Font Size:
Jiang Sixun’s car arrived just two minutes later, but by then, the three chatting at the hotel entrance had already stepped inside.
As he was about to get out, Xu Ningwei’s call came in.
“Drive to the parking lot,” he instructed the driver before closing the car door.
After two days of soul-searching, Xu Ningwei had decided to make a fresh start. The ordinary beginnings just didn’t stir any passion within her. Having spent twenty years in luxury, where private jets were the norm and trips involved a convoy of drivers, nannies, and bodyguards, she couldn’t find fulfillment in the life Xu Xiangyi had planned for her upon her return.
“Brother Sixun, I plan to go to the R&D center at Jinyun,” she said.
Among the projects under Jinyun’s medical branch, the only one that piqued her interest was the collaboration with the Lu family.
Jiang Sixun didn’t say much; he only asked, “Have you thought it through?”
“Yeah. Before I go, I want to confirm something: is Shen Qingfeng serious about the project? If not, I won’t go.”
“She never treats making money lightly.”
“Okay, that gives me clarity.”
At that moment, Xu Ningwei was seated in one of her family’s other residences, surrounded by memories she no longer wanted to be trapped by.
“Brother Sixun, I don’t want to hold onto hate anymore. I’ve been so tired these six years.” She confessed, “The conditions Shen Qingfeng offers are hard for anyone to refuse.”
“I’m not going there to take revenge on anyone or to harm anyone.”
“Going to any other R&D center makes me feel apathetic. At least if I go to Jinyun, I won’t waste my expertise. I can’t find another way out; this is my only path.”
“I feel the same, but I don’t know what to do,” Jiang Sixun admitted.
After a pause, and noticing she wasn’t continuing, he said, “Hate or not, it’s all about finding a way to be okay. Hate seeks revenge, while not hating is about repaying kindness for wrongs.” He assessed the situation objectively, “This project has great potential.”
“Thank you.” She found it hard to talk to anyone else, but Jiang Sixun always knew how to comfort her in these moments.
“Ningwei, I’ve told you before: don’t waste your talent. Build a good relationship with Professor Shang.”
“I will,” Xu Ningwei replied. She mentioned she had prepared the documents and would change her surname to Shang soon. Then, when she spoke about her relationship with Shang Tongxu, she wouldn’t have to explain so much.
She didn’t hide her reasons for the name change from Jiang Sixun. “In research, my dad’s name carries more weight than Xu Dad’s.”
“Professor Shang understands why you’re changing your surname at this time. But once you do, he’ll be pleased.”
Jiang Sixun glanced at his watch. “I’m at the cocktail party now.”
“Then you should get back to it,” Xu Ningwei said before ending the call.
Jiang Sixun stepped out of the car and made his way to the private elevator.
This hotel belonged to Lu Jianbo, effectively making it his own. Every visit felt like riding in his father’s exclusive elevator.
To reach the banquet hall, one had to pass through a scenic lounge with a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour.
It was there that the daughters of the Ning and Yu families crossed paths. Yu Rui initially thought about retreating back to the banquet but then reconsidered—why should she always be the one to back down?
The banquet hall was full of insincerity and pretense, and she was over it.
With a glass of red wine in hand, she perched at one end of the viewing platform, while Ning Yun, in a striking red gown, sat at the other, her bright eyes sparkling.
The two young ladies were famously known for their fashion preferences—one loved pure red, while the other favored soft lavender, both shunning ostentation and opting for simple styles.
Ning Yun tilted her head, a half-smile playing on her lips as she sipped her wine. “Don’t wait for him; he’s not coming tonight.”
Yu Rui shot back with a cold laugh, “Oh? Since when did you become my inner thoughts?”
“Many years ago,” Ning Yun replied, still wearing that bright smile. “You called off the wedding because you couldn’t let go of him, didn’t you? No one else could compare. Too bad, he’s not getting married, and your hopes have been dashed once more. Two months ago, you wanted to reconnect over tea, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do it, so you only discussed work.”
“He’s vying for control of the Lu family; you must be thrilled. He’ll be in Hong Kong for a long time, at least six months out of the year.”
“For those three years we were together, were you envious, jealous, or just plain spiteful?”
“Yu Rui, am I a qualified worm in your belly?”
Yu Rui took a sip of her wine. “You seem awfully invested in my affairs. Aren’t you tired, Ning Yun?”
