RMM -Chapter 358 Side Story: Liang Bo’an (Part 4)

“Why are you here?”

Qi Ran’s eyes widened, and the words slipped out before she could stop them.

The two people who had come to visit Qi Ran’s daughter hadn’t even had a chance to speak when they heard her voice, slightly out of control. They all widened their eyes in curiosity and turned to look at Liang Bo’an beside her.

Who is this person to make Qi Ran so visibly shocked?

Liang Bo’an shrugged casually, expressionless, and said, “You left your phone in my car.”

The implication was clear: I brought your phone to you—don’t act ungrateful.

Qi Ran heard his explanation and, seeing the phone in his hand, finally allowed herself a quiet sigh of relief—she was just glad it wasn’t anything worse.

“Thank you. It’s fine now, I won’t trouble you any longer.”

She snatched the phone from his hand and began ushering him out, even though she herself was about to head downstairs; she insisted that Liang Bo’an leave first.

The others looked on, confused. They didn’t know who Liang Bo’an was, nor did they understand why Qi Ran was suddenly behaving so unusually. Anyone with eyes could tell that Qi Ran felt a strong sense of tension and caution around this man.

Who is he? What does he have to do with Qi Ran?

As they wondered, the middle-aged man beside Qi Ran—her father—slightly changed his expression, a glimmer of recognition in his eyes as he looked at Liang Bo’an.

It was obvious he recognized Liang Bo’an: the rising star of the city’s business world. Although he hadn’t been in the city long, his rapid rise had startled everyone—it was a force suddenly emerging that could not be underestimated.

Such a person should have been the center of attention, yet he was unlike others: extremely low-profile, never granting interviews, never appearing in public media, showing up only when work demanded it. He was regarded as a mysterious business genius.

Qi Yuanze had met him once at a social event—two years ago—and it was understandable not to recognize him at first glance.

He wondered what conflict Liang Bo’an might have with his daughter.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be reacting as though facing a formidable enemy. He knew his daughter was usually extremely headstrong and defiant, which often worried him endlessly.

Everyone else was silently speculating, yet none dared to ask aloud, simply watching the interaction between the two main figures.

So strange… there must be some unspeakable secret between these two.

Qi Ran’s two friends were silently thinking, brimming with curiosity.

After hearing Qi Ran’s dismissal, Liang Bo’an’s expression turned cold, his eyes deepening. Clearly, he hadn’t expected that after he had gone out of his way to return her phone, she would be so ungrateful and rudely send him away.

At this moment, everyone overlooked the little girl in Qi Ran’s arms, who had silently opened her eyes, staring blankly at Liang Bo’an.

The little girl was beautiful—no, “stunning” might be more accurate. Her delicate features resembled Qi Ran’s, and she would likely be just as striking when she grew up.

Yet no one noticed the slight upward tilt of her eyes, resembling someone’s charming peach-blossom gaze. Now wide open, her pupils starkly black and white, glistening with faint tears. Her curled, thick lashes quivered subtly, and her small, rosy mouth pressed into a tight line, making her look utterly wronged and innocent.

Liang Bo’an’s cold gaze unexpectedly met hers.

Seeing her distressed little face, for some reason, his heart suddenly ached.

A strange sensation surged through him, leaving his mind momentarily blank. Looking at the girl, the feeling only grew stronger.

His hand twitched at his side, but he steadied it, making no further move.

Taking a deep breath, he diverted his gaze from the girl and looked at Qi Ran, whose brows were furrowed tightly. In a low voice, he said, “In that case, this will be the last time we meet.”

Suppressing the unusual feeling rising in his chest, he turned to leave.

The sensation had been too intense; another glance at the little girl, and he feared he might lose control and pick her up.

He inwardly scoffed at himself: Liang Bo’an, overwhelmed by a little girl… running off so hastily.

What he didn’t see was that the girl suddenly opened her eyes even wider, biting her lip, her small, wronged expression like a forsaken kitten. Her tearful eyes glistened even more, on the verge of crying, tugging at anyone’s heart.

“Uncle… are you my dad?”

Liang Bo’an pressed the elevator button, suddenly hearing a clear yet timid voice.

Thump!

In that instant, his heart skipped like thunder, his rhythm thrown off, fingers trembling slightly.

“Xiao Ci! What nonsense are you saying!” Qi Ran scolded sharply, her tone fierce.

“I’m not… I want Daddy…”

The little girl, Xiao Ci, could no longer hold back. She hadn’t cried when her cast was applied, but now tears poured like broken pearls.

…Qi Ran opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. Seeing her daughter’s pitiful face, a pang of sorrow rose in her heart. The last thing she wanted was to see her usually cheerful daughter crying.

Her face was full of pain and guilt as she gently comforted her daughter. Qi Yuanze, seeing his precious granddaughter cry, was also heartbroken and hurried to soothe her.

Qi Ran’s two friends stood quietly, lowering their presence, bewildered. How had it come to this? Everything seemed stranger and stranger…

Listening to the girl’s sobs, Liang Bo’an’s expression was unreadable. Hesitation flickered in his eyes. He didn’t understand why the girl called him “Daddy,” but he couldn’t deny that hearing it in her soft voice made his heart tremble uncontrollably.

In the end, he didn’t leave. A growing sense of attachment and worry gripped him, tying his feet, making him want to look back at the girl once more.

Later, Liang Bo’an would repeatedly feel fortunate that he had stopped and looked back. Otherwise… who knew what he might have lost.

Upon returning his gaze, he sensed something off.

The pitiful little girl looked strangely familiar, and her tears evoked a strong, direct emotional response in him.

“You called me Daddy?”

His thoughts stirred, a gentle smile curling on his lips. He took two steps forward and softly spoke to Xiao Ci.

“No, she didn’t call you that. You misunderstood.”

Liang Bo’an’s words barely fell when Qi Ran reacted sharply, as if pricked by a needle, her voice rising in alarm.

With a lifted brow, Liang Bo’an’s gaze grew complex, though his smile remained gentle.

“I think there’s something between us we need to talk about in detail.”

He turned his eyes to Qi Ran, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.