After Divorcing the Beautiful Richest Woman, She Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 18

Jian Xiyan ignored the awkward probing and went straight to the point.

“I apologize for interrupting your vacation, President Bu, but certain matters truly cannot wait. We had seemingly reached an agreement regarding the Qinghe Highway project. I’m curious what sudden factors have caused you to have new reservations?”

The Jian Group staff had communicated regarding this several times but never managed to get a straight answer. Bu Shenglong had already visited Tara Island during the Spring Festival; for him to be here again was inherently unusual. Jian Xiyan suspected that by drawing her to Tara Island, he had other motives in mind.

Bu Shenglong took a shallow sip of his drink before setting the glass down, looking at Jian Xiyan with a smile but saying nothing.

His gaze was not the typical appraisal of a business partner, but it couldn’t exactly be called overtly lewd either. Xu Liqing observed him from the side, unable to fully decipher his thoughts.

Jian Xiyan was naturally uncomfortable with such scrutiny, but it wasn’t beyond what she could endure. In the world of business dinners and social events, she had encountered gazes far more nauseating than this. Those self-important looks of condescension and manipulation were far more detestable than Bu Shenglong’s current behavior.

She met his gaze calmly—no ripples, no waves—showing only patience and confidence.

After a long moment of silence, Bu Shenglong suddenly broke eye contact and reached for his glass again. He didn’t drink immediately, merely swirling the liquid.

He said ambiguously, “The Qinghe project isn’t like your average engineering job. It involves many segments that require dealing with special departments. I believe President Jian is well aware of this, having experienced it firsthand.”

Jian Xiyan nodded. This project was initially brokered by Jian Shenyao, but once she took over, responsibility shifted to her.

“In some matters, seniority and experience are vital, and…”

Bu Shenglong looked at Jian Xiyan meaningfully again, his gaze traveling down from her perfect features. He swept past her neck quickly, without lingering.

Jian Xiyan and Xu Liqing both immediately understood his implication.

Jian Xiyan lowered her gaze, her polite smile vanishing as she turned serious. “Business is about profit. Our cooperation is based on the exchange of advantageous resources to make money together. If President Bu truly believes I shouldn’t be so young, or shouldn’t be a woman, then…”

Jian Xiyan paused. Bu Shenglong’s hand stopped swirling the glass. They met eyes again. This time, Jian Xiyan’s gaze held a new quality: absolute resolve.

“Then, I can only start looking for a more suitable partner.”

Bu Shenglong seemed unaffected, asking with a smile, “And I wonder what kind of partner President Jian would choose?”

“My requirements are simple: business as business. That’s enough.”

The smile on Bu Shenglong’s lips stiffened for a fraction of a second, and a flicker of something went through his eyes. But he quickly recovered. “My words just now were a bit abrupt; I only wished to convey the current reality to you. As for how to resolve it, that depends on your own capability, President Jian.”

Jian Xiyan replied indifferently, “Thank you for the reminder.”

Since this was the reason, Jian Xiyan saw no point in continuing the discussion—at least not right now. She stood up proactively. “Then we won’t disturb your wine and the view any further.”

Bu Shenglong looked up, still smiling. “The scenery here is good. Since you’re here, why not stay a few extra days? You might find a new experience.”

Back in the guest suite, Jian Xiyan stood by the window in silence. Xu Liqing stood behind her, equally frustrated by the encounter.

“He lured you all the way here just to hint that you lack seniority and that he’s unwilling to…” Xu Liqing couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence; it was an insult to any woman.

Jian Xiyan’s brow creased slightly. She had expected things to be difficult, but she hadn’t expected Bu Shenglong to show his cards so directly.

“He knows how to manipulate,” Jian Xiyan sighed softly. “One is something I objectively cannot change, and the other is something I subjectively refuse to do.”

“Then it seems we can only consider a replacement.”

“No rush.”

Xu Liqing was surprised. “Xiyan, the board of directors is waiting for this project. Bu Shenglong’s meaning was clear enough. Surely you aren’t thinking of—?” She cut herself off immediately. “No, you absolutely cannot consider that.”

Jian Xiyan turned back, a slight smile on her lips. “Is it even possible for me?”

“I’m saying we need a replacement because I know it’s impossible for you.”

“Liqing, the person who called me to Tara Island might not be Bu Shenglong. There is likely someone behind him. And I suspect that person is on the island right now.”

Xu Liqing thought for a moment but couldn’t find any clues.

“If Bu Shenglong were truly hesitant for those two reasons, he could have raised them in Shanghai. Him waiting for me on Tara Island suggests he wants to see how far I’ll persist for this project, while also letting the person behind him test me.”

“How can you be sure there’s someone else?”

“When he hesitated just now, his eyes wandered—he instinctively looked behind him. That indicates the decision-maker is ‘behind’ him. Whether that person was physically there or just on his mind, I’m not sure.”

