CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 159 THIS MATTER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME

After receiving an IV drip, Jian Xi went straight back to the old family home.

She didn’t have Zhou Yan accompany her.

After all, her eldest brother, fourth brother, and parents were all at home; it would be inconvenient for him to go. If he did, it would be impossible to explain himself clearly, difficult to clarify, and would only add to the trouble.

As for the exhibition at Yaowang, everything went smoothly. Even without her, Li Bin managed everything exceedingly well. Jian Xi felt that hiring such a capable executive had not been in vain.

The best thing Si Yuhuan had done in his life was to bring Li Bin to her.

Jian Mingcheng was tied up with official business and hadn’t made it to the exhibition that day.

As for her fourth brother, Jian Sirun, with his introverted nature, his dislike for hustle and bustle, and his tendency to be sparing with his words, he was even less likely to attend such a crowded and boisterous event.

Both brothers were slightly surprised to see Jian Xi returning home. Especially when they saw the unnatural flush on her cheeks, their brows furrowed. "Are you not feeling well? Why are you back so early?" one of them asked.

Normally, after hosting an exhibition, there would be a great deal of socializing and a celebratory banquet to attend. They had all thought Jian Xi wouldn’t be back at the old residence for two or three days, but unexpectedly, she returned early in the morning.

Jian’s Mother came downstairs. Seeing Jian Xi, she ran down excitedly, pulled her into the living room, and didn’t forget to scold her two sons. "Why are you asking so many questions? Is Xixi tired?"

"Mom saw it! This exhibition was a huge success. Almost all the prominent figures, both domestic and international, attended. All the designs were at the cutting edge of fashion, with a myriad of elements—they were simply divine!"

"But where did you disappear to halfway through? Why were you nowhere to be seen afterward? We remember Zhou Yan was supposed to be the star model for the finale, so how did it end up being that boy from the Chu Family? Mom remembers he pursued you before, right?"

Jian’s Mother bombarded her with a series of questions.

Jian Xi was so overwhelmed she couldn’t even speak.

She certainly couldn’t tell them she had been drugged and had nearly slept with Zhou Yan, the star model. Thankfully, he had intervened to save her, allowing her to escape a malicious plot.

"Zhou Yan wasn’t feeling well at the last minute, so we switched him out. Isn’t Chu Xiao good enough?" Jian Xi said, smiling as she wrapped her arms around her mother, clinging tightly to her. Inhaling her mother’s scent brought her a sense of calm.

The pain in her body, like ants gnawing at her, had dissipated, leaving only exhaustion.

Jiang Qimeng, this suffering you’ve inflicted on me, I will return it to you tenfold, a hundredfold. Just wait.

After greeting her eldest brother and fourth brother, she looped her arm through her mother’s. "I’m very tired and need to rest. Mom, could you lie down with me for a quick nap?"

"Honestly, this child, still so clingy!"

In her previous life, ever since Jian Xi fell in love with Si Yuhuan, he was all she saw, thought, and cared about. She had gradually drifted away from her family, and her care for them had diminished.

Thinking back now, how incredibly foolish I was! What could possibly be more important than family?

Although Jian’s Mother was teasing her, she still instructed the kitchen to prepare some food and accompanied Jian Xi upstairs to catch up on sleep.

Jian Sirun narrowed his deep-set eyes and adjusted his glasses. "Little Sister seems a bit off."

"She has depressive delusional disorder," Jian Mingcheng stated calmly.

"What?" Jian Sirun’s expression changed.

So that was it, Jian Sirun mused. No wonder Little Sister’s recent actions have been so bizarre.

Jian Xi had no idea that a blunder made by her good friend Wan Yu had inadvertently provided an explanation for all her strange behavior, leading her family to be completely understanding.

When Jian Xi woke up, she felt that everyone in the house was being exceptionally careful around her.

This feeling... it’s so familiar!

Jian Sirun seemed to be subtly considering taking her pulse.

