Qiao Xi's mind went blank for three seconds.
It was over.
She had splashed the wrong person.
It was Jiang Si.
She looked at the man's soaked black hair, water droplets rolling down his smooth jawline and into the collar of his drenched shirt.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist.
The hormones were practically bursting through the screen.
Xia Cheng was practically drooling.
Qiao Xi's cheeks instantly burned, the heat spreading from the base of her neck to her ear tips.
"I... I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
She finally found her voice, waving her hands in a flustered manner.
"I thought it was... it was someone else."
Jiang Si didn't speak.
He simply raised a hand to wipe the water from his face, his dark eyes quietly gazing at her.
His gaze was very deep, revealing no emotion, but Qiao Xi felt he must be angry.
Who would be happy to be inexplicably drenched in water?
"You... wait a moment!"
Qiao Xi dropped the sentence, turned around, and ran to the bedroom.
She rummaged through the closet for a brand new, large towel and then rushed back, shoving it into Jiang Si's arms.
"Quick, dry yourself! Don't catch a cold!"
The towel was large and soft, with the fluffy feel of being freshly washed and sun-dried.
Jiang Si took it, lowered his head, and began to dry his hair, his movements unhurried.
A faint fragrance wafted into the air with his movements.
It was the scent of roses.
Sweet and gentle.
"It's fine, it's cool. It's a bit stuffy tonight," Jiang Si's first words washed away more than half of Qiao Xi's guilt.
His voice was slightly hoarse from the moisture.
Deep and pleasant to listen to.
He dried his hair halfway, then draped the towel over his arm, his gaze falling on her.
"I saw you hadn't replied to my message, so I came up to check, worried something might have happened."
"Remember to check the peephole next time."
"...Mm." Qiao Xi nodded haphazardly.
"Pfft." Xia Cheng beside her couldn't help but chuckle.
"I say, handsome, you have too good a temper. If you had splashed me, I would have at least made her pay me for emotional distress."
She spoke while boldly appraising Jiang Si from head to toe.
"But considering how handsome you are, you could pay with your body."
Qiao Xi wished she could find a fissure in the ground to disappear into.
She shot Xia Cheng a fierce glare and lowered her voice, "Shut up!"
Jiang Si curved his lips; her angry expression was surprisingly cute.
"I'm leaving now. Get some rest early." To spare her further embarrassment, he quickly bid farewell, taking the towel with him.
Seeing a girl in her room, he felt a sense of relief.
He had actually been worried that Shang Beichen might... eat her tonight.
After closing the door, Xia Cheng was still in a daze, "Is this Director Jiang who had that accidental hug with you half a year ago?"
Qiao Xi nodded.
"This figure, this appearance, this damn sexual tension! I declare, I'm shipping you two!" Xia Cheng praised endlessly. "With such a gem by your side, why are you still pining for that heartless Shang dog?"
"Strike while the iron is hot, kick him to the curb!" Xia Cheng said righteously.
"Don't talk nonsense. Shang Beichen holds grudges. If he's with me, it won't end well," Qiao Xi was still worried he would receive Shang Beichen's special 'handling' tomorrow.
"Don't you want to resign? Put on a good show with this man. Shang dog gets angry, and he'll directly fire you," Xia Cheng spread her hands. "Everyone's happy, and you save the 20 million in compensation."
"I'm afraid I won't even make it out of Tianyu alive," Qiao Xi sighed, her heart in a mess.
Xia Cheng hugged her, resting her chin on Qiao Xi's shoulder. Her pupils contracted as she spotted the tooth mark, then looked at the red mark on her neck.
"Dog man, did he bite you?"
"Mm." Qiao Xi gave a muffled hum. He had kissed her for more than ten minutes that night before calming down.
Struggling was useless; she couldn't win.
She had to endure.
"Be honest, between the two men, who are you on team with?"
"I don't know." Her heart was indeed a little chaotic.
Jiang Si was very good, but Shang Beichen...
The name made Qiao Xi's chest feel heavy.
She had once desperately wanted Shang Beichen to return. Now that he was back, he always bullied her.
Perhaps his love for her had long since vanished.
If it weren't for Little Bean's existence, which often reminded her of him, perhaps...
The deepest chasm separating them was insurmountable, which was why she had initiated the divorce back then.
Although he hadn't married Bai Wei, those three days and three nights...
Just thinking about it made her restless. Qiao Xi turned and went to the bathroom to take a bath, completely clearing him from her mind.
The next day, Shang Beichen held an early morning meeting.
He specifically called out Qiao Xi and Su Xiaoke by name, asking them to enter the conference room together.
The thirty members of the Investment Department Two sat in their seats, the atmosphere solemn.
Shang Beichen announced the official establishment of the "Nanxing Island Project Team."
He publicly designated Jiang Si as the team leader.
