Chapter 407: Chapter 407: I’ll Think About It
“Boss, I got it. Thank you.” Lan Yan said.
What Su He said was indeed very reasonable; she really had been avoiding this.
Before, she didn’t care, but now, she was avoiding.
Su He said, “Alright, this matter, I trust you can make your own judgment. I was just worried you’d overthink it.”
Suddenly, Su He remembered the incident from a few days ago. She looked at her and asked, “Is the Dong Family matter resolved?”
Lan Yan replied, “Not quite resolved. Dong Jian wants to settle the matter peacefully, but I didn’t agree. He asked me to name my condition. I said he should give me 5% of Dong Group’s shares, but he hasn’t agreed yet.”
Su He raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
She then gave her a thumbs-up.
“Impressive.”
“Is the recognition banquet set?” Su He asked again.
She said, “It’s already decided, but I feel like there’s still uncertainty surrounding it.”
Su He: “Why do you say that?”
Lan Yan: “Today in Dong Jian’s study, I saw a financing contract. I only glanced at it before Dong Jian quickly put it away. If Dong Group is seeking financing, then there certainly won’t be any negative news released recently. Dong Xiaoxiao already caused a stir this time, and I don’t think Dong Jian will agree to this.”
Su He nodded in response, acknowledging the logic in her words.
“What do you plan to do then?”
“I never had any expectations for the recognition banquet, so I don’t have a plan. Whatever they want to do, it’s all the same to me.”
“Okay, as long as you have thoughts about it. If you need any help, just let me know.”
“I got it, Boss.”
…
6:30 PM.
Xiao Si had just finished a surgery. After confirming the patient was stable and giving instructions to the on-duty doctor, he went to the locker room to change clothes and get ready to leave.
As soon as he opened the locker room door, he saw Jiang Huai standing outside.
Xiao Si looked at her and asked, “Head Nurse, are you looking for me?”
Jiang Huai also looked at him and said, “Doctor Xiao, are you free?”
“Hmm, I’m not free now. I need to pick up my fiancée.” He said, “Is it something urgent? If not, can we talk tomorrow? I’m in a bit of a rush.”
Jiang Huai was momentarily stunned.
Then she smiled and said, “Oh, it’s nothing urgent. You go ahead then.”
With that, she turned and left.
Xiao Si glanced at her retreating figure, said nothing more, and turned toward the elevator.
Once in the elevator, he dialed Lan Yan’s number.
The moment the call was answered, he spoke up, “Xiao Yanyan, I’m done with surgery. I’m coming to pick you up at the research institute.”
Lan Yan said, “I’m not at the research institute right now; I’m…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the man impatiently asked, “Then where are you?”
“At Yu Group.”
Just as Lan Yan finished speaking, Yu Mu, who was sitting across from her, suddenly spoke up, “Lan Yan, are you free later? Let me treat you to dinner.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Si narrowed his eyes slightly.
Before Lan Yan had a chance to respond to Yu Mu, the man’s low and commanding voice echoed over the phone, “Tell him you’re not free—you already made plans with me.”
Lan Yan: “…”
“President Yu, I already have plans tonight, sorry.” Lan Yan said.
Xiao Si, on the other end of the call, heard her address him as ‘President Yu.’ His lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Yu Mu looked at her and said, “Alright, then, we can reschedule.”
Lan Yan nodded slightly.
Soon after, the man’s voice sounded over the line again, low and commanding, “Wait for me at Yu Group. I’m coming to pick you up.”
“No need, I’ll dri—”
Before she could finish, the man hung up.
“…”
The journey from City First Hospital to Yu Group normally takes forty minutes, but Xiao Si managed to arrive in just twenty.
After parking, he strode straight toward the main entrance of Yu Group.
Inside, he immediately spotted Lan Yan sitting in the waiting area of the lobby, alongside Yu Mu.
His smile warmed as he approached.
“Xiao Yanyan, I’m here.”
Lan Yan turned her head upon hearing his voice.
Yu Mu also looked over, and the two men’s gazes locked.
“Mr. Xiao.”
Yu Mu greeted him politely.
Xiao Si responded curtly, “Ah Mu, you’re still here? Shouldn’t you be heading home by now?”
Yu Mu chuckled lightly and said, “I was keeping Lan Yan company while she waited. Didn’t expect it to be you she was waiting for.”
He spoke casually, without holding back or being evasive.
He truly hadn’t expected that the person Lan Yan had been waiting for was Xiao Si.
Could it mean they were already together?
Yu Mu’s gaze dimmed instantly.
Xiao Si walked up and sat beside Lan Yan, casually draping an arm over her shoulder.
He looked at Yu Mu with a proprietary air.
“Of course she was waiting for me. Who else would it be?”
Lan Yan had grown used to his gestures of closeness.
But with Yu Mu sitting opposite them, she still felt a little uncomfortable.
She elbowed his waist gently, signaling for him to stop his shoulder-grabbing antics.
