Regarding the issue of Ke Ji City project, An Ran had never directly replied to Huang De Xing. And about the collapse of the sample room and the missing blueprint, she actually wanted a thorough investigation, and even forward it to the police, but it was rejected by Huang De Xing as he did not want to break out the negative side of the company during this sensitive period of time with the opening of Ke Ji City.

Although An Ran was doubtful regarding his irrational approach, she did not press the issue any further.

Because of the exercise manor case, work had been extremely busy, but because the sample room had collapsed and the blueprint was lost, it immediately gave An Ran some free time, and she had absolutely nothing to do.

From time to time she would hear Ling Lin and Xiao Xiao's gossip, but as long as the mouth is on another body, listening to it or not is the other person's privilege, to listen to it or not is the other person's choice. In fact these past two days she had been thinking a lot, whether or not she should listen to the faint answer in her heart or not. Although it has almost been 7 years, when she thinks back on Jing Cheng, unexpectedly she isn't that reluctant to leave the place, whether it was the people, or the work.

At this time, the cellphone on her desk starts to ring. It was an unfamiliar number. An Ran frowns. Due to her mood at the moment she didn't feel like picking it up, but it seemed like the other person was very persistent, so they ended up sending her a text.

An Ran sighs, and reaches out to grab the phone. She opens the text, and her eyes widen. The text was very simple, including the punctuation there were only eight characters.

The text had said, “Gu jie, I am Chen Cheng.”

After her shock, An Ran quickly memorizes her number and calls back. It seemed like Chen Cheng was on the other side waiting for her call, as she picked up the call after one ring.

“Chen Cheng?” An Ran was still unsure, her tone carried a hint of doubt. There is no such person who would steal something and take the initiative to go back to the person who they had stolen from, that would be unreasonable.

The other line stayed silent for a while, when Chen Cheng finally makes a faint sobbing sound, as if she were struggling for a long time. Then she finally starts to say, “Gu jie…..”

An Ran tightens her hold on the phone, and asks, “Did you take the blueprint?”

Chen Cheng doesn't say anything for a while, but An Ran can faintly hear her sob. She doesn't say anything, and just clenches the cell phone, calmly waiting, waiting for her to give her reply.

A while later, Chen Cheng finally opens her mouth, and just says, “Gu jie, can we meet up and talk.”

“Huh.” An Ran sneers. She has no intention of meeting. “Is there something we need to talk about? Talk about how you took the blueprint from my office?” Her tone was angry with sarcasm.

“Sorry.” Chen Cheng seemed to be remorseful, but was insistent on meeting her. “Gu jie, let's meet and talk. I have some things I want to tell you.”

When An Ran had arrived at the coffee shop that Chen Cheng had chosen, Chen Cheng was already there. She was sitting by the windows, in front of her a cup of coffee, and she had her head turned towards the window as she watched the cars and pa.s.ser-bys. Her gaze seemed to be fleeting, as if she wasn't focusing.

An Ran walks over to her, and finally pulls out a chair opposite to her to sit. She places her bag on her seat, looks at Chen Cheng, and faintly starts to say, “Hand me the blueprint.” Her tone was very flat, she was not angry or indignant, but very cold, ice cold.

Chen Cheng then turns her head, stares at An Ran, and bows her head with guilt, “Sorry!”

An Ran hadn't replied yet. The waitress approaches them promptly, carrying the menu and a smile and says, “Excuse me, may I take your order?”

An Ran glances at Chen Cheng, turns to the waitress and says, “Give me a cup of water, thanks.”

“Sure. Just a moment please.” The waitress smiles and nods.

An Ran then turns her line of sight to Chen Cheng, fixes her gaze at her, and asks, “Why? Can you give me an explanation?”

Chen Cheng lowers her gaze, and tightens her grasp on the coffee cup. Only after a while does she faintly open her mouth, and says, “I needed money. Someone gave me a price, said that I only needed to take away the blueprint of the exercise manor, and he will give me 100 000 dollars. I, I really did need money, so I accepted.”

She knew that doing this was incredibly wrong, but she really had no other way. Her family had given her the news that her mother's illness had worsened, and she needed surgery. However they had no money, last year because of mother's illness, they completely emptied out their banks. They thought that her mother's illness was gone for good, at the least the next few years her life would be no problem, but suddenly she received a call saying that her illness has worsened, and every day the hospital urged for surgery. Ultimately her dad and brother had no other way, and called her, thus making her pressed for money. At the time when she was unable to find a solution, that person told her that so long as she was willing to take the blueprint to the Exercise Manor, then disappear for a few days, then he would give her one payment of 100 000. She truly needed the money, if she had this 100 000, her mother could operate. Although she wasn't sure how long her mother would live after the surgery, perhaps a few years, or perhaps a few months, but if she had looked on helplessly as her mother suffered while she did not think of another way, then being her child, how could she repay her. For her mother, she had harmed An Ran.

