CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 385: THREE MEN GATHER TOGETHER

"Leaving just like that? Won’t you stay for a meal together?"

Si Yuhuan had also walked in at some point without her realizing. He must have been watching the whole time, Jian Xi thought. His sudden comment startled her.

Zhang Yaxuan glanced at Jian Xi. He probably didn’t expect that by just coming to the café for a coffee break, he’d run into the twin calamities, Fu Shengyuan and Si Yuhuan.

Compared to Zhang Yaxuan’s tricky situation, Hilda was much more composed.

Jian Xi felt overwhelmed. It’s as if I forgot to read my fortune before leaving the house, running into such a melodramatic scenario, she lamented internally. Three men, one drama. An ex-husband, a fiancé, and a "lover." My life is truly complete.

Fu Shengyuan said, "Since Director Si is in such good spirits, I would be pleased to accompany him."

I thought Fu Shengyuan would help me out of this and we could quickly get away from Si Yuhuan, Jian Xi mused. But he said that instead. Zhang Yaxuan nodded as well. Jian Xi had no reason to refuse.

In the private room, five people sat around a round table, seemingly on the verge of just staring at each other. The awkward atmosphere was excruciating. I must be insane to have agreed to Si Yuhuan’s suggestion to stay for a meal, Jian Xi thought.

The café had a dedicated chef who could whip up quite a few exquisite dishes. As the waiter described the menu, Jian Xi, as the sole lady present, had the prerogative to speak first.

"I’m not very hungry, here you..." She instinctively wanted to pass the menu to Si Yuhuan but then, suddenly thinking better of it, quickly handed it to Zhang Yaxuan instead. "Here, take a look at what you’d like! This café is quite unique; besides coffee, these desserts are not bad."

"Really? Let me see!" A glint shone in Zhang Yaxuan’s eyes as he started to peruse the menu. Hilda occasionally offered suggestions. Soon, the two of them had ordered a heap of dishes.

"Do Director Si and President Fu have anything to add?" Hilda asked the two men.

Fu Shengyuan curved his lips into a smile. "I’m easy."

Si Yuhuan, however, appeared disinterested as he lazily fiddled with his phone, not caring about the question at all.

Jian Xi sent a distress message to Wan Yu. After explaining the situation, Wan Yu only replied with two words, "Badass!"

Jian Xi was on the verge of tears.

Wan Yu, ever the gossip, texted, "Want me to come and stir things up?"

If she came, it certainly wouldn’t be this awkward, Jian Xi thought, replying almost without hesitation, "Yes!"

A message suddenly popped up on her phone. It was from Si Yuhuan: "What’s wrong? Are you scared?"

Jian Xi looked up. Their eyes met, his holding a hint of inscrutable, piercing coldness.

Fu Shengyuan casually asked, diverting Si Yuhuan’s gaze from Jian Xi, "Director Si, you just landed such a big project with Salsi Group. How do you find the time to come to such a small place?"

Si Yuhuan’s deep eyes indifferently swept over Fu Shengyuan. "No project is bigger than the Fu Family’s internal strife, yet here you are, finding the time to dine with a woman."

Jian Xi looked at Fu Shengyuan. What family strife? I’ve never heard about it, she wondered.

"A minor issue, not worth mentioning," Fu Shengyuan replied nonchalantly.

Si Yuhuan wasn’t about to let him off so easily. "The Fu Family has six people who could easily take your place, President Fu," he said. "It’s not easy for you either. Who knows, one day you might fall from your position, and when your glory fades, you might not even get the chance to sit at this table for a meal."

The air was thick with tension. Hilda glanced at Zhang Yaxuan, her eyes inquiring. Zhang Yaxuan felt a mix of amusement and helplessness. This was his first time experiencing such a scene. An artist’s soul is pure, believing dinner is simply about eating—who would have thought it could be like this? He simply played the ostrich. As long as it didn’t involve Jian Xi, he had no intention of taking sides or helping anyone.

