My Beloved

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Larry Smith's behavior was suspicious. Han Luo contemplated, 'Just be because he didn't see me at the party, he wants to meet me and talk to me… how can that be? He must have had some kind of tricks in his sleeves. I better leave when I still have the chance.'

"Since you already saw me and know that I'm doing great, there is nothing else to talk about. I'll be off then." As she tried to step in the direction of the library, Larry Smith raised his hand to block her way.

Larry Smith smirked. His playboy attitude hadn't gone even after being locked up in his room by his father. "What's the rush? Why don't we have some coffee and chat? It's been a while since we did."

Han Luo looked straight at his eyes and told him curtly, "I don't think we are close enough to have a coffee together. Moreover, even if you have some time to chat, I don't."

She decided not to go to the library anymore. Thinking of going to Mo Yuan's class, she turned around and about to leave… when Larry Smith asked, "Don't you want your project to pass?"

Han Luo stopped in her tracks and turned around. "…What do you mean?"

"It's your first project I presume after you recovered. Your project is about the new ice cream parlor, isn't it? I believe you chose a perfect place for it."

Han Luo's face hardened. 'Someone is leaking the internal news of the company.' "So? What of it?"

Larry Smith smirked seeing that he finally got her attention. He shrugged. "What a scary face! You don't have to be so guarded around me. I'm a well wisher. You are trying to buy a shop that is situated in that place. I'm not stalking you. Don't worry. I know about it because that's the shop owned by my family. To be more precise, that shop is under me."

'Can luck be any worse than this?' Han Luo thought. 

Larry Smith leaned against his car and explained, "I've been thinking that I should sell this shop since it's not that profitable. And, it's a good spot for school students and lovers. Your project will be successful if you choose that shop."

Han Luo quietly pondered, 'I think he wants to take advantage of my weakness.'

Larry paused before saying, "However…"

'Here it comes.' Han Luo braced herself for the worst news.

Larry Smith told her, "You are not the only client who is interested in this shop. There is another one who wants this shop for their project. Do you want to know who?"

Seeing how eager he was about it, Han Luo sighed. She was also curious. "Who?"

Larry declared, "It's Alexander Jones."

'I had a feeling it would come to this. However, this isn't a place to talk about business. Other students are watching.' Han Luo told him, "Let's go somewhere else."

"I knew you were a wise person. Please get in." Larry opened the door of his car.

Han Luo refused to go anywhere in his car. She wouldn't fall for his trick twice. She said, "Let's walk. I know a good place."

Larry sneered. "So cautious."

After keeping his car in the parking lot, he walked along with Han Luo. They went to the closest cafeteria. It was Han Luo's choice. She came here with her friends frequently. The employees knew her. She thought it would be safe here. They chose a table close to the window and sat down.

After ordering for drinks, Larry started speaking, "He is offering me more than the actual price. We are childhood friends and if I let him buy the shop, I will greatly profit. However, I want to do you a favor."

Han Luo clasped her hands and asked directly, "Why do you want me to do a favor?"

Larry repeated the same answer, "I want to apologize for the past mistake."

Han Luo raised an eyebrow. "Do You? If so, why did you come here? You could directly contact my employee who was consulting you yesterday."

Larry Smith answered, "I wanted to talk to the leader behind the project. I quite like your plan."

Han Luo sipped on the glass and then inquired, "Is this the only reason you came to meet me?"

Larry shrugged. "What else could be? As I said before, I wanted to apologize to you."

Han Luo nodded. She still believed that he had some kind of ulterior motive but she couldn't pinpoint it. She said, "Hmm, I'll keep that in mind. We will send the legal papers after we are done with the processing. Please sign them."

"Sure. Let's have a toast for our happy cooperation." Larry raised his glass.

Clang!

The glasses touched and then they drank.

After talking to him, Han Luo went back to the school compound. She went to the garden and gave the Acting Vice President Tong a call.

After ringing three times, the Acting Vice President answered the call, "What's up?"

"Uncle Tong, good evening. I know it's late but I need to ask you something regarding my project. Can we talk?" Han Luo requested.

He was about to go to sleep but he didn't mention it. "Go on."

"Today I met a guy who is the owner of the shop we want to buy…" Han Luo described her meeting with Larry. "For him to act so generously, I find it suspicious."

The Acting Vice President Tong frowned after she was done speaking. "You are quick to catch. If there is bad blood between the two of you, then there is something definitely wrong with it. Investigate that shop. It would be better to talk to President Smith rather than that brat."

Han Luo agreed with his plan. "My thoughts were exactly the same. I shall hire an investigator."

He reminded her, "Listen, Luo'er, you must remember, this assignment will show how capable you are. Although you are inexperienced, you cannot make a simple mistake. Failure is not an option. Once you fail, the Board of Directors and shareholders will lose their faith in you. Even if you do better in the future, they will keep bringing up your mistakes and try to use it against you. You must become the head of the family. You must take the President position no matter what." His voice was firm and resolute.

He added, "The way the company is going, it will be destroyed. Even though this company is old, it went to the top because of your father's hard work and intelligence. Your uncle simply cannot handle it. You cannot depend on your youngest uncle who never cared for you. You are on your own. Life is hard. You have resources. You need to find your own way to use them. Don't hesitate or become emotional."

Han Luo obediently nodded. "I know. I will do as you said. There is something else I want to share with you."

"What else?"

Han Luo hesitated before saying, "It's about… big brother Yuan."

The Acting Vice President Tong rubbed his temple and asked, "The Mo Family's boy? What about him?"

Han Luo finally declared, "We are currently dating."

The Acting Vice president's brain stopped working for a while. He wasn't expecting this outcome. "…Are you two planning to marry in the future?"

"…Uh…" Han Luo was unable to answer. They recently started going out. They hadn't thought about the marriage.

Acting Vice President Tong also realized that they didn't plan anything. He said, "We can think about it in the future. For now, focus on the project. When the time comes, you can marry whoever you want but you may not get your position in the company in the future if you don't focus on your work."

"…Okay…" she sighed in relief that her uncle didn't say anything else. She was worried that he would oppose it. Since he didn't, it might be a good sign.

Soon, Mo Yuan's class ended. She waited for him in front of the parking lot. Mo Yuan came out of the building, saw her, and strode toward her.

Han Luo saw him and started speaking, "Big brother Yuan, I-"

Mo Yuan hugged her in front of everyone.

Han Luo naturally hugged him back.

The students who saw theM were surprised. They only heard that Mo Yuan and Han Luo were going out but they thought it was nothing but a false rumor. Now that they saw a public display of affection, they knew for sure that it wasn't just a rumor. They were indeed going out.

Mo Yuan kissed the top of her head and then asked, "Are you okay?"

Han Luo was puzzled by his question. It came out of nowhere. "I'm okay…"

"I saw you walking with Larry Smith. What did he do to you?" Mo Yuan was worried sick when he saw them together. He was in the class and he always sat close to the window. When those two were walking, he spotted them.

"We talked about my project. Nothing else happened. I was careful." Han Luo never had the intention to hide from him. However, she couldn't say more than that since it's about the company.

"Was he bullying you? Or did he threaten you?" Mo Yuan wouldn't believe that Larry would approach her with a good intention.

"No, he didn't. We were talking about my project since it was related to him. Don't ask me anymore. I cannot tell you confidential information." Han Luo poked his stomach.

Mo Yuan started. "If he tries anything…"

Ring! Ring!

He wasn't able to finish his words, Han Luo's cell phone rang.

Who called?