21. He disliked her defiance.

“Something like that,” Lu Tingyuan said, staring coldly at Ji Qingran, his eyes filled with unhidden reproach.

“Yiyi is still just a girl who hasn’t even left campus, she knows nothing and is so innocent. Do you find it amusing to see her make a fool of herself?”

He paused, his tone growing harsher. “I really didn’t expect you to treat her like this. I’m quite disappointed.”

Ji Qingran looked at him indifferently, smiling faintly.

Disappointed again?

It was always disappointment.

“All the technical documents here are in English. Not just for your little junior sister—every employee in the company receives the exact same English version upon joining.”

She lifted her chin slightly, smiling provocatively. “Do you think I’m making things difficult for Su Yiyi? What about the others? Lu Tingyuan, you need to figure out whether I’m making things hard for your junior sister, or if it’s just that she’s not capable.”

“Ji Qingran!” Lu Tingyuan interrupted her almost immediately. His brows furrowed deeply, displeased. “Yiyi is the teacher’s daughter, personally nurtured by him. I won’t allow you to speak about her like that.”

Ji Qingran suddenly found it all rather laughable.

Having a good father really matters.

Just because Su Yiyi’s father is his mentor, even if she lacks ability, she must be carefully protected; otherwise, it’s considered making things difficult for the young girl.

And what about her? Who’s protecting her?

She had climbed step by step to where she was now—it had been exhausting, truly exhausting.

“Lu Tingyuan, let it be. Whom you choose to protect or favor has nothing to do with me.”

She rubbed her temple, her voice carrying a hint of weariness and a trace of relief. “You were the one who suggested Su Yiyi come to intern here. If you don’t trust her, you can take her away. I don’t want to get involved.”

Turning to leave, she no longer wanted to argue. She had too much to do today and didn’t want to waste time on meaningless people.

But Lu Tingyuan wouldn’t let her go. He grabbed her wrist.

Caught off guard, Ji Qingran’s tears slipped down as she turned around.

He was stunned for a moment, looking at her with complex eyes. “Why are you crying again?”

He raised his hand to wipe her tears, his tone tinged with disdain. “You’ve been rather sentimental lately, crying at the slightest thing.”

He paused, his voice growing more displeased. “Your temper’s getting worse too. You’re really driving me crazy.”

Ji Qingran tilted her head, trying to evade his hand.

She failed. He held her firmly, rubbing her tears harshly.

It hurt.

She felt deeply saddened but didn’t want to cry in front of him again. She bit her lip hard, forcing the tears back.

Soon, there was a trace of blood on her lips.

Red and irresistibly alluring.

Lu Tingyuan glanced at it, and an untimely thought stirred within him.

His fingers slid down her cheek, lightly touching and lingering on her lips, gently stroking the wound, as if enchanted.

Ji Qingran instinctively recoiled.

He was displeased and used his other hand to grip her waist. Then he lowered his head, drawing closer, his breath washing over her face with his characteristic coldness and pressure.

Ji Qingran struggled briefly, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“Don’t move,” he said, his tone domineering and dangerous. “You know I don’t like it when you’re disobedient.”

With that, his lips pressed to hers, then to her jaw, and finally to her neck.

He showed no restraint, leaving marks on her neck.

As punishment for her disobedience.

If not for the ringtone of his phone, it might have continued.

When Ji Qingran came out of the conference room, she saw Su Yiyi standing at the door, staring at her without blinking.

She must have been there a long time, monitoring her and Lu Tingyuan’s movements.

Ji Qingran’s face flushed unnaturally, her collar popped up, clearly trying to hide something but failing.

Su Yiyi glanced once and immediately her eyes reddened.

“What were you two doing in there?” The young girl’s tone was sharp, completely accusatory.

Ji Qingran wasn’t sure if Lu Tingyuan and Su Yiyi had officially defined their relationship. She disliked being looked at as a third party, so after thinking for a moment, she answered, “You can ask your senior brother; he’s still inside and will be out soon.”

She lifted her foot to leave, not wanting to linger.

But Su Yiyi was relentless, spreading her arms to block her path. “Don’t walk away. Explain clearly before you go.”

Tears streamed down as she spoke, looking deeply aggrieved, questioning once more, “What exactly did you and my senior brother do in there?”

Ji Qingran didn’t want to get entangled but couldn’t shake her off, feeling rather speechless.

Fortunately, Lu Tingyuan soon came out.

Ji Qingran finally escaped, leaving Lu Tingyuan to soothe Su Yiyi.

Half an hour later, Su Yiyi came over looking normal. Upon seeing Ji Qingran, she immediately smiled sincerely and said, “Qingran, senior brother explained everything to me. He went to see you for my sake. It was a misunderstanding. I apologize and I’m sorry.”

Ji Qingran didn’t know how Lu Tingyuan explained it, but since Su Yiyi no longer bothered her, she was relieved. She exchanged a few polite words and sent her back to work.

She even kindly recommended some useful translation software.

At lunch, Jiang Yao suggested inviting Su Yiyi to eat together.

“After all, she’s the precious one protected by the god of wealth. It wouldn’t be good if things became too tense. I’ll treat everyone; let’s call her along.”

Ji Qingran had no choice but to find Su Yiyi.

After searching around, she finally found her behind the company, pressed closely against Lu Tingyuan’s chest. Su Yiyi’s head was buried near his shoulder, one arm hooked around his neck, her shoulders trembling with sobs.

Lu Tingyuan didn’t push her away. He looked down at the girl, his long brows knit in concern, clearly pained.

His slender fingers stroked her long hair repeatedly, his expression patient and indulgent.

Ji Qingran stood motionless on the other side of the greenery. Su Yiyi didn’t see her, but her voice drifted clearly over.

She heard the girl’s soft, almost plaintive tone, half aggrieved, half coquettish.

“Senior brother, I really can’t understand the materials. I’ve tried so hard, but it’s still so difficult... No one’s teaching me, I don’t know anything. I feel so stupid...”

“Senior brother, Qingran’s English must be excellent. Of course, she studied abroad, so English is easy for her. But I’m different; I never had the chance to go overseas. How could my English be good?”

“If only my dad was still here… at least I could ask him when I don’t understand the materials...”

Ji Qingran listened expressionlessly, guessing how Lu Tingyuan would respond.

Probably gently, she thought.