The Subtle Seduction of My Ex-Girlfriend’s Aunt - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Did You Only Come Here for Dinner, Sister?

Tang Ran was surprised.

When they left the farm, Song Zhixu had told Murong Yi she had things to do. Tang Ran assumed she wouldn’t be going over to her place to look at course materials that night. However, since Song Zhixu asked, it must be convenient.

“Sure. I’ll head back, change, and come over.”

Tang Ran agreed without much thought. She wanted to finish the course as soon as possible to clarify the Tang Group’s financial situation. But before that, she needed to go home, take a shower, and calm down.

Watching Tang Ran’s back as she jogged inside, Song Zhixu’s eyes curved slightly. Her phone vibrated; Assistant Jiang had sent a folder. Song Zhixu clicked download and then opened Murong Yi’s chat window.

A string of shocked and confused emojis was followed by a barrage of messages:

[Since when are you and Tang Ran so close?] [Tsk tsk, I was wondering why you were suddenly in a bad mood. Was it because Tang Ran was flirting with someone else?] [Spill it! Do you have feelings for Tang Ran? No, wait—have you already made a move?] [I was wondering why you’ve been so willing to deal with your little niece lately. It’s all for Tang Ran, isn’t it?] [And that director at the convention center—why did you investigate him for no reason? Is it related to the Tang Group’s bidding?] [Impressive.jpg] [It has to be you, Old Song. Doing big things in silence!] [But with Tang Ran’s 5%, it’ll be even harder for your niece to usurp the throne. You’re killing two birds with one stone.] [What a clever ghost.jpg]

Song Zhixu ignored her and swiped the chat away. Using fingerprint recognition, the electronic lock opened automatically. She sat down to change her shoes. By the time she stood up, the file had finished downloading.

Her pale fingertips clicked the file, and a set of photos popped up. The protagonists were Song Wuqi and Ye Xiaoyu. Song Zhixu scrolled through the photos with one hand while methodically unbuttoning her clothes with the other, walking toward the bedroom at a leisurely pace.

The photos were taken yesterday and today. The two didn’t show any overly intimate behavior, but when connected, the pattern became clear. According to the timeline, yesterday after work, Song Wuqi and Ye Xiaoyu appeared to go their separate ways. In reality, Ye Xiaoyu walked two blocks before getting into Song Wuqi’s car. They went back to Song Wuqi’s apartment together and didn’t leave until this morning.

Logically, as Song Wuqi’s assistant, Ye Xiaoyu leaving in her car or staying overnight could be for work. There was no need to be so secretive. Yet, the two insisted on acting like they had something to hide. It was essentially a self-confession.

Assistant Jiang: [Besides the people I hired, there seems to be another person following them.] Another message popped up, followed by a photo of a man holding a camera.

Glancing toward the balcony, Song Zhixu set her phone down and unfastened the last button.

Wednesday afternoon, Tang Ran flew to Pengcheng. The expo lasted four days. Tang Ran and Manager Yu were mainly there for the corporate networking meetings held during the first two days, which were not open to the public.

By Thursday morning, after a thorough walkthrough of the expo, Tang Ran had set her sights on a food packaging partner. The company wasn’t large, but the high-barrier fresh-keeping film they produced could significantly extend food shelf life. During last week’s meeting, Tang Ran heard the factory mention they had applied for a procurement plan for this product.

After learning about the product details, Tang Ran prepared to send the company’s info to the procurement department. However, while she was speaking with the person in charge, he took a phone call and suddenly changed his mind. The film, which was supposed to be delivered within a week, would now be delayed by a month.

Tang Ran’s expression tightened as she looked at the embarrassed manager. “Manager Lyu, are you joking with me?”

“Miss Tang, I am truly sorry. My salesperson just signed a huge order. The factory’s production capacity for next month has been completely booked out,” Manager Lyu apologized with an awkward smile. He was full of regret; had he known he’d meet two big clients at the expo, he would have borrowed money to expand the production line.

As he spoke, a group of people walked past the meeting room. Outside the transparent glass wall, Tang Ran immediately recognized the person leading the group. As Tang Ran looked over, Sun Jiaojiao stopped, turned back to look at her, and flashed a mocking sneer.

At that moment, Tang Ran understood everything. It was 100% Sun Jiaojiao’s doing, intentionally trying to spite her. Tang Ran calmly withdrew her gaze and said to Manager Lyu, “In that case, we can only look for another partner.”

At 4:30 PM, ST Hotel. Tang Ran stepped out of the commercial van and ran into Manager Yu, who was returning from signing a deal with a new client. Manager Yu was beaming; clearly, the talk went well.

