Jian Xi laughed, looking at him. "You understand me so well!"
She really wanted to see just how long he could keep up the act.
Standing at the door, Si Yuhan saw that Jian Xi had ultimately left with Fu Shengyuan.
He clenched his fists tightly and drove away.
As soon as Jian Xi arrived at the company, Wan Yu immediately enveloped her in a bear hug. Her charming face, flushed with the rosy glow of love, beamed as she playfully hammered Jian Xi’s chest. "You awful thing! Why did you... without my permission..."
Hmm? Spotting Fu Shengyuan behind Jian Xi, she quickly swallowed the rest of her words.
"Hello, President Fu."
This man was no simple character. After bringing Luo You back to the company and entrusting him with a major project, rumors circulated that he was developing some incredible software and had even invested hundreds of billions. Apart from Si Yuhan, no one else in the country was known to possess such audacity.
Fu Shengyuan simply nodded at Wan Yu in acknowledgment, his eyes tenderly fixed on Jian Xi. "Now that I’ve brought you here safely, I’ll be leaving."
Wan Yu smacked her lips. "What’s going on here? There must be some ulterior motive."
Jian Xi pouted. "He said someone is targeting me and told me to be careful commuting. He said he’ll drive me to and from work from now on to ensure my safety."
"Oh my goodness! A Prince Charming riding a rainbow cloud! He’s so considerate!" Wan Yu exclaimed dramatically.
"So, is he stepping on a rainbow cloud or riding a white horse?" Jian Xi asked.
Wan Yu coughed awkwardly. "That’s not important. The point is, this man is too good at charming women. I’m afraid of the persistent effort, like water dripping through stone."
"Stop talking about me." Jian Xi wasn’t taking Fu Shengyuan seriously at all.
"Looks like you finally got what you wished for?"
Caught off guard, Wan Yu’s face turned crimson. "What nonsense are you spouting? If only it were that easy."
When she woke up that morning, she found herself in a hotel room, her clothes disheveled. She thought she had done something inappropriate while drunk, but then she saw Jian Mingcheng lying on the couch.
Hearing her stir, he immediately got up and asked if she felt unwell anywhere.
At that moment, Wan Yu felt like the happiest woman in the world. However, on second thought, since nothing had actually happened, it seemed she was rather unlucky. But this was still a significant step forward. At least Jian Mingcheng had stayed! It proved he still cared about her.
They even had breakfast together, and because of her hangover, he drove her to work.
"Doesn’t that mean Big Brother will also pick you up after work?"
Wan Yu pursed her lips, snickering. "He probably will."
Jian Xi placed her hands on Wan Yu’s shoulders and said earnestly, "Then I’ll entrust this blockheaded brother of mine to you for ’training.’ No need to be polite with me, little sister-in-law."
"Ah!" Wan Yu shrieked. "Say that again! I want to hear it!"
Jian Xi extended her hand. "The new display cabinet Chanel secured is really nice. I feel Yaowang deserves a prominent spot right next to it."
"Yes, definitely! I’ll have someone arrange it immediately."
Jian Xi had struck an incredibly successful deal.
The two of them happily went in to discuss business. Afterwards, the staff were given the afternoon off.
The employees cheered, "Our boss is awesome!"
Jian Xi’s mother called. "Xixi, come home for a bit."
"Just hurry back. Something’s come up."
Jian Xi informed Wan Yu and then rushed back to the Jian family home.
As she entered the house, lively laughter and chatter drifted out from inside.
"My daughter is exceptional, of course! Yaowang has certainly poured a lot of effort into her. A Jian family daughter can’t go wrong. I predicted she’d be successful long ago."
"When she gets back later, whatever you all want, just let me know. I’ll make sure it’s all arranged."
One of the aunties sighed. "But that might not be easy. I heard everything is sold out online, and some high-end custom pieces have a waiting list of over a year. Yaowang items are truly hard to come by now. If we could get one or two pieces from Xixi, we’d really have something to brag about."
"Don’t worry. Would she dare not give her own mother face? You’re all her aunties who watched her grow up!"
Jian Xi watched her mother boasting to the heavens, struggling to hold back her laughter.
She changed into slippers and went inside.
The enthusiastic aunties immediately surrounded her. "Xixi, you’re finally back! Yaowang’s... the jewelry, clothes, bags, shoes—we love them all! Look, if it’s possible, just get us anything. We’re not picky."
Jian Xi knew that if she didn’t satisfy these aunties today, her mother wouldn’t let her off the hook. She might as well make a grand gesture. "There will be new products coming out. Within a month, I’ll arrange an evening gown for each of you, free of charge."
"Oh, how could we possibly accept that!"
What followed was a torrent of compliments and flattery that made Jian’s Mother exceedingly happy.
She hadn’t laughed so joyfully in a long time.
Her sons were all successful and shining in their respective fields, but none of them made her as proud as her daughter, who had emerged from her love-obsessed phase to become truly outstanding.
After the aunties showered her with praise for a while longer, they left.
Jian’s Mother personally saw them off, with Jian Xi accompanying her. This ensured everyone felt duly respected, and it left them all the more satisfied.
Jian’s Mother turned and took Jian Xi’s arm. "My dear daughter, you’ve truly made your mother proud."
"I’m sorry for making you lose face before."
"You child! I ought to smack you!" Jian’s Mother said playfully.
The two of them bantered and laughed, filling the villa with joyous sounds.
Soon, a succession of gifts arrived, delivered by butlers from various prominent families.
Jian’s Mother was exuberant. "See that? My daughter earned these for me!"
There probably isn’t a mother in the world who isn’t proud of her children’s growth and achievements.
Jian’s Mother instructed, "Quick, have a few people store all these things. Those boxes of sea cucumbers and abalone are excellent. Load them into your car later and take them to your place. Cook some when you feel like it to nourish yourself. Look at you..."
"Wait a minute... how come you haven’t lost any weight? You seem to have gained a bit, haven’t you?"
Jian Xi was speechless.
Dare she reveal her pregnancy?
"I’ve just been eating a lot. Binge eating, really."
Jian’s Mother coughed. "Well, you should still watch your figure. After all, you’ll want to get married someday."
Jian Xi wanted to tell her mother that marriage probably wasn’t in the cards for her. With two little ones on the way, she didn’t want her children to ever have to curry favor with a stepfather. Long live being single! Raising them on her own would be pretty cool.
"I know. I’ll try to lose weight."
Jian Xi buried herself in her mother’s embrace, soaking in her precious warmth, and said in a muffled voice, "Mom, I want to go abroad for a while."
Jian’s Mother hadn’t quite processed it yet. "Yaowang is expanding into the international market, isn’t it? It’s good for you to go abroad for a while. If you need anything done domestically, just leave it to your big brother. He’s a man; he should shield you, his little sister, from the wind and rain. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered giving birth to him."
Jian Xi chuckled. "Aren’t you afraid Big Brother will get jealous?"
"Jealous or not, you’re still the baby your father and I love most. I say the same thing even in front of your big brother."
"Got it, got it. Mom loves me most."
I’m sorry, Mom. I’m not as wonderful as you think. I’m still just a bad kid who lied.