Provoking the Obsessive, Cold, and Aloof CEO - Chapter 21

Group Six was both the most idle and the busiest group.

Ruan Taoran sat at her desk all day with little to do, yet she didn’t see any of her colleagues.

Wan Xingchun explained that most of them had been temporarily assigned to other groups.

Throughout the entire day, apart from chatting with Wan Xingchun, Ruan Taoran didn’t have a single conversation with anyone else.

But she wasn’t worried; after all, there was plenty of time ahead.

Wan Xingchun, however, had already formed a favorable impression of Ruan Taoran. She was the type to avoid standing out or causing trouble, and she preferred her group to be free of chaos.

Ruan Taoran fit in perfectly. She was cheerful, approachable, and addressed Wan Xingchun as “Sister Chun” with genuine sweetness. She didn’t get angry or stir up trouble despite being ostracized.

It was an ordinary day. When it was time to leave, Ruan Taoran and Ruan Ruyue walked out together to find the Ruan Family’s car waiting.

But another car was parked behind theirs. A young man in a black hoodie, silver chain around his neck, leaned against the car door, smoking.

Seeing the two women, he tossed his cigarette to the ground, crushed it under his foot, and raised a hand in greeting.

“Yuming, new car? Looks sharp,” Ruan Ruyue said, striking up a conversation with familiar ease.

“How about this Rolls-Royce Phantom? Just landed,” Liu Yuming clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. “Doesn’t it suit my style perfectly?”

“Enough already,” Ruan Ruyue laughed, leaning in for a closer look. “Want to take me for a spin? I’ll give you the honor of showing me around.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” Liu Yuming blocked the car door with his hand. “If Sun Shaozu finds out you rode in my car, he’ll skin me alive!”

Hearing that name, Ruan Ruyue seemed momentarily flustered, muttering, “We’re not even together. Why bring him up?”

“Everyone knows Sun Shaozu’s been chasing after our Eldest Miss,” Liu Yuming teased, his eyes mischievous. “What? Hasn’t he won you over yet?”

“As if I’d let him have me that easily. You men are all the same—once you get what you want, you stop appreciating it,” Ruan Ruyue retorted playfully, matching his tone.

“What are you talking about? I’m a hopeless romantic,” Liu Yuming declared, his words contradicted by the roguish grin plastered across his face. He looked anything but sincere.

Ruan Ruyue rolled her eyes and scoffed softly. A hopeless romantic? If he were a hopeless romantic, the Yangtze River would flow backward.

But she didn’t call him out on it, instead shifting the conversation. “So, you’re not here to take me for a drive. You’re here to see Ruan Taoran?”

“Yeah, I came to pick up your sister from work and go on a date,” he said, raising an eyebrow as he gave Ruan Taoran a lingering, appraising look.

Ruan Taoran instinctively clutched her clothes tighter, feeling his gaze naked, sticky, and utterly repulsive.

Ruan Ruyue glanced at Ruan Taoran before leaning close to Liu Yuming’s ear and whispering, “What? You’re not actually interested in her, are you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Liu Yuming muttered, his lips moving silently to form the words, “My mom.”

Ruan Ruyue understood immediately, her smile deepening.

Liu Yuming was a mama’s boy. His mother desperately wanted grandchildren, but he wasn’t ready to settle down.

He paraded around with young models and starlets, none of whom met his mother’s approval. She constantly pressured him to find a “proper” girlfriend.

But Jiang City’s social circles were small; everyone knew everyone else’s business. No one in their right mind would throw their daughter into that viper’s nest.

If Liu Yuming married Ruan Taoran, he could satisfy his mother’s demands while Ruan Ruyue achieved her own goals.

Leaning closer again, Ruan Ruyue whispered in Liu Yuming’s ear, “I’m relieved to know you don’t like me. For a moment, I thought you’d developed a taste for the ugly.”

The strong perfume she wore enveloped Liu Yuming as she leaned in close, causing his eyes to darken involuntarily. His fingertips brushed against a strand of Ruan Ruyue’s hair as he reached out.

But at that very moment, Ruan Ruyue stepped back, her soft hair sliding across Liu Yuming’s fingertips, leaving a lingering trace of her fragrance.

Smiling, Ruan Ruyue said, “Alright, stop teasing. Keep your distance—I don’t want to end up in the tabloids with you.”

