Chapter 481: Do You Really Want Me to Be Your Stepmother?

Xiao Luye sneered and said, not continuing the subject, "My father flew into a rage after you hurt yourself today at the birthday party. I hadn't seen him so angry for years. So, Mo Jingshen took you to the hospital and had you bandaged?"

"Yes, my wounds were all sterilized and medicated. Nothing serious," Ji Nuan said flatly. "Sorry for troubling you and your father."

"Not at all. Miss Ji, can you come to visit us when you have time?"

"...CEO Xiao, I'm not a curious person, but I wonder why you are so concerned about me? After all, I don't know you and Mr. Xiao very well. It makes sense that you invited me this time because you invited all celebrities in Hai City, but why did you take me to see Mr. Xiao? Now you're inviting me to dinner at your house. Do you really want me to be your stepmother?"

Xiao Luye sneered again. "You just think too much."

"What else am I supposed to think? Is it because your father is fond of me and wants to take me as his nominal foster daughter? But I don't think it's possible. After all, we haven't even met before. How can he be fond of me? The Ling Xiao Group is so successful that many people are eager to establish a relationship with you. Why does a person who didn't even meet me suddenly be so interested in me? What do you think I should think?"

Xiao Luye didn't explain but simply said, "OK, go to bed early."

Ji Nuan said, 'Thank you' and hung up before he did. She threw the cell phone on the bed and looked down at it, whose screen was already dimmed, thinking about what had happened at the party today.

The way Mr. Xiao looked at her...

Ji Nuan pondered and suddenly felt like calling Ji Hongwen but gave up after she looked at the time.

It was so late that Dad must be sleeping.

—-

The stadium renovation project entrusted by the government started. The planning scheme, personnel, and financial and material resources had been in place, except that the project kickoff date hadn't been determined.

Ji Nuan didn't go to the government recently. In fact, she rarely showed up unless the leaders required her to. Although this was an important project of the government, she made as few appearances as possible for the project.

Xiao Ba took a group of people to inspect the old site of the stadium. She spent several hours there and didn't return until the afternoon. Sweating all over and looking exhausted, she handed her a camera full of photos.

Ji Nuan plugged the camera's memory card into her computer and examined the photos they had taken.

Xiao Ba went back to her office, took a shower, rested for half an hour, and then came back. "By the way, Boss, I met the leaders of the municipal government at the construction site today, and they said that since the project has been finalized by both the provincial and municipal governments, you don't have to hold meetings in the municipal government and that we could choose a place for discussion with the person in charge of the construction bureau and other partners. Then, the head of the construction bureau said they were too far away from the stadium and planned to move all future meetings on the stadium project to the Shine Group, which means, Boss, if you continue to track the progress of this project, you'll have to go to the Shine Group's office building with the people of the construction bureau."

Ji Nuan continued to stare at the photos on the screen and said calmly, "I see."

Seeing her make no complaint, Xiao Ba stared at her face for a while but failed to see any emotion from her face.

Yes, since the government leaders and the head of the construction bureau had decided it, nothing could be changed. Even if Ji Nuan didn't like it, she couldn't do anything about it.

"Well, Boss, the head of the construction bureau said there would be a meeting this Friday. Let's go to the Shine Group at the appointed time?"

"OK." Ji Nuan still looked at the computer's screen.

Xiao Ba didn't dare to disturb her anymore and walked away.

After the office's door was shut, Ji Nuan looked at the pictures of the construction site on the screen, rubbing her temples and letting out a long breath.

The Shine Group's headquarters was the former Mo Corporation. It was still in its original location but had been renovated and upgraded. It used to be tall, but now it was even taller and was a building that incorporated a lot of modern high-tech designs. The people of the construction bureau wanted to visit the building, so they made an excuse, but why did they involve her?

She had long heard that the construction bureau's director for this project was a bit whimsical and did whatever he liked. They could just hold the meeting in the construction bureau. Why did they have to go to the Shine Group?

Now, this stadium project had become a great chance for the cooperation partners to curry favor with the Shine Group. She really wanted to thank the construction bureau's head for his "perfect arrangement"!

...

Two days later, Friday.

The Shine Group's office building in Hai City.

Ji Nuan got out of the car and looked at the imposing and towering building. She hadn't been here for a long time.

After returning to China, she seldom passed by this main street and this square, so she could not see the difference between Shine Group and the Mo Corporation of three years ago. Now it seemed that although it was still the same place, the difference was really great.

Xiao Ba followed Ji Nuan out of the car, and Deputy Director Chen, the director of the construction bureau for the project, happened to arrive too. Seeing Ji Nuan, he came to shake hands with her with a smile. "CEO Ji, you came just on time. I heard that several roads closed to the MN Group are being renovated, which leads to serious traffic jams in the west part of the city, but you still arrived so early."

Ji Nuan nodded at him, gently shook hands with him, and withdrew her hand politely. "It's OK. The traffic was not so bad on my way here. I didn't dare to be late for the first meeting of the Shine Group."

"Oh? Is it your first time to Shine?" Deputy Director Chen said, smiling.

Ji Nuan didn't look at him, nor said much but glanced in. "Let's go in."

"OK. OK," Deputy Director Chen said and gestured his subordinates to follow up.

They walked into the office building of Shine and immediately felt a refreshing coolness inside, although it was 30 degrees outside. Shen Mu had been waiting for them with the relevant personnel and came out to meet them as soon as he spotted them.