Chapter 325: Chapter 323: Putting on a Show for Outsiders
"Calm down, calm down, President Song, please calm down!"
Song Xicheng’s peach-blossom face turned livid. "Jian Xi, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because Si Yuhuan likes you. I’m giving you this much leeway entirely out of respect for our friendship. If you keep this up, believe me, I’ll have you stay in Q Country for a ’good education’ before sending you back to serve him."
"Who is Jian Xi? My name is Wan Yu!"
Seeing his arrogant demeanor, Wan Yu couldn’t help but seethe with anger.
Song Xicheng’s expression changed dramatically. "You’re not Jian Xi?"
He rushed forward, but Yan Qing quickly intervened, grabbing Song Xicheng to hold him back. "President Song, this is Miss Jian’s best friend, a friend more important to her than her own life."
Song Xicheng gritted his teeth. "Birds of a feather flock together. Jian Xi is no good either."
"I am a person, not a ’thing.’ If I’ve done something wrong, please enlighten me, President Song."
Wan Yu looked up to see Jian Xi, now awake, walking over, and she hurriedly went to support her.
"How are you? Are you alright?"
Jian Xi’s face was deathly pale as she shook her head.
Wan Yu was indignant. "Don’t even think about bribing this guy to help us. This Song Xicheng is Si Yuhuan’s close friend! No wonder Si Yuhuan has managed to hide everything so perfectly."
He’s one of the main culprits!
Jian Xi looked up, her gaze meeting Song Xicheng’s.
This man was truly handsome. With a peach-blossom face and phoenix eyes, he was more beautiful than a woman. Every move he made radiated aristocratic elegance; he was clearly a scion of a wealthy family. There was an aura about him that was colder and more domineering than Si Yuhuan’s, probably due to the fierce customs of Q Country.
"Jian Xi? You’re Jian Xi?"
Song Xicheng examined her from head to toe, front to back, left to right.
Wan Yu rolled her eyes. "Rude!"
Song Xicheng’s face turned red. "I wasn’t insulting you. It was your friend here who slapped me without rhyme or reason. Look at my face; it’s still swollen!"
His cheek was delicate, and the bright red imprint of five fingers was clearly visible.
Jian Xi touched her forehead. "Sorry, my friend was standing up for me. After all, if it weren’t for you, my son wouldn’t have gone missing again. By that logic, you’re an accomplice, and therefore guilty."
"Me?!" Song Xicheng pointed at himself, speechless for a long moment.
What a sharp-tongued woman.
"No, what crime? I’m the most powerful person in all of Q Country! Just because you say I committed a crime doesn’t mean I did."
Jian Xi didn’t bother with him and walked towards the hospital room to visit her fifth brother.
Song Xicheng followed, unconvinced, but Ace’s men stopped him.
"Sir, please stay away from Miss Jian. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being impolite."
The bodyguards following Song Xicheng were not to be trifled with either.
Suddenly, tensions flared between both parties.
"Ace’s men? It seems you have a close relationship with Jian Yanjun." Song Xicheng was clearly a man of the world.
Jian Xi nodded. "My fifth brother."
"Hah, alright then. So he’s your fifth brother." He raised his hand, and Jian Xi looked puzzled.
Song Xicheng twisted his neck and spoke nonchalantly, "Eight years ago, he saved my life. You’re lucky today. Otherwise, even if you were the apple of Si Yuhuan’s eye, I’d still lock you up and teach you some manners."
Jian Xi knew that in Q Country, Song Xicheng wasn’t joking.
"Do you and Director Si also share a life-or-death bond, President Song?" She looked at him with unshakable calmness, raising her eyebrows.
Song Xicheng thought for a moment. Their bond went far beyond life-or-death. Yet, he shook his head.
Jian Xi misunderstood, assuming their connection was merely a business alliance, and nodded thoughtfully.
Watching Jian Xi’s figure disappear from sight, Song Xicheng pointed and asked Yan Qing, "Hey, what was with her attitude just now? Was she looking down on me?"
Yan Qing pulled him back. "No, not at all."
"But her temperament is certainly cold. I really don’t know how Si Yuhuan could fall for such a woman."
Yan Qing sighed. "The madam wasn’t always like this." He himself wasn’t sure when Jian Xi had transformed into her current self. She was warm and passionate towards others, but only towards her own master, his close friends, and relatives was she as cold as ice.
"This is infuriating! I’m going to find Si Yuhuan."
"President Song! Our Director Si is in surgery!"
"Right!" Song Xicheng slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! He risked his life rushing in there. It’s a miracle he wasn’t killed; he barely survived. He won’t end up disabled, will he?"
"Pah! President Song, you should really say something more auspicious," Yan Qing rolled his eyes at him.
Song Xicheng stood to the side, sighing.
「...」
Wan Yu immediately went back to the room to apologize to Jian Xi.
"When I thought about how we couldn’t find the child because he helped Si Yuhuan, I got so angry. I couldn’t control my temper and slapped him. I might have caused you trouble."
"It’s not your fault. But don’t provoke Song Xicheng anymore. He’s not an ordinary person; he has connections in both the legitimate world and the underworld. Who knows how many deaths are on his hands. This is Q Country, not China. Fifth Brother is lying in there now, and no one can protect us. We must be careful about everything."
"Okay! I understand." Wan Yu suddenly looked up. "Why are you so calm all of a sudden?" She sensed something was off.
Jian Xi poked her on the head, a mix of affection and helplessness in her voice. "Of course, the act is for outsiders. Otherwise, if I were always so emotionally volatile, wouldn’t I live a short life?"
Reborn into this life, even having lost her son and witnessed her brother on his hospital bed, possibly about to be declared vegetative, Jian Xi would absolutely not be driven to the point of helplessness and despair, contemplating death.
Wan Yu swallowed hard, feeling that her best friend before her was strong to a frightening degree.
Little did she know, Jian Xi had experienced things far more terrifying in her previous life!
"An act? What act?"
Jian Xi furrowed her brow. "That’s what I need your help to investigate. Find out everything Si Yuhuan has been involved in recently in Q Country. I want every single detail."
She had a bold suspicion in mind.
"Got it!" Wan Yu didn’t ask why and hurried to carry out the task.
There was a knock on the door.
Song Xicheng asked, "May I come in?"
Jian Xi was alone in the room. A trace of nervousness flickered within her, but she forced herself to remain calm. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "What can I do for you, President Song?"
When the door swung open, Song Xicheng was rather surprised. He had been prepared to be rebuffed, not expecting Jian Xi to actually dare to open the door for him.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll make things difficult for you?"
"Afraid? Of course, I am! But all of Q Country is your territory. Even if I’m scared, I can’t hide. So, it’s better to meet and see what you want, President Song."
Immediately, Jian Xi began to analyze the situation. First, Song Xicheng might believe Si Yuhuan wasn’t valuable enough and was looking to switch business partners. She could potentially use this to her advantage, though her intuition suggested this was unlikely. Second, her appearance might have affected Song Xicheng’s cooperation with Si Yuhuan, and he was here to hold her accountable. People involved in both legitimate and illicit dealings often resorted to extortion, making this a strong possibility.
She hadn’t expected Song Xicheng’s next words, which almost made her lose her composure.
"How did you manage Si Yuhuan? He actually risked his life for you! I’ve never seen him act so crazy before! Do you have some kind of trick? Like mind control, or did you drug him?" Song Xicheng was gossiping excitedly, his eyes practically shining.