CHAPTER 768: CHAPTER 765: TWO WOMEN COMPETING

As soon as Ruan Hongzhuang got back, she kicked off her high heels straight away.

After a whole day at work, the shoes were terribly uncomfortable for her, so it was a rare chance to relax once she got home.

"You’re back?"

Taozi saw what happened and came forward, reaching out to take the bag from her hand.

Ruan Hongzhuang didn’t say anything, instead, she looked at Taozi’s hair.

"What’s wrong?" Taozi was a bit puzzled.

"Did you wash your hair?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked in return.

"Ah, yes, it’s too hot today, I just washed it. You could even tell that, hehe..." Taozi smiled ingratiatingly.

"Hmph."

Ruan Hongzhuang snorted softly, striding towards the living room. Not only had she noticed Taozi just washed her hair, but also that she just took a bath.

"Where’s Si Yuan?" she asked.

"On the balcony," Taozi hurriedly replied.

So, Ruan Hongzhuang, who had just stepped into the living room, turned around immediately and headed toward the balcony. But just after two steps, Tang Tang came riding on a scooter, blocking her path with a crash.

"han~"

Tang Tang looked up at Ruan Hongzhuang with a silly grin.

Ruan Hongzhuang bent down to pat her little head and asked, "Did you go out to play with mom today?"

Raising kids is no different from raising pets, you have to take them out for a walk every day.

Sometimes, Mao Sanmei would take her along when buying groceries, and sometimes she would take her out for a stroll when it’s not too hot in the afternoons.

Tang Tang obviously couldn’t hear what Ruan Hongzhuang was saying and continued smiling foolishly.

Ruan Hongzhuang didn’t mind and continued, "When I get married, will you be my flower girl?"

"han~"

"If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes." Ruan Hongzhuang pinched her little cheek gently, then walked around her, continuing towards the balcony.

As for Taozi, she had already slipped away somewhere, clearly having noticed Ruan Hongzhuang’s displeasure, she wisely avoided the storm.

When Ruan Hongzhuang reached the balcony, she saw Shen Siyuan wearing only shorts, shirtless, working out.

His bronze skin, perfect muscular frame exuded strength, and the sweat glistening down his cheeks made his skin look smooth and moist.

With his movements, an invisible wave of hormones seemed to spread around. Originally a bit angry, Ruan Hongzhuang instantly felt parched, and her mood brightened.

"Ptooey~"

Inwardly, she couldn’t help but grumble at her own lack of discipline, but she couldn’t bear to look away.

"Off work now?"

Noticing Ruan Hongzhuang’s arrival, Shen Siyuan slowly stopped, grabbing a towel next to him to wipe his body.

Ruan Hongzhuang stepped forward, snatching the towel from his hand to wipe his sweat herself.

"I’m working my tail off at the company, and you and Taozi are just goofing around at home," Ruan Hongzhuang grumbled, hinting at a bit of resentment.

Shen Siyuan didn’t explain, for there’s no winning in explanations in such situations, and instead reached out to touch her waist.

Ruan Hongzhuang, in her pencil skirt and small blazer, held a different kind of allure.

"Stop fooling, you stink. Go shower."

Ruan Hongzhuang tossed the towel onto his face in mock annoyance.

"Do I really?" Xia Yunzhou took the towel off, sniffing himself.

"Of course, you smell like a sleazy fox," Ruan Hongzhuang retorted, not in the best of moods.

"Really? Yet you sleep with that sleazy fox every night and don’t mind the smell?"

Before Ruan Hongzhuang could argue back, Shen Siyuan quickly added, "Don’t say it’s all because of me. Before me, you two were already glued to each other every day."

Ruan Hongzhuang, hearing this, got so annoyed she tried to pinch Shen Siyuan’s abs, but his taut muscles and slippery sweat made it impossible to get a grip—only for Shen Siyuan to seize her hand.

"Wanna shower together?" Shen Siyuan asked with a smile.

"No way," Ruan Hongzhuang replied.

