Chapter 223: Chapter 221: A Good Girl Fears a Persistent Suitor
Wow!
Jian Xi tugged at the corner of her mouth, incredulously staring at the man before her.
Si Yuhuan, clad in a hospital gown, still bore the ghastly paleness of poisoning, yet it didn’t affect his handsomeness in the slightest. At 188 centimeters tall, his mere presence was intimidating. Unlike Fu Shengyuan’s refined scoundrel type, Si Yuhuan exuded an oppressive arrogance.
"Director Si, it seems you’ve recovered quite well," Fu Shengyuan said, the smile not reaching his eyes.
Jian Xi felt the air become stagnant, almost making it hard to breathe.
The moment the two of them met, the tension was palpable.
"I’m not as busy as President Fu, having the luxury to send flowers to my woman’s house," Si Yuhuan quipped sarcastically.
Having said that, Si Yuhuan walked over, snatched the bouquet from Jian Xi’s hand, and tossed it into the nearby trash can.
"You’ll accept things from just anyone, not caring if they’re dirty, huh?"
He then took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
Fu Shengyuan’s genteel face could not hide his embarrassment as he clenched his fists tightly, containing his anger. He chuckled and said, "Director Si, there’s no need for personal insults. After all, we’re both figures of some standing. Don’t you think this behavior of yours is a bit childish?"
"The only thing I find shameless is your behavior!" Si Yuhuan retorted.
Si Yuhuan then pulled Jian Xi by the hand, went inside, and closed the door. The series of movements were swift and decisive.
Outside, Fu Shengyuan’s handsome face turned grim with a cold glint. "Si Yuhuan, you are really asking for death!"
Jian Xi was forcibly pressed against the door, Si Yuhuan leaning over her. "I told you not to contact him again."
"It’s none of your business, don’t get too big for your britches," she rebuked.
She had been wanting to kick him out as well! But Si Yuhuan’s actions were indeed satisfying.
Pushing him away, Jian Xi hastily loosened her coat at the waist, fearful he’d notice something amiss. "Leave quickly. Don’t loiter here and damage my reputation."
"What reputation?" Si Yuhuan asked darkly, clutching her wrist and pulling her back into his embrace. "You dare to mess with anyone? Aren’t you afraid you won’t even know how you might die?"
"You should worry about yourself first. Fu Shengyuan must be wanting you dead right now."
Jian Xi’s lips curled slightly. "I’m actually quite looking forward to it. After all, you have him to thank for your current misery."
"You’re happy that I’m penniless?" Si Yuhuan asked.
"Happy? I’ve never been so thrilled. In the past, you were always the lofty tycoon, and we were just children from an ordinary family. We couldn’t aspire to your level; you practically had your nose in the air."
Married for so many years, she had never felt as elated as she did today.
"So if I stay like this in the future, you’ll have to take care of me for the rest of my life."
"You want me to keep you?" Jian Xi asked.
Si Yuhuan raised his eyebrows slightly. "I could."
"As if I would want that! No one wants a destitute, secondhand good like you; I’m not interested."
"What kind of language is that?"
Could this woman’s tongue get any sharper?
Jian Xi targeted his soft spot. "That’s the way it is. You’re poor and you’ve been married already, definitely not much of a catch. That face of yours, though, is quite marketable. Maybe I’ll send you to Wan Yu’s New Fashion Media? Becoming a blogger could help you make a living, right?"
For the first time in his life, Si Yuhuan faced criticism from a woman that made him feel utterly worthless.
Her words infuriated him, making him laugh. "Jian Xi, your mouth... it should be kissed and never let go."
"Scoundrel!"
In some aspects, she was no match for him.
That evening, Si Yuhuan had the temerity to insist on staying over. When Jian Xi tried to get physical, he played up his pain, leaving her no recourse but to dump him in the guest room.
"Stay just for the night, and get out tomorrow. Even if it hurts, you still have to leave. I don’t have the patience to care for you," Jian Xi declared like a proud little princess, slamming the door behind her.
After Si Yuhuan finished his nighttime routine, he lay in bed browsing through screenshots on his phone.
"A good woman fears a persistent man; hmm, there’s some truth to that."
He had sweet dreams, much more comfortable than in the hospital.
Jian Xi was in the kitchen making breakfast. She peeked several times at Si Yuhuan’s room. Has this guy died in his sleep or what?
She was about to knock on the door.
The man emerged with bleary eyes, dressed in slightly oversized pajamas which gave him an air of worldly comfort.
"You slept like a pig. Is this how you plan to wallow in self-pity from now on?"
Si Junyan had been rising through the ranks at Haohan Group, and if things continued this way, this man would soon have no place left there!
"So just a few days of rest and you’re complaining I’m not working? Jian Xi, you’re quite the hypocrite."
"Don’t forget, when you were my wife, how long did I provide for you?"
Jian Xi was at a loss for words.
She had forgotten about that.
Even though Si Yuhuan was no saint and quite the scumbag, he had been generous with his money, and she indeed had been supported by him for those years.
"That has nothing to do with you; it was Grandfather’s doing."
She wasn’t about to give him any credit.
Si Yuhuan was infuriated.
This woman always had a way to make him uncomfortable.
Jian Xi delighted in his discomfort and purposely played the news loudly on her phone while they ate.
In a media appearance, Si Junyan made his debut as the president of Haohan Group.
He promised the camera, "Please rest assured, the business status of Haohan Group will never change. The Si Family will not disappoint the shareholders, and I, Si Junyan, will not disappoint everyone. Moreover, I commit to expanding industrial development on top of my cousin Si Yuhuan’s foundation. Haohan Group will focus on transforming our development model to embrace a second spring, taking Haohan Group to new heights!"
"Of course, at the same time, I want to thank my grandfather for his support, and my cousin for his understanding."
He kept droning on and on, while Jian Xi just watched Si Yuhuan the whole time.
"Why are you looking at me? Eat your food!"
Si Yuhuan passed his empty bowl to Jian Xi.
"My hand isn’t quite steady yet."
Jian Xi was rendered speechless.
How big could this guy’s heart possibly be? She was still waiting to see him heartbroken and defeated! To her, it seemed like he was on vacation!
Jian Xi slammed the bowl of porridge down in front of Si Yuhuan with a huff. "Go ahead, eat. Sooner or later you’ll be ground into the dust by Si Junyan."
"You think he’d do that to me?"
"You think he wouldn’t?" Jian Xi retorted.
Si Yuhuan fell silent.
She still had to return to the company to review the new business Wan Yu had negotiated, coordinate the job handover, and prepare for her departure from China to stay with her second brother for her pregnancy. There was a lot of work to be done.
Before she left, she said to Si Yuhuan, "Hurry up and leave. Don’t be so clingy; it’s annoying."
Si Yuhuan’s handsome face instantly turned cold.
With resentment, he deleted the screenshots on his phone.
What nonsense about good women fearing persistent men. Ridiculous!
「...」
The moment Jian Xi stepped out the door, she ran into Fu Shengyuan.
He followed her closely. "Are you going to the company? Shall I give you a lift?"
"Si Yuhuan is right inside. Aren’t you afraid he’ll come charging out?" Jian Xi asked with a smile.
Fu Shengyuan’s face remained expressionless as he answered with utmost understanding, "After all, he got hurt because of you. It’s only right to take extra care of him."
"What if we end up in the same bed again?"
Fu Shengyuan’s handsome face was struggling to maintain composure.
Jian Xi was wildly challenging his limits.
"Xixi, you’re not that kind of person. I understand you quite well," Fu Shengyuan said, smiling sincerely.