Ning Yun laughed lightly, her joy tinged with mischief. “Not at all! How about you? Have you been worn down these years?”
Just then, footsteps approached from the private elevator.
Lu Jianbo had already entered the banquet hall, and they both knew it, so they instinctively turned to look.
He was busy replying to messages, walking slowly with his head down.
Ning Yun miscalculated, seeing Xu Zhiyi enter alongside Lu Jianbo, mistakenly assuming Jiang Sixun was tied up with something or temporarily out of Hong Kong.
“I thought you weren’t coming tonight! Why aren’t you with Uncle Lu?”
Jiang Sixun looked up; the sight of them together was unusual. They had been pitted against each other since childhood, and even at events, there had been no private exchanges.
He nodded to Yu Rui and said to Ning Yun, “He only brought Zhiyi.”
Ning Yun stood up and walked into the banquet hall with him.
After taking a few steps, she turned back and called to the woman in the lounge, “Are you coming along?”
The woman ignored her.
Ning Yun shrugged it off and continued chatting with Jiang Sixun.
As they walked away, Jiang Sixun remarked, “Did it have to come to this?”
Ning Yun feigned innocence. “What? I was just being friendly, inviting her to join us!”
Jiang Sixun didn’t want to argue.
Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere was lively, filled with the rich and powerful from various families and business partners. No one was the center of attention; instead, small groups mingled and exchanged light banter.
No one paid much attention to who came and went, except when Shen Qingfeng arrived, causing a stir. People were more interested in her connection to Lu Jianbo than in the gossip surrounding her and Lu Jianliang, especially after the recent scandals had kept the Lu family in the headlines.
As Jiang Sixun entered, the crowd’s focus was on Shen Qingfeng, sparing him the usual pleasantries. He casually took a glass of wine from a server’s tray to toast the host of the evening.
Before he could find the host, he was called over by his uncle.
Ning Yun turned to the man beside her. “We’ll catch up later.” She gracefully stepped aside.
The uncle and nephew moved to a quieter lounge area.
Lu Jianliang had only come to discuss business with his nephew out of obligation. Although their grandfather had agreed to recognize his illegitimate son, granting him a share of the family estate, he made it clear that the boy could never join the family business. This was to pacify his eldest grandson’s anger.
If the eldest son were to compete with Jiang Sixun, the outcome was clear without any real battle. While still in power, he had to secure more benefits for his own children.
He got straight to the point: “You never cared for the Lu family; your interest lies with Xu Zhiyi and Shen Qingfeng. Withdraw from the competition, and I’ll give you your shares. I can divorce Shen Qingfeng and leave her with nothing. You just want to settle the score for Xu Zhiyi, right?”
Jiang Sixun swirled his wine glass and smiled lightly. “I’m actually interested in the Lu family now.”
Lu Jianliang leaned in, clinking glasses with his nephew, his tone low. “So you’re willing to sacrifice your grievances against Xu Zhiyi for the sake of the Lu family? What do you think she’d feel if she knew?”
Jiang Sixun downed the wine in his glass and replied, “I never make deals that involve concessions, and no one can threaten me—not even Lu Jianbo.”
As he stood to leave, Shen Qingfeng approached, looking for her husband. She glanced at Jiang Sixun and then at Lu Jianliang, wondering what they could possibly be discussing.
With her usual bright smile, she asked, “What are you two talking about?”
Jiang Sixun replied, “Discussing how to leave you with nothing in exchange for my withdrawal from the Lu family competition.”
Lu Jianliang’s expression stiffened; he hadn’t expected his nephew to stir trouble so openly, just like Lu Jianbo.
Shen Qingfeng maintained her smile, saying, “Looks like you two haven’t reached an agreement.”
Glancing at Lu Jianliang’s face, she felt a momentary sense of relief. As long as no deal was struck, he wouldn’t abandon her as a pawn against Jiang Sixun.
Jiang Sixun picked up his empty glass and left, only to run into Yu Rui.
Facing this man, Yu Rui felt a mix of love and hate, an emotional conflict that had seeped into her very being over the years. Every time she faced him, an overwhelming sense of powerlessness washed over her.
He never lowered his head, never willing to compromise.
Jiang Sixun returned the empty glass to the server’s tray and picked up another drink.
Yu Rui stared directly at him. “Ning Yun owes me an apology.”
He seemed taken aback by her bringing up old grievances, hesitating for a moment. “What apology?”