“Got it done?” Tang Ran asked.

“Mhm, it went smoothly. We also took the opportunity to visit the livestreaming base in Pengxi. I learned a lot; we should implement some of those improvements when we get back,” Manager Yu nodded. The Tang Group’s brand livestream room had only started this year and was currently lukewarm with average traffic.

“That’s great,” Tang Ran smiled. Manager Yu’s capability was beyond doubt. In her previous life, the livestream room had performed very well after Manager Yu made improvements following this expo.

“After walking all day, my calves are about to cramp,” Manager Yu held her lower back, looking like she wanted to lie down immediately.

“Go upstairs and rest. How about a buffet for dinner?” Tang Ran suggested. Signing a deal called for a celebration; Tang Ran was never stingy when it came to rewarding employees.

“President Tang is so generous!” Manager Yu was instantly revitalized. At 598 yuan per person, this high-end buffet was a luxury only possible when traveling with the young boss.

As they walked in, the automatic lobby doors opened. Manager Yu looked at Tang Ran and asked, “What about you? Did you sign with Lyuxi?”

Lyuxi was the food packaging company Sun Jiaojiao had snatched away. Logically, Tang Ran was the Vice President of Marketing and procurement wasn’t her job, but as the “crown princess” of the company, finding a supplier wouldn’t be out of line. However, Manager Yu felt this wasn’t just a whim of Tang Ran’s. She looked at Tang Ran; the young boss felt like a completely different person compared to a few weeks ago. Of course, she was genuinely happy about the change.

“It didn’t work out. We found another company.” Tang Ran didn’t notice Manager Yu’s thoughts and briefly explained the afternoon’s events.

Hearing this, Xiao Chen couldn’t help but complain. “Shengtang [Sun Jiaojiao’s company] is disgusting. I checked—they knew we were going to sign with Lyuxi, so they intentionally booked several months of supply in advance. Snatching clients, snatching suppliers… are the people at Shengtang wild dogs? All they know is how to steal food!”

Manager Yu’s assistant, Annie, scoffed. “Don’t insult dogs.” She had seen more of Shengtang’s shamelessness than Xiao Chen, and far filthier than what happened today.

Tang Ran patted Xiao Chen’s shoulder. “It’s not worth getting angry over.” There were several packaging manufacturers at the expo; they eventually found another factory capable of producing high-barrier film. Sun Jiaojiao’s move did nothing but annoy them; getting angry would only give her what she wanted.

“It’s just so infuriating!” Xiao Chen was still fuming. Annie put her arm around her. “Stop being angry. If you fill up on anger, you’ll waste the luxury buffet later.”

Manager Yu added with a smile, “Eat a beautiful meal, then go to the rooftop bar. I guarantee all your troubles will vanish.”

“The rooftop terrace overlooks the night view of the Peng River. The drinks are good, and the resident singer is gorgeous. It’s amazing!” Annie added happily.

This area wasn’t far from the airport; they often stayed here on business trips and were familiar with the nearby hotels and leisure spots. Tang Ran’s phone vibrated; a friend in the group chat tagged everyone, inviting them to a baby gender reveal party next month.

She looked down at the message. Sensing someone approaching, she stepped aside and continued walking without looking up. Her phone vibrated again—it was a private message from Song Wuqi asking how the trip was going. Tang Ran glanced at it, couldn’t be bothered to reply, and put her phone away. Song Wuqi had been acting strange lately, much more attentive than before, constantly sending messages and calling with “pretty” but hypocritical words of concern.

In the lobby behind her, Assistant Jiang passed Tang Ran by two steps, then suddenly turned toward the elevators. Once she recognized Tang Ran, she instinctively looked back toward the reception lounge.

Unexpectedly, yet not surprisingly, she saw her boss’s gaze also fixed on the elevator area. She had wondered why her boss, who never cared which hotel they booked, had specifically told her to book the ST Hotel this time. She had thought it was because the ST was close to the airport for tomorrow’s flight.

Turns out I was too naive.

Assistant Jiang quickly hid her shock. Acting as if she hadn’t seen through anything, she walked to her boss and handed her the room cards. “The rooms are on the 17th floor.”

Song Zhixu calmly withdrew her gaze and rose from the sofa. She took the cards. “Tell Manager Yang we’ll have dinner at the Cantonese restaurant upstairs in the hotel. I don’t want to go too far.”

After dinner, Tang Ran and her group took the elevator to the top floor. The bar was very stylish, with mid-century retro interior design. The resident singer was indeed beautiful, of mixed heritage, singing a melodious country song with great skill.

