He spoke with a lack of confidence, even to himself.
But now, there was no choice.
In the elevator, it slowly descended. Shi Ran's hand still held Tang Si's, her mind a whirl of thoughts, unawares.
Ding—
The elevator reached the first floor with a soft ding.
The doors opened, and the two stepped out.
Shi Ran in front, Tang Si behind.
It wasn't until they had hurried out of the building that Shi Ran felt a sticky sensation in her palm. Looking down, she realized she was still holding his hand.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly let go.
"Um... can you call your secretary and tell them not to acquire the company, okay?"
She asked Tang Si with a hint of worry, but he merely looked down at his phone, not speaking, which annoyed Shi Ran.
However, she didn't know that Tang Si was texting his secretary: [Cancel the acquisition of Chaoyun Esports Company.]
He put away his phone, looked at Shi Ran with a calm expression, and gave a charming smile, "That depends on your performance."
"I..."
Shi Ran was speechless, but considering Tang Si had stood up for her today, she felt she should express her gratitude.
She raised her wrist and glanced at her watch. It was already half-past ten in the morning.
"How about... I treat you to lunch?"
She offered, wanting to treat him to a meal to show her thanks.
"Alright, I'll reluctantly give you a chance..."
Tang Si was amused inwardly but didn't show it too obviously.
However, before he could finish speaking, Shi Ran's phone rang.
She took out her phone and saw the contact displayed as 'Yuan Wei'.
Tang Si was taller than Shi Ran, and a glance down at the screen with the contact name made his expression darken slightly.
Shi Ran turned away, her back to Tang Si, and answered the call, "Hello?"
"Shi Ran, are you free?"
Yuan Wei asked gently from the other end of the line.
"Mhm. What's up?"
"It's just... my boss has a last-minute business trip, and my mother is in the hospital. Could you... could you possibly help me take care of her for the next couple of days?"
Yuan Wei was desperate and had no other choice but to turn to Shi Ran.
After speaking, Yuan Wei felt a bit embarrassed and added, "I'm really sorry, this is rather sudden. If you're busy, you can..."
"Yes. Where are you now? I'll come find you."
Tang Si, standing behind Shi Ran, could tell from her words that she was going to see Yuan Wei, and his expression turned ashen.
After Yuan Wei gave her the specific address, Shi Ran hung up.
Since Meng Jingwei introduced them for a blind date, their relationship had been quite good. Although Shi Ran had rejected Yuan Wei's confession at one point, they remained friends.
Shi Ran knew that Yuan Wei's mother had cancer, and Yuan Wei had a job. To pay off his mother's debts, he had quit his modeling career and was forced to become Gan Yulu's secretary. She admired Yuan Wei for that.
After all, a filial man wouldn't be too bad.
She turned back and smiled apologetically at Tang Si, "Um... I'm really sorry, my friend has something urgent, and I need to go over. Can we postpone our lunch date?"
"Friend? What friend?"
He asked coldly, his tone carrying a chilling hint of frost.
"Just... just a friend."
Shi Ran knew Tang Si disliked Yuan Wei. If she stood him up to see Yuan Wei, Tang Si might just explode.
"What, afraid I'll eat him, so you're being secretive?"
Tang Si raised his hand to smooth his hair, his gaze stern, "Are you that worried about him?"
The anger that had just subsided surged back, making him even more irritable.