C6 It Can’t Be? Can It?

“Miss Alice, this is the first time Director Ruan has personally seen to the office arrangements of his subordinates.” Special Assistant Liu’s gentle voice had traces of admiration in it. He motioned in a polite manner with his hands. “Director Ruan wants to meet with you to discuss the matters regarding your contract.”

After Special Assistant Liu made it known the reason behind his visit, he politely turned and left.

He wants her to sign a contract? Mu Qingzhu’s face was as cold as a block of ice. She did not wish to sign a contract with the Ruan Group. She planned to only stay here for three months. Once she had gotten what she wanted, she would leave A City forever. She would leave the Ruan Group and the man she thought she loved and take her mother to spend the rest of their days in America.

Thoughts of the future sent shots of pain through Mu Qingzhu’s heart. Her eyebrows knitted out of consternation. She exhaled a shuddering breath, trying to calm herself down before reaching for the door to make her way to Ruan Hanyu’s office.

His office was located on the right of the 88th floor, taking half of the office space.

When Mu Qingzhu showed herself in front of the front desk of the secretary again, the secretary’s eyes widened out of confusion and bewilderment.

The secretary took a closer look at the woman before her. The woman in front of her was the definition of elegance and refinement. Her noble upbringing spilled unintentionally from her graceful presence. Although she appeared very cold and detached, her aura was similar to Qian Anrou’s sexiness and heat factor. This kind of ice beauty was something that could appease Director Ruan’s appetite. This type of woman was the sort that could be seen parading beside Director Ruan all throughout these past years.

Without further delay, she quickly picked up the phone.

After being signaled in by the secretary, Mu Qingzhu walked over with a calm expression on her face.

All that stood between her and Ruan Hanyu was the dark red door to his office. The solemn and luxurious door was slightly opened.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Qingzhu readied herself and with her small hand pushed the door open wider.

“Come in,” a deep and pleasant baritone could be heard bouncing off the walls of the spacious office.

The experience this time around was completely different from her last visit. As she pushed open the door, a pleasant fragrance assaulted her senses. The scent of pure fresh flowers overflowed the coffee table in the corner of the office. The presence of the flowers provided a pleasant and alluring aura to the office. The delicate fragrance filled the room.

Ruan Hanyu was sitting in front of his desk. His full attention was on editing the documents before him. His handsome head of black hair was combed back, showing off his angular features. His entire essence was noble and domineering.

Such a man was one of a kind. No matter what room he was in, he would quickly become the center of attention. In that way, he was like a bright star.

Ruan Hanyu appeared focused on his task at hand. His thick eyebrows were knitted, showing his deep concentration. His thin red lips were pursed together, fully displaying their beautiful curve. He appeared handsome and charming. Mu Qingzhu was mesmerized by the sight before her. She had never set eyes on him while working, and this confirmed to her that Ruan Hanyu was currently in his element here, demonstrating a more mature and attractive side to him that she had never seen before.

This stunned Mu Qingzhu for a moment. When she had first walked into the room and saw him at the desk, her heart actually skipped a beat. Her reaction gave her pause. Darn it! How could she still have feelings for him? They had already parted ways and were now meeting as strangers.

She took a moment to compose herself, exhaling slightly, and shaking her head. After she had momentarily gathered herself, she took a few steps towards him. On her face was an expression of indifference.

Sensing a presence in his office, Ruan Hanyu, who had been busy correcting documents, raised his handsome face to greet her right on time. His experience as a professional for many years made him alert to such courtesies, and he was prepared.

“How could it be you?” In that instant, his pupils contracted. His lips, which had originally been slightly curved, suddenly opened wide in astonishment. It looked like he was shocked beyond words.

The silver-white suit Mu Qingzhu wore contrasted nicely with her delicate and pretty face. It complemented beautifully with her pale skin giving her appearance an added charm.

“Director Ruan, you still have a good memory, but you invited me here. Don’t pretend to be ignorant. Yet it seems that I am not welcomed here. Then I will have to take my leave.” Mu Qingzhu’s lips were touched with a mocking smile. She shrugged her shoulders helplessly and gave an exasperated expression. She turned around as if she was about to leave.

“Stop right there.” It seemed like Mu Qingzhu’s words had suddenly woken him up from his daze and he shouted this out. “Could it be that you’re Alice?”

“Is there something wrong?” Mu Qingzhu stopped her footsteps and turned around to face Ruan Hanyu. She met Ruan Hanyu’s surprised and disbelieving eyes head-on.

Ruan Hanyu was too shocked to sit still. He stood up so that he could get a better view of her.

This couldn’t be possible! The person he wanted to invite was her all along?!

Was he imagining things or was it really her? No wonder she was from A City! Never in a million years would he think the designer he was looking forward to meeting was her. This was altogether too unexpected! Ruan Hanyu thought his eyes were deceiving him.

Mu Qingzhu took in his shock with cold eyes. She had yet to say a word. She had imagined this day countless times after revealing to him that she was the designer behind the popular car model that had captured the world's attention and make him look at her in a different light. The day had finally arrived, but it did not fill her with the happiness that she had thought it would bring. Other than feeling a bit dejected, she did not want to be there at all.

