Chapter 223: Gifts and Goodbyes

At that moment, Heqing suddenly remembered something and quickly turned back to the suitcase to find that large box of sticky bean buns she’d specially prepared for Lin Zheng Ran.

“Lin Zheng Ran, hold on a second! Here’s the thing I promised you!”

Lily and Han Wenwen watched as Heqing frantically rummaged through the suitcase and then dashed out with the big box.

Lily asked blankly, “What’s that?”

Han Wenwen recalled the small box Heqing had pulled out at dinner the night before:

“It looks like a box of sticky bean buns. We saw something similar yesterday at dinner, but this one’s much bigger.”

“Seems like she brought it especially for Zheng Ran,” Lily agreed.

Downstairs in the hotel lobby, Lin Zheng Ran had already stepped outside when Heqing chased after him.

With her small arms hugging the big box, she called out, “Lin Zheng Ran! Wait! Here’s the sticky bean buns I said I’d bring you—take them home to eat!”

Lin Zheng Ran turned to see the girl hurrying down the steps to his side and holding out the box with both hands.

Heqing explained, “These sticky bean buns inside are the best ones I picked at home. You’re so busy, who knows when you’ll have time to come back, so take them as snacks.”

Lin Zheng Ran stared at the item in her hands.

The box wasn’t small—Heqing had to hold it with both arms.

“So many?”

Heqing grinned sheepishly, a blush creeping across her face, “I just wanted to make sure you had enough.”

Lin Zheng Ran took the box, “I was actually planning to spend the day with you all today, but this came up and I don’t have time. I’ll make it up on the next trip.”

Heqing waved it off understandingly:

“It’s fine, really! We can play anytime. I bet Lily and Han Wenwen feel the same. As for hanging out… just call me whenever you want to see me. No matter what I’m doing, I’ll drop everything and rush over in five minutes.”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t help but laugh at her words.

Heqing clasped her hands together carefully in front of her:

“I don’t know exactly what you’re busy with, but please don’t wear yourself out. If there’s anything I can help with, just tell me—I’ve learned a lot lately, so I’m not like before.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled.

He set the box aside for a moment.

Then he reached out his hand.

Heqing wasn’t sure what he was doing, but she remembered some videos she’d seen online lately.

She bent down and placed her face in his palm, letting him cup it.

She blinked her innocent almond-shaped eyes with a dazed look.

Lin Zheng Ran looked puzzled and said, “Why are you putting your face in my hand? Give me your hand instead.”

“Oh! Okay!”

Heqing straightened up and tentatively took his outstretched hand.

Lin Zheng Ran pulled her into an embrace.

The sudden warmth left Heqing flustered and her cheeks flushed red.

What she didn’t know was that up on the second floor, in one of the hotel windows, Han Wenwen and Lily were staring dumbstruck at the couple hugging below.

Each of them felt a twinge of jealousy.

Heqing asked timidly, “What’s this about, Lin Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran said calmly, “Nothing much. Didn’t I spend the day alone with Lily last night?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He went on, “But I haven’t had time alone with you lately, and I won’t for the next few days, so this is just a quick hug to make up for it.”

Heqing buried her shy face in his chest, “Oh, I see.”

She wrapped her arms around him too, marveling at how warm he felt.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Your birthday’s coming up soon, right? It’s the Wednesday after next.”

Heqing nodded, “Yeah, if the trip goes as planned, the last day will be my birthday.”

“I was thinking about what to get you, but nothing came to mind. So, over the next few days, think about what you want. I’ll grant you one wish—it could be anything, do anything, or have anything.”

“Really? I’ll think hard about it!”

Lin Zheng Ran reflected that among the three girls, Heqing was the easiest to please. No matter what he said, she always sounded delighted.

Gifts were the same—whenever he gave her something for her birthday, Heqing treated it like treasure.

Even a few years back, when he jokingly picked a bug-eaten leaf from the roadside and passed it off as her gift, saying, ‘This is your present this year.’

