CHAPTER 128: CHAPTER 128: RIVALS MEET WITH PARTICULARLY JEALOUS EYES

Jian Xi sneezed and rubbed her nose. She looked up and saw the surveillance camera above her head. "Yan Qing, is there a camera here too?"

"Yes, the boss had it installed especially for you."

Early in the morning, Si Yuhuan had instructed them to specifically install a camera in the conference room, facing the main seat, so he could observe its contents at any time. If Jian Xi made a mistake, he would correct it promptly.

So I’m just a tool sitting here? He’s spying on me from behind the scenes? Jian Xi was both amused and angered. Could this man be any more sly!

Yan Qing didn’t dare to speak. Clutching the documents, he hurriedly ran off.

Since she was here, Jian Xi felt she had to get to know Haohan Group better. In her previous life, she hadn’t had much opportunity to visit this place, and not many people in Haohan Group recognized her. As she was planning to take over Haohan Group, she remembered what Si Yuhuan had once said: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." It seemed quite appropriate to apply it here.

Jian Xi instructed Si Yuhuan’s secretarial office, "Get someone to show me around the company."

Secretary Li immediately stepped forward. "Madam, allow me to show you around."

Jian Xi raised an eyebrow. "It’s only been a few days, Secretary Li, and your discernment has improved so much!"

This was the pawn Si Junyan manipulated in the palm of his hand—the same Secretary Li who, just days ago, had tried to curry favor with Si Junyan by causing an embarrassing scene for Jian Xi in front of the office, and had been slapped for it.

Secretary Li tugged awkwardly at his lips. "I was foolish, Madam. Your reprimand woke me up immediately."

"Now you know to call me Madam? I recall you used to call me Miss Jian, didn’t you?"

Secretary Li tried to placate her nervously. "Madam! You are magnanimous; please don’t hold my past mistakes against me."

"Fine, you’ll do."

She’d be foolish not to use a ready sycophant.

To make Jian Xi lower her guard, Secretary Li practically wanted to draw her a simplified map of Haohan Group so she could clearly understand the entire company’s layout.

When Si Yuhuan entered, he saw many people animatedly discussing.

"The Madam is truly impressive. She just joined the company and has already won over a key figure by Director Si’s side. Secretary Li used to be the most capable secretary in the office. Who knows, he might have become Yan Qing’s second-in-command in the future. Now he’s proactively showing the Madam around. If you ask me, the tide is turning..."

"Nonsense! When Miss Jiang visited the company, the entire secretarial office also served her devotedly. It’s not yet certain who the true mistress of this place is!"

"Have you forgotten how the Madam came to the company a few days ago, berated Deputy Director Si, and drove him out with such assertiveness? If she didn’t have Director Si’s approval behind her, would she have that power? In my opinion, Director Si still favors the Madam more!"

"What nonsense are you all spouting?"

Jiang Qimeng was furious. She had endured her physical pain to come to the company with Si Yuhuan, precisely to let everyone witness her glory. In the future, no one in Haohan Group would be allowed to slight her. Who would have thought Jian Xi would beat her to it and earn the entire company’s awe? How infuriating!

Everyone turned, and upon seeing Si Yuhuan, they greeted him tremulously, "Director Si."

"All of you, dismiss."

Wherever there are people, there will be gossip. Haohan Group was no exception.

"Yuhan, is Jian Xi here too? Will I..."

DING—

The elevator doors opened. Secretary Li was just leading Jian Xi out, preparing to take her to see the first-floor reception room.

The moment her gaze met Jiang Qimeng’s, Secretary Li immediately looked away. She wanted to pull Jian Xi away, but unexpectedly, when Jian Xi saw the two, she walked right up to them. "TSK TSK, who would have thought? Director Si, despite managing countless affairs, still finds time to accompany a beauty."

The receptionists quickly lowered their heads. They hadn’t heard a thing.

Jiang Qimeng wore an expression as if she had eaten something foul. "Miss Jian, long time no see."

"Indeed! Long time no see. I didn’t expect you’d come to *our* Haohan Group too?"

Her use of "our Haohan Group" made Jiang Qimeng clench her back teeth in anger. Then, as if remembering something, she forced a smile. "I’m not just visiting; I’ll be working here from now on. Right, Yuhan?"

Turning towards Si Yuhuan, she revealed her exhausted and pained face.

Si Yuhuan’s heart twinged slightly. He felt a headache coming on from being caught between the two women.

"Yes, Mengmeng will be working here from now on."

Great! Very good! This man was rotten to the core. Utterly despicable!

"Jian Xi..."

Si Yuhuan gripped her wrist, but she violently shook him off. "Let go!"

Jian Xi stared coldly at him, and Si Yuhuan released her.

She turned and continued towards the conference room.

Secretary Li followed closely. "Director Si, Miss Jiang, I’ll accompany Madam to continue the tour."

The thought of Jiang Qimeng frequently appearing before her irritated Jian Xi, and suddenly, her stomach cramped.

"HISS—"

Her face instantly paled a few shades.

Secretary Li quickly supported her. "Madam, what’s wrong?"

She recalled Si Junyan had previously revealed to her that Jian Xi seemed to be... pregnant.

Jian Xi was startled; this woman seemed to know quite a bit. It appeared she was an important pawn in Si Junyan’s game.

"It’s nothing, just a stomachache." Jian Xi turned back to look at her and said with a smile, "If you saw your husband being intimate with another woman, wouldn’t you be angry?"

Secretary Li felt very uncomfortable. Would Jian Xi really share such personal thoughts with her?

"I’m heading back first."

Since she wanted to show she was angry, storming off was obviously the best way.

Jian Xi arranged to meet Wan Yu.

Wan Yu happened to be free. "Wait for me. See you at the usual place."

In the hotpot restaurant, the red chili oil bubbled cheerfully. Two large plates of fragrant and crispy tripe were submerged into it. Wan Yu looked at Jian Xi with satisfaction. "So, spill. What happened? Did your scumbag husband piss you off again?"

Before coming, Jian Xi had made a detour to the hospital. Only after confirming that the babies in her womb were fine did she dare to come.

"No."

"Oh-ho, with that attitude, you must be seriously ticked off by Si Yuhuan." Wan Yu’s eyes gleamed with a mischievous, gossipy light.

Jian Xi sneered. "Is he worth it?"

"You say you’re not angry, but ’I’m unhappy’ is written all over your face. I feel like you’ve been getting a bit too invested in him lately."

Invested?

Jian Xi’s heart skipped a beat. She picked up a slice of tripe and put it in her mouth; even the delicious hotpot suddenly seemed tasteless.

"I couldn’t possibly be invested. Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"Oh, come on. If you ask me, you and Si Yuhuan are both heading straight for each other."

"Heading for crap!" The mere mention angered her. "Jiang Qimeng is working at Haohan Group now too."

"What?" Now it was Wan Yu’s turn to be shocked.

"That doesn’t seem right. If Si Yuhuan still had feelings for Jiang Qimeng, he wouldn’t have failed to help her at all during the industry blacklisting. Don’t tell me he deliberately forced Jiang Qimeng into a corner, making her go to Haohan Group to be with him day and night?"

Hearing this speculation, Jian Xi’s mood soured completely. She tossed her chopsticks aside. "Morning sickness. I don’t feel well. I’m leaving."

Wan Yu shouted from behind her, "Hey, don’t go! Your morning sickness is way too conveniently timed! Wait for me, I’ll take you home."

"I don’t think you want to take me home; you just want to see my older brother," Jian Xi retorted.

"Nonsense!"