Chapter 423: Who Was the Person Directing Her Life Behind the Shadows (1)

The rumbling noises of the turbulence began, and the plane began announcing instructions in both English and Chinese. There was too much clamor, and he wasn't sure if Ji Nuan had heard his words. Either way, she put on her sunglasses and did not reply.

The cabin doors opened. Ji Nuan stood up to leave without looking back.

Shen Mu hesitated for a moment before standing up to follow. However, he did not expect that Ji Nuan really had a customer she was waiting to meet. The moment she entered the airport lounge, a man around the age of thirty approached her with a smile.

Ji Nuan waved at him in greeting. When she turned back to pick up her luggage, she saw Shen Mu standing a few steps away from her. She offered him a polite, distant nod and left.

Shen Mu was about to raise his hand to say, "When you're free...," but Ji Nuan had left without allowing him even to speak.

Shen Mu's arm had stiffened in mid-lift. He placed it down with some embarrassment.

In the past, Miss Ji's character was quite amiable. Whenever she went to Mo Corporation, they would always exchange greetings, and she was always polite to him. Compared to her attitude right now, it was truly the difference between heaven and earth.

Shen Mu watched as Ji Nuan smiled and chatted with the man as they left; He could not help but lament and sigh in his mind. He did not say more and directly stepped out of the airport lounge.

"When I heard from Vice-CEO Xia that you were planning to return home, I thought it would take you months of preparation. I'm surprised that you came back so quickly." The man by Ji Nuan's side instructed his secretary to receive her luggage. He then walked by her side to chat with her.

"I didn't plan to return so quickly. In the past few years, I've already grown used to living in England." Ji Nuan curved her lips into a smile: "But Xia Tian is about to pop. I can't possibly continue my leisurely days in England alone. If I don't take over the business here in Hai City, she might be fussing even as she gives birth."

"Who said that you've been living leisurely in England? Those people only know of your achievements today. They don't understand the life you've been leading in England for the past three years."

Ji Nuan chuckled: "Everyone has to face their own set of struggles. I was lucky to overcome them in a short amount of time. If it wasn't for you, Mr. Vinse, for always helping with contractual complications and resource competition issues, I could never have established my career so quickly. Come to think of it, I truly have many people to thank. On the one hand, Mr. Zand can be considered my partner. On the other hand, he is also my mentor and has taught me a lot about business. As for Mr. Vinse, you are truly my benefactor..."

"Who are you calling your benefactor? Aren't we considered close confidantes?" The man by her side gave her a meaningful glance.

The secretary by Mr. Vinse's side was not the same secretary from three years ago. This current secretary had seen the effort Mr. Vinse had been making for the past three years as he requested for frequent overseas trips to England. Although it was obvious that Mr. Vinse had taken those trips as an excuse to see Ji Nuan, Ji Nuan always appeared ignorant of Mr. Vinse's intentions. Their relationship had gradually grown better, but she continued treating him like a business partner and friend. For the past three years, she had never taken him out of the friendzone.

One truly could not tell if Miss Ji was lacking in emotional intelligence, or if her standards were too high, it was unbelievable that her heart was unmoved.

Hearing the words 'close confidantes,' Ji Nuan's brows lifted slightly. She smiled and glanced at the weather through the windows: "Hai City's weather in June always rises above thirty degrees Celsius. We haven't even stepped out, and I already feel assaulted by the heat. Am I overdressed?"

Mr. Vinse did not cling onto the previous topic. In the past few years, he had grown to understand Ji Nuan's character well. Her heart was set on her career, and her emotional side had taken a backseat. She was indifferent to the matters between a man and a woman but did not intentionally avoid anything. It was as though she was truly uninterested.

Anyway, there weren't any stubborn suitors by her side. The stubborn ones had already been chased off by her and there was absolutely no need for him to interfere. He had also been single for many years and was already used to Ji Nuan's way of interacting as friends.

Her heart was unmoved, and he wasn't in any rush.

"London's weather is too cold and too humid. It's been a while since you last experienced the weather in Hai City. You're indeed slightly overdressed. Do you want to change? I'll wait for you." Mr. Vinse glanced at the long-sleeve shirt and jeans Ji Nuan was wearing and indicating for his secretary to hand Ji Nuan's luggage over.

"How about you leave first? I'll call a car after I'm done changing. I flew from London to Hai City, while you flew from Hong Kong to Hai City. This was simply a coincidental meeting at the airport. Earlier, I heard from your secretary that you landed here three hours ago. If I had known, I wouldn't have made you wait. It isn't right for me to keep you waiting any longer." Ji Nuan took off her sunglasses and placed them in her bag, glancing around in search of a restroom as she spoke.

"There aren't any important matters to deal with at the company today. How long could you possibly take to change? I'll wait for you." Mr. Vinse stood in his position and pointed toward the left-hand side. "Over there."

Ji Nuan looked toward the direction he indicated and saw that there was a restroom there.

She smiled and nodded politely to Mr. Vinse, before pushing her luggage to the restroom.

Ten minutes later, Ji Nuan stepped out of the restroom in a new set of clothes. She swapped her light striped blouse and jeans for a vibrant red, spaghetti-strapped dress. Her shoulder-length hair had been carelessly twisted into a bun, revealing her snow-white collarbone and neck. She appeared refreshing and laid-back and was unintentionally seductive.

She had planned to give Xia Tian a call after changing. After all, Xiao Ba had returned a few days ago with the rest, and she needed to report her safe return to them. Before she could do so, she lifted her eyes to see that Mr. Vinse was still patiently waiting for her at the same spot.

Mr. Vinse had seen Ji Nuan's new outfit from afar and was giving her an admiring and appreciative smile. As Ji Nuan approached, his secretary took the initiative to receive her luggage from her. Around them, the passersby could not help but admire the beautiful woman dressed in red.

It was rare to see a beautiful woman with such wonderfully white skin. Furthermore, the woman had an attention-drawing temperament. She was beautiful in a modest way and was not conceited from her beauty. Her unaffected and composed temperament led many men to stumble in surprise at the sight of her.

Even Secretary Yang could not help but give Miss Ji a second look. It was no wonder that a man like Mr. Vinse, who was a long-time bachelor, would be completely defeated by Ji Nuan.

Someone like Miss Ji truly had the capital...