Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!
Chapter 80

Chapter 80: 80

Mo Ran leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. The weight of maintaining the company’s trajectory was one he carried willingly, but tonight, it felt heavier than usual. He glanced at the clock—just past midnight.

He reached for his phone, intending to check for any updates from the overseas team, but the device buzzed in his hand before he could unlock it. The screen lit up with a familiar name.

Yan.

Mo Ran’s brow furrowed as he answered. "What is it?"

"Sir," Yan’s calm, measured voice came through the line. "I’ve just finished speaking with your wife. She’s requested my assistance with monitoring the Nangong estate."

Mo Ran’s grip on the phone tightened slightly. "Go on."

"She’s concerned about her mother’s well-being under Nangong Jiantao’s care," Yan continued. "She’s asked for detailed reports on the estate’s operations, her mother’s condition, and any interactions that could raise suspicion."

Mo Ran leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. "And you’ve already begun?"

"Yes, sir. Preparations are underway. I’ll provide updates to both you and Madam Mo as soon as I have anything substantial."

"Make sure nothing is overlooked," Mo Ran said, his voice firm. "Lixue’s concerns aren’t unfounded. I want everything documented—her mother’s care, Jiantao’s movements, even the staff’s behavior. If there’s a single misstep, I want to know about it."

"Understood," Yan replied.

Mo Ran ended the call and set the phone down, his mind already turning over the implications. Lixue’s decision to involve Yan spoke volumes about her state of mind. She was careful, deliberate, and deeply unsettled.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the city lights outside his office window. There was no room for mistakes, not when it came to Lixue or her mother.

Narrowing his eyes, Mo Ran reached for his laptop again, pulling up a private file. If the Nangong estate became a problem, he would need contingencies—and he wasn’t a man who left anything to chance.

Mo Ran’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as his thoughts shifted from corporate matters to more personal concerns. He pulled up a series of encrypted files from his secure network—documents regarding the Nangong family and their history, particularly Jiantao’s involvement in the more shadowy aspects of the family’s dealings. He had gathered intelligence on them over the years, but there were always gaps, always risks.

He opened the most recent intelligence report on Nangong Jiantao, his eyes scanning the summary. The patriarch of the Nangong family was a figure both revered and feared. On the surface, his wealth and power were built on years of strategic alliances, but beneath that was a network of manipulations and a long history of questionable decisions. Mo Ran had kept a close eye on him for years, knowing the potential leverage Jiantao could wield over Lixue, should the situation ever call for it.

Mo Ran’s gaze darkened as he read further. Jiantao had always maintained a carefully constructed public image, but there were whispers of things better left in the shadows—things that could compromise Lixue’s safety and peace of mind if left unchecked. His mind ran through several possible scenarios where Jiantao might try to exploit Lixue’s vulnerability. Even with the power he wielded, Mo Ran wasn’t naive enough to ignore the danger.

His phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t a call from Yan—it was a message. The name on the screen was a reminder of how deeply this situation ran: Nangong Jiantao. Mo Ran hesitated for only a moment before he opened the message.

"Mo Ran, I trust you’ve heard the news regarding my daughter’s situation. I’ve made arrangements to provide the best possible care for her. You know I have a vested interest in seeing her thrive under my roof. Don’t worry, I’m handling things personally."

The message was as cryptic as it was ominous. Jiantao’s words were meant to reassure, but Mo Ran didn’t trust them for a second. The phrasing, the undertone—it all screamed of a man who was carefully maneuvering for something. He was not as transparent as he claimed.

Mo Ran leaned back, digesting the message. The protective instinct toward Lixue stirred again, and the weight of the situation settled heavily on his shoulders. He couldn’t afford to underestimate Nangong Jiantao. No one, not even someone like him, could be trusted when it came to family—especially not when it came to Lixue.

