Chapter 270: 268 See defeated subordinates with one’s own hand
He chuckled softly. "Xixi really doesn’t hide anything from me."
"You are now the richest man in China, with power and connections everywhere. What could I possibly hide from you?" Jian Xi’s tone was sarcastic.
She didn’t give Fu Shengyuan a pleasant look. "Besides, having so many outstanding men chase after me is quite flattering, don’t you think?"
On the other end of the phone, Fu Shengyuan’s mouth twitched, his handsome face gradually darkening. This was the only woman who dared to be so nonchalant with him. His eyes flickered with an unreadable darkness. "No matter how outstanding they are, none are worthy of you. Some even have ulterior motives; they’re not suitable for you."
"What about you? Don’t you have other intentions?"
Jian Xi yawned, feeling exhausted by such a pointless conversation.
She hadn’t realized it herself. Apart from Si Yuhuan, who could stir her emotions, it was as if she saw right through every other man. She perceived them so clearly, inside and out, that her lack of any affection towards them, coupled with this clarity, was almost terrifying.
"Yes! I want to marry you, seriously! Perhaps I had other intentions before, but now I am more certain than ever that I want you, more than anything else," Fu Shengyuan spoke slowly. "I am already the richest man. Could I still be after money and power?"
These words shook Jian Xi’s soul, sobering her up considerably.
Her current status and position were different, and there was a world of difference between her and Fu Shengyuan. He indeed wasn’t pursuing her purely for the power and status she possessed.
True heart, true feelings?
Jian Xi curled her lips. "What a domineering statement. Alright, I’ll take note of Fu Shao’s affections."
"Marry me, and we can sign a prenuptial agreement. I don’t want anything of yours; I just want to grow old with you."
WOW!
Jian Xi started to see him in a new light.
"Quite the romantic declaration, rather touching. But I bet it won’t take long for you to regret saying this today."
"Let’s wait and see!" Fu Shengyuan was quite confident.
After hanging up, Jian Xi’s originally calm heart was thrown into turmoil.
Fu Shengyuan was dead set on marrying her.
Jian Xi felt a trace of fear.
Had he really fallen for her?
Li Xi had the same question. "Does President Fu truly like Miss Jian?"
"Don’t you find her interesting?" Fu Shengyuan’s lips curved, his eyes shimmering with the light of a hunter.
Somehow, news of the prenuptial agreement Fu Shengyuan had promised Jian Xi leaked. All the men who still harbored thoughts about Jian Xi immediately ceased their advances.
Setting aside whether they were qualified to compete with Fu Shengyuan for a woman, the prenuptial agreement alone deterred most suitors.
Few men were willing to sign such a document. After all, marrying Jian Xi, a divorcée and Si Yuhuan’s ex-wife, required considerable courage.
They couldn’t leverage her for power or money, so there was no need to pin all their hopes on her.
There were plenty of women in the world; in some respects, men were even more pragmatic than women.
Jian Xi munched on an apple, getting vitamins for the twins in her belly, while listening to Wan Yu chatter. "After hearing what Fu Shengyuan said, I feel he’s sincere. Perhaps he really likes you."
"But Zhou Yan is coming back, and he will definitely fight Fu Shengyuan for you to the very end!"
Wan Yu’s eyes sparkled. "Two men fighting over one woman! What a spectacular scene that will be! Oh my! I can hardly wait for the drama!"
"Such a gossip!" Jian Xi threw the apple core at her, trying to snap her out of it.
Wan Yu deftly caught it and rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, I know you won’t choose anyone, but can’t I enjoy a good show?"
"I’d die of envy if men fought over me like that. I bet I’d wake up laughing from my dreams."
"As if you lack suitors?" Jian Xi countered. "Just because you’re staying home more during your pregnancy, you think I’m unaware that you’re surrounded by young, handsome admirers?"
"What do you know? I mean genuine pursuit, not the kind driven by benefits! Not a single one!" Wan Yu propped her chin on her hand. "Besides, the one I want most hasn’t shown any interest, so what do the others matter? Emotions are the one thing you can’t just settle for; you can’t get over that hurdle in your heart."
She looked up at Jian Xi. "You’re rejecting Fu Shengyuan and keeping your distance from Zhou Yan because deep down, you still like Si Yuhuan, right?"
Jian Xi was speechless and frantically drank water.
"Don’t spout nonsense."
"You’re blushing! As if I don’t know you! You say it’s impossible now, but how could you just let go of a man you truly loved for ten years?"
Wan Yu yawned. "I’ve been so tired lately. Sleepy."
And with that, she fell asleep.
Jian Xi looked at her, her thoughts tumultuous and difficult to calm.
Wan Yu had hit the nail on the head regarding the deepest secrets hidden in her heart; she truly was her best friend.
"You really do know me well," Jian Xi murmured, "but you got one thing wrong. No matter how much I loved him, I can still dig him out from the deepest part of my heart and throw him away."
I’ve been burned once; I won’t make the same mistake again!
Suddenly, a stranger arrived outside. Auntie Zhang greeted him. He wanted to see Jian Xi, saying someone had asked him to deliver a message.
Jian Xi covered Wan Yu with a blanket and went downstairs.
It was an unfamiliar man, looking like an ordinary messenger.
"Jian Xi, right?"
"That’s me!"
Jian Xi was puzzled. With electronic communication so advanced, who would use such an old-fashioned way to deliver a message?
"At the Chengbei Police Station, someone named Jiang Qimeng asked me to give you a message. She says she wants to see you now."
"Jiang Qimeng?"
Only three days left until the trial.
She hadn’t seen Si Yuhuan, so what could she possibly want?
Regarding the person she had fought with for so many years, who was finally about to face punishment, Jian Xi felt an indescribable mix of emotions. Part of her wanted to see Jiang Qimeng, part of her didn’t. In the end, curiosity won out.
"Alright, I understand."
After the man left, Jian Xi went upstairs, changed her clothes, put on sunglasses, and hurried to Chengbei.
When Jian Xi saw Jiang Qimeng, she could hardly believe her eyes. This once radiant and haughty belle of Beijing, who had seemed to stand above everyone, was now in a wretched state.
This was the woman Si Yuhuan had once cherished.
Now in handcuffs and leg irons, her hair disheveled and dressed in a prison uniform, she looked frail and abject.
Two female prison guards shoved Jiang Qimeng harshly. "Hurry up and get in! Don’t waste time!"
Jiang Qimeng gritted her teeth, raised her head, and saw Jian Xi sitting opposite her. "You’re very pleased with yourself, aren’t you?"
"A bit," Jian Xi said truthfully.
Jiang Qimeng was so furious she nearly coughed up blood.
"Jian Xi! You damned bitch! I’ll never let you go, even in hell!" she roared like a caged beast.
The female guards stepped forward and pressed her down onto the chair. "What are you yelling about? If you dare raise your voice again, don’t blame us for being rough."
Jiang Qimeng glanced at the two guards fearfully and clenched her jaw.
"Jian Xi, even if I’ve fallen to this state, don’t think you’ll fare any better."
Jian Xi sat quietly, watching her.
"Si Yuhuan will eventually find out that you’re carrying his child..."
"And then he’ll make a desperate attempt, beg for my forgiveness, remarry me, and we’ll raise the child together?" Jian Xi finished the sentence for her before she could.
Jiang Qimeng’s face contorted with anger. "That will never happen!"