The maid’s voice caught Ji Wei’s attention, and as she turned her head, her gaze met Mo Qian’s deep, ink-black eyes.
Before Ji Wei could act, Zhu Jianian hurried forward toward Mo Qian, eagerly asking, "Mo Qian, I heard you were injured a few days ago. How’s your health? Earlier in the front hall, there were too many people, and I didn’t get the chance to ask..."
Before Zhu Jianian could finish her sentence, she was silenced by the sharp, blade-like gaze Mo Qian shot her way. Her face went pale, and she dared not take another step closer.
"Mo Qian, are you still angry with me? I know I was wrong; please don’t push me away , as if I’m a thousand miles beneath you." Zhu Jianian pleaded pitifully.
"Have I not told you to stop showing up in front of me? Did you treat my words like the wind passing your ears?"
Mo Qian’s voice was devoid of warmth, sending tremors through Zhu Jianian’s body. His next words struck her with even greater terror and dismay: "If you think the Zhu Family’s desperate existence isn’t miserable enough, I’ll have someone acquire the Zhu Family’s shares immediately and announce their removal from the business world!"
"No, don’t!" Zhu Jianian panicked, shouting hoarsely, "Mo Qian, you can’t do this to the Zhu Family! The Zhu Family is my father’s lifelong work. Please, for the sake of our childhood together, spare the Zhu Family, will you?"
Mo Qian’s face remained taut with tension, his eyes dark with anger.
The man’s silence only deepened Zhu Jianian’s unease. "Mo Qian, I’ll leave. I’ll leave right away! Just don’t act against the Zhu Family, I beg of you!"
Mo Qian remained indifferent.
Terror filled Zhu Jianian’s eyes. She knew Mo Qian’s words were not idle threats—he would follow through. "I’ll kneel for you; I’ll kneel! Isn’t that enough? As long as you spare the Zhu Family... will you?"
Zhu Jianian truly knelt on the ground.
"Mo Qian, you... how could you frighten Jianian ? Her condition only recently improved." Nan Huiru hurried over to help Zhu Jianian up. "Jianian, let’s talk after you stand, alright?"
"Aunt Huiru, please talk to Mo Qian. I truly know I was wrong. Please don’t let the Zhu Family go bankrupt, I beg you..." Zhu Jianian pleaded with Nan Huiru.
"Alright, alright, I’ll talk to Mo Qian for you. Please get up; the ground is cold." Nan Huiru nodded repeatedly.
After that night, Zhu Jianian’s mental state oscillated between stable and unstable.
It was only due to Shen Yu’s repeated requests that Nan Huiru brought Zhu Jianian here today. The idea was to let her get out more; staying at home all the time could drive her to despair.
"Jianian, shall I have the driver take you home first?" Nan Huiru gently suggested once more.
Zhu Jianian slowly nodded.
"Miss Zhu wants to leave without apologizing?" Ji Wei’s voice rang out again.
With Mo Qian present, Zhu Jianian did not dare confront Ji Wei. She stayed silent for a long while, ultimately suppressing the resentment and hatred brewing in her heart to say to the maid, "I’m sorry, I accidentally stepped on your hand earlier."
"Accidentally?" Ji Wei’s cold voice questioned, the three syllables drawn out slowly and dangerously.
"I..." Zhu Jianian’s face turned pale.
"Ji Wei, that’s enough! Jianian has already apologized; what more do you want from her? Her condition isn’t good right now—don’t make things difficult for her!" Nan Huiru couldn’t bear to watch any longer, scolding sternly.
"Mrs. Nan, Miss Zhu deliberately stepped on the maid’s hand. That was meant as provocation toward me. She can target me if she wants, but involving an innocent maid? That I absolutely won’t tolerate!" Ji Wei fearlessly met Nan Huiru’s gaze.
"For Miss Zhu to resort to such actions, I must say, I underestimated her." Mo Qian walked over to stand beside Ji Wei, his voice icy and piercing.