The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 2

“No need,” Qi Ran shook his head gently. “President Gu, I’m alright.”

“If you won’t go to the hospital, then go home. Why persist in staying for the meeting? There’s no such rule, don’t indulge them.”

Gu Han touched Qi Ran’s waist and lifted his arm to drape it over his own neck. “I’m taking you back.”

Qi Ran hadn’t intended to leave, but he couldn’t match Gu Han’s strength and allowed himself to be helped up. Since things had come to this, Qi Ran could only say, “Thank you, President Gu.”

Gu Han supported Qi Ran as they left the venue. “It’s nothing, no need for thanks.”

As Gu Han led Qi Ran away, the host of the event stood there awkwardly. Looking around, he saw that Yu Shen wasn’t even looking at him. Yu Shen was focused on dismissing the HR representative who had rejected Qi Ran’s resume, while simultaneously networking to dig up dirt on the host to make it easier for Gu Han to settle scores later. Meanwhile, Qi Ran’s friend was secretly smiling, thinking that Qi Ran finally had a better chance to jump ship to a big company, no matter the method, as long as Qi Ran’s life improved, nothing else mattered.

Qi Ran’s friend was named Cheng Dan. They were childhood friends with a very pure bond, always striving for each other’s best interests. He couldn’t stand seeing Qi Ran slaving away for his company while ill. Qi Ran’s stomach problems had persisted for years, he had been frail since childhood, but ever since joining this real estate firm, he had no time to care for himself. His gastric pain had become more frequent and severe, and his body was on the verge of collapse. He had won the “Top Sales” title, yet he never received a raise or a promotion, only slightly higher commissions.

The reason given by Zhou Cheng (his boss) was that Qi Ran was young and needed more “tempering,” claiming that a high salary would make him lose his focus. He used “staying true to one’s heart” as an excuse to grind Qi Ran’s hard work into the dirt like disposable material. Qi Ran always accepted this without argument, driven by a pure love for his work.

Cheng Dan, however, had long seen through Zhou Cheng, a man who slacked off and lacked ambition, living a comfortable life. It’s easy to live well oneself, but it’s harder to wish for one’s friend to live just as well. Cheng Dan often felt the injustice for Qi Ran, he deserved a boss who appreciated him, not to be a doormat in this den of vanity.

Thus, Cheng Dan hoped that someone as hardworking as Qi Ran would find a place where he could truly flourish. He had heard that Jianchen was a company that valued ability, and today finally provided the opportunity to act as a bridge for his best friend.

Cheng Dan desperately wanted Qi Ran to seize this chance. Setting the job aside, if he had a boss who cherished him, at least he wouldn’t have to ruin his health anymore.

Furthermore, who knew Qi Ran better than Cheng Dan? Though Qi Ran had never said it out loud, Cheng Dan felt his aura didn’t exactly scream “straight.” Putting work aside, the CEO of Jianchen, Gu Han, had a stellar reputation, a disciplined “Top” with zero scandals. He was clearly a devotee of “pure love.” Now that Gu Han had seemingly fallen for Qi Ran at first sight, wouldn’t playing matchmaker be the best outcome?

After pondering this, Cheng Dan felt it was a perfect plan. He looked for an opening to push things forward with Yu Shen, but as he turned his head, he locked eyes with Yu Shen, which gave him a start.

“Hello,” Yu Shen said, handing his phone toward Cheng Dan. “Would it be convenient to exchange WeChat?”

Cheng Dan hesitated. “Me?”

“Yes,” Yu Shen smiled politely. “I’ve been observing what happened just now. I believe you are a trustworthy person. I think Jianchen would look forward to cooperating with you.”

Yu Shen had noted Cheng Dan’s expressions, demeanor, and intentions. He knew that in the near future, both Gu Han and Qi Ran would likely mention Cheng Dan’s name. Once Gu Han took an interest in Cheng Dan, getting his contact info would be a hassle, it was better to solve the problem at the root.

A general manager whose salary was second only to the Chairman certainly knew how to be proactive. A forward thinking manager like Yu Shen was a rare find, just as an appreciative “Bo Le” (talent scout) like Gu Han was the only one worthy of such a right hand man.

“Alright,” Cheng Dan took out his phone and added Yu Shen. “Thank you very much.”

The conference was nearly over by the time Gu Han helped Qi Ran to the underground parking lot. The distance from the main hall to the garage was quite far, and because Qi Ran’s stomach hurt, he couldn’t walk fast. Gu Han was extremely patient, walking slowly with him and remaining quiet out of consideration for his discomfort. The short trip took over ten minutes.

Gu Han held Qi Ran’s waist with one hand and reached for his car keys with the other. His heart was fluttering with “pink bubbles,” thumping so loudly he could hear it in his ears, a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Today, Gu Han was driving a Bentley, his favorite black Bentayga. Unfortunately, he had been lazy and hadn’t washed it yesterday. He had washed it the day before, and even though the weather had been clear and the car was still shining, Gu Han’s OCD kicked in. It was fine when he was alone, but now that he was with the person he liked, he felt the car was somehow “dirty.”

“Get in slowly,” Gu Han opened the door, supporting Qi Ran’s waist. “Be careful.”