At the dining table, Jian Xi glanced at him. "Fourth Brother, are your professional instincts kicking in?"

"COUGH COUGH COUGH!" Jian Sirun coughed a few times. "It’s just that I haven’t taken anyone’s pulse in a long time, and I’m worried my skills are getting rusty."

Jian Xi moved her hand to her mother’s wrist. "Mom has always been frail; you should take more care of her."

She took a bite of the lotus pond stir-fry. It tasted wonderful—refreshing, crisp, tender, and with a pleasant sweet aftertaste.

Her tastes had been changing wildly since she became pregnant.

"If only Third Brother were here. With his cooking skills, anything he makes is delicious."

At the table, several people exchanged glances, deciding it was best not to alert anyone prematurely.

Father Jian changed the subject. "After the exhibition, Yaowang Group will reach new heights. Xixi, what are you planning for next..."

"Next, I’m going to take over Haohan Group."

PFFT—

Sounds of sputtering and choking erupted around the dinner table.

Except for Jian Mingcheng, who knew the inside story, Father Jian and Jian’s Mother were so shocked they were practically gasping for air. They suspected Jian Xi had gone mad and stared at her, wide-eyed.

"Xixi, don’t be foolish! It’s not worth risking the whole family over a man."

Jian’s Mother was very worried about her current mental state and kept signaling Jian Sirun with her eyes.

Bracing himself, Jian Sirun said, "Xixi, perhaps you could try to maintain a more... level-headed perspective."

SLAP!

Jian Xi slammed the documents she had prepared onto the table.

Father Jian picked them up, glanced through them, and sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

"Are you serious?"

Jian Xi had mentioned taking over Haohan Group before, but Father Jian had dismissed it as a joke. Now, seeing the transformation and progress of the Jian Group, as well as Jian Xi’s preparations, he was deeply shaken.

Haohan Group was a globally ranked major corporation. Although the Jian Group was not insignificant, it still paled in comparison to Haohan Group.

It’s like a mayfly trying to shake a mighty tree, he worried intensely.

Jian Xi wiped her mouth and stood up. "Within three months, I’ll end it all."

Watching his daughter’s retreating back, Father Jian remained in a daze for a long while, unable to recover.

Jian’s Mother hesitated, then began, "The Jian Group... ultimately, it belongs to you brothers..."

Jian Sirun also wiped his mouth and said, "I’m a doctor. I don’t want any shares in the group, nor am I interested in how much wealth I possess."

Jian Mingcheng put down his bowl and chopsticks. "As long as Little Sister is happy, that’s all that matters. As for the Jian Group, if it’s unfortunately ruined, I’ll just learn from your example, Dad, and start from scratch. Wouldn’t that be a great learning experience too?"

"Oh, and Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother feel the same way," Jian Mingcheng added with a smile, dispelling Father Jian’s and Jian’s Mother’s last lingering concerns.

All the brothers unconditionally supported every decision Jian Xi made.

Tears welled up in Jian’s Mother’s eyes. "Good, good. If you all decide, then it’s settled."

She had feared showing favoritism, which could cause rifts between her children. Seeing her sons’ affection for Jian Xi, Jian’s Mother was naturally overjoyed.

「 」

Jiang Qimeng waited for a long time, but instead of receiving a report from her two subordinates, she got a distress message from them. This infuriated her.

"Damn it, damn it all! You let her escape even with all that? Are you completely useless?!"

"My foolproof plan, and it still had flaws!"

Jiang Qimeng began to panic. How would Jian Xi deal with her?

Will she tell Si Yuhuan everything?

No, she can’t. She doesn’t have any evidence. As long as I don’t admit it, and there’s no concrete proof, Si Yuhuan won’t do anything to me.

Suddenly, her cell phone rang.

She answered the call frantically.

Hearing Si Yuhuan’s voice slowly come through the receiver, she felt her heart leap into her throat.

"Yuhan, this has nothing to do with me!"

Si Yuhuan raised an eyebrow. "What matter are you referring to?"