He remained silent, his fingertips lightly rubbing together, his gaze fixed on Ruan Ruyue with an unreadable expression.

Ruan Ruyue raised an eyebrow. “Liu Yuming, why are you staring at me like that? Don’t tell me you have a crush on me? Stop joking around—we’re just good friends.”

“Yeah, good friends,” Liu Yuming scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. “Go home already. Don’t interrupt my date.”

A ripple of emotion crossed Ruan Ruyue’s eyes, and her smile slowly bloomed. “Fine, I won’t keep you any longer.”

With a wave, she turned to Ruan Taoran. “Ruan Taoran, this was arranged by my mother. If you don’t go, you’ll be disrespecting her.”

“It’s not like the elders are asking you to climb mountains of knives or swim through seas of fire. They’re just setting up a blind date to help you meet new people.”

“You wouldn’t refuse such a simple request, would you? That would be terribly impolite.”

Her words left Ruan Taoran with no room to maneuver, her eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction.

Liu Yuming had already opened the car door, adopting a gentlemanly demeanor. “Please, Miss Ruan.”

Ruan Ruyue’s lips curled into a faint smile as she stepped into the Ruan Family’s car on her slender heels. The car then drove off.

Liu Yuming watched Ruan Ruyue depart before turning to Ruan Taoran. “Miss Ruan? Rest assured, I’m a man of integrity.”

“All those rumors are false. They’re deliberately trying to frame me. Don’t you trust the man your own uncle and aunt introduced you to?”

“He’s not a ‘date,’ just a casual acquaintance,” Ruan Taoran said, her lashes lifting slightly, her gaze indifferent. “Where are we going?”

“To dinner, of course.” Liu Yuming turned toward the driver’s seat. “I’ve reserved a table at the rooftop restaurant in Xingyue City. Let’s go, Miss Ruan.”

The car had only two seats, meaning Ruan Taoran would have to sit in the passenger seat.

Liu Yuming started the engine and glanced over, but before he could speak, Ruan Taoran had already stepped into the car and fastened her seatbelt.

Liu Yuming chuckled softly. “I thought you wouldn’t dare.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? My aunt introduced us. If anything goes wrong, she’ll never be able to show her face in this circle again,” Ruan Taoran said, her eyes fixed on her phone, not bothering to glance up at Liu Yuming.

Rao Man’s matchmaking might seem well-intentioned, but if she sent someone to harm her, she’d lose even the thinnest veil of decency.

“Tsk—” Liu Yuming clicked his tongue, his gaze lingering on Ruan Taoran’s profile.

Her features were delicate and refined, enhanced by a flawless makeup that gave her an ethereal beauty. Bathed in sunlight, her skin appeared porcelain-white from afar, yet glowed with a rosy warmth up close, making her look like a vibrant spirit sprung from the heart of a flower.

Liu Yuming disagreed with Ruan Ruyue’s claim that her sister was “ugly.” This younger sister was anything but—she was undeniably a striking beauty.

Unlike Ruan Ruyue’s bold, flamboyant style, Ruan Taoran possessed a natural, vibrant allure that radiated vitality.

“Aren’t you leaving yet?” Ruan Taoran turned her head, her bright, crystalline eyes meeting Liu Yuming’s.

“Let’s go,” Liu Yuming raised an eyebrow, flashing a roguish grin. “When a little beauty speaks, I naturally obey.”

“Hold on tight,” Liu Yuming said, his foot already slamming down on the accelerator.

The engine roared to life, and Ruan Taoran felt a violent surge of acceleration, as if the car had been launched from a catapult.

Instinctively, Ruan Taoran gripped the seatbelt tightly, hearing Liu Yuming’s teasing voice beside her: “Don’t worry, little beauty. I’m an excellent driver.”

By the time they screeched to a halt in Xingyue City’s parking lot, Ruan Taoran was dizzy and pale, her delicate face drained of color.

Liu Yuming chuckled softly. “You’ve got guts,” he remarked. “Not a single scream.”

“Do you drive like this when Ruan Ruyue is in the car?” Ruan Taoran asked, her eyes unwavering as she met his gaze directly.

“Why would she be in my car?” Liu Yuming replied casually, his lashes lowering to conceal the emotion in his eyes.

“You like her,” Ruan Taoran stated flatly.