Qi Ran felt like he had been whisked into the car somewhat inexplicably. He felt restless and sat there apprehensively, watching Gu Han enter the driver’s seat. His beautiful “puppy eyes” flickered with a mix of confusion and fear.

“What’s wrong?”

Gu Han’s fingers were about to touch the handbrake when he caught a glimpse of Qi Ran. Seeing how scared he looked, Gu Han stopped and spoke softly to soothe him: “I might be being a bit forward, but please don’t be afraid. I’m just worried about you. If you really don’t want to go to the hospital, I can take you home.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital, President Gu. I’m afraid… I’m scared of needles, and I’m used to the pain.”

Qi Ran didn’t have much strength to speak, his lips were pale. He gave Gu Han a polite smile. “Please just take me home.”

“Wait a moment,” Gu Han asked seriously. “You just said you’re ‘used to it.’ Does that mean you frequently have stomach pain but never take care of yourself?”

Qi Ran felt embarrassed. He lowered his eyes and bit his lip slightly. “I’m too busy. I don’t have the time.”

“Then I definitely have to take you to the hospital,” Gu Han said, no longer negotiating. He engaged the gear and comforted him, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay with you to see the doctor.”

The venue was quite far from the district center, so the drive to the hospital took some time. Gu Han kept glancing at Qi Ran, worried something would happen. Halfway there, he noticed Qi Ran’s hand, the one clutching his stomach was trembling, and his complexion had worsened. He quickly pulled over. “What is it? Is the pain too much?”

“No,” Qi Ran was used to enduring things alone and didn’t want to trouble others. Even though Gu Han asked, he didn’t want to say. He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“Your hand is shaking, how can you say you’re fine?”

Gu Han was both anxious and slightly frustrated. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over Qi Ran. “Do you want to rest for a bit? I brought hot water, have some first.”

Gu Han handed over a thermos. Qi Ran didn’t take it. Confused, Gu Han looked up and saw the boy’s placating and terrified gaze. Qi Ran said softly, “President Gu, please don’t be angry. It’s my fault.”

Hearing those words and seeing that expression, Gu Han immediately understood how Qi Ran had become the “Top Sales.” Realizing he had used a harsh tone, guilt flooded his heart. Ruihao was clearly a terrible company; Qi Ran was already suffering there, and now he was sick and in pain, why had he been so loud?

“You did nothing wrong. It’s my fault, I was too harsh. My subordinates are always doing shady things behind my back, and as a leader, it’s hard to keep a good temper. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. I’ll speak kindly from now on, don’t take it to heart.”

Gu Han unscrewed the thermos lid and placed the cup in Qi Ran’s hands, watching him take small sips of the warm water. “Since your stomach is this bad, you need a proper check-up at the hospital. Are you afraid of an endoscopy?”

“Yes,” Qi Ran admitted. “And it will delay my work. I’ll get scolded and my salary will be docked… a lot of money.”

“Your health is in this state and you’re still thinking about work?”

Gu Han frowned. “Ignore those bastards. Just focus on recovering. If they dock your pay, I’ll make it up to you, double. If they fire you, even better. I want you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Han’s face turned bright red. He had accidentally let his inner thoughts slip. He quickly corrected himself: “I mean, Jianchen wants you. A job is a job, no matter where it is.”

After drinking the hot water, Qi Ran felt the pain subside slightly and regained some energy. He was no longer as stiff as he had been at the start and gave Gu Han a proactive smile. “Actually, I did submit a resume. Jianchen didn’t want me. Maybe I’m just not good enough.”

“How could you not be good enough? How can those idiots compare to you? Just mentioning this makes me angry. I heard about it today. I’ve already fired the HR person who rejected you and the person who got the job through connections. They do this behind my back every day.”

Gu Han took the opportunity to say, “Qi Ran, why don’t you give me another chance? Resign from Ruihao and come to Jianchen. We have a proper corporate culture. The management at Ruihao are all idiots and hacks, they could never appreciate you.”

“President Gu, I don’t want to be someone who gets in through ‘connections.’ If I join Jianchen just because I know you, it wouldn’t be fair to the other applicants.”

In reality, Qi Ran desperately wanted to go because he admired Jianchen’s business environment, where competition was healthy, unlike the hellscape at Ruihao. However, he feared Ruihao would cause trouble and was hesitant to accept. He compromised: “I still have clients to handle. Once I’ve finished their orders, I’ll submit my resume to Jianchen again. President Gu, would that be okay?”

“Such a principled good boy… what a waste to be at Ruihao,” Gu Han thought, teeth itching with jealousy that Ruihao had possessed Qi Ran first. Though he was anxious to hire him, he couldn’t force him since Qi Ran wasn’t ready yet. He could only say, “Then we’ll do it your way. Once you’ve settled your clients, you must come. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Qi Ran nodded obediently. “Okay.”

“Does your stomach still hurt badly?” Gu Han asked softly. “Did the warm water help?”

“Mhm,” Qi Ran said. “Much better.”

“Do you want me to… I…” Gu Han asked tentatively, “Do you want me to rub your stomach for you? My hands are very warm.”