Xiao Si didn’t react much and instead joked, “Go easy on me. If my waist gives out, you’ll be missing out on happiness.”
“…”
Lan Yan furrowed her brows. She didn’t want to understand the underlying meaning of his words, and yet she couldn’t help but grasp it instantly.
The man truly lacked any filter for his words; anything could spill out of his mouth.
“Can you act proper for once?”
She turned to glare at him and whispered a warning.
“Where am I being improper? Isn’t what I said true?”
“Shut up!”
“Okay.”
True to his word, Xiao Si clamped his mouth shut.
Sitting across from the two, Yu Mu watched their playful bickering and close interactions. His gaze grew darker, more lifeless.
When Xiao Si naturally draped his arm around her shoulder and she didn’t push him away, Yu Mu already knew—he had lost the chance.
It seemed he was too late after all.
When Lan Yan turned to Yu Mu, her expression was composed, even carrying a touch of indifference.
But Yu Mu could tell that her smile was nothing more than polite courtesy.
“President Yu, I’m heading off now. I’ll deliver the experimental data to your company by the day after tomorrow at the latest.” She said.
Yu Mu smiled warmly, “Alright.”
Lan Yan then shrugged Xiao Si’s hand off her shoulder, stood up, and left.
Xiao Si quickly got up and followed her.
Watching them leave, regret flickered in Yu Mu’s eyes.
“Can you try to stay away from Yu Mu in the future?”
Once inside the car, Xiao Si suddenly made this request.
Lan Yan played dumb, “Why?”
“Because he likes you.”
He wasn’t afraid of anything; he was just worried that, one day, she might grow soft and fall for Yu Mu. Then what would he do?
“…”
“If you ended up liking him, I’d be left all alone in misery.” He said.
Lan Yan: “… You’re overthinking.”
Xiao Si asked, “What am I overthinking?”
“I don’t like President Yu.”
“Then who do you like?”
Lan Yan turned to look at him and suddenly smiled, “Don’t you try to trick me into saying anything. I don’t like anyone.”
Xiao Si narrowed his eyes, “If you don’t like anyone, then just like me. Liking me won’t be a loss for you, considering how great I am—clean-cut, humorous, handsome, and rich.”
Lan Yan said, “You sure are thick-skinned.”
Xiao Si suddenly leaned in closer, his lips forming a devilish smile.
“Without thick skin, I wouldn’t be able to marry you.”
Lan Yan instinctively leaned back. As she retreated, he moved even closer.
Left without options, she pressed a hand against his chest and said, “Can’t we talk properly? Don’t get so close!”
Their proximity made it feel as though their breaths intertwined.
“Xiao Yanyan, just give liking me a chance—it won’t disappoint you.”
When the man spoke, his warm breath brushed against her skin like sparks of fire, leaving her flushed and heated.
Beyond that, his gaze burned like flames, daring her to look straight at him.
She lowered her eyes, her mind wandering to the things Su He had said earlier in the day.
“I… I’ll think about it.”
Xiao Si froze slightly upon hearing this, “What did you say?”
He had heard her but was intentionally pretending not to.
Lan Yan naturally saw through his act.
She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away firmly.
She said, “If you didn’t hear that, then never mind.”
Then, she quickly changed the topic, “Weren’t you talking about dinner? Are we going, or should I head home?”
As she spoke, she reached for her seatbelt, ready to get out of the car.
The man promptly grasped her wrist, “We’re going, we’re going. Let’s leave now.”
With that, he buckled his seatbelt and started the car.
Halfway through the ride, he said, “I’ll ask Peng Yiming to bring your car back tomorrow. Just leave the keys here.”
Lan Yan softly replied and took the car keys out, placing them inside his car.
Xiao Si was in a delightful mood that evening.
Although she didn’t directly agree to his feelings, she hadn’t outright rejected him either—this felt like progress.
Lan Yan could sense his happiness but chose to remain silent.
After dinner, he dropped her off at Moon Gift Villa.
Though he hadn’t been staying there recently, he decided not to leave tonight.
Around 10 PM.
Xiao Si opened WeChat, found their brothers’ group chat, and sent a message.
“Brothers, remember to prepare your red envelopes.”
The first to notice was Long He Song: “Mr. Xiao, what red envelopes? Didn’t your birthday already pass?”
Then came Jiang Nanche: “Mr. Xiao, don’t tell me you’re getting married?”
Gu Beiyan: “What, did Dr. Lan agree to this?”
Jiang Yan and Lu Zhiyang didn’t bother typing anything, responding with nothing more than a “+1.”
Wan Muqi: “I bet 250 bucks that Dr. Lan definitely hasn’t agreed to it.”
Xiao Si immediately tagged him, “Get lost!”
Wan Muqi:
“Look at this, he’s getting worked up.”
