Outside of Xin Zaozao’s room.
Mu Cidian stood by the tightly closed door for a long ti.
He did not knock, but he did not leave either.
Xin Zaozao was planning to get so fresh air during the period when Nie Feng was taking a shower after her.
The door opened, and there stood Mu Cidian.
His sudden appearance left him sowhat stunned.
Stunned, he stared straight at Xin Zaozao.
Xin Zaozao couldn’t rember the last ti Mu Cidian had looked at her like this.
Thinking about it, those past glances must also have been fraught with deception.
Her expression was indifferent.
So was her heart.
Towards him, aside from hatred, she felt nothing else.
In the past, she could bear a lot, but now, she simply doesn’t want to endure anymore.
She asked, "What do you want?"
Mu Cidian had returned to his usual self at this mont.
No longer taken aback, no longer holding onto a sliver of obsession.
He said, "My mother’s behavior today..."
"Yes, I hit her." Xin Zaozao interrupted his words directly, "Want to retaliate?"
Mu Cidian’s lips tightened.
It seed difficult for him to suppress his emotions around Xin Zaozao, to remain calm and composed.
The current Xin Zaozao was like a hedgehog, full of thorns, full of... wounds.
He said, "I want to assure you that such a thing won’t happen again."
"Heh." Xin Zaozao laughed, her laugh as ironic as her hatred was intense. She said, "I won’t even believe the punctuation in your words. But since we’re speaking of your mother’s actions today, let advise you to inform her that out of respect for my father, I won’t hold her accountable this ti. If it happens again, I will post the photos and videos of her adultery on the internet for the world to see!"
"Xin Zaozao." Mu Cidian called out her na with great force.
Xin Zaozao appeared aloof, "I an what I say!"
Having finished speaking.
Xin Zaozao turned to go back to her room.
Even if Nie Feng was not finished showering, even if it would be awkward in the room, it was a hundred tis better than face-to-face with Mu Cidian.
Mu Cidian... even looking at him one more ti made her feel... sick.
"Xin Zaozao." Mu Cidian abruptly grabbed her arm.
Xin Zaozao’s lips tightened.
Nie Feng was not there at the mont, and she could not break free.
And she would no longer foolishly let herself be hurt. Enough was enough. It ends here. This man would not hurt her again.
Mu Cidian said, "I won’t do anything to you. There’s no need for you to live under the sa roof with a man. It’s your own reputation you’re ruining."
"Reputation?" Xin Zaozao’s sarcasm grew, "Do I still have a reputation?"
Mu Cidian was taken aback.
"Everyone else can talk about my ’reputation’, but you... Mu Cidian, you alone, are not worthy!"
Mu Cidian’s throat was in turmoil.
His emotions were constantly fluctuating.
Towards Xin Zaozao, he had been enduring.
Enduring, always enduring.
"Let go!" Xin Zaozao said, her voice full of determination.
Mu Cidian instinctively gripped her tighter at that mont, but he let go of her hand when she tried to resist.
"Stay away from in the future. I don’t want to wash my body until it’s ruined."
Leaving these words, Xin Zaozao swiftly closed the door.
Outside the room, Mu Cidian stood there.
He stood there, staring at the firmly closed door in front of him.
Since when... has this door remained closed like this.
In the future, it will never open again.
After closing the door, Xin Zaozao leaned heavily against it.
The thing she regretted most in this life was her unguarded, full-hearted commitnt to Mu Cidian.
Each ti she thought back, she would grit her teeth in anger.
"Miss Xin." Nie Feng, fully dressed, erged from the bathroom.
Xin Zaozao snapped back to reality.
She made an effort to return to her usual deanor, smiled slightly, and said, "It’s late. Let’s get so rest."
Regarding Nie Feng, although they had been sharing a room for quite so ti, he was an exceptionally upright man. He not only avoided inappropriate behavior but also deliberately kept a distance from her. This had made their cohabitation smooth despite the initial uncomfortableness.
Xin Zaozao’s trust in Song Zhizhi increased due to Nie Feng’s character.
Nie Feng was recomnded by Song Zhizhi.
She always believed that the kind of people one associated with reflected who they were.
Presumably, Song Zhizhi had made special arrangents.
In a way, she was grateful.
However, because she never learned how to socialize and initiate friendships from an early age, her relationship with Song Zhizhi remained quite superficial. But this ti, Song Zhizhi asked her to be a bridesmaid.
Truth be told, it ward her heart.
