CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 248 HE LIKES TO GET HIS HANDS DIRTY

After Jiang Qimeng returned, she didn’t immediately urge Si Junyan to move against Si Yuhuan.

Instead, she pleaded.

"Junyan, Yuhan is on the brink; please save him," she said, tears streaming down her face, her pitiable appearance stirring compassion in anyone who saw her.

Si Junyan readily agreed, "Sister Meng, we are cousins, after all. If he’s willing to transfer his shares to me, I won’t hold it against him."

"I’m afraid he can’t do that," Jiang Qimeng said, her eyes glistening with tears. "You know his temperament; he’s too proud to bend."

Si Junyan’s mouth twitched, clearly displeased. "I’ll handle it, Sister Meng. You don’t need to worry about it."

She had successfully stoked his ire.

"Fine! I’ll leave it to you then." A cold, calculating glint appeared in Jiang Qimeng’s eyes as she departed with an air of delicacy.

Secretary Li pushed the door open and handed him a cup of black coffee, chiding coquettishly, "Are you really planning to let Si Yuhuan off? You know him well. If he finds a loophole and regains control of Haohan Group, no one will have an easy time. When he came after you, he showed no mercy or restraint."

Si Junyan pinched her chin, scoffing coldly, "You think I’d let him go?"

Overjoyed, Secretary Li threw herself into his embrace, her fingers tracing circles on his body. "I knew the Second Young Master was the most calculating and shrewd, and wouldn’t change his mind over a woman. Here, let me help you relieve some of that tension."

The two playfully tumbled onto the large bed in the lounge.

She wouldn’t allow Si Junyan to fail. Even if she couldn’t become the Second Young Master’s wife, just by being useful to him, she’d still hold a position of great power, second only to him, and enjoy boundless wealth and glory.

***

Wan Yu heard that Jian Xi had been constantly by Si Yuhuan’s bedside and, feeling sorry for her best friend, arranged to take her out for spicy crayfish when she wasn’t too busy.

Since becoming pregnant, Jian Xi had developed an intense craving for sour and spicy flavors.

Her mouth watering at the thought, she glanced at the sleeping Si Yuhuan and agreed without hesitation.

"I’ll be right there."

She drove to a small shop where the two of them often met in secret.

The owner greeted them warmly. "The usual? Extra spicy crayfish, double portion?"

"Yes! And add a double portion of boneless chicken feet."

Wan Yu declared with gusto, "You have no idea! The food in Q Country is so bland it nearly made me lose my sense of taste. I’ve been dreaming of these flavors from home!"

"That must have been tough."

Come to think of it, the food in W Country is probably just as bland as in Q Country. If I go to W Country for prenatal care and delivery, I wonder if I’ll ever get used to it.

"I heard Jiang Qimeng dropped the act and threw a massive tantrum at the hospital. I wonder how he felt about that spectacle?" Wan Yu’s gossip-loving spirit ignited while they waited for their food.

"He was completely expressionless, not even a flicker of emotion," Jian Xi complained. "He’s the type who probably doesn’t even understand the concept of ’shame.’ Even when he’s the one being dumped, he can always find a way to make a graceful exit."

"Hahaha—" Wan Yu laughed so hard she was doubled over, tears welling in her eyes. "To think you’d describe the once high-and-mighty magnate as a shameless, pitiful wretch! That’s rich!"

Suddenly, Wan Yu felt a chill run down her spine.

She turned, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Si Yuhuan, dressed in a hospital gown, standing not far away.

PFFT!

A mouthful of lemonade sprayed out, the lemon slice landing awkwardly in Jian Xi’s hair.

Si Yuhuan walked over, disdainfully plucked the lemon slice from Jian Xi’s hair, and tossed it aside.

"I never realized talking about me behind my back could bring you so much joy."

Wan Yu waved her hands frantically. "No, no, we wouldn’t dare!"

