บท 20: My Yanyan

"Shall we go in?'' An Qinyan asked with a smile. She was very satisfied with her baby girl's sense of fashion.

An idea struck her. She had to go on a shopping spree with her Lanlan.

"Lanlan, let's go shopping after finishing the work at the hotel," An Qinyan said.

"But mom I have a lot of clothes back at home," An Xiulan replied with a troubled look. Could they not spend money unnecessarily on clothes? Wouldn't it be better to try the delicacies of this city first?

"Oh darling, clothes are never enough for a woman."

"President An, shall we go inside?" Her secretary asked.

An Qinyan nodded and looked at her daughter.

"Mom, no underwater—"

"Alright, I won't force you, "An Qinyan smiled as she hooped her arm into her daughter's. "I'm very happy that you came with me."

"Me too," An Xiulan smiled and walked inside.

"President An, this side, please "The hotel manager appeared and led An Qinyan to walk towards a particular side. She was asking questions while the employees following her were answering all her questions one by one.

An Xiulan was processing everything she was seeing in there while walking next to her mom. She was happy that these adults weren't trying to talk to her and were letting her fulfil her curiosity. Though she had to add that she loved this authoritative version of her mother.

If my mom was in ancient times, she would certainly be an Empress ruling her empire with an iron fist.

An Xiulan's mom filter was too thick that she failed to see anything bad about her.

"President An, it's a pleasure meeting you," An Qinyan shook hands with a man. He was a handsome man who was almost forty years old but one couldn't say that he wasn't in his mid-thirties. He had maintained himself perfectly. If he was in an entertainment circle, he would have taken it by storm.

Gu Yanzhi was the CEO of the China branch of Orchid group of hotels. He was one of the most trusted workers working under An Qinyan. From his interaction with An Qinyan, it could be seen that he was closer to her.

"Mr Gu, I must say you have done a good job here," An Qinyan said, a professional smile maintained on her face. She was a tall woman, to begin with, but in her business suit and high heels, she appeared no less dominant than the men she was surrounded by. All the best men were present in the room but their auras were subdued by her aura.

An Xiulan who was unable to see behind her mom filter said in her heart, 'My mom is so handsome and amazing.'

Gu Yanzhi and An Qinyan were doing their business talks while she was staring at the interior of the hotel lobby with her big doe eyes. She didn't realize how she was trying to etch every detail in her blank head.

"This is…"Gu Yanzhi paused in his words as his gaze fell on a pretty short girl standing beside An Qinyan. He had an idea who this girl might be but he didn't dwell on it. After all, it was none of his business.

"This is my daughter, An Xiulan," An Qinyan introduced.

An Xiulan greeted them with a polite smile on her face. Her mom had taught her how to greet these businessmen. She didn't try to use her sickly sweet voice. If it was ancient times, she would be asked to present herself as a virtuous lady but this was the era of strong and modern women like her mama.

"Hello everyone. I'm An Xiulan."

Gu Yanzhi stared at her for a moment but didn't say anything except for greeting her back and leading them to a different room. As An Xiulan was about to enter the room with her mother, he said, "You would be bored with business talks. Would you like to play with my nephew? He came with me to visit this place."

"You came with Gu Shangyan?" An Qinyan asked him in surprise. She had met that boy several times. He was a nice kid, just not a social animal.

"En, he has been studying too much recently. I want him to see more of the real world than the one he sees in his books," Gu Yanzhi replied, rubbing his forehead. "Even though we were in school once, I still don't understand what's there to study all the time." Never mind, he looked at An Xiulan and asked, "Would you play with him?"

An Xiulan blinked her eyes and glanced at her mother who nodded in return. She looked back at him and nodded her head in yes.

"Such an obedient child," Gu Yanzhi mused. He called out someone and moments later a woman came out of the conference room. "Take Miss An Xiulan to the room Shangyan is in."

An Xiulan waved goodbye to her mom and followed the secretary.

"What are you up to?" An Qinyan asked Gu Yanzhi once An Xiulan left.

He smiled and leaned ahead to whisper in her ear, "What do you think Yanyan?"

"In your limit, CEO Gu, "An Qinyan warned him and walked inside the conference room.

Gu Yanzhi sighed and stared at her retiring back. 'Callous woman.'

'Since you have returned Yanyan, there is no other option than saying yes to me. Even I want to see how long you will deny yourself. So, what if I have to turn your daughter to my side? I will leave no stone turned in making you mine this time. The past has passed. There is no point in regretting it. Why can't you understand such a simple thing, Yanyan?'