The mysterious CEO's endless pampering

Shen Yanran was feeling down because Li Zhanting disagreed with adopting Gu Zitong, and she was also somewhat absent-minded at work.

"Sister Yanran, Sister Yanran, what's wrong? Is something on your mind?" Xu Xiaohui waved a hand in front of Shen Yanran's eyes.

Shen Yanran then snapped out of her reverie, looked at the smiling, sunny boy in front of her, and forced a smile. "No, I was just lost in thought. What did you just say? Let's continue."

Xu Xiaohui knew she was hiding something, but didn't press her further. Instead, she continued the previous topic, "I was saying that live-streaming e-commerce is really popular lately. Should our company find a celebrity to help with live-streaming? Sales would definitely be great."

Live-streaming e-commerce?

She seems to have heard Wen Qian mention this before, and even bought a lot of things from a certain online influencer's account.

Shen Yanran nodded with interest, "It's almost the end of the year, so we should work hard to meet the company's KPIs and give everyone red envelopes. However, this matter still needs to be approved by President Zhao. I'm only responsible for the design, and I don't have the final say on the rest."

Xu Xiaohui said enthusiastically, "Okay, since Sister Yanran said it's no problem, then it's definitely no problem. I'll make a report and send it to President Zhao in a bit."

Shen Yanran suddenly realized that Xu Xiaohui was more motivated and had more ideas than she had imagined, so she suggested, "Xiaohui, I think you have a good business sense. Why don't you go to the sales department? Even if you're an intern, you'll get commissions if you do well, and you can earn a lot."

Xu Xiaohui suddenly looked at Shen Yanran with some surprise and disappointment, "Sister Yanran, you don't mean you don't want me anymore, do you?"

Shen Yanran didn't expect him to think that way, and quickly explained, "No, that's not what I meant. I just think it's good for young people to earn more money so they can buy a house and get married in the future."

Xu Xiaohui firmly stated, "But my ideal is to be a jewelry designer. As long as I design a piece as talented as yours, I believe I can earn money just as well."

Shen Yanran said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Xiaohui, I was overthinking it. Then you should work hard."

And her too, people come here to learn design, why is she doing something unnecessary?

Xu Xiaohui said nonchalantly, "It's okay, Sister Yanran. I know you're doing this for my own good."

Shen Yanran breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, it's good that you're not angry. Go ahead and get busy."

Xu Xiaohui left without saying anything, but knocked on the door and came back in a little while later.

"Sister Yanran, this is for you." Xu Xiaohui said, placing a delicate strawberry cake on Shen Yanran's desk.

Shen Yanran was somewhat surprised, "A cake? Where did it come from?"

"I bought it. I noticed you didn't seem to be in a good mood earlier, so I thought eating something sweet would cheer you up."

"Thank you. This cake doesn't look cheap. How much is it? I'll transfer the money to you."

Shen Yanran didn't want to waste his good intentions, so she accepted the cake. However, as an intern, her salary wasn't much, and she couldn't let him spend money so easily.

After saying that, he took out his phone to prepare to transfer the money.

However, Xu Xiaohui refused, saying, "No need, Sister Yanran, it's just a piece of cake, it doesn't cost much, so please eat it without worry."

"No way, you've just started your internship, it's not right to let you spend money. I'll transfer it to you directly." Shen Yanran really didn't want to take advantage of someone else, so she immediately transferred a hundred yuan red envelope to Xu Xiaohui.

However, Xu Xiaohui refused to accept it at all. "Really, no need, Sister Yanran, I won't accept it. I have other work to do, so I'll go and get back to it."

Seeing that he absolutely refused to accept the money, Shen Yanran had no choice but to give up, thinking that she would find another opportunity to repay the favor of this "cake" later.

Xu Xiaohui left Shen Yanran's office, but didn't go far. When he turned around, he saw that Shen Yanran had already lowered her head and eaten the cake.

A strange smile slowly spread across his once sunny and handsome face, like that of a hunter eyeing its prey...

After finishing her cake, Shen Yanran realized that Gu Zitong probably hadn't had cake in a long time, so she decided to buy one for him to try after get off work.

However, before she could even leave work, the hospital caregiver who looked after Gu Zitong called, "Mrs. Li, something terrible has happened! The child is missing!"

Shen Yanran's heart tightened immediately. "What happened? How could someone suddenly disappear?"

The caregiver explained anxiously, "I don't know either. I just went out to answer a phone call, and then Tongtong disappeared. I asked the nurses, and they said they hadn't seen her either. I really couldn't find her, so I called you."

As Shen Yanran walked out, she asked nervously, "The hospital has surveillance cameras, have you checked them?"

“I asked, but the hospital staff said I have no right to check the surveillance footage.”

"How long has Tongtong been missing? Have you reported her missing to the police?"

The caregiver answered honestly, "It's been almost two hours since he went missing, but doesn't the TV show say that the police don't care if someone goes missing for less than 24 hours?"

