My Beloved

"Was he bullying you? Or did he threaten you?" Mo Yuan wouldn't believe that Larry would approach her with a good intention.

"No, he didn't. We were talking about my project since it was related to him. Don't ask me anymore. I cannot tell you confidential information." Han Luo poked his stomach.

Mo Yuan started. "If he tries anything…"

Han Luo sweetly smiled and assured him, "I'll take big brother Ming with me, no worries."

Mo Yuan said, "But I'll worry-"

Ring! Ring!

He wasn't able to finish his words, Han Luo's cell phone rang.

Han Luo checked her phone. Han Changhong called her. She answered the call, "Hello?"

Han Changhong asked her, "Luo'er, where are you?"

"I'm at school," Han Luo replied.

Han Changhong frowned. He thought she would be at home. "Still in the school? When will you head back home?"

"At any moment now. Is there something you want to talk about?" Han Luo asked him since he rarely called her during working hours.

Han Changhong answered, "Yes, can you come to the office?"

Han Luo replied, "Sure, I'll come right away."

"I'll be waiting for you then." Han Changhong hung up after that.

Han Luo looked at Mo Yuan and told him, "Can you take me to the office? Uncle wants to talk to me. I think it's about my work."

"Sure, let's go." Mo Yuan held her hand and the two of them went to the parking lot. He took her to the office.

Before leaving, Han Luo told him, "Go home first. Uncle's driver will send me back."

"Okay." Mo Yuan nodded.

Han Luo went to the top floor. In the past years, the company had flourished a lot. With Han Changhong, Han Cheng, and Acting Vice President Tong's hard work, they were able to take Han Corporation into the top twenty in European business. Han Changhong had to spend sleepless nights at the office to get this position.

Han Luo was greeted by Han Changhong's secretary Mrs. Kim. "Miss Han, please come this way. President Han is waiting for you at his office."

Mrs. Kim is a South Korean beauty who is around forty years old. She is a well experienced secretary and has been working for Han Changhong for fifteen years.

Han Luo followed her and then entered the President's room. She greeted him, "Uncle."

Han Changhong was working. Upon hearing her voice, he looked up and smiled. "Luo'er, you have come. Sit down."

"Thank you," saying that Han Luo sat down on a chair.

Han Changhong asked her, "Are you hungry? What about some snacks?"

"I would love to." Han Luo was hungry because she had lunch hours ago. It was almost dinner time.

Han Changhong sipped on the coffee and inquired, "…So, how have you been doing these days?" Since he was spending his days at the company, he wasn't able to meet his niece for some time now. Seeing her at his office, he suddenly felt much better.

Han Luo replied, "I'm doing good. How are you, uncle?"

Han Changhong said, "I'm busy as usual. How's your preparation for the project going?"

"It's going according to the plan." Han Luo hid the fact that she was having a second thought about the shop she wanted to use before.

Han Changhong was sympathetic toward her. She just recovered and yet she was working hard. "You know you don't have to take that much pressure."

Han Luo smiled at him. "I know but I want to do it. I want to help you lessen your pressure." She was sure if she didn't keep reminding herself about her parents, she would be spoiled rotten by her uncle. 

Han Changhong sighed. "If Sheng Ming was a little bit serious like you, I wouldn't have any worry."

"He will understand one day. You don't have to worry about him," Han Luo reassured him.

"I heard you had a negotiation with the Smith Corporation. What was it about?" Han Changhong probed. He didn't want to know more than Han Luo told him but he was getting curious.

The food was served and Han Luo took a bite out of the pizza. Upon hearing his question, she paused. "News about my project ran faster than me. It's scary."

Han Changhong laughed out loud. "Haha, nothing to be scared about. President Smith called me and let me know about his son meeting you about the project. It looks like you two are on good terms."

"That's…" Han Luo hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to tell him that she didn't have a good relationship with Larry Smith. Moreover, they became sworn enemies the moment she was drugged by him. But, she couldn't tell her uncle that she went to the nightclub at the age of fourteen. She came to a decision, 'I have to take this information to my grave.'

