Dark clouds churned beyond the window, heralding a change in the weather.
Jiang Pianran gently set her teacup on its saucer. Her gaze remained calm as she looked at the elegant woman in the ruyi-collar qipao across from her.
Jiang Pianran said, “Mom, you still voted for Jingqiao.”
“The board’s results are in. Jingqiao and I were only two votes apart. Those two votes were yours and Uncle’s, weren’t they?”
The board’s vote had been anonymous, but Jiang Pianran didn’t need to investigate to know where those two votes had gone.
She had come to ask Ren Qiyu because she wanted to know exactly why she’d lost.
Ren Qiyu calmly lifted her teacup and took a sip. “Pianran, you shouldn’t be competing with your younger brother. The Jiang family will belong to him sooner or later, and so will the CEO’s seat.”
Jiang Pianran gave a derisive laugh. “Mom, a week ago, at the bidding meeting, Jiang Jingqiao insisted on showing off and cost the group fifty million for nothing! Ask yourself how many times I’ve cleaned up his messes this past year. I wasn’t trying to take something that belonged to him. That position was rightfully mine.”
Ren Qiyu set her cup down with a sharp clack, her voice suddenly turning harsh. “Jiang Pianran, who do you think you’re talking to?”
“The Jiang family belongs to Jingqiao! The company belongs to Jingqiao, too! If you’re more capable than he is, then as his older sister you should do everything you can to help him—not humiliate him in front of the board and compete with him!”
Jiang Pianran lowered her eyes to Ren Qiyu’s bright red fingernails. A dull ache spread through her chest.
Jiang Pianran didn’t argue or say a word. In truth, she’d already expected Ren Qiyu to react this way on the drive over. Even so, she’d overestimated how much she could take.
No matter how well Jiang Pianran did or how exceptional she was, from childhood onward she could never measure up to her younger brother Jiang Jingqiao simply saying, “Mom, I want this.”
The Jiang family favored sons over daughters to its very core. Jiang Pianran had grown numb to it.
Once Ren Qiyu had finished scolding her, Jiang Pianran straightened her clothes and rose from her chair. “Mom, sometimes I really wonder if I’m your biological daughter. I’m moving out.”
Ren Qiyu glanced at her and replied sarcastically, “So you think your wings are strong enough to fly now?”
“Fine. You should move out. Since you and Jiazhi are already together, make sure you keep a tight hold on him! I won’t let you act on a whim when it comes to this marriage!”
Jiang Pianran didn’t hesitate as she walked out of the tea room.
When Secretary Xiaoye saw Jiang Pianran, she hurried over and draped Jiang Pianran’s coat over her shoulders. “Ms. Jiang, it’s raining outside.”
Beyond the tea room lay a traditional Chinese courtyard. The Jiang family was one of the capital’s most prominent families, and its traditional Chinese decor was both grand and classically understated.
A few drops of rain spattered Jiang Pianran’s sleeve. She glanced at the gray sky, then turned and strode away.
A white Bentley waited at the entrance with its hazard lights flashing. They got in and drove into the downpour, disappearing from sight.
The atmosphere in the car was so quiet it felt oppressive. Since getting in, Jiang Pianran had kept her eyes closed and leaned against the seat, looking utterly exhausted.
Xiaoye had traveled all over with Jiang Pianran for work over the past few years, negotiating countless deals, but had never seen her like this. Jiang Pianran had been in the tea room for less than ten minutes and had emerged without saying a word. Nothing was sadder than a heart that had lost all hope.
It was only natural. She’d spent more than half a year carefully laying her plans, only to be pushed aside at the last moment by those closest to her. Anyone would be devastated.
Just then, Jiang Pianran’s phone gave several soft buzzes.
Jiang Pianran slowly picked it up and saw five new text messages.
The moment Jiang Pianran opened them, her gaze darkened.
Five photos taken in bed, each from a different angle.
