Jian Xi was taken aback but didn’t let her guard down. "Okay, I understand."
She wasn’t without any doubts. People who have lived a second life aren’t all overflowing with saintly compassion, trusting anyone who comes across as naively sweet.
For a whole week, Jian Xi continuously tested Suoya. Suoya behaved very normally, even occasionally returning home to care for her younger brother, who had broken his leg in a high-altitude job, and her seriously ill mother. To ensure she wasn’t being coerced, Jian Xi also had Hilda’s people check if Suoya or her family had been in contact with anyone else.
Her cautiousness made Jian Sirun feel a bit heartbroken.
"All is well. It seems Suoya isn’t a problem; I must have been overthinking it." Jian Xi fell back on her bed. "These past few days have been nerve-wracking. I kept thinking, if Suoya really were a problem, how should I deal with her? During my time in Saint Seymour, she has been by my side, attentive and considerate, treating me like family."
Humans are conflicted beings, and even more so, emotional creatures. Jian Xi didn’t want to view others with malice, yet feared being hurt. Once she confirmed the other party had no ill intentions, she began to blame herself.
"It’s okay, I can make it up to her later." Her research-obsessed brother would never understand the complexity of human nature; his world was clear-cut in black and white.
While they were talking, Suoya came in with an aromatic meal. "Doctor Jian, you’ve arrived just in time. I’ve made some soup. Miss Jian can’t finish it all by herself, so you can have some too." She greeted him enthusiastically, her smile pure.
Jian Xi felt even more guilty. "Suoya, stop busying yourself. Come and sit."
Suoya came over, blinking her large eyes at them. She wasn’t what one would call beautiful, but her strength lay in her eyes—starkly black and white, like large grapes, glossy and spirited, exuding a simple and unadorned beauty.
"I’ll get back to my work then; I won’t have any soup." Jian Sirun casually turned and left.
Only Jian Xi, who was close to him, could detect that her brother felt a bit guilty and wanted to escape. She couldn’t help but snicker. Grasping Suoya’s hand, she apologized, "I’ve been neglecting the trouble at your house recently. Take this money."
A bank card appeared in Suoya’s hand.
She tried to refuse. "Miss Jian, I’ve only looked after you for a few months. How can I accept so much money?"
"Suoya, listen to me. Only if you take good care of your family can you take good care of me. When the babies are born, both they and I will be relying on you!"
Suoya hesitated, then reluctantly accepted. "Alright, I’ll take this money. I’ll definitely earn it back and repay you someday."
"Good!" The two of them exchanged a smile.
"Miss Jian, you have a lover back in your country, right? You love him a lot? And you’re carrying his adorable boy and girl twins?"
Jian Xi was startled for a moment, not knowing why Suoya would suddenly ask this. "I guess so!" The relationship between her and Si Yuhuan was so complex that she couldn’t clearly explain it. Suoya was probably just curious. Jian Xi responded casually.
"Is that really so!" Suoya murmured softly, looking down.
Jian Xi asked, "What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing. You get some rest. Remember to eat the meal I made."
"Okay." Suoya left, looking utterly dazed. Jian Xi was bewildered. Did I say something wrong?
「Around the corner of the narrow alley.」
Suoya walked in and turned into a farmhouse. As she entered, the entire farmhouse lit up instantly.
Sitting at the head of the table was a man dressed in a local gentleman’s suit, heavily layered. Yet, such attire only made him look more dashing, enhancing the handsome features of his face. Though it was merely an old, dilapidated farmhouse, his presence made it seem far more valuable.
"It seems you came looking for me here because you’ve already figured out my identity, right?"
Suoya nodded. "Si Yuhuan, Director Si, will you really treat Miss Jian well?"
"Good, I trust you. I’ll help you this one time." Suoya clenched her teeth, as if she had made a momentous and resolute decision.
The man opposite her walked over and patted her shoulder. "I knew you were loyal. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have entrusted such an important task to you. Once it’s done, you’ll be the greatest contributor. Not just I, but Jian Xi will also be grateful to you."
"I don’t need your gratitude. I just want Miss Jian to be well." After saying this, Suoya left in a hurry.
In the shadows, the man curled his lips into a chilling smile.
At night, Jian Xi was drowsy. Suoya, who had returned at some unknown time, was tucking her in.
"Suoya, I..." Regarding what happened during the day, she had pondered it over and over. She felt it was necessary to clear things up with Suoya, yet she didn’t know how to start. "My relationship with my ex-husband is still quite complicated."
"I know, Miss Jian. I’m not one for gossip. Your phone has been ringing non-stop; do you want to check it?"
Jian Xi was momentarily dazed. She actually hadn’t heard it. Hurriedly, she picked up the phone to see it was Wan Yu calling.
As soon as the call connected, Wan Yu’s booming voice came through. "Xixi! I’m here!"
Jian Xi was both surprised and delighted. "You, you, how did you..."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you! Zhou Yan’s back, and he’s invested in New Fashion Media. Our New Fashion Media is expanding again! With the momentum of a whirlwind, we’ve taken over the domestic online streaming giant. Now we have over a thousand streamers under us. Just goes to show how strong his influence is, right?"
Jian Xi didn’t doubt Zhou Yan’s charisma or his business capabilities. But for him to make such a grand scene with these actions, what was he really aiming for?
"And look, W Country is also a key partner for us now. He went to the capital, so I came to see you here!"
"By the way, I ran into Si Yuhuan at the airport. He seemed in a rush, apparently heading to Q Country."
Jian Xi’s heart skipped a beat. "You said he’s going where?"
"Q Country! How odd. The big tycoon—oh no, I mean the former tycoon—is actually flying commercial with us instead of his private jet. It’s such a rare sight. But he looked sneaky; I wonder if he’s up to no good."
Wan Yu hummed regretfully, "If I weren’t so eager to see you, I’d have sent someone to tail him and see what mischief he’s up to."
"Alright, don’t provoke him." There were some things Jian Xi couldn’t say over the phone.
Jian Xi carefully repeated her hospital’s location and room number to Wan Yu.
Zhang Yaxuan, somehow hearing from Suoya that Wan Yu was coming, had specifically arranged for someone to pick her up.
When Wan Yu arrived before Jian Xi, in this foreign land, the two close friends hugged, and Jian Xi nearly burst into tears.
"Wow! Yaxuan’s taken good care of you!" Seeing Jian Xi’s complexion growing rosier by the day, Wan Yu was quite satisfied.
Suoya hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Jian Xi had warned her: not a word about the poisoning or the explosion.
"Thank you for your compliment, Miss Wan. I’ll go home and prepare dinner for you all."
Wan Yu watched Suoya leave, then asked, "Is she reliable?"
"I’ve tested her. She’s a very good and kind girl." Truly, Jian Xi, who had fought her way up, was meticulous in every detail. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel·fiɾe·net
"That’s a relief. I can rest easy now." Jian Xi poured her a glass of water. "He... is his work going smoothly?"
Wan Yu’s bright eyes sparkled. "Are you asking about Zhou Yan?"