Shen Yanran frowned even more. "That's all made up in TV dramas. If a child goes missing, you can call the police immediately. Never mind, you can continue looking at the hospital. I'll go to the police station to report the case first."

Gu Zitong disappeared before she had fully recovered; it seemed very strange.

But Shen Yanran didn't have time to think about that anymore. Her immediate priority was to call the police and ask them to help search for her. She hoped that she hadn't been kidnapped by human traffickers!

Shen Yanran hurried downstairs and was about to hail a taxi when she saw a small figure in a blue hospital gown huddled by a flower bed near the company.

Could it be Gu Zitong?

Shen Yanran quickened her pace and ran over, tentatively asking, "Tongtong, is that you?"

Upon hearing Shen Yanran's voice, Gu Zitong immediately looked up, her eyes red, and said, "Aunt Yanran, I've finally found you!"

Shen Yanran was shocked and frightened to find that it really was the child. "You child, how could you sneak out on your own in this cold weather? Do you know that the caregivers are going crazy looking for you in the hospital!"

Gu Zitong stood up, reached out and hugged Shen Yanran's warm body, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "But I'm afraid that if I don't run out to find you, I'll never see you again."

Shen Yanran instantly felt a chill emanating from Gu Zitong and said with heartache, "You silly child, didn't Auntie already tell you that I would come to see you after get off work? How could I not see you? Look how cold you are. Let me take you to the coffee shop next door to warm up first."

Gu Zitong nodded obediently and then followed Shen Yanran into the nearest coffee shop.

Fortunately, the coffee shop had air conditioning, which helped to soothe Gu Zitong's trembling body.

Shen Yanran led Gu Zitong to a private room and then asked the waiter to bring her a cup of hot milk.

After watching him drink half of his milk, she finally asked, "Tongtong, can you tell Auntie why you secretly ran away from the hospital?"

"I...I heard from the caregiver on the phone that someone was coming to see me this afternoon and said they wanted to adopt me. I'm scared, I don't want to go with them, so I ran away to find you." Gu Zitong held the warm milk in her hands and looked innocently at Shen Yanran.

Shen Yanran only remembered that Li Zhanting had mentioned this matter in the morning, but the specifics had not been finalized yet. How could Gu Zitong have found out first? Who called the caregiver? Was it Li Zhanting?

Has he already found someone to adopt him?

Looking at the boy's slightly pale face, Shen Yanran felt heartache but couldn't help but scold him, "Tongtong, if you have any problems, you can come to see me after I get off work, or call me. How could you run away on your own? Do you know how worried the caregiver was about you? I almost went to the police station to report it. It's so dangerous outside now. What if you were kidnapped by human traffickers? How could I face your deceased father?"

Gu Zitong lowered her head and apologized in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, Aunt Yanran, I really don't want to live in a strange family anymore. What if they don't like me like my uncle and beat or scold me?"

Shen Yanran shook her head firmly, "No, if someone really wants to adopt you, I will definitely check their suitability and I will never let anyone take you away casually."

Gu Zitong put down her milk glass and excitedly grasped Shen Yanran's hands, saying, "But all I want is for you to adopt me and take me home. Even if the president of the country wanted to adopt me, I wouldn't go!"

The child had put it so bluntly, putting her in a difficult position.

Why did Li Zhanting refuse to let the child come to their home, and why did Gu Zitong refuse to be adopted by another family?

Even if she is forcibly sent there, she might sneak out to find her one day, just like today. If something unexpected happens on the way, it will be too late for her to regret it.

What should we do...?

Although Gu Zitong is only eight years old, he is much more mature than other children his age, and he can see the difficulty on Shen Yanran's face.

But he won't give up easily.

Gu Zitong suddenly touched her tummy and asked, "Aunt Yanran, I'm hungry. Can I have a piece of cake?"

Shen Yanran smiled and agreed, "Of course, you wait here, I'll go buy you a slice of cheesecake."

No sooner had she left than Gu Zitong quietly followed her, and then, taking advantage of the crowd, ran outside again.

Someone noticed Gu Zitong's hospital gown and asked with a puzzled look, "Whose child is that? He's sick and still running around."

"Yes, where are his parents? That child seems to have run into the road, that's so dangerous!"

Shen Yanran also subconsciously looked up.

Unexpectedly, it was Gu Zitong, who had just been asking her to buy cake.

Why did this child run out again? He even ran onto the busy main road! Doesn't he have a death wish?!

Shen Yanran quickly chased after her.

Many vehicles on the road were already honking their horns because they had almost hit Gu Zitong.

Gu Zitong seemed not to hear her and continued walking towards the middle of the road.

Shen Yanran was terrified by what she saw. Ignoring the danger, she ran to the road and kept shouting, "Tongtong, Gu Zitong, come back here! Do you hear me? It's dangerous there! Come back!"