“The fund she established to pursue you—it was all over the internet. She bought the trending topic. If she doesn’t admit it, are you still going to defend her?”
Yu Rui’s unresolved feelings about this incident haunted her for years. If it weren’t for that, she and Jiang Sixun wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Back when Ning Yun went on that supposed blind date with Jiang Sixun—though he claimed it was just dinner—Ning Yun had live-tweeted every detail.
Friends chimed in with encouragement, and Ning Yun played along, bantering back.
The day after their ‘date,’ the media exposed Ning Yun for starting a fund to chase Jiang Sixun, painting her as a tragic figure.
The person she liked ended up with her rival, and she became fodder for gossip in their social circle.
Jiang Sixun paid to have the trending topic removed, trying to scrub it from the internet, but how could he erase everything online?
She had never experienced such humiliation; young and brash, she confronted him, demanding that Ning Yun issue a public apology.
He had said, “Ning Yun wouldn’t do that.”
He’d rather trust Ning Yun than her.
That day, they had a huge fight. In front of him, she deleted his contact information and flew back to Hong Kong from New York the next day, never reaching out again.
Even now, she hadn’t added his number back.
Not that she hadn’t thought about it, but her pride wouldn’t allow it.
The afternoon tea two months ago had been arranged by their secretaries.
Ning Yun hadn’t been wrong—work was all they discussed that day.
Yu Rui pressed on, “After all these years, why don’t you trust what I say? Why do you always side with her? You hadn’t known her for long back then.”
Jiang Sixun looked at her, repeating the familiar line: “Yu Rui, it’s not favoritism; Ning Yun simply wouldn’t do that.”
Yu Rui found it both amusing and heartbreaking, smirking at herself. “Isn’t that exactly what favoritism is? The moment you believed her, you chose sides. Forget it, I won’t argue—let the facts speak for themselves.”
She opened her handbag and pulled out several transaction receipts. “These are from the paparazzi studios that leaked the story. They received transfers from staff around Ning Yun’s uncle during that time. Unless they didn’t do anything, there’s bound to be some evidence. It took me ages to track this down.”
Jiang Sixun examined the receipts. They looked legitimate.
Yu Rui certainly wouldn’t bring him forged evidence.
“Jiang Sixun, do you regret it?” she asked.
He didn’t respond, instead scanning the room until he spotted Ning Yun and called out, “Ning Yun!”
“Coming!” Ning Yun replied cheerfully, excusing herself from her conversation to approach him.
“What do you want?” she asked, walking gracefully over, completely at ease with him.
Jiang Sixun handed her the transfer receipts. “You explain this.”
Ning Yun widened her eyes, recalling the name on the transfer. It sounded familiar.
Yu Rui glanced at the woman in the red dress. “I won’t accept a settlement; you need to publicly apologize and keep it trending for a week.”
With that, she turned to Jiang Sixun, who was already walking away.
Ning Yun snapped a picture of the receipts and handed back the originals. “Stop looking; he’s already taken.”
Yu Rui’s eyes flashed with shock, disbelief creeping in.
Even if she was curious, she wouldn’t pry into Ning Yun’s relationship status, folding the receipts haphazardly and shoving them back in her bag.
He wasn’t married, and everyone in their circle knew that—when had he found someone?
Ning Yun tucked her phone away, responding coolly, “I’ll investigate. If it turns out to be my family’s doing, I’ll own up and issue the apology.”
Yu Rui chuckled lightly. “Let’s drop the act around me; your family can’t possibly keep things from you. But you can always pin the blame on them. Ning Yun, if you’re brave enough to take responsibility, I’ll give you a little credit. A day on the trending list can save you six days.”
She set a deadline for Ning Yun: a public apology must appear in the newspapers within two days, or else.
Exiting the banquet hall, Yu Rui pulled out her phone and called Secretary Cai.
Seeing Yu Rui’s name pop up, Secretary Cai felt a headache coming on.
Navigating conflicts among women was never his strong suit.
But he had to answer this call.
“Cai here, what can I do for you, Miss Yu?”
“Not much, just a personal question,” she replied bluntly. “Who is Jiang Sixun interested in?”
“At tonight’s banquet.”
The only unfamiliar face she had seen at the event was Xu Zhiyi.
Coincidentally, she was accompanying Uncle Lu.
“Got it, thank you.”
Yu Rui hung up and stared into the night sky over Victoria Harbour, lost in thought.
She turned and spotted someone on the observation deck, wondering how much Shen Qingfeng had overheard during her call to Secretary Cai.
