The next morning-

Xu Nuan groaned in her sleep because of the bright sunlight that was coming from the window and was hitting her face. She yawned and tried to stretch her arms but couldn't.

She frowned and opened her eyes groggily to see Han Zihao who was hugging her while sleeping.

Her lips curled in a smile seeing his face first thing in the morning. His messy hair and morning sleepy face was a sight to behold.

How can someone look sexy even in the morning? So unfair.

When her eyes fell on his lips, her earlobes turned beet red upon remembering the events of the last night. It was quite an adventure.

Thinking about it, she started to feel hot even though the air conditioner was on. She pursed her lips to stop herself from smiling and wriggled to get out of the embrace, but he didn't loosen his grip around her waist, instead, he pulled her closer.

He grunted in sleep before opening his eyes slowly. His lips curled up to see her staring at him with her clear large eyes, " Did you sleep well?" He asked in his raspy voice.

" Oh?"

He chuckled seeing her startled and confused, he snuggled in her nape, hugged her tighter, " Sleep a bit more. We have time."

She pursed her lips seeing his spoiled side and cleared her throat before speaking, " I have time, but you don't. Don't you need to go to the office?"

He shook his head, " No, I don't. I am the President of the Company, who can dare to say anything to me?"

She scoffed at him being cocky and slapped his hand hard, " Stop acting like a child and get up already. Your family is waiting downstairs."

He looked at her with a frown but seeing her stern gaze, he gave up. However, seeing her being authoritative, he was overjoyed. It was as if they're already a married couple who're living together for years.

" I am going to take a shower first. You go after me." She removed his hand from her before slipping out of the bed.

However, as soon as she stepped down, she felt weak on her legs. They felt sore and tired. They didn't go all the way and yet she is like this. What's gonna happen when they will go all the way?

She adjusted her clothes and pulled down her t-shirt to cover her thighs and was about to enter the closet room when she heard him say, " If you're going to take a shower, why don't we take a bath together? This will not only save time but water as well. We should save the water, you know."He said with a wide grin and added, " The bathtub is quite wide too, comfortable enough for two people."

She raised brows at him and scoffed. " Aren't you being too shameless? It's morning, wake up already."

" So what? Is there a rule that we can't do 'things' in the morning? Moreover, men are quite 'active' in the morning, you know." He shrugged, leaving her speechless.

Is this the same man who used to blush at every time she came close to him and flirted with him? Where did that innocent man disappear to? Who is he?

**

A few days later,

Xu Nuan was in college, busy with her classes and never-ending assignments. In the dramas, they show the cool college life, but they never show the painful-never-ending assignments that snatch away the social life of the students from them.

She sighed while listening to the professor's lecture and took notes in her notebook. However, her attention was disrupted when her phone buzzed and a message notification appeared on the screen.

She unlocked her phone and checked the message while the professor was busy writing something on the board and had his back to them.

[ Xu Nuan, I have made some side dishes for you since you liked them the last time. I will tell Han Liang to hand it to Han Zihao, so eat well. You're too thin, you should eat well and take care of your health.]

Her lips curled into a smile upon reading Grandma Han's message. After staying at the Han Mansion the other day, she has become quite close to her and the other family members.

Although Cheng Zixing is indifferent to her, other family members not only like her but treat her as a part of their family.

**

Xu Nuan was sitting in the library and was sorting out her notes when her phone buzzed again. She frowned to see Grandfather Gu's call and wondered if everything was alright back at home.

After Han Zihao filed a complaint against Xingren, the Gu family was in chaos. The news has spread to the business circle and it is on everyone's tip that the heiress of the Gu family has tried to kill the adopted daughter of the family.

However, it hasn't been spread to everyone that the adopted daughter of the Gu family is the real Gu.

The investigation against Xingren is taking longer than expected since the evidences are unclear and not strong enough to give her a proper punishment. The audio clip that Xu Nuan posted on the forum was taken down due to the new forum policy to protect the student's private life.

And even if it was submitted to the police, it won't be strong enough to prove that the video is legit and not fake since Xu Nuan used illegal ways to extract the audio. Even though Xingren is in the city, because of the investigation she cannot leave the country yet and join the college in which Gu Zhang had made arrangements for her to study.

She sighed and went outside to pick up his call.

**

Gu Corporations,

In the meeting room, the major shareholders of the company had gathered and were wearing solemn expressions. They are all waiting for the meeting to start so that they could discuss what they had gathered for.

As they were glancing at Gu Zhang with hostile gazes, the door of the conference room was pushed open and Grandfather Gu and Xu Nuan emerged together.

Xu Nuan was gently holding onto his hand to support him to walk as he was getting old and walking has become quite a task for him. On top of that, the stressful events these days are making him even more vulnerable.

Xu Nuan saw everyone's dull expressions and pursed her lips. A while ago, when she got Grandfather Gu's call, he asked him to come to the company and attend the emergency meeting as the major shareholder of the company.

She was confused but she wasn't given much time to process the situation and had to come here immediately.

' Seems like something big has happened.' she wondered after reading everyone's grim expressions.

Grandfather Gu took his seat on the chair, in the middle of the table to head the meeting, while Xu Nuan sat on his right and Gu Zhang was sitting on his left.

" Since everyone has arrived, let's start the meeting." He said to commence the meeting.

Everyone looked at him and then Xu Nuan, who was attending the meeting for the first time as the major shareholder. They shook their heads in disappointment, wondering why he called her here.

'It's not like she can do anything to solve the problem.' They thought.

One of the shareholders looked at Grandfather Gu and started, " Mr. Gu, last time you announced that Xu Nuan is the real daughter of the Gu family and deserves the position in the company. We didn't say anything when you made her the second-biggest shareholder in the company after you."

" But what are you going to say about the situation going on now? Xingren's scandal is now being spread to everyone in the circle and her heinous actions are being looked down on by everyone."

" Because of that, the company's reputation is going downhill, after all, she was the face of the company. She not only used to work in the company, but she had led in many promoting events of the company as well. What are you going to do about that?" the man asked.

Gu Zhang clenched his fists and stared at the man coldly, but couldn't say a word. What can he say? He is in no position to make any comments.

" Mr. Gu Zhang, you need to take action to solve this situation. We can't let our money go in the drain just because of your daughter's willful act." another man voiced out.

" Yes, Yes. You need to do something to protect the company's reputation." Others also joined them, to pressure them to turn around the tides so that the situation won't affect the company's reputation further.

As they were all blaming Gu Zhang and Xingren, Xu Nuan was sitting there quietly and was watching the drama unfolding. Hopefully, now he will know that others hate Xingren as much as she does.

While everyone was busy bashing Gu Zhang and things were getting chaotic, the door of the meeting room was pushed open and the head of the IT department came running.

" Chairman, there is a problem." He went to Grandfather Gu and said while panting heavily and was breathless.

Grandfather Gu frowned seeing him worried and breathless. " What happened?"

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