Since they were full, they didn’t order food. Aside from drinks for everyone, Tang Ran requested five songs. The singer had a unique voice that Tang Ran quite liked. Before singing, the resident singer raised a glass toward them with a charming smile.

Their booth was by the window. Looking out, they saw the shimmering reflection of the prosperous city lights in the Peng River and the brightly lit modern skyscrapers on the opposite bank. Cruise ships sailed leisurely across the river, leaving trails of light—a flowing painting of the city night.

After an hour, the four prepared to leave. As they entered the elevator area, Miao Tiantian called. Tang Ran let Manager Yu and the others go down first while she stepped aside to answer.

Miao Tiantian had started a new project on Monday and had been working day and night; she only found out Tang Ran was in Pengcheng through her social media posts. The call wasn’t about anything major—first to ask when she was coming back, and second to say she had organized a gathering at ‘He’ next Sunday and insisted Tang Ran attend.

After a brief chat, Tang Ran hung up.

“Hello.”

A voice that wasn’t familiar but was very recognizable sounded from behind. Tang Ran turned around to see the mixed-race singer from the bar.

“Can we be friends?” The singer smiled brightly. This person had a unique voice and a pair of stunningly beautiful grey-blue eyes, like clear gems. For the sake of those eyes, Tang Ran didn’t simply turn and walk away.

She smiled. “Just friends?”

Growing up, she had heard “let’s be friends” as a pick-up line countless times. Surprised by Tang Ran’s bluntness, the singer’s lips curled, and her gaze became suggestive. She leaned in, lowering her voice to use her voice to its full advantage. “We could be more than just friends.”

Tang Ran stepped back. She had asked that question to make things clear, not to invite her to push further. She stopped smiling. “I’m afraid that won’t work. I have a girlfriend.”

“You’re teasing me, right?” The singer didn’t believe her, taking it as a perfunctory excuse. Tang Ran shrugged, indicating there was nothing she could do if she didn’t believe her, and turned to leave.

“Hey, wait—”

The singer reached out to grab Tang Ran’s arm but was blocked by another hand that suddenly intervened. She frowned at the newcomer. The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful, wearing a perfectly tailored high-end suit—elegant, poised, and possessing a powerful aura. She gave the singer a fleeting glance, and the singer instinctively withdrew her hand.

Seeing Song Zhixu, Tang Ran couldn’t hide her shock. “Why are you here?” She knew Song Zhixu was on a trip this week, but she hadn’t expected her to be in Pengcheng too, much less run into her like this.

“Meeting a client.” Song Zhixu’s expression softened.

The singer looked between them, thinking they didn’t look like a couple. She took out a business card, held it out to Tang Ran, and winked with a suggestive tone. “If you change your mind, feel free to contact me.”

Tang Ran: “…” She regretted not rejecting her outright. Beauty truly was a distraction.

“She won’t change her mind.” Before Tang Ran could speak, Song Zhixu spoke up.

The words sounded a bit overstepping. The singer looked between them again, confused. Did I guess wrong?

Song Zhixu looked at Tang Ran and gave a subtle wink with a gentle smile. Tang Ran immediately understood and smiled back with curved eyes. Song Zhixu placed her hand on Tang Ran’s shoulder and looked at the singer. The singer awkwardly retracted her card and walked away.

The two looked at each other and shared a knowing smile. That scene was all too familiar. Last time, Tang Ran had used this method to help Song Zhixu drive away a flirt; this time, their roles were reversed.

After the laugh, Tang Ran sensed something wasn’t quite right. The person was gone, but Song Zhixu’s hand remained on her shoulder. They were so close that Tang Ran could clearly smell the white tea scent. A warmth rose to her face. She turned, intending to use the motion of pressing the elevator button to create distance.

But as soon as she moved, Song Zhixu took a step with her. The arm on her shoulder didn’t drop; instead, it pulled her slightly closer. She turned back in surprise, and by chance, Song Zhixu leaned in slightly toward her.

Their noses brushed past each other inadvertently. For a moment, both were stunned. Within less than a finger’s width of distance, their light breaths mingled. Tang Ran clearly captured a scent that wasn’t her own—a hint of sweet champagne.

A flush stained Tang Ran’s cheeks. She immediately looked down, wanting to back away.

“Don’t move. She hasn’t left yet,” Song Zhixu whispered.

Tang Ran’s movement to retreat stopped. “Mhm.” An almost inaudible sound escaped her. Her back was stiff, and she didn’t look at Song Zhixu again.

Noticing the change, Song Zhixu stood up straight. Her grip on Tang Ran’s shoulder loosened, resting only lightly. Sensing the adjustment, Tang Ran’s tense shoulders relaxed. Song Zhixu truly was gentle and considerate.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened. “Let’s go down first,” Song Zhixu suggested. Tang Ran nodded, and they entered together.

