Qian Hao’s social skills were astonishing. Among the rich second-generation heirs who had shown up today, she not only knew most of them but could also sum up their backgrounds and personalities in an instant.
Her assessments were concise and piercingly accurate, giving Chu Ran a broad understanding of everyone’s connections in the shortest time possible. She rapidly sorted them into a social pyramid from there.
For anyone navigating the world of fame and fortune, this was an absolute killer skill!
Chu Ran benefited immensely from it. She also knew full well that attending a gathering of this caliber was a rare life opportunity, so she cooperated seamlessly with Qian Hao the entire time.
With her ethereal temperament, sharp gaze, and unique insights—coupled with Qian Hao’s introductions on her behalf—Chu Ran quickly won special regard from a group of the heirs. Her excellence as a partner shone through brilliantly at the event.
Even Jiang Wanlan, the eldest princess of the Jiang family and the big boss among the Guangdong Merchants whom Qian Hao had mentioned, took a liking to her.
She extended her fair wrist and gave Chu Ran’s hand a light shake.
“Chu Ran? The Gaokao top scorer who’s made waves across the nation?”
A Gaokao top scorer meant little to these heirs from families that practically owned mines.
Chu Ran flashed a carefree smile. “Just an empty title. It pales next to Miss Jiang’s household name.”
Jiang Wanlan sized her up with evident interest, her eyes carrying a touch of scrutiny. She clearly hadn’t expected to see her paired with Qian Hao.
Chu Ran met her gaze without flinching.
Jiang Wanlan was a true native of Guangdong, yet she stood tall at around five-foot-seven, with a curvaceous, alluring figure. Her features were bold and striking, and she exuded a natural queenly aura that commanded respect wherever she went. No one dared take her lightly.
This was a woman who was formidable both inside and out.
In her mental social pyramid, Chu Ran promptly elevated her by a full tier.
Jiang Wanlan turned her attention to Qian Hao. “Little Hao, when did you get back? You didn’t even give your big sis a heads-up?”
Qian Hao seemed rather indifferent toward Jiang Wanlan. In a tone that was neither warm nor cold, she replied, “I’ve been busy with school since returning to the country. I forgot.”
Only then did Chu Ran realize the two were old acquaintances.
Jiang Wanlan’s gaze lingered briefly on their linked arms before she curved her red lips in a meaningful smile. “You’ve grown up, haven’t you?”
She held her champagne flute and glided past them with graceful poise. Just as she brushed past Chu Ran, she suddenly flashed her a brilliant smile. “I always admire talents like you, Miss Chu. Mind if we add each other as friends?”
Chu Ran’s task today was to get a clear, firsthand read on these heirs, setting the stage for her partnership with Qian Hao down the line. Naturally, she wouldn’t refuse.
Once Jiang Wanlan had walked away, Qian Hao leaned in close to her ear. “I met her when I was abroad. She’s ruthless in her methods—doesn’t even spare our own people. Everyone’s taken a loss at her hands at some point. Don’t get too chummy with her.”
She was so near that her warm breath tickled Chu Ran’s skin. Uncomfortable, Chu Ran turned her face away slightly.
Qian Hao caught the motion, a sly glint flashing in her beautiful eyes. Suddenly, she pressed closer, nestling against Chu Ran in an exaggerated show of intimacy. In a whisper, she said, “Chu Ran, I’ll let you in on a secret. This Jiang Wanlan likes girls too. She even chased after me~”
It felt like a puff of hot air right against her ear. Chu Ran shuddered, her hairs standing on end as she immediately wrenched her arm free.
Qian Hao casually smoothed her own hair, acting as if nothing had happened.
Realizing she’d been deliberately teased, Chu Ran narrowed her deep brown eyes.
Her stare was piercing, as if it could read minds. Qian Hao squirmed under it and could only pretend to chat with her best friend Lin Wanfeng.
Only then did Chu Ran withdraw her gaze coolly.
She didn’t like Qian Hao’s ambiguous intimacy. It not only led onlookers to misunderstand but also encouraged Qian Hao to push boundaries!
