After class, Yang Danzhou walked beside Ou Yunchen, greeting Ren Xiaoguang with a smile as they passed her.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Mr. Ou, please wait a moment."
Ou Yunchen: "Ms. Ren."
Ren Xiaoguang: "Just call me Xiaoguang."
Ou Yunchen: "You're older than me, so I should call you Sister Ren."
Ren Xiaoguang: "Do you have plans tonight? Shall we have dinner together?"
Ou Yunchen: "Sure, I can make the arrangements."
Ren Xiaoguang: "I'll arrange it. I have a project I'd like to discuss with you."
Ou Yunchen smiled. Ren Xiaoguang gave off a subtle, approachable vibe, like a steady girl next door.
Her impression on Ou Yunchen was always a smile on her face, but she wouldn't talk much.
Before the significant responsibilities at the Ren family were handed over to Ren Xiaoguang, she was deeply influenced by her father from a young age.
She accompanied her father to board meetings at thirteen, so she learned from a young age the meaning behind words in meetings and how to critique subordinates.
Now, as co-chairwoman of Bixiu Garden, she had long known she would take over from her father and understood her identity and responsibility as his successor.
However, Ren Xiaoguang preferred to remain out of the public eye. It was her polite yet distant demeanor that allowed her to conceal her strengths early on and keep those who tried to ingratiate themselves at arm's length.
Ou Yunchen never expected to connect with Ren Xiaoguang, especially since the real estate industry had been in decline for years.
Hengli, who had once competed fiercely with Bixiu Garden, faced a huge debt crisis in the past two years, a fall from grace that was quite sad to witness.
Yang Danzhou: "Then I'll be going."
Ou Yunchen nodded. Ren Xiaoguang didn't extend the invitation to anyone else, indicating that the evening's gathering would be exclusive, and Ou Yunchen was the only one invited.
This made Ou Yunchen even more curious about what kind of project Bixiu Garden might need his help with.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Is your driver here?"
Ou Yunchen: "He should be. Please send me the address."
Ren Xiaoguang: "Then you can follow my car."
Ou Yunchen: "Alright."
But as they walked out of the campus toward the main gate, someone called Ou Yunchen's name.
The butler had been waiting outside for a long time, his ears and nose red from the cold, his voice trembling slightly.
Butler: "Mr. Ou, it's good to finally see you."
Ou Yunchen: "Why are you here?"
Butler: "Mr. Ou, please come back to the Su family with me. Miss is in very low spirits and hasn't spoken for days."
Ou Yunchen was aware of Mrs. Su's passing. However, he was notified of intensive training immediately upon his return, and the closed-door sessions prevented him from attending. He could only wait until the training ended to pay his respects to Su Ruiyi.
At this moment, Ren Xiaoguang approached.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Mr. Ou, are we ready to go?"
Ou Yunchen found himself in a difficult position. He looked at the old butler, who had been waiting in the cold for so long, and felt reluctant to refuse.
Yet, on the other hand, he had an invitation from China's richest woman, and it wasn't just any olive branch; it might well be one forged from gold!
Butler: "Mr. Ou..."
Ou Yunchen opened the car door and motioned for the butler to get in first.
He then walked up to Ren Xiaoguang and apologized sincerely.
The butler didn't know what Ou Yunchen said to Ren Xiaoguang outside the car, but he saw Ren Xiaoguang glance at the butler inside the car before patting Ou Yunchen on the shoulder and leaving without a word.
Ou Yunchen stood outside, watching Ren Xiaoguang's car drive away until the silver vehicle had disappeared far into the distance. Only then did he turn back and get into his own car.
Butler: "Mr. Ou, who was that just now..."
Ou Yunchen: "Ren Xiaoguang, the co-chairwoman of Bixiu Garden."
Butler: "Mr. Ou, then perhaps I should get out. Do you have something important to do?"
Ou Yunchen instructed the driver to go to the Su family's residence and remained silent afterward.