An Ran doesn't speak, and just stares at her, seeming to wait for her to continue.

“I went back to my hometown for the past few days. I came back to Jiang City today, and also learned today that something happened to the template room the day that I left.” Chen Cheng said quietly, facing her shame made her feel uncomfortable. She knew that in this situation An Ran was the most innocent, and those people undoubtedly wanted to leave no leeway for An Ran. She felt that she must tell An Ran what she knew, so at least she could be on guard.

“Who told you to take away the blueprint?” An Ran faintly asked. Actually, in her mind she had a vague idea.

Chen Cheng looks at her for a while, then finally starts to say, “It was Director.”

One day Huang De Xing had called her into his office. Apparently he had gotten someone to investigate into her family situation, and said that he was willing to give her 100 000, as long as she took An Ran's blueprint and give it to him, he would give her the cash on the spot. Additionally even if the incident was exposed he could protect her, and would not permit officials to perform an investigation into the matter. So, as she received one urging call after another from home, she truly had no other way. That evening her older brother called her once again to say that if they delayed the surgery again then the hospital will have to give them a critically ill notice. She could only painfully hide at the staircase and cry. That evening she waited for An Ran to leave and called Huang De Xing, telling him that she could steal the blueprint for him however he must give her the 100 000 that evening, because she really could not wait any longer.

Huang De Xing very readily agreed. That night at 9 o'clock they met at the coffee shop in front of the firm. She handed over the blueprint to Huang De Xing while he handed over the money that was promised. That same evening she gave him a verbal resignation, and the next day she took the train and hurried home. Over the past two days her mother's condition had improved, and the more she thought about the situation the more she felt that it was fishy, thus she returned to Jiang City, and first thing she did was call the office a.s.sistant Xiao Li, to ask about the state of the company. Then she found out that the day that she left, the template room had collapsed, and they had lost the project. She did not understand what was Huang De Xing's aim in doing this. The exercise manor was such a huge project, if they succeeded not only would they have reached their target for the second half of the year, they could even have expanded their market overseas. However he had personally plotted to ruin the project! It truly was baffling, outrageous.

“Heheh.” An Ran laughs coldly. She just faintly says, “Really.” She was only guessing that Huang De Xing might have known, but she really did not expect that he was the mastermind behind it. It truly was ridiculous.

“Gu jie?” Chen Cheng looks at her, and asks worriedly, “You… Are you okay?”

An Ran turns her head, and just slightly looks at her. She steadily says, “The blueprint is in Huang De Xing's hands now, right?” Her tone was very flat, so flat that one could not detect any emotion in it.

“I'm not sure, but when I took the blueprint I did give it to Director.” As to who he had given the blueprint to after that, she has not a clue.

An Ran did not speak again. The waitress brought over the gla.s.s of water to their table, and she raises her head to take a sip. Then she stands up, and faintly looks at her, just saying, “Thanks for telling me today. However, may I offer a bit of advice. From now on, please do not go against your conscience for money's sake.” After speaking, she turns her head and does not look back.

When she returned to the company, as she entered the hall, she b.u.mped into Huang De Xing who was on his way out.

Before An Ran had said anything, Huang De Xing started to smile at her and greets her, “Just coming back after rus.h.i.+ng out?”

An Ran nods, and does not say much. Her expression towards him immediately turns cold.

He seemed to be in a hurry to leave, and just reminds her to think it over and hope that she will give him a reply soon.

Returning to her office, An Ran sat in front of her desk, dazed as she thought about many things.

About Huang De Xing's proposition, she did not have to think much about it. She hated these dishonest and shady businesses, she always felt that things should be fair and realistic, your strength will win, as long as you have strength, there is no need to be worried about not winning. Doing things behind people's back by using back-door relations.h.i.+ps is simply violating the principle of fairness and impartiality. Of course she knew that there are many people who do things that way, but other people are other people, and she was unwilling to become them. Call her old-fas.h.i.+oned, not understanding on how to be flexible, she admits that she has always been an awkward person.

She began to think about leaving, but if she had left this way, she reckons Jing Cheng will investigate and find blame for the accident and the loss of the blueprint.