“Old Xiao, better wait until you’ve actually won her over before bragging. You know how unpredictable things can get—plans often change. If things fall apart later, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
Xiao Si: “You shut up. You act like your situation is a sure thing. Watch out, or one day that young An Mi might dump you for being too old!”
“After all, little An Mi is both young and beautiful. But you—just a few more years, and you’ll probably be balding!”
At that moment, Wan Muqi had just returned to the parking lot of his residential complex and hadn’t stepped out of the car yet. Seeing Xiao Si’s message in the group chat, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Sitting in the passenger seat, An Mi was unbuckling her seatbelt and caught his laughter.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
Wan Muqi put his phone away, reaching out with a large hand to tousle her head, “Nothing, you’ve gotten much better at driving lately.”
Recently, An Mi’s driving skills had improved significantly. She had been driving more regularly and gaining experience.
Each time they returned, Wan Muqi would let her take the wheel.
With him there, she felt confident driving.
An Mi responded, “I have you to thank for that.”
The man smiled and said, “Shouldn’t there be a reward for me then?”
“What kind of reward do you want?”
“You tell me.”
His gaze lingered on her red, luscious lips, making his intention abundantly clear.
An Mi giggled, her eyes glinting mischievously as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
“Done.”
“…”
“I feel like you’re just brushing me off.”
“I’m not–…uhm.”
Before she could finish, he silenced her entirely.
The man’s warm hand rested on the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss.
Their breaths merged in a slow, burning rhythm.
Soon, the atmosphere inside the car grew heated.
In the group chat, Gu Beiyan commented, “Old Xiao, I hope you didn’t make Mr. Wan mad. One day he might dig a hole for you without you noticing.”
“Don’t worry, if you manage to win over Dr. Lan, the red envelopes from us won’t be lacking.”
Among the three married men in the group, Gu Beiyan was the most verbose. The other two preferred to stay silent whenever possible.
——
Noon the next day.
At DK Group.
Jiang Qi looked at Su He and said, “Young Madam, Master is still in a meeting and likely won’t finish for another half hour.”
Su He said, “That’s fine, I’ll wait for him. Don’t tell him I’m here.”
“Understood, Young Madam. You can go to Master’s office.”
“Alright. You may go ahead with your tasks.”
“Yes, Young Madam, let the secretaries in the President’s office know if you need anything.”
Jiang Qi indeed had work to do.
“Okay, noted.”
Once Jiang Qi left, Su He headed to Jiang Yan’s office.
Sitting in his executive chair, she looked over the desk and noticed an investment contract sitting there.
She wasn’t typically interested in these sorts of business matters.
But when she saw the name ‘Dong Group,’ curiosity got the better of her, and she began to leaf through the document.
It appeared that Dong Group was seeking investment from Jiang Yan.
Though she flipped through the contract, she noted that Jiang Yan hadn’t signed it yet.
Soon, the door to the office opened.
She looked up and saw Jiang Yan, dressed in a tailored gray suit, entering the room.
“Didn’t Jiang Qi say you were in a meeting? Is it over already?”
Su He asked curiously as Jiang Yan entered.
She had only been seated for less than ten minutes.
The man walked over to her side.
Su He swiveled the chair slightly, facing him. She looked up; he looked down.
In the next moment, he leaned down, placing his hands on the chair’s armrests.
The motion caused the muscles in his arms to flex visibly.
“Compared to work, my wife is more important,” he said.
Su He’s red lips curled with amusement, “Your words are getting sweeter and sweeter.”
“Are you hungry?” Jiang Yan asked.
“Not really. I’m fine.”
“Then let’s…”
Before he could finish, her fair, slender hand covered his lips.
Su He interrupted him, “Don’t even think about it. Broad daylight—I’m not playing along with you.”
She could easily read his little thoughts.
Her gaze shifted toward the contract on the desk, “DK is investing in Dong Group?”
Jiang Yan glanced at her hand covering his mouth.
Only then did Su He remove her hand.
“It’s a potential investment, but nothing’s confirmed yet. Why, is something wrong?”
“Then don’t invest,” Su He said.
After she spoke, he immediately agreed, “Alright, I won’t.”
Su He narrowed her eyes, “You don’t want to know my reasons?”
“No need; you’re the big boss—I’ll do whatever you say.”
“…”
Not one to leave it unexplained, she volunteered the information, “Lan Yan’s biological mother is married to Dong Jian.”
The man nodded, “Got it. In that case, I won’t make the investment.”
“Since I’m being so obedient, don’t you think I deserve a kiss?”
Su He looked at him, laughing, “Sure, close your eyes.”
Without hesitation, the man shut his eyes.
But just as he did, Su He swiftly ducked out from under his arms!
She moved so fast that by the time Jiang Yan reacted, she was already stepping away from the chair.
“Alright, let’s head out—Dad and Uncle are still waiting. We’re supposed to have lunch with them today at Taoyao Inn.”
With that, Su He left the office first.
Jiang Yan watched her slender figure retreating, his eyes full of helpless indulgence and soft affection.