Liu Yuming’s hand froze on the door handle, his tone remaining nonchalantly dismissive. “What nonsense are you spouting? We’re just buddies.”

“If you like her, why are you on a blind date with me?” Ruan Taoran pressed on, ignoring his words.

“Little beauty, you’re starting to get annoying,” Liu Yuming said, abandoning his attempt to get out of the car. He remained in the driver’s seat, staring at Ruan Taoran.

Ruan Taoran remained silent, simply gazing at him.

The smile slowly faded from Liu Yuming’s lips. He slapped his thigh, amused that he felt intimidated by this young woman.

“I don’t like her,” Liu Yuming said casually. “I’m here for a marriage arrangement because I need a wife, my mother needs a daughter-in-law, and my father needs a grandson. That’s all.”

“How about this: we get married, you do your thing, I do mine.”

“You’re not living well with the Ruan Family anyway. Come with me and you’ll finally have a good life.”

Ruan Taoran didn’t believe a word of his nonsense. He was Ruan Ruyue’s lapdog—how could they possibly have a peaceful marriage?

She remained silent, and Liu Yuming, assuming she was considering his offer, raised the stakes: “Five hundred thousand yuan a month for spending money. A five million yuan bonus for a daughter, ten million for a son. What do you say?”

“Nothing.” Ruan Taoran got out of the car.

Liu Yuming hurried after her. “What else do you expect? What do you think you’re worth? This is a good deal—you won’t find another offer like this in Jiang City.”

Ruan Taoran didn’t reply, merely glanced at the sign, and quickened her pace.

“The elevator to the rooftop restaurant isn’t that way. You don’t know your way around, so why are you walking so fast?” Liu Yuming grabbed Ruan Taoran’s arm.

His grip was tight, and Ruan Taoran felt a sharp pain in her arm.

Ignoring the pain, she wrenched her arm free with a violent jerk, throwing Liu Yuming off balance.

Liu Yuming’s eyes darkened, but just then, hurried footsteps approached.

A team of security guards rushed over and blocked Ruan Taoran’s path. A woman with a ponytail, dressed in professional attire, glared sharply at Liu Yuming.

“It’s nothing,” Liu Yuming waved dismissively. “We’re just a couple having a lovers’ quarrel. It’s none of your business. Move along.”

“Miss Ruan, has he been harassing you?” The woman’s tone softened as she addressed Ruan Taoran.

“Harassing me? What harassment?” Liu Yuming bristled at the word. “I’m a VIP at Xingyue City! I’ll report you for this slander!”

“We apologize, but we witnessed you forcibly grabbing Miss Ruan’s arm. Protecting our clients’ safety is Xingyue City’s responsibility.”

Seeing she had no intention of leaving, Liu Yuming grew indignant. “What clients? I’m your client! You should be protecting me!”

“You seem agitated. Security, escort this distinguished guest to the VIP lounge to rest,” the woman said tersely.

“You—who’s your supervisor? I’m filing a complaint!” Liu Yuming protested, but several security guards forcibly dragged him away.

Ruan Taoran stretched her arm, hearing a voice beside her: “Miss Ruan, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, thank you, Assistant Han,” Ruan Taoran replied, glancing at her arm. It was just red from the grip; the mark should fade soon.

The newcomer was Han Yue, Ji Qingyun’s personal assistant. Before leaving, Ji Qingyun had given Ruan Taoran Han Yue’s contact information, instructing her to reach out if she needed help.

As soon as Ruan Taoran learned their destination was Xingyue City, she had sent Han Yue a distress message.

Her prolonged conversation with Liu Yuming in the car wasn’t idle chatter; she was stalling for Han Yue’s response.

Han Yue hesitated before asking, “Though I shouldn’t pry, we need to understand the situation for handling this matter… What is your relationship with him, Miss Ruan?”

“No relationship at all,” Ruan Taoran said calmly, gently rubbing her arm. “Just a blind date.”

Han Yue’s eyes widened momentarily. Ruan Taoran lowered her lashes, the light in her eyes flickering briefly.

This man was convinced he could buy her, clinging to her like a stubborn plaster.

She couldn’t shake him off, but she would use magic to defeat magic.

Now that Han Yue knew about her blind date, Ji Qingyun would find out too. Given Ji Qingyun’s personality, wouldn’t this make for quite a show?