His movements were exceptionally gentle, and the affection in his eyes was too obvious. Tang Nannan wasn't sure if it was her own illusion or a filter she had applied, but she felt he was different from usual today.
She watched him quietly, her heart stirred, and nodded with a feigned calm expression.
“Are you sure you really like me? Want to understand me, and won’t regret it?”
Why ask such a question so suddenly, and so close?
Tang Nannan’s face turned red visibly.
But having this opportunity, having waited until today, she wouldn't give up like this.
She met his gaze shyly and nodded.
“Yes, I like you and want to understand you. No matter the outcome, I will never regret it.”
“Alright then.” Hu Jiasheng looked into her eyes.
“Starting today, let’s give it a try.”
“Ah?”
“Starting today, I’ll pursue you. We’ll be like other couples, starting with dates, dinner, movies, holding hands, hugging, step by step.”
Tang Nannan felt like she was about to faint from happiness.
Although she was startled yesterday, it was truly worth it!
Without waiting for her reply, Hu Jiasheng pressed her head and embraced her.
Tang Nannan clasped his lower back, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, feeling the strength in his arms, and closed her eyes contentedly.
Mrs. Gao emerged from the ward and saw this scene before her.
She didn’t know if the two of them truly had feelings for each other, or if Tang Nannan had used some scheme.
Or perhaps, Hu Jiasheng was deliberately putting on a show for her, to anger her.
In any case, this scene struck her as glaringly obvious.
Tang Nannan, if you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, then don’t blame me for being impolite.
Your parents were no match for me back then, and neither are you now. If you think you can hold my son back, just wait and see.
Hu Jiasheng did as he said. The next day, he began to play the role of Tang Nannan’s suitor.
Not only did he drive her to work early in the morning, but he also sent her messages midway, asking how her work was going and if Manager Ma had bullied her.
Tang Nannan replied truthfully, “No, the work is quite easy.”
“And I’ve already gotten hold of the project proposal. I’m first going through it for Manager Ma and marking out any issues I find, highlighting them for his review. I feel like I’m gaining a lot.”
Hu Jiasheng praised her for being smart, then told her not to overwork herself and that he would take her out for a Western meal after work.
Tang Nannan hadn’t eaten Western food in a long time, and knowing that Hu Jiasheng frequented high-class establishments, she didn’t have suitable clothes.
As she was contemplating whether to take advantage of her lunch break to stroll through a mall, a delivery man called her to sign for a package.
It was a large and exquisite box. Based on Tang Nannan’s past experience, it contained either accessories or clothing.
Besides Hu Jiasheng, no one else in this city would send her such a thing.
She accepted the gift amidst the surprised and envious glances of her colleagues. During the lunch break, she opened it to find a dress, just as she expected.
Hu Jiasheng’s taste was similar to hers; he chose styles that were understated yet uniquely designed.
It was a black strapless cocktail dress.
Paired with black lace gloves and a pearl necklace, it made Tang Nannan think of Audrey Hepburn’s iconic look in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“Mr. Hu, I can’t help but feel a bit curious. Why exactly? Why did you suddenly decide to pursue me, and with such dedication from the start? Were you scolded by your grandfather, or are you deliberately putting on a show for someone?”
Hu Jiasheng replied, “Can’t you be a bit more confident? Did I realize how wonderful you are and, fearing you’d slip away, quickly tried to win you over?”
Tang Nannan lacked that confidence. Hu Jiasheng explained to her seriously.
“Before, I hadn’t made up my mind to stay in the country, so I couldn’t give you any promises, lest you be disappointed. Yesterday, I suddenly decided to stay. You should be the most suitable partner for me. If I don’t treat you well, who else will I treat well?”
Although their relationship wasn't a whirlwind romance of love at first sight, after so much time together, Tang Nannan was well aware of Hu Jiasheng’s character.
Being able to say something like this, while not the most eloquent, was at least the truth, and it already surprised her greatly.
Tang Nannan was ecstatic. Manager Ma, who had observed her every move, reported it to Mrs. Gao.
Mrs. Gao snorted, “Let her be happy for a few more days. Give her more authority, and we’ll wait to catch her in our net.”
Hu Jiasheng and Tang Nannan began dating step by step like other couples, living each day with ordinary happiness.
During her observation period, Mrs. Gao received visits from several people, one of whom left a deep impression.
It was a foreman from a peripheral department under the Zhan Group. He somehow found out her usual time for going out and waited at her doorstep to deliver two bottles of wine.
He said that Mr. Gao had been a source of rebirth for him, and although his project was ending and he would no longer cooperate with Zhan Group, he wanted to express his gratitude. He hoped Mr. and Mrs. Gao would accept his thanks.
Having followed Mr. Gao for so many years, the most valuable quality Mrs. Gao had learned was caution.
In their positions, even the slightest disturbance could become a fatal weakness.
She knew very well that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and these people delivering gifts certainly had no good intentions. Therefore, she promptly threw both the wine bottles and the boxes into the trash.
However, even despite this, Mr. Gao was still caught.
Mrs. Gao had once advised him not to meddle in his nephew’s affairs.
Although he was the only male heir of the Gao family from his generation, his nephew was clearly an unaccomplished individual. Investing too much in him would only damage his own reputation in the end.
But Mr. Gao couldn’t bear to be heartless.
He said that his brother, on his deathbed, had earnestly entrusted him with the care of his only nephew. He didn’t expect him to be rich and successful, only that he would have enough to eat and wear.
He had specifically chosen a distant Jiangcheng and arranged a job for him in a county-level unit.
Even so, trouble arose.
Mr. Gao was summoned for a talk. Someone presented sufficient evidence to prove that he had intervened in his nephew’s job, albeit not significantly. Consequently, he was suspended for a week for inspection and reflection.
With the next election approaching, his chances of promotion were certainly gone.
Whenever it was a critical time for promotion, he would always be scrutinized by many, and strange incidents would occur.
Although there were many suspects, Mrs. Gao’s first thought was Zhan Beijue.
Her intuition told her that the battle between her and Zhan Beijue had officially begun.
If she didn’t ruthlessly destroy him, Zhan Beijue would destroy her first.
This was a matter of survival, as well as Hu Jiasheng’s future, so she absolutely could not be lenient.
During the week Mr. Gao was suspended, Mrs. Gao, in addition to accompanying him, did two things.
First, she instructed Manager Ma to cast the net and eliminate Tang Nannan, that insignificant clown, in one fell swoop.
Second, she had two employees, who had been lying in wait in the foreign trade department of Zhan Group for over half a year, mix their prepared items into the current export shipment. When discovered during inspection, Zhan Beijue would be ruined.