Chapter 813
A Shocking Proposal! Becoming the Crown Princess and Taking Control of the Entire Anbang
"So far... it seems alright."
An Ruoxi gave a relatively fair evaluation.
"At least, he's not some wicked person."
Rose listened from the front row, interjecting occasionally with a slightly teasing tone.
"Aside from seeming a bit 'womanizing' and always surrounded by beautiful women, I haven't noticed any other obvious bad habits. However, given his status and circumstances, this doesn't seem like... a major flaw, does it? On the contrary, it shows he's charming, doesn't it?"
"Young Miss, a man like him is hard to find anywhere in the entire city of Fujian, or even the whole of China. Now you have this rare opportunity!"
Rose's words were like a key, unlocking a tightly closed door in An Ruoxi's heart. Lustful? The women who had appeared around Qin Luo flashed through her mind: Xiang Siyi, Chen Mengyao, and just now, Ai Yiqian… This was indeed a problem.
But as Rose said, for a man in Qin Luo's position, this seems... commonplace? Moreover, compared to the enormous temptation of controlling Anbang Group, this "flaw" seems to be worthwhile.
Become the Crown Princess... marry him...
An Ruoxi's heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
This is not merely a marriage of power, but also a matter of her lifelong happiness.
She was raised by Grandpa An as his heir from a young age, and was proud and arrogant. She never imagined that her marriage would be so directly tied to interests.
But reality is cruel. Old Master An's will disrupted everything, and Blade's attitude chilled her to the bone. Wanting to reclaim what was rightfully hers, wanting to maintain control of Anbang even after losing Old Master An's protection and Blade's absolute support, seemed... to be the fastest, most effective, and most "legitimate" way.
She could marry Qin Luo, become his wife, share his power and wealth, and even… use his influence to completely subdue Qiu Qinyun and solidify her position in Anbang. As for feelings… those could be cultivated slowly. At least, she didn't dislike Qin Luo; in fact… she even… admired him somewhat.
Once the idea took root, it spread like wildfire. Power, status, her obsession with Anbang, and her fear of the uncertainty of the future intertwined, driving her to make a decision.
A brief silence fell over the car, broken only by the deep hum of the engine and the indistinct noise of the city outside the window.
After a long while, An Ruoxi slowly raised her head. The hesitation and struggle in her clear and beautiful eyes gradually faded away, replaced by a calm and sharp determination.
She glanced at Rose's expectant eyes in the rearview mirror, then at Hongxiu beside her, who was anxiously waiting. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice, though soft, carried a resolute air of determination.
"Rose is right. This might be... the best solution right now."
She didn't explicitly say "I do," but the meaning in her words couldn't be clearer.
She, An Ruoxi, decided to try her hand at becoming the "Crown Princess," for the sake of Anbang Group and for her own sake.
A relieved smile appeared on Hongxiu's face. Rose's lips also curled into a meaningful arc, her eyes flickering, as if she were plotting something.
……
On the other hand, after Qiu Qinyun finished her terrifying phone call with Prince Hui, she set off immediately without hesitation, secretly heading to a quiet and heavily guarded private villa area on the outskirts of the city.
She wanted to meet three veterans who had long since retired but still wielded significant influence within the Anbang Group.
These three are all old brothers who followed Mr. An in building the empire back then. Although they are no longer in charge of specific affairs, they have extremely high prestige inside and outside the group, and their disciples and old friends are everywhere. Sometimes, a word from them carries more weight than that of the current senior executives.
Qiu Qinyun knew all too well that her foolish son's assassination plot could be kept secret for a while, but not forever. Dao Feng was already investigating, and with his abilities and methods, he would eventually trace it back to Crown Prince Hui. What would Qin Luo's revenge be then? How would Dao Feng deal with him? Would An Ruoxi take advantage of his misfortune? She dared not imagine.
She had to speed things up and, before things were completely exposed, possess enough power to make everyone wary and hesitant to touch Prince Hui! And the core of this power was complete control of the Anbang Group! Only when she truly controlled this vast business empire and became the undisputed queen could she protect her good-for-nothing son and make Qin Luo, Dao Feng, and even An Ruoxi hesitate to act against him!