Amid the neon lights and flowing wine, time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was eight in the evening.
Chu Ran was worried about Gu An’an and planned to head home early.
Qian Hao selfishly didn’t want her to leave, but she knew outright blocking Chu Ran would get shot down. Instead, she said, “The nightlife segment is about to start. At the banquet, it’s all just casual chit-chat to get faces memorized and scout potential partners. The real exchanges—and the valuable conversations—happen in the nightclub phase.”
Chu Ran immediately grasped her point.
In the nightclub, people would dive deep with their selected partners, and most deals got sealed in that process.
In short, she couldn’t leave yet.
She could only make a quick call to Gu An’an.
By the time they finally left, it was eleven at night.
The city, boisterous all day, slumbered like a giant at rest. The summer night’s humid heat rode the breeze, while streetlights streaked past the car windows one by one.
Qian Hao said excitedly, “Chu Ran, we have such great chemistry! You helped me pull Jiang Xinyue into our group earlier. She’s a real catch—perfect for attracting more top-tier members.”
After a full day cooped up in air-conditioned rooms, Chu Ran felt stuffy. She inhaled the dry air from the open window. “I’ll drop you off first. We can talk another time.”
Qian Hao was still riding high and reluctant to part. She reached out to grab Chu Ran’s arm, wheedling, “Stay with me a bit longer? I’m not sleepy yet. Come to my place, have a seat. I’ll have the kitchen whip up some light snacks. We can sip a little and brainstorm our investment plans for the group.”
Their Financial Project was a training ground for newcomers backed by the big shots—a proving ground for elite heirs. Today’s Exchange Meeting had been a battle to recruit talent. Everyone used their skills to build teams and connections, then executed a year-long investment plan. Victory went to whoever posted the best return on investment at year’s end.
Deep down, everyone knew the real edge came from the strength of your network!
That was why Qian Hao was thrilled to have snagged Jiang Xinyue.
But Chu Ran was preoccupied with Gu An’an and had no headspace for more discussion. “It’s too late tonight. Another time.”
Knowing she couldn’t keep her, Qian Hao settled for second best. “You don’t have plans tomorrow, right? How about we meet at 9 a.m.?”
Chu Ran hadn’t expected her to be so eager. The bathroom renovation at home wasn’t even done, and she still needed to take Gu An’an to meet the new attending doctor in the Capital City. Before leaving Cloud City, the doctor there had given her a contact for a colleague here and told her to bring Gu An’an by as soon as they arrived.
After explaining all that, she said, “Once I’m done with my stuff, I’ll get in touch.”
Qian Hao keenly picked up on the hint of guilt in her tone. Her heart stirred.
From their interactions over these days, she’d tested the waters: Chu Ran pushed back against force with force. She was the type who yielded to softness but not hardness. Clinging to that guilt would only backfire and annoy her.
Better to play it differently…
She responded magnanimously. “No worries. Handle your business. I’ll draft an investment plan first, and you can fill in the gaps later.”
Sure enough, the apology in Chu Ran’s eyes deepened. “Okay.”
It was nearly midnight when she got home. Gu An’an was already asleep, her cheeks flushed. The two nannies had been diligent, recounting the day’s events to Chu Ran before taking their leave.
She entered the bedroom. Gu An’an was out cold, her face rosy.
The worry that had gnawed at Chu Ran all day finally eased.
She sank onto the edge of the bed and gazed down at Gu An’an’s fair, pink-tinged cheeks.
For some reason, out in the world, she was always on guard. Only beside Gu An’an could she fully relax—like a soft-bodied creature retreating into its shell, warm and secure.
Unable to resist, she reached out to touch Gu An’an’s face.
It was scorching hot!
Gu An’an had a fever!
Chu Ran’s expression changed drastically. She seized Gu An’an’s shoulders and shook her. “Sister An’an, Sister An’an, wake up! How are you feeling?”
Gu An’an let out a faint groan and stirred awake. She struggled to open her eyes. Spotting Chu Ran, she managed a pale smile before murmuring, “Little Ran, you’re back~”
“I’m just a bit tired. Can’t keep you company. Gonna sleep now, okay~”
Chu Ran could hear the rasp in her dry throat—she’d clearly been feverish for a while!
