I'm the demise's white moonlight of the bigshot - Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Fang Qian wanted to reach out and touch Ji Ran’s forehead to check if she was still running a fever. Or was it possible that being unconscious for too long could lead to confusion?
Yes, yes, that must be it.
Otherwise, given Ji Ran’s personality and her past attitude toward Shen Zhi, she would never say something like this unless it was the end of the world.
Did she just praise Director Shen for being so capable??
Fang Qian was still in extreme shock, so much so that she couldn’t even gauge her own reaction properly. Wasn’t the best assistant supposed to understand their boss’s thoughts?
But now, she couldn’t read her boss at all!
While Fang Qian was still cautiously trying to decipher her boss’s intentions, Ji Ran had already started chattering away: “Honestly, what’s wrong with taking a vacation? I think life shouldn’t be all about work, right? There should be a balance between work and rest.”
“Looking at it this way, Shen Zhi is actually someone who really knows how to live.”
Someone who really knows how to live?
Shen Zhi?
Fang Qian felt it wasn’t her fault for being so thrown off—it was just that the world had changed too drastically. If she had to name the most out-of-touch person she had ever met in her life, it would definitely be Director Shen.
Just his face alone—even when he wasn’t deliberately putting on a cold expression, just not smiling was enough to make people feel like they were a hundred thousand miles away from him. Her boss used to be most annoyed by this. Every time they had a meeting with Shen Zhi, she would storm back into the office afterward, slamming her folder down and cursing at how arrogant he was, demanding to know who he was keeping that cold face for.
She even said she would make Shen Zhi feel so frustrated one day that he wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Sometimes, Fang Qian felt that her boss’s hatred toward Shen Zhi was a little excessive. But then, whenever she saw herself trudging into the office on a rainy day, looking like a drowned rat, while Shen Zhi walked in without a single drop of water on his shoes, she felt that her boss might have a point.
Director Shen had no trace of the common human experience.
So the idea that he “knew how to live” was as far-fetched as the distance between here and the Himalayas—not even remotely close.
Fang Qian decided to probe Ji Ran’s attitude a bit more. Even though there was no one else in the hospital room besides them, to emphasize the importance of the matter, she lowered her voice: “Boss, but I also heard that Director Shen has canceled his leave. He’s probably coming back to the office in a couple of days. Do you think he’s targeting you?”
“Targeting me? Why would he be targeting me?” Ji Ran asked curiously.
Fang Qian grew anxious—her boss had absolutely no sense of crisis! She said, “Before Director Shen got promoted to Managing Director, you two were the biggest competitors. But then you fell ill, and this man, who never takes a weekend off, suddenly went on vacation. Isn’t that because you weren’t there anymore, his biggest threat was gone, so he let his guard down?”
“But now that news of your recovery has reached the company, someone must have tipped Director Shen off. The moment he heard about it, he immediately canceled his leave and rushed back—to keep suppressing you.”
Ji Ran: “……”
Had the corporate world really become this dramatic? What kind of logic was this?
Right now, she was still stuck in her seventeen-year-old memories—the time when she and Shen Zhi had feelings for each other, cherishing one another in their hearts. She had completely forgotten that by twenty-seven, she had seen Shen Zhi as her biggest rival and treated him with outright hostility.
Ji Ran suddenly chuckled.
She looked at Fang Qian, who was still talking—this was someone by her side. But even Fang Qian wouldn’t have expected that she, Ji Ran, would one day fall in love with Shen Zhi.
A wave of melancholy suddenly swept over Ji Ran. Had everything that happened before been just a dream?
Would Shen Zhi have forgotten all of it? If she told him that she liked him, would he think she was crazy?
But then Ji Ran thought again—no, that wasn’t right. Shen Zhi had said it himself: he was Yuan Jing. She had gone over everything that had happened again and again today, and even when she talked about that little boy in Jiangdu, she had never mentioned the name Yuan Jing.
Besides, she suddenly recalled that moment at the entrance of the Youth Place when Shen Zhi told her that he had a secret.
So that secret was… that he was Yuan Jing?
