She could feel the death rays shooting from behind her. Si Yuhuan probably wanted to strangle her right then.
Jian Xi figured he wouldn’t dare touch her, considering what had just happened. If he could suppress his desires and refrain from touching me, he might as well stop dreaming about the pleasures of the flesh, she thought.
It was just too bad for Grandfather’s efforts—all for naught. So, this was what Grandfather meant by ’helping’... All his scheming had been in vain.
Changing into a fresh set of clothes, Jian Xi lay on the bed, half-closing her eyes, sensing someone standing behind her.
She didn’t want to open her eyes and see him.
So she tightly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
After a while, the man opened the door and left.
Jian Xi breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally settling.
To say she wasn’t upset would be a lie. After all, the man she had once loved so dearly had managed to remain composed in such a situation. There were only two possibilities: either she was unworthy, or he had someone else in his heart. Either possibility was deeply hurtful. But after one endures countless hardships, such things seem trivial.
Jian Xi tried hard to curl her lips into a smile, to appear less pathetic, but her heart was still a mess, her red-rimmed eyes filled with unspeakable grievance and sadness.
She didn’t even know what she was upset about anymore. It was something for which she already had the answer, but perhaps she was still disappointed. Disappointed in herself, and in him.
The butler watched with glee as Si Yuhuan emerged from the bedroom looking disheveled.
If Old Master Si knew this good news, he would be overjoyed; perhaps even half of his ailments would disappear, the butler thought.
Groggy from sleep, Jian Xi finished her morning routine and came out to find the butler already waiting at the door.
"Madam, you’ve worked hard." He beckoned, and immediately a servant handed Jian Xi some soup.
Such a nourishing medicinal soup, brimming with goji berries, longan, dates, and sea cucumber. It seemed Old Master Si had misunderstood something.
Jian Xi’s mouth twitched.
If she could, she really wanted to tell everyone that there was nothing between her and Si Yuhuan!
The butler, thinking she was being shy, quickly ordered someone to put the soup down. He then said, "The Young Master has work to do and has returned to the company. Old Master Si has asked you to join him for breakfast downstairs."
Obediently nodding, Jian Xi sipped the soup—not wanting to waste everyone’s efforts—then went downstairs to see Old Master Si.
She hadn’t forgotten why she was there. Jian Xi was determined to expose Jiang Qimeng’s true colors to Old Master Si.
"Grandfather, good morning!" she greeted sweetly as soon as she descended the stairs.
Her obedient demeanor was endearing.
The more Old Master Si looked at her, the more he liked her. "Xixi, I had the kitchen prepare some of your favorite dishes. Try them and see how they taste."
"Thank you, Grandfather." Elderly people loved arranging meals for the younger generation. As long as she enjoyed her food, Grandfather would be delighted. Jian Xi ate heartily, indeed bringing a wide smile to Old Master Si’s face.
"I knew you would like it. You can take this chef with you when you leave."
Jian Xi feigned surprise. "Grandfather, you really are the best."
Old Master Si was even more pleased. "It’s Si Yuhuan’s good fortune to have a wife like you. That rascal doesn’t know how to treasure you. But after today, things will be better. Soon I’ll have great-grandsons..."
Realizing he had let something slip, his old face blushed, and he quickly coughed to change the subject.
If Si Yuhuan wasn’t going to explain, then she would let Old Master Si continue his misunderstanding. She’d just go along with it and use it to set up that ’little white lotus’—that wasn’t going too far, was it? After all, Jiang Qimeng herself had smugly come to her doorstep looking for trouble; if Jian Xi didn’t strike back, it wouldn’t be in her nature.
"Grandfather!" Jian Xi lowered her eyelids shyly and nodded coyly.
This coy, daughter-like demeanor further convinced Old Master Si that the two must have reconciled; his thin-skinned grandson had even run off first, likely out of embarrassment.
With his goal achieved, the old man was in a good mood.
A phone call later, quite a few luxury branded adornments were delivered to Jian Xi, especially a twelve-carat pink diamond that was dazzling enough to blind someone.
"Grandfather! I can’t accept this; it’s too valuable," Jian Xi declined.
If she remembered correctly, Si Yuhuan had preordered all these luxury items for Jiang Qimeng. She hadn’t expected them to end up in her hands by such a fluke. These top-luxury items were almost all custom-made, with only one piece produced for each style. Grandfather must have snatched them from Si Yuhuan to give to her.
"Nonsense! You are more valuable than anything. What are these in comparison! Once you have given birth to the Si Family’s eldest grandson, five percent of Haohan Group’s shares that I hold will be yours."
What a lavish gift! In the past, if she had heard this, she would have been overjoyed, as it was proof of her status as Mrs. Si. But now, she had no interest. All she wanted was what she deserved; as for the rest, she wouldn’t even consider them.
Old Master Si was so pleased that he let Jian Xi have a day of freedom, without the need to stay confined to the nursing home. He even sent the chef back with her.
Jian Xi returned to her apartment and had a good sleep. Upon waking, she saw that her phone had almost blown up with calls.
There were over twenty missed calls from Si Yuhuan alone.
She curved her lips into a happy smile and returned his call.
"Jian Xi, using Grandfather to get back at me, taking things from me, do you find it amusing?" he bellowed, his voice almost shattering eardrums.
Last night, after he left the nursing home, the servants told him that Jiang Qimeng had disappeared, and nobody knew where she had gone. He had frantically searched all night to no avail, even asking friends for help, but they told him to wait for the results. As dawn broke, he received news that Old Master Si had taken all the luxury items and clothing he bought for Jiang Qimeng and given them to Jian Xi. This infuriated him instantly.
He felt like choking Jian Xi to death.
"Sorry, I don’t have such hobbies. If Grandfather wants to do that, what can I do about it? Why don’t you go yell at him instead?"
Si Yuhuan ground his teeth in anger. "Are you only satisfied when you’re going against me?"
Jian Xi was noncommittal. "Clearly, you are the one troubling me."
Si Yuhuan didn’t want to continue their stubborn argument. "Just wait until I get back."
"Don’t bother. We’re in the cooling-off period for our divorce, remember?"
She was still considering filing for divorce! Si Yuhuan felt his dignity challenged as never before. This home, he absolutely had to return to it.
When he arrived, the apartment was filled with the aroma of food.
The small apartment was very different from a few days ago; now it had a maid and a chef...
"Jian Xi! You even took Grandfather’s chef? You really have no shame!" Si Yuhuan’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Jian Xi was eating dry-fried crispy meat; the salt and pepper flavor was excellent.
She chewed her meat, slowly lifting her head.
Si Yuhuan’s anger flared. "Do you think stealing feels good? Being so cunning and repulsive, you don’t have the slightest bit of a rich heiress’s demeanor. Mengmeng, she..."
"Si Yuhuan! Try saying that one more time!" Old Master Si bellowed.
Jian Xi held up her phone with a chuckle, revealing that she was on a video call with Old Master Si.
So, everything Si Yuhuan had just said had been overheard by Old Master Si.
This woman must have done it on purpose, setting him up here, ruining his relationship with Grandfather.
Si Yuhuan suppressed his anger, his stiffly handsome face squeezing out a forced smile. "Grandfather, it’s her..."
"I gave her the items, and I sent Xixi the chef. What? Do you have a problem with that?"