Huang De Xing's move was very despicable, but at the same time it was quite brilliant. At the moment she was trapped, if she doesn't leave, then she will have to listen to him and get Su Yi Cheng's Ke Ji City project. If she was determined to leave, then all these years in the construction business have been in vain. And even after that her reputation in the industry would be tainted because of this incident, because if her guess was correct, Huang De Xing was not willing to make the incident public now, but if she left, then all the blame would be on her. At that time the collapse was not due to human intervention, and the blueprint was not stolen, but rather it was a design failure, and then they would purposely destroy the blueprint to s.h.i.+rk responsibility!

She pinches her sore brows. She really hated this kind of calculation and speculation. She had said that she was not dumb. The things that she doesn't seem to understand, it's only because she does not want to understand or get to know them. She only wanted to design quietly and peacefully, regarding the business side of the company, she doesn't want to hang out with unnecessary people, on account of gaining more favors for herself. That is not the life that she wants, but obviously, she is not interested because of the unnecessary troubles those relations.h.i.+ps will bring. Yet there are people who will do all sorts of calculations to pressure her for those relations.h.i.+ps, she truly, truly hated that!

“Ai!”

With a sigh, she really did not want to think about those annoying things. At the moment she was an unnecessary idler in the company, rather than doing work, might as well say that she came to sit in the office and be lost in thought.

Since she was in her office in idle, she might as well go to the hospital and see if the report of the examination was out. So she planned just to do that, An Ran takes her briefcase from the desk, and was planning to leave directly, but when she raised her hand she caught sight of the ring on her finger. The corner of her mouth faintly raises.

When she reached the hospital An Ran did not go to the 8th floor where Lin Xiao Fens' ward was, but instead went to the 7th floor where the office of the doctor in charge was, and came to inquire to see if her mother's health was normal before seeing Lin Xiao Fen.

Because Su Yi Cheng had called the president of the hospital, the president had specially made it clear that Lin Xiao Fen's case was very important, thus, each and every examination were in-depth, so the original plan of allowing Lin Xiao Fen to stay for 2 days for observation turned into 5 days of examinations. During that period her company was not at ease, and had specially came to see her. After visiting her they found out that it was because her husband, daughter and son-in-law would not let her leave and insisted on having her stay for a full physical examination.

“Knock knock knock.” An Ran knocks on the door, only to see Lin Xiao Fen's doctor, Doctor Zhang, standing in front of the fluorescent board, looking earnestly at the CT scan images. His brows were wrinkled.

“Doctor Zhang.” An Ran softly calls out. She enters.

Hearing something, Doctor Zhang then turns his head, and sees her entering. He says, “You came right on time. Please take a seat, regarding your mother's health, I would like to speak to you about it.” As he spoke he takes down the two images of the CT head scans, and places it down onto his desk.

An Ran sits in front of him. This time she has a bad feeling. She cautiously asks, “Doctor Zhang, is there an issue with my mother's health?”

Doctor Zhang nods, and says, “Indeed there is an issue.” As he spoke he hands her the CT scans, and points at it to let her see, “Your mother has a pituitary adenoma.”

Hearing that, An Ran was taken aback. Even a while later, she could not respond. She stares at him, her voice trembling, “D-doctor, what did you say? Pituitary adenoma?”

Seeing her nervous manner Doctor Zhang knew that she had misunderstood. He explained, “Do not be nervous. Your mother's adenoma is not big, and it is a benign tumor. Even if not removed it will not cause a harmful threat to your mother's body.”

She shakes her head. Everything that he had said did not make sense to her.

“I will explain it more simply.” Doctor Zhang sits down again, and explains once more, “The tumor that your mother has is a benign one, in other words it will not grow or worsen. Some in the medical field even say, over time it may be gone, disappear, so basically it is not life threatening.”

Hearing him say that, An Ran was then relieved, “Then what does Doctor Zhang want to discuss?” It's a benign tumor, it isn't necessary to have an operation. Then that doesn't need a discussion, and also doesn't need to let the patient and their family be worried and afraid.

“It's like this. Your mother's pituitary tumor is in this position, and this position is quite close to the optic nerve. If the tumor was slightly displaced, then it will most likely compress the optic nerve, thus it will easily cause blindness.” Dr. Zhang said truthfully.

“Then, then what about it?” An Ran asks. Her tone was anxious and uneasy.

“In the case that it compresses the optic nerve, then we can only excise the tumor. But when the time comes, with your mother's age, I'm afraid she won't be able to withstand the operation.” Dr. Zhang confesses, “Of course, there is a possibility that the tumor will never grow or be displaced, then naturally everything that I had talked about would not occur.”

