Lin Xiangwan remained silent for a long moment. “I can call Jiang Shijing here, but there’s an additional condition.”
Zhao Xing’er blinked. “What condition?”
Lin Xiangwan said coldly, “You have to frame this accident as your own carelessness, unrelated to Fanxing.”
After she spoke, everyone’s expressions soured.
Zhao Xing’er looked at her impassively. “President Lin, you really know how to push your luck.”
Lin Xiangwan sneered. “So your request is reasonable, is it?”
“You…” Zhao Xing’er was left speechless, and could only grudgingly agree, “Fine. But if I don’t see Jiang Shijing, don’t expect Fanxing to have it easy!”
Lin Xiangwan ignored her and walked straight out of the hospital room.
She had no interest in Zhao Xing’er and Jiang Shijing’s relationship, nor did she care why Zhao Xing’er assumed she could summon him.
All she knew was that, no matter what, Fanxing had to be protected.
Lin Xiangwan left the hospital and headed straight to Jiang’s company.
The receptionist eyed her suspiciously. “Without an appointment, Mr. Jing definitely won’t see you.”
Lin Xiangwan’s expression remained calm. “Please pass a message: Lin Xiangwan wants to see him.”
Upon hearing her name, the receptionist’s expression changed. She picked up the phone to call the CEO’s office.
Five minutes later, Yan Jing arrived to escort her.
Lin Xiangwan followed him to the CEO’s office, glancing around but saw no sign of Jiang Shijing.
At that moment, there was a click behind her the office door was closed by Yan Jing.
“Mr. Jing is inside. Miss Lin, you’ll have to look for him yourself.”
Lin Xiangwan frowned slightly, walking around the office. She suddenly noticed an inconspicuous door beside the bookshelf, nearly blending into the wall.
She gently pushed it open and a hand shot out, pulling her inside.
In an instant, Lin Xiangwan was pressed against the wall, the faint scent of tobacco filling her nose.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Lin,” came a teasing voice from above.
She looked up and saw Jiang Shijing’s sharp jawline, and then his eyes dark and unreadable meeting hers.
Lin Xiangwan furrowed her brows. Considering why she had come, she didn’t push him away. “We need to talk.”
Jiang Shijing smiled, lifting her chin. “You’ve been ignoring me ever since you came back, and now you want to talk to me when trouble shows up?”
Lin Xiangwan’s lashes trembled as she met his gaze. “How did you know?”
Jiang Shijing didn’t bother explaining, releasing her hand as he walked further into the room.
“Speak. What do you want to talk about?”
Lin Xiangwan quickly scanned the surroundings.
The room was lavish, like a five-star hotel suite a temporary space where Jiang Shijing handled work.
She had no idea how many women had been here before.
Lin Xiangwan followed. “You know Zhao Xing’er is injured and has a fracture. Can you go to the hospital to see her? Stay with her for a few days?”
Jiang Shijing stopped in his tracks, a teasing tone in his voice: “If Zhao Xing’er wants me there, why doesn’t she come herself? What authority do you have to make such a request?”
Lin Xiangwan didn’t know how to explain, so she told the truth: “If I don’t ask you to go, Fanxing has to pay Zhao Xing’er 200 million.”
Jiang Shijing was about to sit down, but hearing this, the smile vanished from his eyes. He looked at her coolly.
“So… you came to me to recover the company’s losses?”
Lin Xiangwan nodded.
With Jiang Shijing’s intelligence, he couldn’t fail to understand her purpose, right? Or did he think she had come to apologize and beg him to help?
Jiang Shijing’s expression darkened. His thin lips pressed tightly as he stared at Lin Xiangwan.
Though the room was spacious, Lin Xiangwan felt an invisible pressure suffocating her.
Only now did she realize Jiang Shijing was in a bad mood.
She felt utterly baffled.
Wasn’t Zhao Xing’er his most unforgettable ex? Hearing she was injured, he should have rushed to the hospital himself.
What was he waiting for?
Lin Xiangwan couldn’t help but urge him, “I drove here. Shall we go?”
