Marking My Arch-Rival [Rebirth] - Chapter 12

Everything had been concealed perfectly before.

No one had noticed anything unusual.

But once the scent-blocking patch was removed, the rich fragrance of freesia pheromones rushed outward, and Ji Shihuan immediately realized something was wrong.

As if facing a formidable enemy, she grabbed a tissue from the desk, carefully wrapped the patch, threw it into the trash can, and only then let out a breath of relief.

But the freesia scent didn’t disappear.

Realizing something, Ji Shihuan looked up at Jiang Boyan on the sofa.

The corners of Jiang Boyan’s eyes were slightly red, her gaze somewhat unfocused, as though she had been bullied too much and hadn’t yet recovered.

Noticing Ji Shihuan looking at her, she slowly raised her head. Moisture shimmered in her eyes, rippling softly.

The pheromones of an Omega who had already been marked had twice the effect on their Alpha.

Ji Shihuan swore inwardly.

“Do you have another suppressant patch?”

Only then did Jiang Boyan react. She took a fresh patch from her bag and applied it.

The office’s expensive ventilation system immediately kicked into full power.

Several minutes later, the heat coursing through Ji Shihuan’s body finally subsided somewhat.

Jiang Boyan still seemed uneasy, raising her hand several times to touch the gland at the side of her neck.

Knowing what she was worried about, Ji Shihuan comforted her.

“Don’t worry. The suppressant patch is enough. Haven’t you always managed like this before?”

Jiang Boyan lowered her hand.

“…Should I check?”

Jiang Boyan looked at her with innocent confusion, clearly wondering how she intended to check.

Ji Shihuan was never one to miss an opportunity.

Taking Jiang Boyan’s expression as an invitation, she leaned in again.

She pressed the tip of her nose against Jiang Boyan’s gland and sniffed several times.

A conflicted expression soon appeared on her face, and she rubbed her nose before retreating.

Already anxious, Jiang Boyan frowned.

“Is my pheromone leaking?”

“I… don’t know.”

Ji Shihuan honestly returned to her seat.

Covering her nose and mouth, she was actually hiding the inexplicable warmth creeping across her cheeks.

“It’s mixed together with your perfume.”

“…”

Jiang Boyan bit her lip.

“Didn’t you say they smelled different?”

“Did I?”

Ji Shihuan shamelessly played dumb.

“How are they different?”

Jiang Boyan once again confirmed that the woman before her flirted shamelessly with everyone, only to forget everything she’d said moments later.

She no longer wished to deal with her.

Unfortunately, the only sample scent-blocking patch had already been thrown into the trash.

She could only avert her gaze, refusing to look at Ji Shihuan while trying to suppress the excessive release of her pheromones by calming herself.

Just as Ji Shihuan was about to say something, Jiang Boyan’s phone rang.

She answered it.

Jiang Chengchuan’s voice came through.

“Sis? Where are you?”

“Why haven’t you come back yet?”

Jiang Boyan instinctively stood up.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”

He sounded as though he simply wanted to make sure she was safe.

Glancing at his watch, he added,

“Isn’t it strange? It’s been almost twenty minutes, and President Ji still hasn’t come back either. We asked Huanji’s people, but they said they didn’t know where she went.”

Jiang Boyan glanced at Ji Shihuan, who looked utterly relaxed, without the slightest sign of urgency.

Jiang Chengchuan continued complaining.

“She’s really unreliable. Does the second young miss of the Ji family treat work like a children’s game?”

Jiang Boyan came back to herself.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

“…Where are you?”

Jiang Chengchuan casually shifted the subject, probing.

“I thought you’d gone to the restroom.”

Jiang Boyan naturally refused to be led around by the nose.

“Have the assistants review the negotiation process again. We’ll try to finish the second half early.”

With that, she hung up.

Ji Shihuan had overheard the entire conversation.

Jiang Chengchuan’s voice wasn’t loud, but she had still caught most of it.

Seeing Jiang Boyan preparing to leave again, Ji Shihuan stopped her first.

“I finally helped President Jiang remove the obstacle affecting our negotiation.”

“We can start discussing business now.”