Si Yuhuan’s formidable aura still lingered, so she dared not act rashly and hurriedly apologized, "If we’re talking about pitiful, our Xixi is the most pitiful! She was tormented by you for so many years. After finally getting divorced, she’s still tricked into staying by your side as a little caregiver! Look, I’ve only been away for a few days, and she’s lost so much weight. Today, I brought her out for a decent meal, and Director Si couldn’t even bear to let her have a moment’s break, insisting on following along. You’re quite the strict taskmaster, aren’t you?"

Jian Xi glared at her. This girl really has no filter!

Si Yuhuan’s expression turned increasingly grim. The first part of Wan Yu’s speech had made him feel a pang of guilt, but the more he listened, the more off-key it sounded. By the end, her words had exposed his own possessive thoughts, and his handsome face darkened to the color of a soot-stained pot. "If you don’t know how to speak, then speak less."

Wan Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "She really has lost a lot of weight. Can’t you see that in a place like the hospital, our Xixi isn’t eating or sleeping well?"

"Really?" Si Yuhuan looked at Jian Xi.

Upon closer inspection, she actually looked plumper; how could she have lost weight? I highly doubt what Wan Yu is saying.

Fortunately, the owner started bringing out the food just then, breaking the palpable tension.

When Si Yuhuan saw the crayfish, his face involuntarily contorted.

"What nutrition can you possibly get from junk food like this? If you want something good, we should go to Zhenbao Restaurant. The head chef there is an Imperial Chef; everything he makes is a feast for the senses, full of color, fragrance, and flavor..."

"Stop, stop!" Wan Yu made a timeout gesture, nearly rolling her eyes into her head. "Oh, mighty magnate! You’ve already fallen from your pedestal; can’t you be a little more down-to-earth? What’s so unhealthy or unappetizing about this?"

She cracked open a crayfish, pulled out the tail meat, dipped it in the sauce, and popped it into her mouth, her eyes narrowing in pure bliss. "Wow! Now *this* is what I call a delicacy!"

Could it really be that good? Si Yuhuan frowned.

Jian Xi couldn’t resist any longer. Her appetite thoroughly whetted, she sneakily reached for a crayfish. Just as she was about to break it open, Si Yuhuan snatched it from her.

He actually snatched food right out of my hand!

This is too much!

A warrior can face death, but not starvation!

She was so hungry her stomach felt like it was touching her spine. And with Wan Yu, that little temptress, sighing contentedly with every bite, Jian Xi was practically drooling with craving.

Seeing her on the verge of exploding with indignation, Si Yuhuan gritted his teeth. "Wait."

He pushed the two basins of crayfish towards Wan Yu, then rolled up his sleeves, walked into the back kitchen, and asked the owner, "Where’s the brush?"

Jian Xi was stunned.

The great magnate, still recovering from illness, was in the kitchen, meticulously scrubbing crayfish one by one.

Wan Yu’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Is this... is this really Si Yuhuan?

The owner, her professionalism implicitly questioned, felt rather awkward. She explained, "Sir, our crayfish are thoroughly rinsed, and I personally scrub each one. They can’t possibly be unclean. What will our customers think if you do this?"

"I don’t care what your customers think." He shoved a wad of cash at her. "The food my woman eats must be absolutely clean."

If Yan Qing had come along, he would have been the one doing this.

Yan Qing probably knew what his boss was thinking and certainly wouldn’t have sacrificed his sleep to come along and scrub crayfish.

The owner chuckled, a hint of her earlier annoyance gone. "I don’t want your money. If you enjoy scrubbing, then go ahead."

Si Yuhuan spent a considerable amount of time meticulously cleaning a large basin of crayfish. He then watched the chef personally stir-fry them before carrying the dish out to Jian Xi. "Now you can eat."

Jian Xi took a bite. The flavor was... indescribably odd.

"Not good?" Seeing her expression, Si Yuhuan immediately frowned and asked.