Jiang Shijing’s face darkened further. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Focused entirely on solving this problem, Lin Xiangwan didn’t pay attention to his expression or tone and started to walk out.
The next moment, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Jiang Shijing wrapped his arm around her from behind and twisted her face toward him.
Lin Xiangwan turned in shock, too late to resist, as he clamped his hand under her chin and kissed her.
It was less a kiss and more a fierce bite; Jiang Shijing vented his frustration on her lips, forceful and aggressive, with no gentleness.
Lin Xiangwan struggled in pain. Her hands couldn’t reach him behind her, and in panic, she kicked at him.
Jiang Shijing didn’t let go, gripping her waist and squeezing hard as punishment.
Lin Xiangwan instantly went weak.
Three years apart, and he still knew where he could press her.
He held her firmly against the wardrobe as he kissed her.
Lin Xiangwan’s breathing grew erratic, her head light with oxygen deprivation, and she weakly pushed him away.
She recalled their past when they dated, Jiang Shijing had just taken over Jiang’s company, and his business trips meant a week apart.
Every time he returned, he would be desperate to kiss her.
In the living room, on the sofa, by the dining table they had tangled like this countless times.
He would hold her, bury his face in her neck, inhaling deeply the citrus scent before he was satisfied.
Lost in memories, Lin Xiangwan’s eyes reddened, and she forgot to resist.
The warmth on her lips disappeared the next moment.
Dazed, she heard Jiang Shijing’s cold voice:
“You’ll do anything for this CEO position, Lin Xiangwan. Consider it done.”
He stepped back with a cold expression, grabbed his coat, and left.
Lin Xiangwan snapped back to reality, gasping, clenching her fists, her head spinning from his words.
Jiang Shijing didn’t ride in her car he drove a Maybach, leaving her far behind.
She hurried to the hospital ward, where Zhao Xing’er was leaning against Jiang Shijing, face full of surprise and sweetness.
“Shijing, I knew you’d care and wouldn’t stay away.”
Jiang Shijing had returned to his usual nonchalant, playful demeanor.
He fixed his gaze on Lin Xiangwan, speaking slowly and deliberately: “Of course. I’m not cold-hearted or selfish.”
Lin Xiangwan’s expression remained indifferent, pretending not to hear.
She reminded Zhao Xing’er, “My task is done. Please keep your promise.”
Zhao Xing’er gazed at Jiang Shijing almost obsessively, distracted: “I’ve already had my agent issue a statement. Fanxing has nothing to do with it. Go help me and Shijing get something to eat I’m hungry.”
With the crisis resolved, Lin Xiangwan felt surprisingly calm. Helping get some food was no trouble; she asked Zhao Xing’er’s preferences and left.
After she left, Zhao Xing’er pouted, aggrieved: “Shijing, why didn’t you answer my call yesterday?”
Jiang Shijing toyed with a lighter, his expression lazy. “Busy.”
Zhao Xing’er shook his sleeve in dissatisfaction. “Then please don’t ignore me again.”
Li Hai and the assistants watched, pitying the great actress for being so humble before this man.
Jiang Shijing seemed oblivious to her tears and smiled: “We agreed. When the time came, we’d break up.”
Zhao Xing’er’s eyes reddened further. “I can’t let go. Can we extend the contract?”
Jiang Shijing smiled. “No. You’re breaking the rules.”
“How about Bai Zhiran? You renewed with her. You never did this before.” Zhao Xing’er panicked. “I can do everything she can! I’ll listen to you!”
The assistant couldn’t bear it anymore.
In his eyes, Zhao Xing’er was a goddess among millions. No matter how handsome or rich Jiang Shijing was, he didn’t deserve such humble pleading!
He gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, “What’s so special about that Lin Xiangwan?”
Both Zhao Xing’er and her agent’s faces changed.
The assistant continued: “She’s just kind of pretty! Our Xing’er ”
Snap!
Jiang Shijing suddenly flicked the lighter.
The flame leapt, swaying in the air-conditioning breeze.
The assistant froze, realizing he’d said the wrong thing, teeth chattering. “I, I…”
Jiang Shijing raised his eyes and smiled at him. “Xiao Liu, come over here.”