His mind raced as he formulated a plan. Yan would be invaluable in gathering information, but it was Mo Ran’s next moves that would determine how this played out. He needed to get ahead of Jiantao’s potential moves before Lixue was caught in the crossfire. He quickly jotted down a few notes—names to follow up on, people to bring in, and most importantly, contingencies to put in place if things went south.

There was no room for hesitation.

Mo Ran’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone vibrating again. He picked it up, but this time it was a call from his assistant, Kwan.

"Sir, we’ve got a situation on the Shanghai merger," Kwan’s voice crackled through the line. "There’s been a delay in the final documentation, and the partner company is requesting a meeting to iron things out. They’re demanding immediate attention."

Mo Ran’s jaw tightened. He had anticipated delays in the merger process, but not this level of urgency. He glanced at the clock—he had only a few hours before the meeting with his board, and now this.

"Reschedule the board meeting. Move all of my morning commitments. Get me the details on the delay, and prepare for a direct negotiation with them. I want this sorted before we proceed further," Mo Ran replied sharply, his voice betraying no hint of the personal tension gnawing at him.

"Yes, sir. I’ll handle it immediately," Kwan confirmed.

Mo Ran ended the call and stared at the screen for a moment longer, lost in thought. The day had only just begun, and already, there were multiple fires to put out. Yet, amidst it all, his thoughts returned to Lixue—her worries, her decision to reach out to Yan, and the mounting pressure of ensuring her mother’s well-being.

He wasn’t a man prone to indecision, but with everything unfolding around him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something larger was at play. It wasn’t just about family anymore—it was about power, control, and the shifting dynamics of everyone involved.

He stood from his desk, straightening his jacket. His next steps had to be measured. He needed to protect Lixue, to keep her grounded amidst the chaos, while ensuring that Jiantao’s hidden motives didn’t put her at further risk.

With the quiet determination that had always driven him, Mo Ran prepared for the challenges ahead. The stakes were higher than ever before, and this time, he wouldn’t allow anyone to use his wife—or her family—for their own advantage.

He had too much to lose.

Mo Ran sat back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he scanned the financial reports in front of him. The office was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of keyboards and the occasional murmur of his team in the next room. It was well past midnight, and he had long since lost track of time, fully immersed in the task at hand. The merger with one of their biggest competitors was hitting a critical phase, and every decision made now would ripple through the company for years to come.

"Have we finalized the terms with the logistics partners?" Mo Ran asked, his voice crisp and businesslike.

One of his senior managers, Liu, looked up from his computer. "We’ve secured preliminary agreements, but the final paperwork needs approval from their legal department. They’ve flagged a couple of clauses that could cause delays if we don’t address them by morning."

Mo Ran nodded, his gaze already shifting to the clock on the wall. They had no time to waste. "Get their legal team on a conference call, have them escalate it. Push for a resolution by morning. This needs to close this week, no exceptions."

Liu didn’t hesitate. "Understood, I’ll get on it right away."

Mo Ran turned his attention back to his laptop, flipping through a series of market analysis reports for a new expansion in the Southeast. The competition in the region was fierce, but Mo Ran had already set his sights on a strategic partnership that could guarantee dominance for the next five years.

His phone buzzed again, but this time, it was an alert from his investment team. A series of fluctuations in the stock market threatened one of his personal holdings. He quickly skimmed the report, making mental calculations. A pullback was inevitable, but the timing could offer them a chance to acquire more assets at a lower price.

"Set up a call with the investment board. We need to make a move while prices are still in our favor," he instructed, before pushing his chair back slightly. The decisions came fast and without pause, but Mo Ran thrived in the pressure. His ability to think on his feet had always been one of his greatest strengths, and tonight, it was no different.

He glanced at the pile of unopened emails and the messages piling up in his inbox. There was a full slate of negotiations scheduled for the morning, and by the looks of it, a few more crises to resolve before the day even began. But his mind was already working through strategies, looking for solutions before problems had even fully materialized.