It was clear that Shen Qingfeng was waiting to stir trouble between her and Jiang Sixun.
If she thought she could use Yu Rui as a pawn, she was sorely mistaken.
“Mrs. Lu, thanks for waiting while I daydreamed. In business, I don’t care who the other party is; whether I like them or not, it makes no difference. In the end, it’s all about the money. Even if Ning Yun wanted to collaborate, I’d still take the deal.”
With that, Yu Rui raised her glass and left.
Shen Qingfeng couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. “Miss Yu, you’re being overly sentimental. I’m not interested in who you partner with; the best scenario is for you to keep working with Jiang Sixun.”
Shen Qingfeng walked away, her thoughts elsewhere.
With Lu Jianliang ready to end their marriage at any moment, she had no time for anyone else. Right now, her priority was to extract as much money from him as possible for the Tianyun project while she still could.
Men were unreliable; only her money would unconditionally support her.
Xu Ningwei had replied to her email half an hour ago, expressing interest in joining the Tianyun R&D center, but she didn’t want to meet with Shen Qingfeng anymore.
Back in the banquet hall, after some maneuvering, Jiang Sixun finally managed to greet the host of the event and chat for a few minutes.
Just then, he spotted his father animatedly talking to Xu Zhiyi and excused himself to join them.
Xu Zhiyi felt a shadow loom near and turned to see Jiang Sixun just a few steps away. She smiled lightly and greeted him, “Brother.”
Jiang Sixun chuckled, looking into her eyes. “I think you got that wrong.”
“Sorry, Jiang Sixun,” she corrected herself.
Nearby, a few people chatting with Lu Jianbo knew that Xu Zhiyi worked at Yuanwei, so they thought the siblings were just playfully teasing each other.
Lu Jianbo glanced at the two kids, sensing the tension finally bubbling over.
To the others, he said, “You all carry on. I’ll take these two to eat; we can’t leave without trying the chef’s cooking.”
Everyone laughed, used to this routine—only Lu Jianbo took dining seriously.
Now Jiang Sixun and Xu Zhiyi were included.
All the banquet food had been air-freighted in that day, prepared by Michelin chefs on site.
The buffet was a lavish spread, with meat and vegetarian dishes neatly separated.
Lu Jianbo turned to Xu Zhiyi and asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Xu Zhiyi hurried to keep pace with Uncle Lu. “I’ll go for the vegetarian options tonight.”
“I’m health-conscious too, so I’ll stick with the vegetarian menu,” Lu Jianbo replied.
Meanwhile, Jiang Sixun wasn’t satisfied with just vegetables; he signaled a waiter to bring him an extra steak.
The three of them found an empty table, but Jiang Sixun wanted to sit next to Xu Zhiyi. Unfortunately, she scooted over to Lu Jianbo’s side instead. “Uncle Lu, I’ll sit next to you; it’ll be easier to chat.”
Jiang Sixun studied her, puzzled. “What’s going on?”
Without looking at him, Xu Zhiyi spread her napkin and, despite their elder’s presence, expressed her feelings bluntly. “I’m upset and don’t want to talk to you.”
Calling him “brother” earlier was just for Lu Jianbo’s benefit, not for him.
Jiang Sixun glanced at his father. “Dad, why don’t you sit at that other table?”
Lu Jianbo elegantly laid his napkin. “Xu Zhiyi will sit next to me; she doesn’t want to talk to you.” He looked up and added, “In any case, you should be the one to move.”
“…”
Jiang Sixun wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Dad, if you’re going to encourage a breakup instead of reconciliation, it might leave you restless a hundred years from now.”
His rebellious son was practically cursing him.
He had once said that if he didn’t see his son marry and have children, he would die with regrets.
Lu Jianbo didn’t retort, giving Jiang Sixun a bit of face in front of the one he liked. He turned to Xu Zhiyi. “With his attitude, just ignore him for two or three months.”
Xu Zhiyi smiled. “They say not to listen to elders, or you’ll regret it. I’ll take your advice.”
Jiang Sixun opened his phone and messaged her: [I didn’t pay attention to anyone else at the banquet. If you want to know something, I’ll explain tonight at home.]
At the same time, Xu Zhiyi’s phone vibrated on the table.
Lu Jianbo glanced at the notification; it was Jiang Sixun’s message.
