Passion in a relationship isn’t feared for its hysteria; it’s feared for the calmness that resembles a stagnant pool of water.
Jian Xi picked up her water glass, her beautiful, shimmering eyes fixed on Si Yuhuan, the man she once deeply loved. "Happy Birthday. Goodbye."
If she wanted to leave, she wouldn’t linger or drag things out. Jian Xi was determined to be ruthless this one time.
Si Yuhuan’s expression contorted, but in the end, he retained his dignity as the wealthiest man and watched her depart.
The moment Jian Xi stepped out, she saw Fu Shengyuan.
She raised an eyebrow. The man she hadn’t seen in many days had suddenly appeared.
"Sorry, the company has been quite busy lately, so..."
He was cut off as Si Yuhuan came out, pulling the door open. He was carrying the purse Jian Xi had forgotten.
When enemies lock eyes, a particular animosity sparks. Seeing Fu Shengyuan, a cold light burst from the depths of Si Yuhuan’s eyes.
Unlike Si Yuhuan, Fu Shengyuan had a smile lingering on his lips, betraying the well-hidden cunning of an old fox. "Director Si, long time no see."
Calling him Director Si was no different than slapping his face in front of Jian Xi.
With one hand in his pocket, Fu Shengyuan said, "I heard it’s your birthday today. I didn’t prepare anything for you. How about I cover your bill?"
Honestly, rubbing salt in someone’s wounds is quite demeaning.
Jian Xi thoroughly disliked Fu Shengyuan’s gloating.
Fu Shengyuan seemed to catch the fleeting displeasure in Jian Xi’s eyes and quickly changed tack. "I didn’t mean anything by it. I just heard you’re quite strapped for cash these days. Taking a woman like Miss Jian out must be expensive, so I’ll cover it for you. It might save you some hardship later on."
"Your help isn’t needed," Si Yuhuan said, looking at him with disdain. He handed the purse to Jian Xi. "You can find other men after leaving me, but not him. He’s the only exception."
Fu Shengyuan’s expression turned sour in an instant.
"This kind of scum isn’t even worthy to carry my shoes. He’s only capable of resorting to dirty tricks behind people’s backs. If you end up with him, you won’t even know how you died."
Jian Xi knew that every word Si Yuhuan spoke was true.
But she deliberately chose not to listen to him. "Who I look for and what kind of man I want has nothing to do with you."
"Even if Mr. Fu is lacking, at least he wouldn’t be two-timing. Si Yuhuan, you’re not exactly a saint yourself, so stop trying to make yourself look good."
If you’re going to be heartless, you have to be utterly ruthless.
Almost every word was a knife to his heart.
Jian Xi turned and got into Fu Shengyuan’s car. "Are we not leaving, Mr. Fu?"
He turned back to Si Yuhuan with a warning. "With your current status, even thinking about Jian Xi is a fool’s dream."
Si Yuhuan wanted to rush forward and beat him, but two bodyguards stopped him.
By the time he had knocked down the two bodyguards, the car had already sped away.
As the car smoothly left the street, Jian Xi pointed to a stopping point beside them. "Please drop me off up ahead, Mr. Fu."
The act was over; she had no need to remain entangled with Fu Shengyuan.
This man, just as Si Yuhuan had said, was not someone she could afford to provoke.
"Jian Xi, I’m serious about you. I’ve thought it over these past few days. I want to marry you—I always have, that has never changed."
He pulled the car over and suddenly grasped Jian Xi’s hands. His usual oiliness was replaced with sincerity, his eyes seemingly shining. "Jian Xi, give me a chance. Let me marry you, be your support for the rest of your life, cherish you, love you, and protect you."
Hmph. The same oily script, just a different delivery. It seemed much more palatable than before. Jian Xi felt that if she hadn’t already died once, she might have actually been moved by his sincerity this time.
Coldly, Jian Xi pulled her hand away. "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Fu. Goodbye."
With that, she opened the car door, hailed a taxi, and left—all in one smooth sequence, without a hint of hesitation.
Fu Shengyuan removed his gold-rimmed glasses, casually tossed them onto the passenger seat, and supported his forehead with a cold laugh. "Interesting."
She really is a tough nut to crack. Rejecting Si Yuhuan, ignoring his deep affection. This woman... she really is arrogant!
After Jian Xi got home, she washed her hands frantically.
Especially where Fu Shengyuan had touched her; she wished she could scrub it fiercely with disinfectant. This man felt like a venomous snake; even a single touch from him made her feel disgusted. If it weren’t for wanting information about Luo You, she wouldn’t have given him the slightest courtesy.
Suddenly, Jian Mingcheng pushed the door open and entered. "Little sister, what’s wrong with you?"
He saw that her hands were all red.
He had heard that Si Yuhuan had a birthday today and had taken Jian Xi to a restaurant. Outside, Fu Shengyuan had severely humiliated them. As the saying goes, good news rarely leaves the house, while bad news travels a thousand miles; he had caught an earful of it.
"Did Si Yuhuan bully you?"
Jian Xi pulled a long face. "No."
"Then was it Fu Shengyuan?"
Jian Xi shook her head.
She sighed. "Brother, do you think Si Yuhuan has any chance of making a comeback?"
Si Yuhuan had been busy for several days without any results. Instead, his efforts had only solidified Si Junyan’s position in Haohan Group, which Jian Xi found deeply unsettling.
"Nobody can say for sure. But considering Si Yuhuan’s ambition and his refusal to be outdone, I expect the outcome will become clear soon enough, at Haohan Group’s annual shareholders’ meeting."
According to the rules established by Old Master Si, Haohan Group held an annual year-end summary meeting. Everyone, from shareholders to senior management, would attend this meeting, which was set to be grander than any in previous years.
If Si Yuhuan couldn’t turn things around this time, his chances in the future would likely be even slimmer.
That evening, Jian Xi also discussed this matter with Wan Yu.
Wan Yu, wearing a facial mask, sighed, "Xixi, you just haven’t let go of him."
"Nonsense," Jian Xi promptly denied.
Wan Yu spread her hands. "See? That attitude proves you haven’t let go. But don’t worry, this sister’s lips are sealed; I won’t utter a word. As for your question, I can tell you now: Si Yuhuan is completely finished. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, Si Junyan has a mysterious backer. He’s sure to prosper, while Si Yuhuan is a lost cause."
"A mysterious backer? Who is it?" Jian Xi asked.
It was impossible for Si Junyan to become so formidable overnight, she thought. There had to be someone behind him!
"That’s hard to investigate. They’re keeping a very tight lid on it over there, not revealing a single word. I only heard about it because a minor celebrity friend of mine overheard Secretary Li—Si Junyan’s mistress—mention it while they were out drinking."
"You know how it is with people like her; you can only believe a third of what they say. It might just be an unfounded rumor."
Wan Yu scratched her head. "Your animosity towards Si Junyan... it isn’t because of Si Yuhuan, is it?"
"I’m doing this for myself."
After hanging up, Jian Xi immediately hired a private investigator to look into the whole affair.
She refused to believe that round-the-clock surveillance wouldn’t turn up a single clue.
The private detective soon called back, saying with a smile, "Considering Miss Jian’s usual generosity, let me give you a bonus piece of information."
"What information?" Jian Xi had a bad feeling.
"After Li Bin was hospitalized, how many times did you visit Yaowang Group?"
The next morning, Jian Xi headed straight for Yaowang Group.
Just as she walked through the door, she was met with bad news.