Chapter 6

The nearly clear liquid ran down her face.

Mu Xueqing's eyes widened.

She screamed and dodged away.

As though she'd only just noticed the person behind me, she cried in alarm, "Mr. Ji!"

12.

I turned too.

Ji Anyan was approaching.

She ran toward him at once.

He moved away.

She froze.

Only then did I tap my phone screen and show her.

"Bad luck. Ji Anyan was calling me just now. He heard everything you said."

While I was at it, I blocked his number.

He saw what I did.

His face darkened immediately.

Mu Xueqing looked at him in panic.

"I…"

"Enough."

His icy voice cut her off.

"You're very good at acting, Mu Xueqing."

"But this ends here."

He sent several messages, then told her, "From now on, no subsidiary or branch of Ji Group will welcome you."

"Get out."

Her face went bloodless.

Ji Group had openly blacklisted her.

Information passed between big companies.

Which meant she wouldn't be able to get into any of them again.

"Mr. Ji, please let me explain…"

"Get out!"

His patience snapped.

She went rigid, her hands clenching.

Then her expression turned cold.

She looked at us with a mocking smile.

"People like you are born at the top. All you have is your family background…"

"Without it, you'd be nothing…"

"Why… why should I have to suffer like this…"

The distant sky was still overcast.

Moisture filled the air.

After thinking for a moment, I finally spoke.

"I'm not judging you for wanting to improve your position through love or marriage."

"But you shouldn't destroy someone else's relationship to do it."

"Your anger, envy, hurt, and resentment are understandable. None of them gives you a reason to hurt others."

"Mu Xueqing."

I looked at her.

"You were never going to get what you wanted."

Anger surged into her eyes at the last sentence.

She took an agitated step toward me.

Ji Anyan immediately moved in front of me.

But she'd only taken one step.

Nothing more.

She looked coldly at him, then turned a sneer on me.

"I lost. I didn't get what I wanted."

"What about you? How much better off will you be?"

Then she straightened and walked away without looking back.

For a moment, all was quiet.

I turned toward home too.

Ji Anyan followed immediately.

"Xiao Cun, I didn't know she'd had those intentions."

"I never thought of being with her. I really only saw her as my assistant…"

I turned.

He stopped speaking at once.

The stuffed bear was still in his arms.

"Wait a moment."

I tapped my phone a few times and transferred money to his bank account.

"I sold all the gifts you insisted I take. Here's the money."

His expression was stiff and miserable.

Suddenly, he began coughing.

"Xiao Cun… do you have to make such a clean break?"

"Believe me. I'll never again…"

"Shh."

I lightly set a finger to my lips.

"I've already spent too much time talking to people I dislike today. I'm tired."

I pointed at the bear.

"I know the manufacturer. They gave me one before this model went on sale."

"I don't need that bear."

"It's entirely unnecessary."

Then I shut the door without another look.

13.

Two days later, I had dinner with a distributor's representative.

He was very talkative.

We had so many interesting things to discuss that we laughed and talked almost without stopping, barely eating.

My mouth grew dry.

I signaled for drinks.

As I looked up, I saw Ji Anyan through the glass wall.

He stood motionless, watching me.

His face held no expression.

Somehow, he still looked terribly hurt.

I lowered my eyes.

He stood there for the whole meal.

His back slightly bent.

Coughing now and then.

His gaze never left me.

When we finished, the representative offered to drive me home.

I thought for a moment, glancing at the dark figure standing like a statue in the corner.

Then shook my head.

"Thank you, but I've already booked a car."

He left.

I turned.

Ji Anyan approached.

"Xiao Cun, you haven't talked to me that much in so long."