CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 148 LOOKING FOR TROUBLE ON PURPOSE

After Jian Xi returned home, she took a bath and was getting ready to apply her skincare products. She thought about the pure, plant-based custom skincare Wan Yu had given her. She had just taken them out when she received a call from her elder brother, and in the distraction, she forgot to apply them before going to bed.

The next morning, the new maid, Xiaoni, came in to call Jian Xi for breakfast. Glancing at the makeup mirror, Xiaoni noticed the opened skincare products and deliberately pretended to tidy them up. "Wow, these skincare products look really high-end; I guess they weren’t cheap, right?"

Jian Xi, still half asleep, grunted in agreement, "Customized."

"Miss Jian, I’ve finished tidying up for you. You should come out and have breakfast soon," Xiaoni said before hastily leaving the room.

Jian Xi put on a jacket, got up, and walked to the dressing table, looking at the skincare products that had just been touched. After hesitating, she decided to call Wan Yu. "Did you encounter any unusual people or events when you were getting the skincare customized?"

Wan Yu was also groggy, scratching his bedhead as he rose upon hearing Jian Xi’s question. "I don’t recall meeting anyone special or anything unusual happening. However, the colleague who referred me to the customization service said it’s very famous abroad. Why, is there a problem?"

Jian Xi spoke frankly, "That little maid Jiang Qimeng sent to spy on me took a particular interest in these skincare products today. I always have a feeling that something’s off."

"Leave them be; don’t use them. I’ll retrieve them later and have someone test them." They were both instantly on high alert.

Jian Xi went downstairs, still pondering the matter while having breakfast. Li Bin sent a message: the exhibition was going smoothly, and Du Mingrui had privately contacted him for dinner, trying to leverage his connection to meet Jian Xi.

Heh, this woman really has some strong moves, always claiming she doesn’t understand the complexities in China, yet she hasn’t been idle since her return.

Li Bin touched his nose awkwardly. "Then, CEO Jian, what do you think I should do?"

Jian Xi teased, "Despite everything, Miss Du is the idol of homebodies. Aren’t you the slightest bit tempted?"

"How could I? My heart is set on Yaowang; how could it be otherwise!"

"Enough with using the company as an excuse," Jian Xi said. "But I know you’re loyal, so there’s another matter I’d like you to handle. At the exhibition, follow my instructions and arrange it like this."

Jian Xi sent her planning diagrams from the past few days to Li Bin. He quickly glanced through them, and after finishing, he exclaimed, "CEO Jian, you’re wasted in law! In just a short period, you’ve improved so rapidly. If your plans succeed, Yaowang could leap to becoming a top international brand, and becoming an ultra-top brand will be just around the corner!"

"I hope so." Seeing Xiaoni approaching with items in her hands, Jian Xi hurriedly hung up the phone.

"Xiaoni, come here," Jian Xi called out warmly, her tone making Xiaoni inexplicably nervous.

"Miss Jian, what can I do for you?"

Jian Xi took a sip of the Xiaomi porridge; it was soft and glutinous, perfectly cooked. This Xiaoni’s cooking skills are quite good, she had to admit. "Nothing much, just some small talk. Am I keeping you from your work?"

"No, not at all. I’m just a bit nervous," Xiaoni replied with a sheepish smile, sitting opposite Jian Xi.

"Where are you from?"

"From Lingnan."

Jian Xi nodded. "Not too far from Beijing. You look quite young; you should have attended college. Why decide to become a maid?"

"I... I... I just never had much ambition, and I enjoy a comfortable life. Isn’t it nice to work for a household like yours?"

Jian Xi curled her red lips, her gaze fixed on Xiaoni.

Anxious and sweating buckets, Xiaoni stammered, "Miss Jian, please continue eating. I’ll go get busy." She fled as if escaping.

Lingnan, huh! Jian Xi muttered to herself and smiled. If she wasn’t mistaken, Jiang Qimeng and Si Yuhuan had invested in a high school in Lingnan ten years ago.

「....」

Jian Xi went to work.

Everything was as usual inside Haohan Group. It seemed Si Yuhuan hadn’t taken any action regarding Luo You’s plans to jump ship. He really can keep his cool.

News came from the court: the hearing was in three days. Regarding the Wan Yu assault case, Jian Xi was determined to bring it to a perfect resolution. It wouldn’t do if Si Yuhuan managed to hastily conclude the matter just to protect Jiang Qimeng.

Jiang Qimeng also received a court summons. She contacted Jian Xi with an invitation: "I’ll be waiting for Miss Jian this afternoon at the Blue Wind Chimes Coffee Shop."

"Sure!" Jian Xi, eager to see what tricks Jiang Qimeng had up her sleeve, immediately agreed.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Si Yuhuan was in a meeting when Jian Xi forcefully barged in.

The people inside gasped upon seeing the newcomer. Lately, everyone knew that Jian Xi’s presence had radically changed the atmosphere in the marketing department. A saying had spread throughout Haohan Group: "The Marketing Department is a paradise; under CEO Jian, all are strong soldiers." Who wouldn’t love a department where you could leave on time, refuse to write work reports, and rarely attend early meetings? It was a dream job. Everyone was scrambling to work under Jian Xi. For a time, a formidable assembly of talent had gathered there. Everyone particularly supported this new CEO. Strangely, Jian Xi’s indulgence hadn’t made the marketing team lazy. On the contrary, they worked even more diligently, achieving twice the results with half the effort. They even dug out and completed years of backlogged work.

"CEO Jian," many greeted her.

Initially, everyone had despised this executive who had seemingly been parachuted in through connections; now, there was only admiration.

Jian Xi’s eyes swept over everyone, finally landing on Si Yuhuan’s dark face. "Jiang Qimeng has asked to meet me at the coffee shop this afternoon. I was going to refuse, fearing she would complain to you. Considering your fondness for her, you’d probably instruct me to go anyway. So, I figured I might as well take the initiative. I’ve come to say hello and to make sure the HR department doesn’t deny my leave and dock my pay." She acted as though she treasured her monthly paycheck dearly.

Si Yuhuan was so infuriated he could have spat blood. She’s slandering me in front of so many people!

"What nonsense are you spouting!" he ground out, his eyes practically spitting fire.

Jian Xi acted as if she hadn’t noticed. "It wouldn’t be the first or second time you’ve lost your temper with me because of Jiang Qimeng, so I need to take precautions. Well, you all carry on; I’m leaving."

With that, she swept out of the room as if she hadn’t a care in the world.

Si Yuhuan slammed his fist on the conference table with a THUD, causing everyone to shudder.

"Dismissed," Si Yuhuan bit out, the words squeezed from between clenched teeth.

Yan Qing was on the verge of tears. The CEO’s wife really knows how to provoke Director Si!

「...」

Jian Xi was in a good mood as she sped to the coffee shop in her sports car.

Upon entering, she immediately spotted Jiang Qimeng sitting leisurely by the window. Jiang Qimeng had removed a layer of gauze, but her skin still showed hints of bruising, a clear sign the drug trial had significant side effects. Her once fair skin had darkened several shades, making her look like a refugee—a truly unbearable sight. The extravagant jewelry she wore only emphasized her desperate attempt to attract attention.

"Miss Jiang seems to be in high spirits!"

Jiang Qimeng glared at her resentfully. "Don’t you get smug."

"What are you talking about? It’s clear I feel sorry for you. If I were Si Yuhuan, I’d rather spend money to hire someone than let my woman suffer like this."

That single sentence made the color drain from Jiang Qimeng’s face. "Jian Xi! Are you looking for trouble?"

"You’re just now realizing?" Jian Xi feigned surprise as she looked at her.