It felt like she was being needed for the first ti.
The feeling was strange, very strange.
"Miss Xin." Nie Feng began as he prepared his makeshift bed, "I have so personal matters and would like to take a week off."
Xin Zaozao was taken aback.
They had agreed in the beginning that there would be no days off unless there was a special reason.
"I’ll arrange for soone to replace for a week if you’re concerned about anything." Nie Feng continued, "My mom’s health has been a bit off. My dad is not around, so I want to take her to the hospital for a check-up. She always ignores her health and subsists on so dicinal herbs. I want to take her for a full body check-up at the hospital. Our hotown is not in Jin City, so considering the ti it takes to travel back and forth, and also a few days of delay, it will take at least a week."
Xin Zaozao nodded, "Alright. Forget about finding soone to replace . It’s just a week, nothing will happen. You should go ho and make sure your mother’s health is checked."
"Thank you, Miss Xin."
Xin Zaozao smiled, indicating it was no big deal.
She walked towards her bed, turning on an extrely faint light. It was like this every night.
To the point where she found it challenging to fall asleep quietly at night. Without a sliver of light in her surroundings, she felt an unexplainable fear.
This fear, she was unsure when it started, but it had now beco a habit.
As she lay in her bed, she stared blankly at the ceiling.
Nie Feng had relatives who could care for him...but her...
Her emotions were a bit turbulent.
She also had a mother, but they were like strangers passing by.
So many things had happened to her, even if her mother was abroad, she should have heard sothing. Even if the information was hard to get overseas, if her mother actually cared about her, she would follow dostic news about her. However, there was nothing, absolutely nothing, not even a phone call.
She turned over.
Sotis she thought about many things, unable to make sense of many things, but most of the ti, she could only numbly endure.
Gradually she was...devoid of feeling.
When she ca to...
Xin Zaozao got up to wash up.
Nie Feng had already packed his stuff simply.
The two of them exited the room together.
At the door, they ran into Wan Quan who had just woken up and was about to go downstairs for breakfast.
Xin Zaozao and Wan Quan locked glances.
Xin Zaozao shifted her gaze, leading Nie Feng downstairs.
Wan Quan watched her, a scathing voice sounding behind her, "Xin Zaozao, what, are you sending away your playboy? Bored with him already, couldn’t he satisfy you anymore?"
Xin Zaozao bit her lip.
When her father was still alive, at least Wan Quan wouldn’t have said such things.
Being an elder, it’s shocking to speak so disrespectfully.
Humph.
Not even an elder.
Just an adversary.
She ignored her, leading Nie Feng onward.
"Shaless." Wan Quan snapped harshly.
Xin Zaozao didn’t want to argue with her.
She didn’t even want to speak to Wan Quan.
She just wanted to kick them out, drive them away, to disappear from her sight completely.
For other things, she didn’t even want to waste an ounce of energy.
At this mont, behind Wan Quan, Mu Cidian and Wu Qianyuan were getting ready to go downstairs.
Wan Quan’s harsh words also reached Mu Cidian and Wu Qianyuan’s ears.
Mu Cidian’s expression subtly changed.
All this ti, whenever his mother and Xin Zaozao t, his mother always hurled insults at Xin Zaozao without holding back. No matter how harsh they were, Xin Zaozao used to react a little. He even wanted to see Xin Zaozao’s reactions. Now, she showed no reaction at all.
This ant, Xin Zaozao no longer cared.
She didn’t want to waste words, she was concentrating all her efforts on driving them away!
Wu Qianyuan, grasping Mu Cidian’s arm, watched as Wan Quan descended the stairs, her soft voice held dissatisfaction, "Even though Xin Zaozao is very annoying, sotis mum really goes overboard."
Mu Cidian remained silent.
"Cidian, let’s move out." Wu Qianyuan proposed, "There’s no need to live under the sa roof with Xin Zaozao. Let’s take mum and go."
"My mother won’t leave." Mu Cidian replied indifferently.
Wu Qianyuan’s eyebrows creased slightly.
Since when had Mu Cidian beco sowhat... sowhat distant?
To be precise, from the ti they were dating to now, it’s as if everything good about Mu Cidian was copied from a book. Perfectly executing it as if working through a guidebook, it was difficult for her to understand his inner thoughts, both as a boyfriend and a fiance. Even in bed, it was the sa. She had no idea what he was thinking.
It’s as if he was just playing the role of a universally accepted good partner.