Heart aching fiercely, she choked out, “You’re burning up. I’m taking you to the hospital right now!”
Gu An’an, delirious from the fever, looked puzzled. “No, I’m fine. Just tired. A good sleep will fix it. Don’t worry~”
Hearing her still trying to comfort her only twisted the knife deeper in Chu Ran’s heart. She scooped Gu An’an up at once and hurried downstairs to call a car.
By the time they reached the hospital, Gu An’an had passed out from the fever. The doctor was a middle-aged woman with a sour expression. She snapped at Chu Ran, “Her temperature’s pushing 104 degrees, and you only bring her in now? Trying to lose her?”
It only made Chu Ran’s mood plummet further.
During the emergency cooling treatment, the female doctor routinely lifted Gu An’an’s shirt and froze. Her abdomen was covered in horrific bruises. The doctor’s face darkened instantly. “What happened here? Has the patient been abused?”
Chu Ran stared in shock at the bruises—an ugly patchwork of blue-black splotches across Gu An’an’s entire belly, shocking and gruesome, like a cruel scar that battered her sanity.
Her mind exploded with a buzz!
She yanked out her phone without thinking.
But right before dialing, she forced herself to stop.
The nannies Qian Hao hired had no reason to do this.
Right now, saving Gu An’an came first!
The female doctor handled Gu An’an’s condition with great care and immediately began a full checkup. Moments later, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s fine. It’s just a surface bruise on the skin, with no damage to the internal organs. It’s probably because her skin is so delicate that the bruising looks worse than it is.”
Chu Ran let out a sigh of relief as well.
When Gu An’an woke up from her fever, the sky was already starting to lighten.
“Little Ran, why am I in the hospital?”
She looked puzzled, unsure how she had ended up here after just falling asleep.
Chu Ran felt she needed to have a talk with her.
She pulled up a chair and sat by the hospital bed, recounting what had happened the night before. Then she asked, “How are you feeling? Does your stomach still hurt?”
Gu An’an hadn’t expected to get found out so quickly. She had thought she could just tough it out.
Chu Ran’s words plunged her into silence.
She slowly lowered her head, her face taking on the expression of someone who knew they had done wrong.
She had endured the pain and struggled to her feet from the floor precisely because she didn’t want to worry Chu Ran. But now, things had backfired. Not only had she worried her, but she had also ended up in the hospital.
Wasn’t she just useless?
Chu Ran took one of her hands and said earnestly, “Sister An’an, tell me—what happened?”
Gu An’an looked up at her, her eyes shimmering with trepidation, as if tears might spill out at any moment.
“Little Ran, am I really useless? I’ve dragged you down again…”
“Sniff…” She couldn’t hold back and let out a sob.
Chu Ran’s heart ached as she pulled her into an embrace. It had only been one night, but Gu An’an seemed to have grown much thinner. She curled up in Chu Ran’s arms, looking frail and fragile.
Gu An’an wiped at the corner of her eye. “I’m really useless. All I can do now is cry…”
Every word from her stabbed at Chu Ran’s heart, filling her with pain and distress.
“I’m the truly useless one. If Sister An’an hadn’t taken me in, I would have died long ago.”
“Sister An’an is amazing. Not only did she raise me, but she also turned me into a genius.”
“If it were me with paralyzed legs, I wouldn’t handle it half as well. I’d cry every day, feeling like the sky was falling, surrounded by darkness everywhere. I’d think I was unlucky, that heaven was unfair. But Sister An’an didn’t do any of that. She pushed through, taking care of the household chores, reading books, painting— she’s incredibly strong.”
“So Sister An’an is the best!”
Her voice was soft, and gradually, Gu An’an stopped her tears.
Chu Ran then asked, “Sister An’an, can you tell me what happened to your stomach?”
Gu An’an said quietly, “I was packing luggage, and the bag fell and hit me.”
The luggage bag was so heavy—how much that must have hurt when it smashed into her stomach!
