Fu Shengyuan poured tea for both of them.
"Luo You is right," he said. "Miss Jian has always been something of a legend."
"So you like her and want to pursue her," Luo You said, hitting the nail on the head.
Fu Shengyuan was at a loss for words.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
Jian Xi tugged at the corner of her lip, feeling awkward.
Fu Shengyuan was the first to break the stifling silence. "When you see a modest and virtuous lady, a gentleman naturally seeks her as his match. It’s not strange that I like someone as outstanding as Miss Jian. Don’t you find Miss Jian interesting, Luo You?"
Luo You raised an eyebrow. "She is beautiful, but I’m more interested in the project."
Fu Shengyuan laughed heartily. "Such a straight guy. No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend."
"If I had a girlfriend, wouldn’t your investment of several billion be wasted?" Luo You always had a way to come back with a killer line.
Fu Shengyuan wasn’t angry; he smiled and said, "If it helps you achieve a great event in your life, losing a bit of money is nothing."
Jian Xi was deeply impressed; he truly had a way with words. Seeing the closeness between the two men, it appeared they got along very well. With an investment of several billion, Fu Shengyuan must have placed a lot of trust in Luo You. Likewise, Luo You must have shown him significant potential benefits to warrant such a hefty sum.
Si Yuhuan lost utterly and decisively. Completely out of the picture.
As she listened to them plan the future blueprint for Tianyao Group’s development, Jian Xi felt lost in the fog, understanding only that Fu Shengyuan planned to use high-end chips to monopolize the automotive industry, both domestically and internationally. The main focus was on AI-controlled driving technology, a form of autonomous driving.
Considering carefully, if cars, which are ubiquitously used in the hundreds of millions, were to be gradually phased out in favor of Fu Shengyuan’s autonomous driving chips, the implications would be terrifying. He would surely become the richest man in the world! Such a development blueprint was something Jian Xi didn’t even dare to imagine.
"It’s getting late; I should go back and rest. Tomorrow, I lead the team to W Country for a research project, so I won’t be able to entertain you further," Luo You announced. He was the type to act immediately on his decisions, completely indifferent to whether Fu Shengyuan, his boss, was pleased, let alone caring about Jian Xi.
Watching his hurried departure, Jian Xi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Fu Shengyuan noticed Jian Xi hadn’t eaten much and said, "He’s always like that, don’t mind him."
"I don’t mind. A chief technician with character is more reliable. Mr. Fu, you are really lucky to have met a professional as exceptional as Luo You." Jian Xi was genuinely envious.
"Haven’t you met him before?" Fu Shengyuan suddenly asked. His eyes were on Jian Xi, filled with inquiry and a hint of teasing.
As if blind to these emotions, Jian Xi feigned ignorance. "Really? I don’t think so! My Yaowang Group doesn’t have any project connections with him, but I was just curious about this legendary figure and wanted to meet him. I guess anyone would feel that way."
"I see." He didn’t press further, chatting with Jian Xi about various topics.
With Luo You gone, Jian Xi had no interest in staying and chatting with him. "I’m tired. I’ll be going back now."
"Don’t you like Japanese food? I’ll take you out for something different next time." Glancing at the mountain of food before her, which she hadn’t touched, Jian Xi curled her lip. "I don’t like Japanese food."
"I see." The suspicion in his eyes faded.
Her heart relieved, Jian Xi practically fled. This man was too terrifying; it seemed as though no one and nothing could remain a secret from him.
Just as Jian Xi got home, she was confronted at the door by her fourth brother.
"Fourth Brother?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Jian Sirun, looking weary, pinched the bridge of his nose and glanced up at her, commanding, "Open the door."
"What’s wrong with you? You look so exhausted!" Upon entering, she immediately served Jian Sirun tea and water and thoughtfully prepared a sweet snack from the fridge that the nanny always kept stocked. Since becoming pregnant, she tended to get hungry easily, and the fridge was full of delicious treats.
Jian Sirun wasn’t picky about food. He scooped up a few bites with a spoon and let out a long breath. "I performed emergency surgery on Old Master Si. He’s recovering well. I took the opportunity to repay the kindness he has shown you."
"Grandpa had another surgery?" Nobody had notified her!
"Si Yuhuan didn’t tell you?"
Jian Xi said nothing, and seeing her expression, Jian Sirun asked with a smile, "Had another argument?" No wonder Si Yuhuan had worn such a deadpan expression when Jian Sirun went to perform the surgery; anyone would have thought Jian Sirun owed him a fortune!
"No, he’s just petty. Not worth bothering about."
Jian Sirun lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. Knowing he had been working non-stop since he returned, Jian Xi covered him with a blanket and quietly went back to her room.
She had just finished washing up and lay down when she received a call from Si Yuhuan.
"Aren’t you going to ask me anything?"
Jian Xi pursed her lips, surprised he would even contact her. She yawned and played dumb. "Ask what?"
Si Yuhuan was grinding his teeth in fury. "Didn’t Jian Sirun tell you Grandpa had surgery again? I can understand you being petty and indifferent towards me, but Grandpa too? You don’t care about him either?"
How could he say something like that! Jian Xi immediately became infuriated. "You’re the petty one! Your whole family is petty! Get lost!" If Grandpa were in any real trouble, Fourth Brother would have said so. The fact that everything was so calm meant the surgery must have gone very smoothly.
After hanging up, Jian Xi was so angry she turned off her phone. That mouth of Si Yuhuan really deserved a smack. How did a man like him even survive this long? Was it all thanks to that handsome face of his? She truly wanted to disfigure him!
Jian Xi went to sleep fuming. After a good rest, she’d find an opportunity to finish him off.
She wouldn’t have to lift a finger, though, as Si Junyan took the initiative to come to them. This time, it wasn’t under the pretense of visiting Grandpa but in his capacity as the head of Haohan Group. Yan Qing couldn’t even stop him. He barged into Si Yuhuan’s hospital room with a dozen bodyguards in tow.
Jian Xi had just arrived. She had prepared some nourishing soup for Si Yuhuan and had just poured it out when Si Junyan strode over and knocked it to the floor.
"Still have the leisure to drink soup? The man’s almost done for, and you’re here fawning over him?" He gave a roguish sneer, his chin raised as if he owned the world. His status as the head of Haohan Group made him even more arrogant, looking down on everyone.
Si Yuhuan coldly narrowed his deep, dark eyes and looked at Jian Xi. "Are you burned?"
Since that night, the two had still been in a cold war. Si Junyan’s interference, however, provided Si Yuhuan with an out. He got out of bed, took Jian Xi’s hand, and examined it thoroughly.
Si Junyan snorted coldly. "Truly depraved." He looked down on Si Yuhuan from the bottom of his heart. Losing everything for a woman—what kind of tycoon was he? Someone like him was incapable of leading Haohan Group to further glory! Only he was the true helmsman of Haohan Group.
Si Yuhuan raised his cold gaze, staring intently at him. "Apologize."
Si Junyan burst into laughter as if he had heard an incredible joke. "Si Yuhuan, has your illness addled your brain? Asking me to apologize to her? In your dreams!"