However, she doesn't yet have enough cards to play. Although she has cultivated relationships over the years and effectively controls a significant portion of the business, she is still far from having complete control of the group. An Ruoxi's side also has deep roots, and Qin Luo holds an absolute legal advantage.
She needs more and more influential supporters.
These three veterans are the key figures she must win over!
The rooftop terrace of the villa offered a panoramic view, overlooking most of the city. Qiu Qinyun stood alone by the railing, a slender cigarette between her fingers, but she didn't smoke it, letting the bluish-gray smoke drift away in the breeze.
Her beautiful face now lacked its usual charm and composure, replaced only by solemnity and deep calculation. Tomorrow was Old Master An's funeral.
As the "crown prince," Qin Luo will definitely attend.
That would be a public occasion that would bring together all of Anbang Group's top executives and informants from various factions.
That will be a crucial test of whether Qin Luo can truly "pass the test" and establish her authority in front of everyone. Similarly, it will be a key moment for her to observe the situation, judge the wind direction, and even... seek opportunities.
"Qin Luo... you'd better pull through."
Qiu Qinyun muttered to herself, her eyes cold.
"Otherwise, who knows what color the sky over Anbang would turn."
She flicked her cigarette ash, pondering how to communicate with the three elders the next day, and how to handle any possible situations at the funeral.
……
In Qin Luo's home in Fuzhou Yipin.
In stark contrast to the undercurrents and scheming outside, this place is filled with a rare, warm, and peaceful atmosphere.
In the kitchen, Ai Yiqian, wearing a clean white apron, was busy at the stove. The spatula clattered against the wok, the range hood hummed, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of food being fried.
She insisted on cooking for herself and refused Qin Luo's suggestion to have the property management deliver food or order takeout.
"Eating out is never as comfortable as eating at home. Besides, you have a back injury, so it's better to eat some light, home-cooked food."
That's what she said at the time, in a tone so natural that it was as if this were her home.
Qin Luo, shirtless and wearing only loose sweatpants, lay sprawled on the large, soft sofa in the living room. His back was covered in a black ointment he had concocted himself, which emitted a faint, bitter medicinal scent and felt cool, effectively relieving the burning pain of his wounds.
He tilted his head, his gaze passing through the open kitchen partition and landing on Ai Yiqian's slender figure, wearing an apron and busily working.
Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft golden glow on her figure. The sounds of spatulas stirring, the hum of the range hood, and the increasingly rich aroma of food filled the air... all of this combined to create a scene Qin Luo had only ever seen in her dreams or in other people's homes—a scene called "home."
A long-lost, unfamiliar yet intoxicating warmth quietly washed over his heart.
His lips unconsciously turned upwards, forming a heartfelt smile filled with happiness.
He couldn't help but stand up, tiptoe to the kitchen door, and then gently hugged Ai Yiqian's slender waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, smelling the pleasant shampoo scent in her hair and the faint smell of cooking oil on her body.
"ah!"
Ai Yiqian was startled by his sudden attack, her hand trembled, and she almost dropped the spatula.
She twisted her body and said reproachfully.
"Stop messing around! I'm cooking, the oil will splatter! Go outside and wait!"
"I'll just hug you for a little while."
Qin Luo stubbornly refused to let go. "No! Get out now!"
Ai Yiqian remained resolute and gently nudged him with her elbow.
"If you keep causing trouble, you won't get any food!"
Qin Luo reluctantly let go of her hand and was "sent" back to the living room. She lay back down on the sofa, but her eyes still followed the busy figure in the kitchen, and the smile on her face never stopped.
Not long after, Ai Yiqian came out carrying the prepared meal and placed it on the dining table in the living room. It was a simple meal, yet it looked and smelled delicious – three dishes and a soup.
Golden and tempting oysters wrapped in eggs, steamed sea bass with snow-white flesh and scallions, crisp and refreshing stir-fried water spinach, and a bowl of milky white, fragrant seafood tofu soup.
"Try it, I don't know if it suits your taste."
Ai Yiqian took off her apron and looked at Qin Luo with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
Qin Luo sat up, picked up his chopsticks, and tasted each dish. The oysters with omelet were fresh and smooth, the sea bass was tender and had no fishy smell, the water spinach was cooked to perfection, and the tofu soup was incredibly delicious.
