Chapter 60
Jiang Wanru hadn’t expected Jian Xiyan to answer from that angle. Although it was technically polite corporate-speak, it resonated with her much more than the blind flattery of other brand executives.
She was indeed tired of repetitive roles and didn’t want the audience to have a fixed impression of her, which was why she had taken on a film with such a drastic transformation. The Jian Group extending an olive branch at this time was truly a win-win.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, President Jian. I’m flattered.”
“Actually, the subsidiary proposed this plan a long time ago. The reason I’m only meeting you now is mainly because of prior internal disagreements. Quite a few people asked the same question you just did.”
Jiang Wanru realized, “It seems your powers of persuasion have already worked once, President Jian.”
Jian Xiyan’s smile deepened. “I hope they work again tonight.”
Jiang Wanru was not an easy person to sway. If she were determined to resist, even moving a mountain of gold in front of her would have little effect. However, she was interested in this project, and the Jian Group’s consistent sincerity satisfied her. Jian Xiyan’s words were the final stroke in her decision-making process.
Having the head of the company personally discuss a subsidiary project was a gesture of extreme importance, and given Xiyan’s current physical state, Jiang Wanru could find no fault in her attitude. Her fluent answers proved she had done her homework; for a CEO to achieve this while recovering from major injuries was impressive. Jiang Wanru wasn’t an arrogant person, and since she still owed a favor to Jian Xiyan’s “other half,” it was enough to settle things tonight.
“I am also looking forward to this innovative collaboration with the Jian Group. However, there is one condition I must make clear in advance.”
“Please, go on.”
“I’ve never endorsed a real estate project. Regarding the fee, the market standard is fine. But I require control over the advertising content. I don’t want my new image to be misused, nor do I want the possibility of misleading consumers.”
Jian Xiyan pondered, “Was there something in the letter of intent that concerned you?”
“No, but that’s just the current environment. I want to define responsibilities clearly beforehand.”
“Alright. I will see to it.”
Jiang Wanru stood up proactively. “Then I won’t take up any more of your time, President Jian. Let’s talk again when there’s an opportunity.”
Jian Xiyan looked up and shook her hand with a smile.
“Liqing, please see Miss Jiang out for me.”
Before leaving, Jiang Wanru offered a sincere blessing: “I hope you recover soon, President Jian.”
Xiyan had interacted with many people tonight. Most had inquired about her condition and told her to rest well. But Jiang Wanru was the first to offer such a heartfelt, sincere blessing.
When Jiang Wanru emerged from behind the bar, she saw Lin Feiruo and Jian Xiaomin discussing something over a phone, appearing as if Lin Feiruo was giving Xiaomin advice.
Seeing her idol appear, Xiaomin immediately abandoned the phone and beamed at Jiang Wanru. “Teacher Jiang, you finished talking so quickly?”
Lin Feiruo was also a bit surprised, but her first instinct was to look toward the area behind the bar. There was no movement. Then she looked at Jiang Wanru, who gave a noticeable curve of her lips before quickly looking away.
“We just had a casual chat. I didn’t want to keep President Jian up too late and affect her rest.”
Xiaomin’s silly grin held an extra layer of gratitude. “Thank you for being so considerate of my sister.”
Jiang Wanru smiled. “When discussing cooperation, seeking common ground makes things move quickly.”
Lin Feiruo pursed her lips and said nothing.
Xiaomin asked with a laugh, “So, was there more ‘common ground’ or ‘differences’ with my sister?”
“You can tell by how smoothly the talk went.”
After Jiang Wanru and Lian Qinghe left, Lin Feiruo walked over. Jian Xiyan looked exhausted, resting with her eyes closed.
“Shall we head back?” Lin Feiruo asked softly.
Jian Xiyan didn’t immediately refuse; she seemed tempted. She was indeed tired tonight, having dealt with a major public appearance while suppressing the shock from Director He’s words. She only dared to relax slightly after finishing with Jiang Wanru.
Lin Feiruo’s suggestion made her waver, as if a soft spot in her heart had been accurately touched.
Seeing her silent, Lin Feiruo added, “If we go back now, you can still have a bowl of those small wontons Xiao Xuan prepared.”
Even more tempted, Jian Xiyan pursed her lips.
Just then, Jian Shenyao came over. Seeing the two whispering, he coughed a few times. Lin Feiruo stood up straight. Only then did Jian Shenyao see the fatigue on Xiyan’s face.
“Xiyan, don’t overdo it. Go home first. I’ll handle the rest.”
Lin Feiruo felt Jian Xiyan weighing the option. In her heart, she hoped Xiyan would agree to leave, but she didn’t want to openly take a side with Jian Shenyao. Subconsciously, she remained wary of this man who, for now, still seemed normal.
“Alright. We’ll head out first then. Sorry for the trouble, Second Uncle.”
Hearing Jian Xiyan agree to go home, Lin Feiruo breathed a sigh of relief. If she had insisted on staying until the end, no one would have been able to persuade her.
Jiang Wanru also left after her talk with Jian Xiyan, needing to return to the film crew early for tomorrow’s shoot. The fact that she had taken special leave to attend the celebration and waited so long for Jian Xiyan was a massive gesture of respect. The head of the subsidiary was so satisfied that he wanted to sign the contract on the spot.
Leaving the noise and bustle behind, Jiang Wanru sank into her car seat and returned to silence. She wasn’t one for socializing, and the camera flashes weren’t the “light” she chased; her identity simply made them inescapable.
