and Uncle since you’re both so busy.”

The truth was, she had messaged Ruan Feng and Rao Man earlier, but neither of them had arranged for a ride.

Ruan Feng was busy with work and likely wouldn’t dwell on such minor matters. As for Rao Man… she probably deliberately forgot.

As the younger generation, Ruan Taoran couldn’t make a fuss over this. She had no choice but to let it slide.

Rao Man, dressed in an apricot-white loungewear set, appeared to have just woken from an afternoon nap. She draped a cashmere shawl around her shoulders, her refined demeanor radiating an air of cultivated elegance.

Rao Man settled herself on the sofa and said casually, “Butler Zhou, making the Second Miss wait this long? Deduct your performance bonus for next month and reflect on your actions.”

“It’s not Uncle Butler’s fault…” Ruan Taoran began.

But before she could finish, Rao Man interrupted, “Ranran, every household has its rules. Wrong is wrong.”

“Yes,” Ruan Taoran nodded, her eyes flickering with an unreadable light.

Rao Man was still the same as when she was a child—skilled at maintaining appearances while setting traps for her to fall into.

Having punished the butler, the matter was now considered closed.

When Ruan Feng returned, Ruan Taoran couldn’t complain further without seeming greedy.

Moreover, by antagonizing the family butler upon her return, Ruan Taoran had already made her future days in this household far more difficult.

Ruan Taoran followed Butler Zhou to the second floor and pushed open the door to her room.

It was a suite, quite spacious.

The room contained only a bed and a desk, nothing else.

Yet it was clearly clean, free of dust, and the bed and desk were brand new, though lacking any personal touch.

Butler Zhou set down her luggage. “Second Miss, you may rest for now. The master will return for dinner tonight.”

“Uncle Butler, have you been here for the past few years? I don’t remember seeing you when I was home before,” Ruan Taoran said casually, as if chatting with a family member.

Butler Zhou remained formal, standing by the door and maintaining his distance. “That’s right. I’ve only been here for five years. Since the Second Miss hasn’t returned home during that time, we haven’t met.”

Ruan Taoran’s eyes flickered momentarily. She wondered what Rao Man had been telling people—that she hadn’t come home in five years and had raised an ingrate?

The truth was, every Lunar New Year, Ruan Taoran had messaged her mother saying she wanted to come home. Rao Man always replied that they were going on vacation and the house would be empty, so there was no need for her to return.

“This is for you, Uncle,” Ruan Taoran said, pulling a kraft paper envelope from her bag.

It was clearly cash, and the thick envelope contained what looked like tens of thousands of yuan.

She held the envelope out to Butler Zhou, but he didn’t take it. “Second Miss, you’re being too kind.”

He knew his wages had been docked today, and he understood Ruan Taoran’s intention to compensate him. But this money… it felt like a hot potato.

“This isn’t about being kind; it’s about treating you like family,” Ruan Taoran insisted, pushing the envelope forward. “This is your New Year’s red envelope for the past five years.”

“My parents always gave red envelopes to the family’s butler, saying it was because they considered him family.”

“So this isn’t about being polite; it’s about treating you like family.”

Butler Zhou paused, clearly surprised by her words.

But he remained firm. “Second Miss, your thoughtfulness is enough. Keep the red envelope; you’re still just a young graduate.”

Ruan Taoran glanced around the room. “I don’t even have a vase in here, Uncle. Please use this money to buy me one.”

Butler Zhou continued to decline, “There’s no need, Second Miss. We have vases in the storage room. I’ll fetch a pair for you right away.”

Though Rao Man disliked Ruan Taoran, she was still a member of the Ruan family. Refusing her such a small request would make her seem cruel and stingy.

In the end, Butler Zhou refused to accept Ruan Taoran’s money.

This was exactly what Ruan Taoran had anticipated. It was impossible for Rao Man’s people to accept her money on the first day.

Butler Zhou quickly returned with a pair of ordinary glass vases.

After Rao Man left, Ruan Taoran gathered her belongings and went to the garden with a small pair of scissors to pick flowers.

The cinerarias and camellias in the garden were in full bloom. She snipped a few green branches, arranged them artfully in the vases, creating an elegant display.

When Butler Zhou came to deliver toiletries, he noticed the two new vases on the table.

Ruan Taoran had even gone to the storage room herself to find a tablecloth and a plush rug.

The once-empty room, cold as a snow cave, now felt warm and inviting. The table was draped with a fresh tablecloth, adorned with flowers and greenery, and the floor was covered with a soft rug.

The entire room exuded a warm and elegant charm, with two fragrant sachets hanging by the bedside, filling the air with a delicate floral scent.

Ruan Taoran wove the excess branches into a floral wreath and, smiling, handed it to Butler Zhou. “Uncle, please give this to your daughter to play with.”

Her nimble hands and design training had transformed a few small flowers and sprigs of greenery into something truly special.

Butler Zhou had initially resolved not to accept any gifts from Ruan Taoran that day. But when he saw the wreath, he knew his youngest daughter would adore it. After a moment’s hesitation, he reasoned it was just a wreath and accepted it.

“Second Miss, how did you know I have a daughter?”

“Uncle Gardener told me,” Ruan Taoran replied. “He said your daughter loves flowers whenever she visits the garden, but you never let her pick any.”

“Children will be children,” Butler Zhou chuckled, glancing around at the wreath. “They want everything they see, making a spectacle of themselves.” Yet he couldn’t help but admire the wreath, turning it over in his hands.

The flowers in the garden were the family’s property, of course, and couldn’t be picked. But this wreath was a gift from Ruan Taoran, leaving no room for criticism.

Butler Zhou glanced around before saying, “There’s a small flower stand in the storage room. I think it would look lovely beneath that window. Would you like to see it, Second Miss?”

“Yes, thank you, Uncle Butler,” Ruan Taoran replied with a radiant smile, her bright, deer-like eyes sparkling with vitality.

“Very well, follow me,” Butler Zhou said, leading the way.

The Second Miss wasn’t at all like the ungrateful wretch the Madam had described—a white-eyed wolf who would abandon her family after being raised.

She possessed a refined sensibility and a passion for life, her entire being brimming with vitality. Undeterred by others’ petty grievances, she had transformed her room into a vibrant, flourishing space.

Butler Zhou couldn’t help but recall the saying: When others throw mud at you, use it to plant lotus flowers.

Ruan Taoran was determined to make her room comfortable, beautiful, and inviting.

After finishing her tidying, she rewarded herself with a glass of peach-flavored sparkling water, stretching contentedly as she surveyed her handiwork.

Not only did she feel at ease in her own space, but she knew that anyone who saw it would naturally develop a favorable impression of its occupant.

People are drawn to warmth, positivity, and the vibrant energy of life. If she were to spend her days sighing and moping, no one would want to be around her.