Wu Qianyuan felt sowhat stifled, but couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason. Looking closely, Mu Cidian was great in all areas, never refused any of her requests, never got upset over her occasional whims, was infinitely patient with her, accepting everything about her...
At this mont, she suddenly wondered whether Mu Cidian truly loved her and that’s why he was so patient with her, or was he simply indifferent and so didn’t care about her requests.
The more she thought about it, the worse she felt.
However, her good upbringing made her hold it in again.
She didn’t want to be labeled as unreasonable.
...
Xin Zaozao let Nie Feng drive to the airport first before she drove to the office.
It had been quite a while since she had last driven.
People really could develop inertia.
It’s easy to beco dependent on things.
She adjusted her mood. The car drove slowly.
When she reached the headquarters, she was slightly late.
What she didn’t expect was that Wu Cheng, the Sales Manager, was waiting for her in her office.
In the past, nobody would have taken the initiative to find her.
She tried to seem calm, walking to her desk with composure.
Wu Cheng, seeing her appearance, looked displeased, "Chairman, although you’re the boss, you should still set a good example by coming to work on ti. I’ve waited for you for half an hour. When your father was in charge, this would never happen."
Xin Zaozao did not refute.
Being late was her mistake, but she couldn’t apologize to her subordinate.
In the past, Xin Zaozao had cramd many managent books, and on a theoretical level, she had learned a lot. She knew clearly that at this ti, she cannot appear weak in front of her subordinates. It would only lead to her losing all authority.
"What’s the matter, Manager Wu?" Xin Zaozao asked, keeping her composure.
"There’s a docunt here. It’s about the outsourcing sales of Imperial Dragon Comrcial Circle shops and the tripartite settlent cost. It involves over 20 million. Due to the large amount, the Chairman’s signature is required for the finance departnt to make the transfer. Sign here." Wu Cheng didn’t let Xin Zaozao see what it was exactly. After a simple explanation, he pointed out where she should sign.
Xin Zaozao stared at the docunt, calmly saying, "I don’t rember this expense."
"What do you an? You think I’m falsifying records?" Wu Cheng’s face instantly changed, his tone was not pleasant either.
Xin Zaozao said, "Leave the docunt here first, let review it and then sign."
"We’ve been delaying paynt for half a year, if we don’t pay them today, according to the contract, they can file for arbitration in court!" Wu Cheng’s voice was slightly raised.
"Why have they been in arrears for half a year?" Xin Zaozao retorted calmly.
Wu Cheng was taken aback, he didn’t expect Xin Zaozao to question him like this.
He had never taken her into consideration, to be precise, nobody in the Group had ever really treated Xin Zaozao as the chairman, they all thought she was just a puppet.
Just at this mont, because of Xin Zaozao’s questioning, Wu Cheng beca infuriated, "The procedures for this kind of paynt are usually more complicated, I am already doing a good job by dealing with it now, you are still questioning ! I don’t want to explain it to you either, even if I did you wouldn’t understand, just hurry up and sign it, I have a lot more to do."
"I will not sign until everything is clear." Xin Zaozao was firm.
Wu Cheng’s face grew terrible to look at.
In the stalemate, Wu Cheng suddenly stood up from his seat, and slamd the file in front of Xin Zaozao.
"Sign it or not, you’ll be responsible for the consequences!"
After saying this, he slamd his chair and left.
Xin Zaozao just stared at the docunts in front of her.
When she first joined Xin Group, she had envisioned all the worst-case scenarios, this was one of them. Yet, she was still sowhat unsettled in her heart at this mont.
Being yelled at and forced into submission.
Her eyes reddened, but she abruptly made herself strong.
There is nothing that can’t be solved, she has managed to pull through all the difficulties she had encountered before, let alone now.
She picked up the docunts and began to read carefully.
Outside the door at this mont, stood Mu Cidian.
Standing there, watching Xin Zaozao studying conscientiously, she picked up a pen and began taking notes like a primary school student, showing such diligent effort!
He turned and walked away.
Walking away coldly.
Xin Zaozao studied the docunts for a whole day.
Her whole body had beco stiff.
The coffee that Yan Quan brewed for her had long gone cold, she glanced at it and got up to make herself a fresh cup.
Outside the office door, Yan Quan knocked and walked in.
Seeing her making her own coffee, he quickly went over, "Chairman, you could have asked ."
Xin Zaozao smiled, "It’s okay, I just wanted to move around a bit, sitting all day has made my body stiff. Did you need sothing, Uncle Yan?"