"Director Jiang, you will select five elite subordinates yourself."
Jiang Si stood up, his expression serious, "Yes, President Shang."
Shang Beichen's gaze then turned to Su Xiaoke, "You will be responsible for assisting the project team. All progress will be reported directly to the President's Office."
"Yes, President Shang." Su Xiaoke was overjoyed.
The conference room was silent.
The Nanxing Island project, with an investment of billions, was the first major case Shang Beichen had taken on since assuming control of Tianyu, its importance was self-evident.
Qiao Xi hadn't expected that Shang Beichen would not only not exile Jiang Si but would instead entrust him with such a crucial responsibility.
Finally, Shang Beichen announced, "At the end of the month, the entire project team will go to Nanxing Island for on-site inspection."
The meeting ended, and Qiao Xi let out a long sigh of relief.
It seemed he wasn't seeking personal revenge; he had some vision after all.
Back in the secretary department, Su Xiaoke was like a happy little bird, almost jumping with joy.
"That's great! I'll have more opportunities to interact with Director Jiang from now on!"
She excitedly grabbed Qiao Xi's arm, "Xixi, you're not angry, are you?"
She glanced at Qin Yue beside them, "Yueyue, you're not angry either, right?"
She knew very well that no one in this office disliked Jiang Si.
Qiao Xi smiled, "I'm not angry. Do a good job with the project."
Qin Yue rested her chin on her hand with a look of longing, "President Shang is practically Cupid himself, sent down to tie the knot. I wonder when he'll tie one for me."
Qiao Xi's heart suddenly clenched.
So, his ulterior motive was this.
He wanted to set up Su Xiaoke and Jiang Si.
Tsk, this dog man.
Qin Yue then asked, "Xixi, tomorrow is your birthday. How are you planning to celebrate?"
"I'm treating everyone to a big meal at the Revolving Restaurant," Qiao Xi said with a smile.
"Really!" Su Xiaoke was the first to jump up, wholeheartedly agreeing.
Just then, the intercom call rang.
Qiao Xi answered, said "Okay," and headed to the pantry.
She meticulously ground the coffee beans; Shang Beichen was extremely picky about his coffee.
Exclusive beans, a specific roasting level, only 10 ml of milk, the temperature must be exactly 65 degrees, not a degree more or less.
She carried the coffee into the President's Office.
Shang Beichen took a sip, and for once, showed a look of satisfaction.
Qiao Xi began to report his schedule for the day in a businesslike manner.
After she finished, Shang Beichen suddenly spoke.
"All afternoon appointments are canceled."
"You, accompany me somewhere."
Huh?
Qiao Xi's internal alarm bells went off, "President Shang..."
"It's working hours," Shang Beichen interrupted her, a hint of mockery in his tone. "I'm not using your precious after-work time. Do you have any objections?"
"...No."
"Mm, good."
Qiao Xi nodded.
The man glanced at her, "What are you standing here for? Get out."
Qiao Xi gritted her teeth and ran.
In the afternoon, Shang Beichen's car unexpectedly stopped at the entrance of Ningcheng's most upscale shopping mall.
Tomorrow was her birthday; he was using his position to take her shopping.
He led her straight into the mall's most high-end women's clothing brand store.
The price tags on the clothes inside all started from six figures.
There were also two jewelry display cases in the corner, with accessories that were all seven figures.
Shang Beichen only said one thing to the approaching store manager.
"Find suitable sizes and styles for her, and bring them all out for her to try."
The store manager's eyes lit up, and she immediately called two sales assistants to help.
Qiao Xi was completely stunned. Was he going to buy her clothes?
"President Shang, I don't need it. I have clothes to wear."
Shang Beichen gave her a disgusted look, "You are my Chief Secretary now. If you dress poorly, it reflects badly on me. Otherwise, who do you think cares what you wear."
"Go try on the clothes," he ordered.
Qiao Xi was pushed into the fitting room. She picked up a dress and looked at the price tag: over a hundred thousand.
She was extremely careful while changing, afraid of accidentally snagging a thread.
She tried on several outfits in a row.
Shang Beichen sat on the sofa with a consistently expressionless face, his brow slightly furrowed, seemingly very dissatisfied.
He felt that none of these clothes were worthy of her.
Looking at his picky expression, Qiao Xi began to doubt herself.
Had she gained weight? Did she look terrible in them?
When she came out after trying on the thirteenth outfit, she found the sofa empty.
Shang Beichen was gone.
Her heart panicked. She ran out and looked around the store; he wasn't there.
She immediately called his phone, but no one answered.
The store manager approached with a smile, "Miss, which outfits have you decided on? I'll have them wrapped for you."
Qiao Xi's heart leaped into her throat. The financier had run off; how would she pay?
"Please wait a moment, I..." She continued to dial his number, but there was still no answer.
Was he playing with her?
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