"It seems I need to work harder to keep my position today," Fu Shengyuan remarked, not sounding angry.

Jian Xi couldn’t help feeling a bit angry. This is the first time I’ve seen Si Yuhuan so lacking in grace, saying such things to mock and humiliate someone, she thought, then retorted, "Not everyone is like Director Si, so busy with countless affairs that he’s impossible to meet."

The implication was clear: she was still willing to see Fu Shengyuan.

Hearing her words, Fu Shengyuan was very pleased. When the food arrived, he immediately used his chopsticks to place some of the café’s hazelnut cream pastry onto Jian Xi’s plate. "If Miss Jian doesn’t mind, I’m already very satisfied."

Si Yuhuan suddenly felt as if he’d been stabbed in the back. This little woman really intends to defy me, he thought.

"You should indeed eat more nuts; they’re good for the brain," Si Yuhuan said. As he spoke, he picked up a piece of walnut pastry for Jian Xi, and in the process, knocked the hazelnut cream pastry Fu Shengyuan had given her off her plate.

Jian Xi glared at him.

He said expressionlessly, "It wasn’t on purpose. If you like it, I’ll just get you another piece." After speaking, he added another piece of hazelnut cream pastry to Jian Xi’s plate.

Unbelievable, Jian Xi thought, speechless. He’s truly the epitome of arrogance and shamelessness.

"Director Si is already an ex-husband, and yet his possessiveness is still so strong," Fu Shengyuan remarked with a smirk.

Si Yuhuan retorted, "Her fiancé is sitting right there, yet you don’t seem to understand etiquette. After all, you’re an unmarried man and she’s an unwed woman. Why on earth are you meeting her here to reminisce?"

Zhang Yaxuan, having been singled out, looked awkwardly from Fu Shengyuan to Si Yuhuan. He then turned to Jian Xi, offering her pastries from his own plate. "You can have mine." His eyes shone brightly; he seemed to be sketching, perhaps struck by inspiration.

Jian Xi took them, deliberately making a show of enjoying them right in front of Si Yuhuan and Fu Shengyuan.

Actually, I feel like throwing up, she thought. My child is missing, and I have so many problems. How could I possibly have an appetite?

Si Yuhuan sneered coldly. "Mr. Zhang is really oblivious! Didn’t it cross your mind to pick something from the meal for your fiancée until I mentioned it? Or does she not even exist in your eyes?"

Zhang Yaxuan was left speechless with embarrassment.

Jian Xi immediately came to his defense. "Si Yuhuan, the state of our relationship does not need your judgment of good or bad! If I’m willing, that’s enough. What business is it of yours? You have no right to speak about him like that!"

We’re just cooperating, she thought. Zhang Yaxuan doesn’t owe me anything. If it weren’t for my frequent problems implicating him, his dream art exhibition might have already happened several times over.

Nearby, Hilda ground her back teeth, and a muscle visibly twitched on her forehead.

Si Yuhuan then drawled, "What’s this? I’m talking about Mr. Zhang, but why does his friend"—he flicked his eyes towards Hilda—"seem even angrier than you are, Jian Xi? If one didn’t know better, they might think Mr. Zhang prefers men!"

With that one sentence, Jian Xi nearly jumped up from the table to cover Si Yuhuan’s mouth. He’s too perceptive, she thought.

Fu Shengyuan watched the whole event unfold. I feel like he might have noticed something too, Jian Xi worried.

"Why doesn’t Mr. Zhang speak? Could it be true?" Si Yuhuan began to press aggressively.

Zhang Yaxuan suddenly looked up. "President Fu just said something quite thought-provoking. Director Si, could it be that you still harbor old feelings for my fiancée?"

Jian Xi burst out laughing and looked at Si Yuhuan. "You wouldn’t really still have feelings for me, wanting us to get back together, would you?"