Chapter 217: Chapter 215 She’s Out for Blood
She also saw Wan Yu baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, still snarling and grimacing.
"Let go!"
With just one sentence from Jian Mingcheng, like a triggered mechanism, Wan Yu immediately stopped and stood quietly to the side, so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
"Why are you here?"
"With such a big scene happening, how could I not come?" Jian Mingcheng furrowed his brows, his face stern. "You’re all adults. Not setting an example in front of the employees, causing such a scene—aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?"
"Oh! Got it. I won’t dare do it again."
Chu Xiao began to suspect he was hallucinating. Such obedient words—could they really be coming from Wan Yu, the formidable ’Big Sis’?
Jian Xi blinked at him, and Chu Xiao instantly understood.
He cleared his throat, slung an arm around Wan Yu’s shoulder, and greeted Jian Mingcheng with feigned intimacy. "Big Brother, you’re here! We’re just joking around; we do this all the time."
Wan Yu was puzzled by his sudden lack of regard for personal space, especially him draping an arm over her shoulder. Still, she didn’t dwell on it and played along. "Yeah, we’re always like this."
Jian Mingcheng’s expression visibly soured. "I’ve left the gifts here; get them yourselves. I have business at the company, so I’m leaving now."
Having said that, he left with slightly frantic steps. He probably hadn’t even noticed it himself.
Wan Yu grew anxious and tried to follow, but Chu Xiao pulled her back.
"And you call yourself the ’Queen of Romance’? Are you kidding me? Being so forward isn’t how you make a sale. If you keep this up, when will Big Brother ever warm up to you?"
"What do you mean?" Wan Yu asked, momentarily confused.
Jian Xi smiled and approached. "An onlooker often sees the clearest. I just saw Big Brother’s expression, and it was definitely off. He must have feelings for you."
Wan Yu’s eyes lit up with a hopeful, puppy-like shine. "Really?"
She was overjoyed. Her best friend said so; it had to be true!
"What should I do then?"
This newfound joy completely overshadowed the thrill of her rapidly increasing profits.
Wan Yu felt as if she were floating on cloud nine.
Chu Xiao pressed a hand to his forehead. "You don’t even appreciate the opening I just created for you with my stunning looks."
"So, you *were* helping me just now! I was wondering what got into you!"
Chu Xiao: "..."
Jian Xi: "..."
Indeed, people in love truly have zero IQ. Watching Wan Yu now, Jian Xi felt like she was looking at her past self. Stupid, clumsy, with an IQ in the negatives.
"What you need to do now," Jian Xi advised, "is give him the cold shoulder for a few days. Stop being so clingy. Then, ’accidentally’ bump into him and see how he reacts."
Wan Yu bit her finger, conflicted. "Alright, I’ll do as you say."
"WOW—!"
The person managing the backend account data suddenly exclaimed. They had just seen an inquiry from a business partner asking if they could establish a dedicated retail counter overseas and wanting to buy exclusive rights to this batch of runway designs.
Wan Yu, after all, was a strong businesswoman.
She immediately snapped out of her girlish demeanor and rushed over to handle the negotiation.
This kind of negotiation didn’t require Jian Xi’s input, so she decided to head back and rest. Her body had been acting up yesterday, and she needed to take it seriously.
Her phone rang persistently.
She glanced at the caller ID—Si Yuhuan. She didn’t answer.
He then made a voice call.
Jian Xi considered for a moment. He had been somewhat commendable today, so she answered.
"Shall I pick you up after work?"
Before Jian Xi could respond, he pressed on, "Your health isn’t good, and it’s my fault. I’m not an irresponsible man. Be good now! Yaowang can operate perfectly fine without you."
Seriously? Who even talks like that?! Jian Xi couldn’t help but roll her eyes. When had he ever been this ’responsible’ before?
"No need, I can get back on my own. And please, do me a favor and stop harassing me. I’m not worthy of your ’care.’ Just forget it."
"The doctor said I must compensate you properly," Si Yuhuan emphasized, his tone firm.
Jian Xi raised an eyebrow. When had she ever told the doctor to say such a thing? Ugh! She must have sounded too pitiful, and the doctor, deciding to play matchmaker, probably came up with this on his own. How incredibly clever of him to cause her more trouble.
"Whatever she said, it isn’t accurate. In any case, I won’t be going back to Sea View Villa with you. We should go our separate ways. Thank you for your cooperation," she stated firmly.
After hanging up, the taut string of her nerves finally loosened. She relaxed and yawned. The very next second, as she stood in the elevator, a man clamped a cloth over her mouth.
Her head spun! There was something on the cloth!
She struggled with all her might, hearing one of them curse under his breath, "You damn cheapskate, did you cut corners again? Why is this drug so weak? She’s still thrashing about!"
The other man, his face masked, kept apologizing, "It’s fine as long as she’s mostly subdued. Let’s hurry!"
While the two conferred, Jian Xi seized the momentary distraction, kicked out at the man nearest her, and scrambled desperately towards the stairwell.
Her thoughts raced. To dare make a move inside the company building—these people had to be hardened criminals, true desperados!
"Catch her!"
Jian Xi screamed for help.
But today, for the live broadcast, all employees had been gathered on the top floor. This floor was utterly deserted; not a soul in sight. A shout in the emptiness would only produce an ominous echo.
Panicked, Jian Xi ducked into a small pantry.
The two men barged in after her. In the pitch-darkness, they brandished their knives. "Come out now, or don’t blame us if we rape you before we kill you!"
Jian Xi pressed her lips together tightly, her limbs trembling uncontrollably. Cold sweat drenched her, plastering her clothes stickily to her back.
Damn it! Of all times! She’d given her bodyguards the day off, and her enemies had seized the opening. She knew she couldn’t run out; they’d hack her to pieces.
SNAP—
The lights suddenly flickered on.
Jian Xi was cowering behind a water dispenser. The two men were about to find her.
"Who’s there?"
A security guard must have heard the commotion and come to investigate.
Just as Jian Xi lifted her head, about to cry out, she saw the two desperados charge the guard. With swift, brutal strokes, they cut him down. Blood sprayed across the floor.
It was the first time she had ever witnessed a murder. Her eyes threatened to bulge from their sockets in sheer terror. A fresh wave of panic washed over her. She remained frozen behind the water dispenser, not daring to move a muscle.
The two killers cursed. "Damn it, let’s make this quick! If we attract more trouble, we won’t be able to escape even with the money."
They were hired assassins! An image of Jiang Qimeng’s arrogant, domineering face flashed through Jian Xi’s mind. It was her! It had to be her!
CLANG! BANG! CRASH!
Everything nearby that could offer cover was smashed aside.
Having lost all patience, the two men began dragging their knives across the floor, the blades emitting a piercing screech. Jian Xi clutched her head in agony.
"Aha! So this is where you were hiding!"
The water dispenser was violently kicked aside.
The two men looked at Jian Xi, their eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light.
"Spare me! I can give you lots and lots of money!"
She’d been kidnapped multiple times before, faced similar situations, but never had she felt such raw panic. These men killed as casually as butchering chickens.
"How much?" one of them asked, his interest piqued.
Jian Xi knew they were driven by money. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to appear calm, and fought to keep the tremor out of her voice. "One hundred million. One billion. Whatever you want. Just let me go. And tell me who wants me dead..."
SCHWING—
The cold steel of a knife pressed against Jian Xi’s neck, instantly drawing a line of blood.