Xu Liqing had a sudden realization. “No wonder he told you to stay a few days for the scenery.”

Since there was still a chance, Xu Liqing was no longer in a hurry to find a new partner, but Bu Shenglong’s hints still bothered her. “But that thing he hinted at… what do you plan to do?”

Jian Xiyan knew what she was worried about. Her stance had never changed. “I will not change myself for a business deal. No matter how important the deal is.”

Xu Liqing breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both admiration and concern for her, as well as indignation.

“If reaching this position with so much hard work still requires selling oneself to please others for success, then what was the point of all my previous efforts?”

Xu Liqing understood deeply. “True. Why are there so many disgusting men in the business world?”

Jian Xiyan’s lips curled up slightly. “Then we’ll just have to make them leave the game one by one.”

Xu Liqing laughed. “Xiyan, that goal is very inspiring. Now even I am full of fighting spirit.”

“That is the real meaning of hard work.”

With her morale restored, Xu Liqing’s confidence soared. “I’ll go look into Bu Shenglong’s hidden network right away and find out who’s behind him.”

Jian Xiyan was left alone in the room. She turned back to the window, gazing at the sea. The faint sound of the waves brought a chill to the summer air.

As she stood with her arms crossed, she felt the pressure of the wedding ring against her skin, reminding her of the conversation with Bu Shenglong. This ring had shielded her from many pointless harassments, but that protection would soon expire. From now on, she would be fighting alone.

Jian Xiyan refused to let the feeling of loneliness take over. She tilted her chin up slightly, quickly regaining her usual resolve. So what if I’m alone? I’m used to being alone anyway.

To adjust her mood, she sat on the sofa and casually scrolled through her phone, seeing a post from Jian Xiaomin about interesting things on the film set. The core of the headline was Jiang Wanru, but Jian Xiyan thought of Yan Shan and clicked on it.

Predictably, any news Xiaomin chose to share wasn’t simple. The article praised Jiang Wanru while subtly criticizing several younger actresses without naming names—and Yan Shan hadn’t escaped the shade.

Jian Xiyan’s eyes narrowed slightly as she considered whether she should tell Xiaomin to block Lin Feiruo. But that seemed too deliberate, so she abandoned the idea for now. She suddenly realized that erasing Lin Feiruo from her life was a more complex process than she had anticipated.

While Jian Xiyan wanted to erase Lin Feiruo, Yan Shan wanted the opposite.

Ever since Lin Feiruo stopped replying to her messages, Yan Shan’s anxiety had grown, to the point where she couldn’t even act properly.

As a special guest appearance, she had several scenes opposite Jiang Wanru—which was where she had the advantage over Li Yu and Ding Chunlu. But in this first scene today, her performance was a disaster.

“Cut, cut, cut!” The director, Yang Yuqun, practically jumped out of his chair. He rushed toward Yan Shan with his script rolled up, but his first move was to apologize to Jiang Wanru. “Wanru, please bear with us. Thank you for your hard work with so many NGs.”

Jiang Wanru’s face was calm, but her expression was far from pleasant. She didn’t mind shooting extra takes, but repeating a scene multiple times due to such amateur mistakes was indeed irritating. She pursed her lips and said nothing, but her aura and the look in her eyes were clear enough.

“I’ll talk to Yan Shan. You go rest first.”

Yang Yuqun turned back, his face darkening with rage toward Yan Shan. “What is wrong with you? You keep forgetting just a few lines! Can you even do this job?”

Being yelled at and questioned in public made Yan Shan feel humiliated. Her eyes turned red as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Director Yang. My state of mind isn’t good today.”

“Then adjust it yourself! Are you going to make everyone else suffer with you? Who do you think you are? A Best Actress is NG-ing with you—do you think that’s cool? Do you think that shows ‘personality’?” Yang Yuqun took a deep breath, wringing his script. “One last try today. If you can’t get it right, this scene is getting cut!”

The director gave them a half-hour break to adjust. Yan Shan stood in a corner, irritably pushing away the water her assistant offered.

“Give me my phone.”

Yan Shan checked immediately. Still no message from Lin Feiruo. There were, however, several other messages that made her even more anxious.

[Trending search is ready; remember to pay the final balance on time.]

[Dinner scheduled with DU’s Marketing Director; cooperation price is around seven figures.]

[Someone raised the bid for that role I mentioned last time; are you still interested in following?]

Yan Shan irritably opened her banking app. The balance hadn’t changed. The promised 6 million still hadn’t arrived. But she had already pre-spent some of that money; if she didn’t cover the gap soon, she’d be in big trouble.

No! I have to talk to Lin Feiruo!

Yan Shan couldn’t leave now, and Lin Feiruo wasn’t replying. The only way was to trick her into coming to the set!