Jiang Mian had no idea what had transpired between the two of them in the study, but He Lai emerged with red-rimmed eyes.

Shen Shiyan shot her a glance. “Apologize!”

As soon as the words left his lips, He Lai delivered a cold apology without any expression. “I’m sorry, Miss Jiang. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have slandered you, nor should I have allowed my friends to bully you!”

Her tone was frigid as she stood upright, showing no sign of genuine remorse.

Positioned behind Shen Shiyan, she glared menacingly at Jiang Mian. It was because of that wretched woman that Shen Shiyan had suggested her resignation for the first time.

One day, she would make Jiang Mian understand her strength and drive her far away.

He Lai’s malicious glare was unabashed, while Jiang Mian innocently touched her nose. Why was she being looked at with such venomous eyes? The whole situation was originally her fault!

She only glanced for a moment before looking away, her peripheral vision catching Shen Shiyan. “Are you going out?”

Shen Shiyan replied affirmatively as he picked up his coat, but before he could put it on, Jiang Mian reached out her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Shiyan asked, turning to her.

Jiang Mian was bored from staying in the hotel all day. Since Shen Shiyan was much taller than her, she had to look up at him as she curiously asked. “Can I go out to play?”

The weather today was much better than yesterday, with the sun hanging high in the sky and the sunlight feeling warm.

Shen Shiyan had initially intended for her to stay in the hotel and not wander around. However, when he looked down and met her hopeful gaze, the words he had planned to say changed on his lips. “Sure!”

Jiang Mian let out a cheer, excitedly hugging Shen Shiyan around the waist. “That’s great! I really, really like you!”

Shen Shiyan didn’t say anything, but the corners of his mouth turned slightly upward.

It was just going out to play, yet it made her so happy like a little child.

He Lai, who had almost been brought to tears by Shen Shiyan’s earlier anger, now felt even worse seeing Jiang Mian not only acting all cute with him but also hugging him.

She felt like she had been splashed with a whole bucket of dog food making her chest tight with anger. She wanted nothing more than to rush over and yank that wretched woman away from Shen Shiyan, then slap her hard across the face.

However, that was just a fleeting thought; her reason held back her impulse.

She had already angered Shen Shiyan, and if she did anything to Jiang Mian, that nasty woman would certainly report it to him. He was known for his ruthlessness, and she feared he might actually have her fired!

As Shen Shiyan prepared to leave, He Lai as his secretary, naturally had to follow.

Shen Shiyan took a couple of steps outside but suddenly stopped, turning to look at He Lai.

A flicker of hope ignited in He Lai’s heart as she thought that maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of her presence in his gaze. She looked at him with anticipation.

“You don’t need to come with me; stay here with Jiang Mian!”

“W-What?”

The spark of hope that had just flared up felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head, leaving her feeling cold from head to toe.

He Lai stared blankly at him for a long moment before hearing him say, “I don’t need a secretary who doesn’t follow my orders!”

His meaning was clear: if she didn’t listen to him, the only option left would be to resign.

There were plenty of people who wanted to be his secretary; he didn’t need her.

But after working for him for so many years, she had at least thought she held a small, unique place in his heart. Reality, however, had delivered a harsh slap.

She clenched her fists at her sides, and after a long pause, He Lai finally managed to respond in a hoarse voice. “Yes.”

Jiang Mian was also surprised. She had only wanted to go shopping; why did He Lai have to tag along, sulking and adding to her frustration?

Jiang Mian tugged on Shen Shiyan’s sleeve and whined. “I’m fine! I don’t need anyone to look after me!”

“Good girl!” Shen Shiyan reached out to gently stroke her hair. “Just ask her to do whatever you need!”

“I don’t need anything!” Jiang Mian mumbled quietly.

He Lai was a proper young lady, and only the male lead could make her willing to work like a servant. How could a mere side character like Jiang Mian boss He Lai around?

As Jiang Mian was still searching for excuses to refuse He Lai, a card suddenly appeared in front of her eyes.

Narrowing her eyes, she quickly looked up. “Is this for me?”

“Don’t you need to buy something while shopping?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Jiang Mian nodded vigorously, taking the card and giving it a hard kiss. Then, she turned to Shen Shiyan, looking at him with the adoration of a child for her father, and excitedly threw her arms around him. “I really, really love you!”

When she didn’t have any money, her father would always secretly save up some pocket money without telling her mother, and that’s how she had learned to do things.

These days, it was always her dad who gave her money!

Jiang Mian’s smile was now much more sincere and radiant than before.

Shen Shiyan found himself once again in the embrace of a woman. Logically, he should feel happy but deep down he felt a hint of dissatisfaction.

She could kiss a bank card, yet all he got was a single hug?

And this card was given to her by him!

Once Shen Shiyan left, only Jiang Mian and He Lai remained in the hotel.

The two of them stared each other down for a while, and Jiang Mian felt childish. After all, both she and He Lai were mere side characters; there was no point in getting worked up over it.

Holding the bank card, she planned to go change clothes in her room before heading out to shop.

Just as she turned around, He Lai called out to her.

“Jiang Mian, what do you have to be proud of? You’re just a stand-in. Once Tang Mian returns, there won’t be a place for you here!”

Jiang Mian turned to look at her, assessing her. He Lai’s expression of jealousy was so fierce that it was hard to reconcile with her usually gentle demeanor.

