616: Chapter 605: Huo Qiuran Left!
616: Chapter 605: Huo Qiuran Left!
The next day…
Xu Corporation had been especially busy lately because of its cooperation with Zarfi Group.
Every department was working tirelessly, as this European strategy was incredibly important to them.
Whether Xu Corporation could flourish internationally depended on this move.
Compared to other departments, the security department was certainly the most relaxed.
Their work continued as usual, unaffected by the company’s strategy to expand into Europe, and it had nothing to do with that matter.
“Have you heard?
Huo Qiuran has left Zhonghai.”
“The ‘Queen’ of Zhonghai left?
What will happen to Huo Corporation then?”
“She’s going to get married, apparently to someone from the Shangguan family in Jiangcheng!”
“Lol, the Shangguan family.
It looks like our ‘Queen’ of Zhonghai is going to be a wife.
I wonder how many men will have their hearts broken!”
Inside the security department, a group of guards who had just finished their shift were gossiping about Huo Qiuran’s marriage.
Some were off-key, some jested, and some were regretful.
The ‘Queen’ of Zhonghai, Huo Qiuran, was getting married, and her fiancé was a son from the Shangguan family of Jiangcheng.
Who knows how many men in Zhonghai would be heartbroken because of this.
“What’s all this chit-chat during working hours?
The leadership has come for an inspection; get up quickly, straighten your clothes, and look at yourselves.
What a mess, do you even look like you’re working?!”
Zhu Xuetao, the head of the security department, was asserting his authority as he roared at the guards, who were lounging around.
By his side was Ning Fan, who had rarely come to the company recently.
“Hey, isn’t that Brother Ning?!”
“You finally came back; we’ve missed you so much!”
“So it’s Brother Ning.
I thought some big shot had come for an inspection.
You scared me to death!”
The group of guards had just been acting professional for a moment, but upon recognizing Ning Fan standing next to Zhu Xuetao, they dropped the act and flocked to Ning Fan, asking after his well-being.
Zhu Xuetao’s face darkened, and he slapped the table with a bang, instantly silencing the group.
“Brother Ning has finally come back, and you look like this!”
Today, Zhu Xuetao seemed to be on edge, as if he had ingested gunpowder, and was very irritable.
The guards looked at each other, bewildered, and no one spoke.
The security department became as quiet as death, and the silence was oppressing.
Ning Fan was also surprised by Zhu Xuetao’s mood today, wondering why he was so angry.
He immediately stepped in to mediate: “We’re all brothers here.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break after some hard work.”
Zhu Xuetao’s expression softened somewhat, but he still seemed off.
After speaking briefly with Ning Fan, he excused himself and left.
Ning Fan stroked his chin, puzzled as he watched Zhu Xuetao leave, and simultaneously asked the guards, “I just heard you mention Huo Qiuran.
What’s that about?”
“Right, Brother Ning, now that you mention it, I understand.
The boss is upset because his idol left Zhonghai, and he’s part of that heartbroken crowd!”
A guard slapped his own head and exclaimed to Ning Fan as if he had just had an epiphany.
Ning Fan, however, was completely befuddled and didn’t understand the situation, his attention only on the fact that Huo Qiuran had left Zhonghai.
Huo Qiuran left Zhonghai?
What was this all about?
He was unaware of Huo Qiuran’s business with Shangguan Yunyang and found it strange that she’d leave without a word, departing Zhonghai without telling him.
Ning Fan couldn’t really consider himself to be presumptuous.
It was Huo Qiuran who had said they were better off as friends.
After thinking it over, Ning Fan came to terms with it, although some aspects of the past still left a bitter taste.
Nonetheless, he now saw Huo Qiuran as a friend.
Moreover, according to what the security staff said, it seemed like Huo Qiuran wouldn’t return after her departure this time.
Given that, why did she leave without saying goodbye?
“Right, Huo Qiuran is the idol of so many men and women in Zhonghai.
Her sudden departure must have left many heartbroken.
Chief, you were among those heartbroken souls too, huh!”
Someone exclaimed, and from their words, Ning Fan could confirm that Huo Qiuran’s departure from Zhonghai might truly be for good.
Ning Fan was puzzled.
He wanted to call Huo Qiuran to ask what was really going on, but after hesitating with his phone for a long time, he ultimately didn’t make the call.
“Bro Ning, take a seat.
I’ll make you a nice cup of tea!”
Ning Fan sank into his chair, answering absent-mindedly with a nod, and once again, his thoughts drifted to matters concerning Huo Qiuran.
The more Ning Fan thought about it, the more he felt that something was amiss, and he couldn’t put his mind at ease.
“Huo Qiuran has left, but Xiao Jianming couldn’t have left as well, could he?” Ning Fan wondered, thinking of Xiao Jianming who was always there to protect Huo Qiuran.
If it was Xiao Jianming, he would probably know some secrets.
Since Huo Qiuran had left without a farewell, Ning Fan decided to uncover the truth in his own way, and he always felt that her departure concealed unspoken difficulties.
All day long, Ning Fan was in a daze at the company, his mind preoccupied with Huo Qiuran, occasionally drifting back to their unforgettable past.
But those memories, for Ning Fan, were painful.
Now, when he thought about it, he held no anger towards Huo Qiuran, just a touch of lament.
Perhaps this was what they called destiny without fate…
With such reflections in his heart, his thoughts about Huo Qiuran once again became complex.
In the afternoon, while shooting the breeze with the security staff for hours, Zhu Xuetao also emerged from his office and began making gestures at Ning Fan, indicating something.
“My treat!” Zhu Xuetao looked around and whispered mysteriously to Ning Fan.
Ning Fan shook his head, amused and bemused at Zhu Xuetao.
He really didn’t have the mind to go off doing those “dirty” acts with Zhu Xuetao right now.
“No thanks, I have some things to handle tonight, I’m meeting someone.
You go on your own, or find someone else.”
Big treasured swords and such, Ning Fan had no interest at the moment.
With a lovely wife at home, and an enchanting young aunt, having seen a rose, he had no desire for wildflowers.
Zhu Xuetao walked out of the security department with a look of disappointment, glancing back every three steps, his eyes brimming with loneness like a wife confined to her chambers, prompting a round of belly laughs from the rest of the security team.
Meanwhile, Ning Fan found a secluded place to call Xiao Jianming.
“Hello…”
Xiao Jianming’s voice was downcast, his tone conveying a hint of sadness.
Perceiving the melancholy in Xiao Jianming’s mood, Ning Fan furrowed his brow.
Xiao Jianming’s sorrow must be because of Huo Qiuran’s situation.
Otherwise, Ning Fan couldn’t think of any other reason.
“Where are you now?
I’ll come to you,” Ning Fan said evenly.
Huo Qiuran was gone, and Xiao Jianming was likely upset.
But he needed to get to the bottom of why Huo Qiuran had left!