C43 Before the Celebration Banquet

After finishing work, Su Rann found herself unable to hail a cab, so she walked toward the nearby intersection.

The shrill sound of a car horn pierced the air.

"Get in!" Lu Jinhan's voice was as icy as ever.

Su Rann ignored him and kept walking.

"You won't find a cab on this street!" Lu Jinhan's words confirmed Su Rann's suspicion that he had interfered.

Without any fuss, she turned and headed for his car.

"Why didn't you set the record straight?" Lu Jinhan's face was dark, casting a chill over the surroundings.

Su Rann gazed at the man before her and responded coolly, "No need."

She was unfazed by Chi Xin's maneuvers, having long ago decided not to sweat the small stuff.

"Are you unhappy they know it's me?" Lu Jinhan's mood seemed to darken further, a nameless anger brewing inside him.

He had always assumed Su Rann would share the nature of their relationship with the entire company.

Yet, when the moment came, she offered no explanation.

It was as if she didn't value their relationship in the slightest.

Even when accused of being involved with another man, she didn't bother to deny it.

Did he really mean so little to her?

The more Lu Jinhan dwelled on it, the angrier he got. He had been eager to confront Su Rann ever since the rumor started.

Seeing her nonchalant demeanor only fanned the flames of his rage.

"Wasn't it Young Master Lu who wanted our relationship kept under wraps?" Her eyes betrayed a hint of dejection, her lips curled in a scornful smile. Clearly, she wasn't taking the situation seriously.

"Hmph!" Lu Jinhan's hands balled into fists, the tension in the car thickening. She really did take his request to heart.

For the first time, he felt an unplaceable restlessness, with no outlet for his frustration.

"Rann, we'll see each other on Saturday. I've missed you!" Lo Xiaxuan's voice was warm with anticipation when she called after returning to the Lu family.

"My brother told me that Lu's Group is throwing a celebration in your honor. We'll both be there," Xiaxuan said, her excitement palpable.

Su Rann was taken aback. When had this happened? Why was she unaware?

"Has your brother's health improved?" No matter the gravity of the situation, it failed to create even a ripple in Su Rann's expression.

"Rann, I can't thank you enough. My brother's health is on the mend; he can now walk on his own. He says it's all thanks to you. You're a true savior to our Lo family! We must find a way to properly express our gratitude!"

Lo Boyuan's significance to Xiaxuan was akin to that of a father. Indeed, the saying that an elder brother is like a father couldn't be more accurate.

"It's because you all chose to trust me!" Su Rann had always put her faith in Medicinal Fate. She knew that even if she were Hwa Tuo reincarnated, she could do nothing if the patient didn't share that trust.

A subtle smile played at the corners of Su Rann's lips.

Lu Jinhan, passing by, found himself momentarily enchanted. Her arched brows and almond-shaped eyes, paired with the delicate curve of her lips, captivated him. Her smile was radiant, stirring his soul. Watching her smile, the shadows in his heart began to lift. The celebration he had organized was his way of encouraging the company to shed their biases against Group D.

"Su Rann, did you hear? The company is going to reward Group D. They say someone has made a significant contribution, and now we won't have to hang our heads low anymore," Liu Jiatong excitedly shared with Su Rann as soon as she arrived at the company.

"Yes," Su Rann responded, her tone flat, her face betraying no emotion.

"This is huge for our group, Su Rann. It's the first time the company has thrown a celebration just for us. It's unprecedented; even Group A hasn't had this honor!"

"Yes," Su Rann replied, her eyes still devoid of interest.

Liu Jiatong, noticing Su Rann's lack of enthusiasm, decided not to press on.

"Su Rann, the company is asking each of us in the group to perform. Do you have any special talents?" Liu Jiatong inquired further.

Su Rann remained silent.

"Let's do this: you, Tang Tang, and I will form a team. I'll play the zither, she'll paint, and you can be our group's representative!"

Liu Jiatong didn't think she had any special talents and didn't want to feel left out, so she proactively spoke up.

"Alright, thank you, Jiatong."

"Rann, why the formality with me? You're the one who's helped me in the past."

Liu Jiatong said with a smile, always remembering Su Rann's kindness.

"We need to start rehearsing soon. Since the celebration is just around the corner, let's head to the rehearsal room together."

Mu Feifei, a member of Group D, overheard their conversation and smirked with disdain.

Just as I thought, a mere decorative piece with no real skills! We work tirelessly on rehearsals, and she just breezes through without lifting a finger!

Mu Feifei began to suspect that Chi Xin's previous statements were true.

Su Rann must have some powerful backing!

Watching her walk away, Mu Feifei clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms, her sense of injustice boiling over.

Why should we all prepare so meticulously when this woman can just show up and stand there?

She couldn't stomach such unfairness!

During a break in rehearsal, Mu Feifei knocked on Chi Xin's office door.

"Come in!" Chi Xin called out, busy with paperwork.

"Feifei, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be at rehearsal? What are you doing here?"

Their relationship in Group D had been nothing more than cordial, far from intimate.

Chi Xin was somewhat taken aback to see Mu Feifei.

"I just can't take it in Group D anymore. Why does Su Rann have all the luck? We're all practicing so hard, and she does nothing!

Liu Jiatong plays the zither, Tang Tang paints, and all she has to do is stand there. How can this be fair?" Mu Feifei vented in frustration.

"Now you finally see that Su Rann is no ordinary woman, right? No one knows how she got into the company or what her dealings with Hei Lei are about. Can anything good come from that?" Chi Xin's tone was sharp as she mentioned Su Rann.

"I can only vent to you now. Everyone in Group D is getting closer to her, and even Young Master Jiang is looking out for her!" Mu Feifei exclaimed indignantly.

"Do you really think I'd let her off the hook that easily? Hmph..." Chi Xin's gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing with intensity. The documents she clutched in her hands bore the evidence of her tightening grip, now slightly creased from the pressure.