Lan Yue appeared in the office, and the first reaction Xiao Yufan had was a slight sense of guilt. Could this girl possibly know that the incident at Lingyun Enterprise had something to do with him? But that seemed too implausible…
“Brother Fan…” Her voice was soft and slightly trembling, her pitiable and delicate appearance causing Xiao Yufan’s heart to constrict.
Her eyes were slightly red and swollen, indicating she hadn’t slept well for several days. The recent events at Lingyun had left Lan Yuanyuan at his wits’ end, and Lan Yue, watching her father’s distress, felt anxious and helpless, unable to do anything to assist.
“Yu’er, what’s wrong? Did something happen? If there’s anything, just tell me. I’ll do my best to help you…”
Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because he didn’t want Lan Yue to keep worrying, Xiao Yufan spoke up. In his heart, he had always regarded Lan Yue as a younger sister. Ever since their time at the Situ family estate, he had held a very good impression of her.
“I really couldn’t find anyone else to turn to, so I had to come to you, Brother Fan. I know that Huihuang Enterprise and my brother’s Lingyun Enterprise are rivals, but I still hope you can help my brother…”
At this moment, Lan Yue was gentle and graceful, evoking compassion in anyone who saw her. Her words struck a chord deep in Xiao Yufan’s heart, touching the softest part of his soul. He hadn’t expected his own actions to have caused her so much distress.
Those who had dared to harm him deserved no pity, but Lan Yuanyuan probably wasn’t that kind of person. From their first meeting at the bar, that was the impression the man had given him—perhaps a genius in business, but not a schemer.
“What exactly happened to Lingyun Enterprise? How do you want me to help you, Yu’er?”
Xiao Yufan could only feign ignorance. After all, he couldn’t just blurt out the truth, could he? If he did, who knew how this girl might react. It was better to proceed carefully.
“Calling him ‘Brother Fan’ so sweetly! I don’t know how you can be so shameless. I’ve never heard you call me like that before. You’re such a stinky Yufan! Don’t give me a chance, or else…”
Qing Luan felt a pang of jealousy watching the two speak so intimately. Still, she was quite curious—why would Lingyun turn to Huihuang for help in its time of crisis? Didn’t her brother trust her enough? But given her personality, she naturally had no intention of meddling in business affairs.
“I don’t even know exactly what happened. Lingyun Enterprise seems to be under some kind of curse. Not only are its performance metrics continuously declining, but several senior executives have also resigned. At this rate, all the effort my brother has poured into building the company will be for nothing!”
Her body trembling slightly, Lan Yue’s voice quivered with emotion. Unlike Qing Luan, who had some knowledge of business management, Lan Yue was still a university student and felt powerless to help her brother.
Lightly tapping the desk, Xiao Yufan furrowed his brows slightly. If he helped Lingyun recover from its crisis, all his previous efforts would be in vain. But if he didn’t offer help, how could he face Lan Yue?
In truth, Xiao Yufan still had some concerns. If Lingyun Enterprise truly declined, wouldn’t Fengyun Enterprise become the sole dominant force? Then Huihuang would face even greater pressure. After all, even if Lingyun and Fengyun were both strong companies, they still had their own interests. With a balance of three powers, Xiao Yufan was fully confident he could gradually overcome them one by one.
But if Fengyun alone rose to power, things would become far more complicated. Moreover, if Huihuang actually helped Lingyun, then Lan Yuanyuan’s attitude toward Huihuang might improve. Turning a potential enemy into a neutral force might not be a bad thing after all.
“I know this request might seem abrupt. If Brother Fan doesn’t want to, Yu’er won’t insist!”
A bitter smile appeared on her lips, and Lan Yue’s eyes looked somewhat vacant. Even if Xiao Yufan refused to help Lingyun, she wouldn’t blame him. After all, the relationship between Lingyun and Huihuang had never been harmonious. Who would willingly go out of their way to help a rival?
“No, that’s not what I meant. Although Lingyun and Huihuang can’t coexist peacefully, I intend to defeat Lingyun with real strength, not let it collapse mysteriously. I just don’t know whether Brother Tianyuan even needs my help…”
After saying this, Xiao Yufan himself felt a bit embarrassed. He was the one who had caused Lingyun’s current situation. Now talking like this was almost laughable. However, his sudden words lifted Lan Yue’s previously low spirits instantly. Her tear-streaked eyes sparkled with a bright glow, and she believed that as long as Xiao Yufan got involved, Lingyun would definitely overcome its difficulties.
“So, does that mean Brother Fan agrees? I think my brother will be really happy…”
A hint of excitement flickered across Lan Yue’s face. If it weren’t for Qing Luan being present, she would have already rushed into Xiao Yufan’s arms. In her mind, Xiao Yufan’s willingness to help was probably partly because of her. Thinking about it, her fair face flushed red.
“Despicable, shameless pervert! Just the kind to seduce underage girls…”
Qing Luan muttered again. When would Xiao Yufan ever treat her this nicely? Ever since her brother had met with Xiao Yufan last time, the latter had been avoiding her, which frustrated her greatly.
“Big sister Qing, I’m not that much younger than you…”
Though Qing Luan’s voice was low, her words were clearly heard by both Xiao Yufan and Lan Yue. Xiao Yufan could only shrug helplessly, while Lan Yue’s face turned even redder, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.
“Our little Yueyue has grown up, hasn’t she? Just the kind to be charmed by certain people. Just hope she doesn’t get sold one day…”
Qing Luan muttered with a resentful pout, not sure where her sudden anger came from. Perhaps she felt utterly ignored. She could tolerate it if Xiao Yufan was close to Yuyi Han and others, but she couldn’t accept Xiao Yufan getting too close to Lan Yue.
“If I had the nerve to talk like that, I’d sell you off one day too, just to stop you from causing me trouble all the time…”
Xiao Yufan was quite helpless toward this girl, yet he had no way of dealing with her. If he really did anything to offend her, Qing Yuanfeng would definitely retaliate at all costs. He was certain of that.
“You talk big but don’t have the guts! If you really have the ability, go ahead and sell me off! That way, I won’t be stuck being single and trailing behind certain people all day, causing annoyance…”
Stamping her foot angrily, Qing Luan stared at Xiao Yufan without backing down. Sometimes she really thought about giving up, unsure whether what she was doing was right. But her intuition told her that some connections were worth fighting for.
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