But saying no was futile as Shen Siyuan lifted her onto his shoulder, heading towards the bathroom.

"Put me down this instant," Ruan Hongzhuang struggled on Shen Siyuan’s shoulder.

Then, Tang Tang blocked them once again.

"Oh?"

She looked up at Shen Siyuan, curious about him carrying Ruan Hongzhuang.

"Go on with your playing, don’t stand in the way..." Shen Siyuan reached out to shoo her away.

The little one, slightly aggrieved, kicked the floor with her short leg, bumping the scooter into Shen Siyuan’s leg, then immediately turned around and ran off.

"han~"

From the direction she moved, she seemed to be searching for Taozi.

Shen Siyuan carried Ruan Hongzhuang straight into the master bedroom, closed the door, then continued into the separate bathroom within, which had excellent soundproofing.

-----------------

Ruan Hongzhuang, with a flushed face, lay on the edge of the bathtub, gasping, "In a couple of days, the company will have the annual meeting. You should come."

"What do I need to be there for? I barely worked a few days, and I don’t know many there."

Shen Siyuan, being somewhat of a homebody himself, was even less inclined to interact with outsiders since starting his cultivation journey.

"On the day of the annual meeting, everyone from the company will be there, and some business partners will attend too. You come and give me some face," Ruan Hongzhuang suggested.

"Giving you face? Who would know who I am? Or do you have some other motives?"

Shen Siyuan leaned his body forward, pressing her against the wall of the bathtub, and even reached a hand to the front...

Ruan Hongzhuang lightly snorted, her face reddening, "On the day of the annual meeting, I plan to announce our wedding. It’ll officially introduce you to everyone, and since several people from the company will be invited to the wedding, this way they can be mentally prepared beforehand..."

"I see, but once you invite them, Taozi probably can’t be invited later," Shen Siyuan noted.

"You’re still thinking about her now?" Ruan Hongzhuang said discontentedly.

"Then put in some effort and make me forget about her," Shen Siyuan moved his body closer once again.

Ruan Hongzhuang let out a muffled grunt, annoyed, she slammed a hand on his arm and said, "You’re like an ox—"

Before she could finish, she completely lost the ability to speak.

"Oh dear, stressed from work? Straight to the shower upon coming back?"

Taozi saw Ruan Hongzhuang emerge and started poking fun in a singsong way.

Ruan Hongzhuang, with her cheeks flushed and an amorous glint in her eye, was clearly showing signs that the bath had been anything but innocent.

"Go to the company tomorrow, you can’t just be idle every day..." Ruan Hongzhuang cast her a sidelong glance, not in the best mood.

"Didn’t you say it makes no difference whether I’m there or not?" Taozi grinned cheekily.

"The company is about to have its annual meeting, there are countless trivial matters to handle. You can’t expect me to oversee everything personally, can you? Make sure you head to the company and get these things sorted, or I might just have to fire you..." Ruan Hongzhuang stated.

"Fire me?" Taozi leered at her, showing no fear at all.

In this small patch of land at Bin Hai, President Tao was quite influential.

"Don’t believe me?" Ruan Hongzhuang teased with a half-smile.

"My husband is quite capable, you know, I hardly need you now," Ruan Hongzhuang declared directly.

Upon hearing this, Taozi was momentarily at a loss because Ruan Hongzhuang wasn’t wrong at all. With Shen Siyuan’s connections, not only would things in small Bin Hai be smoothed over, even throughout Qiong Province, no issue would be insurmountable.

But Taozi quickly collected herself, nonchalantly replying, "Then fire me, I don’t mind staying home every day. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your husband."

This time, it was Ruan Hongzhuang’s turn to be dumbstruck; she reached out to pinch Taozi’s cheeks. Taozi was not one to back down, aiming for the two bits of flesh on the other’s chest. In no time, they were tangled in a ruckus.

"Oh?"

Tang Tang saw this and seemed to understand something, realizing that grown-ups also fight, meaning it was wrong for mom to tell not to fight with Dou Dou.