Zhou Yan had asked casually, but Lin Xiangwan couldn’t answer so casually.
Two days before she bought the plane ticket, she had gone with Wen Qian to try on wedding dresses, imagining what it would be like to marry Jiang Shijing.
Even though, by then, reporters had already photographed Jiang Shijing dining frequently with different women, she had stubbornly believed it was just inappropriate behavior brought on by temporary pre-wedding jitters.
After all, everyone had seen how much Jiang Shijing doted on her. Even she herself had believed it without doubt.
Until she accidentally learned the truth about how Lin Mu had married her mother. She had run to a bar to seek comfort from Jiang Shijing and overheard what he said to his friends.
Lin Xiangwan’s gaze trembled. She forced herself out of the memory.
In a casual, steady tone, she said, “I didn’t love him anymore. I didn’t want to get married but had no way to explain it to both families, so I left on impulse.”
Zhou Yan hadn’t expected such an answer after waiting so long. His expression cooled as he stared at her, his gaze gradually turning hostile.
Jiang Shijing tightened his grip on his phone and lifted his eyelids slightly, the corners of his thin lips curling into a careless smile.
“Oh, so you didn’t love me anymore.”
He patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder and joked, “Cousin, it’s fine if the family scolds me in the future, but you can’t say I’m the one who keeps changing girlfriends. Didn’t Miss Lin also change her mind just like that? It’s only human.”
He smiled lazily, a hint of rakish charm in his expression. Any woman who saw him might feel tempted to get entangled with him even knowing there would be no good ending.
Lin Xiangwan hadn’t known what kind of man he truly was before. It was only that night that she saw clearly and from then on, she freed herself from the sea of suffering.
She put on a professional smile. “I’ve given my explanation. I hope President Zhou will honor his word and cooperate with me.”
Zhou Yan frowned, feeling stifled.
He truly didn’t want to work with such a casual and irresponsible woman.
Just as he was about to refuse, Jiang Shijing suddenly asked, “I heard you made Little You cry again yesterday?”
Zhou Yan blinked. “Huh?”
What did that have to do with anything?
“She’s only been on the job three months. It’s normal if she can’t close deals yet. After you scolded her, she ran to my place crying. It broke my heart. Can’t you be a little gentler?”
Jiang Shijing pressed a hand on Zhou Yan’s shoulder, stood up, and sighed lightly.
“I’m leaving. You two take your time.”
Lin Xiangwan lowered her eyes, expressionless.
He flirted everywhere.
So typical of Jiang Shijing.
The secretary nearby looked confused and exchanged a glance with Zhou Yan.
This “Little You” was that the Su Xiaoyou she knew?
Su Xiaoyou had been employed for two years already. And the day before yesterday she’d gotten into a fight with a colleague of course she deserved the scolding from President Zhou.
While she was still puzzling over it, the men had already left.
Zhou Yan exhaled, glanced at Lin Xiangwan, and stood up as well.
Lin Xiangwan grew anxious and quickly followed. “President Zhou, you just said ”
“Leave the file. After I review it, I’ll have the project team evaluate it and send you the cooperation contract.”
He cut her off and strode away.
The secretary was stunned and hurried after him.
As soon as she closed the reception room door, she blurted out, “Young Master Jiang really has no standards, huh? Isn’t that Su Xiaoyou covered in acne? He actually feels sorry for her? And besides, she has nothing to do with him how would she dare run to Jiang Group crying?”
Zhou Yan looked at her like she was hopeless.
“Brainless. How did I end up hiring someone like you as my secretary? Go call Su Xiaoyou over to handle the Fanxing contract.”
“I…” The secretary stopped in grievance, still unable to figure out what she had said wrong.
When Lin Xiangwan left Ding Sheng, she didn’t quite feel it was real until she stepped out of the building.
She had actually secured the cooperation.
Once Fanxing signed the contract with Ding Sheng, she believed the shareholders’ opinion of her would change.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
But the heavens were unkind. The already gloomy sky suddenly rumbled, and heavy rain poured down.
The rain came fast and fierce, striking her face painfully.
She was about to retreat to Ding Sheng’s entrance to take shelter when a Maybach screeched to a stop beside her.
She stepped back, startled.
The car window rolled down. It was Jiang Shijing.
“Get in.”
“I don’t need to,” she refused immediately.
She turned to leave, but Jiang Shijing said calmly, “You can choose to get in or choose to cancel the cooperation with Ding Sheng.”
One sentence nailed her to the spot.
Jiang Shijing had always been like this. A casual remark from him could push her into a corner.
Left with no choice, Lin Xiangwan walked around and opened the car door.
As she slid into the seat, she suddenly realized she had instinctively taken the front passenger seat.
Memories surfaced Jiang Shijing picking her up for dates.
There was always a bouquet of jasmine placed in the passenger seat, waiting for her to sit in that exclusive spot and breathe in its fragrance.
Almost without thinking, she reached for the door handle to move to the back seat.
But Jiang Shijing locked the doors with a click and stepped on the gas.
She nearly slammed into the window, irritation rising. “I don’t need you to drive me. Was it really necessary to threaten me with the cooperation?”
Leaning back, Jiang Shijing tapped the steering wheel lightly. “I’ve always done whatever I please. Is this news to you?”
She fastened her seatbelt tightly and shot back, “Of course not. Your recklessness isn’t new.”
He raised a brow.
Instead of getting angry, he laughed. “Three years apart, and you’re still as sharp-tongued as ever. You haven’t changed at all.”
She fell silent, annoyed at herself.
She had actually lost her composure in front of him.
But then again, from childhood to now, only Jiang Shijing could provoke this other side of her tear apart the calm detachment she showed the rest of the world.
“You insisted I get in the car. What exactly do you want? I still have work to handle. I don’t have time to waste with you.”
He countered, “Why does there have to be a purpose? Can’t it just be that the rain’s too heavy and I’m kindly giving you a ride?”
She let out a soft scoff. “I don’t think you’re being kind.”
She had never understood Jiang Shijing’s thoughts or motives.
Three years ago, she thought she had seen his sincerity only for reality to crush her.
She had also believed he was clear about right and wrong, a spoiled young master who, after being abandoned at the altar, would surely hate her and refuse to show her a good face.
Yet he acted as if nothing had happened.
Even playing the “kind” driver for her.
“Drop me off at the restaurant ahead,” she said, unable to endure another moment. “I’m hungry. I want to eat.”
As if he hadn’t heard, Jiang Shijing pressed the accelerator and sped past the restaurant.
She took a deep breath. “…Jiang Shijing, you’re going too far. What exactly do you want?”
The moment she finished speaking, he suddenly braked and pulled over to the side of the road.
He gripped her chin, anger flickering in his eyes.
“You dare say ‘too far’? When you ran away from the wedding, didn’t you think that was going too far? Hm?”
Before she could respond, Jiang Shijing crushed his lips against hers.