The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 8

“Yes, I’m holding you,” Gu Han leaned down in front of Qi Ran and asked softly, “Little Qi Ran, how do you want to be held?”

Qi Ran blushed and lowered his head, not daring to look into Gu Han’s eyes. He whispered, “I don’t know.”

“Then let’s hold you like we did last night,” Gu Han said. He placed one arm around Qi Ran’s back and the other under his knees, lifting him steadily in a horizontal carry. As he followed the doctor, he coaxed Qi Ran: “Don’t be afraid. The CT scan doesn’t hurt. Tomorrow’s gastroscopy might be uncomfortable, but I will be there with you.”

Qi Ran’s heart was racing, his breathing was rapid, and his body felt almost limp in Gu Han’s arms. “Thank you, President Gu.”

“Is your heart feeling uncomfortable again?”

Gu Han looked down at Qi Ran’s flushed face and comforted him softly: “Once we finish the check-up and go back to rest, I’ll help you rub your chest. Just hold on a little longer.”

Gu Han followed the doctor into the department and carefully placed Qi Ran on the CT scanning bed. After saying a few more comforting words, he stepped out and waited by the door. He took out his phone and saw a reply from Yu Shen.

Yu Shen: “Congratulations! You got a response from the little beauty. I guess you don’t need me as a strategist anymore? Sigh, what a pity for my double bonus.”

Gu Han: “I still need you. Flirting is sweet, but I want to be with him. Isn’t constant flirting just leading someone on? I want to marry him, so you still need to help me think of a way.”

Yu Shen: “? Why are you in such a rush? Love should be taken slowly. For a couple with mutual feelings, marriage is an inevitability.”

Gu Han sent a sighing emoji: “Alright.”

Yu Shen had just woken up and was grinding coffee. While waiting, he went to the kitchen to make a sandwich. He was used to soaking vegetables in water for a while. Returning to the living room, he sat on the sofa and continued messaging Gu Han: “Now that we’re done talking about your little sickly beauty, I need to report on some work. Do you remember that staff member sitting next to Qi Ran during our meeting?”

Gu Han replied: “I remember. He was a big help. Without him pushing, Qi Ran might not have even added me on WeChat.”

Yu Shen: “That person is named Cheng Dan. I asked some reliable friends to look into him. He’s Qi Ran’s childhood friend and university classmate, they have a very close relationship. It seems he went through a lot of trouble to help Qi Ran jump ship to Jianchen. Zhou Cheng’s absence this time seems to be a trap set by Cheng Dan. He sent me a long message in the middle of the night detailing Zhou Cheng’s current plan for Qi Ran. Decisions made by a leader of Zhou Cheng’s level are internal secrets. 99% of people at Ruihao are kept in the dark. This Cheng Dan is not simple at all.”

Yu Shen: “[Forwarded Message]”

The message from Cheng Dan was very long. Gu Han read it carefully. The gist was that Zhou Cheng was currently like a “startled bird.” He wanted to keep a tight grip on Qi Ran, but feared Qi Ran would take his clients and connections and turn against him, causing massive losses for Ruihao. He was discussing with Cheng Dan whether to send Qi Ran to Gu Han as a secretary or that kind of secretary with the goal of digging out Gu Han’s commercial secrets, including stock account passwords, to ruin Gu Han through malicious business tactics.

Zhou Cheng’s real worry was whether Qi Ran would defect for real if he became a core secretary at Jianchen. If he didn’t defect, could he complete the task? And since Gu Han was suspicious by nature, could Qi Ran actually obtain the secrets?

Yu Shen sent two more screenshots: “Whether Cheng Dan is trustworthy is for you to decide. I’m just providing advice. Personally, I think he’s decent. Judging by how sincerely he seeks a future for his best friend, his character can’t be bad.”

[Chat Log: Cheng Dan and Yu Shen]

Cheng Dan: “I’ve been playing the role of Zhou Cheng’s strategist for years and have gathered a lot of information, just waiting for the day to bring these bastards down. It’s hard to explain everything now. Let’s meet privately when there’s a chance. I think I have a lot of things Jianchen would want.”

Yu Shen: “Alright. By the way, does Zhou Cheng plan to handle Qi Ran? Like firing him or something?”

Cheng Dan: “How could he fire Qi Ran? If he fires Qi Ran, Ruihao collapses. However, Zhou Cheng does have a plan. He wants to use President Gu’s affection for Qi Ran to send him over to steal internal secrets. It should happen in the next few days. Qi Ran is very upright and won’t do anything bad. If he agrees to Zhou Cheng’s arrangement and sees President Gu again, he will definitely lay his cards on the table.”

Cheng Dan: “[Forwarded Chat Record]”

Yu Shen: “Understood, thank you.”

Cheng Dan: “Qi Ran is a good person. Only a company like Jianchen won’t let him down. He has suffered too much injustice and unfair treatment at Ruihao. Please, treat him well.”

Yu Shen: “When the time is right, I hope Jianchen and you can have a deep cooperation as well.”

Cheng Dan: “The day is coming.”

[Chat Log: Cheng Dan and Zhou Cheng]

Zhou Cheng: “Have you looked over my plan? Is Qi Ran reliable?”

Cheng Dan: “I think he’s reliable because Qi Ran has a good personality, he won’t betray you.”

Zhou Cheng: “His request for leave today was a real threat to me.”

Cheng Dan: “Manager Zhou, that’s a different matter. Qi Ran has a stomach ailment. He works on assignments while sick, suffering every day but persisting. It’s not just me taking his side, everyone in the department sees it. How could you not know? The man is in so much pain and finally asks for leave, if you don’t approve it and don’t let him go to the hospital, are you trying to kill him?”