Sotis privately, Xin Zaozao would call him Uncle.
It made their relationship seem less distant.
"Tonight, Mr. Jason, the sales director for Southeast Asia from YILANG luxury brand, is holding a birthday party at Four Seasons Banquet Hall. We are invited. Should we attend?"
"Do we have any cooperation with them?"
"They are a major brand client of our shopping circle, exclusively setting up shop with us. aning, they only cooperate with our Xin Group’s shopping circle and do not set up in other malls." Yan Quan explained.
Xin Zaozao understood.
YILANG is a big international brand, only settling in the Xin shopping circle obviously enhances the value of Xin Group itself. Also, it naturally generates a considerable amount of leasing inco, which is a significant profit for Xin Group. Moreover, due to the current popularity of this brand in the country, to a certain extent, it has attracted a lot of custors to the Xin shopping circle.
Such a big client is definitely not to be lost.
She said, "We will attend tonight."
"Alright, I will make the preparations."
"Okay." Xin Zaozao nodded and then suddenly thought of sothing, "Usually, for these kinds of banquets, it was my father who always attended, right?"
"Not always. Occasionally, Mr. Mu would attend with your father, and sotis he would even attend on behalf of your father."
"Okay, I got it."
So, she might et Mu Cidian tonight.
"I’ll go and get ready."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Yan Quan smiled politely and walked out of the office.
Xin Zaozao returned to her seat.
She took a few sips of the coffee, and picked up the docunt in front of her.
Clearly, this so-called paynt, even soone as inexperienced as her noticed many flaws. It seed Wu Cheng did not take her into consideration, or perhaps... Wu Cheng was in a hurry for the money, and did not have the ti to ponder.
She bit her lip, the traditional way seed difficult to adapt to, perhaps there are other ways to win people’s hearts.
...
In the afternoon.
Xin Zaozao left work half an hour early to choose her evening gown.
She had attended banquets before, during occasional mandatory appearances, she would attend with her father and Wan Quan’s mother and son.
But this ti, she was attending herself, alone.
She went to YILANG’s counter and selected their latest dress of the season, a deep V white fishtail dress, different from the traditional, the top is a revamped suit design, the suit has no buttons, but a V shape that extends to the waist. This kind of design obviously won’t accommodate a bra, only pads can be worn with a bare front, from the collarbone to the belly, the wind is blowing, vaguely so overly sexy. The bottom is a fitted semi-fishtail bodysuit, which just outlines her slender and extrely white legs, coupled with a pair of white single heel shoes, because of the overly monotonous color, Xin Zaozao put on a slightly bold makeup, complented by a pair of slightly exaggerated diamond earrings.
She had never been this bold in dressing, she was even just trying to fit in with the host of this birthday banquet. Unexpectedly, it looked really good.
Turns out.
She suits this kind of cold and pure beauty.
Without impurity, purely clean, and carries a sense of aloofness that keeps others away.
Giving a feeling, that she has strong aura.
Quite different from that 22-year-old girl who was often bullied.
Xin Zaozao, holding a banquet handbag, sat in the car driven by Yan Quan and headed for the Four Seasons Banquet Hall.
By the ti they arrived, there were already quite a few people.
Truthfully, Xin Zaozao was quite nervous.
The hand gripping the handbag was full of perspiration.
This was her first ti appearing like this under the public gaze.
For the first ti, under such a flickering light.
Many people turned to look at her. If they didn’t look carefully, no one would have realized it was Xin Zaozao.
That’s the one, the supposedly weak and incapable chairman of the Xin family.
At this mont, she’s stepping on her high heels, strutting elegantly with a raised lip full of ravishing redness. Her dazzling earrings are slightly swaying, giving her an overwhelmingly strong aura.
Xin Zaozao stops in front of Mr. Senjie, trying to remain calm as she says, "Hello Mr. Senjie, I am Xin Zaozao from the Xin family."
"Oh, Chairman of Xin Group, right? Heard a lot about you, but seeing is believing. Welco to our celebration." Senjie’s cheerful response radiates.
"Thank you for your invitation, this is my birthday gift for you. Happy Birthday."
"How kind of you." Senjie takes it before passing it off to his assistant.
It’s common not to unwrap gifts on the spot.
Xin Zaozao had thought of many conversation topics on her way here to avoid awkward silences, practicing them in secret. Yet at this mont, she’s nervous and at a loss for words.