He was little Jing.
Her little Jing—the first boy she ever liked.
Of course, when Ji Ran first met Yuan Jing, they were too young for it to be the kind of ambiguous teenage romance—it was simply the pure affection between childhood friends.
But he was also Ji Ran’s first real friend.
Before him, all the so-called friends around her were just the children of her parents’ friends—kids from well-matched, respectable families who had grown up playing together.
But Yuan Jing was the first friend she chose for herself.
Wasn’t fate incredible?
Her first love, the first person she ever had feelings for, turned out to be the same boy she had met when she was little.
No wonder she had liked little Jing the moment she saw him back then.
If Cupid really existed, then his arrow must have struck them long ago.
If Fang Qian weren’t here, Ji Ran would have buried herself under the covers and laughed secretly.
When Fang Qian left, two nurses at the station were chatting idly.
They happened to see her walk out.
A short-haired nurse whispered, “Why hasn’t Mr. Shen been coming these past two days?”
“You’ve got a crush on him, haven’t you?” Her chubby colleague nudged her shoulder.
“Of course not! Don’t talk nonsense. I was just thinking—when Miss Ji was in a coma, he came almost every day, but now that she’s awake, he hasn’t come to see her at all.”
The short-haired nurse rested her chin on her hand, looking puzzled.
Her colleague nodded and said softly, “But Mr. Shen is really affectionate. The other day, when I went in to remove Miss Ji’s IV, he was reading to her. His voice was so nice—calm and steady.”
As soon as she said this, the nurses at the station started chatting excitedly.
“Yeah! I saw him too. When I went in, he was massaging Miss Ji’s legs. He even asked me if he was doing it right.”
“I didn’t see that, but every time he looked at Miss Ji, his eyes were so gentle. I even felt sorry for him. I mean, what if Miss Ji had never woken up? What would he have done?”
“A man this handsome and this devoted? So enviable!”
“Come on, look at who Miss Ji is—she’s beautiful and rich. Do you know how much her VIP hospital room costs per month? And her family even hired an American medical team for her. Do you have any idea how much that costs?”
When the nurse revealed the number, everyone gasped.
Damn, that was a lot of money.
But now, they were all curious—why had Mr. Shen suddenly stopped coming to the hospital?
“Do you think it’s because his family isn’t well-off, so Miss Ji’s parents disapproved and forced them apart? Then he had no choice but to marry someone else, but when Miss Ji had her accident, he came back to take care of her?”
The short-haired nurse immediately objected. “Impossible! He’s not wearing a wedding ring. And think about it—if he were married but still taking care of Miss Ji, wouldn’t that make him a scumbag? I don’t think Mr. Shen is that kind of person.”
Young nurses were always drawn to dramatic love stories, and their imaginations ran wild as they talked.
Meanwhile, Ji Ran, still in her hospital room, had no idea she had already become the main character of a romantic drama.
After she woke up, the company’s executives also came to visit her, reminding her to rest well and assuring her that she could return to work only after fully recovering.
People often say that investment banking is a ruthless industry, where only money holds power and human sentiment is scarce.
But this time, Ji Ran felt genuinely grateful.
The elders from both families even flew over specifically to see her. Initially, Pei Yuan had planned to let Ji Ran return to Jiangdu for a visit once she was fully recovered.
However, the elders couldn’t wait any longer.
When Grandpa Ji and Grandma Ji arrived, Ji Qingli went to pick them up, but to his surprise, the two elders requested that he book them a hotel instead of staying at the Ji family home.
Even though Jiang Liqi and Ji Qingli had been married for so many years, the elders remained indifferent toward her.
Ji Qingli understood their reasoning. Though he felt helpless about it, he still respected their decision.
Over the past few days, Ji Ran had received visits from many friends and family members. Her body, initially weak and unable to move properly after waking up, was gradually recovering.
After all, she had been bedridden for almost two months—it was unrealistic to expect an instant recovery.
But after a week in the hospital, the doctor finally approved her discharge so she could recuperate at home.
