Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

Seeing that no one dared to approach, Qin Ran took the contract out of the leather envelope and walked toward Yang Cheng.

Yang Cheng, seeing this, immediately started shouting. "Qin Ran, a contract should be signed under voluntary and equal conditions. Forcing me to sign your prepared contract is illegal."

Qin Ran was momentarily speechless: `...`

Taking the opportunity, Yang Cheng scrambled to his feet and then fled the Star Joy Hotel in a panic.

Qin Ran looked at the mess Yang Cheng had left on the floor, then at the contract in her hand, her face showing clear disappointment. Not wanting to waste any more time, she turned and walked out of the hotel.

Watching Qin Ran's retreating figure, Cheng Yu and Su Yue were speechless: `...`

This woman, Qin Ran, really doesn't know how to appreciate help, does she? They had just helped her, yet she didn't even say 'thank you'?

Lu Sheng, standing to the side, slightly frowned. The woman had been quick and decisive in her actions, not holding back at all, wild and fierce. But it seemed she hadn't gotten what she wanted, which was why she left with such a disappointed look.

Cheng Yu came over and complained, "Good thing you, President, stopped them from brawling. Otherwise, the lobby would be filled with people lying around, and we'd have to clean up the mess."

Lu Sheng: `...`

Su Yue, guessing cautiously, said, "President Lu, do you know that woman, Qin Ran?"

Lu Sheng gave him a cold glance. "Find out what agreement she wanted that fatso to sign."

Su Yue's eyes lit up: "Got it!"

Lu Sheng pursed his lips and turned, heading straight for the hotel entrance. He and Qin Ran were in a sham marriage, so he naturally wouldn't acknowledge her in public. But anyone who bore his name, even if it was just a label, wasn't to be bullied by others.

...

At 10 PM, Qin Ran returned to the Ren An Clinic. Though called a clinic, it mainly sold medicine, with the clinic part only treating minor ailments like colds, flu, and acne. For more serious illnesses, they recommended patients go to larger hospitals. It wasn't that Liu Ming, who was only 28, lacked skill; he had already been a chief physician at a large hospital. The main issue was their limited finances, making it hard to buy necessary medical equipment or expand their small space. Thus, the clinic focused on selling medicine, with treatment as a secondary function.

Qin Ran recounted in detail the night's events, including Yang Cheng calling seven or eight people to corner her. Zhao Lin, upon hearing this, slammed her hand on the counter in anger. "Damn scoundrel, thinking he's so great just because he has money!"

"Move! We can find another place to open the clinic! There must be somewhere in Bincheng where we can set up shop."

Though she said this, there were only three days left in the month. In three days, it would be hard to even find a location, let alone set up a new store.

"I'm sorry, I've caused trouble and disaster for the clinic," Qin Ran apologized to Liu Ming and Zhao Lin.

Zhao Lin quickly said, "Qin Ran, how can you blame yourself? It's clearly because Aunt Zhang's son saw our clinic doing well..."

"It's not like that," Qin Ran interrupted, explaining, "Do you know why Yang Cheng specifically asked for me? Because I went on a blind date with him yesterday and rejected him..."

She recounted the previous day's blind date and then, feeling extremely guilty, said, "If I had known Yang Cheng was the landlord, I would never have outright refused. I would have at least said I'd consider it and delayed until after the lease renewal before rejecting him."

"Don't blame yourself!" Liu Ming hurriedly said, "The lease renewal and your blind date with Yang Cheng are two separate things. He's angry because you rejected him. It's better to refuse such a person outright. If you had pretended, who knows if they would have pressured you to live with him right away?"

"Exactly, you can't expect someone with ill intentions to treat you normally," Zhao Lin comforted Qin Ran. "Don't blame yourself. Since it's happened, we'll face it together. Tomorrow, Liu Ming and I will ride our electric bikes to look for a new place. You come early to watch the store."

"Can we find a suitable place in three days?" Qin Ran looked at them doubtfully.

Liu Ming sighed, "I don't know, but we have to try. We'll look for two days. If nothing works, we'll move the medicine and equipment home on the last day."

"Move home? Do you have enough space?"

Liu Ming and Zhao Lin: `...`

To save money, they rented a one-bedroom apartment, which was only about 30 square meters. With furniture, it was already cramped.

"I'll take the lease back and study it, see if I can find any loopholes."

She didn't regret hitting Yang Cheng, as he deserved it. But now, they needed to solve the relocation problem. Even if Yang Cheng renewed the lease, a 50% rent increase and a year's payment upfront were unaffordable. The only hope was to see if the lease allowed any grace period for moving out.

At 10:30 PM, Qin Ran, carrying the leather envelope with the contract, stepped out of the clinic when her sister-in-law, Du Xiaomei, called.

"Qin Ran, you're impressive. You actually injured Yang Cheng. The Yang family is here, demanding you bring gifts to the hospital to apologize."

Qin Ran was willing to negotiate an extension, but apologizing was out of the question!

"He attacked first, and he called seven or eight people to corner me, a girl. The hotel has surveillance..."

Qin Ran calmly recounted the night's events.

"The Yang family says that if you sincerely apologize, everything is negotiable. Besides, your friend's pharmacy is just starting to do well. Don't you want to keep it?"

Du Xiaomei, playing the peacemaker, continued, "Qin Ran, everything has a limit. In society, you need to make friends and avoid enemies. The more friends you have, the easier life is. Haven't you heard that? Is it better to be friends or enemies with Yang Cheng?"

In Qin Ran's view, being friends or enemies with Yang Cheng was the same, and maybe being friends was worse. But she didn't say this, as she currently needed the Yang family's help.

"Sister-in-law, talk to the Yang family about extending the lease for a month. We'll move as soon as we find a new place."

"Me talk to the Yang family? Who do you think I am? Do I have that much influence?"

Du Xiaomei shouted, "Qin Ran, if you don't apologize tonight, forget about your friend affording the rent. Even if they could, the Yang family won't rent to you anymore. To save the pharmacy, dress provocatively and go please Yang Cheng. Maybe he'll reduce the rent if you make him happy..."

Qin Ran hung up before Du Xiaomei could finish. The pharmacy was important, but not to the point of compromising her body. Whether married or not, it was out of the question.