Although it was just an ordinary home-cooked meal, for Qin Luo, who hadn't had such a "home-cooked meal" in a long time, it was undoubtedly the most delicious and heartwarming meal he had eaten in many years.
"It's delicious."
Qin Luo looked up at Ai Yiqian and spoke earnestly, his eyes gentle.
Ai Yiqian immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and a happy smile appeared on her face.
"I'm glad you like it! Then eat more!"
Qin Luo was indeed hungry, and in a good mood, he devoured all the food on the table in a flash, even drinking the soup clean.
Seeing him eat so contentedly, Ai Yiqian felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
She picked up a tissue and handed it to him.
Qin Luo took it, but instead of wiping it himself, he brought his face close to hers, blinked, and said deliberately.
"My hands are not in a good position, can you wipe them for me?"
Ai Yiqian blushed and glared at him.
"Don't you have hands?"
Even so, she still took the tissue, leaned slightly forward, and gently wiped away a little oil stain from the corner of his mouth.
Her fingertips accidentally touched his skin, bringing a slightly tingling sensation.
The two were very close, able to clearly feel each other's breath. The atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous.
Looking at Ai Yiqian's face, which was flushed with a charming blush of shyness so close to him, and at his own reflection in her clear eyes, Qin Luo suddenly felt an unprecedented surge of impulse and warmth in his heart.
He sighed softly.
"what happened?"
Ai Yiqian asked in confusion.
Qin Luo feigned a sorrowful expression, glanced around the spacious, luxurious yet empty and cold penthouse, and spoke with a hint of "regret".
"Sigh, look at this house, so big, so empty... I always feel like something's missing."
"What is missing?"
Ai Yiqian was puzzled.
"It's missing a little master."
Qin Luo looked at her, his eyes carrying a hint.
"Such a big house, without any children running around, how quiet and lifeless it is."
Ai Yiqian was taken aback at first, then realized what he meant, and her cheeks instantly turned red, like ripe tomatoes! She was so embarrassed that she pushed Qin Luo away and spat.
"You...you wish! Who...who wants to have a baby for you!"
Qin Luo was pushed away by her, but he was not angry. Instead, he pulled Ai Yiqian, who was trying to escape, back into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, preventing her from breaking free.
"What? You don't want to?"
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, bringing a tingling sensation.
Ai Yiqian was held tightly in his arms, unable to break free. She was both ashamed and anxious, her heart pounding like a drum. She could only bury her burning cheeks in his chest and protest in a muffled voice.
"You...you stop being a scoundrel! Let me go!"
But there was little real resistance in that voice; instead, it sounded more like a coquettish reluctance.
Qin Luo felt the warm, soft touch of the woman in his arms and the shy affection in her, and his smile deepened.
He knew that some seeds had been planted quietly, waiting for the right time to take root and sprout.
Qin Luo felt that the most frustrating moment of his life was yesterday in the bathroom, when he was about to take things further with Ai Yiqian, when he was abruptly interrupted by Dao Feng's death-bringing doorbell.
However, he now discovers something even more frustrating—just when you've finally calmed the frightened little deer down and the atmosphere has warmed up again, even becoming sweeter and more ambiguous, that damned doorbell rings again!
"Ding-dong—Ding-dong—!!"
In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly. On the living room sofa, Qin Luo held Ai Yiqian in his arms, enjoying a rare moment of tenderness. His fingers unconsciously twirled her soft hair, and her pleasant fragrance filled his nostrils. Ai Yiqian leaned against him, still a little shy, but no longer resisting. The atmosphere between them was peaceful and beautiful.
Just as Qin Luo felt the time was right and was about to lower his head to do something...
"Ding-dong! Ding-dong ding-dong!"
The urgent doorbell rang again at an inopportune time, and it was even more persistent than yesterday!
Qin Luo froze instantly, the veins on his forehead throbbing, feeling an inexplicable surge of anger rush to his head! Is this ever going to end?!
Ai Yiqian, who was leaning against him, was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. Her shoulders trembled slightly, clearly indicating that she was holding it in.
She looked up and saw Qin Luo's dark face and gritted teeth, which she found even more amusing. She quickly crawled out of his arms, straightened her clothes, and pursed her lips.
"I'll go open it, I'll go open it. Maybe Mr. Blade has something urgent to attend to again?" (End of Chapter)