An Ran frowns. She looks at him and asks, “Then you're leaning towards surgery?”

Dr. Zhang nods, and says, “Right now is the best time, your mother's health is good, performing this kind of operation is not something to worry about, the success rate of such surgery also very high. Of course, as with any craniotomy operation, there are some risks. You should carefully discuss this with your family, whether to go through with the operation or not.”

An Ran frowns, nodding in understanding. She asks once more relevant question about the operation, and if there was anything else about Lin Xiao Fen's health. Once she understood more clearly, she then turned about to leave the doctor's office. Because of Su Yi Cheng's connection, Lin Xiao Fen's hospital room was moved from an ordinary one to a luxurious VIP ward. Compared to the ordinary room, the VIP room was pretty good, what was more important was that it was quiet, it wasn't noisy like before, and made a wonderful place for a patient to recover in.

When An Ran arrived at Lin Xiao Fen's room the door was ajar. She pushes the door to go in, and at the entrance, she hears Gu Heng Wen speaking with her mother, the pair talking about something. An Ran was about to call out to them, when she heard one of them say her name. An Ran pauses, and thinly listens to the dialogue between the two people.

“Heng Wen, what do I do. He came to see me, and already knows about An Ran's past.” On the bed, Lin Xiao Fen's tone was frantic. She grabs onto Gu Heng Wen's hand and holds it firmly.

Gu Heng Wen pats her hand, and with a soft voice consoles her, “Don't worry, nothing will happen.”

“I don't want to let An Ran know, even more I don't want An Ran to have any relation with him, I'm scared if An Ran knows she will blame me.” Lin Xiao Fen said in a depressed tone.

“He will not take the initiative to find An Ran, rest a.s.sured.” Gu Heng Wen consoles her as he pats her hand, “Right now he has his own family, he will not take the initiative to find An Ran and talk to her. This will threaten his family, with his status right now, it's unlikely that he will do that.”

“Really?” Lin Xiao Fen was still unsure. She knew that he was right, just wanted to get confirmation from him. She was truly afraid, this was a secret that she had guarded intensely for 20, almost 30 years!

“Really.” Gu Heng Wen nods confidently.

Lin Xiao Fen pulls in her lips, but wasn't able to pull up a smile. Even though he was certain, she after all was still afraid, “Heng Wen, tell me, if An Ran finds out, what should we do?”

“An Ran will always be my daughter!” Gu Heng Wen looks at her in a tone that certainly had no doubt in the slightest.

An Ran clutched onto the CT bag. She came at the wrong time, listening to things she should not have heard. She doesn't know what they are talking about, but she can faintly surmise what it was. Carrying the bag she quietly withdrew from the room, her movement was very light, so light that no one had heard a sound, as if she hadn't been there at all.

She sits down on the bench outside beside the door. She was still clutching onto the plastic bag, her father's confident words still ringing in her ears.

“An Ran will always be my daughter!”

Wasn't she always his daughter?

When did that change? In addition to mother's anxiousness, who will know what? Why is her mother so worried that she will know something? Was she afraid that she will find out that she wasn't her father's daughter?

An Ran was afraid of her thoughts, and was unresponsive for a while. She quietly talked to herself, “How, how could that be. That's just absurd.” The more she thought about it the more afraid she became. She pats her face, and attempts to stop her thoughts, incessantly comforting herself, “If I am not dad's daughter then who is, do not scare yourself, do not scare yourself.”

She sat outside for a while, and tried her best to pacify herself. Then she gets up to go to the ward. She was about to open the door, when at this time, the door was opened. From inside Gu Heng Wen was surprised to see her, his expression was somewhat panicked, “Ran, Ran Ran, you, when did you get here.”

Although Gu Heng Wen's reaction made the uneasiness in An Ran's heart grow, but An Ran still tried to make her expression as natural as possible. She pulls on her lips, and faintly smiles as she says, “I just came back from Dr. Zhang's office, I brought over the examination report.” As she spoke she hands over the report and the CT scans to her father, “Dad, are you going out?”

Gu Heng Wen quickly shakes his head, and explains, “N-no, I was about to go see Dr. Zhang to ask about the results of the examination. Since you've brought it over, I don't need to go there. Oh, that's right, what did Dr. Zhang say, are there any issues with mother's health?” Saying that, An Ran's expression gets heavy. Her brows were also slightly wrinkled. She looks at her father and says, “Dad, let's go in and talk.”

---END OF CHAPTER---