Provoking the Obsessive, Cold, and Aloof CEO - Chapter 5

Beneath her champagne-colored wool coat, Ruan Ruyue wore a pale lace dress. She kicked off her diamond-studded stilettos and tossed her belongings onto the sofa.

Rao Man approached to help her remove her coat, slipping a cup of hot water into her hand. “Where have you been? It’s so late.”

“Your sister came home today. I told you that already,” Ruan Feng said, frowning as he caught a whiff of alcohol on Ruan Ruyue.

“Out drinking again?” Ruan Feng’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

“Xiao Yue was probably out networking. How can you network without drinking?” Rao Man retorted, rolling her eyes.

Ruan Ruyue wasn’t drunk. She sidled up to Ruan Feng, looped her arm through his, and gave it a playful shake.

“Dad, I went to a celebration banquet. My friends insisted on throwing it for me because of the gold award I won.”

“Sun Zhaozu was the one who organized it. He called me personally and said it was specifically for me, so I couldn’t refuse.”

“Isn’t Sun Zhaozu looking into business opportunities in Jiang City lately? I figured making this connection couldn’t hurt us.”

“Dad, I’m not just fooling around—” Ruan Ruyue drawled, her voice dripping with coquettish charm.

That’s how things were in this family. Rao Man always protected her, and Ruan Feng could be won over with a little flattery. She didn’t give a second thought to coming home late after drinking.

Ruan Feng’s head was already spinning from her constant shaking, and the stern expression on his face quickly crumbled.

Hearing Sun Zhaozu’s name finally snapped Ruan Feng back to his senses. He warned her, “Sun Zhaozu has a terrible reputation. Don’t get mixed up with him.”

“Dad, what are you thinking? We’re just friends. He admires my talent,” Ruan Ruyue said smugly. “The S Country New Designer Competition has been running for years, and no domestic designer has ever won gold. Your daughter is so exceptional, and you won’t even praise me?”

“Dad—” Ruan Ruyue continued, shaking his arm and wrapping her arms around it, giggling incessantly.

“Alright, alright, my daughter is the best,” Ruan Feng relented, his anger long forgotten.

He didn’t understand anything about jewelry design or what this award was, but it sounded impressive.

A tender, proud expression crept across his face as he ruffled Ruan Ruyue’s hair. “Just promise me you won’t go out drinking without telling us next time.”

“I know, Dad. You’re the best,” Ruan Ruyue said, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. “So, can I get a reward?”

“Last time I flew to Paris, I saw an 18th-century ruby necklace at a private museum. Can you buy it for me?”

“What ruby necklace? Don’t you already have plenty?” Ruan Feng asked, puzzled. They’re all the same necklaces. Why does she need so many?

“They’re not the same!” Ruan Ruyue, well aware of her father’s straightforward nature, insisted. “The design is different, the meaning is different, the materials are different…”

“The museum owner is a descendant of an 18th-century noble family. The necklace has been passed down through generations, and he’s not short on money, so he was initially reluctant to sell.”

“But thanks to Sun Shaozu’s connections, he finally agreed to sell it at a reasonable price.”

“I need to act fast before he changes his mind and refuses to sell it.”

Ruan Ruyue continued to chatter and plead, but Ruan Feng frowned slightly. “Sun Shaozu again?”

Sun Shaozu had only arrived in Jiang City two months ago, yet he had quickly become the new darling of the city’s elite circles.

The Sun Family held absolute power on Treasure Island, and Sun Shaozu was their pampered young master. He claimed to have come to Jiang City to start a business.

But the “entrepreneurial ventures” of such wealthy scions were nothing like the humble beginnings of ordinary people. They came armed with connections and vast financial resources.

He came to Jiang City to find a business partner, start a small but profitable venture, and bring the account books back home to make his family proud.

Whether they coveted his resources or sought favor with the powerful Sun Family behind him, the Jiang City elite were eager to entertain the young master.

Sun Shaozu had many virtues, but one flaw: his insatiable lust. Back on Treasure Island, he’d been entangled in scandalous affairs with actresses of all levels.

His behavior hadn’t improved in Jiang City. Recent rumors of his affair with a top-tier celebrity had spread like wildfire until the Sun Family intervened to suppress the scandal.

Ruan Feng disapproved of Ruan Ruyue associating with such a man, but she charmed him with sweet talk, insisting they were just friends.

Not only did she smooth things over, but she also managed to get her hands on a ruby necklace. Clinging to Ruan Feng’s arm, she showered him with sugary praise, calling him “the best Dad ever.”

Rao Man watched Ruan Ruyue with a smile, her eyes brimming with affection. The family of three radiated warmth and harmony.

Ruan Taoran descended the stairs to this scene.

Pausing at the landing, she fixed her expression into a radiant smile.

Raising her voice slightly, she called out, “Big sister’s back!”

Though she hadn’t yet reached the bottom of the stairs, her voice was loud enough to ensure Ji Qingyun, still in her room, would hear.

Her enthusiastic and warm demeanor didn’t raise any red flags for Ruan Feng, who waved her over. “Come on, you sisters haven’t seen each other in years.”

Ruan Ruyue’s gaze swept over, and her smile froze. “What’s with all this ‘Elder Sister’ nonsense? It sounds so awful.”

“Well…” Ruan Taoran hesitated, her voice timid. “Feifei calls you ‘Elder Sister’ too…”

Ruan Feifei was the youngest daughter of Ruan Taoran’s uncle, and she addressed Ruan Ruyue as “Elder Sister” while calling Ruan Taoran “Second Sister.”

If you let others call you that but not me, it’s either because you hate the title ‘Elder Sister’ or because you hate me.

