“You’re going too far. Let go of me.”
Lin Xiangwan instinctively froze, trying to push the man pressing against her.
But Jiang Shijing held her waist not hurting her, yet not letting her move an inch.
His voice carried a teasing, reckless tone. His head was buried at the nape of her neck, and she caught a faint scent of woody orange different from the scent she remembered.
Jiang Shijing wasn’t satisfied. He bit lightly on her shoulder and said softly, “Actually, those two years we dated were not bad. If you want to secure more collaborations for Fanxing, I can help but I get to benefit a little too.”
His hands on her waist began to wander down over the sheer fabric of her dress.
Lin Xiangwan pushed his hands away, narrowing her eyes, and deliberately struck with words: “Do you know why I ran away?”
Jiang Shijing stopped moving, his eyes revealing a depth she couldn’t fully read.
“You’re reckless, without morals. Marrying you would have been a living hell. No, I’d rather go to hell than be a puppet in a marriage, and I would never let you cheat on me.”
Lin Xiangwan sized him up coolly, her eyes brimming with contempt. “A man who can’t control his lower body no matter how handsome or wealthy doesn’t interest me at all.”
The smile on Jiang Shijing’s face slowly faded. He stared at her, unmoving.
In the cramped space, they faced each other silently, a tense undercurrent flowing between them.
Lin Xiangwan was waiting for him to get angry and storm off.
But he didn’t. His thin lips pressed tightly together, his dark pupils showing no emotion.
Lin Xiangwan lost patience and pushed him away, intending to leave.
Suddenly, the slightly ajar door in the corridor was knocked.
A deep male voice called from outside:
“Miss Lin, are you in there?”
The next second, Qin Ou pushed the door open and walked in.
Lin Xiangwan and Jiang Shijing were standing unusually close. Even without any intimate action, their proximity gave off an unmistakable tension.
Qin Ou’s expression remained unchanged. He glanced at Jiang Shijing once, then respectfully said, “Miss Lin, I came to make sure you’re alright.”
“Who’s this? Aren’t you going to introduce him?”
Jiang Shijing smirked, hands in his pockets, leaning casually against the wall, eyebrows slightly raised. Even in the narrow, dark corridor, his strong and flamboyant presence was undeniable.
Lin Xiangwan said coldly, “None of your business, Qin Ou. Let’s go.”
She went out first.
Qin Ou’s steps faltered, but he turned to look at Jiang Shijing deeply.
Jiang Shijing spoke first: “You like her?”
You could read a man’s intentions in his eyes. He could see, and so could Qin Ou.
“Yes. I like her. Don’t you?”
Jiang Shijing approached slowly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re not suitable for her.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“Then we’ll see.”
In an instant, the tension between them dissipated.
Outside, Lin Xiangwan tried to expand her network.
Unfortunately, word had already spread about her avoiding those sleazy bosses.
By now, everyone at the reception knew she was Lin Xiangwan the one who had run away from Jiang Shijing years ago.
Out of respect for both the Zhou and Jiang families, no one dared speak to her.
Half an hour passed, and Lin Xiangwan hadn’t handed out a single business card.
She rubbed her forehead, lowering her gaze, and overheard a few bosses complimenting Jiang Shijing.
A twinge of frustration stirred in her.
It seemed that returning home with all her drive wasn’t enough to simply take over the company.
The business world had always been this ruthless.
To break through, she had to contend not only with her runaway wedding past but also with Lin Xijun’s underhanded schemes.
As she closed her eyes, she sensed someone approaching from behind.
Qin Ou’s gaze fixed on her face. He spoke softly, “Shall we go back? You’ve had some drinks you don’t have the energy to socialize anymore.”
Lin Xiangwan paused a few seconds, then nodded, handing him her glass and stepping out first.
Upstairs, Jiang Shijing tilted his head back to drink, his Adam’s apple moving with the swallow.
A friend glanced at him and chuckled: “You’ve got serious patience seeing your ex fiancée cozying up to someone else, and you don’t feel anything?”
Zhou Yan, sitting in the back talking to someone, heard this and stared at Jiang Shijing’s back silently.
Jiang Shijing scoffed lightly. “I’ve been with eight hundred girlfriends. If I got jealous over every ex, I’d be a walking bottle of Chen vinegar by now.”
He swirled his wine, teasing, “Enough. Stop testing me openly or secretly. Someone long gone is worthless to me. It’s just normal business cooperation do you think I, Jiang Shijing, am that petty?”
The men laughed in agreement, no longer the cautious, secretive demeanor from before.
After everyone left, Jiang Shijing finished his last sip, and someone sneaking up startled him, causing his expression to darken.
“Cousin, can you not scare people like that? Like a ghost.”
“I just heard you say you no longer care about the past with Lin Xiangwan?” Zhou Yan asked, pouring him red wine.
Jiang Shijing’s black shirt collar was slightly open. He looked a little tired, tilting his head back, eyes half-closed in the dim light, his face hidden in shadow.
“Mm.”
Zhou Yan pursed his lips. “I swear it looks like you feel bad that she drank a few wines and couldn’t find anyone to cooperate with her soft-hearted?”
Jiang Shijing lifted his glass, sniffed, then put it down disdainfully.
“You’re overthinking. I just like being free. Since Lin Xiangwan showed up, those people have been probing my attitude both openly and secretly. Even saying one extra word to her requires reporting to me. Annoying, right?”
Zhou Yan laughed and exclaimed, “Your way with words keeps getting sharper.”
Jiang Shijing glanced at him. “I’m speaking the truth.”
“Yeah, right.”
Zhou Yan smirked and left.
After everyone departed, Jiang Shijing pushed the glass aside, tapping the table with his fingers.
A man emerged from the shadows.
“President Jing, your instructions?”
“Check on that person.” Jiang Shijing yawned and closed his eyes, all emotion masked instantly, his demeanor calm as an ancient lake.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiangwan was nearing her rented apartment.
Qin Ou kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror, hesitant to speak.
Lin Xiangwan noticed and raised an eyebrow. “If you have something to say, ask. But I’ll answer selectively.”
“Is it… him?”
Qin Ou gripped the wheel tightly, a faint tension in his eyes.
Lin Xiangwan blinked, momentarily confused. “What?”
Qin Ou organized his words and, after a few seconds, asked, “The reason you’re not interested in men right now is it because of Jiang Shijing?”