Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

"I want a promotion? Who told you that?"

Qin Huanhuan asked, almost dropping her jaw in astonishment.

I've only been a department head for a short time and I'm already getting promoted?

I haven't heard a single word about it. If it were really a promotion, General Manager Ruan would definitely know. I reported to General Manager Ruan several times today, but he didn't reveal a single thing...

Hua Ying stared into Qin Huanhuan's eyes and asked with a pout, "Old Huan, you don't really not know, do you, or are you just teasing me?"

Qin Huanhuan said seriously, "I really don't know. Where did you hear this rumor? Don't you think about how my project is progressing rapidly? It's impossible for me to be transferred at this time. Changing generals in the middle of a battle is a major taboo in military strategy."

Hua Ying said, "I didn't say I was going to transfer you. I heard that the big boss gave you 15% of the shares in the project you're in charge of. You'll become a shareholder of the project. Wow, you've suddenly become one of the bosses. You'll be working for yourself from now on."

"Do you think I should flatter you? Otherwise, what if you become rich and don't include me in your life?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huanhuan was so surprised that her mouth gaped open, wide enough to fit a large goose egg. After a long while, she said, "Huanhuan, who told you this nonsense and spread rumors? Don't you think about it? The big boss isn't my biological father, so why would he give me shares?"

Hua Ying smiled slyly and said, "Whether he is your biological father or not, I don't know. I just went to the finance department and overheard the finance manager talking to General Manager Ruan on the phone, saying that the 15% of shares to be transferred to you are in the process of being processed."

"I think this is probably true."

Qin Huanhuan frowned and said, "You mean President Ruan also knows about this? But I met with President Ruan several times today, and she didn't mention it at all."

Hua Ying pouted and said, "Maybe they wanted to give you a surprise. Anyway, it's free. If they give it to you, you'll take it; if they don't, you won't lose anything."

"Let's go, I know a local restaurant that's incredibly delicious and authentic. It's also a popular spot for social media check-ins."

Qin Huanhuan: "Then wait for me for about ten minutes. I still have some documents to organize; we need them for the meeting tomorrow morning."

Ten minutes or so

Qin Huanhuan walked out of the office and said to Hua Ying, who was sitting in the break room playing on her phone, "Hua Ying, let's go eat some local dishes."

Hua Ying: "Then I'll call a ride-hailing service."

Qin Huanhuan quickly stopped her, saying, "Don't call a car, just come with me."

Hua Ying asked curiously, "Why didn't you call a car? Are you taking the subway?"

Qin Huanhuan: "Why take the subway? Just come with me."

After Qin Huanhuan finished speaking, she pulled Hua Ying out of the company office building and walked straight across the street.

Just then, Hua Ying saw a familiar-looking Maybach parked on the side of the road. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately realized, "Huanhuan, is this Young Master Xiao's car?"

Qin Huanhuan nodded and said, "It's his car. Last time we had an accident, that jerk was afraid I would be in danger again, so he insisted that I ride in his car to and from get off work, and even had two bodyguards follow me."

Hua Ying gave a thumbs up and said, "Your husband is such a man, Huanhuan. You've met the right man in your life. I'm so envious."

At this moment, Zhang Jie got out of the car, opened the door, and said, "Miss Qin, Miss Hua Ying, please get in the car."

Qin Huanhuan said somewhat shyly, "Zhang Jie, please don't open the car door for me anymore. I can open it myself. Also, please don't call me 'Miss,' just call me by my name."

Zhang Jie shook his head and said, "Calling you by your name is definitely not okay; there are rules in our line of work. How about I call you sister-in-law?"

Qin Huanhuan's face flushed red to the roots of her ears, and she quickly waved her hand, saying, "Don't call me sister-in-law, it's too embarrassing. Just call me Miss Qin!"

Hua Ying laughed and said, "Isn't it nice to call her sister-in-law? The video has spread, and 'sister-in-law' has become a trending topic. Netizens are saying that you are the last woman in the world who can be called 'elder sister-in-law'."

Qin Huanhuan rolled her eyes at Hua Ying and said, "Are you making fun of me too? Do you still want to have fun?"

Hua Ying laughed and said, "Fine, I won't tell you, okay?"

The two got into the back seat, and Zhang Jie got into the passenger seat.

Wu Lei, driving by, asked, "Where is Miss Qin going?"