Chu Ran drew in a sharp breath, forcefully suppressing the sudden surge of irritability in her chest.
“From now on, you’re not allowed to touch the luggage—not a single piece! And no more housework either!”
She suddenly raised her voice, speaking in an unusually stern tone.
Gu An’an blinked in stunned surprise. She hadn’t expected Chu Ran to be so patient and comforting one moment, only to turn so fierce the next.
“Sister An’an, promise me.”
Chu Ran suddenly cupped her chin, turning her face to meet her own gaze directly.
Gu An’an looked at her a little timidly. This side of Chu Ran felt unfamiliar.
“Sister An’an?”
Gu An’an hesitated, then nodded.
Chu Ran knew her personality well and could tell she was reluctant. Gu An’an might seem soft and weak, but she was incredibly stubborn deep down.
Chu Ran also realized that under the influence of that sudden burst of anger, she had lost her composure a bit.
Or perhaps it was more a rage at her own powerlessness.
Once she calmed down, guilt filled her heart, but she didn’t explain it to Gu An’an.
That day, she stayed by Gu An’an’s side the whole time. When Qian Hao heard the news and rushed to the hospital to visit, Chu Ran knew it wasn’t her fault but couldn’t help being cold in her attitude.
After learning the whole story, Qian Hao felt extremely wronged. She went home and gave the housekeeper a severe scolding.
Her friend Lin Wanfeng called to invite her out, and Qian Hao explained the situation. Lin Wanfeng laughed. “That’s classic good intentions gone wrong. Chasing after someone who doesn’t want you isn’t how deals are made. Don’t throw yourself at someone giving you the cold shoulder in the future.”
“Keep some distance and let your wealthy heiress charm shine through. Don’t lower yourself like that!”
Qian Hao didn’t comment on her words. She didn’t think Chu Ran was like that; she had just been overly concerned and messed up.
Seeing her friend unswayed, Lin Wanfeng shook her head and asked, “What’s the deal with you and that Jiang Wanlan? She privately asked me about you.”
“Did you tell her anything?”
“Of course not—we’re not even close!” Lin Wanfeng assured her emphatically, then gossiped, “So what’s going on between you two?”
Qian Hao made a disdainful face. “She chased after me once, but I don’t like her.”
Lin Wanfeng twirled the diamond ring on her finger casually. “Then you should be careful. She didn’t just ask about you—she also inquired about the one you like.”
“Chu Ran? You mean she asked about Chu Ran?” Qian Hao jolted in surprise.
The next day, the bruise on Gu An’an’s stomach had faded a bit. Chu Ran took her to see the attending doctor.
“Your sister’s leg muscles are showing a slight decline in activity. This is a very slow form of muscular atrophy. If it’s not addressed promptly, she may never stand again.”
They had thought it was just a routine checkup, but it turned out to be a bolt from the blue.
Chu Ran didn’t even have time to feel heartbroken before she asked urgently, “Can it be treated? Can it be cured completely?”
“It can be treated,” the attending doctor replied affirmatively, then continued, “There are two methods. The first is traditional domestic equipment—it’s cheaper but slower acting…”
“The second one,” Chu Ran said decisively.
“The second is imported technology using the most advanced gene crystals. They’re implanted directly into the body to stimulate muscle activity, with good clinical results, but it’s very expensive.”
“We’ll use that one. When can we start the treatment?” Chu Ran didn’t hesitate for a second.
The attending doctor raised a hand to pause her. “Don’t rush—let me finish. This gene therapy requires periodic replacement of the implanted crystals, with each session costing around six hundred thousand. Are you sure you want this?”
“Yes.”
After finalizing the treatment plan, the pressure finally crashed over Chu Ran like a tidal wave.
After paying a year’s rent, the balance on the card she had was down to 2.25 million, of which two million was startup capital for the financial project—money from the Qian family.
The card she had given Gu An’an was just to reassure her; she couldn’t touch that.
So in reality, she only had 250,000 to use.
She needed to set aside at least 50,000 for emergencies.
The crystal therapy was set to begin in a month. She had to scrape together the remaining 400,000 before then!
