CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: PLAY OPEN CARDS WITH YOU

A black limited-edition Maybach pulled up at the entrance, and Si Yuhuan’s tall figure disembarked.

He strode over and snatched the suitcase from Jiang Qimeng’s hands; the two of them were tussling under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Wan Yu could no longer contain herself. She rolled up her sleeves and exclaimed, "That despicable couple! I’m going to tear them apart."

Jian Xi said calmly, "That would be too easy for them."

With that, she snapped a few intimate photos of the couple, a joyful smile on her face, and told the salesperson, "Let’s head back."

"That’s it?" Wan Yu was completely bewildered.

Jian Xi shook her smartphone. "New evidence for the divorce lawsuit, see? It can fetch a pretty penny! It’s ironclad, much more compelling than the previous evidence. Si Yuhuan wouldn’t be able to deny it even if he wanted to."

Upon returning, Jian Xi immediately booked the most expensive villa in the city center, worth one billion.

Wan Yu couldn’t help but click her tongue. "So extravagant."

After paying the deposit, she came to her senses and pulled Jian Xi aside. "We don’t have that much cash on hand, you know. Don’t act rashly just to spite Si Yuhuan."

Jian Xi pulled her along. "Spiting him? I’m deadly serious."

「Champagne Garden.」

Wan Yu looked up at the sprawling, top-ranked villa complex built by Haohan Group. "Are we...?"

Before she could finish, several real estate agents came running over, looking excited.

"Miss Jian, right?"

"Correct!" Jian Xi got out of the car, removed her sunglasses, and pointed to the villa she had entered and exited countless times. "This villa is for sale. Go inside and take a look."

The security guard, who recognized Jian Xi, hurried over again. "Ma’am, what’s this about?"

Jian Xi gave a faint smile. "I’m selling the villa."

Wan Yu couldn’t help but snort, then burst out laughing.

She realized her good friend was actually selling the old den where Jiang Qimeng had once lived!

Soon, the villa was listed for sale, and people began to arrive to view the property.

As Wan Yu watched the constant stream of visitors, she couldn’t help but remark, "Five hundred million? You’re really underselling it! Champagne Garden isn’t much different from Fuyuan Official Residence. If Si Yuhuan finds out, his heart will probably ache so much he’ll have convulsions."

"If it didn’t make him ache, I wouldn’t be selling it!"

「Haohan Group.」

Si Yuhuan had just settled Jiang Qimeng comfortably and had just sat down, exhausted, when Yan Qing hurriedly pushed the door open.

"Boss, it seems like there’s trouble."

Si Yuhuan frowned. "Hmm?"

"Your wife... she sold the villa in Champagne Garden! The agency just sent us a notification letter; it’s listed at five hundred million."

Yan Qing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. That house could easily go for 650 million if put on the market. The madam actually sold it for five hundred million, and now the people viewing the property were practically lining up out the door!

Champagne Garden was in such a prime location; anyone with cash flow dreamed of owning a house there. And this was a villa in the central district, no less.

Si Yuhuan’s expression turned grim instantly.

Just then, a news report started playing on the computer.

[Mysterious Mansion Dumped at Bargain Price by Wife After Husband Takes a Mistress!]

It was accompanied by a picture of Champagne Garden.

Immediately, sensational headlines like "SHOCKING!" and "SCANDAL!" appeared everywhere. Every online media outlet and platform started reposting the news. In the blink of an eye, the view count had already exceeded ten million.

Internet manhunts began, one after another.

Soon, the news that Jiang Qimeng had lived there was leaked.

Netizens began to speculate.

Netizen FlyingCampingIsTheBest: [Isn’t this actress known for her pure and innocent image? How did she get involved with some rich tycoon? No wonder she successfully transitioned from an original internet celebrity to a star; she must have used quite a few tricks.]

Netizen Runaway: [My friend works at Champagne Garden, and I heard that the richest man, Si Yuhuan, has also been seen there. People are saying, could she have hooked up with the richest man?!]

Netizen CuteDetective: [Nonsense! Si Yuhuan has a wife. How could he possibly... Wait, that’s not right! What if he *was* cheating?!]

If this trend continued, Jiang Qimeng would be branded as a mistress, and Si Yuhuan would become known as a heartless man who abandoned his wife!

After reading it, Si Yuhuan wanted to smash the computer. "Get the PR department to handle this immediately! Order all media outlets to take down this news story."

Yan Qing couldn’t help but ask, "What about the villa in Champagne Garden?"

"Who cares about the villa!" Si Yuhuan stood up, hands on his hips, his domineering aura laced with fury. He was clearly incensed.

That woman was blatantly retaliating because he had torn up her divorce papers that morning.

Jiang Qimeng also saw the news reports very quickly.

Her agent stood in front of her, scolding relentlessly, "I advised you from the beginning not to stay at Champagne Garden! That place is just too conspicuous. Now look at the trouble you’ve brought upon yourself. If this isn’t handled well, you can just wait to be verbally attacked and drowned in public criticism."

Jiang Qimeng’s eyes were red and swollen with anger. Her hidden card had been unexpectedly exposed by Jian Xi, who then proceeded to slander her.

She really had to wonder if the person she was up against was truly Jian Xi.

When had Jian Xi become like this? It left her utterly confused.

After finishing her complaints, the agent pleaded, "Could you give Director Si a call? After all, this matter started because of him. There must be a solution, right?"

Xiaozhang, noticing the agent’s glance, quickly went over to console her. "Mengmeng, now is not the time to be upset. You should give Director Si an out. No one else can help you now."

Jiang Qimeng silently clenched her teeth. To have the veil lifted at the most inopportune time, not managing to disgust Jian Xi but instead sullying her own name... How could things have developed like this?!

Her only option now was to take a desperate measure and force Si Yuhuan’s hand!

She was just about to call Si Yuhuan when his call came in.

Jiang Qimeng was overjoyed. Her earlier fear instantly turned to smugness. "Yuhan, I’m scared..."

She choked up. Before she could even ask for comfort, Yan Qing’s voice came through, "Miss Jiang, this is Yan Qing. Director Si asked me to inform you that you should refrain from attending any events in the near future. Additionally, your cooperation with Fenghuang Entertainment will be paused, and critically, you must deny ever having lived in Champagne Garden."

"What? Yuhan wants me to say that to the public?" Jiang Qimeng almost screamed in disbelief.

Yan Qing said apologetically, "The Old Master also saw the news. If you admit to having lived in Champagne Garden, the consequences would be unimaginable, Miss Jiang. You wouldn’t want to put Director Si in a difficult position, would you?"

"Of... of course..." Jiang Qimeng’s smile shattered, piece by piece.

After hanging up, she felt like she was going mad.

To maintain her image, she relayed Yan Qing’s words verbatim to her agent. "Do as he says. Cooperate with Yan Qing."

The agent was somewhat dumbfounded. In the past, whenever Jiang Qimeng was in trouble, Si Yuhuan would protect her immediately, even at the expense of his own interests. But this time, why did it feel so different?

She boldly tested the waters, probing at the edge of Jiang Qimeng’s breakdown, "Mengmeng, Director Si isn’t going to abandon you, is he? His attitude seems a bit cold!"

"Get out! All of you, get out!" Jiang Qimeng finally erupted.

She should never have pinned her hopes on Si Yuhuan. Had he really changed?