Never Too Far Novel

“Ruka, you’re so amazing for chasing Mia away. We’ll be best friends from now on, so let’s get along!” Michelle suddenly acted friendly to her.

“That’s because she has a powerful background, all right?” Inara scoffed.

“Can you tell us who is behind you?” Michelle asked boldly.

Ruka raised her head and said, “I don’t have anyone supporting me, so stop guessing.”

“We’re all just rookies. I don’t know how hard we have to work to get to Miss Parfait’s position one day!” Michelle ranted.

Ruka didn’t reply. Just then, her phone rang. When she took a look, she hurriedly reached out to pick up the call. “Hello?”

“Mr. Husson is going to the Translation Department soon. If you see him, please keep your distance, Miss Singed.” Elijah’s voice sounded from the other end.

Ruka’s heart throbbed suddenly. “Isn’t he having a fever?”

“It’s about work, so he has to come over personally.”

“All right, I understand. Please take good care of him.” Ruka nodded.

At the office, Victoria received a call as well, and a flash of happiness appeared in her originally moody eyes as she said in a low voice, “Really? He wants to take the guests on a tour around the Translation Department?”

“Victoria, you have to calm down. Don’t overreact,” Victoria’s superior instructed on the other end. Clearly, he knew about Victoria’s admiration for Ren.

“All right, I understand. I’ll do my job well.” When Victoria hung up and put down the phone, she opened her drawer and took out an exquisite cosmetic bag inside. When she saw her sleep-deprived eyes in the mirror, she hurriedly reapplied her makeup. She had to give Ren a good impression.

However, she suddenly recalled something, and her eyes turned downcast. Even if Ren was really just coming to work, and even if he looked forward to seeing Ruka more, she would greet him in her best condition.

In the office, Ruka was a little absent-minded. As they were still interns, everyone was lazing around. Michelle was reading novels, Inara was texting someone, and only Caspian was putting an effort to read something by the side.

Suddenly, her phone beeped with a notification from a text message. When she hurriedly took a look, she saw that it was sent by an unknown number.

‘Hey, Ruka. Are you free tonight? I’d like to treat you to a meal.’

Just when Ruka was wondering who the sender was, she looked up and saw Caspian quietly beckoning at her. She couldn’t help but chuckle. So, it’s him.

She gave it some thought. As she had to take care of Ren that night, she wasn’t free. She replied to Caspian, ‘Let’s leave it for next time! I happen to have something to do tonight.’

Caspian pursed his lips, obviously still unwilling to give up and replied, ‘Your birthday is tomorrow, so I’m thinking of treating you to dinner in advance.’

Ruka was taken aback. She had just remembered that her birthday was tomorrow. She had actually completely forgotten about it.

‘Thank you, but I really have an urgent matter to attend to tonight. After my birthday, I’ll treat you to dinner.’ Ruka was grateful that he remembered her birthday.

After Caspian read the message, a hint of disappointment flashed past his eyes, but he soon smiled slightly at her.

Ruka’s cell phone rang again. When she glanced at it, her heart pounded. It was a message from Ren that said, ‘I’m going to show some guests around the Translation Department. I’ll be reaching soon.’

Ruka’s breathing quickened slightly as her face flushed red, and even her hands turned a little sweaty from nervousness. She was a little flustered to meet him in a place with so many people, fearing that the others might notice something.

Ruka didn’t want to go out to see him at first, but when she recalled that he was working while being ill that day, she felt a little worried about him, so she decided to get up after a brief moment of hesitation. However, just then, Theodore rushed over from the outside and announced loudly, “Breaking news! Mr. Husson will be showing some guests around the Translation Department soon, and he’ll be here soon.”

“Ahh!” A scream could be heard as Inara stood up exaggeratedly, holding her head. “I forgot to wash my hair last night, and I forgot to put on makeup today. Ahh! I forgot to bring my makeup bag too. Michelle, hurry up and lend me yours!”

“I have to touch up my makeup! Hold on!” Saying that, Michelle hurriedly took her makeup bag out and carefully inspected her appearance in the mirror.

Just then, Inara turned to look at Ruka. “Ruka, did you bring any makeup? Lend me some.”

Ruka shook her head. “I didn’t.” She had never brought these things to work, and except for some lip balm, she was completely barefaced that day.

She hadn’t gotten enough sleep at all, so she had only gotten up after her alarm had rang three times this morning and left in a hurry after washing her face.