The phone call had restored Jiang Boyan’s composure.

She returned to her usual impassive expression.

“If the ‘serious business’ you mean is your so-called ‘unspoken rule,’ then I don’t think there’s any need to continue.”

She folded her arms.

“That won’t work on me.”

Ji Shihuan smiled.

“Then what a pity.”

Jiang Boyan picked up her handbag.

Ji Shihuan sighed.

She put away her teasing expression.

“One hundred twenty million.”

“I’ll include the energy storage warehouse next to the battery production line.”

Jiang Boyan immediately stopped.

Turning around, she replied,

“One hundred million.”

“One hundred twenty million.”

Ji Shihuan leaned forward, resting her chin on her folded hands.

“If Hongxin buys the production line, you’ll have to build an energy storage warehouse afterward anyway.”

“At that point, the construction costs will far exceed this amount.”

“The warehouse itself isn’t worth more than thirty million.”

“Hongxin is helping Huanji eliminate two redundant assets at once.”

“Huanji should at least offer some discount.”

Ji Shihuan firmly shook her head.

“President Jiang, show some sincerity.”

“Don’t treat me like an idiot who knows nothing.”

“This is obviously a deal where one plus one is greater than two.”

“Calling it a supermarket bundle sale just isn’t interesting.”

Jiang Boyan refused to yield.

“President Ji is the one asking an outrageous price.”

“Let me guess why Hongxin is interested in an outdated battery production line.”

Ji Shihuan spoke unhurriedly, yet her smile carried unmistakable confidence.

“I heard Hongxin acquired a piece of land in C City last month to build a factory.”

“And C City’s new-energy incentive policy will officially take effect soon…”

The further Ji Shihuan spoke, the more alarmed Jiang Boyan became.

She truly wanted to drag Jiang Chengchuan and everyone downstairs who believed Ji Shihuan was the weak point up here to hear this.

In front of Ji Shihuan, Hongxin was practically stripped bare.

The company’s internal development plans flowed casually from her lips, as though they weren’t confidential information at all.

“…So I believe purchasing Huanji’s battery production line and energy storage warehouse is Hongxin’s best option.”

“And I also believe those assets will flourish under President Jiang’s management.”

“One hundred twenty million.”

“I’ve already endured considerable pain to offer President Jiang this friendship price.”

When she said those last words, Ji Shihuan narrowed her eyes with a half-serious, half-playful smile and walked over to Jiang Boyan.

Although she wore a custom-tailored business suit, she somehow carried herself like a carefree heiress with nothing better to do.

She looked three parts less serious and considerably more lazy and uninhibited.

Jiang Boyayan found it hard to believe they were discussing a nine-figure business deal.

Looking into Ji Shihuan’s eyes, she almost felt as though the other woman was flirting with her instead of negotiating.

“So?”

Ji Shihuan lifted a hand.

As she leaned closer, she suddenly forgot what she’d intended to do.

In her haste, her fingertips brushed Jiang Boyan’s chin.

The soft sensation at her fingertips disturbed her thoughts.

She tucked her hand behind her back and quietly rubbed her fingertips together.

She wasn’t the only one affected.

Jiang Boyan also came back to her senses and frowned, turning her face away.

Now that her bargaining position had already been exposed, she silently reassessed the true value of the production line and the warehouse.

“One hundred ten million.”

“President Jiang, don’t make things difficult for me.”

Ji Shihuan looked pitiful, but she refused to lower the price by even a single cent.

“It really can’t be any less.”

Jiang Boyan changed tactics.

“Then President Ji should throw in something else. If…”

She set her sights on the rare metal materials stored inside the warehouse.

Seeming to see through her intentions, Ji Shihuan interrupted first.

“Of course I won’t let President Jiang suffer a loss.”

Jiang Boyan nodded.

She said nothing further, waiting for Ji Shihuan to make an offer so she could negotiate for additional benefits.

“How about I throw myself in as well?”

Ji Shihuan brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, smiling so beautifully it was almost dangerous.

She leaned close to Jiang Boyan’s ear, deliberately softening her voice into a coquettish tone.

“A top-tier Alpha doesn’t come cheap.”