He picked up Xu Zhiyi’s phone and aimed it at her face to unlock the screen. “Xu Zhiyi, I’ve blocked some people for you.”
Xu Zhiyi: “…”
Jiang Sixun: “…”
After blocking some contacts on WeChat, Lu Jianbo set the phone back down and earnestly told his niece, “Handle this lightly; he won’t take it seriously in the future.”
He felt a strong sense of guilt towards Xu Zhiyi. If he hadn’t foolishly cheated on Shen Qingfeng when he was younger, she wouldn’t have had to endure two decades apart from her parents.
Overwhelmed by guilt, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer even a little, and he wasn’t shy about being tough on his own son.
When Xu Zhiyi’s vegetarian dish was ready, Jiang Sixun didn’t let the waiter take it; he personally went to retrieve it, finding only a few roasted carrots on the plate.
Clearly, her mood was not great.
He set the plate in front of her and took a seat beside her.
As the rest of the dishes arrived, the three of them were crammed at a table meant for six, barely enough room for their plates.
Xu Zhiyi picked up a carrot and took a bite, glancing at Lu Jianbo. “This tastes really good.” She had never liked carrots before, but Lu Jianbo had recommended them, saying the chef was skilled at roasting them.
“I’ll try some,” Jiang Sixun said, taking a piece from her plate. He then cut half of his steak to share with her, but she quickly shielded her plate with her hands. “I just want some vegetarian food.”
She wouldn’t even look at him, denying him the chance to meet her gaze.
Lu Jianbo offered his plate. “If you can’t finish it, it’ll be embarrassing; just let me take it.”
Given Jiang Sixun’s character, he would never have shared before, but today, not only did he share, but his attitude was also surprisingly decent.
He didn’t expect his father to speak on his behalf; he just hoped Lu Jianbo wouldn’t pour fuel on the fire.
“Xu Zhiyi,” Lu Jianbo said earnestly, “don’t be too soft-hearted.” He then addressed Jiang Sixun. “In a relationship, arguments are inevitable. Just take your time to smooth things over; if it doesn’t work today, try again tomorrow.”
“You two eat; I’ll go find your second uncle,” Lu Jianbo said, taking his plate and leaving.
Jiang Sixun reached for her phone, but she was faster and pressed it down, placing it in her bag.
He looked at her. “Add me back on WeChat.”
Xu Zhiyi replied, “I don’t want to add you for now. If you need something, just email me.”
“Not convenient.”
“I’m used to it. Over the past few years, we mostly communicated via email without any delays in work.”
Those were the years he least wanted to discuss, where she could only catch glimpses of him during video calls after she got promoted. Jiang Sixun set down his fork and knife, forgetting they were in a crowded banquet area. He wrapped his arms around her.
“Was what Shen Qingfeng said about Yu Rui related to that family dinner?”
Xu Zhiyi didn’t deny it.
“Xu Zhiyi, I’m not making excuses for myself. I know Yu Rui; I celebrated her birthday before I even met you…”
He was interrupted. “I know. This is the third time I’ve heard it, and I don’t want to go over the specifics again.”
Jiang Sixun paused. “Who else has mentioned this to you?”
Secretary Cai had spoken unintentionally.
Tonight at the banquet, someone she didn’t know hadn’t talked to her directly but had mentioned to Lu Jianbo in passing, gossiping about whether the Jiangs and Yus should arrange a marriage. They also mentioned seeing Jiang Sixun and Yu Rui having afternoon tea a couple of months ago.
Lu Jianbo laughed and replied, “I’m not sure why they’re having afternoon tea together, but I do know one thing: my son is in for a rough night when he gets home.”
The other party quickly caught on and decided to steer the conversation away from Yu Rui.
In the two years when Xu Zhiyi wanted to see Jiang Sixun but rarely could, he was hardly ever in New York—he was either in Hong Kong or London. Hearing about him meeting Yu Rui for afternoon tea was always a painful reminder.
Lu Jianbo noticed her discomfort and said, “You’re quite the patient one, holding it in from the family dinner until now. There’s really no need for it. I’ll take care of any future collaborations with the Yu family; you don’t have to worry about anything.”
He must have heard the whole story from Secretary Cai; Uncle Lu knew that Shen Qingfeng had approached her during the family dinner.
Jiang Sixun chimed in, “If there’s anything else bothering you, just ask me directly.”
Xu Zhiyi clinked her glass against his. “It’s all in the past; I’m not blaming you. I just need some time to process it myself.”