In the end, Inara borrowed Michelle’s makeup bag and set it on the table before she began to apply her makeup seriously. Theodore couldn’t help but comment disdainfully, “Girls really are troublesome. Besides, is there any difference even if you don’t put on makeup? Mr. Husson won’t spare you another glance!”

“What do you know about this? Even if he doesn’t, we have to look our prettiest when he walks past us,” Michelle rebuked.

“I’d be happy for an entire year if he looked at me even once,” Inara added while she was hurriedly drawing her eyeliner.

Ruka clasped her hand over her mouth, holding her laughter back.

“You have to learn from Ruka. Look, isn’t she still pretty without any makeup?”

Ruka had been covering her mouth to stifle her laughter in the first place, so the others instantly caught her smiling expression when they suddenly glared at her.

Michelle looked at her. “You think this is funny?”

Ruka pursed her lips and shook her head. “I’m not laughing at you guys.”

“Ruka looks really pretty even without makeup.” Caspian took advantage of the opportunity and praised her.

“I think Ruka has the highest possibility of catching Mr. Husson’s attention among the three of you. After all, she’s a natural beauty.” Theodore provoked the other two women on purpose.

Ruka jolted in surprise before she hurriedly waved her hands. “All right, stop talking about me.”

Finally, Inara was satisfied with her makeup. After she and Michelle inspected each other, she got up and asked, “Does anyone want to go and see Mr. Husson? Let’s go together!”

“I’m not going. You guys can go ahead.” Ruka raised her head and replied.

“All right, I’m not going as well. I’ll stay back with you,” Caspian said.

After the others eagerly left, Caspian furtively sized Ruka up, who was holding her chin in a daze. The sunshine trickled in from the window and shone on her face, causing her fair and delicate features to stand out even more. Her beauty truly was pure, natural, and immaculate.

Caspian couldn’t help but stare at her, his heart pounding hard as he secretly thought to himself that he must get his hands on Ruka.

Although Ruka said she didn’t want to go out to see Ren on the surface, she felt differently on the inside. She wanted to go. She wanted to rush into the crowd to see him now, to look at his handsome appearance, and to watch him receiving his guests calmly and gracefully.

Just then, around eight cars arrived in the parking lot, and Ren alighted from one of the cars. He walked up to two older foreign guests, communicating fluently with them while showing them the way in.

The group walked toward the main hall of the Translation Department, where Victoria was already beautifully dressed and was waiting with the other two heads of the department. When she looked at the man walking by, her chest throbbed violently. Whenever this man appeared, he would always make her go insane from admiration. People always said that one shouldn’t meet someone who was too outstanding as it would hurt one for a lifetime if one couldn’t be with them. Victoria was in this exact situation—the person she liked was just too outstanding.

When Ren walked over, the two superiors next to Victoria immediately stepped forward and shook hands with him respectfully, then shook hands with the guests one by one before entering the main hall.

In a garden nearby, Inara and Michelle could only look at him from afar, but they were already holding each other in excitement.

“He’s too handsome. It’s like he descended from heaven!” Inara gasped with a look of admiration.

“I really hope that I’d be lucky enough for him to look at me.” Michelle clasped her hands together. “Please give me some luck!”

Inara discreetly sized Michelle up and thought to herself that she would be the one scoring a glance from Ren, given she was the better-looking one.

every second, entirely spellbound. Back in the office, Ruka couldn’t bear a second longer here, so she excused herself to go to the restroom. However, the direction she was heading was toward the main hall. Just as she entered the

that could only be known as a fan girl, she poked her head out from the pillar and watched the tall man communicating with the guests from a dozen meters away. The man at work gave off a distinct quality, a riveting one. Even when standing next to the taller foreign guests, the man still didn’t lose out, as he exuded a captivating presence in the midst of his cheerful conversation. If the people around him were like the

this moment that Ruka had a thought: Why did the man feel distant even though he was just mere meters away from her? But, she knew very well why. The distance she felt came from the difference in their identities, in their social status in society. With how dignified and distinguished the man was, he was in a far higher position than that of a common man. On the other hand, she was just part of the

the pillar, having no notable achievements under her belt, her future remained blank. With all these facts,

was to spend a few years in the Translation Department, as it would help her to get into the Public Relations Department. This way, she would be able to work with her parents and even take care of them in the future. Unaware she was completely dazed, she came back to her senses to find that the group of people was already close to her. Panicked, as she couldn’t continue being sneaky behind the pillar, she walked out from behind the pillar and stood at the side with her head