Indeed, jealousy could strip away all pretenses.

“Even if I am a stand-in, so what? At least Shen Shiyan liked me! And even if Tang Mian comes back, so what? I have at least experienced being with him!”

“Unlike you, who has never experienced anything like that!”

“Tsk, tsk. I suddenly feel kind of sorry for you; your situation seems pretty pathetic!”

Although she was making an enemy of herself, after feeling stifled for two days, expressing these words felt immensely satisfying.

Jiang Mian’s comments were like pouring salt on He Lai’s wounds and then roasting them over a fire repeatedly.

He Lai’s face drained of color and in her anger, she raised her hand, intending to slap Jiang Mian.

“If you dare to raise a hand, I’ll report you to Shen Shiyan. He hasn’t gone far yet. Just think about it—if he sees a handprint on my face, how do you think he’ll react? You might end up losing this job!”

Shen Shiyan’s words before leaving were directed at both her and He Lai.

This could be considered his roundabout way of punishing He Lai for slandering her, a way of helping her catch her breath.

Jiang Mian stood there, arms crossed, confident that He Lai wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her.

He Lai indeed didn’t have the courage to strike back. Frustrated and furious, she felt powerless against Jiang Mian, ultimately resorting to insults. “Jiang Mian, you despicable, shameless harlot! Go ahead and try to report me!”

“Oh?” Jiang Mian picked up her phone and opened Shen Shiyan’s WeChat. “Say that again, and I’ll record a video to show him, so he can see your true colors behind closed doors!”

At this point, He Lai was truly furious, her chest heaving as if she were a snake struck in a vital spot. She wanted to hit Jiang Mian, but fear held her back.

Seeing He Lai like this made Jiang Mian want to laugh. She turned and walked toward the bedroom.

After changing into a new outfit, Jiang Mian emerged to find He Lai still standing in the same spot, her eyes red with anger.

However, her emotions had calmed down a bit; she wasn’t as agitated as before. When she saw Jiang Mian dressed so flamboyantly, she coldly asked. “Where are you going?”

Jiang Mian grabbed her bag and replied. “Didn’t you hear what I said to Shen Shiyan? I’m going out shopping!”

As she spoke, she pulled out the card Shen Shiyan had given her, waving it in front of He Lai’s eyes in a showy manner.

“I’m coming with you!”

“Great!”

Jiang Mian readily agreed, thinking she could use someone to help her carry things.

As a beauty blogger, she had to buy all sorts of cosmetics. She also planned to visit various high-end stores to purchase the latest clothes and accessories. Since she was using Shen Shiyan’s card, she felt no pain in spending at all.

He Lai had never shopped for so long without taking a break. When she saw Jiang Mian emerging from LV and heading into another Hermes store, she frowned and snapped. “Aren’t you done shopping yet?”

Jiang Mian was carefree while He Lai struggled to carry several bags.

When had she ever played the role of a chauffeur? Jiang Mian was clearly doing this on purpose; if she didn’t help, He Lai was certain she would report her to Shen Shiyan.

Her gaze was filled with venom, wishing she could throw all her bags at Jiang Mian’s face.

Jiang Mian chuckled lightly. “It’s not your money I’m spending. If you don’t want to follow me, you can just go back. I’m not forcing you to come along!”

“You!”

He Lai was left speechless with anger.

In almost every exchange, He Lai found herself outmatched.

She had misjudged Jiang Mian, thinking she was both foolish and easily manipulated.

After enduring it for a while, He Lai approached with her shopping bags and asked. “Do you really like Shen Shiyan, or do you just like his money?”

Jiang Mian couldn’t help but laugh at the question. “What’s the difference? I love both him and his money. Is that a problem?”

“Besides, this is his card, and he gave it to me willingly. I can spend however I want; he doesn’t care, so what right do you have as a secretary to tell me what to do?”

Her words were like sharp blades, stabbing repeatedly at He Lai’s heart.

After all, Shen Shiyan had said the same thing to her!

Jiang Mian turned around and walked back into Hermes, continuing her shopping spree.

She felt completely justified spending the money.

As Shen Shiyan’s lover, why shouldn’t she have the right to spend, especially since she couldn’t have him in other ways?

Shen Shiyan viewed her as a stand-in, looking at her as if she were his beloved. She was just an actress playing her part, striving to maintain the image of someone who loved him. Wasn’t it like going to work and getting paid?

When his true love returned, she would simply walk away without hesitation.

And when that time came, she planned to show just how much she cared for him before taking him for a hefty sum.

That night, He Lai indeed went to report her to Shen Shiyan while Jiang Mian remained utterly indifferent.

If Shen Shiyan were to take this opportunity to break up with her, it would be just perfect. After all, she had bought quite a few things, enough for several good videos.

Unfortunately, Shen Shiyan seemed completely indifferent to her shopping spree. He sat on the sofa and waved her over, signaling for her to come closer.

Could it be that he wanted her to sit on his lap?

Seeing her hesitate in place, Shen Shiyan’s expression grew impatient. “Aren’t you coming over?”

Fine, given how much she had spent of his money today, she might as well sacrifice a little of herself!

After a brief moment of hesitation, Jiang Mian decisively walked over, settled onto his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck, playfully saying. “I’ve been out all day; I’m so tired!”

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