Zhou Cheng: “…Am I really treating him that badly?”

Cheng Dan didn’t reply. Zhou Cheng sent another message: “Fine. When Qi Ran comes back to work, I’ll apologize and give him a bonus. He can take leave whenever he wants. Also, the plan to send Qi Ran to Gu Han is settled. You’ve made many correct decisions for Ruihao, since you think he’s reliable, I’ll listen to you this time.”

After reading the chat records, Gu Han truly admired Cheng Dan. This was the “cultivation of an actor” to perform a double agent scheme so perfectly.

Gu Han replied to Yu Shen: “I’ve seen the screenshots. Like you said, when the time is right, poach Cheng Dan for me.”

Yu Shen: “Understood.”

By the time Gu Han finished the conversation, Qi Ran’s examination was over. The doctor called Gu Han to pick him up: “President Gu, take the patient back to rest. He can eat something at noon, but he must fast starting from 10 PM tonight. The gastroscopy is at 8 AM tomorrow.”

Gu Han agreed and ran over happily to pick up Qi Ran: “Let’s go back.”

“President Gu, do I have to do a gastroscopy tomorrow?” Qi Ran’s eyes were red and damp. He was so scared he started crying, curling up in Gu Han’s arms. “I’m afraid.”

“How about I stay with you?”

Gu Han hadn’t realized Qi Ran was this terrified of hospital procedures. Seeing his watery eyes and panicked expression, Gu Han felt both heartbroken and helpless. He comforted him softly: “Little Qi Ran, don’t cry. It’s okay, I’m here.”

Qi Ran’s vulnerability was fully exposed to Gu Han. He was truly terrified of the medical equipment, just thinking about it made him tremble. He huddled in Gu Han’s arms, unable to speak. Gu Han’s heart felt like it was breaking.

Gu Han carried Qi Ran back to the ward and placed him steadily on the bed. Qi Ran hugged his thin legs, burying his head in his knees and sobbing quietly.

Gu Han climbed onto the hospital bed, pulling Qi Ran into his arms and stroking his hair: “Little Qi Ran, don’t be afraid. I’m not leaving. I’ll stay right here with you.”

Qi Ran looked up, his puppy-like eyes meeting Gu Han’s concerned gaze. He asked softly: “Really?”

“Really,” Gu Han rubbed Qi Ran’s head. “I can stay with you as long as you need.”

Qi Ran tilted his head and leaned it on Gu Han’s shoulder: “Thank you.”

At that moment, Gu Han’s heart nearly stopped. For him, this was the happiest day of his life since he started forming memories at age five or six.

Gu Han would remember this moment forever.

With Gu Han’s company, Qi Ran’s emotions gradually stabilized. His body stopped trembling from fear, and he leaned relaxedly into Gu Han’s embrace.

“Feeling better?”

Gu Han suggested: “Do you want some lunch? It’s already noon. The dishes at this time are always the best. I think if you eat something, you’ll feel a bit better.”

Qi Ran didn’t want Gu Han to leave, so he asked tentatively: “President Gu, are you going now?”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying with you,” Gu Han coaxed. “The restaurant has delivery. We can order, and they’ll bring it up.”

Qi Ran was relieved and nodded: “That sounds great.”

“Anything special you want to eat?”

Gu Han took out his phone, wanting to show Qi Ran the menu. “I asked the doctor, you can have some rice or noodles today. I don’t think you like millet porridge much. Let’s pick something you like this time, okay?”

Qi Ran didn’t take the phone Gu Han offered. He said in a small voice: “President Gu, you said earlier the seafood noodles here are good. Can I have that?”

“Of course,” Gu Han ordered the food while comforting Qi Ran. “In the future, you don’t have to ask for what you want, just tell me directly.”

Gu Han planned to stay with Qi Ran for at least a week, so company matters were temporarily handled by Yu Shen. At noon, Yu Shen was driving to the company when he received a message from Cheng Dan’s burner account: “Is it convenient to talk?”

Yu Shen waited until he was at a red light to reply: “I’m driving. I’ll talk to you when I get to the office.”

Cheng Dan: “Be careful on this stretch of road. A car is following you. It’s either a black or white car with the plate Li A: 13××××. Go by the plate number; these cars often swap plates. Don’t park outside. Drive directly into the Jianchen VIP parking lot so outsiders can’t enter.”

The Jianchen VIP parking lot Cheng Dan mentioned required real name authentication, facial recognition, and biometric scans. Its security was comparable to Jianchen’s main vault. Membership was restricted to clients who spent over 40 million at Jianchen, senior executives, and the board of directors. It was jokingly called “The Little Vault” and was located directly beneath the company campus, making it extremely secure.

Hearing that it was necessary to park in the “Little Vault,” Yu Shen frowned: “What’s going on?”

Cheng Dan: “It’s a common tactic for Ruihao. They put miniature listening devices on cars. I’ve seen them. It would be a lot of trouble if your conversations were overheard. We have to be careful.”

Yu Shen: “Should I call the police?”

Cheng Dan: “No need. Those people are just temporary workers, thugs hired for cash. They all have criminal records, even if they’re caught, they won’t give up Zhou Cheng. It treats the symptom, not the cause. Besides, if you act rashly, it might involve me. If my position with Zhou Cheng is compromised, I won’t be able to dig out Ruihao’s secrets for you.”

Yu Shen nodded slightly: “Alright. I’ll do as you say. I’ll contact you when I reach the office.”

Putting his phone down, Yu Shen rolled down his window and glanced at the side mirror. He saw the black car with the plate Li A: 13×××× that Cheng Dan had mentioned, waiting for the light two cars behind him.

Yu Shen glanced sideways coldly, his lips curling slightly: “Interesting.”