Chapter 204: One Wave After Another

Chapter 204: Chapter 204: One Wave After Another

But he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what was strange.

The feeling was unsettling.

However, he generally didn’t waste mental energy on things he couldn’t figure out.

He’d find out eventually, as time went on.

After dinner, Jiang Fan lay on the sofa and continued to look over the design proposals.

Seeing her daddy working, Mengmeng was very well-behaved. She didn’t make a fuss, simply grabbing a toy and climbing into Jiang Fan’s arms to play.

Time flew, and soon it was past 10 PM.

Mengmeng was yawning constantly, but she showed no intention of going to sleep.

"Alright, Mengmeng, you don’t have to stay here with Daddy. Come on, I’ll take you to bed now."

Jiang Fan put down the proposals and reached out to rub her little head, his face full of affection.

From a distance, Yin Ruxue clearly saw the flash of exhaustion in Jiang Fan’s eyes.

But he was still doting on Mengmeng.

"Mengmeng, come on. Let’s go get washed up. Don’t bother Daddy anymore; he’s been busy all day."

Yin Ruxue beckoned to Mengmeng.

"Nooo, I want Daddy to give me my bath."

Mengmeng squirmed in his arms, whining playfully.

"It’s fine. I could use a break for my eyes anyway. I’ll take her."

Jiang Fan smoothly scooped her up.

"You go get washed up and rest."

With that, Jiang Fan carried Mengmeng to the bathroom. Nanny Chen had already prepared a change of clothes for her.

By now, Jiang Fan was quite adept at bathing the little girl.

Washing her hair and body took less than twenty minutes.

"Daddy, Mengmeng wants you to dry my hair for me."

Mengmeng said with an innocent smile.

"Oh? Why not have Mommy dry it for you?"

Jiang Fan asked as he picked up the hairdryer.

"Because all my friends have their daddies dry their hair for them."

"I want that too!"

"And I want to wear a pretty dress to school tomorrow~"

"Can I, Daddy?"

Seeing the expectant look on her face, Jiang Fan nodded.

"Of course. As long as Mengmeng is happy."

Jiang Fan had no intention of refusing such a request.

’Kids will be kids. As long as they’re happy and not breaking any laws or moral codes, let them do what they want.’

’A parent’s job is just to make sure their child doesn’t go down the wrong path. Otherwise, let them grow wild!’

’But you can’t spoil a child too much either.’

By the time her hair was dry, it was almost eleven. Jiang Fan held her and dashed into the room like the wind.

"MWAHAHAHA, so fast!"

"Daddy, can we do it again?"

Mengmeng giggled, waving her arms and legs in excitement.

"Alright, one more time."

Jiang Fan held her and dashed out again, just like the wind.

"WHOOSH!"

Mengmeng was extremely excited.

She made whooshing sounds with her mouth.

Jiang Fan seemed exceptionally happy too.

"Daddy, again~"

"Charge! We’re number one!"

"That’s right, Mengmeng weighs a ton~"

Jiang Fan said with a laugh.

"Daddy’s lying! I’m not fat!!!"

Mengmeng immediately started to protest.

"Okay, okay, you’re the cutest."

Jiang Fan gave her a big smack of a kiss on the cheek.

"Alright, alright, you two. Stop playing. It’s time for bed."

"It’s already so late."

Yin Ruxue walked out, wearing an extremely thin nightgown.

"Mommy..."

"No can do. You can play again tomorrow."

Yin Ruxue shook her head.

"Okay..."

Mengmeng’s spirits fell.

"Be good. Daddy will play with you again tomorrow."

"Let’s get some sleep for today. You still have school."

"Alright then... Mengmeng wants Daddy to hold her while she sleeps!!"

Mengmeng wrapped her arms around Jiang Fan’s neck, nuzzling her little face against it.

"No problem!"

Jiang Fan lay down on the bed, holding Mengmeng.

"Mommy, come here quick!"

Mengmeng’s clear voice rang out.

"Okay."

Yin Ruxue lay down as well.

Children burn through their energy so quickly; she fell asleep almost as soon as she lay down.

Lying on the soft bed, Jiang Fan rolled over comfortably.

Just then, he was surprised to find Yin Ruxue also lying on her side, looking at him.

"What’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

Jiang Fan asked curiously.

"It’s about the company."

"Even though we dealt a blow to Fengming Group recently, I’ve received reliable intel that the Li Family is probably going to provide them with aid."

"The impact on Xuerong will be huge."

Yin Ruxue sighed.

"Who? Li Fengming?"

When she nodded lightly, Jiang Fan was even more confused. "Won’t the Yin Family help you?"

"Are they just going to watch you get swallowed up?"

He didn’t know much, but he knew it was simple for a powerful family to deal with a corporation, especially one like Xuerong that was still in a phase of rapid growth.

’Without a powerful backer, it could easily be devoured whole, with not even a crumb left behind.’

"My family?"

A cold smile touched the corners of Yin Ruxue’s lips.

"They can’t wait for me to be swallowed up. They can’t wait for me to go back and beg them, so they can use me in a marriage alliance to secure more benefits for the family."

"But last time..."

Jiang Fan wanted to bring up the time they celebrated the Yin Family patriarch’s birthday.

But Yin Ruxue just shook her head gently, cutting him off. "It’s useless. Not unless you can demonstrate strength greater than mine, greater than all of Xuerong."

"Strength so tangible that they would actually come to you for help. Otherwise, with their ruthless nature... Hmph."

Yin Ruxue gave two cold laughs, but by the end, her voice had turned desolate and chilly.

Jiang Fan truly didn’t understand this kind of conflict between powerful families, nor did he have any way to change it.

"Is the Li Family really that formidable?"

"Isn’t there any other way to handle this?"

At that moment, Jiang Fan actually saw a trace of pitifulness and loneliness in her, and he couldn’t help but ask.

"I already prepared a backup plan. That’s why I signed the contract with the Yufan Design Team."

"A strong alliance between us will definitely take Xuerong to the next level, maybe even allowing us to grow faster than Fengming Group."

"But my biggest fear now is that they’ll start recklessly throwing money at the problem."

"If they start pouring money in with no regard for returns, Xuerong Group definitely won’t be able to withstand it."

"Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. You should get some sleep. Don’t you have to be busy at the planning department tomorrow?"

"No matter what happens in the future, we need to focus on the present."

Yin Ruxue stiffly changed the subject.

"Me becoming the manager of the planning department... was that something you and Li Muwan planned?"

"No, that was all her idea."

"However, I also think you’re the most suitable person to be the manager of the planning department. We really can’t find anyone better than you right now."

"Just think of it as helping us out."

Perhaps only late at night, in a situation like this, would Yin Ruxue let down all her pretenses and reveal such a vulnerable side.

Xuerong Group was her everything, the very foundation upon which she had built her life.

’It can’t be allowed to fall, no matter what!’