Chapter Sixty: Can You Touch Me?

When Shangguan Ranran received Muyah’s call, she was still reading through some documents. The moment she learned that Muyah’s car had been grazed in a collision, she immediately drove out to help. She hadn’t anticipated that her own car would be stopped halfway.

A man with the bearing of a steward stepped out from the vehicle opposite.
“Miss Shangguan, Master Huangpu would like to invite you for a cup of tea.”

Shangguan Ranran alighted, her presence commanding. “And if I refuse?”

“I’ve heard Miss Shangguan has many friends in City A?”

“Hah, that old trick again,” she mocked, but nevertheless agreed to go. She needed to see for herself just how blind the man who mistook fish eyes for pearls, abandoned his first wife, and betrayed his marriage truly was.

Locking her car and taking nothing with her, she followed him to a teahouse steeped in ancient charm.

Master Huangpu sat at the head seat, pouring tea into two cups. He pushed one across the table. “Try my tea, tell me what you think.”

Shangguan Ranran’s face was expressionless as she took her seat, gently lifting the cup before her and taking a sip. “Your technique is not well-practiced, Master Huangpu. The tea... is too heavy.”

“You know tea, Miss Shangguan?” he asked, surprised, raising his own cup and tasting it.

He’d only taken up tea in recent years; though his brewing was unrefined, few could discern it—except those truly versed.

“Merely by osmosis,” she replied.

“Oh?”

“Why did you call me here, Master Huangpu?”

“We can wait until my disappointing grandson arrives; then we’ll talk.”

“So you’re using me to threaten Huangpu Shenqing?” Shangguan Ranran lifted her gaze, icy and sharp.

“Miss Shangguan, you jest. I only invited you for tea,” Master Huangpu smiled faintly, unfazed by her attitude.

Shangguan Ranran rose. “I’ve tasted your tea. May I leave now?”

Before she finished speaking, men in black emerged from all corners of the enclosed private room; the steward blocked the door. “Miss Shangguan, you cannot leave just yet.”

“Hah, truly a family of the same ilk—filthy tactics all around.” No wonder Huangpu Qingyin was the same, so utterly detestable.

Master Huangpu remained unmoved, ignoring her words.

“Please sit, Miss Shangguan,” the steward gestured for her to return to her seat.

“Perhaps you’ve enjoyed too many years of peace, Master Huangpu? Forgotten that this nation of Z is not yours to command?” Her words were cold as frost, laced with sarcasm, fearless as she matched his aura.

“Watch your words, Miss Shangguan. Whether the Huangpu family can control Z is not for a junior like you to judge,” Master Huangpu stood, leaning on his steward, his aura bearing down on her.

“Have you forgotten there is also the Shangguan family in Z?”

Her clear, chilly voice struck them all.

“You’re of the Shangguan family?” Master Huangpu was shocked. Did Qingyin not know her background? Had she guessed Shangguan Ranran had no roots here?

“Yes. My grandfather was a founding elder of Z. My father was a leading figure in the Shangguan clan, now CEO of Shangguan Group. My mother is a renowned international designer. My maternal grandfather is the true ruler of nation Y. Do you dare touch me? Can you?”

Shangguan Ranran’s pride was palpable, her words ringing out forcefully.

Master Huangpu was left speechless, and even the steward’s mouth hung open. This Miss Shangguan was a true heiress.

“Last time doesn’t mean I won’t pursue it. I simply don’t want to waste time on you. This is your final chance. Otherwise, sooner or later, I will represent the Shangguan clan and demand accountability from Huangpu Qingyin, from you, and from the Huangpu family.”

With that, Shangguan Ranran turned and left. No one dared block her path; they stepped aside. She laughed coldly to herself—this was the power of influence.

Outside the teahouse, Huangpu Shenqing had just arrived. He stopped his car abruptly and rushed over, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Are you hurt? Did he do anything to you? What did he want?”

“Nothing happened, really. It’s just…” Shangguan Ranran hugged him back, burying herself in his arms, breathing in his mint scent. She felt utterly at ease.

“Just what?”

“Just, Mr. Huangpu, I missed you so much.”

She loathed dealing with those people—their faces were repulsive, their actions even more disgraceful.

“Mmm, I missed you too, Ranran.”

Shangguan Ranran slipped from his embrace, suddenly remembering she had forgotten about Muyah.

“What’s wrong?”

“Let’s go to Puhe Crossroad first,” Shangguan Ranran quickly got into his car, intending to ride with him since hers hadn’t arrived yet.

“Did something happen?” Huangpu Shenqing started the car at once.

“Muyah called me earlier, said she’d been in an accident there and asked me to help negotiate. I completely forgot.”

When they reached Puhe, only a few traffic officers were at the roadside, recording details. Ouyang Muyah was speaking with them beside a wrecked car.

“Muyah, I’m so sorry for being late,” Shangguan Ranran apologized, relieved that Muyah was unharmed.

“It’s fine, you’re not late at all.”

“What happened?”

“I bumped into a gentleman’s car, but he didn’t make a fuss. I wanted to call you so you could help him get checked out and offer compensation while I did the paperwork here, but he left directly.”

“Perhaps he’s just a noble sort—doesn’t mind such trifles. Don’t worry about it.”

“Mmm, that’s what I thought too. But sorry for making you come out.”

“It’s no trouble at all—we’re friends, after all. By the way, how did you end up hitting someone’s car?”

She thought that neither Wanqing nor herself would ever expect Muyah to get into a collision.