“Jiang Mian!”

The voice was strikingly familiar, a reminder echoing from just ten minutes ago urging her to remain obedient and not wander around.

Turning her head towards the sound, Shen Shiyan marched forward with determined strides, accompanied by the already present He Lai.

Man! The protagonist had arrived and was waiting for her to start performing.

Shen Shiyan’s eyes were notably gloomy and cold, reminiscent of a sovereign emerging from the depths of hell. Jiang Mian felt a chill run down her spine as she gazed at him, probably because of the male lead’s captivating allure.

This was the best opportunity. He Lai had informed Shen Shiyan, and knowing him, he must have placed his trust in his longtime secretary. A few well-placed lies from her and this stranger revealing her true colors would surely sow seeds of contempt within Shen Shiyan, leading to getting rid of her!

In Jiang Mian’s imagination, the male lead would disdainfully hand her a check worth billions, commanding her to leave with a curt tone. She would then embrace the life of luxury, residing in a grand villa, surrounded by little fresh meats at her beck and call, and live a happy life.

As for the male and female lead, they could do whatever they like and have nothing to do with her!

Struggling to suppress a smirk, tears quickly welled up in her eyes as she softly called out to Mr. Shen, intending to approach him, only to find her wrist firmly grasped by Ji Zishen, making her unable to move.

Jiang Mian’s pitiable, sorrowful visage caught the man’s eye, stoking the flames of anger within him burned even more vigorously, making a crackling sound.

But most of this anger was directed towards Ji Zishen!

Shen Shiyan fixed her black eyes on Ji Zishen and shouted coldly, “Let go!”

Having known each other for many years, it was the first time Ji Zishen had seen Shen Shiyan so angry. He was both surprised and oddly, somewhat accustomed to it.

Initially infatuated with Tang Mian, Shen Shiyan rarely displayed such emotions, especially over trivial matters.

With a hint of satisfaction, Ji Zishen releases his grip causing Jiang Mian to stagger towards the man, throwing herself into his embrace as she cries loudly, smudging her makeup and tears onto Shen Shiyan’s suit.

She secretly thought that if Shen Shiyan had mysophobia, he would surely recoil in disgust and push her away.

However, after a silent pause that lasted several seconds, Shen Shiyan surprised her. Rather than pushing her away, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Jiang Mian was taken aback for a moment. How could this be different from what she had imagined?!

It’s okay, it’s not a big problem!

Jiang Mian continued to cry, lifting her hazy teary eyes looking like someone who was struggling in water and grasping onto a life-saving driftwood. With both hands tightly clutching the man’s collar, she cried out plaintively. “Mr. Shen, someone is bullying me!”

She cried too hard and accidentally let out a crying hiccup, interrupting her remaining unfinished words.

Shen Shiyan automatically believed that it was Ji Zishen in front of her who was bullying her, and his eyes became even more gloomy as he looked at the other person. The latter was familiar with his gaze, and of course, understood that Shen Shiyan had misunderstood.

Ji Zishen didn’t like Shen Shiya, yet he saw no benefit in antagonizing him at such a critical moment. With a smile, he said. “Do you truly believe I would bully Miss Jiang, given the way you’re looking at me?”

Shen Shiyan remained tight-lipped, but his eyes conveyed his skepticism: wasn’t that the case?

As Jiang Mian wept before Shen Shiyan, playing the image of a vulnerable maiden, it seemed she was intending to conceal her other side from Shen Shiyan.

Jiang Mian proved to be quite interesting.

“You are misunderstanding the whole situation entirely. I came to save Miss Jiang!” Ji Zishen recounted what he had witnessed, “I saw Miss Jiang being bullied by three girls, and I intervened. Unfortunately, I was one step late and Miss Jiang had already been bullied by them. However…”

Leaving aside Jiang Mian’s neat way of throwing someone to the ground, and instead making sure she was the victim also embellished Ji Zishen’s intervention as a heroic rescue. Ji Zishen was eager to observe Shen Shiyan’s reaction, and as he anticipated, his reaction had turned notably sour.

Ji Zishen finally threw the hot potato to Jiang Mian and said, “If you don’t believe me, ask Miss Jiang!”

Jiang Mian was caught off guard. She had thought her lies were convincing enough, but it seemed the mountain of deceit still towered before her. The man before her spun his falsehood with such conviction that they seemed entirely plausible.

She couldn’t help but let out a faint sigh, this man was truly shameless.

Casting a sideways glance at Jiang Mian, Ji Zishen notices her silent eye roll.

Just moments ago, he had coerced her into revealing the truth to Shen Shiyan, yet now he assisted her in fabricating lies. If she admits it, she would owe him a favor.

Internally, Jiang Mian impatiently waited for Ji Zishen to reveal his identity as tears streamed down her cheeks, completely ignoring the other person.

Ji Zishen was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Jiang to ignore his signal completely.

Swiftly, he found an excuse for himself. “It appears Miss Jiang is still in shock, it’s natural for her to be at a loss for words!”

Jiang Mian thought to herself: Who’s scared, I just don’t want to talk to you!