Lian Qinghe had found out about Xie Dicheng’s outburst on the terrace but hadn’t found a chance to speak until now. “Wanru, should I do a thorough check on Xie Dicheng?”
She had checked him when he was rude a year ago, but not deeply. She hadn’t expected him to be so incorrigible.
Jiang Wanru thought about it. “Yes.”
Lian Qinghe was as surprised as she was delighted. “Why the sudden change of heart today?” She continued to herself, “I know, it must be because that guy is too vile—practically asking for trouble. We’ll just have to grant his wish then.”
Jiang Wanru agreeing to a thorough check was essentially giving her the green light to teach the man a lesson. Jiang Wanru’s lips curved, but her face remained cold.
“Just check him yourself. Don’t let your Eldest Uncle know.”
Lian Qinghe chuckled. “If your uncle found out, I doubt Xie Dicheng would have time to buy a burial plot before tomorrow.”
As they neared the studio, Lian Qinghe asked, “If Yan Shan continues to act up tomorrow, should I step in?”
Tonight, Lin Feiruo had focused entirely on Jian Xiyan and hadn’t made any excuses to leave. Yan Shan’s leave of absence tonight was likely a waste of time. Jiang Wanru gave a disdainful, soft laugh.
“Since someone’s desire to return to their family is so strong, we should help as much as we can.”
Lian Qinghe asked pointedly, “Didn’t you say before you wouldn’t interfere in others’ family matters?”
Jiang Wanru didn’t speak, turning her head to look out the window. In the night, even the most brilliant lights cannot replace the sunlight of day. The natural and the artificial are completely different—just like a wife and a mistress.
Her conversation with Jian Xiyan was short, but she could tell the other was forcing a smile and suppressing deep sorrow. Perhaps Jian Xiyan wasn’t entirely ignorant, but simply forced to pretend for the sake of other things. Since Lin Feiruo intended to turn back, she hoped to facilitate that.
“Lin Feiruo is a strange one,” Lian Qinghe mused. “You say she’s a flirt, yet she’s so good to Jian Xiyan. But you say she’s honest, yet she’s entangled with someone like Yan Shan.”
Jiang Wanru thought the same. She felt Lin Feiruo was a contradictory and complex person. But she didn’t actually dislike her, especially after the rescue on the terrace. She wasn’t someone easily moved by small favors, but Lin Feiruo’s performance tonight had raised many questions. Rather than gratitude, it was curiosity.
As for Yan Shan, from any angle, she was an eyesore. Jiang Wanru felt there was no need for reservations in dealing with her. “Keeping Yan Shan in check is good for everyone.”
Compared to Jiang Wanru, Jian Xiyan was almost silent on the way back to He Garden. Even when Lin Feiruo looked at her several times, she only received a few reassuring glances and nothing more.
She is unhappy. That was Lin Feiruo’s direct assessment.
The celebration had been very successful—her speech and her interactions were beyond reproach. Lin Feiruo figured that the only things that could have lowered Xiyan’s spirits were those two private meetings: one with Director He, and one with Jiang Wanru. But Jiang Wanru had emphasized “seeking common ground” before leaving, which didn’t seem like a lie.
It was likely Director He. That was trouble. Last time Xiyan called him, she was so cautious even Aunt Shu mentioned her nervousness. For Jian Xiyan to struggle to even maintain a facade, it had to be something very bad.
Sure enough, upon returning to He Garden, Jian Xiyan had no appetite for a late-night snack and spoke very little. After washing up, she didn’t even ask for files; it was as if her energy had been drained. When Lin Feiruo carried her, Xiyan rested her hand on her shoulder as usual, but it felt different. She seemed detached, her thoughts elsewhere, her reactions mechanical. For a split second as she set her down, Lin Feiruo felt like she was handling a plaster statue.
Waking up the next day, she found she had worried too much. Jian Xiyan was back to her usual self, as if the gloom of last night had never existed. Not only that, Lin Feiruo found her even more active than before—even her appetite had improved.
For instance, not long after breakfast, she proactively said she wanted some milk cake, and specifically asked for Lin Feiruo to make it. Such a request had never been made before; Xiyan knew Lin Feiruo’s cooking wasn’t great, and there was no need for her to accommodate her. But she asked today, and seeing the light in her eyes, Lin Feiruo agreed.
Helping Xiao Xuan in the kitchen, Lin Feiruo knew she was just there for show. If she were in charge of the whole process, the best outcome would be not making Xiyan sick. Xiao Xuan thought it was romantic: “The Young Mistress is learning to act spoiled now; that’s good. It means she truly sees you as someone to rely on.”
The milk cake was made, but Jian Xiyan only took a few bites before putting it aside. But at least she ate some. Lin Feiruo wasn’t angry, just a bit disappointed.
Unexpectedly, Jian Xiyan made a new suggestion the next day, saying she wanted to build a glass room in the garden for flower viewing in a while. Thus, Lin Feiruo was assigned to oversee the planting progress in the backyard, often staying there for an hour or two at a time. Jian Xiyan wouldn’t let Xiao Ning stay in the room with her either, saying having someone nearby interfered with her thinking.
Once everyone was sent away, the last bit of composure on Jian Xiyan’s face gradually faded. She pulled back the blanket, gently touching her knees. Then, she braced both hands on the wheelchair armrests, slowly building strength, trying to stand up.
The doctor said she needed another month before taking this step, but she couldn’t wait any longer! If she continued to recover at this slow pace, she might miss even more opportunities.
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