CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 188: BATTLE OF THE HEART

Jian Xi was busy at the company, overseeing the launch of several sub-brands for Yaowang.

Li Bin had given her a very detailed introduction, and Jian Xi was quite satisfied.

The previous fashion show and dinner had been perfectly executed, and the overall launch effect was good. Subsequently, Li Bin handled a series of brand operations with remarkable ease, and Yaowang had firmly established itself on the international stage.

As Jian Xi reviewed the financial statements, she was somewhat surprised by the soaring profits.

"A year-over-year growth of 580 percent—a rapid increase. I estimate that after our expansion next year, the overall figures will rise even further."

Li Bin smiled proudly, clearly pleased with himself.

This was a kind of glory he had never experienced while working with Si Yuhuan, a bountiful reward for his own hard-fought efforts.

Jian Xi was also quite pleased. With a grand wave of her hand, she announced, "This year, bonuses for all company employees will be doubled. You can implement other rewards as you see fit. In short, I trust you completely with the company."

Li Bin was grateful. "Thank you for your trust, CEO Jian."

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance. The secretary rushed in, saying, "CEO Jian, Miss Jiang Qimeng is at the main gate. She says she wants to apologize to you. Would you like to go see?"

Jian Xi raised an eyebrow. "Let her in."

Why should I go out there?

The secretary stammered, "I’m afraid she can’t come in. You’ll have to go down."

「At the entrance to Yaowang Group.」

Jiang Qimeng had arranged for over a dozen wreaths and flower baskets to be placed at the entrance, and the ground was covered with fresh flowers and candles. She had also made a grand spectacle by inviting numerous journalists and media representatives, and several streamers were broadcasting the scene live.

She knelt on the ground, lighting one candle after another.

"Miss Jian, I know I was wrong. I will never speak ill of you again. From now on, I will behave myself and absolutely not disrespect those in a higher position."

With each statement, she lit another candle.

There were easily a hundred candles on the ground.

One uninformed streamer, unaware of the history between the two women, immediately declared to their audience, "This Jian Xi is too arrogant and disdainful, wielding her power as the CEO of Yaowang Group, the ex-wife of the richest man, and the young lady of the Jian Family! She even forced the pioneer of our internet celebrity world to kneel and beg for her forgiveness. That’s going too far!"

Comments from netizens immediately flooded the screen.

"How shameless! Apologizing after losing a lawsuit is one thing, but forcing someone into such a humiliating position? Does Jian Xi think she’s an empress?"

"So this is the Jian Family’s upbringing. Their daughter is too domineering. No wonder Si Yuhuan divorced her and wanted nothing to do with her. Why doesn’t this woman just die? She’s disgusting."

Netizens who saw these comments immediately began to post sarcastic remarks. "I heard she sued Jiang Qimeng just because Jiang Qimeng said something casually that Jian Xi couldn’t stand, so she immediately sued her for defamation. She’s supposedly the best lawyer in the country, so we all have to be careful what we say now. We have to be legally responsible for our actions and words. What if she makes us kneel and apologize too? Can you all handle that?"

"Kneel and apologize to her? In your dreams! I wouldn’t even apologize, let alone kneel. I’m going to curse her out today!"

Vile language filled the comments.

Those who had once praised Jian Xi as a talented woman, a formidable figure in the business world, kind, brave, and a representative of women, now fell silent.

In their eyes, Jian Xi had indeed gone too far this time.

When Jian Xi came out, she saw Jiang Qimeng kneeling on the ground, lighting candles and continuously apologizing.

Li Bin grew anxious. "Quick, someone pull her up!"

With his extensive experience in the business world, he knew all too well how severely Jian Xi would be criticized.

Jian Xi appearing to bully the weak would trigger everyone’s protective instincts towards Jiang Qimeng.

No matter how deplorable Jiang Qimeng might have been in the past, at this moment, Jian Xi would undoubtedly seem more detestable.