though her appearance had drowned out the voices of his guests, he smiled delightedly. Just then, she coincidentally raised her head to find he was smiling at her. The two made eye contact with one another among the crowd. One pair of eyes was captivating and

the first to lower her head, as she didn’t dare to continue being frivolous with him, especially at such a time. The consequences should they were found to be doing

the man had filled her heart to the brim. She had never felt like this before. Even when she had a crush on other boys in the past, it wasn’t as strong

sharp glare at her. The moment she turned her head

empty corners. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Ruka, I’m warning you. Stay away from him.

as the latter’s gaze indicated to her that she wanted to kill

world about your relationship. By then, he will be subjected to the public’s malice. After all, who would protect a man who would even go after his sister’s goddaughter? Not only will his morality and character be questioned, but it’ll

a knife that had stabbed right at

gave her warning, she left Ruka and went back to Ren’s

though she just had a near-death experience. Momentarily losing the strength in her knees, she held onto the wall for support. She thought back on how cold and harsh Victoria’s words were, as though they were meant to rob her life with every word she said. Making him the subject

wall for some time when one of the cleaning ladies came over and asked in

office’s direction with her head hung. She couldn’t help but stumble on the way back, so she decided to head into the restroom to refresh herself. As she washed her face, she noticed droplets of water running down her cheeks. Though she was unsure if it was the water from the tap or tears from within, she pursed her lips and desperately

one of the lounges of the Translation Department. After the guests were served tea, Ren came out

the nearby employees, the said employee showed them to Ren’s desired destination, to which the latter followed

from the restroom. Upon opening the door to the internship office, she found Caspian reading

took a seat by the door before she shook

brought her mug and gave it to her. “Here,

Ruka took a sip of water, Caspian’s eyes lit up with hints of shyness. He then went back to his desk and took out a beautifully wrapped box from the drawer before walking

immediately stood

if it’ll be to your liking,” Caspian explained while

and grateful. However, as she had forgotten to close the office door, there was a tall attractive figure standing just outside. The man did not enter the office, but merely stood outside and watched Caspian shyly handing Ruka

small token of appreciation, so just accept it.” Caspian was determined in handing

eyes of the figure outside the office, Caspian and Ruka locked eyes with one another. Although Ruka hesitated slightly, she accepted the gift in the end. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll like

happy like a child. “Can

react, as Caspian had already put his arms around her. After a brief moment where she rested her head on the man’s shoulder, he let her

confession, as Caspian’s confession came out of left field for

that a shriek came

to women coming through the door, both Ruka and Caspian turned toward the door and saw Ren standing outside through the glass. Immediately, Ruka widened

a door between them, Ruka could feel Ren’s fervent gaze on her, as though he was

looked at him, he was met with an authoritative gaze, one that gave him chills, as Ren

a brief second, Ren left. Following his departure,

him up close! If we knew that he would be here, why did we

handsome. Who can resist such an

Startled, she immediately picked it up from the floor and returned to her seat all the while in a panic. Does that mean he saw Caspian confessing to me? Fraught with anxiety, she had the urge to run after Ren to explain the situation, but couldn’t move a muscle as

man in an authoritative

out a sigh. He probably wants an explanation from me. Then, she stood up and was about to walk out of the room when Michelle

that indicated her to go inside the room, to which she nodded and knocked on the third conference room door before entering the room. There, Ren was sitting with a strange expression on his face; his handsome face was slightly harder to look at than usual. Afraid of thinking that the man’s expression was because of her, she greeted him as usual.

trace of anger in Ren’s expression, that indifferent demeanor of his was enough to cause others to hold their breath in front of him. Ruka was doing so at the moment. With her eyes, as big as a puppy was when it did something wrong, tinged with panic, she held her breath as she waited for

just what happened there.” Ren raised his head and gazed deeply at

expression was in questioning her. It’s not like I’ve made a huge mistake. Nevertheless, she reluctantly explained, “He’s Caspian

you reject him?” Ren

It was then that Victoria’s words came back to her mind once more: “I will announce to the world about your relationship. By then, he will

age gap is just too big. Plus, I prefer someone around my age.” When she finished speaking her mind, she hung her head low, as she hadn’t the courage to face the man. Then, without a moment’s delay, she ran