Ruan Hanyu was an experienced and knowledgeable individual who was business-savvy and skilled. Yet none of his expertise could prepare him for the sight before him.

No longer did he see a woman who lowered her head in front of him. She was no longer the woman who looked at him with such admiration and love for him. The woman before him was filled with pride and dignity. She now held the title of the much-coveted designer they had hired with a high salary, a distinguished and top talent in the world!

This felt like a dream, but in actuality, this was indeed happening.

Mu Qingzhu’s face held a professional smile on it. She looked on at Ruan Hanyu, her expression calm.

Standing three steps away from her, Ruan Hanyu stared at the woman before him. He wore a handsome iron suit that pressed elegantly against his body. His height was taller than Mu Qingzhu. Standing at 1.88 meters tall, he looked down at her with the presence of a king. Even though his essence exuded nobility, he could not hide the surprise in his heart.

He studied the woman in front of him. She had such delicate and fine features, but she actually had it in her to design a luxury car that countless men admired. Knowing this, what kind of person was this woman? Her small face held bright eyes that seemed to evoke the aura of stars. Inside them carried a light of wisdom from the ages.

The insight moved him deeply and he took a step back. As he fixed his gaze onto her, a strange feeling grew from within his heart that he could not ignore.

She stood before him calmly, but a hint of coldness and hostility radiated from her entire being.

She was his former wife, who had stayed loyally by his side for many years. He had always ignored her, treating her more or less like she was nothing. Today was the first time he was really seeing her. Was there something he missed?

As if to hide the panic that was rising in his heart, his tall and slender frame moved toward the wine cabinet. There, he took an upside-down red wine glass and poured himself a glass of wine. With practiced elegance, he picked up the wine glass and shook it gently with experience. After giving the wine an expert sniff, he raised his head and drank deeply in one breath.

Afterwards, he raised his head to meet hers and his face held a wolfish smile that looked like it could devour everything.

The restlessness that he had felt previously and the indescribable worry had been extinguished. His confident smile said that he had fully recovered.

More than anything, the helpless woman he thought he knew had turned her life around and things with her were not as bad as he had originally imagined!

It was very good that she actually came back and decided to work for him. At the thought, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and he inwardly snorted coldly. He wanted to know if she really had that ability!

“The employees at Ruan Group are always the cream of the crop. No matter who you are, it doesn’t matter. You must always adhere to the quality of work the company demands.” Ruan Hanyu raised a finger and shook it at Mu Qingzhu. An imperceptible smile played at the corner of his lips. His voice was the standard tone of a superior addressing his subordinate. “The only thing that matters is your outstanding performance. Do not worry. I’ve always separated business and private matters. And I make no exception with you. I will treat you like any member of my staff and the standards as an employee of my company will be the same.”

As if to uproot any concerns Mu Qingzhu might feel about their arrangement, Ruan Hanyu’s words came at the right time. This orchestration could be a way out for them.

Mu Qingzhu’s hands that had been clenching on the hem of her clothes relaxed slightly. Forcing a smile on her face, she was left with a trace of fear in her heart. If Ruan Hanyu did not uphold their agreement as employer-employee and let her go just now, what would happen to her goals?

“Have a seat! Let’s discuss matters about the contract.” Ruan Hanyu placed himself down gracefully on the sofa and pointed to the seat next to him.

Mu Qingzhu glanced at where he pointed at the seat beside him. After hesitating for a good moment, she decided to just go through with it and sat down on the sofa opposite him.

Although her manner was indifferent and aloof, she still wanted to keep the interaction polite.

Seeing her take the seat opposite him, Ruan Hanyu’s eyes darkened imperceptibly. It appeared that she was keeping a polite distance with him like she would a stranger. Her stark coldness belied the ill feelings she must still harbor towards him. At the thought, the corner of his twitched into a cold smile.

“Director Ruan, I would like to point out that at this time, there is no need to proceed with signing the contract for now. If I’m not wrong, your employees are all required to participate in three months of internship before getting hired. Due to this rule, I think I should be of no exception,” Mu Qingzhu flatly reminded Ruan Hanyu.

“Oh!” Ruan Hanyu could not contain his surprise. His eyes narrowed as he peered at the woman before him, considering her with a long and narrow gaze.

Her delicate and little face had not a stitch of makeup on it, giving her a natural and pure look. Under the strain of his gaze, her thin shoulders trembled slightly. Her skin was as white as marble and out from its smooth facade, her clear eyes shone with a bright light like it was coming from a place deep within her. Her beauty made his heart quiver, if ever so slightly.

Memories from that night suddenly flashed through his mind. Feeling a little stiff, a sensation like burning fire erupted throughout his body. He felt like he was being consumed by desire. His throat felt sore and his body showed signs of his restlessness.

Throughout his years, he had been with countless women and he had never been surprised. Yet the woman in front of him had unsettled him like no one else had before her. He could not control his desire and even Qian Anrou could not possess him with this fiery kind of passion that was filling him right then.

To hide the churning emotions boiling inside him, he sat up and straightened himself to face her.