Just as the security guards moved forward, Jiang Qimeng shrieked, "What do you think you’re doing?"

Seeing Jian Xi inside, her eyes welled with tears. "Jian Xi, I know I was wrong. Are you ordering them to harm me? I’m truly sorry. I’ve made the grandest possible gesture to tell the whole world I was wrong. Isn’t that enough?"

Her posture was as low as dust.

She really has the guts.

Jian Xi laughed.

"Has the renowned Best Actress Jiang come here to direct another scene? Judging by today’s grand setup, is this your apology?"

A flicker of smugness crossed Jiang Qimeng’s eyes as she feigned wiping away a tear. "Yes, weren’t you the one who insisted on a grand apology? I’ve brought the handwritten apology letter, and you wanted it delivered in person. I’ve even thrown in a live broadcast as a bonus. How’s that? Grand enough? Are you satisfied now?"

Jian Xi smiled. "Quite satisfied. It just feels like something is still missing."

"Still not enough?" Jiang Qimeng frowned, wondering what Jian Xi was plotting.

"Just kneeling, lighting candles, and offering flowers? That’s not much. How about you read the court judgment aloud, publicly?"

Jian Xi produced the judgment document, and Jiang Qimeng’s face turned green.

Who carries a court judgment around with them!

"You won’t read it? Then I’ll read it for you!"

Jian Xi began to read, "This court hereby rules that Jiang Qimeng is convicted of multiple offenses, including defamation, slander, and inciting others to commit intentional injury..."

"Enough!"

Jiang Qimeng snatched the judgment from Jian Xi’s hand and tore it to shreds.

Jian Xi shrugged indifferently. "No matter. Tear it up if you like. I have plenty more copies."

Jiang Qimeng glared at Jian Xi, her hatred so intense it was as if she wanted to devour her whole.

Neither the netizens nor the media were fools. Seeing the situation, and especially after hearing the verdict Jian Xi had just read, they understood.

The netizens erupted.

"This Jiang Qimeng doesn’t seem so simple! She even incited others to commit intentional harm. She looks like a white lotus, but she’s a wicked woman!"

"She’s caused trouble before, even stealing Jian Xi’s musical scores and claiming them as her own. Jian Xi was kind-hearted and didn’t sue her. Otherwise, if that charge had been added, would she still be here kneeling to apologize? She’d have been in prison long ago, forced to sing ’Conquest’!"

"Her kneeling here today must be a deliberate act to stir up trouble, right? What’s so great about tricking netizens into defending her? If you ask me, she shouldn’t just kneel, she should crawl!"

The streamer read these comments aloud.

Jiang Qimeng was so ashamed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Jian Xi touched her belly. She was more than three months pregnant, and a slight swell was just beginning to show. Her loose T-shirt concealed it. While others might have been unaware, Jiang Qimeng’s eyes widened in shock.

"Tell me, what if I were to tell Si Yuhuan..."

"Jian Xi, you wouldn’t!" Jiang Qimeng exclaimed, agitated.

Her shout drew everyone’s attention, though no one understood what was happening.

Jian Xi leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Why are you so sure I won’t tell Si Yuhuan about this?"

"You want a divorce, you want to leave him, you want to make the man who doesn’t love you suffer, right?"

A flicker of admiration showed in Jian Xi’s eyes. Jiang Qimeng finally showed some intelligence.

Jiang Qimeng collapsed onto the ground, laughing coldly. "If you were going to tell him, you would have done so long ago. Si Yuhuan is not the right man for you. He can’t give me up, nor can he give up Si Junyan. We are your mortal enemies. As long as we live, we will fight you to the death. He doesn’t deserve your love."

Her words were like a stab to the heart.

Jiang Qimeng was also taking a gamble.

Seeing the light dim in Jian Xi’s eyes, she was unexpectedly thrilled.

She won the bet!

Jian Xi had actually believed the nonsense she’d just spouted!

The lines that person had prepared for her were indeed devastatingly effective!