The man sleeping in them was Jiang Pianran’s boyfriend, Yan Jiazhi—the man she knew better than anyone.
In his arms was a woman with a sultry smile, flashing a V-sign at the camera with the look of a victor.
What a double celebration.
She’d lost the position she’d spent half a year working toward, and now her boyfriend had cheated on her. His mistress had even shoved it in her face. It wasn’t hard to imagine how long the two of them had been carrying on.
Thinking of how often Yan Jiazhi had traveled to Fengcheng for work over the past six months, it all made sense.
Jiang Pianran and Yan Jiazhi were together because of a business marriage arrangement. Everyone in their circle knew they were a couple. They were both career-driven and treated each other with polite respect. They seemed more like colleagues than lovers, with little emotional connection.
They saw each other only a handful of times a month. When work got busy, they might meet even less often.
Though she didn’t love him, Jiang Pianran had always maintained the proper decorum and had never done anything to betray Yan Jiazhi.
She’d thought they would carry on as usual until they married, then live out their lives by the book. She’d never imagined she’d been wearing a green hat so bright it practically glowed all along!
And now his mistress had come right to her to gloat!
The thought sent a wave of anger surging through Jiang Pianran.
Fine. If he’d shown her no loyalty, she had no reason to show him any.
Jiang Pianran closed her eyes. A few seconds later, when she opened them again, her mood had changed completely.
“Come by tomorrow and move my things.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not going back to the office. Take me to Jinling Grand Hotel.”
By the time the Bentley reached Jinling Grand Hotel, the night had grown heavy beneath the pouring rain.
The presidential suite on the top floor was dark. A drunken man lay asleep on the double bed.
In the dim light filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Jiang Pianran walked to the bedside and looked down at He Chi. “Today’s my unlucky day. It’s yours, too.”
Jiang Pianran always made her plans carefully, and He Chi was her plan.
Yan Jiazhi had been unfaithful. She had no need to remain chaste. A business marriage didn’t have to be with Yan Jiazhi; there were other candidates. She wasn’t bound to him!
As far as family background went, He Chi was the Third Young Master He, and he was no worse than Yan Jiazhi.
But when it came to womanizing, He Chi was infamous in the capital’s social scene for his reckless, devil-may-care ways.
Still, at first Jiang Pianran had thought Yan Jiazhi was one of the few decent men in their circle. But what was he really? A gentleman on the surface, a scoundrel underneath.
He Chi played around openly, while Yan Jiazhi did it in secret. Neither was in any position to look down on the other.
Neither of them was dependable, so she might as well choose the one with the better looks. At least he’d be a pleasure to look at.
Looking at He Chi on the bed, Jiang Pianran slowly leaned over and lightly traced a finger along the bridge of his nose.
The face the media had praised as the most handsome, as though perfectly modeled in 3D, really was something. At least he was leagues better-looking than Yan Jiazhi.
He Chi gently turned his face to the side, away from Jiang Pianran’s fingertip.
Her finger brushed empty air. Jiang Pianran reached out and began undoing the man’s shirt buttons. Suddenly, a large, scorching hand closed around her cool one.
“…”
Jiang Pianran thought He Chi had woken up, but he only held her hand for a moment before his arm fell back down.
Jiang Pianran gave a derisive laugh and stood up from beside the bed. “Tequila is strong liquor. If you’re drunk, just lie still.”
The man didn’t respond. Of course he didn’t.
Jiang Pianran stripped He Chi until he was wearing nothing but black briefs, then went to shower.
When she came out of the bathroom, the formidable Jiang Pianran, known for her swift, decisive manner at the group, had vanished. In her place was a bewitching beauty with an alluring figure, wrapped in a bath towel.
After her shower, Jiang Pianran had cooled down. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she pondered whether she should see this through to the end. If she stopped now, there was still room to turn back.
The room was silent. At some point, He Chi had opened his eyes. His gaze slid over Jiang Pianran’s shoulders and neck, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable.
The fog was rising. Who was the real prey?