Who would have thought that after just two days at home, Ji Ran couldn’t stand it anymore?
She sat blankly, staring at the card in front of her, along with a bouquet of now slightly wilted flowers—both sent by Shen Zhi. Many colleagues who couldn’t visit her in person had sent fruit baskets and flowers instead.
Shen Zhi hadn’t visited either, but he had someone deliver a bouquet of champagne roses.
There was also a card, and Ji Ran only then realized that it was handwritten by him.
“Ji Ran, I hope you recover soon and return to the company as soon as possible.”
The words were a bit cold, but he still wished for her to return soon. Ji Ran held onto that card happily for a long time that day.
The words were a bit cold, but he still wished for her to return soon. Ji Ran held onto that card happily for a long time that day. Even when she was discharged from the hospital, she insisted on carrying the bouquet of flowers with her, even though they had already started to wither.
Come to think of it, this was probably the first time Shen Zhi had ever given her flowers.
Fang Qian, her little informant, had been feeding her company updates these past few days and had even secretly taken a few photos of Shen Zhi for her.
[Now that Director Shen is back, things are definitely not peaceful. His whole team has been scrambling like crazy these past few days.]
At the end of the WeChat message, Fang Qian added three giggling emojis, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Ji Ran took out her phone again, greedily staring at the man in the photos.
As summer approached, his clothing choices were no longer as dark as in winter. He was wearing a light blue striped shirt, making his features look even more striking and refined.
Even with Fang Qian’s terrible Apple camera quality, he still looked dazzlingly handsome.
Ji Ran almost couldn’t take her eyes off him. Finally, she slammed her hand down on the table and made up her mind—tomorrow, she would return to the company.
When she told Pei Yuan about this decision, Pei Yuan wasn’t entirely on board.
Pei Yuan looked at her and said, “The doctor said you need more rest.”
“Mom, haven’t you always said that my career performance isn’t impressive enough? I’ve been lying in the hospital for two months now. If I don’t go back soon, my position is going to be taken by someone else.”
Ji Ran immediately played her trump card—she always knew how to deal with Pei Yuan.
But to her surprise, Pei Yuan didn’t nod in agreement like before.
Instead, she elegantly set down her coffee cup and looked at Ji Ran. Ever since Ji Ran had woken up, the exhaustion that once lingered around Pei Yuan had completely disappeared.
She had regained her polished and glamorous demeanor.
She looked at Ji Ran and said in a low voice, “Ran Ran, to be honest, I’ve been reflecting over these past two months. I’ve always been so strict with you, but if something really happened to you, would achievements and work really matter?”
Ji Ran was stunned.
She never expected Pei Yuan to say something like this to her. To her, Pei Yuan had always been the type of person who, even if the world were ending tomorrow, would still demand that Ji Ran complete today’s tasks properly.
She never seemed to care about her feelings, yet now Pei Yuan was telling her that if something truly happened to her, then none of it would matter.
Sitting on the sofa, Ji Ran was momentarily caught off guard.
In the next second, she asked softly, “Then can I choose the life I want… and fall in love?”
Pei Yuan was a little taken aback.
It was indeed a bit unexpected.
“Fall in love?”
Ji Ran looked at Pei Yuan nervously.
“You’re already twenty-seven years old. Of course, you can date. When have I ever said you couldn’t?”
Pei Yuan sighed helplessly.
She knew she was quite strict, but she wasn’t so extreme as to forbid Ji Ran from dating.
Ji Ran visibly let out a breath of relief.
In fact, she was laying the groundwork for her relationship with Shen Zhi.
Fortunately, after much insistence on her part, Pei Yuan no longer opposed her going back to work, only reminding her to take care of her health.
During her two-month coma, Ji Ran realized she had become somewhat disconnected from the world.
Huawei was still being sanctioned by the U.S., but it had launched a new system called “HarmonyOS.”
The U.K. had a new prime minister again—the previous one had resigned voluntarily, unable to handle the Brexit situation.
As for the only K-drama she had followed, the on-screen couple who had turned into a real-life couple had now divorced.
Indeed, the world was ever-changing.