The slightly unnatural atmosphere had her taking a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak.
Senjie suddenly lets out a laugh and walks past Xin Zaozao, eagerly offering a greeting, "Mu Cidian, you’ve arrived."
So, it’s Mu Cidian.
Behind her, the voice of Mu Cidian responds, "Happy birthday."
"Thank you. Is this your fiancée? She’s even prettier than I rember. You’re one lucky man, Mu!", Senjie complints with a chuckle, as foreign people are more prone to joking around.
Wu Qianyuan hurriedly responds in kind.
Xin Zaozao turns to look at them.
The atmosphere is very harmonious; exceedingly harmonious.
She opts to act nonchalant and walks off to one side.
Mu Cidian lifts his gaze at that mont and for a second, he doesn’t recognize Xin Zaozao. It was only when she moved that he was taken aback.
He looks straight at Xin Zaozao’s back, at her graceful silhouette... her srizing figure...
"Cidian." Wu Qianyuan gently nudges him.
Mu Cidian cos to his senses, speaking naturally, "Of course, our Xin family mall will surely reserve the best spot for you, Mr. Senjie..."
...
Xin Zaozao takes a deep breath.
As expected, she’s not great at socializing.
Yan Quan hands her a glass of champagne, comforting her, "Don’t rush. Mr. Mu has been attending these gatherings with your father for many years. This is your first ti, and to be frank, you’re doing just fine. Once Jason has fewer people around him, we can go greet him separately."
"All right. If I keep studying and trying, I’ll eventually get it." Xin Zaozao says with a faint smile.
Yan Quan actually feels quite sympathetic towards Xin Zaozao.
Others may not know, but because he’s closest to her, he knows how much hardship this girl has gone through in order to take over Xin Group.
The banquet hall is still crowded.
Xin Zaozao watches the buzz of people coming and going. Most of them are from the fashion world. There aren’t many actual businessn, at least Jihong Group didn’t send anyone, but... is that Yin Qin, the young master of Milky Way dia? Has he decided to enter the fashion world?
Xin Zaozao doesn’t actually recognize Yin Qin, but because they are both from the three major consortiums of Jin City, they’ve t fleetingly at various events.
Because of this familiar face, she inexplicably feels a sense of familiarity.
As expected.
She really is, too lonely.
Lonely enough to feel warmth from strangers.
She just stands there in the corner sipping her champagne, with her eyes vaguely fixed on Yin Qin. His gaze seems set on a woman, a woman she feels like she’s seen before, but can’t rember who she is.
Naturally.
The only woman in the world who could capture Yin Qin’s attention like this, apart from Ji Baixin, is no one else.
Ji Baixin is a designer with quite a reputation in Jin City, so naturally, she would be invited to a fashion gathering like this.
Normally, Ji Baixin might be aloof, but she’s serious and responsible in her professional field, even sowhat obsessively so.
"Your eyeballs are about to fall out." The lady beside Yin Qin, his mother Qin Keqin, can’t help but tease.
Yin Qin shifts his gaze, acting as if he saw nothing.
But in his mind, all he can see is the expressions and the laughs of Ji Baixin.
Turns out this woman could be so bright and lively, so sociable, so radiant...
"Yin Qin." Qin Keqin nudges his arm.
Yin Qin cos to his senses once again.
"Go and say hello." Qin Keqin suggests.
"Why should I go and greet her, I don’t care about that woman Ji Baixin."
"Did I say you should go and greet Ji Baixin?"
"..." Are you really my mother?
Qin Keqin says, "I’m going outside for so fresh air."
Then she leaves.
Yin Qin watches his mother’s retreating figure.
His mother usually doesn’t attend these kinds of business banquets and she never accompanied his father either. It’s only because his mother is a die-hard fan of YILANG, and wanted to et the lead designer of YILANG, that she dragged him here.
He actually didn’t want to co.
He really didn’t.
It’s only because he couldn’t resist his mother’s coercion and persuasion - certainly not because his mother said sothing about Ji Baixin possibly attending - that he showed up.
Without realizing it, his gaze drifts back towards Ji Baixin.
The hall suddenly goes dark.
Oh no.
Even the heavens think he and Ji Baixin are incompatible.
While he’s thinking about this, a beam of light suddenly shines in the hall.
Consequently, a man and woman appear in the spotlight.
Such a grand entrance...
At that mont Yin Qin’s face changes.
It changes completely.
And Ji Baixin...
Ji Baixin...her face changes too.
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