Chapter 20: The Wrong Documents

Secretary Su’s revelation was nothing short of a bombshell, leaving her completely stunned. Everything she had previously assumed was wrong.

"Wait, Secretary Su, how could the eldest young master's computer password be my birthday?" Shi Ran finally realized something was amiss.

On the other end of the line, Secretary Su remained silent.

"Assistant Shi, do not ask about things that do not concern you," came the cold warning after a moment. Before Shi Ran could press further, the call was disconnected.

Shi Ran shut down the computer and, acting as though nothing had happened, returned to the ground floor. She managed to locate the study. It was significantly smaller than the one on the third floor, though the computer inside was much the same.

Shi Ran entered her birthday, unlocked the device, and found the new meeting materials. Compared to the endless documents she had faced before, this set was much more concise. She opened the document containing Secretary Su’s instructions. Upon understanding the requirements—which involved pairing images with text and ensuring that clicking the images would link to the relevant materials—she began sifting through the subsequent files. Despite the volume of data, she managed to complete the task. After a final check to ensure everything was correct, she packaged the files and sent them to Secretary Su’s email.

She glanced at the time: 7:07 PM. She still had an hour and a half before the scheduled meeting. She could just make it. She tidied up, changed her clothes, and applied a light touch of makeup.

She unlocked the door and stepped out. Learning from her previous experience, she used multiple ride-hailing apps simultaneously. After ten minutes, a driver accepted, but shortly after, they called her.

"Cancel the order, customer."

Shi Ran paused, but sensing the driver's firm tone, she canceled the order. While she waited for another vehicle, a black car pulled up in front of her. Shi Ran felt a jolt of anxiety; she had developed a conditioned fear of black cars.

"Where to, beautiful? Let me give you a ride," the window rolled down to reveal a young man dressed in flashy, garish attire. He did not look like a good person.

"No thank you, I'm waiting for someone," Shi Ran replied, prioritizing her safety despite her urgency.

"Beautiful, you won't get a ride out here," the young man with dyed yellow hair reminded her.

"Why?" The moment the word left her lips, she felt foolish. She had clearly just admitted to him that she was unfamiliar with the area.

"Security is very tight here; ordinary vehicles aren't allowed in," the man explained.

"Can I catch a ride once I'm outside?" Shi Ran asked tentatively. So that was why she couldn't get a ride earlier—the drivers probably couldn't get through the gates.

"Where are you headed, beautiful? Let me take you," he offered again.

"Just to the exit will be fine," she said cautiously.

"Get in."

Shi Ran opened the back door, but just as she was about to sit down, she heard the man’s dissatisfied voice: "Beautiful, sitting in the back is a bit disrespectful, don't you think?"

After a moment of hesitation, she moved to the passenger seat. She sat there nervously, rolling down the window to let the cool breeze in.

"Want a candy, beautiful?" The man picked up a gum container, shook two pieces into his palm, and held them out to her.

"No, thank you." Shi Ran had remained vigilant since getting in; there was no way she would eat anything he offered. She despised his flippant behavior and would never have compromised if she had any other choice.

"Don't be so nervous, beautiful. I'm not a bad guy," the man said with a laugh. Shi Ran did not respond.

He started the car. "Mind if I turn on the AC, beautiful?" he asked, chewing his gum.

"I’d like to look at the night view," she replied, using it as an excuse to keep the window down. She didn't dare let him close the windows, terrified of falling into some sort of trap.

"Beautiful, have you ever heard a saying?" he asked.

"What saying?" Shi Ran felt her eyelids growing heavy, struggling to stay open.

"Once you're in my car, you're at my mercy." Before she lost consciousness, she heard his wicked laughter.