The work at the Huo Corporation was extremely busy.
Ling Nuan was on the verge of falling asleep. She had to rely on cup after cup of coffee to force herself to stay awake.
Zhao Ran noticed this. When Ling Nuan went to the pantry to get coffee, she took the initiative to come over and show concern. "Nuan Nuan, what's wrong? I've noticed that you seem out of it today."
Hearing this, Ling Nuan forced a bitter smile and shook her head at Zhao Ran. "Sister Zhao, I'm okay."
"Is this really okay? You left in such a hurry yesterday, and now you look like this. If you've really encountered something, don't bear it alone. There's strength in numbers. Maybe I can help." Zhao Ran tried to persuade her.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan seemed touched. Her eyes turned red, and tears streamed down like broken pearls.
"Sister Zhao, I really don't know what to do." As she said this, she leaned her head on Zhao Ran's shoulder, wetting it with her tears.
Zhao Ran felt a bit uncomfortable but still endured it and pretended to be a caring elder sister. "What's going on? Tell me."
Ling Nuan started to cry, sobbing so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. Her words were jumbled as she blurted out whatever came to mind.
"My cousin is missing. I don't know where he went. My uncle and aunt are blaming me."
She also said, "Grandma has Alzheimer's. I don't know what to do."
"My uncle is a heartless man. He doesn't care about Grandma at all for the sake of money."
Like someone who just couldn't take it anymore, she began to break down and pour out all her family troubles one by one.
Zhao Ran didn't suspect a thing.
She thought that if she were in Ling Nuan's shoes, she would also break down. With her grandma sick, her uncle and aunt causing trouble every day, and now her cousin's disappearance being blamed on her, Ling Nuan was really having a tough time.
But Zhao Ran didn't feel the slightest bit of sympathy for Ling Nuan.
She just pretended to console her. "It's okay. It will pass. Stop crying."
Not satisfied with just words of comfort, she also showed her sincerity. "Given your family situation, just ask for leave if you need to. I'll take care of your work. Don't worry."
Ling Nuan was extremely touched. "Thank you, Sister Zhao."
Zhao Ran smiled and replied, "It's what I should do."
Zhao Ran didn't just talk the talk. She took action.
Seeing that Ling Nuan was out of it today, she simply took over Ling Nuan's work. After finishing, she sent the documents to Ling Nuan for her to check.
Ling Nuan pretended to trust her completely. "Sister Zhao did it. How could there be any problems?"
Zhao Ran said helplessly, "Everyone makes mistakes. You'll feel more at ease if you check it again."
Hearing this, Ling Nuan reluctantly agreed. "Okay, I'll check it again. Thank you, Sister Zhao. I'll treat you to a meal when my brother is found."
"I'll remember this meal. Don't try to back out." Zhao Ran joked.
Ling Nuan nodded with a smile.
What a pair of mutually helpful sisters!
The other colleagues were completely confused.
With Zhao Ran helping her with the work, Ling Nuan had an easier time. When it was time to get off work, she left on time.
After all, she was a girl who was busy looking for her brother.
She didn't expect that when she was waiting for the elevator, someone suddenly appeared beside her.
"Be careful of Zhao Ran."
The person's voice was very low. After saying this, she turned around and left, as if she was just passing by the elevator hall and happened to brush past Ling Nuan. Who would have thought that she was actually giving Ling Nuan a warning?
Ling Nuan looked at the figure walking away and recognized her.
It was Lin Lan.
This girl who had some grudges with her at the beginning.
Ling Nuan raised her eyebrows and didn't pay much attention. When the elevator arrived, she got on.
...
Zhao Shuting still couldn't let go of Xun Cong in the end, so she called Zhang Wang.
"Mr. Zhang, I will definitely find a way to trick my mother - in - law out, but I need time. Please don't make things difficult for Cong Cong during this time." Zhao Shuting's voice was hoarse from crying as she pleaded pitifully on the phone.
Hearing this, Zhang Wang asked her, "How do you plan to trick her out?"
Zhao Shuting had no plan at all. She said bravely, "My mother - in - law is sick and doesn't remember the past. I can get close to her now. I plan to behave myself for a few days. After Ling Nuan relaxes her guard, I'll find an excuse to take my mother - in - law out."
Zhang Wang refused. "No."
Zhao Shuting was stunned. "Mr. Zhang, do you have a better idea?"
Zhang Wang said, "You can cause as much trouble as you want. In short, you have to wear Ling Nuan out."
Zhao Shuting hesitated. "But if I do that, she will be even more reluctant to let me get close to my mother - in - law. How can I trick her out?"
"You don't need to worry about that. Just do as I say." Zhang Wang instructed.
Zhao Shuting was scared, but for the sake of Xun Cong, she had no choice. But before agreeing, she gritted her teeth and set a condition. "I want to see that my son is still safe."
Zhang Wang didn't refuse.
About an hour later, Zhang Wang arrived at the place where Xun Cong and the two hooligans were.
He sent a video to Zhao Shuting. Xun Cong was tied up and thrown in a corner. He didn't seem to be injured, but he looked pitiful. There was a hooligan scolding him beside him.
"If you try to run away again, I'll break your legs."
Xun Cong shouted fearfully, "I won't dare anymore. I won't dare anymore."
Zhao Shuting's tears streamed down when she saw this.
Zhang Wang asked Zhao Shuting again, "Remember what I said?"
Zhao Shuting didn't dare to show the slightest bit of resistance. "I know. I will definitely do as you said. Please don't hurt my son."
Zhao Shuting was willing to do anything for her son.
First, she called Ling Nuan tirelessly.
"Ling Nuan, have you come up with a solution? You must save Cong Cong. Even if you don't care about Cong Cong, think about your grandma. If something happens to Cong Cong, your grandma won't be able to bear it."
At first, Ling Nuan would still respond. "I'll find a way. I'm at work now!"
But Zhao Shuting was like a frightened bird. She would call Ling Nuan almost every half an hour.
Ling Nuan was extremely annoyed and blocked Zhao Shuting's number.
Zhao Shuting just used another number to call.
Ling Nuan couldn't turn off her phone, so she had to keep blocking numbers. She was so bothered by Zhao Shuting that she couldn't even focus on her work and made some small mistakes.
Fortunately, Zhao Ran found them for her.
"Nuan Nuan, have you encountered some trouble?" Zhao Ran asked with concern.
Ling Nuan forced a bitter smile. "Sister Zhao, I'll solve it as soon as possible."
Zhao Ran patted Ling Nuan on the shoulder to comfort her.
Zhao Shuting's phone harassment continued, and she seemed to think it wasn't enough.
She went to find Grandma Xun.
She pretended to be about to tell Grandma Xun everything, but Sister Li quickly stopped her.
After Ling Nuan got the news, she had to ask for half a day's leave and rush over to deal with it.
"Zhao Shuting, can you stop causing trouble? You're just making it impossible for me to have the time and energy to look into Xun Cong's matter!" Ling Nuan said irritably.
After being shouted at by Ling Nuan, Zhao Shuting started to cry and make a scene. "You never even thought about helping me find Cong Cong!"
Ling Nuan didn't want to talk to her and directly reminded Sister Li, "Don't let her get close to Grandma again."
Sister Li nodded repeatedly.
Sister Li's all - around defense prevented Zhao Shuting from getting close to Grandma Xun. Then she had an idea and went straight to the Huo Corporation.
She started to cause a ruckus right there at the Huo Corporation!