Hua Ying handed the phone with the navigation set to Wu Lei.

"Just follow the navigation."

Wu Lei took the phone, checked the navigation, and then handed it to Hua Ying, saying, "I know this local restaurant; I don't need navigation."

Wu Lei started the car and drove onto the main road, merging into the traffic...

After ten minutes,

The Maybach stopped at the entrance of the alley. Wu Lei said, "Miss Qin, it's not easy to park inside. That local restaurant is about 200 meters inside the alley."

Qin Huanhuan said, "Zhang Jie, Wu Lei, why don't you two have dinner with us? There are only two of us anyway."

Hua Ying smiled and said, "It's more lively with more people, and we can even have a few drinks."

Zhang Jie and Wu Lei whispered a few words to each other...

Then the two locked the car and followed Qin Huanhuan and Hua Ying to the local restaurant.

Actually, this local restaurant is the same one that Xia Keke brought Xiao Zhan to last time. The chubby owner's surname is Qin.

Zhang Jie and Wu Lei came with Captain Shen Jun to be responsible for Xiao Zhan's security, so they knew this place.

It was lunchtime, and the small local restaurant was already packed with diners.

Even though Hua Ying had called ahead to make a reservation.

But you have to wait until the next table of guests leaves before you can get a seat.

So the four of them sat on plastic stools by the door and waited for their number to be called.

It was dusk, when the city lights were just coming on and every household was lit up. Although the local restaurant was located in a hutong (alleyway), its delicious food was sure to attract customers.

People going to and from get off work, students returning home from school, and passersby all walk past the entrance of the local cuisine restaurant, and without exception, they all sniff and are attracted by the aroma wafting from inside.

At this moment, a black luxury van silently stopped at the entrance of the alley. Two tall, burly bodyguards got out of the car, and one of them reached out to help a woman who looked to be in her fifties out of the car.

The lady was dressed in a light purple, high-end custom-made cheongsam. The fitted cheongsam accentuated her voluptuous figure, and the gorgeous attire made her appear even more noble and elegant, as if she had stepped out of a classical painting.

The woman, in her fifties, possessed the wisdom and experience of life. She asked in a low voice, "Wang Mang, are you sure he's here?"

The bodyguard named Wang Mang responded, "Madam, I've been following you all the way from the company. I saw Zhang Jie and Wu Lei follow Qin Huanhuan and that girl named Hua Ying into this local restaurant. The four of them should be having a meal now."

This noblewoman was none other than Xiao Zhan's mother, Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong looked up and around before saying, "Wang Mang, go and call Qin Huanhuan over here. There are too many people and too many eyes in this small restaurant. It would be bad if someone secretly filmed her and uploaded the video online. The video that Xiao Zhan posted earlier was already trending, and if it gets exposed again, it will affect the stock of our Xiao Group."

Wang Mang respectfully replied, "It is you, Madam."

Then he said to the other bodyguard, "Liu Yang, take good care of Madam. I'll go call Qin Huanhuan."

Liu Yang: "Yes, Brother Mang."

Wang Mang strode into the alley...

The boss walked over to Hua Ying and said, "Miss Hua, it's your turn, the four of you. Please come in."

"Start cooking right away."

Hua Ying pulled Qin Huanhuan into the local restaurant. The place was too small and crowded. There were two people sitting on each side of a long table. They had already ordered the dishes when they arrived.

The four of them had just sat down

A plate of cucumber salad and a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes were served.

Hua Ying said to the boss, "Uncle Qin, bring me three bottles of beer."

Wu Lei is responsible for driving and cannot drink alcohol.

Everyone else had a bottle of beer.

Upon hearing this, Qin Huanhuan asked curiously, "The boss's surname is Qin? What a coincidence, we're from the same clan."

The moment Boss Qin saw Qin Huanhuan's face clearly, he froze on the spot...

That familiar feeling, so ingrained in my very bones, instantly welled up in my heart.

once Upon a time,

This face had always haunted his dreams...

Feeling a little embarrassed by the boss's intense gaze, Qin Huanhuan whispered, "Boss, is there something on my face?"

Mr. Qin, realizing his mistake, said awkwardly, "My surname is Qin, and so is yours, young lady. Where are you from?"

You look like someone I used to know.

Qin Huanhuan asked in surprise, "What's the name of this old friend of yours?"