Ye Zhan was red-faced after Jiang Jinyue’s retort.
But she was right.
He was nothing more than an idle, privileged playboy who only cared about collecting money and never involved himself in business. To the company staff, only Ye Zhilan existed; Ye Zhan was a ghost.
Jiang Jinyue couldn't be bothered with him.
She turned and walked back into her office.
She had barely stepped inside when Ye Zhan followed.
"Yueyue, I have no feelings for Su Yan. Our marriage is just a family arrangement."
Outside, the sky was overcast, looking as if it were about to rain.
Jiang Jinyue walked over, opened the window, and leaned against the sill, looking at Ye Zhan.
"I’m not interested in your marital affairs. You can go now."
Ye Zhan placed the bag of pastries he was holding onto her desk, his eyes filled with anticipation. "If I can help you solve the financing issue for Qingci Technology, will you give me another chance?"
Jiang Jinyue laughed in disbelief.
"Where exactly do you get the confidence to ask me to be your mistress?"
"You can’t exactly be with Su Jing out in the open either."
Ye Zhan’s blunt words caused Jiang Jinyue’s expression to change.
"Get out!"
"Yueyue, I..."
"Get out!"
Jiang Jinyue was doing her best to suppress her anger, but her low roar had already reached the people outside.
Meng Zanchen walked in, blocking the space between Ye Zhan and Jiang Jinyue.
"Would you like me to call Madam Ye to come and collect the Young Master?"
Ye Zhan glared at Meng Zanchen.
Meng Zanchen offered a cold, insincere smile. "The Young Master is such a good, obedient boy; I’m sure he wouldn’t want to put Madam Ye through the trouble of coming here."
"Who are you calling a spoiled brat?"
Meng Zanchen shrugged.
Who else could it be but you?
Ye Zhan left in a huff.
Meng Zanchen poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Jinyue. "It’s not worth getting angry over an idiot like that."
"I used to consider this idiot a friend—does that make me even worse than an idiot?"
Meng Zanchen: "..."
*I didn't say that.*
Jiang Jinyue was good at managing her emotions.
She had already recovered and began joking with Meng Zanchen.
"There’s no need to be so hard on yourself. Everyone misjudges people sometimes."
"Do you even know how to talk?"
Seeing her smile, Meng Zanchen finally relaxed.
"Going out for a drink tonight?"
"Sure. Let’s call Bocong and Ding Ning along. It’s my treat."
Jiang Jinyue had only just returned and hadn't bought a car yet; Ding Ning and Yan Bocong lived close to the office, so they didn't need cars for their commute.
The four of them drove to Muse Bar in Meng Zanchen’s car.
They found a booth, sat down, and ordered two bottles of whiskey.
Back in college, the four of them had often drank together.
Only back then, it was beer.
The neon lights shattered into glass-like colors at the bottom of the whiskey glasses. Jiang Jinyue fiddled with her volcanic rock coaster, watching the singer on stage perform with deep emotion.
Suddenly, a thick scent of roses wafted over.
It was the perfume Su Yan loved most.
"Oh, if it isn’t Yanyan’s little sister, the adopted daughter of the Su family?"
A woman dressed in a seductive outfit stood by Jiang Jinyue. Su Yan and another woman had already seated themselves at the neighboring booth.
The singer was performing a soft, slow song, and because the woman had deliberately raised her voice, everyone nearby could hear her.
They all turned to look at Jiang Jinyue and her friends.
"Does life abroad not satisfy your empty, lonely heart? The moment you get back, you’re already at a bar hunting for men."
Although Meng Zanchen and Yan Bocong were engineering types, they were both good-looking. The woman had spotted them laughing and chatting with Jiang Jinyue the moment she arrived.
She spat out the insult without a second thought.
Ding Ning flicked her wrist, splashing a glass of wine at her.
"This drink is for you to wash your face—specifically, that filthy mouth of yours!"
Caught off guard, the woman was drenched in wine. Her makeup was ruined, and the liquid soaked through the bodice of her dress. She looked utterly pathetic.
"How dare you splash me!"
The woman grabbed her handbag to strike Ding Ning, but Jiang Jinyue grabbed her by the hair and yanked her forward.
"Jiang Jinyue, you bitch! Let go of me!"
"Miss Lu, you've had three miscarriages. Would you like me to help you recall which hospital in Longcheng you went to for the third one, and which doctor you saw?"
Meng Zanchen looked at the large diamond ring on the woman's finger and added, "I wonder if Mr. Qiao would feel a bit more sympathetic if he knew about your medical history?"
Under the woman’s terrified gaze, Jiang Jinyue pushed her forward. Lu Han stumbled and landed in front of Su Yan, not daring to act up in front of Jiang Jinyue again.
"You really have no upbringing at all! You’ve brought shame to the entire Su family!"
"Would you like me to release the security footage from your wedding so everyone can see it and decide who’s truly shameful?"
"So it *was* your doing!"
Jiang Jinyue arched an eyebrow. "You were the one who invited me back for your wedding; it was quite the spectacle, wasn't it?"
Su Yan had suspected Jiang Jinyue before, but she figured that since she had just returned, she wouldn't have the means to pull off such a perfect counter-attack.
It seemed she had underestimated her.
Thinking of Ye Zhan’s indifference toward her and Su Jing’s cold heartlessness, Su Yan looked at Jiang Jinyue with eyes full of poison.
"What are you looking at? Want to try washing your face with wine too?" Ding Ning twirled her glass, threatening her.
Su Yan glared at Ding Ning. "You gender-confused freak, mind your own business!"
Ding Ning had a boyish personality, and with her short, sharp haircut and androgynous style, she could easily be mistaken for a boy at a glance.
Before Su Yan could finish her last syllable, two more glasses of wine were splashed onto her face.
Both thrown by Jiang Jinyue.
"If your mouth isn't clean yet, I’ll be happy to let you have the rest of this bottle."
Su Yan froze for two seconds.
She grabbed the bottle of liquor that had just been opened on the table and swung it at Jiang Jinyue’s head.
Anticipating that she might act out in desperation, Jiang Jinyue dodged to the side, only to crash into a hard chest.
The bottle in Su Yan's hand missed Jiang Jinyue’s head and struck Lu Chenhuai’s arm instead.
Su Yan had used a lot of force; the bottle shattered, and the liquor soaked through the sleeve of Lu Chenhuai’s shirt.
Jiang Jinyue was speechless.
Was this guy an idiot? She could have dodged it herself, but he just *had* to jump in and take the hit! Meddling fool!
"Mrs. Ye, is it?" Wei Chao snapped a few photos and looked at Su Yan. "You’ve smashed up my bar and injured my guest. You can choose: settle this privately or go through the legal system."
Su Yan hadn't expected Lu Chenhuai to shield Jiang Jinyue.
Her arrogance had vanished instantly, and she only hoped that Lu Chenhuai would look past this for the sake of their family connection and not blow it out of proportion.
"I'm sorry, cousin..."
"Don't go claiming family ties. I don't have a cousin as selfish, stupid, and vicious as you."
Su Yan felt a wave of humiliation.
She knew who Lu Chenhuai was; her mother-in-law, Madam Ye, mentioned the Lu family and Lu Chenhuai every single day, showing off the connection wherever she went.
That was because the late Madam Ye had been Lu Chenhuai's aunt.
Even though she was gone, it had ensured that no one in Longcheng dared to offend the Ye family.
Su Yan took a deep breath and spoke again. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lu. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Lu Chenhuai raised his eyelids. "Smash a bottle over your own head, and I won't hold you responsible."