Font Size:
“Miss Meng.”
Meng Shijin paused momentarily.
Upon recognizing the voice, her expression changed dramatically as she instinctively turned to look back.
Jiang Jinnian, who had just rushed over from a signing meeting at Tiansheng headquarters, was still in his suit, stepping down the stairs and walking toward them.
His noble and indifferent face was difficult to read.
Except for a brief pause when he glanced at Shen Nanzhi.
Still in a state of surprise and disbelief at Jiang Jinnian’s sudden arrival, Meng Shijin had yet to regain her composure when she heard him seemingly confusedly ask:
“How did our Branch offend the Meng family? What provoked Miss Meng to strike in public?”
Meng Shijin felt extremely frustrated inside.
She had genuinely received a slap.
The pain from it still lingered, and the mark had probably not faded at all.
Seeing this powerful figure from the Jiang family act as if he were blind to her plight, and questioning her for hitting Shen Nanzhi instead, left her feeling infuriated and puzzled.
For all these years, she had only known that Shen Nanzhi and Jiang Tingxu were close. She had never heard of any connection between Shen Nanzhi and Jiang Jinnian, who had rarely returned to the country, that would warrant such public protection.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Given Jiang Jinnian’s status, she didn’t dare to confront him directly. Instead, she unwillingly put her hand down and spoke up to defend herself:
“It was Shen Nanzhi who hit me first. Le Yi and Luo Shu both witnessed it.”
Jiang Jinnian walked over to Shen Nanzhi’s side.
He glanced at Le Yi and Luo Shu, who were hiding behind Meng Shijin, avoiding his gaze.
“Are you using your numbers to bully someone? Do you think I’m blind, Miss Meng?”
His voice was calm to the point of being icy, and the frost that seeped into his words made Meng Shijin’s two small companions not even dare to lift their heads, let alone agree with Meng Shijin at this moment.
“And,” Jiang Jinnian continued.
His cold gaze shifted away, landing on Meng Shijin, who was biting her lip in resentment:
“Our Branch has a good temper. She’s willing to be polite to some unscrupulous people, but that doesn’t mean the Jiang family behind her is as tolerant.”
“Miss Meng, do you understand what I mean?”
Meng Shijin’s nails dug harshly into her palm.
Her lips nearly bled from biting them.
After waiting for so many years, she had finally hoped that Shen Nanzhi would be abandoned by Jiang Tingxu, only to have Jiang Jinnian protect her instead.
The jealousy in Meng Shijin’s eyes was nearly overflowing.
But she didn’t dare to provoke Jiang Jinnian.
She didn’t even dare to argue back.
She couldn’t afford the consequences. Her own Meng family was far from being able to compete with the Jiang family.
Suppressing her dissatisfaction, she spoke in a low voice:
“Sorry, Mr. Jiang. I was just joking with Miss Shen, and I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Jiang Jinnian glanced at the downcast Shen Nanzhi beside him, then turned his gaze back to Meng Shijin.
His tone was flat, yet his protective stance was glaringly obvious, having completely drawn Shen Nanzhi into the Jiang family’s domain from the very beginning.
“The Jiang family does not appreciate base jokes. If there’s a next time, Miss Meng, please have your father come to discuss it with me personally.”
After saying this, he ignored Meng Shijin and her two companions, who were now pale-faced, and took Shen Nanzhi’s wrist, leading her away from the banquet villa.
Gu Qinghe was coming down from upstairs to look for Shen Nanzhi. As she approached the side door of the banquet hall, she witnessed the scene of Shen Nanzhi and Jiang Jinnian leaving together.
She turned around, intending to grab her phone from the sofa to send a message to her best friend. Just as she turned back, she caught sight of Jiang Tingxu, who had just flown back from Nancheng City, standing by the window.
Gu Qinghe was somewhat surprised.
She hadn’t expected that both Jiang Jinnian and Jiang Tingxu would show up just as the banquet was nearing its end.
Following Jiang Tingxu’s line of sight through the glass window, she could see exactly where Shen Nanzhi and Meng Shijin were standing.
Before Gu Qinghe could pull her gaze away, Jiang Tingxu took a puff from his cigarette, then extinguished it. His eyes darkened as he bypassed Gu Qinghe and headed out through the glass side door.