Nan Xin froze completely.
Just when she thought the atmosphere between them would become awkward again, Ji Zhouye raised his hand and glanced at his watch.
“Go change your clothes. Don’t catch a cold. I have to go back to the hospital for my shift.”
He turned and walked toward the door, but suddenly stopped. Looking back at her, his tone carried a hint of domineering authority.
“I have something to discuss with you. Don’t leave before I get back.”
The door closed behind him.
Nan Xin practically covered her face as she rushed into the bathroom.
“This is so embarrassing!!!”
Outside the door, Ji Zhouye did not leave immediately. He stood there, listening to the sounds coming from inside, the corners of his lips curving into an almost imperceptible smile.
This woman was far too innocent for someone who was already married.
Inside the room.
When Nan Xin came out of the bathroom this time, she obediently dressed herself properly, no longer daring to skip wearing underwear just for the sake of comfort.
She sat on the sofa for a long while before the heat in her face finally subsided.
Just then, Shen Zhixia called.
“Zhixia, what’s wrong?”
“You stupid woman! Fu Beichen humiliated you at his illegitimate daughter’s birthday party, and you didn’t even say a word!”
Shen Zhixia sounded both anxious and furious. Fu Beichen had suppressed the news so thoroughly that if a friend in their social circle hadn’t secretly told her about it, Shen Zhixia would have had no idea what happened.
Nan Xin helplessly tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a pushover. I didn’t let them get the better of me.”
“No, I’m still worried about you running around with such a big belly. Where are you right now? I’m coming to find you.”
As she spoke, the sound of Shen Zhixia starting her car could be heard through the phone.
Nan Xin had no choice but to tell her the truth.
“I’m at the home of the obstetrician who’s been handling my prenatal checkups.”
“Huh?” Shen Zhixia was stunned. “Which hospital? Does the doctor offer home services too? It’s not some shady clinic that harvests people’s kidneys, is it? No way. I have to come take a look before I can feel at ease. Send me the address!”
Before Nan Xin could answer, Shen Zhixia hung up.
Nan Xin was speechless and rubbed her forehead.
She was planning to leave once Ji Zhouye returned anyway, so she could just leave with Shen Zhixia when the time came.
Nan Xin then sent her location to Shen Zhixia on WeChat.
Shen Zhixia: 【Holy crap!! Yunding Villa??? This shady-clinic doctor of yours must be seriously impressive!】
Nan Xin: 【Stop talking nonsense. Dr. Ji is an excellent doctor, and he’s a good person too.】
Shen Zhixia: 【Fine, fine, fine. See you in an hour.】
After closing WeChat, Nan Xin opened the messages on her social media account. Her likes and comments had already exceeded 99+.
She ignored them and opened the collaboration section instead. It was a feature specifically designed for businesses and influencers to work together, and there were already more than 99+ collaboration invitations waiting for her.
Nan Xin scrolled down halfway before her eyes suddenly stopped.
Nan Yu, Manager of the Fu Group’s Research and Development Department.
Her grip on the phone tightened, and that familiar sense of irony washed over her once again.
The Fu Group had a vast business empire, with cosmetics accounting for fifty percent of its operations. When Nan Xin had first married Fu Beichen, she had mentioned wanting to join the Fu Group’s cosmetics R&D department and develop perfumes for the company.
At that time, her name, MOON, was already renowned internationally.
But before she could even finish explaining herself, Fu Beichen had rejected her without hesitation.
“Stop making trouble. Just be a good Mrs. Fu.”
Even now, Nan Xin still remembered the look in his eyes at the time—the contempt and disdain.
What he didn’t know was that all those wildly popular perfumes produced by the Fu Group had actually been created by her. She had formulated them for the Fu Group at prices far below market value.
Later, after getting married, she had been forced to put MOON’s business on hold because she had to take care of Fu Beichen and the household.
And now, the moment Nan Yu returned, she had taken the very position Nan Xin had once wanted.
A cold smile curved across Nan Xin’s lips.
Since that was the case, there was no reason for her to hold back anymore.
She opened the chat window and saw that Nan Yu had taken the initiative to message her.
Nan Yu: 【MOON, congratulations on your return! I’m Nan Yu, manager of the Fu Group’s perfume R&D department. Three years ago, our company’s collaboration with you was mutually beneficial. Now that you’ve returned, the Fu Group looks forward to working with you again!】
MOON: 【Sure. How would you like to collaborate?】
Nan Yu was probably sitting in front of her computer at that very moment. Her reply came quickly.
Nan Yu: 【The Fu Group is currently planning to build our own perfumery team. I’m offering five times what we paid you three years ago—500,000 yuan to purchase your perfume formulas and naming rights outright. If that works for you, we can pay the deposit immediately.】
Inside the office of the Fu Group’s cosmetics R&D department, Nan Yu sat in front of her computer in professional attire. A cup of coffee freshly prepared by her assistant sat beside her.
Looking at the chat window on the screen, her red lips curved into a smile.
If she hadn’t happened to see the billing records from MOON’s collaboration with the company three years ago and then come across the news of MOON’s return, she wouldn’t have had the chance to take advantage of this opportunity.
The perfumer MOON might be famous, but apparently her fees were surprisingly low. Nan Yu was offering five times the original price just for the naming rights. Unless the other party was an idiot, she would definitely agree.
Once the deal was done, Nan Yu would replace the perfumer’s name with her own and use it to make a spectacular debut after returning to the country.
Just then, a new message appeared.
MOON: 【2 million yuan for an outright purchase. No negotiation.】
Nan Yu’s smile froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Two million? Why doesn’t she just rob a bank!”
Nan Yu: 【Your price is too high, far beyond our budget. Could you lower it a little?】
MOON: 【MOON’s perfumes are worth that price.】
“Damn it!”
Nan Yu was so furious that she nearly smashed her keyboard.
In just three years, the price had jumped from 100,000 yuan to 2 million. And the R&D department was preparing to launch a five-perfume collection for its next series, meaning the total budget would be a staggering 10 million yuan. The company certainly hadn’t allocated that much money to the R&D department.
But Nan Yu knew the quality of MOON’s perfumery skills. And she desperately needed this opportunity to make a name for herself in the industry.
Nan Yu gritted her teeth and finally made up her mind.
Nan Yu: 【For a five-perfume collection, how long will it take you to complete it?】
On the other side, Nan Xin saw the message, and a smile finally appeared on her face.
Hook, line, and sinker.
MOON: 【30% upfront payment. Delivery within one month.】
Nan Yu: 【Deal.】
The advance payment and contract could be handled directly through the platform, preventing either party’s personal information from being exposed. That was precisely why Nan Xin accepted orders through the social media platform.
When the 3 million yuan advance payment was transferred into her bank account, Nan Xin finally had some room to breathe.
Now she was genuinely curious.
What kind of expression would Nan Yu and Fu Beichen have when they discovered that MOON was actually her?
An hour later, Shen Zhixia arrived at Yunding Villa.
The moment she stepped inside, she couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration.
“Tsk, tsk. This is Yunding Villa, known as the Imperial Garden. It’s not a place you can live in just because you have money. Xin Xin, your obstetrician is definitely no ordinary doctor.”
For some inexplicable reason, the scene from earlier that day suddenly flashed through Nan Xin’s mind, and her face instantly turned red.
He… really was no ordinary man.
“I’ll take you to my room first.”
Nan Xin quickly changed the subject and pulled Shen Zhixia toward her room.
Just then, Shen Zhixia suddenly let out a cry of surprise.
“Eh? Wait a second. What is this?”