She had been unconscious for two months, and the weather had shifted from the lingering chill of spring to the sweltering heat of early summer.
The night before, Ji Ran had carefully picked out her outfit.
Tomorrow would be her first meeting with Shen Zhi.
Of course, in a different sense, it would be their “first” meeting.
She didn’t know whether Shen Zhi remembered the things that had happened—those dreamlike moments.
But in her opinion, he probably didn’t. Otherwise, how could he have not come to visit her in the hospital?
So tomorrow, she had to stand out.
She had to make Shen Zhi fall in love with her again at first sight.
She had never pursued anyone before, but even if she hadn’t eaten pork, she’d at least seen pigs run.
Men were visual creatures, and before she figured things out, she couldn’t confess her feelings too soon.
What if she messed it up?
Ji Ran looked at the two outfits in front of her.
One was a classic professional look—a blouse with black pencil pants. It was a safe choice, emphasizing her long, slender legs.
But the downside was that it was too conservative and not eye-catching enough.
The other was a black, off-shoulder short dress that highlighted her curves and showed off her delicate collarbones.
Luckily, their company had no strict dress code, and given her position, no one would dare criticize her outfit.
Yes, this dress it was. It was a little sexy, but if she didn’t go all in, how would she catch the fish?
Ji Ran even chose a pair of nine-centimeter heels to maximize the advantage of her long legs. So what if her feet hurt? Her lifelong happiness was more important.
After struggling and debating with herself for half a day, Ji Ran suddenly missed Wen Qianxia.
If her strategist of a best friend were here, at least she’d have someone to discuss things with.
But B City was so big. Even though she knew Wen Qianxia was from B City, her work might no longer be here.
Ji Ran sighed as she sat in her chair.
The next morning, Ji Ran woke up early.
To show how much she cared and to ensure she was in the best possible condition, she had applied a sleeping mask overnight.
When she got up, her complexion was no longer the sickly yellow from her illness. Her skin was smooth and plump, glowing with a soft, dewy radiance.
She then put on a full face of makeup, even choosing a bold red lipstick known for its irresistible appeal.
At 8:55 a.m., Ji Ran stepped out of her car.
In truth, she had arrived at the company’s parking lot at 8:30, but she knew Shen Zhi had a habit of arriving at the last minute.
It suddenly reminded her of when he was seventeen—he always walked into class right on time.
Now, he was still the same, always arriving at the last second.
When she entered the building’s grand, brightly lit lobby, the space was bustling with employees heading to work.
Gaotong Securities was located in the best skyscraper in the CBD district.
This was the heart of B City, and this building was the most dazzling jewel within that heart.
As soon as she appeared, many hurried office workers couldn’t help but glance her way.
Some Gaotong Securities employees passing by spotted her and immediately greeted her with surprise, “Good morning, Director Ji.”
Ji Ran nodded slightly in response.
Soon, she swiped her employee card. There was a dedicated elevator for senior executives—one of the company’s perks—so she didn’t have to wait for the elevator in the morning.
Ji Ran had expected to run into Shen Zhi.
But to her surprise, she didn’t see him at all.
She went upstairs with a hint of disappointment. As soon as she arrived at the company and stepped through the entrance, the two receptionists who had been chatting suddenly stood up in shock and greeted her in unison, “Good morning, Director Ji.”
“Director Ji, have you fully recovered?” The receptionist on the left asked cautiously.
Ji Ran nodded slightly, offering a polite but distant smile.
“I’ve been well for a while now. Thank you for your concern.”
After she left, the two receptionists could no longer hold back their discussion.
“Oh my god, the rumors are true! Just yesterday, people were saying Director Ji had recovered and would return soon, and now she’s already here!”
“She still looks so stunning! It’s so early in the morning, and my eyes are already blinded by her beauty. Wasn’t she supposed to have just recovered from a serious illness?”
“Exactly! That’s what I was thinking too. And her legs—so long and slender!”
The receptionist quickly sent a message to their company group chat, but most employees were already aware because Ji Ran had just walked past the open office area.
