CHAPTER 151: CHAPTER 149: UNCOVERED CLUES

Jiang Qimeng was practically seething. Her small face contorted, she took a deep breath and said, "Let’s lay our cards on the table. I asked you here today for one reason: to withdraw your complaint. Jian Xi, when I’m being nice to you, you’d better not push your luck, or else the consequences will be more than you can handle."

Jian Xi laughed. "What can you do? Have your henchmen nab me in public and force me to withdraw the lawsuit?"

"Miss Jiang, has Si Yuhuan sheltered you for so many years that you’ve lost touch with reality? Has your brain addled?"

"Without any solid evidence, you spout hurtful words and even mobilize your online influence to wrongfully accuse my client, Wan Yu. As the CEO of a public media company, she is, of course, obligated to hold you accountable. Miss Jiang, you were once an online influencer, an internet celebrity. How can you not grasp such a basic principle?"

Jiang Qimeng was left speechless by the retort.

She had wanted to use public opinion to teach Wan Yu a lesson and clip Jian Xi’s wings, but the plan backfired spectacularly. Si Yuhuan had actually sent people to suppress the news story. The whole thing fizzled out, and worse, Jian Xi had turned the tables and sued her.

"Jian Xi, escalating this won’t do either of us any good. It was Wan Yu who was too impulsive, lashing out without distinguishing right from wrong!"

Jian Xi countered, "Xiang Yao was the first to strike!"

Jian Xi moved closer to Jiang Qimeng. "Do you really think that without surveillance footage, I can’t find evidence?"

Recalling the audio evidence Jian Xi had mysteriously produced before, Jiang Qimeng’s chest tightened. "What evidence?"

"The injury on Xiang Yao’s face—you did that, didn’t you? With the intention of framing Wan Yu?"

"You’re talking nonsense!" Jiang Qimeng denied fiercely.

Jian Xi sighed. "Xiang Yao is your most loyal lackey. If she knew you treated her this way..."

Jiang Qimeng shoved Jian Xi away. "You’re looking for death!"

At the entrance, Si Yuhuan came in, just in time to witness the scene.

Jian Xi glanced at him and feigned a fall. As she went down, she yanked the tablecloth, sending plates and cups crashing to the floor with a loud CLATTER, creating a chaotic scene.

Si Yuhuan swiftly rushed over and extended a large hand to help Jian Xi up.

There was undisguised concern in his tone. "Are you all right?"

Jian Xi looked down, her expression aggrieved. "Miss Jiang, I know you’re about to become Mrs. Si, but there’s no need for such arrogance. Your and Xiang Yao’s slander against my client, Miss Wan Yu, is a fact. As a public figure, there’s nothing wrong with her seeking an apology. Even if you kill me today, my answer will remain the same."

Jiang Qimeng hurriedly explained, "No, Yuhan, it’s not like she says..."

She had no idea why Si Yuhuan would suddenly appear! That little vixen Jian Xi deliberately fell! I barely touched her!

Realizing she’d been played, Jiang Qimeng felt utterly powerless.

"That’s right, Director Si. Miss Jiang is correct in everything she says. But we have dignity too! We refuse to be oppressed by power. If you must, then lock me up. As long as I don’t appear in court, no one can harm your precious white moonlight."

Jiang Qimeng’s eyes lit up. That’s right! If Jian Xi doesn’t go to court, all her problems would be solved. She quickly clutched Si Yuhuan’s elbow and whispered urgently, "Yuhan, why not detain Miss Jian for a while? She’s too stubborn. Doing this would avoid unnecessary trouble."

Si Yuhuan stared down at Jiang Qimeng, who had once been so gentle and kind, finding it hard to believe those words had come from her.

His brows furrowed deeply. "Don’t you know that’s illegal?"

"Illegal?!" Jiang Qimeng’s lips trembled.

Jian Xi gave her an exaggerated look. "Wow, Miss Jiang, you don’t even know that? Or do you usually act so lawlessly that imprisoning people feels perfectly normal and routine to you?"

Jian Xi crossed her arms, tutting. "Director Si, it seems your taste isn’t all that great after all!"

Then, as if a thought struck her, she quickly covered her eyes. "It’s not just your taste that’s questionable; I must need my head examined too! After all, if you could fall for someone like her, what does that say about me for ever falling in love with you?"

"Hey! Jian Xi!" Si Yuhuan, unable to contain his anger, went to chase after her but was caught by the elbow by Jiang Qimeng.

"Yuhan, how can you just leave me behind like this?"

Si Yuhuan had a headache. "You seem to be in good spirits. Go back the way you came."

Jiang Qimeng stood rooted to the spot for a long moment before it sank in. "AHH—Jian Xi, I’ll never forgive you!"

She was so angry she stamped her foot.

The wound on her body hurt even more.

Dr. Sernosen called. "Why haven’t you come for your medication yet? Hurry up."

Scolded, Jiang Qimeng’s eyes welled up with tears.

Why! Why, after everything she had done for Si Yuhuan, was he still so indifferent? Was she really that terrible? What was so great about Jian Xi anyway? Once Yaowang’s exhibition was a success and it became a top international brand, the Jian Family, Yaowang—everything would be hers!

「...」

Si Yuhuan caught up with Jian Xi.

"You lured me over just to watch these little tricks of yours, didn’t you?"

Jian Xi turned to see Si Yuhuan’s handsome face, so dark it looked like a storm cloud, and decided to play dumb.

"What is Director Si talking about? I don’t understand," Jian Xi said, flicking a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Or is it that Director Si has discovered his precious ’white moonlight’ isn’t as wonderful as he imagined? Feeling a bit disillusioned, are we? Uncomfortable, perhaps? And now you want to take it out on me?"

His thoughts exposed, Si Yuhuan’s old face flushed. "Don’t talk nonsense. Mengmeng has sacrificed a lot for Grandfather; she’s worked hard and deserves credit."

"I really admire how you deceive yourself."

Jian Xi approached Si Yuhuan, her breath fragrant. "Shouldn’t you have detected some clues long ago?"

Watching Jian Xi leave, seductively swaying her slender waist, Si Yuhuan’s eyes grew increasingly dark.

She knew everything! And she deliberately pushed him towards Jiang Qimeng! Heartless!

「...」

Jian Xi was on her way to have dinner with her fourth brother, Jian Sirun, when she saw Jiang Qimeng collapsed on the ground in the laboratory, barely breathing.

"Fourth Brother, you certainly didn’t pull any punches!"

Though she said that, she was inwardly ecstatic. In her past life, Jiang Qimeng had tormented her to the point where living was worse than dying. This life, finally, she could make Jiang Qimeng taste that same despair.

Jian Xi glanced around. "No one to take her back?"

Jian Sirun, always reticent, simply replied with a "Hmm."

It was Dr. Sernosen, still in his white lab coat, who came in and explained, "I don’t know what this woman did to offend Si Yuhuan, but lately her bodyguards have all been pulled, and even the maids who took care of her have vanished without a trace."

Jian Xi raised an eyebrow and kicked Jiang Qimeng.

"She got what she deserved."

Given Si Yuhuan’s intelligence, he must have found some conclusive evidence.

To her surprise, the next second, Jiang Qimeng suddenly opened her eyes.

They locked eyes, both filled with astonishment.