He’d expected her to be a bit disappointed so she’d appreciate the real gift more, but instead,

she took the ragged leaf with both hands, beaming, ‘A bug-eaten leaf! It’s so pretty! Thank you, Lin Zheng Ran. I’ll cherish it forever! I love it!’

That made it hard for him to decide on gifts since she got excited about everything.

Lin Zheng Ran slowly let go of Heqing, “Alright, I’m heading out. You should go back too.”

Heqing gazed at him reluctantly, releasing him but mumbling, “The hug was so short, not even two minutes.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed and extended his arms again.

“Okay, let’s make it three more minutes for a total of five.”

Heqing happily threw herself back into his arms, as sweet and obedient as a little white rabbit.

Up on the second floor, Han Wenwen and Lily felt another pang of envy.

After the five minutes, Heqing shyly waved at Lin Zheng Ran from the roadside, “Take care on your way home! Stay safe!”

As Lin Zheng Ran got into the car, he replied, “Head back upstairs.”

Heqing nodded, “Drive slowly!”

She watched until Lin Zheng Ran vanished down the road before turning back to the hotel with a satisfied smile.

A silly grin spread across her face.

That night, back home, Lin Zheng Ran finished dinner and stayed in his bedroom.

He began researching how to handle this issue, compiling a list of every medical book on cardiovascular diseases he could find and sending it to Pan Lin.

When Pan Lin saw the long list of book titles, she was stunned but didn’t complain about the difficulty. She just replied, “I’ll track them down as fast as I can and deliver them to you.”

Meanwhile, Lin Zheng Ran used the time to browse any medical texts he could find online.

On the same evening in Ziteng City, in the villa district.

A Rolls Royce pulled up in front of a two-story villa.

Jiang Jingshi stepped out slowly, dressed in a women’s suit and high heels.

She took a deep breath to steady herself—at least until Lin Zheng Ran had results, she didn’t plan to worry her family about this.

Once inside,

she saw the living room full of people: her father, mother, grandfather, Jiang Qian, and Fang Meng standing beside Jiang Qian.

Jiang Jingshi knew right away that a family meeting was in session.

With a gentle smile in her eyes, she said, “Grandfather, Mom, Dad, you’re all here?”

Jiang’s father was proud of his elder daughter; her achievements over the years were plain to see, and she’d even started a new company that had grown significantly.

He said, “Jingshi, you’re back? Have a seat. We’re having a family meeting today.”

Jiang Jingshi sat on the sofa next to Jiang Qian.

Only when the sisters sat together did others notice how similar their faces were, yet their auras were completely different.

Jiang’s father first asked if grandfather had anything to say, but he shook his head.

So Jiang’s father got straight to the point:

“Now that Qian Qian and Jingshi are both here, I’ll keep it brief. I plan to have Qian Qian officially join the Jiang Group starting today and take over my work completely within five years. What does everyone think? Feel free to share.”

The Jiang family’s long-standing status in Ziteng City stemmed largely from their internal unity.

For instance, on issues like inheritance and assets, even though Jiang Jingshi and Jiang Qian bickered occasionally, there was no conflict here.

It was as if neither cared much about it.

After all, this wasn’t like competing for Lin Zheng Ran.

Jiang Jingshi even spoke up first:

“I fully support handing the main operations of the Jiang Group over to Qian Qian. And for the shares, I’m willing to take less and give her more. I have my own things to handle now, so if I can’t focus on the group, it’s only fair I step back a bit.”

Jiang Qian replied, “No need. Let’s stick with what we agreed before—half and half. That’s fair, sister, so don’t hold back.”

Jiang Jingshi smiled, “I’m not just being polite; it’s the truth. Fewer shares mean less work for me. What I need right now is time, and Dad knows I’m stretched between two sides.”

What she really wanted wasn’t shares or status—it was him.

Feeling under the weather, I’ll try to add a few hundred words per chapter.