Ruan Taoran didn’t voice these thoughts, expressing them instead through her hesitant words and timid gestures.

Ruan Feng had always known Ruan Ruyue disliked Ruan Taoran. Combined with Ruan Taoran’s hesitant demeanor, it looked to him like Ruan Ruyue was bullying her younger sister.

Though he favored Ruan Taoran, he couldn’t resist his own daughter’s coaxing and flattery. In the end, he didn’t dare say anything harsh, opting instead to muddle through the situation.

“Alright, alright, you sisters stop arguing. It’s just a title. No glaring at each other on your first day back home.”

Ruan Taoran wasn’t offended. Ruan Feng was protecting Ruan Ruyue, and despite her carefully crafted first impression, she hadn’t seen him show any favoritism toward her.

She’s his own daughter, Ruan Taoran thought. It’s only natural he’d protect her. She refused to dwell on it.

Ignoring Ruan Ruyue’s continued anger, Ruan Taoran sat down and resumed her earlier greeting: “It’s been years since I’ve seen you, Elder Sister. You’re still as… beautiful as ever.”

She paused slightly before uttering the last two words.

Ruan Ruyue couldn’t shake the feeling that there was malice behind the compliment.

Yet Ruan Taoran’s face beamed with a radiant smile, her dark, sparkling eyes shining like summer blossoms—pure, vibrant, and full of life.

Ruan Ruyue felt a pang of irritation but refused to acknowledge her. She forced out a dismissive hmph and ignored Ruan Taoran.

She had always loathed Ruan Taoran’s sunny, enthusiastic, and relentlessly positive demeanor, which had always overshadowed her completely.

Originally, the family had relied on Ruan Ruyue’s parents for their livelihood, leaving her powerless to speak out.

But now that Ruan Taoran had lost her backing, Ruan Ruyue was determined to seize what she wanted and crush her rival.

Despite being constantly belittled for years, Ruan Taoran never seemed defeated. Ruan Ruyue’s anger flared at the sight of her sister’s smile.

Even Ruan Feng, who knew Ruan Ruyue’s temperament well, couldn’t help but feel irritated.

He longed for harmony in the family, like the warm, loving, and sunny atmosphere he had found when he returned home earlier that day, allowing him to relax after a long day’s work.

Now, it wasn’t Ruan Taoran causing trouble, but Ruan Ruyue’s rudeness.

“You start arguing the moment you see her, and now you’re ignoring her. If you keep this up, I won’t buy you that ruby necklace.”

Ruan Feng wasn’t taking Ruan Taoran’s side; he simply found the bickering tiresome.

“No, Dad—” Ruan Ruyue quickly wrapped her arms around his arm, her voice softening.

“Ranran is still as adorable as she was when we were little,” she said insincerely, forcing a strained smile.

“That’s good. You sisters are both studying jewelry design, so you have common interests,” Ruan Feng said, standing up. “I have a meeting early tomorrow, so I’m going to bed. You two should catch up properly.”

With his words spoken and Ruan Ruyue having softened her tone, he was confident the sisters wouldn’t fight and dismissed the matter from his mind.

Before leaving, he glanced at the two sisters sitting together, feeling deeply satisfied. This was how a family should be—harmonious and loving.

Just as he thought this, Rao Man hurried after him and took his hand, whispering, “Why did you scold Xiao Yue for that girl? She’s upset now…”

“A home should feel like a home,” Ruan Feng sighed irritably, shaking off Rao Man’s hand. “Ranran is so well-behaved. Why do you two always make such a fuss?”

Rao Man froze, stunned. Over the years, she and Ruan Feng had been seen as a model couple by everyone around them. He had never spoken to her like this before.

Ever since Ruan Taoran sent word that she was coming home, Ruan Feng had changed.

During all the years Ruan Taoran had been away, Ruan Feng had been perfectly fine, and the family had been harmonious.

Rao Man didn’t realize that Ruan Feng wasn’t changing because of Ruan Taoran herself, but because her impending return had made Rao Man incessantly nag and complain, which annoyed him.

After a long day at work, he just wanted to relax at home, but instead, he was met with constant nagging and petty family squabbles.

Compared to Rao Man and Ruan Ruyue, who were always bickering, Ruan Taoran was completely devoted to him, even preparing gifts and picking him up from work. Naturally, he favored her.

But that was where it ended. He would buy Ruan Ruyue a ruby necklace, but not Ruan Taoran. He knew the difference between closeness and distance, and he kept his priorities straight.

As soon as Ruan Feng and Rao Man entered the house, the smile vanished from Ruan Ruyue’s face.

She sipped her hangover soup listlessly, glancing sideways at Ruan Taoran.

Ruan Taoran was equally distracted, still preoccupied with Ji Qingyun upstairs. She had no idea how she was going to get rid of this troublesome guest later.

To Ruan Ruyue, this appeared as indifference, as if Ruan Taoran didn’t take her elder sister seriously.

“Keep pretending,” Ruan Ruyue sneered. “You sure know how to put on a show when Dad’s around.”

Ruan Taoran remained silent, listening quietly. Ruan Feng had told them to chat, so she would sit here for a while to fulfill her duty before going back upstairs.

Ruan Taoran’s life motto was to treat people kindly, but this “people” did not include Ruan Ruyue.

The more indifferent Ruan Taoran acted, the angrier Ruan Ruyue became, feeling completely ignored.

She slammed her bowl down, her voice rising sharply. “I heard you entered the S Country’s New Designer Competition?”

“What was the result?”

“I just tried my luck, and I won the gold medal.”

“I heard someone got their award revoked for plagiarism.”

“Tsk tsk, trying to be a golden phoenix without the talent?”