Chapter 49 - Bantering

"Nice to meet you too." Celeste looked at the woman in front of her. It was just as Liu Ran had told her. Ran Xueyi looked very beautiful and bright. But more than that, Celeste could already sense that the other was a capable and ambitious woman. 

The smile on her face deepened as she moved closer to Ran Xueyi. 

Previously, when Celeste received a call from Liu Ran about Ran Xueyi, she was slightly uncertain. Though she trusted Liu Ran's judgement in the people he thought was good, she was afraid that someone would be too fake and pull a false upfront on Liu Ran and trick him. 

Celeste took Ran Xueyi to a cafe. She said to the waiter, "I'd like to order a cup of Cappuccino." She turned to Ran Xueyi and asked her what she wanted.

Ran Xueyi didn't hurry and skimmed over the menu, she finally said, "Hot dark chocolate."

After ordering and after the waiter left, Ran Xueyi faced the other and saw that Celeste was looking at her with a weird gaze on her eyes. 

"Is something wrong?" asked Ran Xueyi.

Celeste shook her head, "Nothing... it's just I didn't think you'd like hot dark chocolate."

Ran Xueyi's smile deepened and she replied, "I don't. I usually go for a mocha latte. But my taste changed. I like bittersweet things now."

She liked sweet things in the past. However, to suit her taste with Yang Baihua's, she forced herself to drink and eat whatever he liked. 

But now, she could finally set herself free and eat and drink what she liked.

Celeste nodded her head. She pulled her briefcase and took out the business registration papers before handing it over to Ran Xueyi.

Ran Xueyi looked down at it and was very satisfied. Everything was done meticulously. 

"Thank you." 

"I heard from Liu Ran you're starting an entertainment company. Have you started looking for artists and talent who would sign under your company? What about the employees and shareholders?" Celeste asked quickly, worried that Ran Xueyi was new and had no knowledge on starting her own company.

She's known several heirs and heiresses who wasted their parents' money to create their own company and businesses. However, they do not know how to manage their companies and ended up bankrupting a few weeks or months after. 

That was why Celeste was worried. Probably because she didn't know what Ran Xueyi's reason to start her own company was, she was a bit nervous.

"You do not have to worry, Sister Celeste. I have experience in handling a company in the past. As for employees, I think there are a lot of opportunity seekers in the imperial capital." Ran Xueyi calmly said, chuckling to herself at the good memories she spent helping her grandfather manage the family's company.

At that time, Ran Xueyi was only 16 years old when her grandfather took her to the Ran family's company. She was tossed around in the office and had to be trained by the veterans on how to get better at managing the company. Besides that, she was also taken by her grandfather to different meetings with other company presidents. Even though she stayed on the side and didn't speak, Ran Xueyi learned a lot during that time.

Seeing how confident she looked, Celeste pressed down her worry. 

The waiter came back with their drinks. The two of them thanked the waiter before grabbing their drinks and sipped from it. 

After a while, the two of them finally finished their drinks in silence. Ran Xueyi paid for their drinks. And after bidding farewell to each other, they separated on a good note, planning to meet each other once again when they have time.

...

Ran Xueyi walked to her car and was just about to start it when her phone rang. 

She looked down at it and saw that the caller ID was registered 'Grandpa'.

Upon seeing that her grandfather was calling, Ran Xueyi had a bright smile on her face.

"Grandfather, why did you call?" Ran Xueyi leaned her back and looked outside the window.

"If I didn't call you today, you wouldn't even call and tell me what they did to you... How irresponsible of you, Xueyi." Ran Zhu said from the other end of the phone. His voice was cold and firm.

Ran Xueyi flinched and sat straighter. It was a reflex. Whenever she heard her grandpa's cold voice, she knew that something bad must have happened.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her grandfather asked again. "Do you even know what I'm feeling right now?"

His beloved granddaughter was bullied upon returning home and these people were not even half guilty of their actions. How could he not worry?

"Grandfather, I'm doing well now. What happened was unfortunate, but it didn't hurt me as much as you think it did. So, please do not worry too much or your old illness will strike again." Ran Xueyi sighed deeply.

The reason why she hadn't gone back to her grandparents when she found out the horrible truth was only because she couldn't make them worry even more than they already were towards her.

They were old and had a prevailing illness that worried her so much. If they had known what her parents and Yang Baihua did to her, Ran Xueyi would not know what to do if something bad were to happen to them because of her.

"How can I not worry? My precious granddaughter was forced to leave her home because of those ungrateful people! Tell me, Xueyi. Do you want grandfather to take the mansion from them?" Ran Zhu asked her.

If other people heard him ask them this question, they would surely think Old Master Ran was merely joking with them. 

However, Ran Xueyi knew that her grandfather wouldn't joke about these things. Rather, she knew that her grandfather never jokes around. What he says, he'll do them.

Hence, she knew that her grandfather was really thinking of driving her parents and younger sister out of the family mansion. 

But as much as she liked the idea of driving them out of her grandparent's mansion, she was very reluctant to use her grandfather's help for such matters.

Her grandfather should leave it to her and just rest well with Grandma Ran.

"Grandfather, there's no need for that. I left the mansion on my own and besides, I'm living well now." A smile appeared on her lips as the thought of her husband waiting for her back home appeared in her mind.

As though he noticed her mood, Ran Zhu asked, "Did something good happen? Why do I feel like you're living much better after leaving home..."

Ran Xueyi bit her lips, forcing herself to smile, but her lips wouldn't listen to her. 

"Alright, grandfather..." she interrupted him. "I'm kind of busy today so I'll hang up first."

Ran Zhu didn't seem to believe her and hurriedly scolded her, "Hmph! We just talked for a few minutes and you're already rushing to hang up. How cold of you, Xueyi." After a pause, he added, "Go. Do what you have to do. But don't forget to come home. Your grandmother misses you and wants to see your face."

Ran Xueyi hummed her agreement and hung up the call.