As the doors closed, Tang Ran instinctively glanced back toward the bar. She didn’t see the singer at the door, but she saw the bar door sway slightly, as if someone had just entered. Noticing Tang Ran’s action, Song Zhixu’s lips twitched slightly. The little one is quite suspicious.

Outside the elevator, Assistant Jiang, who had just come out of the restroom, looked around the empty hallway in confusion. In the blink of an eye, her boss had vanished. She looked back—had her boss gone to the restroom too?

Inside the elevator, Song Zhixu naturally withdrew her hand. She turned and asked Tang Ran, “Which floor?”

“11th floor, thank you.” The warmth on her shoulder faded, and Tang Ran fully relaxed. Seeing that Song Zhixu hadn’t pressed another button, Tang Ran assumed she wasn’t staying here. “Did you only come here for dinner, Sister?”

The top floor of the ST only had the bar and a Cantonese restaurant.

“I’m staying here too. I’ll drop you off first; I need to head back to the restaurant in a bit,” Song Zhixu explained carefully.

Hearing that she had come down specifically to play along, Tang Ran felt a bit shy. “I’ve troubled you, Sister.”

Song Zhixu smiled gently, not bothering with “no trouble” platitudes, and asked, “How many days for your trip?”

“If nothing comes up, I’ll go back the day after tomorrow.” Tomorrow was packed—an industry gathering in the morning and visiting a cold-chain logistics partner in the afternoon. Tang Ran didn’t want to catch a late flight, so she planned to rest one night and return to Jiangcheng the following day.

“When are you going back, Sister?” Tang Ran asked.

“Tomorrow night.”

The elevator stopped at the 11th floor. Tang Ran stepped out, turned back, and waved goodbye. “See you back home then!”

“See you at home.” Song Zhixu nodded with a smile, and Tang Ran walked away.

Rooftop. Assistant Jiang stood by the restroom for a long time but didn’t see her boss come out. She was hesitating to call when her boss’s call came through. She exhaled and swiped to answer. Before she could speak, she heard her boss’s clear voice: “Wait for me at the elevator.”

“Okay.” Assistant Jiang hung up and walked quickly to the elevator. Seeing her boss coming up from below, she was utterly confused. Boss went down and then came back up? But… why?

The next day. Returning to the city from the partner’s factory, it was already after 6:00 PM. Xiao Chen went to see a friend, so Tang Ran returned to the hotel alone.

On the way back, Tang Ran felt a faint dull ache in her lower abdomen. Her period was never very regular, and with how busy she’d been, she had completely forgotten about it. She rubbed her stomach, thinking that was why the cold-chain warehouse had felt especially freezing that afternoon.

Back at the hotel, she found her “relative” had indeed arrived. She took a fresh shower and went to the restaurant to eat. The discomfort affected her appetite; she only managed half a bowl of seafood risotto before she couldn’t eat anymore. The cramping became more obvious. She cursed inwardly—this feeling was all too familiar; a textbook precursor to severe menstrual pain.

Tang Ran quickly opened a delivery app and ordered painkillers. Of course, what she feared most happened. Just as she reached the elevator, her stomach gave a sharp, agonizing twist. Tang Ran gasped, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She held her stomach, hunching over slightly, and pressed the up button.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened. Tang Ran stepped in desperately without even looking.

“Ugh.”

Her forehead slammed into something soft. The impact left her head reeling, and she heard a faint grunt from above her.

“Sorry…” Tang Ran apologized immediately. A faint scent of white tea drifted into her nose. She froze, realizing late that the scent was the same as Song Zhixu’s perfume. She looked up in surprise and indeed saw Song Zhixu’s face.

“Sister, you… hiss…” Tang Ran only managed two words before being interrupted by a spasm of pain. Her vision swam. She instinctively reached out to brace herself against the elevator frame, but her palm touched something warm instead.

She was gripping Song Zhixu’s arm. As Tang Ran reached out, Song Zhixu had also raised her hand to catch her. Instinctively, Tang Ran pulled down on Song Zhixu, forcing her to hunch over as well. Realizing what she was doing, Tang Ran awkwardly let go. She tried to stand on her own, but the pain intensified, and she couldn’t straighten her back.

A warm hand steadily supported her waist, and a gentle force pulled her upright. Surrounded by the scent of white tea, Tang Ran looked up and found herself half-circled in Song Zhixu’s arms. The position was suggestive, but the excruciating pain left Tang Ran with no mental capacity to overthink it.

“Are you okay?” Song Zhixu asked with concern. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

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