had his lips tightly pressed together in a small frown. His Adam’s apple constantly moved up and down as he tried to suppress the surge of emotions coming

tears welled in her eyes. She was afraid of others seeing through her sadness, so she wanted to find a place to be alone for a while. Hence, she went to the restroom and hid in one of the

next destination. However, the man he was waiting for inside hadn’t left the room. Afraid that he would disturb the man, he couldn’t enter the room and could only stew in anxiety. If I’m not mistaken, Miss Singed looked sad with her eyes red when she left the

room opened and Ren stepped out with

Elijah was worried, and he couldn’t

frown, Ren stopped in his tracks and turned his head to Elijah. “What

too good,”

faint sigh, Ren said, “Where’s Victoria’s office?

as a response and led Ren toward

just returned to her office. She was originally happy when she knew Ren was still around. However, she never thought that he would ignore her

hurry and said, “Mr. Husson is coming here. Miss Parfait, hurry

Victoria excitedly asked,

assistant of Victoria’s had been with her for many

opened her drawer and took out the makeup kit that she had just put away. After carefully checking her makeup and doing some brief touch-ups, she heard footsteps coming from outside her office. Suppressing the intense excitement on her face, she put on a natural, charming smile. Why is he coming here so suddenly? Does he have something to say to me? No matter the reason, she wanted to present the best of herself to him. Then, the door opened. The moment Ren entered the

her breathing turning slightly irregular and her heart beating faster, Victoria pointed at

after a few words,” Ren said

here for another purpose, and not as a friend like she originally thought. “Go ahead.” She took a deep breath as she waited for Ren to

to Ruka recently?” Ren asked with his somber gaze on Victoria, his tone slightly

hunch was true, her excitement instantly turned into bitterness and sorrow. “Ren, just how inferior to Ruka do you think I am?” Her eyes welled with tears of resentment and jealousy. She wanted to know from the man himself why she

fill her mind with nonsense behind my back, then you better be ready for the

choke as she held onto her desk. With a sorrowful gaze, she watched the man about to take his leave. Reluctant to give up, she cried out to him. “Ren, Ruka is your sister’s goddaughter. Just look at the age gap between the two of you. If people find out about your relationship with her, your reputation will be negatively affected. I’m only doing all this for your own

glare at Victoria and said coldly, “Just what exactly have

leave you alone. I told her not to ruin you. I said all that because I love you.” Victoria’s emotions grew intense. “You haven’t the slightest idea just how much I love you. Yet, you couldn’t even be bothered to look at me. Ren Husson, why do you

“Victoria, since we’ve known each other for so long,

the floor, crying with a pained expression. “Miss Parfait, what happened?” She was completely taken aback, as she thought Victoria had a chance to get together with Ren. However, looking at the situation, she knew there was no longer any possibility for them

swollen, she heard Michelle say from outside the office, “Mr. Husson’s car

what she heard, Ruka thought,

think he’ll be free to just stand around for you to steal glances at?” Inara rolled her eyes. “You think he’s some celebrity

get a copy of his autograph?”

Mr. Husson to give you his autograph?” Then, Inara complained, “Is

Mr. Husson has graced us with his presence?”

her eyes lowered, Ruka replied, “I’m not. Didn’t he just pass by the office just

here just now? Strange.” Michelle

feel anxious. She thought she needed to find a different place to stay, as she couldn’t intrude on Ren’s place any longer. Thus, she called Rita and told her that she might stay the night at her place, to which the latter was very welcoming. When it was time for Ruka to leave, she decided to spend the

with her bag in tow, a tall bodyguard by the side called out

asked, “Bring

“Yes.”

and said, “Thank you,

I’m just following

Suddenly, she remembered she had previously gotten Elijah’s number, so she decided to have him be the messenger instead.

Singed.” The call got

won’t be

I also have some news for

it?” Ruka was slightly

been admitted to

did?” Ruka widened her eyes in shock and asked

visit him, or maybe even

“I…”

a

if I do.” Like a child who had just done something wrong, she bit her lips and was afraid

he didn’t take his medicine. Is the bodyguard

“Please bring me

hospital, Ruka was filled with worries. Why did his condition worsen? He still looked fine back in the conference room just now. Just like that, she stewed in her worries all the way

place, the hospital Ren was admitted to was anything but ordinary, so much so that even she had

he knocked on the door before he said to her,

a bad mood now. Please try not to agitate him. Also, he