There were only a few minutes left before work officially started, and many employees had already arrived.
As she walked by, people greeted her one after another, and she nodded in response while secretly glancing toward Shen Zhi’s office.
He wasn’t there.
Just as she was feeling a little disappointed and had slowed her steps, a loud greeting suddenly came from behind.
“Good morning, Director Shen.”
Ji Ran hadn’t even turned around, but her heart was already pounding wildly. What should she say as her first words to him? Would just a simple greeting seem too perfunctory?
She needed to—
Before she could finish her thought, the man behind her had already walked up to her side.
Ji Ran lowered her eyes slightly, and the first thing she saw were his shoes—polished and pristine, without even a speck of dust.
She had once complained to Fang Qian about this, saying that Shen Zhi was too obsessed with his appearance, completely detached from reality. Look at his shoes—no matter how bad the weather was, they never had a single spot of mud.
She even joked that he must wipe them down inside the car before stepping out.
When she lifted her gaze, the man before her was dressed in a well-fitted black suit, with broad shoulders and a crisp white shirt collar. Every detail of his appearance was immaculate, leaving no room for criticism.
His hair was a little longer than when he was seventeen, now neatly combed back, making him look mature and composed.
As for his face, it no longer carried the youthful, high-spirited charm of his teenage years but had instead gained a deep, refined charisma—especially his long, narrow black eyes, dark as an abyss.
When he glanced at Ji Ran, his gaze was calm, with a hint of indifference.
It was the kind of look one would give to an ordinary colleague—completely devoid of the gentle affection she had once seen in his eyes.
“You’re back?” Shen Zhi nodded slightly.
Ji Ran suddenly remembered the contingency plan she had prepared last night. What if the worst-case scenario happened—what if Shen Zhi didn’t remember her?
After all, life was full of unpredictable situations.
She had to prepare herself for the worst possible outcome.
But it was okay. Even if he had forgotten everything from before, she still liked him.
Besides, if he truly was Yuan Jing, then he must at least remember their childhood together. Ji Ran figured she could use their past to her advantage—proximity breeds affection, after all.
As for Shen Zhi’s indifference, well… she had deliberately picked fights with him in the past.
What goes around comes around. The way she used to mess with Shen Zhi was now coming back to bite her.
For now, Ji Ran quickly pulled herself together. She reached up and casually brushed a strand of her long hair over her shoulder.
According to what she’d heard, men had a hard time resisting a woman’s hair-flipping gesture.
She lightly twirled her soft curls, which she had carefully styled that morning.
With one shoulder subtly exposed, she gave Shen Zhi a smoldering look.
Ji Ran was confident in her figure and had dressed meticulously today. Just as she was about to go the extra mile and throw in a flirtatious wink, Shen Zhi suddenly spoke.
“Ji Ran.”
She nodded. Yes? What is it?
Was he about to tell her that she looked stunning today? That he had a lot to say to her?
Shen Zhi looked at her with a somewhat complicated expression.
“I suggest you wear more layers. You’ve just recovered from a serious illness.”
“…??”
Ji Ran almost lost her balance. At that moment, she felt like her nine-centimeter heels were a death trap.
She forced a smile.
“Oh… Right. Thanks for your concern.”
She clutched her handbag tightly, her mind screaming in frustration.
Was he blind?! Couldn’t he see her beauty? Her bare shoulder? Her long legs under the short dress?!
Ji Ran took a deep breath. No matter. He was a cold and distant man, like an untouchable mountain of ice. If he were the type to easily fall for someone’s looks, he wouldn’t have stayed single all this time.
Yes, yes, that must be it.
And besides, at least he was aware that she had been sick. He cared enough to remind her to dress warmly. As long as she kept trying…
Shen Zhi glanced at her and continued, “Let’s have a meeting later. I’ll hand your team’s work back to you as soon as possible.”
Ji Ran: “…”
So he cared about her only because he didn’t want her getting sick again and adding to his workload?
Ji Ran suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of grievance.
She missed her Shen Zhi.
She didn’t like this cold-hearted man standing in front of her now.
