15: Hongzhi Group?!

Impossible!

Lin Chao had absolute confidence in his family's inherited skills!

That set of techniques, let alone just alleviating menstrual pain, even for more complex ailments, could never lose its effect within a single day!

As he was wondering to himself, the elevator doors opened slowly with a "ding."

The eighteenth floor.

The entire floor seemed to be Lan Yanran's personal domain.

Quiet, luxurious, and carrying a sense of pressure that made one afraid to speak loudly.

Zhong Xiao led him through the spacious corridor, finally stopping in front of a heavy solid wood door.

She knocked gently on the door.

"Come in."

Lan Yanran's cold voice came from inside the room.

Zhong Xiao pushed open the door and made a "please" gesture to Lin Chao.

Lin Chao took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The office was astonishingly large.

An entire wall was made of giant floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing the most prosperous CBD scene of Linhai City outside, as if the entire city was beneath her feet.

And that woman, whom countless people looked up to, was currently sitting behind a massive desk.

She was wearing a well-tailored white suit, her long hair meticulously tied back, revealing a smooth, full forehead and an elegant neck.

Her eyes were slightly lowered, focused on reviewing a document, her fountain pen occasionally gliding across it with a faint "shashasha" sound.

That queenly aura of strategizing and holding the power of life and death was a hundred times stronger than it had been at the villa yesterday!

Hearing footsteps, Lan Yanran looked up.

The moment she saw Lin Chao, her originally tense, iceberg-cold face seemed to instantly melt at the edges.

Her tight shoulders relaxed instantly.

Much of the lingering fatigue between her brows also dissipated.

"You're here," she said, her voice carrying a hint of relief she hadn't even noticed herself.

"CEO Lan," Lin Chao nodded.

After delivering Lin Chao, Zhong Xiao retreated silently, considerately closing the office door behind her.

In the vast space, only the two of them remained.

Lin Chao stepped forward quickly and asked straightforwardly, "CEO Lan, where are you feeling unwell? Has the pain in your lower abdomen started again?"

Lan Yanran shook her head.

She put down her fountain pen and leaned back, her posture much more relaxed.

"It's not as painful as yesterday."

She pointed to her lower abdomen and said, "There's just some heavy bloating and soreness, and I feel weak all over."

Lin Chao became even more confused: "Then why did you call me over so urgently..."

Lan Yanran lifted her wrist and checked her watch.

"Because in an hour and a half, I have a very important collaboration to discuss."

She looked at Lin Chao, her eyes filled with a daunting determination: "I need to be in my best state to face my opponent."

A collaboration?

Lin Chao's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at Lan Yanran and blurted out, "CEO Lan, according to what you said yesterday, your period should officially start today."

"Theoretically, today is when your body is weakest and the pain is most intense."

"In this state, you... shouldn't be making any important business decisions."

As soon as those words left his mouth, Lin Chao regretted it!

Who was Lan Yanran?

The female CEO of Lantu Group!

Since when was it a lowly massager's place to criticize her decisions?

He had really lost his head!

He quickly lowered his head, his tone full of apology: "I'm sorry, CEO Lan, I overstepped."

"I shouldn't have said that... I was sticking my nose where it doesn't belong..."

However, the expected reprimand did not come.

Lin Chao waited for a long time, only to hear a soft chuckle from above.

He looked up in surprise.

He saw Lan Yanran looking at him, and in those cold eyes, there was now a faint trace of a smile, like a crack in a frozen lake with spring water surging beneath.

"You're not wrong."

Lan Yanran's voice was very soft, yet it carried a strange, soothing power.

"Originally, this collaboration project was scheduled to officially launch next week."

Lin Chao was stunned.

Lan Yanran continued, "But for some reason, the person in charge at Hongzhi Group suddenly became very anxious."

"They insisted on moving the first contact meeting up to today."

Hongzhi Group?!

Lin Chao's heart gave a violent thud!

Wasn't that Zheng Guangzhi's company?!

Lan Yanran didn't seem to notice the change in his expression and continued to explain on her own.

"I was going to refuse."

She looked at Lin Chao, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly in an extremely faint but beautiful curve.

"But the reason I agreed was because of you."

"Your massage made my condition much better than expected."

"Although there's still some soreness and discomfort, at least I can sit here and think clearly."

Meeting Lin Chao's shocked gaze, she said clearly, word by word.

"That's why I called you here."

"I hope you can help me one more time so that I can be in the best physical state for the tough battle ahead."

But Lin Chao's unintentional remark just now was like a pebble thrown into her heart, creating ripples.

She frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

The office fell into a momentary silence.

After a moment, Lan Yanran spoke slowly, her voice now carrying a hint of imperceptible coolness.

"You just said that I shouldn't be making any important business decisions today."

Lin Chao's heart tightened, thinking she was about to settle scores, and was just about to apologize again.

But Lan Yanran raised her hand to stop him.

Looking at the tall buildings outside the window, she said pensively, "Now that you mention it, I've suddenly realized something."

"Why Hongzhi Group insisted on picking today."

Her voice grew colder and colder.

"They've done due diligence on Lantu Group. My menstrual cycle is probably no secret to them."

At this point, a cold smile curled on Lan Yanran's lips.

"They calculated that today would be the day I'm in my worst state, my mind least clear, and most likely to make mistakes."

"That's why they were so impatient to move the negotiations forward."

She turned her head to look at Lin Chao, the faint smile in her eyes instantly freezing, replaced by a bottomless pool of ice.

"They want to kick me while I'm down."

When Lin Chao heard the words "Hongzhi Group" just now, it felt like he had been struck by lightning!

Hongzhi Group!

Zheng Guangzhi! Xie Mengya!

Ruining the collaboration! One million!

All the keywords instantly exploded in his mind!

So, this was the favor Xie Mengya asked of him!

So, this was the battlefield he had to face!

Looking at this female CEO who was radiating power and was as beautiful as an iceberg, a storm surged in his heart.

Immediately after, a wave of wild joy rushed to his heart!

Heaven is helping me!

His reminder just now was completely out of a healer's instinct!

But who would have thought that this unintentional act would actually plant a thorn against Zheng Guangzhi in Lan Yanran's heart ahead of time!

With this thorn, all his subsequent actions would become perfectly natural!

He wouldn't even need to actively provoke her; Lan Yanran herself already had a strong distaste for Hongzhi Group!

Lin Chao suppressed his inner excitement and timely showed an angry expression on his face.

"This is too much!"

He said indignantly, "Using such underhanded tactics is just too dishonorable!"