Chapter Seventy-Three: Do Not Take My Words Out of Context

Early in the morning, Shangguan Ranyi suddenly sprang up from her bed and rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water onto her face.

Ah, truly! How could she have such a dream?

She stared at her reflection in the mirror—her hair in disarray, her clothes untidy, looking for all the world like a refugee.

She hurried to tidy herself and changed into fresh clothes. As she reached for her jewelry, she remembered the bracelet. She found it in the cabinet and put it on, tapping the largest blue diamond; sure enough, it gleamed.

Huangpu Shenqing was eating breakfast, watching the sparkling ring with a smile. The butler beside him was startled, and the other servants nearby seemed petrified.

He took out his phone and dialed Shangguan Ranyi.

Shangguan Ranyi, descending the stairs, was startled and quickly hung up.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you answering the phone?” Shangguan Xing asked, emerging from the study.

“Oh, it’s nothing, just a telemarketer,” she replied.

A telemarketer named Huangpu Shenqing…

Looking at the phone, abruptly disconnected, Huangpu Shenqing’s eyes grew cold, his smile vanished, and he returned to his previous indifference.

The butler’s heart trembled after witnessing his young master’s actions. Oh heavens, how could she hang up on the young master?

No need to guess—it must have been Miss Shangguan on the other end.

The servants, who had been fine a moment ago, now saw the atmosphere shift instantly; the change was too sudden, and they were terrified! They swore never to serve in the dining room again; their lives felt at risk!

Shangguan Ranyi glanced at the ended call, feeling a pang of guilt. It was truly too difficult for her.

It was as terrifying as being a schoolgirl caught dating by her parents—her father’s impression of him was still unfavorable, and she couldn’t allow herself to be exposed yet.

At the dining table, Ye Zuo and Ye Xin sat on one side, Shangguan Ranyi on the other, with Shangguan Xing at the head.

Aunt Zhang instructed the servants to set out breakfast, then led them away. Ever since the butler, Shangguan Yang, had left, Aunt Zhang had taken charge here.

Shangguan Xing sipped his porridge, suddenly recalling that call from his father-in-law.

“Have you all thought about what you want to do?” he asked.

The three at the table looked up at him.

“What do you mean, Father?” Shangguan Ranyi set down her spoon, puzzled.

“Your grandfather called me. To prevent a repeat of last time, he wants Ye Zuo and Ye Xin to stay with you at all times.”

“What?” Her grandfather? Wasn’t it agreed that she would make arrangements?

“He said if they wish to pursue something, he won’t stand in their way. He’ll arrange for two others to come.”

“There’s no need. We have nothing else to do,” Ye Zuo replied coolly, a flicker of darkness passing through his eyes.

“Yes, we’ll just follow Miss Ranyi,” Ye Xin echoed.

“Very well, from today, you’ll accompany Ranyi,” Shangguan Xing decided.

“Father, I can arrange things myself. I won’t let myself get hurt again.”

“Enough, just listen to your grandfather. I’ll have HR select replacements for their original positions,” Shangguan Xing said, tossing out the words before leaving. He didn’t want to be scolded by his father-in-law again—how embarrassing!

Frustrated, Shangguan Ranyi slammed her chopsticks down. With them shadowing her every step, how would she ever have any private space?

Shangguan Xing acted swiftly, immediately instructing the HR manager to send over two replacements, with plans to recruit new staff for those roles. Both had six years of company experience.

The man, Hu Jun, would take Ye Zuo’s director position. The woman, Mo Lina, would replace Ye Xin as assistant, helping Shangguan Ranyi handle departmental affairs.

“Good morning, Minister,” the two greeted.

“Hello. Let Ye Zuo and Ye Xin hand over their duties,” the manager replied.

Ye Zuo handed all his tasks to Hu Jun, while Ye Xin carefully explained departmental rules and the monthly performance assessments to Mo Lina.

From then on, Ye Xin and Ye Zuo focused solely on Shangguan Ranyi’s safety, with Ye Zuo briefing the Nightshade team as well.

Shangguan Ranyi was utterly speechless. She couldn’t possibly take Ye Zuo and Ye Xin along to meet Huangpu Shenqing for a date, could she?

She quietly took out her phone and sent him a message.

It’s Ranyi: “I didn’t hang up on you this morning on purpose.”

Huangpu Shenqing, in the midst of a meeting, immediately paused proceedings to reply in earnest.

Huangpu Shenqing: “Alright.”

Shangguan Ranyi wondered, “Alright? What does that mean? Isn’t he angry?”

It’s Ranyi: “I may not be able to have lunch with you.”

They had originally planned to eat together at noon, a promise made long ago, but it kept being postponed until today.

Huangpu Shenqing: “What happened? Is something wrong?”

It’s Ranyi: “My grandfather ordered Ye Zuo and Ye Xin to follow me everywhere.”

The directors at the meeting watched as their president interrupted the session, reaching for his phone to send a message.

A message?

Standing behind him, Mo Yi observed everything closely. He wanted to say, “President, have you forgotten? This is your meeting. Are you just abandoning them now?”

He saw the president’s expression suddenly darken, his demeanor turning steely, right after Miss Shangguan’s reply.

Mo Yi craned his neck to read, “My grandfather ordered Ye Zuo and Ye Xin to follow me everywhere.” There was nothing particularly wrong with that—why was the president angry?

Wait—follow everywhere? There must be a problem with the wording, surely.

Huangpu Shenqing recalled Ye Zuo. He was no good—a man who coveted his girl. Men could sense these things; sometimes a single look was enough to understand.

Huangpu Shenqing: “Ye Zuo? Follow everywhere?”

It’s Ranyi: “Don’t twist my words. He’s just protecting me. Not every man around me likes me, alright?”

Huangpu Shenqing: “Me? Twist your words?”

It’s Ranyi: “Aren’t you?”

The atmosphere around Huangpu Shenqing grew colder and more dangerous. He stood abruptly, eyes narrowed fiercely, and swept his gaze over the crowd with a savage intensity. “Get out—all of you.”

Everyone sensed the terror emanating from their president.

“Yes, yes, let’s go!”

“Everyone out!”

Mo Yi hurried out too, closing the conference room door behind him.

Soon, the sound of chaos echoed from within—phones thrown against the wall, papers scattered, tables and chairs kicked over.

The fine wooden conference table, it seemed, had snapped.

Everyone…

How frightening!