Han Changhong didn't notice her expression. He was in a good mood. He said, "It's all right. I understand young people. When I was young, I had many friends too. It's a good thing that you are close to President Smith's son. Keep up the good relationship. You need their help many times in the future."

"…You are right." Han Luo didn't have other options. She had to agree with him. She couldn't raise his suspicion.

Han Changhong warned her, "The Smith Corporation is the top four in the European business world. You mustn't offend them." Sometimes, he would give her information and hints about the other business companies.

Han Luo replied, "I won't." She had no interest in going against such a big company. Moreover, if she did, the Board of Directors and the shareholders wouldn't like it. Furthermore, President Luther Smith was a shareholder of this company. He had ten percent share. She wouldn't dare to offend him at any cost.

Han Changhong told his niece, "It took me a great deal to make an appointment with President Smith. And, because of you today, he called you. I'm so proud of you, Luo'er."

Han Luo's pale face flushed due to her uncle's praise. She loved it when he complimented her for the hard work. She bashfully said, "I've learned from you, uncle. I'm glad I can help you."

Han Changhong was feeling proud since she gave the credit to him. He suggested, "After the project is done, have a vacation. Do you have any plans?"

Han Luo nodded. She had already made some plans. "Yes, I have. Also, I would like to take permission to do an internship."

"In this company? Sure!" Han Changhong had no reason to disagree. More than that, he was curious to know how she would work under him.

Han Luo shook her head. "No, not here. I would like to be an intern in the Mo Corporation."

"There? Why?" Han Changhong was puzzled. He didn't expect that she would work for another company.

Han Luo had her own reason. She explained, "There the employees don't know me and I will be treated as a normal employee. Also, I think I lack more experience than my teammates. I hate that. So, I decided. I want to learn from scratch. A leader will always want to know how their subordinates work and think and how hard they work. I want to learn that."

Han Changhong understood her reason. He didn't refuse. He inquired, "Did you talk to President Mo? Did he give you permission?"

Han Luo answered, "I didn't ask him yet. I just needed your permission first."

Han Changhong carefully questioned her, "Are you sure you want to work there? What if they treat you like a spy?"

Han Luo smiled. "No, they won't. Dad isn't like that."

Han Changhong blinked. "…You call him 'dad'? Since when?" He never heard her calling Mo Zhen and Ma Rui 'mom' and 'dad'.

Han Luo replied casually, "Since we first met. They told me to call them 'mom' and 'dad'. I got used to it." Then, she took a big bite out of the pizza. It was delicious.

"They must adore you a lot then," Han Changhong commented. He didn't know why he felt something uncomfortable inside his chest.

Han Luo didn't notice the unease in his expression. Her attention was on the pizza. Without looking, she replied, "They do."

--------

Just as Han Luo said, Han Changhong's driver sent her back home. She freshened up and went to look for Noah. Noah was in his room. Seeing her come on her own, he said, "I was going to report you about this week. Why did you come?"

"I need to hire a private detective." Han Luo directly went to the business topic.

Noah was surprised to hear that. "Private detective? Why?"

"It's because of the shop." She then told him about Larry's approach.

After hearing everything Noah frowned. "Hmm… it is indeed suspicious. He wouldn't let his friend buy it at a high price but he will let you have it at the actual price. Even President Smith called President Han to tell him the news. It looks like they practically want you to have this shop. A businessman always looks for profit. For them to act like this is a bit weird, as if they have some kind of underlying intention."

Han Luo stated, "That's why I need to know more details about the shop. Without knowing anything in detail, I cannot just buy it."

Noah thought for a while and then asked, "Didn't you gather information about it before asking the owner to buy this shop?"

She replied, "I did dig some information but that was nothing suspicious."

"But, hiring a detective cost a lot more than you think. Will your budget allow it?"