Lin Xiangwan wasn’t surprised by the question.
Perhaps at first, the people doing things for her hadn’t immediately remembered her identity.
But once her name was prefixed with “Jiang Shijing,” it was like a switch flipped everyone suddenly realized she was the Lin family heiress who had once abandoned her position as the Jiang family’s young mistress and decisively run away from her wedding.
Lin Xiangwan lazily watched the scenery outside, the butterfly-shaped streetlights flashing past her eyes.
“Yes, it’s because of him.”
Back then, her heart had fluttered and she had believed in love because of Jiang Shijing. Now, she didn’t touch the word “romance” with a ten-foot pole also because of him.
Saying it out loud felt almost unbearably pretentious.
Even Lin Xiangwan hadn’t expected that love would bring her such a loss, that she would fall so hard and take a massive hit to her pride.
Fortunately, Qin Ou didn’t ask any more questions, and she wasn’t about to answer a second one.
At home, Lin Xiangwan opened the car door and said goodnight.
She felt the man’s gaze following her, but still shut the door firmly behind her, went upstairs, grabbed a bottle of water, and checked the current revenue of Fanxing on her computer.
Tomorrow the shareholders would know she had taken a firm stance on business matters, and her attitude would inevitably involve a significant shift.
But that alone wasn’t enough.
What she wanted was for everyone to clearly see that now, when she and Jiang Shijing met again, any past grievances between them would not affect those cooperating with her.
Tonight’s event had made it clear: wherever Jiang Shijing was, even those who trusted Fanxing and were willing to work with her would tread carefully and maintain distance.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been unable to hand out a single business card.
Lin Xiangwan sighed wearily again, leaning back in her chair, fingers unconsciously twisting the water bottle.
She stared out the window, lost in thought.
Could it really be that only one option remained?
That option she had never been willing to touch…
She tossed and turned all night, but the next day still applied flawless makeup, covering the slight dark circles under her eyes, transforming into a perfect urban professional as she headed to the office.
The company shareholders had already arrived. The employees’ gazes were no longer filled with curiosity or distrust but with full surprise and a touch of respect for the president.
Lin Xiangwan found all of this most satisfying.
In the conference room, Uncle Zhong and a few shareholders wore pleased expressions.
When she arrived, Zhong Jie gave a faint smile.
“President Lin, you’re here.”
Hearing him personally call her “President Lin,” the others followed suit, greeting her with the same title.
Sitting beside them, Lin Xijun and Lin Mu’s lips twitched, nearly losing their composure in frustration.
Lin Xiangwan couldn’t resist noticing their expressions, and in that moment, felt incredibly gratified.
She sat down, resting her chin in her hand, and looked at Lin Mu with curiosity. “Dad, you don’t look well. Haven’t you found a place to live yet?”
Her question immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity.
Lin Mu’s face stiffened, and Zhong Jie asked, “What place? Are you moving?”
“Yes,” Lin Xiangwan interjected, lightly smiling. “The house my dad and mom lived in was originally a wedding gift from my grandfather. After he passed, the house was transferred to my name. So yesterday, I went home and had my parents and their little family of three move out.”
She stirred her coffee with a spoon.
“It’s a bit awkward for Grandpa to leave it to me but let three others live there, don’t you think, Uncle Zhong?”
Mentioning their most respected benefactor immediately made Uncle Zhong serious; he nodded heavily.
“Yes. You should move out directly. After all, it’s President Lin’s property. Lin Mu, you know the old man never liked your wife or Deputy Lin. You should have moved long ago, not risk disturbing the old man’s spirit.”
The last sentence came with extra emphasis.
Being reprimanded in front of so many people, unable to reply even a word, Lin Mu felt extremely stifled.
He looked at Lin Xiangwan, forcing a smile. “Yes, this is our oversight. Last night we just made do at a hotel. We’ll find a place in the next two days.”
Implicitly, Lin Xiangwan was being harsh forcing them to move immediately without giving them a chance to soften the transition.
But Lin Xiangwan wasn’t deceived and countered directly: “Dad, don’t you have that property by the river? It was renovated three years ago when I went abroad. Why not live there?”
Lin Mu, just about to sip water, froze mid-motion, choking slightly and coughing violently.
Lin Xijun clenched his fists, his voice cold: “You’ve been gone for three years, so of course you don’t know if Dad still had a house! If you had cared even a bit, we wouldn’t have almost been left sleeping on the street last night!”
“Wasn’t it you guys occupying my house and refusing to move until I kicked you out?”
Lin Xiangwan shot back, pulling a bank card from her wallet and tossing it on the table.
“You don’t even have this much money? Use my card for the hotel expenses. Until you find a new place, I’ll cover your stay.”
“Lin Xiangwan, who do you think you’re insulting?” Lin Xijun jumped up.
Zhong Jie, who had witnessed everything, looked serious. He picked up his glass, slammed it down, and with a bang, everyone instinctively straightened up, afraid to speak.
His authority and elder stature stunned Lin Xijun into silence.
“This is a conference room for discussing major business, not a place for you siblings to bicker! Sit down and talk about cooperation.”
Lin Xijun, unwilling, gritted his teeth and silently sat back down.
Zhong Jie then turned to Lin Xiangwan, asking softly, “I heard you secured a deal with Dingsheng. Is it true? Yesterday I saw an internal notice and thought it was some unknown Dingsheng. Are you sure it’s Zhou family’s Dingsheng?”
He asked repeatedly, clearly shocked by the news.
Lin Xiangwan smiled and presented the contract for them to see.
“Of course it’s the Zhou family’s Dingsheng. Here’s the contract, Uncle Zhong surely you won’t doubt it now?”
Zhong Jie examined it carefully and, after seeing it, finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Your grandfather would be so proud to see you capable enough to close such a meaningful deal immediately after returning. He would be happy to hand the company to you. I believe you can fulfill this performance agreement.”
Lin Xiangwan smiled brightly.
The first step winning the shareholders’ trust and support was successful.
Lin Mu and his son exchanged a glance, feeling a sudden sense of crisis.
Lin Xijun looked down, eyes shifting, then said, “My sister really does have a knack for business. Because of your runaway wedding, the Zhou family never favored Fanxing. I’ve tried approaching them a few times, but President Zhou refused to meet me. I admit I was outmatched.”
Lowering oneself voluntarily never bodes well.
Lin Xiangwan narrowed her eyes cautiously, lips pressing together. “Oh? You finally acknowledge me?”
“Of course. Someone with your ability is perfect to solve the company’s current problems,” Lin Xijun said with a sly smile.
Lin Xiangwan squinted at him, sensing the unspoken hostility spreading between them.
She knew he was setting a trap and calmly replied, “Go on. Explain.”