Shen Shiyan glanced down at the woman in her embrace, tears glistening in her eyes. Coldly, he asked. “Is that what happened?”

Jiang Mian couldn’t destroy her character nor could she say she physically confronted the bullies. With tears and a sense of injustice, all she could do was nod and sob, “Thank you for your help, sir. Otherwise…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Mian’s tears flowed even harder. Her tear-streaked face obscured any trace of similarity to Tang Mian.

Jiang Mian also thought of this and immediately buried her face in the man’s chest, sobbing and rubbing against his collar.

In a place invisible to others, he cursed fiercely at Ji Zishen, this meddlesome man!

If it weren’t for his words proving that she was indeed bullied, she might have been dumped by Shen Shiyan now!

Shen Shiyan was not one to be easily deceived. Jiang Mian and Ji Zishen have a history, having known each other for quite some time. Jiang Mian showing up in his hotel room was Ji Zishen’s handiwork.

The two of them pretended to be strangers in his presence, referring to each other as Miss Jiang and Mr. Ji, as if he were oblivious to their true relationship. Do they think he was a fool?

However, what further made him even angrier was that he knew Jiang Mian and Ji ZIshen already knew each other, but he witnessed Ji Zishen tightly gripping Jiang Mian’s wrist.

An unnamed fury roiled within Shen Shiyan’s chest. Gazing at the weeping woman in his arms, he redirected his anger towards Ji Zishen, warning him. “Ji Zishen, stay away from her in the future!”

Ji Zishen was momentarily taken aback. Before he could respond, Shen Shiyan had already left, holding the woman close to him.

For a long time, Ji Zishen remained rooted on the spot, replaying Shen Shiyan’s furious expression in his mind. He had never seen him stand up for Tang Mian before.

And yet, just now he steps forward and defends a mere stand-in like Jiang Mian seemed out of character for him!

He Lai, having witnessed the scene, was equally furious. Shen Shiyan was here to help her settle scores with Jiang Mian, but now it appeared otherwise!

Not only did he refrain from reprimanding Jiang Mian, but he also defended her staunchly. Perhaps Mr. Shen didn’t truly take Jiang Mian as a replacement seriously!

Considering this possibility, He Lai’s expression shifted and she hastened to catch up with them.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mian with her smeared makeup, walked absentmindedly beside Shen Shiyan, lost in her thoughts.

Had she heard correctly earlier? Did Shen Shiyan call that meddlesome man Ji Zishen just now?

Crap, crap!

She just mentioned that he looked so familiar, Ji Zishen? Wasn’t he the villain in the original story who constantly opposed Shen Shiyan!

Ji Zishen and the original host had crossed paths long ago. It was thanks to Ji Zishen’s help that the original host managed to enter the hotel room smoothly last time.

It all over, all over now, she failed to recognize Ji Zishen and her façade crumbled in front of him. He would surely suspect something, wouldn’t he!

Jiang Mian just felt like crying at this point. In this story, not only was Shen Shiyan portrayed as bigotry and abnormal, but the male villain was also someone not to be easily trifled with.

Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Mian didn’t notice Shen Shiyan come to a stop.

With a sudden bump, she jolted forward, lifting her head to find Shen Shiyan staring at her intently.

“What are you thinking?”

“Ah, I’m thinking about Ji…”

Before Jiang Mian could mention Ji Zishen, she quickly cleared her throat and shook her head. “I wasn’t thinking of anything!”

Shen Shiyan sneered coldly. He heard the word “Ji”. Was she thinking about Ji Zishen?

Thinking of this, his expression turned even colder as if Jiang Mian had committed a grave offense.

“Didn’t I tell you to be obedient and not wander around?”

“I just needed to use the restroom, who knew they would come and bully me!” Jiang Mian lowered her head as she explained.

Shen Shiyan asked coldly, “Who bullied you?”

“I…”

“Mr. Shen -“

This was He Lai’s voice. It doesn’t matter if she was interrupted earlier, she could continue her acting now.

Struggling to speak, Jiang Mian managed only a single word her throat feeling as though it were filled with cotton.

Her eyes, still red from crying glistened with fresh tears. They darted nervously, conveying a mixture of fear and uncertainty.

He Lai was able to catch up with them with her high heels but was panting heavily.

Jiang Mian bit her lip, sniffling as she shook her head, unsure of what to say. Finally, she whispered. “I don’t know!”

He Lai unaware of the conversation that had happened between the two, observed Jiang Mian’s pitiful yet evasive demeanor, growing increasingly agitated. “Mr. Shen!”

Shen Shiyan glanced at Jiang Mian’s tear-streaked face, understanding dawning upon him.

“I heard you took He Lai’s phone today and locked her in the bathroom?”

Jiang Mian blinked in surprise, her innocent eyes widening. She realized He Lai must have fabricated various lies to turn Shen Shiyan against her.

At this moment, she knew she had had to deny everything.

“I didn’t do it!” Jiang Mian’s tears welled up again as she reached out to gently tug Shen Shiyan’s sleeve. “I didn’t do it. Mr. Shen, please believe me!”

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